It seems like yesterday we were gathering at the Bressi Ranch Community Center to talk about opening Poinsettia Elementary. The memories of the School Warming are still fresh in my mind and the events that we have planned have ticked by with speed and satisfaction. We are now in May and doing the State Testing, which means we are nearing the end of the year. 

We have a school plan and the School Site Council (SSC) has developed priorities for this and next year. Next year will be more difficult with the looming State Budget cuts. The limited amount of funds the SSC has will be stretched to the maximum and the impact for the programs will need to be measured for the programs we will continue to use or develop. There are 2 committees hard at work, the State Fiscal Emergency Working Group and the World Class Committee, who have been actively trying to identify priorities of cuts, as well as generate revenue, to deal with the financial shortfall from the State. We hope the community stays informed and can step up to make a difference when plans are determined.

The PTA and the parents on the Carlsbad Education Foundation (CEF) Fund Raising Committee (FRC) have done a tremendous job on developing additional funds that can add to the offerings available to all kids. We have included an Arts program, a PE program, and a Music program this year that all promise to be even better next year for all grades. Our Library has started with a full compliment of books for the kids and the CEF has sponsored a Reading Counts program for our students to use in comprehension development. The computer Lab has been running well and the students have gained from their times in the Main and Min Labs in the school.

The people of this community, especially parents, have been a key support for the classroom and school as volunteers by accepting the rally cry for help and have come out in our first year. The Volunteer hours we have had are: August 109.25, September 520, October 841, November 734.50, December 654.25, January 583.50, February 707.75, March 1021, April 478.75for a total of 5,650with 1,5 months to go. The impact of the donated hours of service has been noticed by the staff at Poinsettia. If we take each hour and multiply it by the rate of an aide, we have received $84,750 worth of assistance. In these troubled financial times we are extremely grateful for your assistance.

We have instituted a monthly Honor Roll at Poinsettia. The impact of encouraging students to do all of their homework and exhibit good citizenship at school is demonstrated by the number of students qualifying each month. In September our “perfect kid” count was 190, in October 238, in November 243, in December 255, in January 317, in February 216, in March 239, in April 240 (out of 436 students). All award winners receive a school/poinsettia sticker and a certificate each month, with a gift certificate to Islands in the first month of their award.

We have set out with very lofty goals for this year and, for a first year school, I am proud to say we have exceeded those expectations. However, our year isn’t over yet. We have many culminating activities for students and parents to finish the year. Let’s keep the momentum up. History is still being made at Poinsettia.