Report Card

Complied by Mike Sciacca

For the past three years the State of California has doled out money

to help bring school libraries within the Huntington Beach Union High

School District up to national standards. That money, coupled with other

grants and Digital High School funds, has gone a long way toward updating

the libraries and their collections, said Supt. Susan Roper.

In the last three years more than 33,580 new books have been added to

collections districtwide, including current reference books, nonfiction

books related to the curriculum or student interest and works of fiction

for high school students, she noted.

Selected magazines have also been added to each library for students

to enjoy, and librarians are encouraging students and staff to suggest

new books. Request forms are available at each school’s library.

“All of our schools are planning to add books on tape, video and

CD-ROMs to the library as money becomes available and collections are

updated,” Roper said.

Roper stated that school librarians are continually removing old

material to make way for the new. She said that Edison High School has

added a relaxed atmosphere to its library by placing couches and chairs

around for students to use.

“We want our students to feel comfortable and we want the library to

be a place to enjoy,” she said.

Four of the district’s high schools -- Huntington Beach, Marina, Ocean

View and Westminster, have a specialized reading program -- Accelerated

Reader -- available through each school’s library. The program matches

selected books with computerized reading tests that measure a student’s

reading comprehension.

“Used properly, this program will help students improve not only in

reading, but also in all academic areas,” Roper said.

A $47,000 infusion

Ocean View School District is $47,000 richer this week after a visit

from Wal-Mart officials.

Seven district schools were presented with a check for $500 by John

Groth, general manager of the Huntington Beach Wal-Mart store.

The seven schools receiving the checks were Vista View and Marine View

middle schools and Sun View Elementary School, the Parent Teacher Student

Assn. at Spring View Middle School, the Parent Teacher Assn. at College

View Elementary School and the Parent Teacher Organization at Lake View

and Golden View elementary schools.

In addition, Groth presented the district with a check in the amount

of $33,000 to be used for the purchase of new scoreboards for the four

middle school gymnasiums.

Groth announced that Wal-Mart will commit to a districtwide,

school/business partnership and will provide support for Ocean View’s

school and community events, activities and the events and activities of

the district’s parent-teacher support groups.

The Huntington Beach store will publicize the successes of the

district and its schools by showcasing them in a store display, he said.

The district honored Groth at its Feb. 19 board meeting.

On your mark, get set, learn

Kindergarten registration for the 2002-03 school year in the Ocean

View School District will be held on Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday,

March 7, school officials announced.

Hours of registration are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m., both days,

at each of the district’s elementary schools. Children who will be 5 on

or before Dec. 2, 2002, are eligible to register.

Parents are required to bring a child’s health and immunization

records, proof of age and two proofs of residency.

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