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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. |  |
DISTRICT NEWS:
San Diego Boasts California’s Teacher of the Year |
Kelly Kovacic, Social Studies teacher at The Preuss School UCSD, an intensive college preparatory charter school for low-income students, has been named one of five California Teachers of the Year for 2010. Kovacic has also been selected as California’s nominee for the prestigious National Teacher of the Year competition and will soon be traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet President Obama. “Kelly and each of our outstanding California Teachers of the Year represent the most important profession in our society today,” stated State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. Pictured here are Principal Scott Barton, Superintendent O’Connell, Kovacic, Peter and Peggy Preuss. (photo courtesy of Victor W. Chen, UC San Diego) Learn more about the winners.
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Success Closing the Achievement Gap |
 Congratulations to the staff, administration and especially the hard-working children of 23 district elementary schools who qualified to apply for the 2010 California Distinguished School Program. Barnard, Bird Rock, Cadman, Chesterton, Crown Point, Curie, Dingeman, Ericson, Field, Green, Jones, Loma Portal, Perry, Sandburg, EB Scripps, Vista Grande, and Wegeforth elementary schools met the state’s rigorous eligibility criteria for closing the achievement gap by boosting student achievement levels under the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), API (Growth Academic Performance Index) standardized tests. Another six schools were added to the list by meeting the eligibility criteria by achieving their AYP targets: Bay Park, Birney, Dana, Foster, Nye, and Sequoia elementary.
Being chosen to apply is an honor that highlights our schools’ work in best practices. Schools were chosen for their overall scores as well as boosting achievement for all significant subgroups, based on categories that include ethnicity and socioeconomic status. For more information, please contact Kristi Dean, interim chief elementary school improvement officer, at (619) 725-7170 or kdean@sandi.net.
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Budget Town Hall Meetings |
Parents, students, employees and community members are strongly encouraged to attend one of five upcoming Budget Town Hall Meetings. Attendees will learn more about the budget crisis and offer ideas and feedback for the Board of Education on the best ways to balance the budget for the 2010-11 school year. Each meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m.:
For more information, please visit www.sandi.net/budget or contact Bernie Rhinerson, chief district relations officer at (619) 725-5578.
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 San Diego Unified continues to work closely with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency as the H1N1 flu virus circulates throughout the San Diego region. Schools throughout the county, including some in our district, are experiencing increased absenteeism that may be due to suspected H1N1 flu. San Diego County Public Health personnel are currently investigating numerous San Diego County schools for probable outbreak of H1N1 flu.
San Diego Unified parents will be notified by their school if County Public Health opens an investigation of a possible H1N1 outbreak. If an investigation is opened and/or an outbreak is declared, public health officials advise that schools continue to follow the guidelines established at the beginning of the school year. Schools will remain open. Students who are sick will NOT be allowed at school. Students who are well should attend school as usual. Families should continue to be vigilant about practicing good hygiene. Parents should have their children vaccinated as soon as possible.
For more information about the H1N1 flu virus and vaccine, visit www.sdiz.org, call 2-1-1 or call the district H1N1 Flu Information line at (619) 260-5409.
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Outstanding Middle School Teachers |
 De Portola and Montgomery middle schools have each received notification that one of their teachers has been selected a regional finalist for the California League of Middle Schools Region 9 “Educator of the Year" award. De Portola English teacher Mellany Parinas and Montgomery math teacher Caroline Morse will be honored at an awards dinner taking place Monday, Dec. 14, at the Admiral Kidd Club in Point Loma. For more information, please contact De Portola Principal Elizabeth Gillingham at lgillingham@sandi.net or Montgomery Principal Jonathan Ton at jton@sandi.net.
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Prop. S Helps Support Joint-use Field in La Jolla |
On Nov. 2, La Jolla Turf-it Committee representatives, other community donors and the principals from Muirlands Middle and La Jolla High schools participated in a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on a new synthetic turf field and ramp to improve accessibility to the athletic fields. The joint-use project between Muirlands MS and La Jolla HS will be used for multiple sports and will benefit every student in the La Jolla cluster. The goal is to finish it by the end of winter break.
The La Jolla Turf-it Committee spent three years raising $500,000 for the project. More than $178,000 of the schools’ Prop. S funds and $500,000 of State Schools Facilities funds are also being used for the project. In addition, $137,000 in Prop. S funds are earmarked for the construction of a new ramp to comply with accessibility regulations. The ramp construction is planned fro December 2009 through April 2010.
The Turf-it Committee hopes to raise an additional $75,000 to build a state-of-the-art fitness center and running surface around the athletic fields. For more information, please contact the Propositions S Communications Office at (619) 725-7252 or propsinfo@sandi.net.
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District Earns A+ for Quake Drill |
When the devastating fake earthquake struck California on Oct. 15 – in the form of the Great California ShakeOut disaster preparedness drill -- San Diego Unified reacted well. School Police Services officials say participants did a fine job in the exercise designed to help students and staff members survive a large-scale quake. Evaluations of the drill will be used to highlight areas needing improvement as well as showcase best practices. For information, please contact School Police Lt. Rueben Littlejohn at (619) 725-7000.
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Food Services Truck Drivers Deliver the Goods |
Food Services truck drivers deliver more than 130,000 meals a day, resulting in 25 million meals delivered each year. Their day starts at 6 a.m. as they begin moving the fruits, vegetables and main entrée items needed to feed our students every school day. The drivers are moving products all day long to cafeterias where more than 1,200 Food Services team members are responsible for preparing the tasty and nutritious food items that keep our students fueled for a successful school day. For more information, please contact Victor Parra, supervisor, operations support, at (858) 496-8210 or vparra@sandi.net.
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Board Hosts Special Public Hearing on SDSU’s Changes to Admission Policy |
On Monday, Nov. 9, the Board of Education invites parents, students, teachers, counselors and community members to attend a special public hearing regarding San Diego State University’s planned enrollment limitations for local students for the 2010/11 academic year. The special meeting is a follow-up to the Oct. 13 Board Resolution (LINK) and will begin at 4 p.m. in the auditorium at the Education Center, 4100 Normal St., San Diego (92103). Attendees will have the opportunity to give brief public testimony about the university’s planned admissions policy. For more information, please contact the Board Office at (619) 725-5550 or board@sandi.net.
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- Alcott Students Send Special Treats to the Troops
On Monday Nov. 2, the Alcott Elementary PTA hosted its first Halloween Candy Buy-Back and collected more than 150 pounds of candy. The PTA will send the non-perishable items to U.S. troops overseas. More than 67 students generously donated candy and were rewarded with a goody bag of school supplies, fruit, pretzels, restaurant gift certificates and a book of their choosing. Kindergartener Malachi Rojas brought in the most candy, more than nine pounds, and received a $25 gift certificate to the movie theaters. For more information, please contact Principal Michelle Riley at mriley@sandi.net.
- Hickman Hero
Fifth grade teacher Patricia “P.J.” Jeffery is officially a hero. The Hickman Elementary School instructor won the Teachers are Heros title from a vote by parents through a contest with school partners Smooth Jazz 98.1 and Azusa Pacific University. She was honored for her work leading the school recycling program and promoting environmental awareness. She also won a grant that financed a student mural project that transformed a drab bungalow into a work of art. “She's a doer and she makes thing happen,” the awards committee noted. For more information, please contact Principal Jennifer Wroblewski at jwroblewski@sandi.net or (858) 271-5210.
- De Portola Middle School Shares the Spotlight
The California Department of Education (CDE) is recognizing the achievements of 22 California middle schools that are participating in the Schools To WatchTM--Taking Center Stage program, including De Portola Middle School. The schools are being recognized on a display that is hanging in the foyer of the CDE during November. For more information, please contact Principal Elizabeth Gillingham at lgillingham@sandi.net.
- Crawford Shows off IDEA, Calculus, Web Smarts and Auto Shop
City Councilman Todd Gloria toured the Crawford High Educational Complex on Oct. 29, and saw first hand some of the innovative programs being offered at the four small schools on campus. The Councilman, who represents District Three, visited CHAMPs, MVAS, IDEA and LAB. He talked to students and staff and spent time in AP Calculus and in the ROP Web Design and NATEF Automotive Program. Gloria emphasized his support for Crawford and its commitment to improving student achievement. For information, please contact Cindy McHugh at (619) 602-0687 or cmchugh@sandi.net.
- PLHS Students Nominated for Film/Video Awards
Point Loma High School seniors Steven Kennedy, Daniel Doft, Bryce Truver, Devin Peugh, Sten Walker and Alex Silberman have been nominated for Film/Video Awards at the 11th Annual BestFest America Student Film Festival, taking place this Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Ultra Star Cinemas in Mission Valley Hazard Center. Point Loma High is the only school in San Diego Unified to have films nominated for the event. Point Loma's entries are scheduled for the afternoon screening, beginning at noon. For more information, please contact Anthony Palmiotto, multimedia instructor, at (619) 223-3121.
- SD High Culinary Arts Students Cater for World-Class Co.
San Diego High School culinary arts students from the famed Blue Castle Restaurant continue to receive a variety of internship opportunities and are networking their way to high-skilled careers in the industry. Students recently catered an Open House Menagerie for Relocation Coordinates, Inc., a world-class company handling national and international management relocations for corporations. The tray service of mini Beef Wellingtons, chili lime glazed shrimp, risotto stuffed baby bellas, crab dip on crackers, and mini-gingerbread cupcakes was perfectly executed by Clarise Bell, Hector Valdevia, Matthew Baselow, Stephanie Ryan, Lucy Berumen, Anthony Williams, Raynond Vasquez and Jamison Claflin-Cave (in photo). President/CEO Katherine Kennedy commented that “the students made the event.” For more information, please contact Angela Croce, Program Specialist, at (858) 503-1750 or acroce@sandi.net.
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