LHCSD School Readiness Building Blocks
La Habra City School District’s School Readiness Building Blocks program has been chosen as one of 56 recipients of the state’s leading educational honor, the Golden Bell Award. The Golden Bell Award, now in its 37th year, is sponsored by the California School Boards Association. The award recognizes public school programs that are innovative and sustainable, make a demonstrated difference for students and focus on meeting the needs of all public school students.
LHCSD School Readiness Building Blocks is a free program designed to expose pre-kindergarten aged children and their families to the 21st Century Learning Framework by learning about their community and interacting with community members in the real-world classroom. Students have the opportunity to connect with their community by visiting key businesses and agencies such as a bank, supermarket, police and fire department, a farm and more.
The philosophy behind this program is to reinforce the learning that is taking place in the classroom in regards to the 21st Century Skills of Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. Children and their families are thoroughly engaged as members of the community teach the importance of teamwork, being able to interact effectively with coworkers and other agencies, and how to find creative solutions to the challenges of today. It is through real-life experiences that our children will see their learning come to life.
Experts from school districts and county offices of education made up the 16-member judging panel that reviewed the written entries and made the initial recommendations for the awards. On-site validators assessed the programs in action. This year’s award is presented to school districts and county offices of education helping students achieve through after- school programs, mentoring, instructional interventions, use of data and other innovations.
“California’s K-12 public schools continue to produce some of the nation’s best and brightest students, and our Golden Bell recipients are a reflection of that excellence as well as the spirit of innovation which is so characteristic of this state,” said CSBA CEO and Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. “The Golden Bell Awards recognize the quality and the determination of school leaders from across California in meeting the needs of California's students through award- winning programs and services.”