What’s new in Newport-Mesa schools this year?

* Michael Vossen will be principal at Newport Harbor High School.

* Diana Carey will be principal at Costa Mesa High School.

* Brooke Booth, principal at Newport Heights Elementary School, will

become assistant principal at Corona Del Mar High School.

* Pam Coughlin will be principal at Mariners Elementary School.

* Barbara Rothman-Haddock will be principal at Lincoln Elementary

School.

* Kathy Sanchez will be principal at Killybrooke Elementary School.

* Cathi Peirson, former Pomona Elementary School principal, will act

as Wilson Elementary School principal.

* Ned Hall, retired Killybrooke Elementary School principal. will

temporarily take the helm at Adams Elementary School.

* Ensign Intermediate School teacher Mike McGuire will act as

principal at Ensign Intermediate School.

* Twenty new portable buildings, some in place of older ones, will be

installed this year.

* The preschool program at Whittier Elementary School will double in

size in October.

* Principals at all secondary level schools have been asked to prepare

character education and conflict resolution programs this year.

* Costa Mesa High School will incorporate an academic decathlon team.

* Corona del Mar High School parents have developed a program to

promote safety on campus. They have set up support groups on campus.*

Estancia High School has a new business program.

* TeWinkle Middle School has expanded the “village concept” to include

both sixth and seventh grade.

* All four regular program high schools are digital high schools this

year.

* Newport Harbor High School is adding two more academies this year --

the Eleanor Roosevelt public administration academy and the Jackie

Robinson athletics academy.

* Ensign Intermediate has switched from two lunch periods to one to

cut down on class disturbance.

* A leadership academy has formed for teachers and classified

employees who would like to become administrators.

* New science programs will be introduced at elementary schools

because of the Beckman Hands on Science Grant.

* There will be comprehensive counseling available at elementary

schools because of the Federal Elementary Counseling Grant.

* The district is revising the after-school programs at Costa Mesa

schools to focus on literacy programs.

* The computer tutor program will be piloted at Rea and Newport

elementary schools this years, bringing computers into children’s homes.

* The new state-mandated promotion and retention policy will be in

place, which puts an end to social promotion.

* The district is developing a new breakfast program and whole

nutrition education in after-school program.

* Eighty-two new teachers join the district.

* An employee recognition program debuts.

* A new evaluation system for all employees will be implemented.

* A peer assistance and review program is designed to help veteran

teachers.

* New achievement level tests will better measure students’ growth.

* Teachers will be able to visit children’s home to offer extra help

in schools that are participating in the Nell Soto Home Visitation Grant.

* A music grant will provide new instrumental music programs at Rea

Elementary School, Davis Education Center and TeWinkle Middle School.

* All four school’s that were named California Distinguished schools

this year will apply to become National Blue Ribbon schools.