Welcome back to the 2008-09 school year!

First, I would like to thank each and every one of you for the many get well messages and prayers for my recovery. I am on the way to a complete recovery and look forward to returning to Gardena as the Principal of the Panthers for the 2008-09 school year.

This school year is pivotal for the students and staff of Gardena as well as the LAUSD high school division. We are entrusted with undertaking a task of positive change that will impact our students, community and ourselves. We must re-establish hope and positive expectations for all; in every role that impacts the education of Gardena student body, we must work in a collaborative and passionate manner to accomplish our goals.

Our Goals include:

• Improve academic achievement for all students.
• Improve graduation rates for all students in high school
• Improve individual counseling for and all students focusing on the whole child
• Improve parent, community and student involvement throughout the school.
• Improve and maintain safe and orderly Gardena campus with positive discipline.

How are we going to implement the process of change at Gardena?

Using the WASC accreditation plan, we will make an assessment of all programs utilizing:

1. Staff and Faculty and Parent insights on how students learn most effectively at Gardena
2. Data analysis to establish areas of greatest need
   • At the School level- Including Administrators,Custodians, Office Staff , and Security
   • At the Department level and grade level (Including test performance indicators)
   • At Individual teacher level ( To improve capacity and effectiveness)
   • At Student level ( To design interventions with greatest impact)

The most difficult part of the change process is to implement the tactics we all will support and promote together. It may include being asked to change our comfort zone, (move classrooms, use assessments, smile when the parent is hostile) but we are here to promote student success. While we may differ on the how, we cannot argue for the status quo, as it just is not working at Gardena for the majority of our students. This imperative to Change is indicated by many measurements of District, State and national consensus.

Let's Get Started Towards an Excellent and Productive School Year!

Kevin Kennedy, Principal