State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell gets an up-close look Tuesday, January 23rd at Sulphur Springs Community School (16628 Lost Canyon Road, Canyon Country) in the Sulphur Springs School District.  The visit provides Jack O’Connell with an opportunity to see the 2006 California Distinguished School and its challenging programs first hand.  Sulphur Springs Community School is a leader in providing strong instructional programs for all students.

Judy Veale, Principal, will introduce O’Connell to the upper grade student body at an assembly.  The Sulphur Springs School Chorus will sing a couple of songs and then State Superintendent Jack O’Connell will speak to the students.

One sixth grade student, upon learning of O’Connell’s visit to her school hoped he would see “how friendly everyone is on campus, how respectful, how hard teachers work to help kids learn” and that he would check out “the really cool science lab with the cool experiments!”

Sulphur Springs School leads the way with the development of their Science Lab through the support of their strong Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and supportive parent community.  The science lab at Sulphur Springs serves as a template for the science labs currently being implemented throughout the district.

Other special programs State Superintendent O’Connell will observe during his visit include the Community Based English Tutoring program supporting parents and community members learning to speak English, the emphasis on healthy eating and good nutrition with the growing school gardens, the school’s computer lab, and the “Let’s Play” program that introduces social skills and acceptance of all students.

A reception for State Superintendent Jack O’Connell will follow the school wide assembly.  Invited guests will include the superintendents from the valley’s school districts and College of the Canyons, Board Members, City Council members, and city representatives supportive of education and the schools in the Santa Clarita Valley.