Sespe Elementary School Science Fair will be from 9am-11am on Wednesday April 18. Display for the parents is on Thursday April 19th from 6-7pm.

On March 17th Sespe School sent three 4th grade teams to Migrant Speech and Spelling Competition at the Marriott Hotel in Ventura. All three teams performed well, but team two featuring Sandra Murillo, Aiessabella Rodriguez, and Anahi Pascual stole the show by finishing as champions in their division. The three managed to spell every word given to them correctly! The competition featured teams from all around the area. Congratulations to all three girls and their coach, Mr. Bill Chavez, who also serves as an RTI teacher at Sespe School. The other Sespe students that competed included Miguel Hernandez, Eric Torres, Fabian Zuniga, Dorian Rojas, Alma Villegas, and Lorena Izarraraz. Congratulations to all of the Sespe participants for a job well done!

• Learn how to recognize the signs of bullying
• Learn how to help your child avoid being a victim
• Learn what to do if you believe your child is being bullied

February 9th @ Sespe School Cafeteria

All Fillmore families and community welcome

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Pizza Sales
6:00 PM- 7:00 PM Presentation
(In both English & Spanish)

425 Orchard Street • Fillmore, CA 93012

(l-r) Sespe Super Spellers Damien Meza, Juan Orozco, and Summer Hurtado.
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Can you spell audience? Well, Damian Meza certainly can! Audience was his winning word at the Sespe Elementary School Spelling Bee, the first milestone toward the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee. Sespe’s contest, held on January 10th, challenged 25 spellers through thirteen rounds, spelling difficult words like defiantly, eclipse, and laborious. The spellers took a written test to qualify for entrance into the bee and then studied their lists of 450 words in preparation for the epic mental battle. Runner up, Summer Hurtado, was tough competition throughout the bee, finally missing “replete” which allowed Meza to take the victory. Meza continues studying for the upcoming county bee to be held at the Universtiy of California, Channel Islands on March 3, 2012. Although only one speller per school is permitted to move on in the competition, Hurtado continues to study as well, in case Meza should be unable to compete. The competition will consist of a written test followed by an onstage contest for the top 50 qualifiers, the winner of which will compete at the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC, in May. All students and staff at Sespe wish Damian and Summer the best of luck.

Donna Wojciechowski is the School Spelling Bee Coordinator.

The English Language Advisory Council (ELAC) hosted their second parent workshop on November 17th. The theme of this workshop was “Self Esteem and Your Child.” The workshop was conducted by Linda Arroyo from Triple P. The workshop was the second offered to Sespe parents.

The presenter discussed the importance of building self-esteem in children so that they feel confident and comfortable. She added that it is crucial that children feel like someone is listening to their concerns and needs.

Ms. Arroyo discussed some of the causes of low self-esteem which include: When children are not frequently praised; when parents are critical of their child (academics, sports, etc.); When children are compared to their siblings or other children; When children see physical or emotional violence in the home.

She then discussed a number of ways parents can help build self-esteem in their children. One way is to recognize that all children and individuals are different so it is important to recognize the individual strengths of each child. It is also important to tell your child that you care about them every day. It is crucial also to set aside a time everyday that is devoted to your child when all other distractions are removed, regardless of how busy the day is. It is also vital that parents help their children develop positive friendships and model this as well. Children should also be allowed to make their own decisions when appropriate (choosing outfits, meals, etc.) Finally, it is crucial to avoid solving all of your child’s problems, rather offer them support and tell them that everything will be ok.

The next ELAC parent workshop will take place on Thursday, January 19th at 8:30 am in the Sespe Cafeteria. Parents from all school and community members are welcome to attend.

Sespe would like to thank Gisela Gutierrez for helping Sespe secure a $1000 grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation. Thank you Gisela for going out of your way to help Sespe School. We plan on using the grant to purchase much needed instructional supplies for classrooms and some new playground equipment for our students. Thanks again Gisela!

On Thursday, October 20th the Sespe English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) hosted a parent workshop entitled, “How you can support your child when they are bullied.” The presentation was put on by the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) and was facilitated by Lucia Gonzalez.

One of the key messages delivered by Gonzalez was that parents can support their child by educating them how to avoid being a victim. Gonzalez also noted the importance of frequently speaking with your children about what is happening at school. She added that it may be helpful to specifically ask your child what they worked on at school, who they hang out with, what they were happy about at school, and in what areas they were having problems. She also mentioned that it is crucial to teach children to communicate with parents and teachers when they are experiencing bullying or harassment. Gonzalez answered specific questions from parents and discussed how families and schools should work together to address bullying issues.

The workshop was attended by over 50 Sespe parents. Bullying is an issue at all schools and nearly every child is bullied at some point in their schooling years. The more communication that takes place between families, teachers, and schools the quicker we can address this difficult issue. The next parent workshop, Building Children’s Self-Esteem, will take place in the Sespe Cafeteria (on Orchard Street) on Thursday, November 17th from 8:30-9:30. All parents and community members are welcome.

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Last Thursday, May 26th, Sespe GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) students performed an original musical, The King’s Fool, inspired by Shakespeare’s play King Lear. This is the seventh Sespe GATE production written by fourth grade Sespe teacher Greg Spaulding and co-directed with third grade teacher Lisa Gosselin.

In the Sespe GATE production, Shakespeare’s grim tragedy is transformed into delightful musical comedy. Yorick, the king’s jester, is old and tired. He longs to retire and sit on a beach sipping orange Fanta. But who will make the king laugh?

King Lear is also old and tired. He also wants to retire. But who will run the kingdom? When he suddenly and rashly decides to give up power, a chain of unintended (and hilarious) events is put in motion.

The talented young cast sang danced and charmed their way across the stage, to the delight of the enthusiastic audience.

The Cast: Abraham Garza Attendant, Alberto Ceja Edmund, Andrew Rodriguez Soldier, Arianna Magaña Robin, Blake Palacio King Lear, Chloe Gambill Cordelia, Damian Meza Attendant, Dyanysis Dunn Attendant, Edgar Gonzalez Soldier, Eric Hurtado Oswald, Fernie Gonzalez Yorick, Grace Garnica Goneril, Gregory Kraft Soldier, Ian Morris Hamlet, Joanna Ponce Colombina, Juan Orozco Soldier, Laura Avila Regan, Marcos Pino Arlecchino, Summer Hurtado Servant.

Folklorico - A Cinco de Mayo fiesta was held at Sespe School on May 5th. One of the many attractions was Grupo folklórico de San Francisco de Asís. The pavilion was decorated with drinking-straw-spaced green, white, and red pinwheels, the brown columns studded with pinwheel rosettes. Paper chain garlands of green, white, and red scalloped the guardrails along the stage area, which featured an azure poncho flanked by two modest black sombreros. Tissue rosettes dotted the ramp railing, and near the flagpole stood a display of ponchos and clay vessels, next to which two six-pointed Disney piñatas. Traditional Mexican food was served and everyone enjoyed the fiesta.
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Shown (l-r) are Alissa Hernandez, 14, Erika Olveras, 13, Leslie Galvan, 13, and Cecilia Olveras, 16.
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My first encounter with Cinco de Mayo was the fiesta held at Sespe School the evening of May 5. Considering my enthusiasm to attend, it was funny to find that I had forgotten something as I approached the school grounds—I am not the biggest fan of mariachi music. Apprehension notwithstanding, I soldiered on into the sound waves, determined to take an openhearted look at a celebration that I imagined would be as foreign to me as it was familiar to perhaps the majority in attendance.

Families gathered beneath the large tree in the quad and at the pavilion; people emerged from the cafeteria with plates of tamales and tostadas, their red plastic cups peppering the festive scene. The pavilion was festooned with drinking-straw-spaced green, white, and red pinwheels happily spinning in the breeze, the brown columns studded with pinwheel rosettes. Paper chain garlands of—surprise—green, white, and red scalloped the guardrails along the stage area, which featured an azure poncho flanked by two modest black sombreros. Tissue rosettes dotted the ramp railing, and near the flagpole stood a display of ponchos and clay vessels, next to which two six-pointed Disney piñatas awaited their gory fates.

An abundance of schoolchildren darted around the tables, noisily chasing each other and starting a pickup Frisbee game in the back. Several girls and ladies wore flounced blouses, skirts, and dresses; ribbons adorned several hairdos, and a red plastic flower stuck out of one ponytail. Some botas vaqueros and a Mexican futbol jersey were in attendance, and much to my satisfaction, I spied a giant woven sombrero floating somewhere beneath the giant tree. And above all the mayhem, the mariachi music cheerily blasted from the lone loudspeaker that pointed, it seemed, directly at me.

Over a hundred people had congregated when principal Rosemarie Hibler, garbed in vestido folklórico—a loose white shift dress embroidered with colorful flowers—took the mic. She announced that the fiesta was the school’s first, sponsored by English Learner Advisory Committee volunteers. Hibler praised their efforts, duly noting, “The school’s never looked so beautiful!”

Children were invited to the stage, and Ms. Esmeralda Ramirez-Rueda, a former member of Ballet Folklórico Infantil de Fillmore, led a group of about twenty girls in turns and footwork while a group of boys piled on the back of a bench to intently watch their progress. The short workshop completed, the newly minted dancers performed their routine to music, after the boys had been asked to step down for the benefit of all the audience.

Ms. Ramirez-Rueda told me that she had been part of the ballet folklórico group until the group disbanded when she was twelve. As if on cue, behind us appeared a pair of costumed girls in vibrant skirts, like two agile hollyhocks in white dress shoes. Together they tapped away on the concrete, giggling in girlish fashion. Turning back, I saw a couple of large sombreros being ferried through the crowd as pulsating trumpets punctuated the Spanish chorus streaming from the stage.

Mr. Jeremías Guzmán Barrera from the Mexican Consulate gave a bilingual talk on the history of Cinco de Mayo as a small team of girls held an illustrated banner reading, “Bicentenario 2010, Mexican Consulate, Oxnard.” While the noisy kids seemed largely impervious to the address, a group of students perched along the guardrail listened along with the appreciative parents and grandparents at the tables. Through the din, Guzmán noted that throughout its history, Mexico had been under the control of France, Spain, and England, and the battle celebrated on Cinco de Mayo marked the first time Mexico fought together as one. Calling the fiesta “a great family event,” Guzmán said that it’s “important [for the children] to know their roots,” and presented Principal Hibler with a calendar featuring artwork by Mexican children around the world.

ELAC member Araceli Bravo told me that they were a group of Hispanic parents who advised the school regarding what they wanted for their children. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, they contacted local businesses, found sponsors for food, invited the Mexican Consul, and recruited dancers. “It was planned in one and a half months—it was just a rush,” she said.

The fiesta’s highlight was CONTINUED »

For the past 2 years walkers from Sespe Elementary School walked to raise money. On Friday, February 20th, they’ll lace up their shoes once again for Sespe School’s 3rd Annual “Walk Your Paws Off” Walkathon organized by the Sespe Parent Club. Over the last 2 years our students have raised enough money to donate $5000 toward the installation of our brand new playground equipment, purchase plants to help beautify our school (and get a mural painted!), donate funds toward the purchase of A.R. prizes to help motivate our students to read, and more! For our Walkathon this year, we will give prizes for the 3 students who receive the most pledge money, for the student at each grade level who walks the most laps, and for the class that raises the most money – a popsicle party! We have music and snacks, and each student receives a Walkathon water bottle. It’s a great event that focuses on helping our school community, getting some exercise and being healthy.

This year’s goal is to continue to raise money for the beautification of our school, to purchase needed supplies such as books, and to get our school garden going so the students can get out and do some hands-on science! If you’d like to donate, please make your check payable to Sespe Parent Club (100% of the donated money goes directly to Sespe School). If you have any questions call Sespe School at 524-6161.