Merwin Elementary School was opened in 1963 in the City of Covina and serves the communities of Irwindale and unincorporated Covina with an enrollment of approximately 500 students, Merwin is part of the Covina-Valley Unified School District, which includes nine elementary schools serving grades K-5, three middle schools serving grades 6-8, three comprehensive high schools, and one alternative school. The campus hosts Covina Children’s Center which provides before and after school child care and Think Together after-school care for school-age students that attend Merwin. Of Merwin's 486 students, 89.9% are Hispanic, 4.1% are White, 3% are Asian, 0.08% are African American, 1.6% are Filipino, and 1.32% other. At Merwin Elementary School, 83.5% of the students qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, 22.6% are English Learners with the majority speaking Spanish, 7.6% are GATE identified, and 12.9% are Students with Disabilities. In 2013, Merwin Elementary School exited Program Improvement with an API of 835. As a result of this accomplishment, Merwin School was recognized as a California Distinguished School and received the Title I Academic Achievement award during the 2013-2014 school year. Merwin Elementary School has developed a systematic approach to address the needs of all students which involve good teaching the first time and a Response to Intervention Plan which addresses universal support, strategic and intensive intervention. Students who are struggling have the opportunity to receive additional instruction in the classroom, attend special learning programs provided by intervention teachers, and participate in computer-based learning programs in the computer lab before, during, and after school. Several intervention programs are in place to meet the various academic needs of the students. These interventions include small group instruction in class based on checks for understanding, after-school homework club, and small group tutoring based on student needs, Accelerated Reader, a motivational reading program, and i-Ready, a diagnostic ELA and Math program which delivers adaptive computer instruction is also provided, based on the needs of the students. Merwin Elementary School also promotes a college-bound culture, and it achieved the California Gold Ribbon Award in 2015-16 based on the implementation of six exceptional systems. Merwin Elementary School is one of nine computer science magnet schools in the Covina-Valley Unified School District. Merwin is a one-to-one school where all students have a Chromebook or Lenovo and are learning CODE as their second language. This year Merwin is partnering with Code to the Future. Students grades TK-5 use their 21st Century skills of collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication in an environment where computer science is taught as a normal discipline in the classroom. The Merwin staff is highly qualified with 100% of the teaching staff NCLB compliant, fully credentialed, and CLAD certified (or its equivalent). Our staff includes two Special Education teachers in our Specialized Academic Instruction Program. We also have a Speech and Language Pathologist, a part-time School Psychologist, and a part-time Adaptive PE teacher. Merwin also has a Title I Intervention Specialist who works with our socioeconomically disadvantaged population, coordinates and teaches our intervention program. The staff at Merwin Elementary School is committed to preparing all students for success in the 21st Century. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to be educated in a way that prepares them for college. We know each student is capable of meeting the rigorous Common Core standards. We know we have the power to make each student’s success a reality. To provide the skills necessary, we are using innovative instructional strategies to support all student learning. Using technology throughout the day is evident when walking through the classroom. Both teachers and students are actively engaged in using computers, iPads, and iPods. Our teachers team up with our Title I Intervention Specialist to provide students with a daily universal access block of time for intervention and acceleration activities. Also, our teachers meet in PLC meetings to align curriculum, pace their instruction, plan and review assessment results to guide instruction and universal access time, monitor student response to intervention, plan lessons and participate in professional development activities. Our parents and PTA are very important partners in our students' education. Our parents volunteer in the classroom, organize special events and raise money to provide extra things that make our school special, such as field trips, dinner with Santa, assemblies, movie nights, festivals, and much more. We take instruction and social development seriously and are dedicated to providing a rigorous academic program preparing students for success in college and beyond!