Landmark and Mountain View Middle Schools Visit Washington, D.C.

Summertime included a trip of discovery for students from Landmark and Mountain View middle schools who traveled to Washington, D.C. The trip featured visits to historic landmarks, including the Vietnam Memorial, memorials to presidents Lincoln, Jefferson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the White House, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Smithsonian, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the capitol building. Students also visited Ford's Theater, the site of President Lincoln's assassination. A special thanks to State Assemblymember Jose Medina for a generous donation and electronic waste recycling's efforts, which helped fund the trip. That wasn't the only excitement for Landmark Middle School, however. Their excitement continued with something a little more personalized. One of just 39 schools from 11 states selected as a "School to Watch" by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, Landmark Middle School was honored at gala ceremonies in Washington, D.C. Landmark staff also gave a presentation at the national conference held in conjunction with the gala on the work they are doing to improve the success and college readiness of Landmark's English learner students. While in the nation's capital, members of the Landmark staff had the opportunity to discuss their school's accomplishments with U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, a former high school teacher, and Dr. Dudek, who also was asked to testify at a congressional hearing.