Principal's Message
Hello Branch Family!
Welcome back to the 2019-20 school year! I am honored to serve as the principal at Branch Elementary. I have lived in Arroyo Grande for the past fourteen years and have had the unique opportunity to have worked at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This will be my second year at Branch and I’m looking forward to preserving the proud traditions of our school while continuing to provide new and powerful experiences for our students.
If you are returning to Branch, you know what a special place it is. If you are new this year you will quickly discover the unique culture that surrounds our country school. We have approximately 325 students ranging from kindergarten to 6th grade. Our staff models and coaches our students to become kind, confident, and compassionate in several ways. We will continue our Bronco PRIDE program (Perseverance, Respect, Innovation, Drive, and Enthusiasm) which includes teacher-driven lessons and school-wide assemblies. Branch Elementary also has a unique Peer Mediation program where students learn the power of resolving conflict through conversation. All students have the ability to request a peer mediation session which is facilitated through a group of trained 5th and 6th-grade peer mediators. All of our students are considered “Peace Helpers” and are expected to look out for and help those that may be having a bad day.
Our students and staff have also proven their ability to shine academically. We have a dedicated science lab and offer several lab experiences throughout the year, as well as 1:1 Chromebook access in grades 2-6. Last year over 75% of our staff completed their Google Educator Level 1 certification. Although we intend to prepare our students for 21st-century learning, there is no substitution for good instruction and our teachers are mindful of student screen time.
There is so much I’m excited about this year...too much to list here. Please ensure you have updated your email address through Homelink so you receive our weekly parent newsletter “Saddle Up!” and our monthly student video, “The Stampede.” You can also search the app store on your iPhone or Android device and download the Lucia Mar app. This is a great way to stay connected with our schools. You can subscribe to Branch and any other sites to follow announcements, download flyers, pay lunch accounts, check Homelink, and much more! Please also take opportunities to get involved with our incredible PTO. Every year the PTO works hard to support our school, funding field trips, technology, our science lab, teacher-tutoring, and much more. We couldn’t provide the high-quality learning experiences that we do without their tireless efforts.
I am excited and determined to provide a great experience for everyone at Branch Elementary!
Sincerely,
Matt David
Principal
Follow the latest happenings at Branch on Facebook (Branch Elementary--Arroyo Grande, CA). Also check out our parent newsletter "Saddle Up!" on this website.
