Letters to the Principal

During the past few days, I've received numerous very sweet letters from Emerson's wonderful students.  To celebrate my birthday today, I thought I would post some of these feel-good letters!
"Thank you for making the phones. I use my phone for reading. I know you wasted your time so I wanted to give this to you."
"You have a cool car."
"You always work hard for us to do better in school."
"Good luck in your new job."
"I will miss you if you leave but I will still remember you anyway.  Thank you for everything you gave us."
"In 3rd grade I have gotten in trouble alot  and went to see you.  You told me that I am a wonderful girl and not to get in trouble and so far I have followed your orders."
"We are all going to miss you when you go to Madison Elementary School.  But you know Emerson Elementary School is the best!"
"Thanks for the new classes and library."
"Sorry for being absent so much."
"Thank you for going to 6th grade science camp with us!"
"I'm writing this letter to tell you good bye.  I hope you have fun at your new school.  I hope you like the kids there."
"I don't want you to leave Emerson.  You have great assemblies."
"You were always nice to us and you were my favorite principal."
"Thank you for everything and for always educating our brains!"
"We will always Dream, Believe, Achieve for you."
"I hope your new office is great."
"...you have been a fun principal.  I bet the other kids will like you too."
"Are you going to celebrate with us if we got good grades on our CST, or is the new principal?"
"Goodbye, Mr. McCombs.  I'm sorry that you have to go."
"I am very, very, very, very sad that you are leaving. I am going to miss you a lot.  I hope that you like the new school you are going to."
"You are the best principal in the school."
"I am going to remember you in my heart."
"Do you think the other school will be better than Emerson?"
"I hope that nobody gets sent to the principal's office..."
"Mr. McCombs, why do you have to leave this school?"
"I want to thank you for Camp Emerson."
"Thank you for letting us make a garden, Mr. McCombs."
"It stinks that you are going to be a principal at another school!"
"We hope you miss us!"
"You were a good principal for 8 years."
"I hope you will come some other day. I hope you feel the way you feel with us."
"Can you stay for another year?"
"Thank you for the fun year I had."
"It was really sad when you said you are going to a new school next year."
"Be happy. Be strong."
"You did a lot of things for us."
"I hope you love your new school and your new job.  The kids at your new school are lucky to have you as a principal.  When I first came to this school I saw you and knew you were the best principal."
"Why are you going away?"
You can't leave us here in school! You made us have the best teachers."
"I hope you like it there, like you like Emerson."
"I want to know if it is a boy or girl."
"I admire Mr. McCombs.  He gives us awards. He tells kids to work. He checks on us."
"I'll think of you and the funny things you did like put on a dress and a mohawk and a crown on your head. But if I miss you, will you miss me?"
"...you made it nice and peaceful and greener..."
"I remember when you...kissed a pig!"
"I hope you'll be the best principal."
"I love your speeches. I miss you with all my heart."
"I hope someday I will see you at a store or Disneyland or Castle Park."

Questions about Change

During Camp Emerson, quite few people asked me questions about the transition of principals, so I thought that I'd try to answer them here as well. 

1. Q: How is the decision made to move a principal?  A: The simple answer is that there is no formula, no seven year maximum term, or any one single reason.  Judi Paredes, the Assistant Superintendent to whom principals report, has to look at the needs of the school staffs, the achievement of the school, the community needs, and the professional strengths of the principals she supervises.  Sometimes it can be as simple as trying to find the best replacement for a retiring principal, which may create other vacancies.  It has not been common practice for elementary principals to stay at the same school for much longer than 8 years- my observation is that 5 year terms are about average in RUSD.

2. Q: Are you excited to be moving on?  A:  For me, adjusting to a big change needs to happen in phases.  Right now, I'm not feeling particularly happy about the change, but that's because I'm thinking about leaving people I care about, and I don't know the Madison community at all yet.  I'm sure that as I meet them, I'm sure that will love them too, and will become increasingly more comfortable with the move. I did start my career 20 years ago as a Spanish/ELD teacher at Sierra, which is in the same "cluster" of schools.

3. Q:  When is your last day at Emerson and your first day at Madison?  A:  I've planned to have my last day at Emerson be Friday, June 3.  If you have any last minute business, please try to see me before the last day of school.  I'll be packing, unpacking, and moving on Monday, June 6, and therefore may not be available at either site for drop in visitors or phone calls.  I will be checking my email through June 10 before taking a vacation. 

4. Q: Are you going to go back to visit Emerson?  A:  Probably not.  When the "old principal" goes back to visit, it doesn't help with the overall transition.  As Emerson meets Mr. Bouton, he'll appreciate not having me checking in on the school so that he can begin to develop relationships; not being reminded of what the "old principal" did or didn't do.  But I'll never forget the wonderful staff, families and students who I've worked with during the past 8 years. You'll forever be in my heart!

Camp Emerson Tonight!

Here's the Agenda:
ONE PLANET. ONE CHANCE.
Friday, May 20:
4:30 Tent set up begins
5:30 FREE crafts and activities
6- 7:30 p.m. $5. per person BBQ dinner ($20 max per family)
8 p.m. Sixth Grade Science Camp Video
8:30 FREE popcorn and FREE movie

Saturday Morning, May 21:
Bring your own breakfast! 
Garden workday until 10:30.  Come out and pick a few weeds!

A Letter from Mr. McCombs

Dear Emerson Families,


When students transfer out of the school we try to encourage them by saying “You’ll make new friends, get to know a new place and learn to love your new school.” Sadly, I need to accept my own advice - I will be moving to another school next year as well.

When I arrived to Emerson eight years ago, together we worked to build the community garden, to bring preschool to Emerson, and to start the Camp Emerson tradition. We’ve held many parent workshops for Math, Language Arts and technology. We’ve grown from one of the smallest schools in the city, to a much larger school- both in the number of students and staff, as well as with our new buildings. More recently we’ve developed the iScholars program as well as other initiatives such as the computer labs, iPods in 4th and 5th grades, HEARTS, and “Game Day” the structured PE program. I still get teased about kissing the pig and getting a Mohawk! Together we’ve been able to build Emerson into a wonderful “mini United Nations” elementary school focused on learning.

Some of my most memorable times were not always joyous, as with the passing of a beloved teacher a few years ago, students who had to be suspended or expelled, staff layoffs, student injuries, or not meeting our school-wide AYP goals. I’ve learned a lot from these sad experiences as well- and that is why I believe that “bad” things can happen, so that we can have the opportunity to learn and grow as we walk together in this complicated life. I’ve learned a lot from the incredible Emerson staff, parents, the community and the students. Does anyone remember if I had any grey hair when I first arrived to Emerson? ;)

Despite any difficulties, I have truly loved being the Emerson principal. I’ve been so proud of the students for their learning achievements, for working so hard to meet their goals, and for working to achieve their personal best this year.

While I plan to take my own advice as I move to Madison Elementary , I will never forget the special place that you all hold in my heart. Thank you all for being such a great school family!



John McCombs

RIVERSIDE: Doctor awards laptops to scholarship winners | Riverside | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

The press Enterprise published a great story about Dr. Valezuela's TECH laptop program. Follow the link:

RIVERSIDE: Doctor awards laptops to scholarship winners Riverside PE.com Southern California News News for Inland Southern California

Concert on the Green 5-12

You are invited  to attend the annual Spring Band Concert-on-the-Green, featuring the bands from Emerson, Highland, Highgrove, Hyatt, Longfellow, University Heights Middle School, and North High School this Thursday, May 12, 2011, at 5:30pm on the lawn at University Heights Middle School.  Admission is free.  Come and hear music that our talented and dedicated band students have been working so hard to prepare.  Feel free to bring a blanket and a picnic dinner to enjoy while our bands provide the entertainment.  This will be the first public performance for our beginning students, and the final elementary performance for our 6^th grade musicians.

"I will not make funny noises."

Adam and Eve probably made their kids write sentences- it's a punishment that's been around for a while.  It has fallen out of favor in recent years because it is believed that writing sentences causes kids to dislike writing.  Well, I've got some news from the principal's office- if students' level of proficiency is any measure for their affection for writing, then we've got a problem- many kids already do dislike writing. 

When students get in trouble, the first thing that I do is have them write down what happened.  This gives them a little time to reflect on the problem and explain it.  Most of the time, however, I am so horrified by the students' lack of facility to write, that I first point out to them that they have misspelled several "no excuse" words, forgotten all of their punctuation, and used such simple language that it's difficult to understand the complexity of their problem. 

As Emerson works to increase the rigor of our academic program, student writing becomes a key component because it is the most difficult of the four domains in language arts (the others being listening, speaking, and reading).  As a school we need to increase the frequency, quality, and importance of writing in order to help more students meet state standards. 

For the past 8 years, I have assigned a variety of consequences when children get in trouble.  While I believe that counseling them and speaking with their parents are most important, I have generally then assigned the consequence of sitting on the principal's bench during recesses.  Is this an effective consequence?  For some students it does the trick and they never get in trouble again.  For others, they try to disappear from the bench; they play around when they are on the bench; or they enjoy the time reading while seated in the shade.

Lately I've been assigning the consequence of writing sentences.  I customize the sentence to the child's misbehavior, their ability to write, their age and their infraction.  So far, I've seen good results.  To practice copying a complex sentence that models appropriate grade level writing may not be such a bad idea.  Apology letters and agreements to improve behavior will also be used with increasing frequency.

I would like to get your opinion about writing sentences.  On the sidebar, I've added a poll.  Please let me know what you think. 

Nature vs. Nurture

What accounts for student success, natural talent or the nurturing work of adults?  Ask Madison Ramirez, an Emerson 5th grader, and she'll be able to give you a comprehensive report.  Madison's History Day project on the nature vs. nurture debate progressed all the way to the State History Day as a Finalist! 

Held in San Jose, the state competition included an interview with a board of judges.  Madison was included with five other finalists in the Junior Poster Division. 

Madison was recognized last night at the RUSD Board of Education meeting along with Mrs. Jackie Hopper, Emerson's History Day Coordinator.  Last year Madison's brother also progressed to the State History Day competition.  Supported by her parents, Rudy and Sandy Ramirez, Madison's efforts are a great example of the importance of BOTH nature and nurture in student success. 


Madison's project will be displayed in the front office.  Congratulations, Madison, We're proud of you!