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A Banner School Year Set to Begin for Duarte Unified School District
Arcadia Weekly Aug 20, 2015
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First Day of School for 2015-2016 is Monday, Aug. 24, 2015
Students attending Duarte Unified School District (DUSD) will start the 2015-2016 school year on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015. Faculty and staff have been eagerly preparing for their arrival, and it is sure to be an exciting year full of learning opportunities led by new Superintendent, Dr. Allan Mucerino.
“We are poised, positioned, and prepared to make 2015-16 a banner year for our students and our community,” stated Dr. Mucerino. “As we welcome back our students, we also invite members of the entire Duarte community to rediscover the innovative approaches DUSD is taking to provide the best educational experience for our students.”
Maxwell Elementary is now an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, VH1 Save the Music Foundation has selected our district as their newest partner, and Duarte High School students enrolled in the City of Hope internship program graduated with accolades this August. These are just a few of the exciting developments making news that are happening only at Duarte Unified.
Joining our accomplished leadership team are new principals at Andres Duarte and Valley View Elementary Schools. Angela Montalvo is the new principal of Andres Duarte Elementary, and Margaret Rasmussen is the new principal of Valley View Elementary. Both are highly qualified and experienced educators who have established well-respected reputations for being community builders and instructional leaders.
While existing programs are expanded and new ones launched, the district will continue to make the advancement of the arts, integration of cutting-edge technology, construction of innovative learning spaces, and engaging instruction top priorities. Common Core Standards are now incorporated district-wide and will be effectively implemented along with the 21st Century Learning Skills needed to prepare our students for college and career. Plans are also in place to institute a comprehensive Parent University that will offer classes in ESL, technology and other informative topics that are of interest to our parents. Stay tuned for more about this! And, our dedicated faculty will stay on top of their own learning curve by participating in professional development opportunities offered throughout the year.
Reflecting on the progressive movement that has swept Duarte, Superintendent Allan Mucerino took the liberty of paraphrasing FDR in a recent presentation to a student group, “I have never given up the hope, the belief, the conviction that a better life, a better world, a better future lies just beyond the horizon for our students.” Dr. Mucerino went on to say, “I am very excited about joining Duarte Unified at such an exciting and pivotal period in its storied history.”
The district and school offices are now open during regular operating hours. Staff members are available to provide assistance to parents and students prior to the first day of school with information about start and dismissal times, registration, school supply lists, bus transportation, and vaccination requirements. School sites will be hosting a variety of events to welcome students back to campus including ice cream socials and pancake breakfasts that we hope you will attend. For further information about the activities and student orientations taking place at your school, visit the district website at www.duarteusd.org.
We are asking all DUSD families to help us start the year off right and make the back to school transition as smooth as possible by arriving on time and ready to learn. With parents and community members working together alongside our excellent Duarte Unified certificated and classified staff, 2015-2016 is sure to be a banner year in the history of our district and in the lives of our students. We look forward to seeing you back on campus!
