Welcome to Savanna School District!
What an exciting year 2012-13 will be for students and staff in the Savanna School District with our philosophy of “Great Expectations…The Best Is Yet To Come!” We firmly believe that the best opportunities are yet to unfold with wonderful things happening for students in the coming year as we move forward with leaving a legacy for the future. We are so very grateful and fortunate that the Savanna community supported and passed Measures N and G. Because of this funding, we have completed our first two comprehensive modernization projects: the first at Hansen School and the second at Cerritos School. The third modernization project is planned for Reid School during the 2012-13 school year. Reid School students and staff will move to our Interim Campus during the coming school year while their home school undergoes capital improvements. These capital improvements will affect our children's education and our community for generations to come, truly allowing us to leave a legacy of 21st Century learning environments. It is the goal of the Savanna School District to provide the most exemplary educational opportunities for children both now and into the future, demonstrating “The Best Is Yet To Come!”
Our great expectations for student learning can be evidenced in the District’s commitment to offering a transitional kindergarten program. We are very excited that our youngest students will have the opportunity to participate in a full-day Transitional Kindergarten program with increased instructional time; this program will follow the kindergarten curriculum while adding a developmental focus taught at a pace designed to meet the children's individual social and emotional needs. It is an option for those students who turn age five between July 1, 2012 and December 2, 2012, and whose parents believe their child is not ready socially or academically for an academic kindergarten program.
Another indication of “Great Expectations…The Best Is Yet To Come!” is our continued focus on reading fluency, comprehension, writing, and student engagement. Teachers will continue to utilize frequent assessments in reading and language arts at all grade levels during the 2012-13 school year to ensure that the instructional program is appropriate to students' needs. These assessments will assist teachers in determining whether students are meeting or exceeding standards. Our teachers will expand on their use of Thinking Maps throughout the coming year as we undertake a new writing program, Write From the Beginning. This program will help staff establish a plan for continuous writing instruction with a focus on increasing students’ writing abilities. Engaging all students in lessons is essential to ensure student achievement. This commitment to leaving a legacy of student success will indeed leave an indelible mark on our community!
“Great Expectations…The Best Is Yet To Come!” can be seen in the infusion of technology throughout the instructional program and into all areas of operation. Classroom sets of updated Macintosh computers, document cameras, ceiling-mounted DLP projectors, voice-enhancement systems complete with microphones for teacher and student use, the use of the web-based Accelerated Reader program for students, a web-based library catalog accessible to all students as well as tablets and student response systems in several classrooms are a few of the tools which will continue to have a significant impact on the instructional program. Throughout the 2012-13 school year, students will continue to learn computer literacy skills through daily, small group instruction on classroom sets of computers to enhance and support the instructional program and core curriculum. Teachers will continue to utilize a web-based attendance system, allowing them to take attendance online; we will implement a standards-based, online report card during the 2012-13 school year. Our updated District web site allows parents to deposit funds electronically into their child’s lunch account as well as provides contact information for teachers, allowing parents to email them questions or concerns, demonstrating indeed that “The Best Is Yet To Come!” as we prepare to leave a legacy for tomorrow’s generation through 21st Century learning.
"Great Expectations...." can be evidenced by our commitment to create environments where students feel included, respected, valued, and safe. It is our committment to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district's academic and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student. We take bullying very seriously; so much so that we've developed a policy in this area. To read our Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Policy, please click here. By ensuring that our students have safe, nurturing environments, indeed "....The Best Is Yet to Come!"
It is the goal of the Savanna School District to provide the most exemplary educational opportunities for children both now and into the future, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. The difference between a good school district and a GREAT school district is “people”; people like the Savanna School District staff who are committed to do everything they can daily to demonstrate that ‘The Best Is Yet To Come!’; people like our parents who provide the home support for our students so that they can meet our Great Expectations; and people like all those in our community who contribute to our successes in so many ways. Our successes are YOUR successes. The entire Savanna School District staff and Board of Trustees welcomes you to the 2012-13 school year and look forward to fulfilling Great Expectations….. The Best Is Still Yet To Come!
About the District
What a special place Savanna School District is! Encompassing parts of the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress and Stanton, Savanna School District is an elementary school district with approximately 2400 students. These students attend one of our four schools: Cerritos, Hansen, Holder and Twila Reid Schools. We also serve about 250 preschoolers in state and privately-run preschools on our campuses.
Our size is one reason that Savanna has a family-like atmosphere among the faculty, support staff, students, parents and the community we serve. While our small size enables us to maintain this small town feel, our location provides students and staff access to a wide variety of resources within the community.