Diane Berger
Principal

Dear Internet Visitor:

Welcome to our school. Bret Harte Elementary School, part of the Burbank Unified School District, is located in urban Los Angeles, in the city of Burbank, California. Bret Harte serves over 700 children, kindergarten through fifth grade. Class size reduction has been successfully implemented in kindergarten, first, second and third grade classrooms, with a student/teacher ratio of 20:1. The ratio of students to teachers in grades four and five averages 30:1. Our ethnic make-up is approximately 58% Caucasian, 35% Hispanic, 2% Asian/Pacific, 1% Filipino and 1% African-American.

We offer a variety of both co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to our students. An intermediate chorus (Grades 4-5) rehearses weekly and performs at various occasions throughout the school year. Our Instrumental Music Program is held after-school twice a week, where third and fourth grade students learn to play a violin, viola, cello or a bass violin. Harte's Student Council, made up of elected third, fourth and fifth grade students, plans activities and provides service to the school. Fifth grade students attend Outdoor Science School, spending a week in the snowy mountains studying nature and experiencing science on a first-hand basis.

In addition to an enriched educational program, Bret Harte offers several Special Education Programs as well including the Resource Specialist Program, Special Day Class (Grds. 3-5), and a Primary and Intermediate Severely Handicapped Classroom. We also offer a Gifted and Talented Education Program for qualifying fourth and fifth grade students.

We are proud of many things about Bret Harte Elementary School. One especially important emphasis for us is Early Literacy. We are committed to providing support and materials to allow each child to develop strong literacy skills by third grade. All kindergarten - third grade teachers have been trained in proven strategies to help children become lifelong lovers of reading and learning. Another area of pride is our Elementary Guidance Program. Our guidance advisor meets with class groups weekly. Appropriate grade-level topics addressed include how to be a good friend, the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and how we are both alike and different. The program's emphasis is that all children are at risk in one way or another, and our full-time guidance advisor meets the needs of all our children. We offer a Newcomers Club to help students new to Bret Harte assimilate quickly and smoothly into the school culture. We also offer a Homework Club for selected fourth and fifth grade students.

Harte is a PeaceBuilders school! All our students learn the importance of the pledge, promising to praise people, give up put-downs, seek wise people, and to notice and speak up about hurts. We find that our students, as PeaceBuilders, treat each other with kindness and respect.

Harte parents are active in PTA and the School Based Coordinated Council, both supporting school activities. Recently, we raised funds to purchase new playground equipment. Family involvement is very important to us here at Harte, and we are proud to offer six different Family Nights through the school year that include Family Math, Reading, Writing, Art, Science and Technology Nights for parents and students to attend.

Bret Hare's two year three million dollar modernization, funded by the passage of a school bond, has just been completed. Our main building is completely remodeled with new paint, flooring, plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, and air-conditioning. Bret Harte is beautiful - so beautiful that the school District has submitted pictures of our school to be considered for a modernization award! We invite you to come by and see our wonderful modernized school, which allows teachers to teach their best and students to learn their best!

Thank you for taking a moment to browse our school's web page. It has been a pleasure and we hope you will visit again soon.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Diane Berger
Principal