Our School

Southgate Elementary School has a philosophy and program designed to meet the needs of all students transitioning into adolescents.  We believe that all students should be exposed to comprehensive academic curriculum, guided by the Common Core Standards and district initiatives. At Southgate, all students participate in a rigorous academic program, expanding their academic skills so all students can become productive, responsible, and compassionate citizens in our ever-changing world.

Mission

In a caring culture of success, the Southgate community motivates, inspires, develops skills, and builds confidence to awaken the highest potential in every member.

Vision

Our vision is to equip our students with the 21^st Century skills necessary to be college and career ready. Southgate strives to foster a welcoming environment conducive to producing well-rounded students. Southgate’s aim is to become the highest performing school in the district by the 2016-17 school-year.   

Academics

Over the years, I have boldly claimed Southgate is the best school in all of Hayward. I truly mean that. Not only do we have the safest campus, and the most welcoming environment, but now we have the standardized test scores to prove Southgate reigns supreme when it comes to student achievement. Led by our 3rd and 6th grades, Southgate students performed admirably on the 2015 CAASP Assessment. Our (2014-15) 3rd grade students were the highest performing students in mathematics within the district with an average scale score of 2440.3. Their score also exceeded the state and county averages of 2415.1 and 2432.6, respectively.

Southgate’s (2014-15) 6th grade  students were the highest performers within HUSD in Math and English—Language Arts. Our 6th graders’ average scale score in English-Language Arts was 2520.8, out-performing our academic rivals Stonebrae Elementary and Burbank Elementary 2506.0 and 2516. 4, respectively. In Math, our 6th grade had a average scale score of 2523.9, while Burbank scored 2504.7 and Stonebrae tallied an average of 2474.3. Our sixth grade Math and ELA scores were also well above the state average as well.  

In short, all of our grade levels did well compared to our district, county and state-wide contemporaries. We will continue with the great work this year. Thank you parents for your dedication; teachers for going above and beyond daily; and students for all your hard work. Congratulations 

As we ended the 2014 - 2015 school year, I would like to share with parents the rich recent history Southgate has had when it comes to End-of-the-Year assessments. Since 2010, Southgate has consistently performed within the Top 3 of all elementary schools in Hayward on End of the Year/Standardized Assessments. We plan this year to improve upon that tradition, as we strive for excellence. Below, you will find a synopsis of Southgate’s 2014 end of the year student achievement performance information in comparison to the rest of the Hayward Unified School District.

English Language Arts

In the spring of 2014, the Hayward Unified School District administered a summative assessment to all students 3rd-11th grade. Based upon the district's data, Southgate students 3rd - 6th grades met the district’s pre-determined standards for proficiency in English-Language Arts at a rate of 60.1%. The district percentage for proficiency in ELA based upon the summative assessment was 43.9%. Other schools within the same high school feeder pattern as Southgate performed at a 49% rate. Overall, Southgate performed 10% higher than the rest of the feeder pattern and 16% higher than the district as a whole.

In the spring of 2014, kindergarten students in HUSD took the Basic Phonics Skills Test. Based upon the results, 69.2% of Southgate kindergarten students met the proper proficiency level. Comparatively, only 31.8% of the kindergarten students district-wide met the predetermined proficiency standard, while 42.4% of the students attending other elementary schools within our feeder pattern are meeting the proficiency standard. At a glance, Southgate kindergarten students are performing 37.4% higher than the district average and almost 27% higher than it's neighboring schools. 

The Hayward Unified School District also administered a Reading Passages Assessment to all 1st and 2nd grade students. Based upon the results, 87.1% of Southgate 1st and 2nd grade students met the proficiency standards. District-wide, 74.9% of 1st and 2nd grade students performed proficiently on the assessment, while 81.4% of the 1st and 2nd graders attending our neighboring schools performed proficiently on the same assessment. Based upon the data, Southgate out-performed the district by 12% and its neighboring schools by 5.7%.

Math

Last spring HUSD also administered a District Wide Math Test to monitor student progress and comply with state and federal accountability mandates. Based upon this 2014 math assessment, 65% of Southgate students (3rd-6th grade) met the predetermined district standards for proficiency. Comparatively, the district as a whole scored a proficiency level of 51.7%. The high school feeder pattern that Southgate belongs to performed at a proficiency level of 54.5%. 

Comparing Southgate to: 1) the district as a whole, 2) its three closest neighboring elementary schools, and 3) an elementary school within the district that annually ranks #1 or #2 in students’ achievement, Southgate performed reasonably well. Based upon the data, Southgate answered a higher percentage of correct answers in 17 of 20 categories of the multiple choice portion of the test. On the Written Response section of the assessment, Southgate outperformed the comparative groups in 19 of 20 categorize. 

Based upon data tabulated at the end of the 2013-14 school-year,

English Language Learners

These End of the Year assessments also affect the reclassification status of our students who are deemed English Learners. Based upon data since 2010 Southgate continues to reclassification a good percentage of students to English proficient each year.

Last year, Southgate reclassified 23.5% of it's English Language Learners. In comparison, The Hayward Unified School District reclassified 15.6% of HUSD ELL students, while Southgate's neighboring schools (High School Feeder Pattern) reclassified 18.9%. 

Based upon the data only 5.6% of Southgate ELL students are considered long term ELL students. In comparison, 18.9% of HUSD ELL students are considered long term ELL students, and 23.8% of our neighboring schools' ELL students are considered long term ELL students.

Southgate Elementary School was able to reclassify 38 students during the 2014-15 school year. That number is consistent with reclassification numbers since 2010. Southgate's yearly reclassification numbers consistently lands between the high 36 and low 42 per school year.

Heart, Head & Hands

This is a message to all students: Please remember—if you love your school (heart), then you’ll make good decisions to represent your school well (head), and those good decisions will lead to good deeds within your family and in the community (hands).

Southgate Elementary Cultivates Relationship with Japanese School

Did you know that Hayward has a Sister-City?  Since 1986, Hayward has been exchanging friendship and culture with a city halfway around the world called Funabashi.  Funabashi is located about one hour from Tokyo, Japan.  Fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Peabody, has been involved with this cultural exchange since it began and now has many friends there as a result.

In 2013, Southgate Elementary School began exchanging penpal letters with fourth graders at Funabashi Elementary School. Three sets of letters went back and forth across the world last year.  The Japanese students mostly write in Japanese. We receive one letter from the students written in Japanese characters called Hiragana. The Japanese teachers send us a typed translation in English. We write back in English. Their teachers use our letters to help their students learn English. Their students also get a glimpse of our culture and we learn more about theirs’.        

This year, our fourth and fifth grade teachers would like to expand the exchange this year.  We plan to continue to send and receive photos and calligraphy from students at Funabashi Elementary. In September 2015, we will continue writing our penpals in our Sister-City.  Who knows where this exchange of culture and friendship will lead?  We are very excited to know that we have friends on the other side of the globe.  

 

HUSD's Single Plan for Student Achievement

HUSD’s SPSAs now follow the state template in order to be in compliance with state guidelines. Additionally, it is organized around the District’s Priorities:

Priority 1: Financial and operational decisions will be driven by student success and district priorities and goals.

Priority 2: Ensure ALL students graduate college and/or career ready.

Priority 3: To create a safe and positive school climate.

Priority 4: Engage students, families, staff and community to support student achievement and success.

Our SPSA has 5 performance goals aligned to HUSD’s Local Education Agency plan. These goals include:

1. ELA: All students will master the Common Core in ELA or demonstrate growth towards mastery.

2. Math: All students will master the Common Core in Math or demonstrate growth towards mastery.

3. Decrease the number of Long Term English Learners

4. School Climate: Improve school discipline outcomes and parent engagement

5. Attendance: Improve daily attendance

School Climate Philosophy

Southgate’s school rules are governed by our Heart, Head and Hands policies. Southgate’s teachers and Spirit Club focuses on uplifting the principles of The Heart, Head and Hands program. We reinforce the school’s Heart, Head, and Hands tenants which explain that…”if we love our school (heart), then we will make good decisions that represent our school well (head), and will be motivated to do good tasks in the community (hands). These tenants are also supported by our 8 Great Traits: Caring, Honesty, Responsibility, Integrity, Respect for Others, Citizenship, Planning/Decision Making, and Problem Solving. Each week we will highlight one of our traits in an effort to instill these quality into our K-6 students. 

The Southgate Elementary School staff is dedicated and committed to HUSD’s vision that students will be prepared, challenged and motivated in a 21st Century learning environment that develops the physical, intellectual and emotional success of all learners. At Southgate, our philosophy and academic program is designed to meet the needs of each and every student within our community. The Southgate staff believes that all students should be exposed to a comprehensive academic curriculum, guided by the new Common Core standards and district initiatives. Southgate is committed to providing a rigorous academic program which expands the academic skills of all students. At Southgate, we strive to integrate technology in our core curriculum to promote computer literacy. Furthermore, Southgate provides access to fine, visual, and performance arts as part of our arts integration focus.

Data Analysis

Our SPSA includes an analysis of recent student achievement data. Attached is a snapshot of student achievement data for our school.

Specific Actions and Tasks to Meet Performance Goals

In order to achieve the above stated goals Southgate Elementary School has set forth specific goals and related actions in our SPSA that include:

• Maximizing instructional time, by implementing community-building and positive behavior management programs (i.e. - Restorative Justice, Soul Shoppe Inc., Heart Head and Hands Program).
   
• Ensuring all lessons follow the Common Core Instructional Framework (Clear Objectives, Student Engagement, Checking for Understanding, Culturally Relevant Practices, and Lesson Structure/Gradual Release of Educational Responsibility)
   
• Providing structured teacher collaboration time in the Cycle of Inquiry to analyze data and identify specific students /instructional strategies to move students to mastery of the Common Core Standards
   
• Identifying struggling students and providing small group instruction for those students
   
• Providing professional development for all teachers in best practices for teaching English Language Learners, to improve our percentage of EL students scoring Early Advance or better on the CEDLT.
   
• Increasing parent participation, by providing parent committee meetings, social activities, philanthropy events, parent trainings, and educational seminars.
   
• Improving student participation in after-school and extracurricular enrichment activities, by offering GATE classes, student clubs, student sports teams, intramural activities, and afterschool intervention/homework help.
   
• Expanding student use of technology in the classes to enhance students learning

Budget

As outlined in the SPSA, the majority of Southgate’s supplemental funds are spent on:

• Providing small group and one on one reading intervention for grades K-3
• Providing additional intensive support for Long-Term ELL students (4th-6th grades)
• Purchasing supplemental bridge materials to connect current textbook adoption to the Common Core Standards to integrate in lessons and help teachers monitor student progress
• Increasing the use of technology by students in the classroom, by subscribing to educational websites and purchasing test preparation software, as well as, laptops, tablets, SMART boards, ELMOs and LCD projectors
• Integrating fine, visual, and performing arts into the core curriculum
• Providing structure programs (i.e. – Soul Shoppe, Playworks and Mocha) to improve school climate