A breakdown of the changes local schools have made since last year.
San Lorenzo Valley Middle School
Things are looking up at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School for the 2011-12 school year.
Not counting an estimated 75 Nature Academy students, some 500 pupils from sixth through eighth grades will be on campus this year.
Registration is up nearly 30 students, thanks to new enrollees and recent transfers, said Principal Jeff Calden.
For the third year in a row, Calden said, an overwhelming majority of the staff from the previous school year is returning, with one science teacher position awaiting a new hire.
Two staffers will see their roles increase this year: Mary Maleta, who has previously taught reading intervention courses, will take on language arts classes; and Tamara Smith, a high school teacher who has taught art classes at the middle school, will now offer a ceramics class.
Also new this year will be an academic intervention class, in which students whose grades are slipping will be placed into a class in which they can get specialized assistance with their class work until their grades respond positively.
San Lorenzo Valley High School
Big changes are taking place at San Lorenzo Valley High School this year, as a slew of retirements and departures have placed a lot of new faces on the staff.
Following the retirement of longtime math teachers Paul and Dianne Blocher, Janelle Tragesar and Patricia Valdez were hired over the summer.
While Spanish teacher Kay Redmond is out for maternity leave, Tamyr del Rio has been brought on temporarily.
And two positions — one in special education and another in physical education — are looking for new teachers following the departures of Brian Elliott and Angela Reling.
According to Principal Michael Arredondo, enrollment this year will decrease students, continuing a trend that has lasted several years.
That said, the new library is nearing completion, and two new approaches are under construction leading from the quad to the new facility.
This year, Arredondo said, registration and scheduling are being handled as much as possible before the first day of classes to quickly determine the student head count and make sure everyone’s in the right classes on the first day.
Also starting this year, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays all breaks will be 15 minutes longer, and classes will let out for the day 15 minutes earlier to give teachers a chance to give extra time to students who are struggling with their work.
Scotts Valley Middle School
Some 620 students will fill the halls of Scotts Valley Middle School this fall, up about 30 from last year. The school has five new staffers — two from within the district and two new hires.
The school will also mourn the loss of longtime history teacher Tom Milnes, who died earlier in August.
There are no changes to the physical campus, but there are several new faces. Marty Leshin, a former Scotts Valley High teacher, will teach seventh grade history; Barbara Cushing joins the staff as a part-time counselor; Sumita Jaggar comes from Pajaro Valley School District to teach science and eighth-grade math; Kristen Silva returns from maternity leave to teach seventh-grade English; and Shawn Egbert joins the staff as an instructional aide for special day class.
Principal Mary Lonhart said the school is pleased to continue its academy program, something that was in question as late as the spring.
Scotts Valley High School
The Falcons welcome a host of new teachers and 800 students — roughly the same as a year ago — during Valerie Bariteau’s second year as principal.
Daniel Sattler and Tom Simpkins join the school’s special education department, and Diedre Robinson comes from Scotts Valley Middle School, also to instruct in special education.
Marilyn Kirkham returns from a two-year leave of absence to teach English, and Naomi Rollins has taken over the drama department following the departure of Karin Babbitt.
Seth Wilson will teach R.O.P. digital photography, and Bobby Richardson will teach a new bicycle technology and performance class in a new portable classroom outfitted with repair equipment provided by Bicycle Trip in Santa Cruz.
Lisa McCloskey joins the staff to teach R.O.P. marketing and economics.
Vine Hill Elementary School
A new mural, a fresh coat of paint on all the doors and completely re-done landscaping will greet students as they return to school. Parent volunteers took it upon themselves to beautify the school during the summer months.
Principal Michelle Stewart is up to 569 students, slightly more than the same time last year.
The school welcomes Shannon Haro as a speech therapist, and kindergarten teacher who was hired Friday, Aug. 12, has yet to be announced.
The school has also introduced a new “Early-bird, Late-bird” kindergarten program with staggered start times. The hope is to better serve students, as class sizes have risen to 30 pupils per class. The two morning classes run at 8:10 to 11:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. The afternoon classes run from 10:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. or 11:40 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The school’s “Kindness” theme will permeate the year’s activities.
“We’re really excited to get started,” Stewart said. “We have a really great community here.”
San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School
Shannon Calden, now in her second year as principal of the elementary school, is excited that enrollment has risen to 562 students, up from 548 last year.
The Bobcats welcome Kim Corneille, who will teach fourth grade; Valerie Friend, also a fourth-grade teacher; Jamie Herman in second grade; and Tammy Schultz in first grade.
Over the summer, new roofing was put on the school’s buildings, and drainage was fixed in several areas.
Also, SLE will have early release on Wednesdays, where all first- through fifth-graders will be dismissed at 1:25 p.m. The time, Calden said, will give the staff the ability to focus on supporting each child, whether they need intervention or acceleration in a particular area.
Boulder Creek Elementary School
A number of teachers return from summer training at Columbia University in New York with a slew of fresh ideas.
And Principal Lynn Chappell welcomes two new teachers into the fold this year: Aleta Kotecki will teach kindergarten, and Melissa Pasa joins the school as a first-grade teacher.
Enrollment sits at 474.
In addition, the BCE community is looking forward to the construction of a new classroom building, similar to the recently constructed Measure O classroom at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School. The building includes a computer lab, science classroom and standard classroom.
Baymonte Christian School
Students will notice a facelift at the front of the school when they return in the fall. Construction is taking place to freshen up the entrance to the school, including new landscaping and the removal of a storage shed.
The school also installed a lift from the first floor to the second floor classroom for a sixth-grader who uses a wheelchair.
Principal Steve Patterson also welcomes two new teachers and Bethany University alumni into the mix. Courtney Grewohl will teach fourth grade, and Brittany Francis will teach third grade.
The school is also beginning preparations for the second annual Tech Trek, a 1-kilometer fun run and 5-kilometer race that has supplanted the annual magazine drive as the primary fundraiser for technology at the school.
