Dlhernandez's Blog

Palmer Way Priorities

dlhernandez — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:26:46 +0000

Congratulations to the Palmer Way community for their academic growth. We grew 34 API points! Our new API score is now at 833. Our new mantra includes reaching 900!
This year at Palmer Way, our priorities continue to focus on academics, the cumulative effect of instruction, the whole child and the use of technology. Academically, our quarter 1 assessments are promising. We had over 200 students who scored above 80 %. An astonishing 15 students received 100%. The top three student scores in each classroom received honor roll pins with over 50 students receiving Panther Honor Roll Pins. In addition, students with perfect attendance last week was at an all-time high of 84%.

Our focus on the cumulative effect of instruction has evolved into making a commitment to focus on meaningful collaboration. During our weekly Instructional Data Team meetings, grade level teachers spend time analyzing student performance data, planning targeted support for students and creating adult action goals. Moreover, during staff collaborative and site days, we continue to build our capacity in the areas of English Language Learners, writing and math.

The whole child is important to us as we work through our second year of Collaborative Teachers and Artists (CoTA) grant. Every class participates and works with an artist to bring the arts into everyday content areas.

Technology remains a vital part of our organization. This year we’ve created a comprehensive student usage software plan that tailors our student’s interaction with their needs. Success Maker, Imagine Learning, Read About, Scholastic Reading Inventory all remain an essential component of our student’s everyday lives.

Palmer Way Panthers…We Are The Best!

dlhernandez — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:38:24 +0000

Welcome to a new school year!It’s hard to believe that we’re already 5 weeks into a new school year. As many of you know, I am a proud resident of National City and a product of the National School District. I am honored to be the principal at Palmer Way and am humbled by the wonderful staff, students and parents.

Palmer Way students continue to reach high levels of achievement. While we are eagerly awaiting our API and AYP scores, I can share that 7 of our students received a perfect 600 score in mathematics. Additionally, 21 students received scores of 500 or more in ELA, Math and Science.

We are continuing to focus on a safe campus and the eradication of bullying. Our school is a NO Bully Zone where everyone feels safe. I’m proud to say Palmer Way students are adhering to our Panther Pledge: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be responsible.

With all of this said, it’s no surprise that I feel that Palmer Way Panthers are THE BEST!
This year is going to be another great one!

The Whole Child

dlhernandez — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:37:19 +0000

I’m quite proud to say that I’m a product of National City. Yes, born, raised and schooled. My husband and I even decided to live here and raise our family. Yes, the circle of life continues.

Currently, I have the honor of working with an incredible community of hard-working parents, students and teachers. Since I’ve come to PW, a common theme has been the importance of “the whole child”. I’ve come to believe that at the heart of Palmer Way’s vision, is that in order to provide a successful school environment, we must incorporate elements that address the whole child.

The whole child…hmmm. It’s a buzz word that generally means that while academics are important, so are art, music and physical activity.

In the era of the high-stakes No Child Left Behind legislature, I’ve had to develop my personal definition that balances both reality and “wholeness”. Although it’s a work in progress, at the cornerstone of my belief is that “Each child in our community deserves to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.” (I’d like to note that this is a child centered;belief.) This simplistic definition is my overarching lenses in which I view education.

While focused academics are undeniably a necessity; to overlook that would be both unrealistic and neglectful. A strong Standard’s based education is the foundation of a successful education. While Palmer Way touts “a cumulative purposeful effect” the very glue that adheres us is having common expectations with common experiences. Having a strong and consistent focus on core curricular areas from Preschool to Sixth grade is not only an expectation, but a student’s right.

How about the cumulative purposeful effect? Palmer Way has ongoing expectations that teachers will meet regularly to analyze current student data to create a focused approach to support , they will provide intervention support that adheres to the “Response to Intervention” framework. Additionally, we will begin to look at “Adult Actions” as a key to student performance. Together, these expectations allow us to look at the whole community.

What about academics? Palmer Way has ongoing expectations that teachers plan CA standards based instruction that are proudly displayed on white boards in each classroom. Differentiated and strong Tier I instruction is the norm while vocabulary development and student engagement are highlighted. This year’s consistent focus on math and writing binds our delivery so that all students receive a common experience adding to our overall knowledge base.

So, what about the “whole child”? Palmer Way believes that infusing the arts is not only an expectation, but a way of life. This year we were granted a 3-year CoTA grant (Collaborating Teachers and Artists) which allows our teachers to work side-by-side real artists to infuse the arts into the academic lives of our students.Although still in the developmental phase, our focus on the arts is becoming undeniable. Our focus on School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support (SWPBIS) highlights our belief that we have common expectations school wide as compared to individual classroom expectations; hence coming together as one community. Daily morning announcements share positive words of encouragement tightening our common thread.

Technology continues to be in the forefront. Teachers meet to hone their skills using advanced technology, such as the Promethean board. Ongoing purchases continue to keep this focus alive.

It’s really hard to encompass the whole child in words. I guess it’s simply a campus culture of common beliefs that it takes more than a strong focus on academics and individual good teachers.

It is my hope that any parent who comes onto PW’s campus notices our commitment to the whole child so much that it is evident in all that we do and embedded into every classroom.

Palmer Way Focus 2010- 2011

dlhernandez — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:45:13 +0000

Palmer Way Elementary School is committed to student success! This year, we’re focusing on the following 4 areas:

(1) Academic Focus

>On-going focus includes differentiated instruction and academic vocabulary
>Laser-like focus includes Learning Headquarters Writing program and enVision Math

(2) The Whole Child

>On-going focus includes infusing the arts into curriculum and standards-based physical education
>Laser-like focus includes CoTA (Collaborating Teacher and Artists), Project Wisdom, and PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support)

(3) Technology

>On-going focus includes using enriching educational software, such as SuccessMaker, Imagine Learning, and Read About
>Laser-like focus includes using computer reports to guide instruction

(4) Collaboration

>On-going focus includes teachers meeting regularly to collaborate on student support
>Laser-like focus includes the inception of Site and Instructional Data Teams

GATE
In addition, Palmer Way has created and designed a focus on Gifted and Talented Education. Our GATE identified students are offered two programs: GATE Academy and Cluster Classes. Both focus areas are designed to meet the needs of our gifted students.

The Impact of Student Engagement on Learning

dlhernandez — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:18:42 +0000

Being an avid reader of educational research, I came across an interesting article in this month’s “Leadership” magazine. It stated, “The school improvement process is moving too slowly for many of our young people. Student engagement is usually the missing link to providing a stimulating and challenging education.” This made me think about Palmer Way and how we engage our students. It went on to say, “The CA Department of Education school improvement process is centered on nine Essential Program Components (EPCs) that measure school structures that support academic achievement. Out of the nine, six are focused on reading-LA and math, mostly focusing on instructional material, instructional time, lesson pacing, etc. None of the components address student engagement, student involvement in the learning process, the development of higher-level thinking skills, or the application of skills.”

This article recommends adding a 10th EPC. Calling the EPC, “A Culture of Student Learning and Engagement” and would have objectives that include:
• The evaluation of relevant curriculum that applies to real life skills.
• Content classes such as history-social science and science that addresses student engagement.
• Teacher-student relationships that nurture a culture of respect and empowerment.
• Motivating students via a climate of student engagement.

Criteria and clarifications would include integration of higher-level thinking skills , such as using Bloom’s Taxonomy to reach higher levels of understanding, the application of knowledge, and the demonstration of knowledge. It would require a committment from the school and staff to empower student pursuit of active learning; more specifically asking ourselves the following questions:
• How do teachers include relevancy?
• How do they nurture curiosity?
• How about involving students in the lesson planning and goal setting?

Consider this, “If students are not engaged in the learning process, all of the testing, data analysis, teacher meetings and instructional minutes in the world will not motivate students to learn.” Powerful and eye-opening!

Luckily, Palmer Way has always done a great job at actively engaging student in their education. We also realize that student engagement is not merely observable actions, such as overt activities (Think-Share-Pair and using activotes., for example.) We also recognize that there are levels of student engagement. Motivating students through spelling bees, art projects, family fun nights, building volcanoes and having spirit days all contribute to engaging student to the academic world.

Family Literacy

dlhernandez — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:33:27 +0000

Often, we think about literacy as school content reading. Although this is an important part of literacy, I’d like to propose that Family Literacy is just as or even more important in developing successful learners. In broad terms, literacy is the ability to make and communicate meaning from and by the use of a variety methods. According to the Family Literacy Resource Notebook ( at http://literacy.kent.edu/Oasis/famlitnotebook ) , “Family literacy refers to the interactions of parents and children using language—talking, playing, exploring, limiting, soothing, explaining, encouraging, and nurturing. With the support of the adults in his or her life, a child learns to navigate his or her world with the help of language, acquiring limits and self-control, making choices and solving problems, communicating needs to others, developing emotional ties to parents and siblings, and responding to the print environment surrounding him or her.”

Palmer Way promotes Family Literacy and will hold it’s annual Family Literacy Week March 1 – 5 in honor of Dr. Seuss’ Birthday on March 2nd.

3/1: Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
3/2: The Cat in the Hat Assembly
3/3: Read Across PW
3/4: Family Literacy Night, 6:00 PM

If you’d like more information about family literacy, ask your child’s teacher, our librarian, or the children’s librarian at the National City Public Library.

Habits of Mind

dlhernandez — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:00:54 +0000

Habits of Mind is a term that is often referred to as critical thinking skills. An over-arching philosophy delves into creating a capacity for meaningful lifelong learning.What does that mean for Palmer Way Elementary school?

There are many levels to consider. Beginning with the culture of our school; we foster behaviors and attitudes our students need for success in life. Using high levels of thinking and questioning skills, such as Bloom’s Taxonomy and implementing school-wide academic vocabulary, are a few examples of ways our school culture embraces key cognitive strategies.

Another level to consider is adult and staff growth and development. Palmer Way’s teachers take pride in creating, imagining and innovating novel pathways to student success. The value of thinking interdependently is embeded in our core beliefs; perpetuating our “cumulative purposeful effect”.

Our mission statement echoes this…We believe” to fully educate a student, teacher need to do their best during the temporary time together and to care just as much the educational experiences that the students has before coming and experiences that the student will have after leaving. We believe that the job of the classroom teacher is to operate solely in the present with his or her immediate charge is to deny a school the opportunity to prove a cumulative purposeful effect.”

Turning up the Heat!

dlhernandez — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:41:54 +0000

At Palmer Way, we have adopted the 212 philosophy and you will see it in everything we do. 212 the extra degree is a booklet by S.L. Parker. Although on the surface the philosophy is a simple one, it has incredible implications. Parker shares that “applying one extra degree of temperature to water means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine.” This will be our ongoing mantra. Our staff will define what it means to us as we work towards creating successful learners. Not only do we have highly motivated teachers, we understand that each and every one of us can make a difference. Additionally, we recognize that we we are ultimately responsible for our results.

Hello Palmer Way!

dlhernandez — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:57:20 +0000

Dear Palmer Way Staff, Families and Friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share my excitement of joining your school community as the new principal Palmer Way Elementary School. I feel fortunate to be a part of a school culture that is focused on student learning, is committed to high expectations, innovation and collaboration. It is my intention to carry on these important traditions and practices.

I am no stranger to this community. As a matter of fact, I am a 3rd generation National City resident. My husband, children and I all attended schools in the National School District.
After attending Olivewood Elementary school I attended National City Junior High School and then went to Sweetwater Union High School. I then received my AA from San Diego City College and transferred to SDSU. I have a BA in Behavioral Science and a MA in Educational Leadership. My future goals include obtaining a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Professionally, my teaching career began at Olivewood Elementary School. After teaching for over a decade, I decided to pursue administration. With a heavy heart, I left National School District to gain administrative experience. My first appointment was at Valley Elementary, a Dual-Language school in the Poway Unified School District. I then transferred to Meadowbrook Middle School. Although it was a very difficult decision to leave National School District, I found the opportunity to learn and grow professionally to be quite beneficial.
On a personal note, my husband is Robert Hernandez. He works here in our fine city with the National City Fire Department. We have two beautiful boys, Jonathan who is 21 and Joshua who is 18. Both are graduates from Sweetwater Union High School and are pursuing college degrees. Jonathan is attending Colman College and will get his AA in Graphic Design in August and Joshua will be attending San Francisco State University in the fall.

Soon I will begin meeting with various members of our learning community to learn more about the unique strengths, traditions and practices of Palmer Way Elementary School. These conversations are just the start in creating a roadmap for the school’s future. I look forward to meeting Palmer Way families in the coming months. With my “open door” policy, I think you will find me to be focused, honest and passionate about student success. I look forward to working side-by-side with you to continue to build an exceptional school for our students.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sincerely,
Deborah Hernandez