Tuesday March 25 6:30 26255 Garbani Road Free Admission

Labels: Menifee-Valley-Middle-School, Music

As most people are aware, Measure B will be on the February 5th ballot. Publisher Steve Johnson has written a previous article and several people have posted comments.

Since I have been a teacher in the Menifee District for several years, I hope to add a few observations that may help people decide on this issue. When I first arrived at Menifee Valley Middle School, student enrollment had increased to a level far beyond the planned capacity of the school. Bell Mountain Middle School opened at that time and the students were divided between the two middle schools. Now, both of these schools have grown and are again approaching the capacity limits. If this measure passes, the new middle school and two additional elementary schools will be completed just when crowding at our existing schools is having a serious impact on teacher morale and student discipline.

I have observed that the school district management and the school board are financially conservative and consistently spend the available funds where they will do the most good for the students. The district is not here for the benefit of the administrators or the teachers; it is here to provide the best educational experience possible for the kids. Working in a great district is just a side benefit we enjoy.

It is hard to ask people to approve higher taxes for themselves. My best argument to do so is that we have a great school district that is an asset for our community and has a positive effect on home values. This bond measure will keep us just ahead of the growing student population. If we put this off, the monetary cost will be much greater later.

Labels: Bell-Mountain-Middle-School, Bond-Measures, Menifee-Union-School-District, Menifee-Valley-Middle-School

As reported in The Californian today, the Menifee Union School District voted to take away elective courses from students who don't do well in Math, English, and other basic studies....

Instead, the students in the year-round schools who did not pass the Standardized Testing and Reporting will be enrolled in a special intervention class in the subject in which they're underachieving, Menifee Union School District officials said. Upon achieving proficiency, the students will be allowed to return to band or other electives.

Basically, if your student can't pass the basic proficiency tests in math, english, then he or she won't be allowed to take band, art, and other elective classes. Instead, they'll have to take these "special ed" classes to help boost their proficiency.

I think the most important factor to consider is this: the middle schools in our valley, which this policy affects the most, are public schools, funded by tax dollars. You and I are paying for these students' education. If these kids are going to get a free education from my tax dollars, then I expect proficiency from them.

But having said that, I wish that our school district as well as our State could foster the growth of more private schools. We need MORE private schools, not public schools.

I think a big reason why our public schools have so little funds to work with is because they have so many students, and not enough teachers and facilities to educate them efficiently. The reason why there are so many students in public schools is because there are no other schools to send them to.

I believe many parents have the income necessary to send their kids to private schools, except that there are very few private schools available. I think many kids don't belong in public schools simply because their parents have more than enough money to afford private schooling. In other words, public schooling should be available for families who require public assistance. If there were more private schools, it would greatly lessen the burden on public schools.

So the question is, why aren't there more private schools available? Certainly, the demand is there. I know there are many charter schools that operate throughout Southern California, except they have to get the approval from our school district to operate. So, why doesn't our school district approve more of these schools, and let them flourish in Menifee Valley?

I'd like to have one our of School Board members, a teacher, or a PTA member, post a comment and address this question.

Labels: Menifee-Union-School-District, Menifee-Valley-Middle-School

Menifee Valley Middle School

Citizenship Day: Honoring Our Veterans

All U. S. Veterans are invited to join us as our honored guests on this special occasion.

When: Wednesday March 21, 2007

9:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Where: Menifee Valley Middle School

26255 Garbani Road

Menifee, California 92584

Share your thoughts and experiences with our students. We hope to honor your service to our country and make history meaningful to a new generation. Share your memories as a veteran with students in an informal interview setting. Please bring items such as photos, newspaper clippings, models, and uniforms to share.

(No weapons, please)

Lunch will be provided at noon.

For further information:

Email: Veterans@menifeeusd.org

Telephone: (951) 672-6400

Labels: Menifee-Valley-Middle-School, Veterans

Menifee Valley Middle School's Annual Band and Choir Holiday Concert will be Wednesday December 20th from 6 to 8 PM at the school, located at 26255 Garbani Road. The public is invited to come and enjoy the sounds of the Holiday Season. The band, under the direction of Craig Yancey, and the choir, directed by Tom Oliver and Mark Massey, have practiced long hours to present this program as a gift to their parents, their fellow students, and to the community.
Admission: FREE Parking: FREE The Experience: PRICELESS

Labels: Christmas, Concerts, Menifee-Valley-Middle-School