Instruction
Our instructional programs focus on academic achievement, bilingual proficiency and technological aptitude. Our teaching staff has high expectations for all students as they master the challenging
Capistrano Objectives for Reaching Excellence (CORE) curriculum. Las Palmas strives to maintain a learning environment in which our students achieve social sophistication through a focus on academics and multi-language communication expertise. Our teachers, parents and students all know and agree on instructional standards and a school wide discipline policy.
Computer and Multimedia Center
At Las Palmas, technology is a tool used by students to access information and communicate their knowledge.
The computer lab has 33 iMac computers, multimedia stations, laser discs, printers, scanners and video accessories, including digital cameras, camcorders and editing equipment. All classrooms are networked and have technology learning centers. The lab and classrooms have SuccessMaker software to offer Computer Assisted Instruction that provides math and reading problems at each students’ individual learning level. The SuccessMaker software catalogs student work, keeps data and monitors each students’ progress.
Members of the community, parents, staff and students have access to the Las Palmas technology lab before and after school and during scheduled evening classes.
Opportunities for Parental Involvement
Las Palmas parents are involved on many different levels. They are involved as partners seeing that their children get to school on time and that homework is completed in a timely manner. Parents are involved as collaborators helping to write grants such as the science garden and the Butterfly Habitat which was planted in the fall of 2000. They have raised funds for Outdoor Science, formed a Folklorico dance troupe, and yearly spend hundreds of hours tutoring students and assisting teachers.
Las Palmas parents have become strong advocates, traveling to Sacramento to speak before the State Board of Education to petition for a waiver to remain a Two Way Language Immersion school. They lobbied the local Board of Trustees to keep a year round calendar and were a strong force in the passage of Measure A, which will replace and repair much of the school’s infrastructure.
There are four parent advisory groups that serve Las Palmas students and teachers.
The School Site Council is the primary site-based decision making body. It is composed of one half staff and one half teachers and makes decisions on major budget expenditures of Title 1 and School Improvement Programs.
The English Language Advisory Committee provides support and advice to parents and students learning English and to the Two Way Language Immersion program. Since Las Palmas is a schoolwide Title 1 program, the Title I annual meeting of parents provides an annual needs assessment to address the needs of students and parents.
Additionally, a Parent Advisory Council provided a forum for parents to advise and consult with the Principal during the school year. A Teacher’s Advisory Council will provide the same forum and function with a teacher from each grade level representing the teaching staff.
Other School Highlights:
- California Distinguished School
- 1998 CABE Academic Seal of Excellence Award
- Acclaimed Two-Way Language Immersion program
- State alternative school waiver for Two-Way program
- Character Counts Program
- Accelerated Academic Achievement (AAA) program for gifted students
- State-of-the-art technology lab and library.
- California Reads Recreational Reading Program
- Mandatory uniform dress code
- Highly trained and educated teachers: more than 85% hold Language Acquisition Credentials and/or Master’s degrees
- Full-time, credentialed technology and AAA resource teacher
- School-sponsored extracurricular programs.
