LETTERS TO THE BLOG REGARDING 6th GRADE CHANGES AND THE SP HIGH DECATHLON WIN: AND SOME FABULOUS NEWS ABOUT BASEBALL COMING OUT OF BLOCH FIELD:

Dear Theunderdogforthekids.blogspot.com

Some facts about the move to keeping 6th graders at the elementary school campuses.

1) No places will be held for them in the magnet system (i.e. Dodson Magnet) as 7th graders should the parents decide to keep 6th graders on the elementary school campus.

2) Park Western will not be hosting a 6th grade program in 2010-2011.

3) Parents at 7th Street School and South Shores Magnet have petitioned the principals to consider hosting 6th grade classes on their campuses.

4) The teachers in the performing arts at Dodson ask the incoming 6th graders to make a 3-year commitment to their programs. There are no beginning classes in the performing arts generally offered to 7th and 8th graders. (A few older students are periodically allowed into the beginning classes or into the advanced classes at the discretion of the teacher.)

5) Beginning music classes at Dana usually have only 6th graders. For the student who has never played an instrument, this is where it can most easily begin.

6) The elementary school campuses will not require that PE be taught to 6th graders.

I have not yet heard what the curriculum will be for any of the 6th grade elementary school programs. Open Court is not something that is done at either Dana or Dodson. Will there be electives offered in the 6th grades at the elementary schools? Will there be funding for pre-algebra to be taught at the elementary schools? What will the class sizes be on the elementary schools? Will the 6th graders at these local elementary schools be cheated out of the education dollars that would be spent on them at Dana and Dodson?

Clearly, much has not yet been determined with these programs. It is my sincere hope that parents are able to get answers to these questions before deciding where to enroll their 6th grade students this fall.

--Rachel Fischer
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SPHS ACADEMIC DECATHLOLN TEAM WON FOURTH PLACE IN LAUSD;
A THANK YOU TO TOASTMASTERS

The coach of the SPHS Academic Decathlon team, Mrs. Cathy Figueracion, asked me to convey both her and the SPHS Academic Decathlon team's thanks for our San Pedro Toastmasters members whose efforts helped the team in support of this year’s speech competition .

The team wishes to thank in particular, those Club 111 Toastmasters who participated: Joe Marino, Walt McHugh, Scott Carter, Jim Gioia, and Tom Butler. The SPHS team finished fourth in the LAUSD competition between 64 LAUSD high schools. The fourth place finish is the highest rank the team has placed and gives SPHS the opportunity to compete in the California State Academic Decathlon as a wild card team. Thanks again to Toastmasters and the SPHS AccaDecca for a job well done.

Tom Butler
Club 111 VP, Public Relations.
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GOOD NEWS FOR OLDER TEEN BASEBALL PLAYERS & A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT BETWEEN LOCAL ELEMENTARIES AT BLOCH FIELD; DON’T MISS IT

Bloch Field has launched its recruitment for baseball players from ages five to 15, but is also looking for teenagers 16 and over to put together a Colt team – especially for youth who want to continue playing, but might not have made their high school team.

To register, either stop off at the San Pedro YMCA at 301 Bandini Street or register at Bloch Field Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1500 S. Harbor Boulevard.

Costs are $65 per player and the program is sponsored by the San Pedro YMCA. Opening day is on Saturday April 10.

As always, volunteer coaches are needed. For more information, contact johndelgado@ymcala.org or call (310) 832-4211 ext. 2097.

-----ROCK AT THE BLOCH TOURNAMENT

Bloch Field will host one of the first mini-tournaments ever played in San Pedro where four elementary schools will vie against each other during a softball game on March 6.

John Delgado, who coordinates the programs at Bloch, wanted to bring more of the community together to have fun, enjoy the game and get kids from other schools to come together.
The four schools that will play against each other are: Barton Hill, Bandini Street, 15th Street and Cabrillo Avenue Elementary.

For more information, contact John Delgado at the above phone number or email address.