On Monday, December 29, the district website, e-mail and District Wide Application (DWA) systems will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, due to system maintenance. During this time, employees will not have access to the website, Outlook e-mail or DWA applications (PeopleSoft, Zangle, and Encore) from school sites or from home.  For information or with questions, please contact the I.T. Help Desk at (619) 725-7500.

Schools are invited to participate in two upcoming enrollment fairs: Magnet School Fair- Saturday, January 24, 2009, and an All Schools Fair-Saturday, January 31, 2009. Both will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Balboa Park. To prepare for these events, principals are encouraged to attend or send a representative to one of four meetings being held in the Ed Center Auditorium:

• Wednesday, December 10, 7-8 a.m. – ALL SCHOOLS
• Wednesday, December 10, 3:30-4:30 p.m. – MAGNET SCHOOLS
• Thursday, December 11, 7-8 a.m. – MAGNET SCHOOLS
• Thursday, December 11, 3:30-4:30 p.m. – ALL SCHOOLS

Representatives from Enrollment Options and the Communications Department will provide information on the difference between the two fairs, how to participate and Q&A about new enrollment procedures. Flyers about the enrollment fairs are available in English   and Spanish   on the Enrollment Options website and should be distributed to parents as soon as possible. For information, contact Beth Churchill at echurchill@sandi.net or (619) 725-7154.

Hepatitis B vaccines will be available on Tuesday, December 16, from 1-4 p.m., in the Education Center auditorium for all Category I employees. These are employees whose job duties expose them to bloodborne pathogens, such as nurses, custodians, special education techs and police officers. For information about the clinic or the vaccine, contact Carole Harris, R.N. with the Nursing and Wellness Program, at (858) 627-7592 or charris2@sandi.net.

Recognize and honor excellence. Nominations are now being accepted for your school site Teacher of the Year  . The deadline to submit a nomination form is Friday, January 23, 2009. All nominated teachers will be recognized at a special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Nominees also have the opportunity to apply for district Teacher of the Year. For information, contact Jennie Breister at jbreister@sandi.net or (619) 725-5598.

All school sites that have retained and paid people with ASB funds during 2008 must submit the pink copies of the ASB Consultant forms to Accounts Payable, Room 3209, Education Center, no later than Friday, December 19. This will ensure the consultant (referee, performance artist, etc.) receives a 1099 IRS form by the January 31, 2009, the regulatory deadline. Please make sure the forms are legible and the consultant's full social security number and physical address appear on each form.  The district pays a penalty for each late or missing return. For information, contact Sandy Davis at sdavis@sandi.net or (619) 725-7756.

The Grandparents Connection is a grassroots support group for grandparents who are caring for and raising their grandchildren. Some grandparents have up to eight grandchildren in their home. The Ballard Parent Center has been providing support and parenting classes to this group for the past several months. During this holiday season, the Ballard Center is collecting gifts for the grandchildren. If you would like to help make this a brighter holiday for a child, drop off a gift at the Ballard Center or contact Elneda Shannon at eshannon@sandi.net or Marco Beltran at mbeltran@sandi.net, or call (619) 293-4431. All donations must be turned in by Monday, December 15.

• Purchase Card Training
  The next purchase card training, mandatory for employees prior to becoming a district purchase cardholder, approver or reconciler, will be held Thursday, December 11, from 1-3 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.

• 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.

• Whale Watching Field Trips
  Whale watching season is almost here.  H&M Landing has been the pioneer in whale watching adventures for more than 50 years.  A popular and affordable field trip, a whale watching cruise combines science and an unforgettable adventure for children and adults. Discounts are available for class groups. To make a reservation and to obtain supportive classroom resources, visit the website at www.sandiegowhalewatch.com. 

• All staff, parents and community members are invited to stop by one of the Instructional Materials Open House  events and review instructional materials currently being evaluated for adoption in specific courses. Stop by December 8-12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, December 13, 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, December 17, 3 - 6 p.m. The Instructional Materials Department is located at the IMC. For information, visit the Instructional Materials Department website or call Robin Clabaugh at (858) 496-8466.

• San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) is restaging Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award winning musical, “The King and I.” Tickets start at $8 for adults; $7 for students, senior and military. Performances at 7 p.m., December 11-13, and 18-19; 2 p.m. on December 20. For information, call (619) 475-8556 or visit www.scpa.sandi.net.
  
  
• The Dingeman Elementary School production of "The Story of Hansel and Gretel" will be held Wednesday, December 17, at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. For information, call the school at (858) 549-4437.

• Save 25% to 80% off the cover price on books, software, gifts, and more at the Scholastic Book Fair customer appreciation event being held December 10 – 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 7825 Trade Street, Suite 102, San Diego (92121). Visit www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/warehouse to register online for a Fast-Cart Pass to skip the sign-in lines. For information, call (800) 659-7323.

• The World Beat Cultural Center presents the Kwanzaa Celebration screening of "The Black Candle" by filmmaker M.K. Asante Jr. on Saturday, December 27, from 6:30 – 10 p.m., in Balboa Park, 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego (92101). This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.worldbeatcenter.org or call (619) 230-1190.     
      
• The Black Storytellers of San Diego, Inc. is hosting its ninth annual Family Holiday Storytelling Concert   on Sunday, December 28, from 3-5 p.m., at the Malcolm X Library, 5148 Market St., San Diego (92114). Admission is free. For information, call (619) 422-7053.

• A Free Family Concert , featuring the Hutchins Consort, will be held Saturday, December 13, at 10 a.m., at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Avenue, Encinitas. For information, visit www.hutchinsconsort.org.

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

• Superintendent’s Friday Notes
• Safety Net Newsletter – December 2008

For Sale:

• Black all-leather couch, $100 OBO. North Park. Call (619) 296.5121

• Custom new construction. 3BR/2½ BA, 2-car garage. Central San Diego, City Heights. High end appliances, fenced, view. $330,000. Call (619) 729-1205.

For Rent:

• 2 BR/2BA 2-story house in University Heights. Built in 2006. Enclosed garages. No pets or smoking. $1800. Call (619) 723-2198.

• 3 BR/2 BA House in El Cajon. Pool, gazebo, waterfall and pond. Slate Deck. Brick BBQ. $2,000. Call (619) 729-1205.

Wanted:

• Roommate to share a 2 BR apt. in Coronado with other female teacher. Avail. Feb. 1. Great location. $850, inc. utilities. E-mail parrothd21@comcast.net.

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.