Orientation meetings about the 2009 Supplemental Early Retirement Plan (SERP) have been scheduled for eligible certificated and classified employees. To see the meeting schedule and to determine eligibility to participate, go to the SERP website. One-on-one counseling appointments with a State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) counselor are also available. To schedule an appointment, click here.

Please note: The deadline to decide to participate in the 2009 SERP is close of business on Friday, May 8, 2009. Resignation from district employment and/or retirement under STRS/PERS must be filed effective on or before July 31, 2009.

The Instructional Media Center (IMC) and the Teacher's Media Center (TMC) will be closed Monday, April 6 through Sunday, April 12 for Spring Break. For more information, call the IMC InfoLine at (858) 496-8438 or visit http://www.sandi.net/IMC/.

To be considered for Summer School employment (tentatively June 22-July 17 for elementary/middle schools and June 22-July 31 for high school), certificated staff at traditional sites must submit an electronic application by March 27. Please call Rhonda Archard at (619) 725-7147 or Lisa Sheldon at (619) 725-7139 with questions.

The next district Public Auction is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, at the Supply Center Yard, 2351 Cardinal Lane (92123).  The auction will begin at 10:30 a.m. Please arrive by 9 a.m. to preview items for sale and to register and receive a bidder number.  A $200 cash refundable deposit is required to participate in the auction.  Miscellaneous obsolete, no parts available, and beyond economical repair furniture and equipment will be for sale.  For more information, contact Rose Gustafson at (858) 522-5850 or rgustafson@sandi.net, or Anstead’s Auctioneers and Associates at (619) 233-3148.

The National Science Foundation is accepting nominations and applications for the 2009 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program. This program recognizes K-12 teachers for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science. Teachers must be highly qualified, full-time employees with five years of math or science teaching experience in grades 7-12. To apply, teachers must first be nominated for the award. Teachers may nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else (e.g., principals, teachers, parents). Once nominated, teachers will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access the online application. Awards include a paid trip for two to Washington, DC, to attend a weeklong series of events and a $10,000 award. Nomination forms are due Friday, May 1. For more information, visit www.paemst.org.

DonorsChoose.org provides students in need with resources that schools often lack. Teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. DonorsChoose.org is pleased to announce three “Double Your Impact” offers available in San Diego County:

• Bill & Linda Gates Foundation - Any college-prep project submitted to DonorsChoose.org from a high-need high school teacher will be eligible for 50% funding from the Gates Foundation.
  
  
• Motorola Foundation – Science, technology, engineering or math projects requesting enrichment materials, with a total cost of $800 or less.
  
  
• Qualcomm Incorporated – Qualcomm will match dollar for dollar all San Diego County projects on DonorsChoose.org with a total cost of $1,000 or less. There is also the potential for Qualcomm to provide full funding for projects, pairing with the Gates Foundation or Motorola for projects that meet their qualifications. 

For information on these and other funding opportunities, go to www.donorschoose.org

• SD City College Offers Spanish Immersion Program
  San Diego City College is offering a one-week Spanish immersion program in Ensenada, Mexico from April 5-11, along with its intensive summer program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. There is both a two-week and four-week program during the summer. Each option includes 25 hours of language instruction per week while living with a Mexican host family where three daily meals will be served.  Excursions are included. For more information, contact Marion Froehlich at (619) 388-3652 or mfroehli@sdccd.edu, or visit the website.

• Share Your Knowledge as a Discover Program Instuctor
  Would you like to share your knowledge and expertise with other professionals and earn extra income?  The Discover Program is seeking instructors to develop and teach classes to certificated and classified employees during the 2008-09 Spring/Summer Sessions (April – September 2009) 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 (619) 725-7431 or email ecaluza@sandi.net.

• Discover Program Course Offerings
  Don’t miss out on great professional development opportunities from the Discover Program throughout the 2008-09 school year. Registration is still open for the following March-April course offerings :
  
  
  • SDSC TeacherTECH (UCSD) – Moodle III: Advanced Moodle for Educators (.5 cr.)
  • CPR-Basic Life Support and First Aid (.5 cr.)
  • Insights Into Probability, Statistics, Reasoning, and Language (.5 cr.)
  • GATE - Differentiating Instruction Utilizing Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles and Preferences (.5 cr.)
  • Reading Resources for Effective Classroom Management and Instruction - (Online/Self-Paced) (1 cr.)
  • Lights, Camera, Action! Using The Camcorder As An Instructional Tool (1 cr.)

Register early to avoid class cancellations. Classes are held based on registrations received. To view course descriptions and to register online, go to the DISCOVER website. For information, contact Esther Caluza at (619) 725-7431 or ecaluza@sandi.net. You can also view the Staff Development page.

• San Diego Opera for High School Students
  High school students have the opportunity to attend a mainstage opera production at the San Diego Opera for only $10 per seat. Each student may order a maximum of 2 tickets; both attendees must be current high school students with valid student IDs. For information and to purchase tickets online, go to the website.

• Kyoto Prize Symposium
  San Diego County high schools students are invited to attend the Eighth Annual Kyoto Prize Symposium. Presentations are on March 19-20 on a “first-come, first-served” basis.  Participating high school students and teachers will attend presentations by latest Kyoto Prize laureates – some of the world’s greatest minds whose work has significantly impacted the fields of advanced technology, basic sciences, and arts and philosophy. The events are free and will be held at San Diego State University, UC San Diego and University of San Diego. For information and to register, go to the website.

• Free Parent Workshops
  The Ballard Parent Center is offering a series of evening and weekend classes for parents:
  • Journey to Academic Success at the Tubman/Chavez Multicultural Center
  • Somali Parent Workshop at the Marshall Elementary School
  • Vietnamese Parent Workshops at Fay Elementary School
  • Help Your Child Improve In Reading at Cherokee Point Elementary

  All classes are free and designed to give parents valuable tools and information on ways to help their children succeed in school and in life. Childcare and refreshments provided. For information, contact Elneda Shannon at eshannon@sandi.net, Marco Beltran at mbeltran@sandi.net or call (619) 293-4431.

• Montgomery Middle School Free Parent Class
  “What to do when your child is sick” is the topic of the free parenting class , to be held Thursday, March 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. Parents learn when to call the doctor, how to check a child’s temperature, what to do about bleeding and vomiting, and safety in the home. To register, call (858) 496-3880.

• Superintendent’s Friday Notes
• New Administrative Circulars and Bulletins
• Del Sol Academy
• Dropout Prevention

Balboa Park’s Family Day This Saturday
On Saturday, March 21, more than 20 cultural institutions will offer hands-on activities, music, performances and special programs for all ages throughout the day. Families looking to stretch their entertainment dollars can take advantage of the first-ever event, which is free with museum admission.  A complete listing of free and discounted activities throughout Balboa Park, including the San Diego Zoo and transportation options, can be found at www.balboapark.org.  Flyers are also available to post around your site. ( Color | Black & White ).

Camp Fire USA Incredible Kid Day
On Saturday, March 21, Camp Fire USA, San Diego presents Incredible Kid Day and Open House , from 1-3 p.m., at Camp Cahito. Bring lunch, picnic in the park and learn more about spring and summer camp opportunities. Go to www.campfiresdi.org for more information.

ACSA Honoring Our Own Dinners
The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) will celebrate this year’s administrators of the year for region 18 during the 7th Annual “Honoring Our Own” dinner on Wednesday, April 29, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina. Registration is $65 per person. Space is limited, so register online by the April 10 deadline. For more information, contact Jalana Bernard at (858) 292-3846 or jabernard@sdcoe.net.

2009 Cesar E. Chavez Parade & Community Celebration
The Cesar E. Chavez Commemoration Committee presents the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial March/Parade & Community Celebration on Saturday, March 28. The parade will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Community Celebration is from noon – 4 p.m. Organizations and community groups are invited to sign up and participate. For parade entry form or booth registration, visit www.sdchavezcommittee.info.

Cesar E. Chavez Breakfast at the San Diego Convention Center
The 11th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Breakfast will be held on Monday, March 30 at 7:30 a.m. at the San Diego Convention Center. This year's keynote address will be delivered by United Farm Workers (UFW) co-founder and labor leader Dolores Huerta. The breakfast will continue its yearly tradition of honoring the winners of its annual Cesar E. Chavez high school (9-12) essay contest and presenting the Cesar E. Chavez Visionary Award. For registration or sponsorship information visit www.sdchavezcommittee.info.       

Comedy Double Bill at SCPA

• March 26-28, The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) will perform the comedy Play On!  Performances are on March 26 and 27 at 7 p.m.; March 28 at 2 p.m.
• April 2-4, SCPA performs The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. Performances are April 2-3 at 7 p.m.; April 4 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $8-10 for adults; $7-9 for students, seniors and military. Call the box office at (619) 475-8556 or go to www.scpa.sandi.net.

Annual Ed Center Spring Craft Fair
Just in time for Mother's Day shopping, the annual Spring Craft Fair to benefit the Education Center Building Committee will be held Friday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Annex 9 Testing Room.  Talented San Diego Unified artisans from the Ed Center and central office sites will have their art and handicrafts for sale.  If you are interested in being an exhibitor, or for more information, contact La Donna Chase at lchasecegb@sbcglobal.net or Elaine Lindberg at elindberg@sandi.net.

Whitman 50th Dedication Anniversary Celebration
All former students and employees of Walt Whitman Elementary School are invited to join the Whitman Elementary family in celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary on Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m.  This very special evening will include performances by students, speeches by guest dignitaries, the dedication of a time capsule and dinner/dance under the stars. Whitman would like to include your pictures of past events at Whitman. To RSVP and to submit photos of past events, please contact the PTA at whitmanpta2008@yahoo.com.

Cubberley Elementary 50th Anniversary
Celebrating 50 years of education, Ellwood P. Cubberley Elementary School’s anniversary event takes place on Thursday, May 21, at 4:30 p.m. The celebration will include a banquet reception, art show and tours of the school.  Dinner tickets are $10 per person. See flyer to R.S.V.P.

San Diego Union-Tribune
March 11, 2009
Putting the letters together for a win
Alex Wells, an eighth-grader at Standley Middle School, is the winner of the County Spelling Bee.
San Diego Union-Tribune
March 12, 2009
Catalyst for future scientists
Students participate in the San Diego County High Tech Fair, co-sponsored by San Diego Unified

San Diego Union-Tribune
March 14, 2009
Sports Program Changing Young Lives
University City High student featured in story on the Sports Bigs Program

SDNews.com
March 13, 2009
La Jolla High’s A team cracks National Ocean Sciences Bowl in Washington, D.C.

SDNews.com
March 6, 2009
“A Taste of Pacific Beach" raised nearly $8,000 for PB schools

For Sale:

• 2005 Toyota Prius: Black, base package with lots of extras. 34,000 miles. $18,000. Call Mary at (619) 563-6415.
  
• 1997 Toyota RAV:  Great condition. 91,100 miles.  4WD, manual transmission, new timing belt. Runs great. $3,000. Call (858) 273-3301.

For Rent:

• 2 BR/1BA Bay view Home in Point Loma. Hardwood floors, 12-ft. ceilings, fireplace, fruit trees, modern kitchen, all appliances, gardener, garage. Walk to Point Loma Village. Sorry, no pets. $1,900/mo. Call (619) 675-1765.
• 2 BR/2BA Mission Valley Condo near Qualcomm Stadium.  All amenities, new carpet and paint. $1295/mo. Call (619) 851-2858.

Wanted:

• Roommate and/or rental.  Tidy, friendly, and considerate; have small dogs.  Please call Desiree at (619) 381-3082
  

Travel

• Staff members at Roosevelt Middle School are organizing a 9-day Thanksgiving '09 cruise from Venice to the Greek Islands and Croatia for $1,495 + taxes (air + cruise). For information, contact Sandra at sandraboe@sbcglobal.net.

• Staff members at Gage Elementary are organizing a 15-day trip to Ireland, starting July 27, 2009. For information or to join the group, contact Milanne at milannetolson@hotmail.com.

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.