Longtime educator Jeselle Mata has been selected as Charles G. Emery Elementary School's new principal, bringing 17 years of educational experience to the role and eagerness to build connections and foster a culture of success for all students.
Principal Mata has taught various grade levels including in public and private schools for South Whittier School District, Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Mata said her daily inspiration lies in providing a brighter future for young students.
Buena Park School District is providing more than 200 students with additional support in math, reading, English Language Development, and college and career readiness through its Summer Academy. The academy, which runs through July 14 at Charles G. Emery Elementary School and Gordon H. Beatty Middle School, provides incoming first through eighth-graders with more opportunities to continue academic excellence while also having fun. Each day, both schools’ programs provide additional assistance to the District’s English Language Learners with targeted instruction to increase reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Students are also learning how to use a variety of apps from the District’s Apple Coaches to incorporate music, art, and skills to help with college and career readiness.
Buena Park School District students displayed their public speaking skills by transforming their voices, reciting notable accomplishments of historical figures and expounding on the importance of space exploration during a showcase event that celebrated the end of a two-week summer speech camp. The summer program prepared 50 students – from grades four to eight – for success in the District’s speech and debate program, as well as tournaments, during the upcoming school year. Students presented their speeches to their family and friends during the event, held June 23 at Gordon H. Beatty Middle School.
Gordon H. Beatty Middle School sixth-graders won 21 medals and swept the overall individual rankings during the recent Orange County Academic Pentathlon events, showcasing their knowledge and resourcefulness over the course of three days of quizzes. Gordon H. Beatty Middle School sent 20 sixth-graders, under the tutelage of Pentathlon Coaches Michael McDonald and Kirstin Kim, to participate in the latest OC Academic Pentathlon events, held April 27, April 30 and May 7, where they competed against 19 other area schools and hundreds of students.
Gordon H. Beatty and Buena Park middle school students were teeming with excitement during their promotion ceremonies on June 1, cheering as they celebrated their final days as eighth-graders and Buena Park School District students. The ceremonies, held at Buena Park High School, saw the promotion of 178 Gordon H. Beatty Middle School eighth-graders and 240 Buena Park Middle School eighth-graders. The event allowed families to applaud their students while safely maintaining social distancing and following health guidelines.
Buena Park School District honored teachers, administrators and staff for reaching milestones such as years of service, boosting student achievement, commitment to the District and students and upcoming retirements during an Employee Recognition Celebration on May 18. The event was held at the Buena Park Community Center, where families and friends of recognized employees gathered to cheer on their loved ones. More than 60 employees were celebrated during the ceremony and guests included a field representative from Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, Chairman of the Board for Orange County Supervisors/4th District Supervisor Doug Chaffee, City of Buena Park Mayor Sunny Park and City of Buena Park City Council members Beth Swift and Connor Traut.
Buena Park School District to Host Promotion Ceremonies
Buena Park School District will host a series of promotions, celebrating the academic achievements of more than 4,000 students with a return to in-person ceremonies. Gilbert School will hold its ceremony at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 31; Buena Park Middle School will hold its ceremony at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 1 at Buena Park High School; Gordon H. Beatty Middle School will hold its ceremony at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 at Buena Park High School; Corey School will hold its ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 2; Emery School will hold its ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 2 at Thanksgiving Church; Pendleton School will hold its ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 2; and Whitaker School will hold its ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, June 3.
Buena Park School District has expanded its Early Learning Program for the 2022-23 year, providing preschool classes for children ages two through four, offering part- and full-day options, and creating parent participation opportunities to develop strong academic foundations. The Early Learning Program will continue to focus on a balance of child-initiated and teacher facilitated activities, as well as purposeful play to build kindergarten readiness, language, and literacy skills. The program’s three-hour morning or afternoon sessions include a mealtime, while the full-day classrooms – which run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday – have morning and afternoon snack times and a lunch provided.
Buena Park School District and all of its schools were named 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) award winners by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, shining a light on innovative programs created during the 2020-21 school year. Buena Park School District was one of 121 districts to be recognized for programs that focused on either student engagement, distribution of technology, nutrition services or social-emotional well-being. The CAPP awards were created to acknowledge districts that created unique opportunities to support student growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pendleton Elementary School students can earn free books from popular series such as “Goosebumps,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog” though the school’s new book vending machine, which provides rewards for academic growth. Students can earn free tokens, each worth one free book, by accomplishing self-made academic goals to further their education. Principal Loriann Leota said the program is a perfect way to get students excited about learning and help improve literacy rates as they transition to becoming an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school.
