The James Logan Courier

By Steven Thomma
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama rolls out the red carpet Tuesday for India in the first official state visit of his presidency, but the stresses of a key relationship in a tinderbox part of the world will lie just beneath the glitz and glamour of a state dinner.

Obama will welcome Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with an elaborate state greeting on the South Lawn of the White House, meet with Singh through the day, then host him and his wife at a formal dinner for 400 under a tent erected on the South Lawn.

A key reason for giving the visit the highest diplomatic status is to assure India that it remains a key U.S. partner in South Asia.

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer


The Board of Education on Tuesday night received a report on the work that Instructional Leadership Teams are doing at each of the District’s schools to involve teachers in the leadership process, make decisions about the instructional program and lead and monitor the implementation of sound instructional focus.

Chief Academic Officer Wendy Gudalewicz told the Board how the Ball Foundation, which has adopted New Haven as one of a handful of districts across the country where it supports the development of high-performing schools, is partnering with the consultant group Targeted Leadership to provide ILT training. The training is built around the Seven Essentials for Continuous Growth and Improvement, designed to help meet the Board’s goal of having all students performing at grade level in core academic subjects.

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Courier Staff Report

Most of James Logan's Class of 2010 stood for their panoramic picture on a crisp and bright Wednesday morning.

The photo was scheduled for 8 a.m. sharp, but the late arrival of many seniors pushed the actual snapping of the photograph to around 8:25 a.m. Despite the delay, a few seniors were turned away for being too late.

By Alyssa Pimentel, Courier School News Editor
On Friday the 13th, Logan held its semi-annual Spirit Rally after school. The 30-minute event had the student body cheering for their grade in every chance they had.

The rally had performances by the cheerleaders, both junior varsity and varsity, and dance groups. Afterward, the Homecoming Royalty Court was announced.

For freshmen princess, it was Marian Parazo escorted by Prince RJ Start. Sophomore princess was Guadalupe Zamora escorted by Prince Carlos Santana. Junior princess was Kyle Manalang escorted by Prince Matt Haney. Senior princess was Darienne Macatiag escorted by Prince Alex Fuentez-Cardenas. Homecoming queen was Jesa Sales escorted by King Ambrose Cruz.

By Alexys Cran, Courier Staff Writer

"The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather paintings and poetry, music ... design and dialogue, they all define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.” - First Lady Michelle Obama

A year after his election, President Obama has announced the 25 appointees for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, a committee that focuses on and recognizes the excellence on the arts and humanities, education, and cultural diplomacy and understanding. The committee advises the president on cultural affairs and aims to encourage partnerships between the private and the public sectors.

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer

The East Bay Community Foundation, which earlier this year awarded the New Haven Unified School District a grant to support Writing Workshop, has awarded the District a second grant for a complementary literacy program.

The Foundation is giving the District an $11,000 to train teachers and literacy coaches in the Elements of Balanced Literacy.

By VOA News

U.S. President Barack Obama has marked the first Veterans Day of his presidency with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony and speech at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.

The tradition honors Americans who have lost their lives in battle, and also the men and women who currently serve in the U.S. military.

At the ceremony Wednesday, the president said there is no tribute or praise that can match the sacrifice made by the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.

By Suzanne Bohan
Contra Costa Times (MCT)
FREMONT, Calif. — As biologist Josh Scullen drove toward a maze of salt ponds here in late October to conduct his monthly monitoring of California gulls, he pointed to a green field dotted with more than 3,000 of the birds.

The scene conjures images of a Hitchcock movie — only it's not humans threatened by the predatory birds, but rare and imperiled shorebirds from around the San Francisco Bay.

Only three decades ago, a handful of California gulls tending nests on a jut of land near Alviso were a wildlife novelty in the region, as they preferred such inland areas as Mono Lake to rear chicks.

From the New Haven E-News

After almost a year of planning by a group of dedicated alumni, and with the help of some equally dedicated students, it’s time to celebrate James Logan High School’s 50th anniversary.

The fun starts Friday night, with the annual Homecoming football game against Kennedy High. Varsity kickoff is at 7 p.m., following the junior varsity game at 4:30. Alumni will be asked to sit in sections designated by the decade in which they graduated, and there will be cake, coffee and punch at a “Meet & Greet” after the game.

By Lesley Clark
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

WASHINGTON ̬ Florida's tough prison sentences for juveniles came under scrutiny Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court, as the justices appeared divided over whether locking up teenagers for life constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

Attorneys for two Florida teenagers who are serving life in prison with no opportunity for parole told the justices such sentences are unjust to teenagers, who often outgrow their felonious ways.

By Krislyn Perez, Courier Staff Writer

Leading up to our homecoming game and homecoming dance is Spirit Week.

Starting today, Logan students are showing their school spirit by dressing up in what their leadership class has assigned for each day of the week.

Today, freshmen came dressed as their favorite superhero. Tuesday is Hawaiian day. On Lazy Baby Day, otherwise known as pajama day, which is Thursday, freshman can come in their pajamas or whatever they wear when they’re feeling lazy. On Friday freshman can wear yellow to represent the graduating class of 2013. One freshman said that the freshmen leadership class “should be more creative. I think they could do much better than that.”

Due to Veterans Day there will be no school on Wednesday, November 11th.

By Rob Hotakainen
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

WASHINGTON _ Frank McBryde says there are plenty of parallels between serving in the U.S. military and teaching.

"You're not going to become rich, you need loyalty, and you need to be dedicated to a task," said McBryde, 54.

After a 23-year career in the Navy and retiring as a senior chief operations specialist, McBryde is now teaching math to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in suburban Sacramento, Calif.

From the New Haven E-News:

A teacher-led design team has submitted a proposal for the “pilot school-within-a-school” expected to open next fall at James Logan High School. The development stage is now under way, and members of the team will attend several after-school sessions over the next two months.