On Monday, November 3, Human Resources will launch a new HR Call Center designed to help incoming callers with Human Resources information and provide appropriate HR contact information. The call center will be staffed from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and can be reached by calling (619) 725-8000, Option 7, or directly at (619) 725-8089. On Friday, October 31, maintenance will be conducted on the Human Resources phone menu, which may result in it being unavailable at times throughout the day. The HR staff can be reached directly by using the HR staff directory online or by contacting the district operator at (619) 725-8000--Press 0. For information, contact Toren Allen at tallen@sandi.net.

The annual Benefits Open Enrollment period continues until Friday, November 21. During this period, eligible employees may enroll for medical/dental coverage, change plans, and/or add eligible dependents.  All Open Enrollment changes become effective January 1, 2009. For complete information, visit the Benefits Office website or call (619) 725-8130, option 6.

Would you like to share your knowledge and expertise with other professionals while earning extra income?  The Discover Program is seeking instructors to develop and teach classes to certificated and classified employees during the 2008-09 Winter Sessions (Jan.-Mar.’09) and throughout the year.  Instructors are paid at a rate of $45.29 per hour for teaching time and $30.57 for preparation time spent outside of assigned workday. For information, contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net or (858) 496-1897.

Don’t miss out on the great professional development opportunities from the Discover Program . Registration is still open for the following October-November course offerings:

• GATE - Differentiating Instruction Utilizing Multiple Intelligences (.5 cr.)
• Strengthening Your Curriculum! (.5 cr.)
• GATE - Seminar Reading: “Creativity Day by Day” (1 cr.)
• GATE - Differentiating Instruction with Dimensions of Depth & Complexity Icons (.5 cr.)
• CPR-Basic Life Support and First Aid (.5 cr.)

Register early to avoid class cancellations. Classes are held based on registrations received.  To view course descriptions and register online, go to the DISCOVER website.  For information, contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net or (858) 496.1887.

• School Site Council Trainings
  The Program Monitoring Department is continuing its School Site Council (SSC) trainings on October 20, 28, 30, and November 5, 13 and 17. The training provides information about implementing Title I mandates, SSC responsibilities and bylaws, the revised Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) template, understanding budgets, and categorical budget guidelines.  Register for any one of the trainings online.
  
  
• Expenditure of Major Categorical Funds
  The Program Monitoring Department is offering two Expenditure of Major Categorical Funds trainings for principals, vice principals and financial support staff on Thursday, October 23, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., at Ballard Parent Center, and Wednesday, October 29, from 2-3 p.m., at the IMC, Center for Ed Tech, Building 1. This training will focus on guidelines for expending categorical funds outlined in the Site Operations Circular 1017 Expenditure of Major Categorical Funds . Register for one of the trainings by calling the Program Monitoring Department at (858) 496-4048.
  
  
• Purchase Card Training
  The next mandatory training for employees to take prior to becoming a district purchase cardholder, approver or reconciler will be held Thursday, November 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Ed Center auditorium. Principals, site administrators, financial clerks and secretaries who have not attended training are also encouraged to attend. For information or to RSVP, contact Julie Nguyen at jnguyen1@sandi.net or (619) 725-7669.

Perkins Elementary is sponsoring a blood and bone marrow drive for one of its teachers. The drive will be held on Tuesday, October 28, from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Perkins Elementary. All donors will receive a t-shirt and be entered in a drawing for a $500 shopping spree. Sign-up online at www.givelife.org, code: PerkinsElem. For information, contact Magda Salazar-Kuncz at msalazar-kuncz@sandi.net.  

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) expert and author, Mark Katz, Ph.D., will speak on Changing the Odds, One School Day at a Time on Wednesday October 22, from 3-4:30 p.m., at Clark Middle School. The program is the first in the 2008-09 lecture series  designed to educate parents and school staff on various aspects of ADHD. The program is free. Spanish translation will be available. For information, contact Eileen Griffiths at egriffiths@sandi.net or (858) 636-4380.

• County Offers Technology Workshops to SDUSD Teachers, Students
  The San Diego County Office of Education has released the 2008 fall schedule of Technology Workshops  offered at the San Diego County Regional Technology Centers. Classes are available for teachers, support personnel and students of San Diego County schools. Many classes are free. Register online. For information, e-mail Becki Goehl at bgoehl@sdcoe.net.

• “Being Bilingual” Essay Contest
  The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) invites elementary, middle and high school students who are learning in two languages to participate in its 28th Annual Nationwide Writing Contest . Cash prizes include $1,000 for grades 3-5; $1,000 for grades 6-8; and $2,000 for grades 9-11. The deadline for submission is Friday, November 7. For information, call (202) 898-1829.
  
  
• Voice of Democracy Contest
  The Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary is once again sponsoring the audio-essay scholarship contest for high school students in grades 9-12. The deadline for submission is Saturday, November 1. For information and entry form, go to www.vfw.org.
  
  
• San Diego County Student Academic Competitions
  The San Diego County Office of Education encourages schools to take advantage of the many opportunities in the county for elementary through high school students to participate in academic competitions. To see a list of competitions, visit www.sdcoe.net/events. For information, contact Nicole Shina at nshina@sdcoe.net or (858) 292-3850.

• Support Dollars for Scholars
  On Saturday, October 25, students from five San Diego Unified schools will join others around the country in the Dollars for Scholars Walk for Education. Students from Hoover, Madison and Twain high schools, Ocean Beach and Linda Vista elementary schools are participating in the event designed to increase awareness of the importance of a college education and to raise scholarship dollars to help more San Diego County students afford a higher education. For information, go to the website.
  
  
• Public Auction Set for October 23
  The district is holding a public auction starting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, at the Supply Center Yard, 2351 Cardinal Lane, 92123. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.  A $200 cash refundable deposit is required to receive a bidder number.  For information, contact Rose Gustafson at (858) 522-5850 or Anstead’s Auctioneers and Associates at (619) 233-3148. 
  
  
• Community Resource Fair
  The district Counseling and Guidance Department is sponsoring the 4th Annual Community Resource Fair on Tuesday, December 2, from 8-10:30 a.m., at Marina Village. Representatives from community agencies will share information about resources available to schools. For information, call the Counseling & Guidance Department at (858) 503-3180.
  
  
• Community Halloween Carnival
  Whitman Elementary will be holding its annual Halloween Carnival (   English | Spanish ) on Saturday, November 1, from noon to 4 p.m. For information, contact the Whitman PTA at whitmanpta2008@yahoo.com .
  
  
• Curie Elementary 30th Annual Holiday Craft Fair
  Marie Curie Elementary PTA will be holding their 30th Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, November 1, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.  For information, call (858) 643-9720 or visit www.CuriePTA.org.
  
  
• Ed Center Winter Craft Fair
  Just in time for holiday shopping. The annual Winter Craft Fair to benefit the Education Center Building Committee will be held Friday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Annex 9 Testing Room. For more information, contact La Donna Chase at lchase@sandi.net or Elaine Lindberg at elindberg@sandi.net. 

View more Upcoming Events in the Events section on www.sandi.net.

• Superintendent’s Friday Notes
• Organizational Chart  
• EdCast interviews

San Diego Union-Tribune
October 18, 2008
Student Spotlight - Colin Tandy
It didn't matter that, technically, the beach cleanup at Pacific Beach Point was a project for the seventh-graders. Colin Tandy, a sixth-grader at Pacific Beach Middle School, showed up anyway – with his family.

San Diego Union-Tribune
October 16, 2008
High schools in S.D. add crash course in finances
High school students learn quickly that their futures hinge on a long list of numbers, from their SAT scores to their GPA.

For Sale:

• 1994 Toyota Tercel. Teal. 4-speed manual. 99,000 miles. Runs well. One owner. $2,000 obo. Call (619) 840-0450 or (619) 563-4650.
  
  
• Bakers rack with wicker drawers, wine rack. Powdered-coated steal and oak. $100. Call (858) 484-6960.
  
  
• Custom new home. 3BR/2½BA. 2-car garage. Central San Diego. Upgraded appliances, fenced, view. $339,000. Call (619) 729-1205.
  
  
• 3 BR/2 BA House in El Cajon. Pool, gazebo, waterfall and pond. Slate Deck. Brick BBQ. $349,000. Call (619) 729-1205.

For Rent

• Custom new home. 3BR/2½ BA, 2-car garage. Central San Diego. Upgraded appliances, fenced, view. $2,000/mo. Possible Lease-to-own. Call (619) 729-1205.
    
• 3 BR/2 BA House in El Cajon. Pool, gazebo, waterfall and pond. Slate Deck. Brick BBQ. $2,000/mo. Call (619) 729-1205.
  
  
• 4BR/2BA upgraded house, Granite Hills. Cul-de-sac. 2-car garage. Appliances. A/C. Fireplace. $2,200/mo. Call (858) 278-8053.

Classified ads are accepted from district employees only and cannot be used to advertise commercial activities. Submit ads by e-mail to communications@sandi.net. Limit to 15 words (not including phone number). Include work location and phone number (for ID purposes only).

Do you have an announcement for Newsline? Newsline is published every Monday; the deadline to submit items is noon on the preceding Friday.  E-mail items to communications@sandi.net and mark “Newsline” in the subject line.