District News

Thirty-nine Campbell Union School District (CUSD) students are earning the Middle School Pathway Award Towards the Seal of Biliteracy Award this year from the Santa Clara County Office of Education, marking a milestone toward earning the State Seal of Biliteracy at the end of high school. 

The Pathway award recognizes students who, by the end of 5th and/or 8th grade, have demonstrated a commitment to becoming biliterate and who have reached a degree of proficiency in both English and at least one another language. Some of the 39 students earned the award for proficiency in multiple languages, including: Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Japanese, Kannada, Mandarin, Marathi, Russian, Sanskrit, Serbo-Croation, Spanish and Tamil.

“We’re proud of these students’ achievements. The process is rigorous and they persevered through challenging tasks during a pandemic and remote learning,” said Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “Research indicates that being bilingual and biliterate fosters mental dexterity, builds cultural appreciation, and validates the rich cultural backgrounds of our students.”

To earn the award, the CUSD students had to complete an oral presentation in their target language, reach an identified proficiency level in English-Language Arts, and be students in good standing who are classified as either English Only (EO), Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP), or English Learner (EL), and take at least one year in a World Language.

“We offer students opportunities to learn languages and build cultural competency so they can have success in our schools and beyond. If they go on to earn the Seal of Biliteracy in high school, their efforts can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices,” said Denise Kilpatrick, Coordinator of English Language Development Programs. 

Superintendent Viramontez offers information and reminders to district families in this last Backyard Briefing of the 2020-21 school year.

Topics in her video message include:

• Planning for full-time, in-person instruction in August.
• Awaiting updates from Calif. Public Health about K-12 School Guidance.
• Declining enrollment impacts here and statewide.
• Congratulations to this year's 8th graders transitioning to high school.

Watch on our YouTube channel, Campbellusd. Select "cc" for closed captions in English and Spanish.

What were your favorite summer pastimes as a child? Did you play kick ball or ping pong with friends? Create things with legos or cardboard and glue? Learn a new game or try a new sport? Maybe you just liked to laugh with friends while slurping popsicles or lemonade. 

You can give your child those fun summer memories in our safe, half-day specialty camps, July 6 - July 16. In our Sports Camps and STEAM camps, students make new friends, collaborate, create, and have fun!

Register by June 16! In person: 155 N. 3rd St, Campbell, or online at cusdexpandedlearning.asapconnected.com

Week 1: July 6 - July 9

Sports Camp (9am-12pm) - Kinder - 5th grade

STEAM Camp (9am-12pm) - Kinder - 1st grade

STEAM Camp (9am-12pm) - 2nd - 3rd grade

STEAM Camp (12pm-4pm) - 4th - 5th grade

Week 2: July 12 - July 16

Sports Camp (9am-12pm) - Kinder - 5th grade

STEAM Camp (9am-12pm) - Kinder - 1st grade

STEAM Camp (9am-12pm) - 2nd - 3rd grade

STEAM Camp (12pm-4pm) - 4th - 5th grade

Location: Castlemont Elementary (3040 Payne Ave. Campbell, CA 95008)

Grades: Kindergarten* – 5th grade (*only if attended Transitional Kinder in 2020-2021 school year)

Students remain on campus every day. Safety protocols for preventing COVID-19 exposure will be in effect. 

Cost: $270/week for Sports Camp & $315/week for STEAM Camp (*pro-rated for week of July 5)

This year, 18 members of the Campbell Union School District employee family will be retiring. They take with them a combined total of 439 years of experience and memories and are ready to create more. 

As educators and support staff, they have shown our students how to think critically, innovate, collaborate, empathize and be self-directed. Most have been part of our district for more than 20 years, demonstrating perseverance through challenges and changes in the school system and in society. 

Now they can pursue the privledges, both ambitious and relaxing, that retirement brings: Traveling any time of year on any day of the week; relaxing all day by the pool, with a book, on a Tuesday; spending more time with grandchildren; even working part time at a winery. Their hearts are oriented towards giving to others, so many will pursue new ways to make a positive impact, such as volunteering with charities or promoting antiracist change in society.

We hope you will join us in wishing a fond farewell to our 2020-21 school year retirees:

• George Barile, Mechanic, Maintenance & Grounds
• Brad Bruner, Maintenance Worker, Maintenance & Grounds
• David Fletcher, Teacher, Forest Hill School
• Catherine Holley, Teacher/Speech Lang., Forest Hill School
• Edna Laskin, Director, Instructional Services, District Office
• Melanie Lawler, Human Resources Technician, District Office
• Beth Linder, Health Clerk, Rolling Hills Middle School
• Catherine McAvoy, Assistant Principal, Monroe Middle School 
• Karen Nielsen, Teacher, Capri
• Cathy Norman, Teacher, Castlemont
• Rodolfo Ornelas, Maintenance Worker, Maintenance & Grounds
• Martha Prakash, Teacher, Forest Hill School
• Kim Sanchez, Art Teacher, Monroe Middle School
• Dorrie Scamporrino, Teacher, Rolling Hills Middle School
• Loretta Schmoranc, Teacher, Capri
• Carrie Tibbs, STEAM Teacher, Rolling Hills Middle School
• Caitlin Weber, Teacher, Rolling Hills Middle School
• Sylvia Davis, Teacher, Rolling Hills Middle School 

Due to the continuing limitations on gatherings, we are not able to hold our usual garden reception to celebrate our retirees. We will be inviting them back for an event in the spring of next year.