Principal's Message

The Andrews community -  teachers, principal, staff, parent committees, parents, students, and community members  shares a common vision: To inspire and facilitate the academic success of all students. All teachers facilitate academic success of all students by recognizing varying abilities of all students and differentiating instruction so that all students can be successful. All teachers are highly qualified based on NCLB requirements.  Our expectation is for all students to work to the best of their abilities and to achieve academic success.

We are one of 11 schools in the Whittier City School District, and we are proud to be the only elementary school to include a sixth grade. Volunteers assist in the facilitation of the academic success of all students by working with individuals or small groups in classrooms.  The school motto: "I Am Somebody Special," reflects the school's profound commitment to each and every child as an individual, while recognizing his or her special gifts, unique talents, and ability to succeed.  Known as a place of high quality teaching and engaged student learning, Andrews takes pride in its reputation of excellence.

The diversity of our student population reflects the community in which we teach. Our enrollment averages 440 students. Eighty-four percent of students are Hispanic, eleven percent are White, three percent are Asian, one percent is Black, one percent is Pacific Islander, and one percent is Filipino. Twenty percent of our students are English Language Learners, and forty-eight percent qualify for free and reduced lunch.  The strategies we have selected are designed to meet the educational needs of all students, including those of historically underserved populations (migrant, Native Indian, Native Alaskan, and homeless students).

The staff at Andrews School provides a balanced, comprehensive, and standards-aligned curriculum by following District Essential Agreements and the Frameworks for California Public Schools in all curricular areas. As confirmed by Andrews’s API (698 in 2001 to 799 in 2008), continuous growth in student achievement has been promoted by the alignment of effective teaching practices with the state standards curriculum and its assessment tools.  Our weekly minimum days are used for grade level team meetings where teachers collaborate, analyze data, plan instruction and receive professional development.  

Student achievement will be monitored through the analysis of local assessment data that is dissagregated after every testing period. Furthermore, we will continue to evaluate our progress through the examination of California Standards Test (CST) results.

At Andrews School, we are fortunate to have strong community support through the PTA and active parent involvement in the classroom. PTA fund-raisers provide additional funds for school field trips and activities such as the Fine Arts Festival, Reading Rewards and Red Ribbon Week. A concerted effort has successfully brought the PTA, ELAC and SSC to work together in organizing and leading events. Our PTA also sponsors the Room Parent Volunteer Program in which every classroom has a volunteer parent assigned to help the teacher.

The Andrews' School Plan represents our school goals, related actions, and expenditures to raise student achievement.  It ensures the coordination and integration of Federal, State, and local services and programs.  The School Site Council, Leadership Team and Andrews' staff analyzed a variety of data to arrive at the recommended goals and objectives. The focused set of solutions described in our school plan will be implemented comprehensively.