Mission Statement: All San Diego students will graduate with the skills, motivation, curiosity and resilience to succeed in their choice of college and career in order to lead and participate in the society of tomorrow.

This edition of EdCast features an inspiring video from Hoover High’s 21st Annual All People’s Breakfast on January 19. Accompanied by talented musicians from the Hoover Orchestra string ensemble, three students, Benon Bwayo, Nancy Arguillez and Liliana Aparicio, shared poetry that represents their thoughts, hopes, dreams and aspirations as evolving students whose families migrated to America for better life opportunities. The annual event celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Watch the video.

More than ever, San Diego Unified families have choices when it comes to educational opportunities. This Saturday, January 24, all 32 of our Magnet schools will be under one roof for an all-day Enrollment Fair, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Palisades Recital Hall in Balboa Park. Current and prospective parents and students can learn about the variety of schools offered in the district, including Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and French language programs; programs that continue from elementary through high school, like the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program; creative and performing arts schools; science, engineering and mathematics academies; and much more. District and school representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Information about transportation, preschool options and Career Planning Guides for middle and high school students will also be available.

Families will have a second opportunity to learn about school choices at the All Schools Fair, next Saturday, January 31, also at the Recital Hall in Balboa Park. Magnet schools, neighborhood schools and other school choice options will be represented.

Both fairs are free and will feature student performances throughout the day. Staff is also encouraged to attend. For more information, please visit www.sandi.net/enrollmentoptions or call (619) 725-5672.

The USS Midway Museum has pledged $20,000 to co-sponsor a week-long study seminar for 20 high school teachers. The seminar, "Destiny Calls: The USS Midway and the Lessons of Vietnam," will be held aboard the Midway from June 22-26, and will feature lectures about the Cold War, the Vietnam War, geography and literature. Teachers will develop lessons plans for use in their classrooms and throughout the district. For information, please contact John Spiegel, high school instructional support director, at (619) 725-7315 or jspiegel@sandi.net .

Student teams from Roosevelt, and Pacific Beach middle schools participated in an intense civics competition at Grossmont College last Friday morning. Organized by the Center for Civic Education, the competition featured structured dialogues about constitutional rights and responsibilities. The discussions were judged by a panel of teacher-scholars including retired SDUSD educators Wayne Bartos, Don Lee and David Vigilante. For information, please contact Kim Hall, middle school instructional support director, at (619) 725-7301 or khall@sandi.net .

Hundreds of third, fourth and fifth grade students created artwork this week that, in their view, captured the essence of President Obama's inaugural address. The entries were culled down to the top ten examples that incorporated a word or phrase from the speech as well as exhibited impressive artistic style. The student art will be displayed next month at Clairemont High School’s Presidential Exhibit. For more information, contact Linda Gohlke, elementary school improvement officer, at (619) 725-7335 or lgohlke@sandi.net .

The Office of College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) held its third Business & Education Direct Connect Annual Event on January 15. One of the largest of its kind in California, the event successfully “connected” businesses and educators to develop a strong foundation for the economic future of San Diego. Board of Education president Shelia Jackson and trustee John DeBeck were among the attendees. Students from more than 20 high schools and one middle school presented exhibitions focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Students from 11 CCTE programs gained a unique real-world experience, working together to co-produce the event, which was supported by investments from the business community and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as title sponsor. Many dedicated and supportive district staff helped to make the event a success. For more information, please contact Shawn Loescher, event producer, Office of College, Career & Technical Education, at (858) 496-1851 or sloescher@sandi.net . See what several of the students had to say on EdCast. Watch video.

Scripps Ranch High School is experiencing success with a new system of intervention for their “at-risk” ninth grade students. To address this challenge, the Falcon Incentive Program has been created by Vice Principal Abram Jimenez and Graduation Coach Marilyn Ortega and supported by the SRHS Foundation. The program provides intensive interventions for freshman students with three or more “Fs”. Between 30-70 struggling students receive individualized academic, personal, and social support, including; weekly counseling sessions with an administrator or counselor to discuss challenges that are preventing them from reaching their highest potential; one hour, twice a week tutoring sessions by volunteer staff; and peer mentoring. Students receive tutoring in all core academic subjects to boost their academic standing. The program began in December with a small group of students and due to its success, continues to grow. For more information contact Principal Kurt Madden at 858.621.9020 x1103.

Congratulations to Patrick Henry High School students William Nakamura and Cody Wilson for being selected for the All-State Honor Band. They were selected based on a recorded audition from a total of 1,600 applicants and will spend two full days of concentrated rehearsals with the other All-State Honor Band students. A formal concert will be presented on March 14 in Ontario, California. For more information, please contact Principal Pat Crowder at (619) 286-7700.

The Autumn 2008 edition of the Special EDge newsletter features an article, "TRACE's Exemplary Approach: Transition Resources for Adult Community Education," which highlights the district’s Transition Resources for Adult Community Education (TRACE) program. TRACE currently works with students ages 18 to 22 years who have a disability and have not received a diploma. The article credits the program’s success to a student-centered approach; six areas of focus including vocation, recreation, community, advocacy, independent living and adult education; financially responsible resource management; and building community partnerships. For information, please contact Bob Morris, TRACE principal, at (858) 693-5500 or bmorris@sandi.net .

Beginning January 12, 30 San Diego Unified school buses began using a B-20 blend of bio diesel. The 80 percent regular diesel, 20 percent bio diesel blend will reduce unburned hydrocarbons by 20 percent carbon monoxide by 12 percent and particulate matter by 12 percent. Through the Transportation Services Department, San Diego Unified is the first school district in the country to use “Green diesel” in its buses. Often called “french-fry fuel,” the new mix will reduce emissions, provide a longer engine life and a potential savings to the district of $70,000 a year in diesel fuel costs. To date, the new endeavor continues to be successful with no reported problems. Drivers are excited about doing something positive for our students’ health and the environment. For more information, please contact Alexandra Robinson, director, Transportation Department at (858) 496-8701 or email: arobinson@sandi.net .

Discover all the exciting events happening around the district. A complete list of San Diego Unified School District Upcoming Events is posted on www.sandi.net.

• Study: Teen Depression May Link to the First Grade
  A new link has been discovered between students who struggle in reading and math in the first grade and their self-esteem in the middle grades. The study, by University of Missouri researchers, suggests that children with poor academic skills early on tend to sell themselves short as they progress through later years, which may lead to symptoms of depression. To address the issue, researchers suggest that educators honor the accomplishments of those students in noncore academic areas, athletics, and music. Science Daily
  
  
• House Stimulus Includes $140 Billion for Education
  The economic recovery bill released Thursday by the House Democratic leadership would provide over $140 billion in much-needed funding for K–12 education, early childhood programs, and higher education. Included in the package are funds allocated specifically to school renovation and modernization; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Title I under NCLB; technology; grants to develop statewide data systems; the Teacher Incentive Fund; homeless education services; and grants to address teacher shortages. Read more.
  
  
• Lower Expectations are the Newest Form of Racism
  President Barack Obama has referenced a new form of racism -- assuming that poor and minority children cannot keep pace with the rest of their peers. In his new book, "Work Hard. Be Nice: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America," Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews interviews the founders of the KIPP program, who have had tremendous success debunking that theory and boosting scores among children who qualify for free or reduced price meals. The Washington Post (1/19)
  
  
• Studies: Behavioral changes help children lose weight
  A review of 64 studies on lifestyle and drug interventions to treat obesity could show no clear advantage of one method over another but did conclude that behavioral changes help children lose weight. Parents need to be involved in helping children change eating and exercise habits, the researchers said. Reuters (1/21)
  
  
• For reading problems, think globally but act locally
  "While a deficiency in reading may look like an across-the-board failure, it is often a local problem in just one or two of the components that add up to the ability to read," write Alan Kazdin and Carlo Rotella in Slate Magazine.” Read more: http://www.slate.com/id/2206105/
  
  
• Study: Can the “Obama effect” close the racial achievement gap?
  A 17.5 percent gap between black and white adults on a test administered before President Barack Obama became the Democratic presidential candidate narrowed to almost nothing after his nomination acceptance speech and again after the presidential election, according to the preliminary results of a small study. Read more: The New York Times (1/22)
  
  
• Free tutoring yields negligible benefit, according to analyses
  Free tutoring available to struggling students is having little impact in Michigan or nationally, according to analyses by The Detroit Free Press, the state of Michigan, and the Center for Education Policy. "It's not being taken advantage of by students, those who are taking advantage of it are not showing improvement in test scores, and the providers are not being rigorously monitored," said Jack Jennings, president of the Center for Education Policy, whose study assessed free tutoring programs across the country. Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20090120/NEWS06/901200384/Tutoring+effort+failing+in+Michigan++nation
  
  
• An education system increasingly segregated
  A new study finds that black and Latino students are more segregated from white students than at any time since the Civil Rights movement, and are more often educated at failing schools, reports Reuters. The trends are "the result of a systematic neglect of civil rights policy and related educational and community reforms for decades," said Gary Orfield, co-director of the Civil Rights Project at the University of California, which issued the findings…The report calls on President Obama to address these issues.
  Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE50D7CY20090114
  See the report: http://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/deseg/reviving_the_goal_mlk_2009.pdf