Congratulations to Ortega Elementary School!

May 14,  2008

Congratulations to Ortega Elementary School

Austin Partners in Education Salute 2008

PRINCIPAL of THE YEAR - Dr. Anna Pedroza!

ORTEGA NOMINEES

Individual Volunteer of the Year --------  Hilda Alvarado

PTA of the Year  ---------  Ortega PTA

Principal of the Year  --------  Dr. Anna Pedroza

Campus Staff of the Year  --------  Isabel Ahearn, Bilingual Teacher

 

 

 

February 1, 2008

Ortega Elementary School students will put their gardening skills to use on Tuesday, February 5, when they help more than 100 volunteers from Weston Solutions, Inc. (WESTON®) build an Outdoor Science Classroom at the campus. The students and more than 100 corporate executives, will gather to construct the classroom’s work centers from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ortega Elementary School is located at 1135 Garland Avenue. The East Austin school received a Recognized rating from the Texas Education Agency in August 2007, and was recently identified in Texas Monthly magazine as one of the top public schools in Texas.  
 
The environmental redevelopment firm’s executives, including Patrick G. McCann, President and Chief Executive Officer, will lead teams of students in activities such as weeding and trimming existing gardens, installing and preparing raised flower, vegetable and herb beds, building and installing picnic tables, bird feeders, bird houses with “a spy cam” for student observation, a weather station and an on-site composter, and pouring and decorating concrete stepping stones.  
 
Organizers of the firm’s “Make a Difference” event say that the project has two objectives, to benefit the community and to introduce young students to the world of environmental sciences.  
 
Mr. McCann commented, “At WESTON, we strive to make a difference in the world, but it starts by making a difference right in the communities where we live and work. We hope that by providing the teachers and students at Ortega with these tools to learn more about the environment, we’re helping to open their eyes to ways that they can live and work in a sustainable manner, protecting and restoring the environment for their own kids in the decades to come.”  
 
In addition to the construction of the Outdoor Science Classroom, WESTON has also donated the services of a landscape architect to build a pond at the campus. WESTON’s donation for the project totals approximately $15,000 in value.  
 
Weston Solutions, Inc. is based out of West Chester, PA, with 60 offices around the globe and a full-service office in Austin. WESTON has made a difference for 50 years—with 1,800 employee-owners committed to building a better future for their communities and developing sustainable solutions that work.. Company executives will be in Austin February 5 to attend a corporate conference.  
 
“Our staff and community are appreciative of the generosity and the long-term commitment of our partner, Weston Solutions, to our students’ academic success,” said Ortega Principal Dr. Anna Pedroza. “The outdoor science classroom will make a difference because students will now have a state of the art place where they can explore environmental science while developing their skills through real-world applications”.  

December 2007

The Ortega Elementary Superstar Choir will be releasing their recording Electric Spirituals II – Live Recording on Friday, December 7. The recording features thirteen spirituals including well-known selections such as “This Little Light of Mine,” “ Joshua Fought the Battle up in Jericho,” “Eyes on the Prize,” and more. The Superstar Choir will be performing on Saturday, December 8 at the George Washington Carver Museum, Monday December 10 on the FOX7 Morning Show, Tuesday December 11 at the Omni Hotel, Wednesday December 12 at the Austin, Children’s Museum, and Monday December 17 at Bookpeople. 

Copies of Electric Spirituals II – Live Recording are available for $7, and for a limited time only – between December7, and December 20. Call 841-0381, or email rwood1@austinisd.org for information.

 

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Austin Partners in Education Salute 2007

Richard Wood – Campus Staff of the Year – Ortega Elementary

San Juanita Serna – Classified Staff of the Year – Ortega Elementary

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2006-2007 Teachers of Promise

During the 2002-2003 academic year, Professional Development initiated a recognition program for novice teachers. The department sought novice teachers (zero years experience) who were demonstrating "promising practice" in their classrooms.

Principals or Lead Mentor Teacher Contacts nominated a teacher from their campus. Any teacher in her/his first year of teaching who demonstrated an overall grasp of the components of good teaching was eligible. The criteria used in making the determination was pulled from the Professional Development and Appraisal System instrument and/or the Texas Beginning Educator Support System (TxBESS) framework.

Recognized teachers received a certificate from the Superintendent , Dr. Pat Forgione, a small monetary award for classroom supplies, and were recognized at a reception in their honor.

We are proud to announce the 2006-2007 AISD Teachers of Promise:

Ortega Elementary

Rosa Chavez

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                 ORTEGA HAS A KID'S CAFE'!

Many children in low-income neighborhoods do not receive well-balanced evening meals because their caregivers work late hours or cannot afford nutritious food. Children must receive appropriate nutrition in order to develop properly and perform well in school.

Kids Cafe serves as a direct partnership between the Food Bank and existing after-school programs.

An official program of America’s Second Harvest, there are more than 1,600 locally operated Kids Cafes across the nation. The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) currently operates 30 Kids Cafes in Central Texas, serving more than 25,000 meals to more than 2,800 children in need per month.