NEW TELESIS SCIENCE AND MATH ACADEMY FOR
GRADES K – 8 OPENS IN WEST COVINA
Inaugural Celebration September 6
WEST COVINA, CA – SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 – Rowland Unified School District will host the inaugural celebration of its newest K-8 school, Telesis Academy of Science & Math, on Tuesday, September 6 at 3 p.m. Telesis Academy has partnered with the national “No Excuses University” (NEU) college-readiness program that begins in Kindergarten. The opening celebration event will feature speakers Damen Lopez, founder of NEU, Dr. Peggy Kelly, Dean of Education and Integrated Studies at Cal Poly Pomona, along with Telesis students and parents.
The campus is adorned with college flags and banners from all 21 classrooms that have adopted a college/university, such as Dartmouth, UCLA, USC, Princeton and others. The entire Telesis teaching staff was trained over the summer by Lopez on the NEU culture, which focuses on collaboration, student-focused conversations, and shared responsibility to use data to ensure academic success for all. The staff was also trained by the California Science Center in Los Angeles in the areas of science, aerospace and ecology.
“We look forward to making powerful partnerships and are thrilled to announce that we have just been selected to pilot a new and innovative modular math game, created by imagine education. This program is supported by the Gates Foundation and Hewlett,” said Principal Kim. The “Ko’s Journey” program involves 10 schools across the nation and Telesis is proud to have been chosen for this opportunity.
“Telesis was a unique opportunity that arose in response to our communities’ interest in a specialized school in the sciences and our ultimate goal to have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) school in the District,” said Rowland Unified Superintendent Maria Ott. Students from across the District applied for admission to the Academy during the spring and students in K - 6 were selected through a random lottery.
The 600 plus student campus began Measure R Bond modernization in June, following the closure of Rincon Intermediate. Modernization is underway to transform the campus to a K-8 school. Telesis features three new state-of-the art science labs and modernized classrooms with Learning Wall systems for multimedia technology, white boards and teacher storage areas. The $5 million modernization project is expected for completion in late 2012.
Telesis Academy of Science & Math is located at 2800 E. Hollingworth Street in West Covina, (626)965-1696. For more information, please contact Principal Miriam Kim at [email protected].