Buddies, Not Bullies For Rossmoor Elementary School

LOS ALAMITOS, CA —Multiple recent achievements by Rossmoor Elementary School are worthy of celebration, mid February. Principal Amy Belsha's instituted practices to keep the school bully-free, as well as see improvements in test scores have both gone off with flying colors. Here is what a local contributor had to say about it:

Rossmoor Elementary students logged major improvements in the latest round of state achievement tests in English language arts and mathematics. In her annual report to the Los Alamitos Unified School District board, Rossmoor principal Amy Belsha said third graders showed the greatest overall gains in the number meeting or exceeding state standards, jumping from 69 percent last year to 89 percent this year in language arts. In math, third grade rose from 84 percent to 91 percent. Fifth grade was close behind posting increases of 10 percentage points in English language arts and 12 points in math. Fourth grade results were nearly unchanged year to year with 75 percent meeting or exceeding language arts standards and 81 percent in math.

Belsha, in her first year as Rossmoor principal, credited the surge in achievement to hard work by teachers and a curriculum “that challenges students to think critically and push themselves forward. We do believe and are confident that Rossmoor Elementary will reach our goal of 100 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards.” Every student who is not yet scoring as proficient on the tests is getting the support they need to become successful, whether from classroom teachers, an intensive reading lab for grades K-3 or before and afterschool intervention programs for grades 4-5, she said.

Two Rossmoor fifth-graders also addressed the board to describe how the school has shaped them.

William Reeder thanked teachers for challenging him to write creatively and to think deeper mathematically and “accomplish more than I ever thought I could. When I attend college at Stanford University and get into the Coast Guard Academy, I will remember that my experiences as a (Rossmoor) Knight will have set the foundations for me to be successful in my future.”

Sarah Hall credited Rossmoor with teaching her to develop a growth mindset, “which means to keep pushing yourself, never giving up and knowing that you can accomplish anything. Each day of school I am excited to get and perform well to be the best version of myself.”

In her report, Belsha also described physical improvements made this year to the campus, such as construction of new, safer playgrounds for primary and upper-grade students and installation of “buddy benches.” She explained that students who are lonely or need someone to talk can sit on the bench and quickly are joined by other students willing to lend an ear.

Promoting student safety and health is a school priority, Belsha said. She described Peace Week activities, organized by about 80 parents and volunteers, which focused on conflict resolution and anti-bullying education. Events also included a flyover at the school by a police helicopter and an up-close visit with an Orange County Sheriff K-9 unit. Belsha also said the school is planning to launch next year the PRIDE program which will promote a common set of expectations among students and teachers about what safe and respectful behavior looks like and to provide positive behavior interventions for students needing support.

Belsha and the board also honored Rossmoor parent Andrea Hitzke as the school’s 2017 Hero of the Heart. Hitzke is “committed, reliable with a can do attitude who has gracefully supported Rossmoor for last 10 years,” Belsha said.

Hitzke, who has two sons in district schools, served as Rossmoor PTA president for two years and is now in her second year as president of the Los Alamitos PTA Council. In addition to organizing or assisting in a host of school events and programs, she also created the school’s motto: I am a Rossmoor Knight/I stand up for myself/I stand up for my friends/I stand up for what is right.

In accepting the award, Hitzke said, “Find a cause and volunteer. One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time.”

Contributed by Robert Ostmann, submitted by Los Alamitos Unified School District

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