Toyota donation revvs up transportation career programs

Transportation-industry students at Clairemont, Crawford, La Jolla, Madison and Mira Mesa high schools were greeted this school year with a sampling of new drive-train drop-ins (motor, transmission and drive-train components) donated by Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.

This donation will provide for practical instruction and support the broad and challenging curriculum standards for the programs by allowing students to work with a variety of engine types.

Mossy Automotive Group, which includes Toyota dealerships, works closely with San Diego Unified programs and helped facilitate the donation.

"We at Mossy Toyota and all of our Mossy dealerships in San Diego have a very strong commitment to our public education, especially San Diego Unified," said Dale Snow of Mossy Automotive Group. "We realize we have an enormous responsibility to our community and our students. We have committed to use all of our available resources to help improve the learning environment and provide the latest in educational materials and personnel support. Whether its internships, equipment donations, employee resources' we at Mossy stand by our schools and the bright future of our community." 

On hand for the dedication Nov. 6 were Rick Shinkle, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.; Richard Lester, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.; Snow of Mossy Automotive Group; and Larry Englebrecht, Carl Kingsbury, and Omar Sevilla, San Diego Unified automotive technology teachers.

Students in the transportation program have the opportunity to receive college credit for the majority of courses in the program from Miramar College. Having a variety of engine types available to students to study makes the course more reflective of the overall industry. Toyota plans to support student learning by providing master technicians as classroom speakers and mentors to enhance student achievement.
At the Clairemont High ceremony, students from four different schools teamed up with Toyota master technicians to provide demonstrations to the public with the new motors. Among the engines donated were hybrid types which attracted the most attention at the event.

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., donated 34 new drive-train drop-ins (motor, transmission, and drive-train components) to six San Diego Unified School District transportation programs. Donated drive-train types included Camry (hybrid and non-hybrid), Lexus ES330, Lexus ES350 RAV4, Yaris, Lexus IS250, Lexus IS300, Lexus IS350 and 4Runner models.

San Diego Unified School District provides Career Technical Education to more than 28,000 students each day through the Office of College, Career and Technical Education. The transportation industry sector is designed to provide a foundation in transportation services for all industrial technology education students in California. There are eight focus areas that fall under the transportation sector, each with different career opportunities: on-road; off-road; stationary; rail; water/sea; air; space; and small engines and specialty equipment.

For more information on this College Career and Technical Education Program, contact the CCTE office at (858) 503-1758.

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Pt. Loma High band performance featured

IN THE NEWS: Pointer band is "Marching Scoreboard" on KUSI's Prep Pigskin Report. Watch video from KUSI»

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Pt. Loma students create advocacy video

IN THE NEWS: The students in Anthony Palmiotto's Cinematic Arts and Video Production classes co-wrote, starred in and edited this public service snnouncement after viewing the documentary "Blackfish" on CNN. The video, originally posted on the school's website, has been picked up and reposted by CNN and other websites. Watch video from CNN site»
 

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Pacific Beach schools highlighted at festival

The Mission Bay Cluster schools hosted its second annual Pacific Beach Schools Fair on Nov. 2 which featured each schools’ unique offerings to students around the San Diego region.

Fun activities were offered all morning including the LEGO Engineering Challenge, the Frisbee throwing robot from Mission Bay High, "Jeopardy Challenge" complete with buzzers, Chinese dragon parade, crazy hair booth, spin the music wheel and get a prize, and school performance groups including the PB Middle School String Ensemble, Crown Point Junior Music Academy violinists and the Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy Singers.

Principals and staff made presentations in the theater about their academic programs, including the International Baccalaureate Programme. Schools featured were Pacific Beach Elementary, Sessions Elementary, Crown Point Junior Music Academy, Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy, Pacific Beach Middle School and Mission Bay High.

Superintendent Cindy Marten stopped by to visit with families and students and several television stations were on hand to film th event. It was a fun and productive day for families wanting to learn more about the Mission Bay Cluster Schools!

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Chargers give Mission Bay High weight room a lift

Mission Bay High School and the San Diego Chargers jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon Tuesday and opened the school’s new $75,000 weight room, the 16th Chargers Champions weight room in San Diego County. The weight room was built with a grant awarded in 2012 by Chargers Champions, a program of the San Diego Chargers.

Since the inception of the Chargers Champions program in 2000, the Spanos family has donated more than $4.5 million to San Diego’s schools and students. The program provides greater financial support for San Diego-area schools than any other private company in San Diego County. Including the 2013 round of grants, Chargers Champions has provided funds to 100 local schools.

“It’s no secret that juvenile obesity is a major problem in our nation right now,” A.G. Spanos, Chargers executive vice president and chief executive officer said. “We want kids to receive access to the best nutrition and fitness programs available, but schools can’t do it alone. They need support from the business community and we’re proud to be able to do our part through the Chargers Champions program.”

Chargers Champions makes a strong commitment to improving physical fitness in San Diego County schools by providing grants for new facilities and equipment.

“The Chargers made it possible to transform our weight room into a place that benefits all of our students and has become a source of pride for our school community,” Jorge Palacios, Athletic Director at Mission Bay High School said. “What was once an outdated, unused area has been turned into one of the centerpieces of our school and a resource our students use to develop a passion for lifelong fitness. I'd like to thank the Chargers and the Spanos family for their support of Mission Bay High School.”

This year, six San Diego-area schools received grants to improve physical fitness, athletic or nutrition programs. Project unveilings are expected to begin in 2014.

Funds allocated to Chargers Champions are administered through the Chargers Community Foundation, the San Diego Chargers’ charitable foundation. The Foundation was established in 1995 by Dean and Alex Spanos to “help” San Diego build on its strengths by supporting individuals, activities and organizations that work to make the city a better place to live.

In the News

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• San Diego 6»

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La Jolla High junior on the runway for Fashion Week

IN THE NEWS: La Jolla High School junior Adana McWhinney participated in Fashion Week San Diego, Sept. 30-Oct. 6, walking in two major shows. Read more from La Jolla Light»

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State superintendent highlights San Diego Unified's approach to Linked Learning

Employer leaders, school district superintendents and state policymakers attended showcase Linked Learning recently at Kearny High School in Linda Vista.

The event celebrated the commitment to make Linked Learning available to students across five regions, and highlight partnerships between schools and employers to prepare California’s future workforce for job-rich economic sectors.

San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson headlined the event at Kearny, where two schools have been recognized as Linked Learning leaders.

"These programs integrate academic and technical study along with work-based learning opportunities to help students follow a seamless pathway between from the classroom to college and career," said Torlakson.

Momentum is growing to expand the Linked Learning approach across California. In January, 63 school districts and county offices of education were selected to participate in a State Linked Learning Pilot Program.

Earlier this month, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the California Community Colleges Chancellor announced $5 million for the Linked Learning Pilot sites, matched by a $2.5 million grant from the James Irvine Foundation. The state budget recently signed by Governor Jerry Brown included $250 million for the California Career Pathways Trust, a grant program incentivizing collaboration between schools and employers to support Linked Learning pathways and provide work-based learning opportunities for students.

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UCSD Tells SD High Schoolers They Can ‘Achieve UC’

IN THE NEWS: UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla and admissions officers from UCSD visited Mission Bay and Clairemont High School as part of "Achieve UC,"

a systemwide initiative by the University of California to attract more of the state's lower-income high school students. Read more from KPBS»

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Students display work at STEM event, meet Congresswoman Davis

Congresswoman Susan Davis, Sofia Coseip
and Jayda Warburton.

For anyone who still thinks that girls don’t like robotics and all things related to science, technology, engineering and math, a day at the “Engaging Girls in STEM” event may finally convince them otherwise.

More than 80 students, educators, and organization leaders joined Congresswoman Susan Davis to talk about careers in the STEM fields and how young women can get involved and develop their skills in these areas.

Among the attendees were Muirlands Middle School eighth-grader Sofia Coseip and Jayda Warburton, ninth-grader at Pt. Loma High School, who participated in the event as part of the Boys and Girls Club of Linda Vista robotics program. Their team, the Stuffed Dragons 6565, had the opportunity to showcase their robot to attendees, including Congresswoman Davis.

The Stuffed Dragons were joined by several other groups of young women engaging in STEM activities, including the Girl Scouts and the Society of Women Engineers, who also had the opportunity to display their work.

Local female business leaders led a panel discussion in which they reminded the young attendees to “surround themselves with mentors and advocates who recognize their talents” and to “find their passion and do what makes them happy.”

Congresswoman Susan Davis hosted the event in collaboration with STEAM Connect and YMCA Youth and Community Center in North Park.

For more details on the event and careers in the STEM fields, visit the event website.

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Montgomery Middle's garden grows thanks to Whole Foods, volunteer

The Montgomery Middle School garden was the location for a fun Whole Foods Market volunteer project after the school recently won a Garden Grant from the supermarket chain.

Together with elementary students visiting from Bayside Community Center’s Academic Club in Linda Vista and volunteers from The Bishop’s School in La Jolla we will share in celebrating service and collaboration in a beautiful school garden setting.

"We're excited to roll up our sleeves to help prepare the garden for cool weather crop season with our partners at the school," said Ray Kau, Store Marketing Supervisor for the chain's Hillcrest store. "This was family-friendly, three-hour project with tasks for everyone ages 7 and up!"

The work at the historic Linda Vista campus included learning about cool weather and warm weather crops while painting whimsical plant identification signs to be used in the garden boxes, preparing garden beds with compost and planting with cool weather seeds and starter plants. Some kids also sketched their favorite plant or spot in the garden which will be used to create a mosaic art piece that will be displayed at the store.

"This event was fun, uplifting, and kid-friendly," said Kau. "This was an opportunity for customers, team members, and kids to partner together in service to our community. We'll have plenty of garden related activities to engage everyone. The best part is working together to service our edible community!"

The store brought along a "magical build-your-own salad-bar for kids and grown-ups, plus all the fixings" where they could join in the fun of the fun of "eating a rainbow" in honor of the Whole Kids Foundation.

For more information on the garden, contact Emalyn Leppard at Montgomery Middle School, 858-397-6600.

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Summer trip with Scripps, Woods Hole takes Mission Bay and Lincoln teachers to top of world

Steve Walters

Science teachers from Lincoln and Mission Bay high schools were part of a team of researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution that spent several weeks this summer investigating the origins of a cooling period on earth that began about 13,000 years ago.

Danny Blas, marine science teacher at Lincoln High, and Steve Walters, marine biology teacher at Mission Bay High, were part of a team of researchers on-board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy collecting sediment samples on, and mapping of, the seafloor of the eastern Beaufort Sea, north of Alaskan-Canadian border.

"Science should be exciting, and being part of a large team of highly knowledgeable experts in the field makes me even more excited to share my experiences with my students," said Blas, who is serving as the project's blogger, targeting his blog to grade 11-12 grade marine science students. Walters is serving as a member of the seafloor sediment collection team.

Danny Blas

The cooling period, known by scientists the Younger Drays stadial, has been associated with sea ice in the Arctic and north Atlantic oceans, and the storage and release of fresh water from a large glacial lake in North America, yet its origin remains controversial.

Dr. Lloyd Keigwin (Woods Hole) and Dr. Neal Driscoll (Scripps), Principal Investigators for the mission, hypothesized the glacial lake (Lake Agassiz) released fresh water to the Arctic Ocean through the Mackenzie River, and if proven, the signal should be detectable in the oxygen isotope ratio in the shells of plankton found in the sediment.
The research mission ran from Aug. 14 to Sept. 9.

For more information, visit Blas's blog at www.dannyblas.com.

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Mission Bay High, Seaside Market, district staff join to improve ‘curb appeal’ at bayside campus

Students returning this fall to Mission Bay High School and community members visiting the Saturday Seaside Farmers Market are noticing new landscaping at the bayside campus.

San Diego Unified landscape supervisor
Tom Beck works on old vegetation.

Over the summer, new drought-tolerant grass and trees were planted at the school, replacing older vegetation that was in some cases overgrown, in other cases dead.

Pam Dietz, director of the Mission Bay High School Alumni Association, and Tom Beck, landscape supervisor with San Diego Unified, collaborated to come up with freshened landscape that would help both the school and the Farmers Market, which raises money for the school.

"Starting from day one we have had nothing but fabulous support of the Seaside Farmer’s Market from San Diego Unified, Mission Bay High administration, teachers and students as well as our local PB community," said Dietz. "I think everyone knows this venue has the potential to be an unprecedented financial resource for MBHS. Working with Tom Beck on this re-landscaping project, however, really highlighted for us the positive impact the Seaside Farmer’s Market has on the environment. We are equally proud of that!”

The new landscaping not only improves the look of the area, but helps security.

"This re-landscaping project, which was done by School District employees, not only made the entrance to the student parking lot more attractive for students and guests, but also improves the use of the land," said Dietz. "There is now visibility for security purposes, and a cleaner, more functional landscape. Seaside Farmer’s Market patrons will be able to enjoy the shade and grass every Saturday."

The Farmer's Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the school, located at 2475 Grand Ave. (92109). For more information on Mission Bay High, check out its website.

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Going green raises money for Pacific Beach schools

IN THE NEWS: Returning students and staff at Kate Sessions Elementary School in Pacific Beach had a surprise waiting for them the first day back at school: a $500 check for the school’s music and arts program from Go Green 4 Education. Read more from the Beach and Bay Press»

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National Merit Scholarship finalists at four high schools

It's one step closer to a prestigious National Merit Scholarship for 23 students at four San Diego Unified School District high schools.

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation have announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationally in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Semifinalists are: from La Jolla High School, Allen M. Cao, Ulysse Carion, Winn Cui, Irene A. Dea, Tessa C. Lowe, Taylor L. Osman, Zachary Ye, Belton Y. Zhong, Lynn Zhou; Mission Bay High School, Hannah Tandy; Scripps Ranch High School, Caleb K. Hwang, William Z. Jiang, Jason C. Kandu, Grace H. Klein, Wenhao Liao, Shea J. Polansky, Emma Schopp, Crystal H. Shi; University City High School, Nicolette L. Brannan, Eric Y. Chao, Jeremy S. Longfellow, Emily L. Siegler, Paul L. Sud.

National Merit is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by the corporation with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share National Merit’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2014. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 240 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. National Merit Scholarship winners of 2014 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 300,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

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Barnard Elementary brings Mandarin language instruction to PB

The location may have changed, but Barnard Elementary’s mission remains unchanged: emphasizing global education with Mandarin Chinese language instruction. Read more»

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Barnard announces new partnership with the Beijing Royal School

As students and staff settle into their new location in Pacific Beach, Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy continues to make connections across the globe.

Beijing Royal School Principal Wang

Barnard recently announced a collaboration with a new sister school, the Beijing Royal School, an elite institution in China that prepares students in grades 6-12 for entrance into the world’s top universities. Beijing Royal is the fifth sister school for Barnard, who also collaborates with two other schools in China, one in South Korea and one in Taiwan.

The relationship between the two schools started last year with the help of former district Chief of Staff Bernie Rhinerson, who visited the school, and several members of the College Board. Barnard principal Eddie Park and Beijing Royal School Principal Wang have been working this summer to determine what the partnership will entail.

For more information on the programs at Barnard Elementary, contact Principal Eddie Park at 858-800-5700.

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Supt. Marten talks about back-to-school 2013

IN THE NEWS: Supt. Cindy Marten visits TV morning shows with message that it will be an exciting school year, her first as superintendent.

Watch video

• KUSI»

• San Diego 6»

• NBC San Diego»

• Fox 5 San Diego»

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La Jolla High’s new athletic director brings sports passion to post

IN THE NEWS: Coming from the Midwest, La Jolla High School’s new athletic director Paula Conway said she has a passion for sports. As she tells it, during football season, her hometown in Ohio would shut down on Friday nights. “Everything revolved around high school athletics,” she said. Read more from the La Jolla Light»

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Summerbridge celebrates 20 years of helping kids get an advance on the new school year

Summerbridge San Diego is celebrating its 20th year of providing academic, leadership, and social-emotional support to students from throughout the San Diego Unified School District in a partnership with UC San Diego, San Diego State University and the University of San Diego.

“Thanks to the experience of Summerbridge San Diego, I was able to obtain a full paid scholarship (Circle of Excellence) to the University of San Diego, said Marcos Arguelles, Chollas Mead Elementary Class of 2006 and University of San Diego Sophomore. "Summerbridge San Diego prepared me for my studies at the University of San Diego by developing my leadership skills, encouraging community involvement, and assisting me in completing the A-G Requirements. I feel privileged to give back to the program, which gave me so much, by coming back as a teacher this year."

Summerbridge San Diego is an independent, privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is celebrating its 20th year. The six-week summer program serves 157 elementary and middle school students with academic classes and leadership development. Students are instructed and assessed in transition according to both the California State Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards for grades five through eight in English-Language Arts, mathematics, and science.

The program is holding its annual Visitors Day starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, at La Jolla High, 750 Nautilus St. (92037). 

For more information, contact Castro at conradocastrojr@gmail.com. Please visit us at www.SummerbridgeSD.com.

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California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance honors district staff, programs

The team from Pacific Beach Middle School.

The San Diego branch of the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recently recognized outstanding health, physical education, recreation and dance teachers and programs in the county at its annual awards banquet at Paradise Point Resort.

Several district staff and programs were honored, including:

Shanna Jennings, Silver Gate Elementary - Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year
Pacific Beach Middle School - Secondary Physical Education Program of the Year
Cesar Santos, Mann Middle School - Outstanding New Physical Education Professional
Brenna Baringer, Department of Physical Education, Health and Athletics - Outstanding Service to the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (HPERD) Profession
Mary Lou Baranowski, Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary - American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAPHERD) Southwest District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Baranowski was also one of six finalists for the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Teacher of the Year award.

In addition, those in attendance celebrated the retirement of Adapted Physical Education teacher Harry Smith, who has dedicated more than 25 years to education.

The California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is dedicated to promoting healthful lifestyles through quality education and programs. To nominate a local exemplary HPERD teacher or program in 2013-14, visit www.sdcoe.net/lret/hpe or contact Paige Metz at pmetz@sdcoe.net.

For more information on the district’s Health and Physical Education programs, contact Brenna Baringer at bbaringer@sandi.net.

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