Thirty Norwalk-La Mirada middle school musicians, all District Honor Band members, got their first experience performing on the big stage when they joined with the La Mirada Symphony for a pair of performances April 19 at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts, with more than 1,000 District students in the audience.

The Youth Enrichment program performance is a showcase for the District’s stellar Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program. Two District music teachers – Vanessa Trevino from Benton Middle School and David Yamamoto from Corvallis Middle School – served as guest conductors.

“The opportunity to perform with some of the best musicians in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and serves to show our students that anything is possible if they establish a goal and stay dedicated to achieving it,” NLMUSD Superintendent Dr. Hasmik Danielian said. “This is a wonderful event. They played beautifully.”

Empowering themselves to take a more active role in their children’s education, 25 parents from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District celebrated their graduation from the One Million New Internet Users (NIU) program at Waite Middle School on March 8.

The parents received certificates and commendations from Assemblyman Ian Calderon after completing a two-month computer training course designed to help them learn common computer functions and utilize online e-resources, allowing them to catch up with their digital-native children.

“I am very proud of all of you,” NLMUSD Superintendent Dr. Hasmik Danielian said as she addressed the class during the commencement ceremony. “You are role models. You are staying on top of your children’s education and helping the future leaders of America. Congratulations! Don’t stop!”

It’s a family affair every year at Lampton Elementary School’s Read Across America Day, where guest readers celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss while sharing the gift of literacy with Lampton’s 700 students. It’s a lively atmosphere decorated with red balloons with white polka dots and a ten-foot-tall photo cartoon cut-out of iconic characters Things One and Thing Two.

Among the readers who volunteered their time on Thursday, March 3 were former Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District assistant superintendent Chris Forehan, whose son Joseph is a teacher at Lampton; NLMUSD math coach Shannon Cruz and her daughter Kelby McClellan, a former John Glenn High grad who dressed as Merida from Disney’s “Brave”; and retired Lampton teacher Mary Jane Fujimora, the school’s original Read Across America Day coordinator, who revealed one of the secrets to the success of the annual event.

Notice to families whose children attended public school from January 2008 to the present. The California Department of Education (CDE) has been ordered to disclose documents and data that may contain student information. The request is tied to a lawsuit involving the CDE. The link above provides explanation and a form to complete if you object to the release of your student’s information. More information can be obtained by calling the CDE at (916) 319-0800.

Aviso a las familias cuyos hijos asistieron a la escuela pública desde enero de 2008 hasta la actualidad. El Departamento de Educación de California (CDE, por sus siglas en inglés) ha recibido la orden de revelar documentos y datos que pueden contener información de los estudiantes. La solicitud está vinculada a una demanda que involucra al CDE. El enlace de arriba proporciona una explicación y una forma para completar si usted se opone a la liberación de la información de su estudiante. Se puede obtener más información llamando al CDE al (916) 319-0800.

The Ramona Preschool auditorium was festooned with colorful paintings of trees and children’s handprints created by the preschoolers of Norwalk-La Mirada School District’s Head Start classes in honor of the program’s 50th anniversary celebration held on Feb. 26.

More than 100 Head Start parents, students and preschool staff listened to moving personal accounts from two Head Start alumni who shared some of their earliest childhood memories of learning to speak English and making new friends as Ramona Preschool students.

A small group of Corvallis Middle School students looked on in fascination as an FBI special agent showed off the protective gear he uses while in the field, including night vision goggles and a bulletproof vest. It may a dangerous job, but one that a Corvallis student may choose to pursue in the future.

The agent was one of three dozen guest speakers to lead sessions students could choose to attend during Corvallis’ annual Career Day on Friday, Feb. 26. The event afforded more than 700 students a sneak peek at vocations they may consider in the future. On hand were a Grammy Award-winning musician, a soccer coach, a professional cartoonist and several former National Football League players.

More than 100 Norwalk-La Mirada Unified high school students received a boost in their pursuit of dream careers through a program of mock interviews arranged this week by the Norwalk Education Alliance, learning how to present themselves and articulate their strengths.

Dressed in business-like attire, the students from John Glenn, La Mirada and Norwalk high schools arrived early on the morning of Feb. 24 for an orientation and pep talk led by Joanne Jung, District Director, College and Career Pathways. Then, off they went to impress 20 professionals from a variety of industries in one-on-one interviews at the Norwalk Sports Complex.

The District’s policy of open enrollment gives parents the ability to choose the school that best fits the needs and interests of their child. The programs are open to students residing in and outside of the district at no cost to parents. Open enrollment closes on Jan. 29. The District’s middle schools and their fields of interest are.

Benton Middle School – Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA);
Corvallis Middle School – Science, Technology, Engineering, & Arts (STEAM);
Hutchinson Middle School – Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (STEM);
Los Alisos Middle School – Math, Science and Technology;
Los Coyotes Middle School – Centurion Honors and Medical/Forensics; and
Waite Middle School – highly certified AVID School with VAPA and STEM offerings.

National School Counseling Week will be celebrated from Feb. 1-5, 2016, to focus on the important contribution of school counselors who address the barriers to learning by providing students with academic advisement, career awareness in post-secondary options and personal/social skills education. The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District applauds the commitment of our school counselors whose tireless work is essential to our students' success. Please join in the celebration by expressing your appreciation to our school counselors today!