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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. |  |
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 As part of our ongoing efforts to communicate with our school community and the public, I recorded a video message to share the facts about the budget challenges our Board of Education is facing to balance our budget for the 2009/10 school year. Click to watch video.
In addition, a letter from the County Office of Education was provided to our Finance Division earlier this week. This letter describes the general process for county office approval, denial, or conditional approval of a school district’s budget. It also describes the intervention actions that occur if the county office conditionally approves and/or disapproves a budget. Read the letter  .
Thank you for your continued patience and support during this unprecedented budget crisis. If you have any ideas for the Board’s budget deliberations, please share with me at (619) 725-5506 or tgrier@sandi.net .
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Number of “High Performing” Schools Doubles in 5 Years |
The number of our schools classified as high performing by the state Department of Education has doubled in the past five years, according to the annual Academic Performance Index released yesterday. An 800 score on the state tests classifies the school as high performing. For the 2007-08 school year, 31 percent of our schools had scores of 800 or above, up from 15 percent in 2002-03 school year. Performance of elementary schools improved, with 40 percent now at 800 or above, up from 19 percent in 2002-03.
Other results, however, show that in some areas we still have work to do. Areas needing improvement include a decline in the number of schools at or above the state median and in schools’ rankings. I’m confident we will continue to make progress in these areas. Congratulations, Team San Diego Unified, for a job well done!
Click here to find individual school rankings.
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Progress in On-line Learning |
This year, San Diego Unified has rapidly expanded on-line learning opportunities for our students. APEX Learning, our on-line partner, recently provided us with a May Progress Review report. High points include:
- Credit Recovery Program: To date, high school students have recovered 1,668 course credits for courses previously failed at an average grade of 81% , with an anticipated 3,500-4,000 recovered credits by end of the school year.
- Alternative Schools: 71 students are taking 172 courses, 42 of which are progressing with an average grade of 80%. Program started in February 2009.
- Middle School Math Pilot: 137 participating middle school students are averaging a quality of work score of 81%.
- IHigh Academy / Dual Enrollment: 217 high school students are taking 285 online courses averaging a quality of work grade of 73%.
- Exam Prep: 211 high school students are preparing for the CAHSEE ; 209 high school students are preparing for AP Exams.
Click here to read the full report. Please call me at (619) 725-5506 should you have questions.
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EdCast: Classified Man and Woman of the Year |
 At a ceremony on May 19, Amir Rahim, a Race-Human Relations Education Assistant, and Sylvia Garcia, a Student Information System Site Technician II, were honored as the district’s Classified Man and Woman of the Year. Watch their video tributes, produced by Kearny High School of Digital Media and Design students.
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Rosa Parks Teachers Honored for Science Excellence |
Congratulations to Rosa Parks Elementary fifth grade teachers Bob Ford, Marcus Greene, Monica Gutierrez, Colleen Crandall and Rachel York for receiving Teacher Partnership Awards from the San Diego Science Alliance (SDSA). The awards recognize exceptional efforts to enhance K-12 science education in San Diego County. The SDSA Partnership Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 21, 6 - 8:30 p.m., in the Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall. For more information, please contact Principal Peggy Crane at (619) 282-6803.
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Top One Percent Students Feted at Salute to Excellence |
On Wednesday, May 20, representatives from 32 high schools were honored at the district’s “Salute to Excellence” recognition event. The top one percent from the Class of 2009, including all valedictorians, were joined by their families, principals, counselors and teachers at this annual event. Some of the students are the first in their families to go to college. The top four schools students are attending include UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD and SDSU. Other universities include Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, Yale, and Princeton. For more information, please contact Janet Delaney, director, community relations, at jdelaney@sandi.net or (619) 725-5593.s
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Proposition S Update: Construction Begins at Hoover and San Diego High Schools |
 On May 12, the Board of Education approved two multi-million dollar Prop. S construction contracts for a new classroom building at Hoover High School and a new multimedia studio at San Diego High Educational Complex. Construction activities will begin in the next few weeks.
In addition, track and field improvements are already underway at the Mira Mesa and Morse high school stadiums. San Diego High’s stadium will also be getting a makeover. The entire track and field will be removed and replaced, creating a new track and field compliant with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). Work will begin in approximately four weeks, and will be done in two phases. Phase one includes the installation of a synthetic turf field; phase two includes stadium upgrades, Americans with Disability Act improvements and a new rubberized track. The field should be in place and ready for football practice in mid-August. For more information, please call the Proposition S Communications Office at (619) 725-7252.
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New Food Services Program Will Offer Fresh Food Fast |
Coming to a high school near you during the 2009-10 school year is a program that will offer a wide variety of new ethnic-inspired bowls and wraps, and other specialty entrées. A major component of the program will include new food carts that will be equipped to increase the speed of service to all students. More detailed information will be sent to sites in time for high schools to include in their registration packets for the start of school in the fall. For additional information, please contact Gary Petill, director, Food Services Department, at (858) 627-7301 or gpetill@sandi.net .
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The Landscaping Department traded in their rakes and shovels for running shoes on Saturday, May 3, to help support our students in the “Race for Literacy 8K Run.” Students, friends, family and district support staff lived life in the fast lane together for a common goal: making it to the finish line for literacy. For more information, contact Daniel Gonzales, landscape services supervisor, at (858) 627-7247 or dgonzales@sandi.net .
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Engineers Make Gateway Summer Camp Possible for Students |
Students from eight district middle schools will enjoy the SME-EF Gateway Academy Summer Camp Program, thanks to a generous donation from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers-Educational Foundation (SME-EF). The week-long camp provides students with hands-on engineering projects using Project Lead the Way curriculum. The program encourages problem-solving in a fun, exciting environment using leading edge technologies to expose students to careers in robotics, aeronautics and computer design. For more information, please contact Bill Berggren, program development specialist, Office of College, Career and Technical Education, at bberggren@sandi.net or (858) 503-1753.
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- Students Accepted as UCSD Hughes Scholars
Eight students from School of Science, Connections & Technology (SCT) at Kearny Educational Complex and four students from Lincoln High School have been accepted to the UCSD Hughes Scholars High School Summer Research Program. The summer program is a three-week research experience that engages participants activities centered on both hands-on, inquiry-based activity, and intensive science and leadership instruction at an accelerated pace. Students will receive personalized, supportive mentoring and experience reality-based exploration of science career pathways. For more information, please contact Tony Burks at (619) 725-7077 or tburks@sandi.net .
- Met High School is Pilot Site for “Nine Steps to Success-Teens Can Make it Happen"
Students from Crawford High School of Law and Business recently participated in a Junior Acheivement (JA) entrepreneur competition at the JA BIZ Town. The enterprising students received an award for "Most Original JA Company Product” for their Colts Ware Co. black beanies featuring the Crawford Colts mascot. Judges reviewed each teams' display and business plan including two essays on micro finance and social responsibility. For more information, please contact Yolanda Veazey, business environments teacher, at (619) 583-2500, ext. 4203 or yveazey@sandi.net .
- Point Loma Students’ PSA Wins First Prize
A Public Service Announcement (PSA) produced by Point Loma High School students Chloe Hawkins, Mike Lamb, Samuel Janney and Emily Sales placed first in the City of San Diego Water Conservation Film Contest. Their PSA aired in front of a captive audience at the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center IMAX Theater on May 18. The team of students won a $500 camera package. Their award-winning PSA can be seen at Fashion Valley and Mission Valley AMC theaters as a trailer during the month of June. For more information, please contact Shawn Loescher, program specialist, Office of College, Career and Technical Education, at sloescher@sandi.net or (858) 503-1751.
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