St. Paul's Annual Report 2018-2019

THE ANNUAL REPORT

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TABLE OF
CONTENTS

3 • MISSION STATEMENT
4 • MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
7 • 2018-2019 HIGHLIGHTS
8 • A LETTER FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR
11 • PARENTS GUILD EVENTS
12 • A LETTER FROM OUR PARENTS GUILD PRESIDENT
14 • SPRING AUCTION
16 • THANK YOU DONORS
20 • A LETTER FROM OUR CHAPLAIN
23 • MESSAGE FROM ALUMNUS
25 • THE WALL IS COMPLETED
27 • STEAM FOCUS KINDERGARTEN
28 • STEAM FOCUS PRIMARY
31 • STEAM FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL
32 • GOODBYE MR. WARREN
33 • BOARD MEMBERS

St. Paul’s School has
been a Place of Love
and Learning since 1966.
Our school’s mission is
to provide a learning
experience of high
academic standards in
a Christian environment,
where children can
develop their intellectual
abilities and their sense
of self-worth and
responsibility, and where
students, parents, and
staff form a close, caring
community where all
support and share in each
other’s growth.

PAGE 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MESSAGE FROM
THE HEAD OF
SCHOOL

On being back to school…

SETH YOCUM What an amazing time of year. Without a doubt, the number one
question I’ve been asked over the past two weeks is if I’m ready to have the
kids back at school. Often the question comes in a bit of jest from parents
worn weary of a summertime full of kids and entertainment. More than
perception, often I see the look of comfort in their eyes knowing that their
kids are safe, learning, and under our care (and out of their hair). I get it.
With two daughters over the age of twenty and an adolescent son, I under-
stand the mixture of exhaustion and enthusiasm parents experience this
time of year. But rest assured, there is nothing that makes me happier than
to see your children here, back to school, under our care, carrying on the St.
Paul’s mission and tradition. Maybe what is most amazing of all is how suc-
cessful and smooth it all goes. I simply couldn’t be more proud of my faculty
and staff and the amazing work that they do realizing this monumental feat.
There are so many working parts to the successful launch of a school year,
yet the faculty pull it off with grace and ease. We are all truly blessed to be a
part of St. Paul’s School.

FAVORITE But outside of welcoming back all of our wonderful students and families,
it has been a busy past few weeks here at the school. In an effort to main-
MOMENTS tain our highest commitment to student safety, we’ve retained the services
of Hampel Security Consultants to provide a number of safety services
• Coming from public education I was inspired throughout the year. Hampel Security Consultants have already provided a
by the power of coming together each morning vulnerability assessment, a physical plant security assessment, a risk analysis
in chapel. Being able to see each student and assessment, campus security training, active shooter training, and a continu-
join together in song celebratory devotion is a ity book. They also plan to provide traumatic first aid training to the entire
manifestion of our mission and I loved it. staff at the close of the first quarter. Brian Hampel will continue to work
with members of our leadership team to help us create the safest environ-
• I was almost moved to tears at our track meet ment possible for our children.
seeing our community come together and put
on that event was a very special moment.

ACADEMIC Following a great deal of thought, investigation, and consideration, the St.
Paul’s School board and administrative team will be pursuing the develop-
UPDATE ment and growth of our advancement department. In a nutshell, St. Paul’s
School works tirelessly to be viable and unique in an increasingly competi-
• Finished academic component of my doc- tive educational market, and it is important that we develop and control
toral work in the Spring (19) and successfully our image and outreach in the community, as well as to seek and develop
completed my oral and written comprehensive sustainable philanthropic giving that aligns with our mission, vision, and
exams. Christian values. Certainly this is a monumental task as most independent
schools have a full time Director of Advancement or else entire departments
• Currently drafting dissertation proposal
centering on independent school governance.

PAGE 5

devoted to such endeavors. But that’s not us, not just yet. Instead, Jennifer Peltzer and Corinne
Ramsey alongside the guidance and support of our board of trustees will begin this venture slowly, but
with a steadfast commitment to the long term sustainability of St. Paul’s School.

On the academic side, we have an exciting year planned for our middle school team. In a newer twist
on the sixth grade, Kyle Womack and Ana Barba will handling a majority of the educative responsibilities.
Our intention is to provide a rigorous academic experience for these kids while building in greater systems
of support, accountability, and student responsibility. Both Mr. Womack and Ms. Barba will be working
themselves to the proverbial nub this year, but have been commissioned to lay the foundation for a rein-
vigorated middle school program that simply does not exist anywhere else in our surrounding community.
More than sports or exposure or a “social life,” what adolescent kids need most is to be to be known, sup-
ported, and loved by their community. St. Paul’s School has the unique ability to provide exactly this, while
also providing a top tier academic experience for all of our children. This is who we are, this is what we
offer, and this is where we need to hang our hat. I couldn’t be more proud of the work these two are doing,
and am excited to see this program flourish.

As for our athletics and physical education program, we have a few exciting changes for the 2019/2020
academic year. Beginning in the middle of September, we will once again field a Cross Country team. My-
self, alongside Ms. Barba, will be coaching this fine group of young athletes. We are eager to have both a
boys team and a girls team, so any student eager to learn more about the lifelong benefits of long distance
running, please come out and participate in Cross Country. Additionally, in an effort to get more of our
middle school students involved in more elective offerings, St. Paul’s School is piloting a physical education
waiver for students who participate in club sports who feel that their practice and competition schedules
will meet the mandatory 350 minute of physical education for every 10 days of school. Interested stu-
dents should discuss these requirements further with their homeroom teachers.

It should go without saying, but I couldn’t be more pleased that we are all back to school. The cyclical na-
ture of education has once again brought us this new beginning, and my hope is that you and your children
find this to be an exceedingly rewarding year.

Kind Regards,

SETH YOCUM

HEAD OF SCHOOL

PAGE 6 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

PAGE 7

$ HIGHLIGHTS $ Giving
2018-2019 Over $30,000 were raised for staff & faculty professional
Student Success developement. A committment to our educators is a
committment to our future!
The 2018-19 7th and 8th grade classes participated in a Tulare
County of Education writing contest. They had to choose a life Increased focused on project and inquiry based learning
maxim and reflect on how it applies to their life and the world curriculum and pedagogical opportunities.
around them. The insight derived from the maxim then had to
be integrated into a long-term strategy that reinforces good 1st Place in Robotics
character. We had a student from 7th & 8th grade win first
place across the entire county! The SPS Robotics team took 1st place at the 4H
Robotics Competition. All students received a
We competed in the Math Bowl blue ribbon and 4H pin.
& Jay Dillon’s robot won 2nd place for Robotics
Design in the Lego League Raptor Rumble.
hosted The National Geographic Bee.
3 teachers received specialized
COMPLETION OF
THE WALL training opportunities

Upgraded teacher technology and
increased teacher professional
development opportunities.

WE PASSED ACCREDITATION Kids on Campus

Revamping of Kids on Campus to
increase structure, accountability,
and homework support.

PAGE 8 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

Josie Iverson Many of you likely remember when a few years ago,
one of the upper-level grades started a bonafide
Board Chair movement here at St. Paul’s School – “CHOOSE JOY”.
Their random acts of kindness for staff and parents
were appreciated all around school, they gave all
the younger kids bright balloons in class for no
reason other than to have fun, and they made soft
and colorful “CHOOSE JOY” t-shirts that every kid
wanted to get their sweet little hands on. It was
their mantra for class solidarity, it was their rally cry
for school spirit, and it was one of the most cheerful
slices of time in recent history here at our beloved
School.
St. Paul’s School lives in a special place in my heart
because of that JOY it brings to me each day. I
love that my kids love to be here each morning. I
love the quick but meaningful conversations with
teachers in the moments before the day begins.

PAGE 9

I love the adorable laughter, excitement, and
general shenanigans in the car when I drive for field
trips. I love Parents’ Guild meetings with coffee,
reports of success in our latest endeavor, and
exciting plans for the future. I also love that I have
found purpose in serving our Board of Trustees. I
am happy to devote my time to the mission of St.
Paul’s, to be a place where our children are loved
and they learn every day.
I know that St. Paul’s takes an entire community to
be the amazing place it is, and that it strives to be.
I CHOOSE to give to and to serve St. Paul’s School
because it gives me JOY. I am supporting academic
achievement; I am supporting my alma mater –
the place that gave me the right start from the
very beginning; I am supporting the teachers my
children will remember for the rest of their lives.

PAGE 10 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

ON BEHALF OF THE ST. PAUL’S PARENTS’
GUILD, WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU
TO OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY! WE
LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR FILLED
WITH COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES,
FUN EVENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
SUPPORTING ST. PAUL’S KIDS, TEACHERS,
AND STAFF AS THEY CONTINUE TO ATTAIN
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.

PAGE 11

PARENTS GUILD

GOLF TOURNAMENT CAR SHOW FALL CARNIVAL

Tuition alone does not cover the cost of a student’s education, money raised by the
Parents’ Guild helps enhance the educational experience at St. Paul’s school. We are

committed to building and fostering strong relationships in our school community
through fun and family-friendly events on campus.

SPRING AUCTION FUN RUN FIELD DAY

PAGE 12 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MESSAGE FROM PG PRESIDENT

Ryan McGuire St. Paul’s School would like to thank all of you
who contribute your time, your talents, and your
Parents Guild President resources to support our School. The generosity
you choose to give makes St. Paul’s the joyous place
we all know and love.
On behalf of the Parents’ Guild, I’d like to say THANK
YOU to the entire Saint Paul’s School community!
As I close out my two-year term as president of
the Parents’ Guild and reflect back on my tenure, I
am absolutely blown away by the generosity I was
privileged to witness.
The money we raised was so important. Not only
did we secure our campus with our fence/wall
project and purchase new computer workstations
for all staff, we were able to fund many smaller
projects that really set our school apart from all
others. The Robotics Club, film-editing elective,
STEAM-based initiatives, teacher development,
etc. are the essence of what makes St. Paul’s School
special.
Speaking of special, countless volunteer hours were
invested by Parents’ Guild members to shape the

PAGE 13

unique culture we all enjoy on our campus
and I think it’s important to note that the CAIS
Accreditation Team specifically recognized that
in their findings. What other school celebrates its
powerful parent/student/staff relationship with a
golf tournament, a fall carnival, St. Francis Day, the
Spring Auction, a track meet, a car show, Field Day,
unique cultural celebrations, movie nights, and
various class parties and events? I could go on and
on.
I am absolutely thrilled about the direction our
school is headed and look forward to seeing the
amazing things that are clearly in our future! If you
have any desire at all to volunteer but don’t know
where to start, I invite you to reach out to me or
anyone else who is involved with our Parents’ Guild;
it’s so much more than just fun Friday morning
meetings. Once again, thank you to each and every
one of you who volunteered, helped, contributed,
or donated to our wonderful school!

PAGE 14 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

PAGE 15

THANKFUL

FOR OUR DONORS

ASIYEH & VAHID SALEHI MEGAN & NATHAN MADSEN
AMY & RYAN MCGUIRE CHEL & HEATHER MOORE
CHRISTIE & BILL VANDER POEL NADER & ALISSA MALAKAN
BRIAN & KATRINA RAINEY JESSICA & TONY BENEVENTO
RYAN & RENEE LANSDOWNE ADRIENNE & BRIAN POOCHIGIAN
NANCY & CHARLIE PITIGLIANO MOE & ZAID GERMAN
MANDI & MARIO MENDOZA RYAN & RACHEL SULLIVAN
GARY & SUE CASTRO BRIAN ALVERTONI & ANTHONY MALDO-
MICHAEL & ANDREA CASTRO NADO
KENNY & ROCHELLE WILEMAN BRYCE & JANESSA IDEN
JEAN & ROY JONES JENNIFER & CASEY BARBER
JOY & TODD MARTIN MATT & SHAHEEN MCMILLAN
ANIL & JAGRUTI PATEL NICKIE & MARK KREBSBACH
VIC & LISA SURROZ HANNAH & JET GAILEY
AMAN & JASJEET MALLI MARK & MERRITT WISEMAN
JOSH PITIGLIANO & JENNIFER WESSEL JAIME HOWE
JOE & REVA MALLI FARNOUSH & FARSHAD KARIMPOUR
KAREEM & KELLY DADA KEVIN & LISA BENO
JOSIE & SCOTT IVERSON JOEY MACKEY

FATEH & HAYLEY ENTABI AUNDRIA & BLAKE MAASKE
DORIA & STEPHEN GONG ANTHONY & JENNIFER FULTZ
LILY & PAUL WACHTER CHRIS & MICHELLE ORMONDE
CATHY & RICHARD MCGUIRE ALBERT YBARRA
AARON & LESLIE HERREMA BRANDON & CALI SORENSON
SCOTT & ASHA PRATT KELLY GEELS
MEERA NAIR BEN & LIZ CURTI
RAJ & MINTY DHILLON JULIE RODRIGUEZ
DOUG & LILLY LORENZO ANTHONY GONZALES
STEVE & JILL RIESENBECK ANTHONY & TIFFANI GONZALES
JAMES NETTO BRANDON & KARA FORD
DAVID & NANDIE KAUFMAN / SINGH TOM & SALLY RINGER
NANCY & STAN CASTILLO KRISTY SMOOT
CARLOS RODRIGUEZ CHRIS & JULIE EDWARDS
JUDY & NICHOLAS GONG CARISSA & RICK LEVY
DAVID & MEIRE HATCH CINDI MARSHALL
MELISSA & RAJESH CHABRA JENNIFER THEKKUMTHALA
HARDEEP & SANDY BRAR JUNELLE BYRD
ALEX & CHRISTINA ROSH JENA BORGES
BOB LYLES MARY VORST
JESSICA DOOLEY CAMMERAN WARNER
LESLIE RITCHIE ALLISON & MATT PIERCE

JANI & STEVEN DEPEW DINO & JULIE GIACOMAZZI
DEREK & JULIE VANDEREYK STEVE & VANESSA SHEARER
RENEE GARCIA ROSIE TAYLOR
JUMANA & LAURICE GHATTAS 202 FAMILY DENTISTRY
ASHLEY & NATHAN STEWART ADVANCED BODY AND LASER
PAMELA & RICHARD JAMES AGVANTAGE CONSULTING INC
CATHRYN GUADAGNI AMERICAN CERAMIC AND TILE
SHARRON MURRY ASHOORI JEWELERS
CARRIE SUE & JOELLEN STEVENSON / BLENDING PALLETTES
WILSON BLUEPRINT
RICA CURTISS BOMBSHELL BLOW DRY BAR & BOUTIQUE
DON & PEGGY BUCHANAN BOULDER BOATS
TIFFANY AICKLEN BRANDON FORD CONSTRUCTION
ELIZABETH GIANNINI BRAR FARMS
MARY ANN MCCOY CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
DONNA THOMAS CAL WEST FARMS
ANDRAE & ERIKA MORENO CENTRAL VALLEY MANAGEMENT
ALEX & JENNIFER PELTZER CIAO COW CREAMERY
ART & LAURA ALAFA EAGLE MOUNTIAN CASINO
ANA & JASON BARBA F & D GIACOMAZZI FARMS & GIACOMAZZI
PATTIE & JUAN MONCIVAIS-SAENZ / DAIRY
SAENZ FARM CREDIT WEST

FRESH BUYERS INSPECTIONS, INC. SIERRA BICYCLE WERKS
GIGI KRAUS PHOTOGRAPHY ST. PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH
JACK GRIGGS, INC TANK SWAPPERS
JAZZ PRODUCTIONS SALON & SPA THE KILLER DUELING PIANOS
JC LANSDOWNE TI INC
JOSHUA TREE TOP LINE DAIRY CONSULTING
KINGS GUN CENTER TULARE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
KRCSAFETY TUTTI FRUITTI & CANTON CHINESE RES-
LAWRENCE TRACTOR TAURANT
MAINLAND SKATE & SURF UNDER THE OAKS RANCH
MALAKAN DIAMOND VALLEY EXPETEC
MERRYMAN STATION VISALIA RAWHIDE
MOO INC WELLS FARGO ADVISORS
MOO, INC. & VALVOLINE
PELTZER & RICHARDSON LC
PITA KABOB
PITIGLIANO FARMS
PITIGLIANO FARMS & PITIGLIANO FARMS
PROPT
QUANTUM LEAP
RUN4COVER
SECURITY 1ST ALARM KING

DENNIS & LAURIE BUHLER IRMGARD KAEBLE
JAMES & CATHY GUADAGNI JENNIFER PELTZER
DAVID & CATHERINE FRANCIS SHIRLEY LEI
JOHN & KARON HIGGINS ANTONINO & JESSICA BENEVENTO
JOCELYN IVERSON DENTAL CORPORATION WESLEY & PAULA LARMORE
HEATHER BIXLER MANISHA & NIKUNJ RAIYANI
CENTRAL VALLEY MANAGEMENT TEAM YOUR CAUSE, LLC (WELLS FARGO) MATCH-
(JOJO MARSHALL) ING - IVERSON
CASEY & LESLIE RITCHIE JOHN AND CASEY AUDINO
ARON & NANCY GULARTE DEBORAH PETTY
ROBERT & MAUREEN GIANNINI AUDREY BOSMAN
WELLS FARGO (JOSIE IVERSON, WILL BRAVANTE
MATCHING GIFT) KEVIN & LISA BENO
WONDERFUL GIVING (MICHELLE SCHULZ JOSHUA & RICA CURTIS
MATCHING GIFT) DAVID PARSHALL
LINDA HORTON DENNIS & LAURIE BUHLER
RICHARD & PAM JAMES LEHAB & MINA ARAIM
SHARON BERG
LARRY & DOROTHY EDWARDS
LARRY & ERLENE BENEVENTO
MANUEL & PAULA LUCERO
DWELLE FAMILY FOUNDATION INC.

WE
COULDN’T

DO IT
WITHOUT YOU

PAGE 22 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MESSAGE FROM FATHER JAMES

PAGE 23

Since its founding by St. Paul’s Church in 1966, St. Paul’s School
has provided a place for students to grow in the knowledge and
love of God as an integral part of their educational lives.
While the school was first located at the church’s facilities, now
it has a beautiful campus of its own provided by members of
the church. With the separate campus has come growth in both
numbers and diversity. While St. Paul’s School continues as a
Christian school, in keeping with its Anglican roots and identity,
students of all religious backgrounds, and those with none,
are welcomed and incorporated into a loving community that
encourages and nurtures their intellectual curiosity, artistic and
athletic abilities, and spiritual growth.
The relationship between the school and the church continues
to be a positive one, with the church supporting the school
through its clergy, who serve as chaplains for daily worship
services, and as pastoral counselors, as appropriate, for the
school community. In addition, through membership on the
Board of Trustees, church members help provide continuity with
the past as well as guidance and support for current activities
and programs.
I am looking forward to the next school year with an on-going
commitment to provide age-appropriate worship services
and religious education. Working with the teachers and staff,
we hope to further develop “home-room chapel” as a time for
prayer, instruction and reflection. As with other aspects of the
school’s life, parental input and feedback is always welcome.
Fr. Richard James
Chaplain, St. Paul’s School

MESSAGE FROM ALUMNUS
SARAH CHAVEZ

THE YEAR WAS 2005 - I WAS WALKING IN MY 8TH GRADE GRADU-
ATION AT ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL. I CAN STILL HEAR THE POP SONG
“GRADUATION” BY VITAMIN C PLAYING IN MY HEAD AS I LOOK BACK
ON MY MEMORY OF THAT DAY. I REMEMBER THE FACES OF MY
TEACHERS WATCHING ME TAKE MY LAST STEPS ON THE GROUNDS
AS A STUDENT. IT WAS AT ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL WHERE I STARTED TO
DISCOVER WHO I WOULD BECOME AS A PERSON. I HAD NO CLUE
THAT ROAD OF SELF-DISCOVERY WOULD LEAD ME BACK ALMOST 15
YEARS LATER.
IN THOSE DAYS, I WAS SARAH GULARTE, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED
AWKWARD, SHY GIRL WITH GLASSES. MY INTROVERTED PERSONAL-
ITY WAS VERY HELPFUL BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL WHEN IT CAME TO
ENGULFING MYSELF IN A PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM AT CSU LONG
BEACH. AFTER I GOT MY BACHELOR OF ARTS, I TOOK A BREAK FROM
MY STUDIES AND GOT MARRIED, ONLY TO FIND THE BOOKS CALLING
MY NAME ONCE AGAIN. TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, I OBTAINED MY
MASTER’S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND BEGAN PURSUING LICEN-
SURE AS A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST.

THIS IS WHERE THE TWO WORLDS COLLIDED - ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL
FELT A NEED AMONG ITS STUDENTS FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES,
AND I HAD 3,000 HOURS TO CONQUER. IT WAS A WIN-WIN! NOT
ONLY WAS I IN NEED OF THE EXPERIENCE, BUT MY HEART LONGED
FOR THE NOSTALGIA OF SIMPLER DAYS. I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE
TO BE BACK ON CAMPUS, BUT AS A MORE CONFIDENT, MATURE VER-
SION OF MYSELF. MOREOVER, I GET TO WITNESS STUDENTS AS THEY
GO THROUGH THE SAME JOURNEY THAT I WAS ONCE ON.
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING, I AM ALSO A FULL-TIME MOM OF A VERY
SASSY 3-YEAR-OLD, ZOEY, WHICH KEEPS ME QUITE ENTERTAINED.
SHE AND MY HUSBAND RICHARD ARE MY WORLD. WE LOVE THE
OUTDOORS AND ANYTHING ADVENTUROUS. OH, AND I CAN’T FOR-
GET MY OTHER CHILD, MY BLACK CAT RAJA. NO SURPRISE THAT THIS
AWKWARD, INTROVERTED GIRL WITH GLASSES BECAME A CAT LADY
(JUST ONE, THOUGH). AND I’M PROUD OF IT!

PAGE 26 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

“Excellent school
where kids
thrive and are
prepared well
for a successful
high school,
college and
professional
career.”

ST. PAUL’S PARENT

THE WALL

Thank you for being a pillar of our SPS family

PAGE 27

PAGE 28 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

KINDERGARTEN TEAM

This past year our kindergarten team, Mrs. Shel-
ton and I (Mrs. Fisher), had an opportunity to at-
tend a professional development seminar on guid-
ed math. We both love learning new information
and methods of instruction, finding new avenues
to reach every child that we teach, and a desire to
stay current with techniques and practices that
are currently being used by other successful edu-
cators. The fact that we have an administrator like
Mr. Yocum to encourage continuing education and
a Parents’ Guild to help us fund these seminars
leaves us revitalized and eager to implement our
new found techniques; it’s a win-win for teachers
and students!

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 PAGE 29

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIONS Our goal is to create an environment of
mathematical thinkers!
Socrates was quoted as saying, “Education is
the kindling of a flame, not filling a vessel.” As
educators we have a desire to build a learning
atmosphere filled with wonder, building curios-
ity, and a space where children feel valued for
their input; not a teacher sharing information
and facts! Therefore, the ideas and concepts
that we’ve learned, such as: daily reflection of
past knowledge; fun and engaging daily warm-
ups; and whole group math talks will be added
to our current math program. Finally, we’ll end
our math instruction time with small learning
groups working together, discussing the pro-
cess to complete a task, students learning that
there is more than one way to reach an answer
to a given problem, and having fun in the pro-
cess! In addition to our regular school wide
math program, we believe implementing these
techniques will lead to a greater understanding
and a stronger foundation for the future.

PAGE 30 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

PRIMARY TEAM At the end of March, I had the opportunity to attend The Deeper Learning Conference
at High Tech High in San Diego, California. I was excited to find out more about project-
based learning and to bring back new ideas that would benefit and inspire both the teach-
ers and the learners at St. Paul’s School.

Simply sitting in an unfamiliar second grade classroom triggered my creative energies as
I gleaned ideas from the walls. There was chart paper everywhere. Instead of purchas-
ing ready-made posters to explain grammar rules or model math strategies, the teachers
and students had used chart paper and colorful markers to create their own. It occurred
to me that if the students, themselves, were involved in making the poster, they would
be more apt to take note of it and to refer to it more often. This was just the beginning. I
continued to take note of how heavily invested the kids were in their own learning.

Following the two workshops in the morning and early afternoon, there was a farmer’s
market set up in a grassy area between the elementary and middle school campuses.
Here, booths were set up where students of all ages were selling products that they had
made. One of my personal favorites was the booth where kids were selling bee barns.
They dressed in bee aprons and had flyers which shared what they had learned from re-
searching bees. The bee barns they made would provide a safe place for bees to nest and
to be protected from harsh weather or predators. There was another group that was
selling washable and reusable food wraps using pieces of fabric covered with a waxy sub-
stance they had made. Even the youngest learners were involved in the farmer’s market.

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 PAGE 31

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIONS A combined group of kindergarten and second grade students
were selling a powdered mixture for people to make their own ver-
sion of play dough. At each booth, teachers were there to support
the students, but the students were doing the selling.

On the second day of the conference, we attended one workshop
that lasted the whole day. During this time, we were given an op-
portunity to experience project-based learning. We worked all day
on a project and had the opportunity at the end of the day to share
our learning with the participants from a different class. The other
class also shared their learning with us. Throughout the day, I had
been a little insecure about my project, but I found that the sharing
portion at the end of the day was an extremely valuable assess-
ment of what I had learned. I am often reticent to share my ideas
in a group of peers, but here I was forced out of my comfort zone to
articulate my thought process and explain my project to the people
who visited my table.

The following week, I was excited to put some of these ideas into
practice. We had just reached the end of a unit in our language arts
program. The kids worked in groups to make posters reviewing
what they had learned and then presented them to their class-
mates. It was a successful review week and I intend to continue to
grow in this practice over the next year.
We also tried our hand at a simple project for Earth Week. The
kids learned how to turn recycled paper into pulp and then used
that pulp to make seed balls that could be planted in gardens or
flower beds. We invited another first grade class into the class-
room and the students shared what they had learned about recy-
cling paper and seed balls before helping their peers make seed
balls of their own. Then they really stepped up to the challenge and
shared with people who visited the classroom for open house. It
was interesting to hear the students explain their project. Each
one really locked into one particular part of what they had studied.
With more time and more experience in this type of project I would
like to help them learn to put those pieces together into one com-
plete group presentation.

As I look forward to the next school year, I am inspired to try more
of these types of activities. I am excited to see our kids becoming
more and more invested in their learning and eager to share their
learning in creative ways.

-Deborah Petty- Primary Division Lead

PAGE 32 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MIDDLE SCHOOL

One of the most important things an educator can
do is to inspire students to become lifelong learn-
ers. How better to accomplish this goal than to
lead by example? Professional development gives
us the opportunity to not only hone our craft as
teachers, but also to share with our students how
excited we are to do so.
I had the opportunity to attend the California
Council of Social Studies Conference this year.
One of the themes was incorporating technology
in the social studies classroom. With our 1:1 ratio
of devices, this is an area in which I particularly
wish to grow and improve. I came home from this
conference with an amazing amount of resources,

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 PAGE 33

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REFLECTIONS tips, ideas, and discoveries. My summer project is to
integrate these resources into my existing lessons. I
plan to have my tech savvy students creating websites
and podcasts, using Google Earth and Google Slides in
new ways, and annotating text digitally. I was able to in-
troduce Photos for Class to my 8th graders this year to
make citing digital images for projects an easier process.
The possibilities are as endless as they are exciting, and
I have barely scratched the surface.
The conference provided me with more than technol-
ogy resources. I was able to delve more deeply into the
thinking behind the Social Studies Framework recently
adopted by the state of California, specifically critical lit-
eracy vs. didactic literacy. I already do document based
questions with my students. A DBQ Project workshop
deepened my understanding of structured inquiry lev-
els. This past school year, I began teaching 8th grade
U.S. History in addition to ancient (6th grade) and medi-
eval (7th grade) world history. At the conference I was
able to connect with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History. I signed SPS up as an affiliate school.
As an affiliate, I am able to take advantage of their pri-
mary document archives, lesson plans, continuing edu-
cation, traveling exhibitions, and monthly free resources
for my classroom. I am looking forward to using what
I have learned to help my students make connections
about how the past has shaped where we are today,
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in pro-
fessional development to expand my knowledge, gain
insight and resources in pedagogy as well as content
area, and trade ideas with other social studies teachers.
I am able to share with my colleagues and to learn from
their experiences. In that way we can all improve as
teachers and better serve our students.

-Neva Perrotta- Middle School Social Studies

PAGE 34 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

THANK YOU MR. WARREN

Mr. Warren has been teaching middle school math at St. Paul’s for four years. He has been an influence among a
number of schools across the central valley, and we are honored that he decided to end his career here at St. Paul’s.
Mr. Warren went to college at C.O.S., Reedley, Cal St. Eastbay, and Pepperdine. He was also in the Armed Forces,
as the Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division aircraft commander. The St. Paul’s students often enjoy
listening to stories about Mr. Warren’s time in the army and the lessons he learned from the experience. He decided
to become a teacher after his time in the army.
After college, Mr. Warren went on to become a high school teacher. He taught all grades of high school, including
Calculus, Precalculus, Algebra 2, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Statistics. He also taught P.E. and coached. After he
retired from Tulare Union, he came out of retirement to teach at St. Paul’s. Here, he has taught 6th grade math, and
advanced math for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
Mr. Warren has enjoyed many things about teaching. The interactions with the students and staff, the challenge
of teaching students difficult concepts in math, and being involved with school sports for over 35 years have been
some of his favorite experiences. Mr. Warren says that “It has been a great 45 years, and I wouldn’t trade it for
anything.” He draws inspiration from many sources, including Albert Einstein, of whom he has several posters in his
room, his wife, and his high school math teacher Mrs. Whitley.
Mr. Warren is retiring after this school year at St. Paul’s and shall be missed terribly by students here and across
Tulare County. He has made lasting friendships with many of the students he has taught and has inspired many to
achieve their goals through mathematics and education in general. His inspirational talks in class and his references
to subjects that many students would understand make him a great teacher and a great mentor. Mr. Warren will be
greatly missed. Thank you, Mr. Warren.

THANKS TO OUR

2018-2019 BOARD MEMBERS

JOSIE IVERSON, CHAIR
MANNY LUCERO, VICE CHAIR
JOHNNY GAILEY, TREASURER
JESSICA BENEVENTO, SECRETARY
JOHN HIGGINS, AT-LARGE
RYAN MCGUIRE, PARENTS’ GUILD
FR. RICHARD JAMES, CHAPLAIN
LISA BENO
DIDI HAMMOND
ANDREA CASTRO
LAURIE BUHLER
DAVID FRANCIS
JILL SOZINHO
RICA CURTISS
BRANDON FORD
AARON GULARTE
CATHY GUADAGNI
SETH YOCUM- HEAD OF SCHOOL

6101 West Goshen Avenue Visalia, Ca 93291
559-739-1619
[email protected]
www.spsvisalia.com