The State of California’s Office of Emergency Services will conduct a state-wide, full scale earthquake drill on Thursday, November 13, at 10 a.m. All San Diego Unified schools and administrative sites will participate in the drill by having students, staff and visitors perform the “duck, cover and hold” earthquake procedure, followed by a site evacuation. The purpose of a district-wide drill is to test the effectiveness of each site’s emergency plan and the district’s ability to notify and maintain communications with all of its sites during a simulated regional event. For complete information, read Administrative Circular 30 .

The timelines and procedures for the School Choice Applications period have changed for the 2009-10 school year. February 15, 2009, is the last day for families currently enrolled in the San Diego Unified to apply for a school choice option. No late applications will be accepted. Families will have only one offer of enrollment other than the neighborhood school. For complete information, review Adminstrative Circular 39  or visit the updated Enrollment Options website.

Volunteer San Diego is offering Engaging Students in Service training on Wednesday, November 12, from 4-6:30 p.m. The training will focus on on-site project ideas and reflection activities, with an emphasis on environmental education and disaster preparedness. Administrators, teachers and staff working with youth are welcome to attend.  There is a $30 registration fee to attend the training. Registration fee waivers are available on a first-come, first-served basis through the Community Relations Department.  For information, call Nancy Hemmings at (619) 725-5597. To register for the training, visit www.volunteersandiego.org .

• School Site Council Trainings
  The Program Monitoring Department is continuing its School Site Council (SSC) trainings on 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.

• 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 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.

• CSET Prep Courses Scheduled
  Prep courses for the January 10, 2009, California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) will begin Tuesday, December 2. Courses are available in Single Subject English , Single Subject Science   (General Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Geoscience), Single Subject Mathematics   and Multiple Subjects  . Courses are free for district employees; $60 for non-district employees. The registration  deadline is Friday, November 21. For information, contact Lucy Del Valle at ldelvalle@sandi.net or (619) 725-7142.

• Clear Credential, Earn Master’s at the Same Time
  The Induction Master’s Partnership Program, a USD School of Leadership and Education Sciences graduate program offered to beginning SDUSD teachers, is recruiting for its new cohort of first and second year teachers. Applications are due Saturday, November 29; the program will begin in spring 2009. Course of study and applications are available online.

• Intensive GATE Certification Program
  The district has made arrangements with UCSD Extended Studies to form a cohort of teachers to complete a certification program during this school year. An Open House   explaining the program will be held Tuesday, November 18, from 4:30-6 p.m., in Mission Valley. For information, contact Ylianna Romo at yromo@ucsd.edu or (858) 539-9160.

• Earn National Board Certification, Master's Degree at the Same Time
  In partnership with National University; district teachers can pursue National Board Certification in 2009-10 while completing a Master's Degree in Teaching, a Master's with an Administrative Credential, or simply National Board Certification. Classes meet one night per week at a district school and online in a hybrid program. Apply for the February cohort no later than February 2, 2009. Plan to attend an informational meeting  to learn more. For information, contact Julia Groff at jgroff@sandi.net.

• Discover Program Course Offerings
  Don’t miss out on the great professional development opportunities from the Discover Program. Registration is open for the following course offerings:
  
  
  • GATE
    Differentiating Instruction with Dimensions of Depth and 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 at http://www.sandi.net/discover. For information, contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net or (858) 496.1887.

• Financial Incentives for School Sites
  The Mandated Cost Unit oversees the Mandate Reimbursement Incentive Program, offering school sites a financial incentive to provide the documentation necessary for the district to receive reimbursements. Schools receive 50 percent of the district's paid reimbursement claim that is attributable to submitted time logs. The Emergency Procedures and Comprehensive School Safety Plan reimbursable program is one current opportunity for schools. Reviewing and updating earthquake emergency procedures, training and drill time are potential activities that may be recorded. There are also several reimbursable programs including Habitual Truants, High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), Stull Act (Evaluation of Certificated Employees), and others that may apply to your school site. For information, contact Brian Bailey at bbailey1@sandi.net or visit www.sandi.net/depts/mandated_cost.
  
  
• High School Arts Teachers Fellowship Program
  The Sudan Foundation invites arts teachers from public arts high schools to apply for funding for artistic development through its Arts Teachers Fellowship Program. Arts teachers working in specialized public arts high schools and arts-focused magnet and charter high schools can apply for grants of up to $5,500 in support of artistic growth, with a complementary grant of $1,500 provided to each Fellow's school for post-fellowship activities. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent to Apply is Friday, November 14.

• Auto Club’s Teen Driver Safety Fair
  The Auto Club is committed to increasing awareness of teen driving safety and will be hosting a free Safety Fair  for teens and their parents on Saturday, November 8, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Auto Club office, 2440 Hotel Circle North, (82108). For information, call (714) 885.2312.

• “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.

• District E Community Forum, (   English | Spanish | Cambodian | Somali ) hosted by board trustee Shelia Jackson, will be held at the Crawford High Educational Complex on Wednesday, November 5, at 7 p.m. For information, call the Board Office at (619) 725-5550.

• Mark Twain High School Fall Arts and Crafts Fair will be held Saturday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; preview and early shopping event on Friday, November 7, from 4-6 p.m. Funds will benefit the Dollars for Scholars scholarship program. For information, to make a donation or participate as a vendor, call Patricia Khalifa, at (858) 496-8260 x133.

• Scripps Ranch High School’s first production of George M. Cohen's "7 Keys to Baldpate" will be held November 12, 13, 15, and 19-21. Curtain at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6- $8, available at the door. District employees with ID are admitted for $6.

• The Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary PTA 25th Annual Holiday Craft Fair  is on Saturday, November 22, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. For information, contact Natalie Jenkins at natalie-jenkins@att.net or (858) 583-6204.

• The Counseling and Guidance Department 4th Annual Community Resource Fair is 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.

• The Ed Center 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
• EdCast
• Operations Update   

KPBS-FM
October 30, 2008
SD Unified Revamps Response to Complaints
San Diego Unified school officials say there's a problem in the way they're handling complaints in the district.

October 29, 2008
SD Unified To Recycle All Lunch Trays
San Diego Unified may serve up school meals on recycled lunch trays at its elementary schools this year.

For Sale:

• Cherry Wood Entertainment Center or Dining/Bedroom Armoire. Approx. 48" x 78" x 22". Orig. $2,000, asking $800. Call (858) 505-8888.

• 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.

• No Label, brown wood piano. Beautifully tuned. $1500 obo. Clairemont. Contact darlingtrudy@aol.com.

For Rent:

• Custom new home. 3BR/2½ BA, 2-car garage. Central San Diego. Upgraded appliances, fenced, view. $2,000 month. 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. Call (619) 729-1205.

• Furnished 2 BD/2 BA Condo in quiet 55+ Community in Oceanside. $1,400. Call (760) 622-0670.

Wanted:

• Roommate to share large townhouse in Tierrasanta.  Own BD/BA. Non-smoker & dog friendly. $750/mo. Call (858) 531-0514.

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.