Madison Robotics a Hit at Lindbergh-Schweitzer

Lindbergh Schweitzer is part of the Madison Community of Schools, and that was evident on at the elementary school's recent Fall Festival when the Madison High School Robotics Team amazed the crowds with its "basketball shooting" robot. The robotics team, the Devil Duckies, were wonderful representatives of their high school and have participated for the last few years in this popular Clairemont family-friendly day for play.

The Robotics Team is connected with the Design and Technology Academy (DATA) at Madison High and supported through the Office of College, Career and Technical Education. The students completely build their robot each year based on the parameters of the FIRST competition over a period of six weeks. Madison’s team is sponsored by Motorola Solutions Foundation and Qualcomm. In last year’s competition, they won the chairman’s award in a Southern California competition. This earned them the privilege of attending the world competition in St. Louis where they won the imagery award.

Building on community involvement and school awareness is one of the major goals of the Madison Community of Schools coalition, and this event is the perfect example of how our cluster schools are working together for the success of all our students and families!

For additional information contact Media Production Assistant Julie Harris at jharris2@sandi.net or 858-496-8400.

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School Minimum Day Schedules May Change to Accommodate Lunch

Minimum day schedules at 36 schools are slated to change over the next few weeks as the schools will be including time for lunch in minimum day schedules.

Under state law, all California school children must have the opportunity for a meal during the school day, during the instructional minutes of the school day. The schools changing their schedule had omitted lunch on minimum days. Students will not be allowed to leave campus until every student has had the opportunity for a meal.

The schools involved are: Dailiard, Grant, Hancock, Language Academy, Sandburg, Torrey Pines elementary schools or K-8s; Bell, Challenger, Clark, Correia, Dana, DePortola, Farb, Innovation, Lewis, Mann, Marshall, Marston, Memorial Prep, Millennial Tech, Muirlands, Pacific Beach Middle, Pershing, Roosevelt, Standley and Wangenheim middle schools; Patrick Henry, Kearny, La Jolla High, Lincoln, Mira Mesa, Mission Bay, Morse, Pt. Loma, Scripps Ranch and University City high schools.

"The district wants to ensure that every child is given the time and opportunity for a healthy and nutritious meal each and every school day," Phil Stover, Deputy Superintendent Business, said in a letter to parents at the affected schools. "This adjustment may resut in extending the school day on early release and minimum days by up to 35 minutes."

Schedule changes can be disruptive but this change is necessary to bring the district into compliance with the State law and, more importantly, to provide a healthy meal for all students, he added.
Specific schedule changes and the effective date will be provided by the school site administration in the next few weeks.

For more information, contact: your principal; Drew Rowlands, Executive Director, Auxiliary Services at (858) 627-7121; or Gary Petill, Director of Food Services (858) 627-7301.

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Dixieland Jazz Festival Experiencing a Youth Movement

IN THE NEWS: The Preservationists from Mission Bay High were joined by others at Thanksgiving event. Read more from UT San Diego»

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Run Club Brings Early Risers to La Jolla Elementary

How do you get 75 percent of your elementary school to arrive 20 minutes early in order to run laps before class? Start a Run Club!

La Jolla Elementary opens its gates each morning to a horde of eager runners. Students, parents and teachers head purposefully up to the field, pick up their scan cards and begin running or walking laps. After each lap they slow down to have their cards scanned by parent volunteers using the new Student Lap Tracker System. It automatically tracks each runner’s daily and cumulative laps, and it has contributed to the popularity boom of the Run Club at the public school this year.

"This automated Run Club system is really motivating our students to get more exercise every day, which helps their overall health and their ability to concentrate in class," said Principal Donna Tripi. "We also have noticed fewer tardies in the morning. We have nearly 100 percent participation, with more than 500 runners in grades 1-5."

"I always want to be at school in time for Run Club," said 4th grader Lauren Nitahara, who is proud to report to her family each evening the number of laps she ran that morning.Parent volunteers, too, are gratified.

"Volunteering for the Run Club scanning is really rewarding. I truly enjoy getting to know students from all grades, and the Lap Tracker is also a conversation piece at dinner," said Bjorn Backlund, parent volunteer.

"Approximately 75 percent of our student population runs each day. It's a great way for the students to start their day. I thank our excellent PE Teacher, Kelly Wiskus, and our parent volunteers for making it happen," said Tripi.

Coach Wiskus has been working toward this degree of success since she started Run Club three years ago. At the end of each year, she holds an awards ceremony to honor the runners and their miles.
"It is so great to see the students and parents out there every morning exercising and building healthy habits that will last a lifetime!"
 For more information on the program, contact Tripi at dtripi@sandi.net.

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Fusion of art, mind results in palpable successes

IN THE NEWS: San Diego can boast complete music programs in every elementary school, more than 60 active community partnerships and also an ever-expanding wealth of integrated programs that serve 131,000 students districtwide.  Read more from the San Diego Community Newspaper Group»

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State Legislative Staff Members Conduct Fact-Finding

Legislative staff members at Kearny DMD.

The California State Legislative Staff Institute selected San Diego Unified for this year's annual visit by 20 Sacramento legislative staff members who work on education issues.

The group included staff members from the Assembly and Senate Education Committees and several other legislative offices who were able to learn firsthand about the programs and operations of California's second largest school district. They met with teachers, administrators and parents directly to ask questions and to get input on legislative issues that they face in Sacramento.

The group visited several schools: Lindbergh/Schweitzer, Central, Cherokee Point and Sherman elementary schools; iMiddle School, Kearny High DMD and iHIgh Virtual Academy.

Following their three-day visit, the group met with Supt. Bill Kowba to share their reactions.

"I was pleased to hear that this influential group of legislative staffers had such a positive impression from their school visits," said Supt. Kowba, "and want to thank all of the participating principals and staff for highlighting the great work being done in our district to advance our students."

The visits were just prior to the start of the Thanksgiving break. For more information, contact Bernie Rhinerson, Chief of Staff, at brhinerson@sandi.net.

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Dogs Playing Role in Local Learning

Dogs are playing a more active role in the way some students are learning in some San Diego schools. For one hour, once a month, fourth- and fifth-grade students with special needs at Lafayette Elementary School in Clairemont get a visit from dogs with the K9 Friendly Visitors Program. Watch story from 10 News» 

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Schools, Departments Celebrate Parents on National Parent Involvement Day

Sixth-graders at Marston Middle listen to parents
share their college and career experiences.

You may have recently noticed an influx of parents on school campuses, in classrooms and walking through the quad, side-by-side with their students. Were the students in trouble, you wondered? Were students aging more quickly than ever? Luckily, neither was the case. They were all participating in National Parent Involvement Day.

National Parent Involvement Day on Nov. 15 was a collaborative effort between the district’s Parent Outreach and Engagement Department and the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs to recognize parents/guardians and the invaluable role they play in supporting a child's learning at home and at school. Schools and departments across the district celebrated with events large and small.

Sixth graders at Marston Middle School in Clairemont listened to a nurse, piano teacher and restaurant owner, all of whom studied at San Diego State, as they shared how their college experiences impacted their career choices. Each guest had a varying career path, which helped students understand there can be many paths to success.

Students peppered the guests with questions like “Is your job hard” and “What is the best day you’ve had at work”?

The nurse told a story about helping to revive a man by holding his heart in her bare hands. She said that being able to talk the man the next day after he was so close to dying was amazing and one of her best days at work.

Approximately 20 total speakers visited Marston throughout the day to share their experiences.

At Tierrasanta's Serra High, parents joined their students in class as part of “Come To School With Your Student Day.” By shadowing their students during the day, parents got a better understanding of what their child experiences each day at school.

Field Elementary hosted a volunteer breakfast in which more than 20 parents enjoyed a variety of bagels, fruit and pastries that were provided by the staff. Students made colorful posters to thank the many mothers and fathers who share their time at their children’s school.

A Fay Elementary parent spins the lucky
wheel at the school's thank you breakfast.

Fay Elementary said thank you to its parents/guardians from their involvement by hosting a special “Fay Café” in which coffee, cake and Mexican sweet bread were served to nearly 100 parents.

Parents also got to try their luck on the spinning prize wheel, cheered on by teachers, support staff and students. Many parents came away with gift cards, free picture packages, and even turkeys, thanks to several donations from local stores.

Several other schools across the district also hosted events in honor of National Parent Involvement Day.

• Ibarra Elementary held a Community Resource Fair.
• University City High School hosted an Open House for parents.
• Lincoln High School held a “Principal Chat.”
• Standley Middle School handed out kisses…the chocolate kind to parents and guardians.
• Miller Elementary hosted a Juvenile Diabetes Walk
• Ballard Parent Center hosted a Community Resource Fair and parent workshops.

This was the district’s first year celebrating National Parent Involvement Day, and will likely continue to be a yearly celebration. The national event was started 18 years ago by Project Appleseed.

For more information on National Parent Involvement Day, contact Melissa Whipple at mwhipple@sandi.net or your school's PTA representative.

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Two Lincoln High Students Join Crew on UCSD Research Ship

Julie Alvarez on
the R/M Melville

Lincoln High seniors Jonathan Franco and Julie Alvarez are spending 23 days on the R/V Melville, joining researchers from UC San Diego in a voyage off the San Diego coast to take scientific observations and perform other duties.

 The pair are blogging to keep family and friends up-to-date on their trip. Alvarez wrote on her blog that the the Melville is a "really big boat" and that she's not scared to be aboard. They are assigned duty shifts like any other crew member but are the only high school students on board.

"I have the shift from 4am to noon," she wrote on her blog Nov. 15. "Then i got the rest of the day to do what i want 7 is breakfast, 11:30 is lunch, and 5 is dinner but if you do skip a meal they put the left overs in the fridge or just go in and get the snacks they have."

Jonathan Franco
on the R/M Melville

The ship is taking measurements that include the ocean's temperature, salinity, oxygen, pressure, density. In response to a question, Jonathan wrote on his blog that he wasn't concerned that they'd be in danger if a big storm hit.

"I am not fearful of a heavy storm putting my safety at risk," he wrote. "The ship is a dynamic positioning ship roughly 279 feet long i feel even with significant wave heights of 5+ meters we will all be safe and free from harm." Their teacher, Danny Blas, said the Marine Sciences course at the Lincoln Park neighborhood campus helps prepare students for a university education in the field.

"The course builds on the physical and life science concepts learned in previous science courses," he said, "and applies those concepts to the exploration of the living and nonliving environments of our bays and oceans."

 Geoff Cromwell, a research scientist and Ph.D. candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD), serves as the class' resident scientist. For more information, check out Blas's website or dblas@sandi.net.

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La Jolla High's ‘Piece of My Heart’ Reflects on Another Side of War

IN THE NEWS: The La Jolla High School Theater Department will put on three presentations of “A Piece of My Heart,” a chronicle of the lives of Vietnam USO officers, nurses and Red Cross volunteers. Read more from La Jolla Patch»

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Angier Elementary Receives Target Library Makeover

Principal Gergurich talks to students about the new library.

In The News

News 8 KFMB-TV»

The Angier Elementary community, along with Target, The Heart of America Foundation, Mission Continues and more than 200 volunteers, unveiled the school's newly renovated library to Principal Andrew Gergurich, Supt. Bill Kowba and Assemblymember Toni Atkins, and Angier students, parents and staff.

This is the third year in a row that a San Diego Unified school has been selected to be part of the Target School Library Makeover program. Angier joins Miller Elementary (2010) and Kimbrough Elementary (2011) in receiving a renovated library that features 2,000 new books, eco-friendly design elements, new furniture, carpet and shelves, and technology upgrades such as a smart board, computers and iPads. Every Angier student received a set of seven books for their personal libraries.

“I am so grateful that for the third year in a row I’ve had the privilege and the honor to be at a Target Library Makeover unveiling,” Superintendent Bill Kowba said at the Nov. 9 ribbon cutting. “Target’s and Heart of America’s shared belief that every child should have the opportunity to reach his or her full potential aligns perfectly with the goals of our district.”

As part of the library makeover, a Target Meals for Minds food pantry was launched, which will allow families to choose from a variety of staple foods and fresh produce to take home. The food pantry is made possible through a partnership with Feeding America San Diego.

“The new library and food pantry are amazing gifts for our school and our students,” said Principal Gergurich. “Thanks to Target and The Heart of America Foundation, our students have the resources they need to feel inspired and ready to learn when they walk through our school doors.”
For more information about the Target Library Makeover program, go to the Target website. For information about Angier Elementary, contact Principal Gergurich at agergurich@sandi.net.

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Taste of La Jolla raises $19,000 for La Jolla High School

IN THE NEWS: The 2012 Taste of La Jolla, a benefit for the Foundation of La Jolla High School, raised more than $19,000 on Oct. 23. At the event, 25 La Jolla eateries prepared special samples made for the occasion. More than 400 participants, who purchased a ticket for $45 each, received a bracelet, permitting them one sample from each restaurant, and a walking map to each location. Read more from the La Jolla Light»

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Andrea Dahlberg puts passion into fundraising for the causes close to her heart

Andrea Dahlberg is the sponsor chair of the fall La Jolla Art and Wine Festival. During the past four years, she played an integral role in growing the charitable event, which has raised more than $200,000 for La Jolla public schools. Dahlberg is also involved in fundraising efforts for The Nicholas Conor Institute (TNCI), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing cures for childhood cancer. Read more from the La Jolla Light»

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Clorox 'Power A Bright Future' Contest Includes Bird Rock, Silver Gate Elementary, Gompers Prep Charter, New Dawn Alternative Schools

Clorox is holding a competition through Dec. 19 to award as much as $50,000 to a local school, and three San Diego Unified schools are looking for your support. Bird Rock and Silver Gate elementary schools, Gompers Prep Charter and New Dawn Alternative schools are all participating. Supporters can go online to vote.

The company wants to supports healthy and happy kids and id committed to making a difference by helping them thrive at school. The Power A Bright Future Program gives you the opportunity to make a difference and the chance to win up to $50,000 for your school.

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School program that helps military children is ending

IN THE NEWS: A Federal grant that paid for tutoring, training, support groups is expiring. Read more from UT San Diego.

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Give Your Education Views in National Speak Up Survey

Parents and students along with teachers and staff have been invited to participate in a survey on educational issues. The 2012 National Speak Up Survey is a series of multiple choice questions plus an open-ended type question at the end where you can write in your response, which takes about 20 minutes to complete. Findings are summarized and shared with national and state policy makers. 

To take the survey, select your school and use the secret word surf. Go to survey.

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Pacific Beach Middle School Highlighted as SDG&E Energy Challenge Contender

IN THE NEWS: Pacific Beach Middle School welcomed SDG&E as the utility promoted it Energy Challenge. Registration ends Nov. 30 and your favorite participating middle school could win $10,000. Watch video from KUSI»

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Free Parent Community Resource Fair and Workshops Nov. 15

The San Diego Unified School Psychology Department, in collaboration with the Ballard Parent Center, invites parents and the community to attend the free Resource Fair and parent workshops at Ballard Center. 

The event is being held in honor of School Psychology Awareness Week, and as a tribute to Parent Involvement Day in which the district honors the powerful contributions parents and caregivers provide at school and home to support student success.

 

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Ballard Parent Center (Auditorium)
2375 Congress St., San Diego, CA 92110
On-Site Parking Available. Old Town Transit Center is nearby

Details:
Workshops for Parents in English/Spanish on:

• Reading with your Kids
• ADHD Tips
• Positive Behavior Strategies
• YOGA Demo-For Parents and Kids!

Prizes will be given away, including tote bags, books, games and more. Refreshments will also be served and childcare is available.

See fliers (English , Spanish )

For more information, visit: www.sandi.net/parentoutreach or email Diana Peterson at dpeterson2@sandi.net.

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Hoover High Wood Shop, Strategic Sourcing Department Show Excellence

A trophy case built by students at Hoover High's new Green Construction Technology facility is now helping improve morale and show off the excellence of San Diego Unified's Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department.

The case contains some of the annual awards won by the department, which handles purchasing and contract duties for the district, including:

• National Purchasing Institute Achievement of Excellence in Procurement for 2010, 2011, 2012;
• Fully Certified Agency Award from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

The Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department annually saves the district hundreds of thousands of dollars by seeking out the lowest price for materials ranging from pencils to pickled pigs (used in science classes).

For more information, contact Director Art Hanby at (858) 522-5808.

• Read more about Hoover's Green Construction Technology facility»

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Cooking Up Opportunities at Garfield High

IN THE NEWS: In Garfield High School’s impressively equipped professional kitchen, the students in the culinary-arts program learn how to use a knife and a 12-burner range and how to make pizza dough from scratch. Most importantly, the students at this alternative continuation school in downtown San Diego learn that opportunities are a lot like pizzas, quesadillas and fish tacos. The best ones are the ones you make yourself. Read more from UT San Diego»

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