ADMINISTRATION
Principal, Steven A. Dorsey
Assistant Principal, Daniel Ruiz
Assistant Principal, Monica Villegas

ADDRESS
15337 Lemon Dr, Whittier, CA 90604
(562) 464-2330 | Email: sdorsey@ewcsd.org | Twitter: http://twitter.com/gmsmatadors

Principal's Message

(Forma en Español)

Dear Matador Parents,

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! We have been busy all summer preparing to kick off the new year. We are all very excited about the changes we are making and what is to come! Our first and biggest change is the departure of Mrs. Serratos, our Assistant Principal, to help steady the ship at Laurel Elementary. We wish her all the best and we will truly miss her. With that allow me to introduce you to our new Assistant Principal, Monica Villegas. She comes to us from East Whittier Middle School with great enthusiasm and is ready to hit the ground running. Ms. Villegas is a great addition to Granada as we continue to increase our successes.

Within the office we have a change as we welcome our new nurse, Mrs. Montano. We are very lucky to have her as we had worked together at Murphy Ranch. She is another great addition to our staff and will take great care of our children. We also have two teaching staff additions, Mike Remland, 6th grade LA/Social Studies, and Mike Seyler 6, 7, 8 Special Education. Mr. Remland comes to us from Laurel Elementary and Mr. Seyler from Orchard Dale Elementary. We are excited about the skills these two gentlemen bring that will again enhance our campus. Please make sure you welcome our new staff members and introduce yourself so we can make them feel at home.

Our staff has been working tirelessly to improve the instructional practices and truly focus on what our students need to be successful in the classroom and the world in general. This involves a change to our instructional day that you need to be aware of. The most significant change is with the schedule. Our school hours have changed on Tuesday only. The new early release time will change from 1:15 to 1:30. The extra 15 minutes will allow us to give the students and teachers a nutrition break and will add instructional minutes to the classes. Within the existing school day we have adjusted our schedule to provide a 30 minute enrichment/tutorial program to both help students that need it and provide other opportunities for students that are on track. We did this utilizing a 30 minute lunch time. 6th grade students will have lunch/field for 30 minutes while 7/8 will be in their enrichment/ tutorial. There will be a two minute passing period and then the grade levels will switch, 6th to enrichment/ tutorial and 7/8 to lunch/field. We are very ecstatic about the opportunity we have to help our students be more successful. If you are interested in volunteering during the enrichment/tutorial please let the office know.

As a parent it will be vital that you stay involved in their life through these most transformative 3 years. The changes they will go through physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually will help determine their path in life! It will be important that they stay on that pathway to success. Your involvement is the key, whether it is through PTA, volunteer in the classroom, or ASB/Sports supporters. We look forward to your participation in the great educational experiences that will be provided here at Granada Middle School!

Our expectations are to continue our improvement through focused instruction, based on the standards, by fantastic teachers and the continued support of our students, parents, and community. Together we can reach our goal of a 900 API for the middle school. Our focused learning environment will help us to create students that are ready to compete in this 21st century global world. We must be able to give them the tools and resources necessary to reach their full potential! Technology will play a large part in that potential! Students here at Granada will learn to manipulate the new technologies that will help make them successful through college and beyond.

To continue on the path for success it will be important for our incoming sixth graders to get off to a great start! To do this it is very important that they attend the New Student Orientation “Pathways to Success” to be held on August 26th. This orientation program is open to all sixth grade students and their parents. Please see the flyer posted on this webpage for times and information.

7th and 8th grade students are invited to ID Day to get their student ID, planner, PE clothes and yearbook pre-sale on August 27th. There will be four sessions, so please see the ID day flyer posted on this webpage. If you are unable to make it to ID day the students will receive their schedule in first period. All first period classes will be posted outside of room 1. Please arrive early to allow time to find your first period teacher.

It is going to be an exciting year as we continue to grow and improve to become the greatest middle school we can be! If you ever have any problems please feel free to contact us here at the Granada Middle School office. My door is always open -- feel free to stop by anytime! If you need to make an appointment you can do so by calling the school (562) 464-2330 or you may e-mail me at sdorsey@ewcsd.org . I look forward to meeting you all. Keep your eyes and ears open for the updates that will be coming home through flyers and school messenger. Enjoy the rest of your summer. We will see you on August 26th and 27th. Remember Perfection in 2010!!! Go Matadors!!!!

Sincerely,

Steven A. Dorsey
Principal
Granada Middle School


“Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”

John Wooden