Three schools win top state award

Paula Pisani

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Three local elementary schools were named California

Distinguished Schools this week.

William E. Kettler, College View and Village View elementary schools are

three of 233 statewide elementary schools that won the award announced

Monday.

Kettler is part of the Huntington Beach City School District. The other

two belong to the Ocean View School District.

School officials applied for the award by completing an application

describing current programs and providing information describing such

things as academics, teaching and community involvement. Elementary

schools alternate with secondary schools for the annual prize.

Kettler Principal Billie Baker said it was the school’s first try at a

win.

“I think what has helped us be successful is our philosophy of continuous

improvement and continuous growth, and thinking of our next steps,” she

said.

Baker said the school, which has about 580 students, focuses on reading

skills in particular, providing after-school programs for students and

programs for parents to teach them how to encourage their children to

read.

Karen Schibler, administrative assistant at first-time winner College

View, said it’s the school’s communication between its teachers, the

community and parents that makes things work.

The school has about 600 students in its kindergarten though fifth-grade

program.

Village View has entered before. The school was selected as a regional

nominee in 1997. In 1998, it received an honorable mention.

“It’s like any proud parent would feel,” said Kristi Hickman, Village

View’s principal. “It’s so well deserved, and it validates everything

we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

Hickman credited high expectations of all 550 students in the

prekindergarten through fifth-grade school and rigorous academic program

for the win.

“We’re extremely proud of their efforts. We’d like to acknowledge the

hard work of the teaching staff, administration, as well as the

children,” said Karen Colby, assistant superintendent of curriculum and

instruction at the Ocean View School District. Both schools have very

strong parent involvement and an active community, which makes for a

wonderful program.”