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Our School

Meet Our Principal

principal in front of school

Ms. Gladys Diaz

At Ward Elementary School, our students “Roar with Pride and Strive for Excellence.”

Our teachers and staff are committed to facilitating learning opportunities that are engaging, challenging, and meaningful. Through these experiences, students are empowered to construct knowledge, collaborate with others, engage in critical and creative thinking, and articulate their ideas effectively.

Our nurturing learning environments enhance a sense of community, which contributes to the overall well-being and academic achievements of our students.

Respectfully,
Gladys Diaz, Principal

Fun Facts:

  • Ms. Diaz attended Griffith’s Middle School and graduated from Warren High School!
  • She loves Downey Unified so much that it is the only district she has ever worked for.
  • In her free time, Ms. Diaz loves horseback riding and the ocean sunsets.

Our Mission

E.W. Ward School’s mission is to provide all students with a positive and challenging learning environment, which empowers them to become responsible and productive citizens.

The staff, parents, and community are committed to developing the social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being of all students. By focusing on critical thinking skills in all curricular areas, students will become decision-makers and risk-takers who are literate and proficient in mathematics and technology. They will be life-long learners in the twenty-first century.

students representing for a character counsel

Our Vision

The staff, parents, and community are committed to developing the social, emotional, academic and physical well-being of all students. By focusing on critical thinking skills in all curricular areas, students will become decision-makers and risk-takers who are literate and proficient in mathematics and technology.  They will be life-long learners in the twenty-first century.

Ward students smiling at camera

School & Home Compact for Achievement

What is a School-Home Compact?

A School-Home Compact for Achievement is an agreement that parents, students, and teachers develop together. It explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade level standards.

Effective compacts:

  • Link to goals of the school improvement plan.
  • Focus on student learning skills.
  • Describe how teachers will help students develop those skills using high quality instruction.
  • Share strategies parents can use at home.
  • Explain how teachers and parents will communicate with regard to student progress.
  • Describe opportunities for parents to volunteer, observe, and participate in the classroom.

Jointly Developed

The parents and staff of Unsworth Elementary School developed this School-Parent Compact for Achievement. Meetings are held on a yearly basis to review the Compact and make changes based on student needs. Parents are welcome to contribute at any time. If you would like to volunteer, participate, or observe in the classroom, please contact the school.

Building Partnerships

Your support and input are valued and instrumental in helping our students succeed! Opportunities for involvement include:

  • Back-to-School/Parent Night
  • PTA Meetings
  • Parent Engagement Opportunities
  • Open House
  • School Site Council Meetings
  • Title I and English Learner Advisory Council
  • Awards Assemblies
  • District Sponsored events
DUSD logo

District Goal

By June 2027, 90-100% of all students will perform at grade level or higher and upon graduation meet the requirements for entrance into the UC and CSU system or have developed skills to be career ready.

School Goals

By June 2027, we will continue to increase the number of students reaching proficiency in mathematics and reading.

Our focus in reading will be:

  • Develop life-long reading and comprehension strategies, which will increase proficiency in state testing and meet our critical reading focus.
  • Encourage and foster students’ interest in reading a variety of fictional literature and nonfiction texts.
  • Determine the meaning of, comprehend, and appropriately utilize academic vocabulary in speaking and writing.

Our focus in mathematics will be to:

  • Integration of technology to enrich day-to-day learning, intervention, and authentic assessment.
  • To have students explain their mathematical reasoning that supports their problem-solving strategy.
  • To provide classwork in order to review and practice the day’s lesson.

Our focus in science and social studies will be to:

  • The Ward faculty will incorporate projects that support the non-fiction targets of the Common Core standards and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
  • Science will assign research-based projects that involve experimentation and investigation.

At School

The Ward staff will work with students and their families to support students’ success in reading and math. Some of our key connections with families will be:

  • Communicate regularly with parents regarding current academic programs and be accessible to parents/guardians to discuss questions or concerns.
  • Provide materials and information to help parents support the school’s academic program.
  • Offer Parent Workshops:

    • Literacy: Provide parents with strategies and resources on how to read with or listen to their child read and interact with text.
    • Math: Provide parents with strategies and resources on how to help their child solve real-world math problems in a variety of ways.

 At Home

Ward School parents join staff to develop ideas about how families can support students’ success in reading and math:

  • Discuss and review your child’s schoolwork nightly and contact the teacher via ParentSquare with questions or concerns. Make appointments as needed, especially after the first progress report.
  • Read and use the classroom materials and information to support your child’s learning at home.
  • Read with or listen to your child read every day. Attend the family literacy workshops and use the strategies learned to improve your child’s literacy skills.
  • Involve your child in solving real-world math problems every day. Attend the family math workshop and use the strategies learned to improve your child’s mathematical skills. Ask about homework, reading requirements, and iReady reports.

Student Responsibilities

Ward School students know the importance of being responsible. A responsible student will come to school every day on time, prepared, and ready to learn. To make connections between learning at home and at school, Ward students will:

  • Take home, review, and discuss schoolwork and materials nightly with parents/guardians.
  • Ask for help when they have trouble with their schoolwork.
  • Participate in classroom discussions and group work.
  • Read to/with and discuss the text with an adult for 20-30 minutes every day.
  • Use strategies learned in class to solve real-world math problems.
  • Update iPad regularly and come to school with it fully charged.
  • Complete 2 or more iReady lessons in both math and reading weekly.

Engagement Policy

Ward Elementary School recognizes that parents and guardians are their children’s first and most influential teachers. We believe that continued parental involvement in a child’s education contributes greatly to student achievement and conduct. This Parent and Family Engagement Policy is an integral component of our school plan to promote a meaningful partnership between the school and the home.

Part 1: General Expectations

Ward School agrees to implement the following requirements:

  • The school will jointly develop with parents, distribute to parents of Title I children, a School Parental Involvement Policy that the school and parents of participating children agree to uphold.
  • The school will notify parents about the School Parent and Family Engagement Policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, will distribute this policy to parents in English and Spanish.
  • The school will revisit the School Parental Involvement Policy yearly to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.
  • The school will make the School Parental Involvement Policy available to the local community through a web site link.
  • The school will adopt the Home-School compact as a component of its Parent and Family Engagement Policy.
  • The school will provide accessibility and opportunities for parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory students.
  • The school agrees to be governed by the following definition of parental involvement, and will carry out programs, activities and procedures in accordance with this definition:

    Parental involvement means the participation of parents, including those with disabilities and/or with limited English proficiency, in regular and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring –

    • that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;
    • that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education; including the Home-School Compact;
    • that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child;
    • the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.

Part 2: Policy Implementation

Ward School will take the following actions to involve parents in the joint development and joint agreement of its Engagement Policy and its schoolwide plan, if applicable, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way under section 1118(b) of the ESEA:

  • Title I Parent Team Meetings will be held to create, review, and improve the Engagement Policy and the Home-School Compact yearly.
  • Parents will have the opportunity to discuss and share ways to improve the Title I Program.
  • Parents will have the opportunity to complete a survey about our Title I Program each year.
  • Parents will be provided, if they request, an appointment for regular meetings.

Ward School will take the following actions to distribute to parents of children participating and the local community, the Engagement Policy:

  • The hard copy of the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be available to any parent when requested.
  • The Engagement Policy will be posted on our official School website for the community to view.

Ward School will review yearly and update periodically its Engagement Policy to meet the changing needs of parents and the school:

  • A team meeting will be held yearly to review and/or update the Engagement Policy.
  • The Fall Information Meeting will review the Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure.
  • A Fall meeting will be held with a survey regarding dates, times, and topics.

Ward School will convene an annual meeting to inform parents of the following:

  • That their child’s school participates in Title I.
  • About the requirements of Title I.
  • Of their rights to be involved in:
    • Parent and Family Engagement Policy
    • Home-School Compact
    • Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure
  • About their school’s participation in Title I.
  • Invitations emailed home in English & Spanish and posted on social media.
  • Dialer callers in English and Spanish and at convenient times for parents.
  • Parents are encouraged to attend parent functions through various incentives.
  • Parents are encouraged to take the LCAP survey yearly to voice their opinions.

Ward School will hold a flexible number of meetings at varying times, including childcare:

  • Invitations will be sent home in English and Spanish with plenty of notice, along with automatic dialer calls.
  • Childcare will be provided by trained volunteers.
  • Spanish translation will be provided at parent functions.
  • Parent surveys will be given to determine parent interest and needs.

Ward School will provide information about Title I programs to parents of participating children in a timely manner:

  • A Fall meeting will be held.
  • Written notification will be sent home with all Title I students, explaining the program.

Ward School will provide to parents of Title I students a description and explanation of the curriculum being used, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet:

  • A letter will be sent home with all Title I students, explaining the curriculum, assessments being used, and what level is expected of them.
  • This will also be discussed at the Informational Meetings.

Ward School will provide parents of Title I students opportunities to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children:

  • Informational meetings
  • SSC – School Site Council
  • PTA Meetings
  • Annual Title I Meeting
  • District LCAP Survey
  • Community School Liaison

Part 3: Shared Responsibilities for High Achievement

Ward School will build the school’s and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement, in order to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, through the following activities specifically described below:

  • Needs Assessment Survey taken by parents (conducted by Title I)
  • Parent input through team meetings (conducted by Title I)
  • Parental requests (conducted by Title I)
  • Varied / multiple meeting times (conducted by Title I)
  • PTA Meetings (conducted by the PTA board members)
  • Encouragement to attend “Back To School” night and Open House (conducted by the staff and principal)
  • Principal’s newsletter, which is distributed in Spanish and English
  • Healthy Kids Survey

Ward School will incorporate the Home-School Compact as a component of its Parent and Family Engagement Policy:

  • Both policies will be reviewed at the meetings held for Title I parents.
  • Both policies will be displayed on our school website.
  • Both policies will be sent home through the mail.

Ward School will, with the assistance of its district, provide assistance to parents of children served by the school in understanding topics, such as the following:

  • The State’s academic content standards
  • The State’s CAASPP proficiency levels
  • The State and local academic assessments including alternate assessments
  • The requirements of Title I
  • How to monitor their child’s progress
  • How to work with educators
  • Results of the annual Title I review — these various topics will be addressed at the Title I Informational Meetings and through Parent Education throughout the year.

Ward School will, with the assistance of its district, provide materials to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s academic achievement, through:

  • Parent brochures / newsletters
  • Parent education
  • Parent meetings and school functions
  • Gathering parental input on desired parent education trainings

Ward School will, with the assistance of its district and parents, educate its staff in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners through:

  • Staff Meetings
  • Professional Development
  • Professional Literature
  • ‘Q’ Parent Connect Online System through the DUSD App as well as Canvas

Ward School will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, take the following actions to ensure that information related to the school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand:

  • All parent invitations and information will be translated into Spanish.
  • All parent invitations will be emailed home and posted on social media.
  • Auto dialer and email.

Part 4: Adoption

This Parent and Family Engagement Policy has been developed jointly with, and agreed on with, parents of children participating in Title I, as evidenced by Lindsay Barnes.

This policy was approved and adopted by Ward’s School Site Council in April 2025 and will be in effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The policy will be available school-wide to all parents of students through our website. It will be made available to the local community.

Notification to parents of this policy will be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, the school will provide a copy of this policy to parents in a language the parents can understand.

Students in classroom