We the People 2018

Gaspar De Portola Middle School competed with seven other middle schools at Grossmont College on December 18, 2018 for the annual “We the People” competition. Student groups had to research in depth a prompt from the “We the People” curriculum resource that related to the constitution and its application both historically and in the present. Community leaders such as board members from various districts, representatives from local politicians, educators, and San Diego Superior Court judges were among the volunteers who judged the students’ ability to respond to the prompt with a four minute presentation and six minutes of follow-up questions. Student groups were assessed on their knowledge of the constitution, historical application, current application, the degree of evidence they used to support their arguments, and the level of collaboration and participation among the group. This competition is a terrific complement to the Common Core ELA standards and the eighth grade history social-science curriculum, when California students study the Constitution. Winners have the opportunity to go on to Sacramento for the state-wide competition. The competition is fierce and the day is very challenging for nervous eighth graders. De Portola truly dazzled thanks to the hard work from Mr. Meyer and his eighth graders. Win or lose, the students will never forget this experience and their knowledge of the Constitution surpasses the knowledge of most average Americans. This simulation of our democratic system is truly worth the time and demonstrates phenomenal civic learning for middle school. Great job De Portola!! For questions about this program, look here: http://www.civiced.org/programs/wtp.

Generation Citizen Civics Day Exhibition

Clairemont, Hoover, and Serra High School students and teachers presented their class’s participatory action research projects to a panel of judges at Clairemont High School for their Civics Day Exhibition, December 19, 2018. With their teachers’ coaching and support, students tackled the following community issues:

*Teen vaping 

*Asylum seekers 

*Police brutality 

*Gun control 

*Homelessness in the community 

*Strengthening programs for the homeless 

*Teen suicide prevention 

*Child abuse and neglect 

*Electric scooters cluttering

 San Diego Students were asked to identify an issue in their community that concerned their class. They also needed to research the root causes of the issue, collaborate with their classmates and the local community, take informed action, and analyze their own impact effectiveness. Student action varied from interviewing community members, to conducting surveys, writing letters to local leaders and businesses, creating videos and other media, etc. For Civics Day, each class organized all of their work on a tri-fold poster and chose student representatives to present to community judges on Civics Day. Judges included business people in the community, local leaders such as board members, district personnel, authors, museum curators, and more. Students were able to present out and reflect on what they did well, what they would change, and next steps. Civics Day is a demonstration of civic learning and action that all people can take to be civically engaged. Many people consider elections to be a mainstay for engaging citizens in our democracy. However, participatory action research programs such as Generation Citizen <generationcitizen.org>, the program used by these sites, demonstrate how civic engagement is for all people. Students saw the impact that they can have when they put the time and research into a relevant issue.

Many students expressed their desire to take this work beyond their Civics Day exhibition. Many thanks to Generation Citizen and the community members and judges who donated their time to help the students with their participatory action research projects. And a special “thank you” to the dedicated teachers who brought this program to their students: Sharon Apple, Kacey Caputo, Toya Profit, Hank Yamfang, Brenna Drumm, and visiting teacher Newlyn Clark. This was a true demonstration of civic learning at San Diego Unified School District.

ASB Students Come Together at Lincoln High School for the ASB Winter Workshop

High school ASB students from across the district came together at Lincoln High School for an ASB Winter Workshop. The goal of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for ASB students from different schools to get to know each other and build relationships, see examples of what can be done at school events and walk away with ideas of how to improve school spirit. The event was put on by the Council of ASB Presidents.

YMCA Adopts Baker Elementary for the Holidays

 In celebration of the holiday season, the Office of Children and Youth in Transition partnered with the YMCA of San Diego County to provide students and parents with fun filled day at the Jackie Robinson YMCA. Parents received tours of the facility and learned about available programs and resources while students took part in soccer games, Zumba dancing, and craft making. The day was complete with a BBQ lunch and a gift off the wish list of all Pre-K to 5th grade students. Thank you YMCA!!

 

Trauma Informed Care PD at Wegeforth

On Wednesday, December 19th the Children and Youth in Transition Team (CYT) presented a trauma informed practices presentation to the Wegeforth Elementary school staff members. The professional development training “Trauma and the Brain” is one of a series of fours presentations that the CYT department offers. The presentation focuses on building awareness and shared understanding of trauma. It also highlights how trauma affects the brain, health, cognitive development and behavior of our students. Over a dozen school sites in San Diego Unified School District have participated in the professional development series in the 18-19 school year thus far. Interested schools should contact the CYT department to sign up for trainings. Educators and staff can also sign up for trauma informed care trainings as individuals through the ERO staff professional development portal. The remaining trauma informed practices presentations include: “The Trauma Informed School Site,” “Self-Care for the Educator” and “Mindup Curriculum Implementation.” The professional development trainings are available throughout the 18-19 school year.

Mission Bay High Students Give the Gift of Art to the Community

Mission Bay High Art Teacher Heather Henkes has paired with school and community groups for two opportunities for her students to give back.

In October, Ms. Henkes invited talented student painters to help with a book cover mural project to honor Alcott Elementary Librarian, Susan Natividad who passed away suddenly this fall. Susan's family was on hand to unveil the community artwork in the new christened Susan Natividad Memorial Library, MB high students Rayleen Marquez, Kelsey Amann, Rachel Guevera, Jeryn Young, Jayden Pick, Maya Satterberg, and Shanti Topzand. created 7 of the 24 covers chosen by each class to honor Mrs, Natividad and her favorite book, The Giving Tree, was painted by Alcott parents and staff. The unveiling was December 6th at Alcott. Principal Michele Riley was so thrilled with their work that she hopes to have them work on future projects.

In November, Ms. Henke worked with the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego (the nonprofit arm of San Diego Family Magazine) to create a Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them themed tree for their November 16th premiere event. Students Shanti Topzand, Jayden Pick, Maya Satterberg, Franshesca Sanchez, Rachel Guevara and Rayleen Marquez created beastly characters from Newt Scamander's case of characters with impeccable detail from a variety of media. The event, which featured the tree, movie and Harry Potter themed crafts, drew over 250 people and helps fund the publishing of an annual thousand resource magazine for the parents of children with special needs: the Flourishing Families Guide. The SNRFSD is extremely grateful for the time and talent of these young artists.

These projects were created in addition to their curricular studies with their free time and are a testament to the talent and dedication of the staff and student body of MB High.

Student Led Circle Trainings

The Restorative Justice Practices department has started our second consecutive year of Circle Training at Bell Middle School and Rowan Elementary. Unlike last year, these trainings are being facilitated by students who were trained last year to facilitate circles and trained this year on how to be trainers of trainings. It is the first time our department has tried this and we now into our third and fourth week at either schools. The student trainers are excited to be teachers and we are all excited to have a new batch of incoming students ready to be trained to facilitate circles in the classrooms, hopefully as soon as February. Thank you to everyone for supporting and empowering our youth!!!

The Cavers Bring a State Football Title Home to San Diego!

San Diego Cavers head coach Charles James said he had big plans for the program when he took over in 2015, but he never imagined he'd be holding a State Championship trophy this past weekend. "I knew we were turning things around. But I didn't imagine a championship, not this soon"...

Click here...

https://www.kusi.com/the-cavers-bring-a-state-football-title-home-to-san-diego/
https://www.sandiegounified.org/newscenter/san-diego-high-caps-storybook-football-season-state-championship
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sd-sp-preps-football-san-diego-cavers-20181215-story.html

Thriving Schools Honor Roll 2018

The Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools Honor Roll awards program recognizes those individuals who are championing sustainable, healthy school environments. The program celebrates successes, recognizes innovation and elevates best practices so that we can all be inspired. Kate McDevitt, San Diego Unified School District Wellness Supervisor, was awarded the 2018 Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools Honor Roll award because of her commitment to creating a school system and environment that promotes and supports healthy eating, physical activity, social and emotional health and wellness and for all of her work with the District Wellness Initiative. Click here...https://thrivingschools.kaiserpermanente.org/get-inspired/thriving-schools-honor-roll-2018/

Students Lead the December Student Equity Coalition

Student representatives from the district’s schools, Student Equity Ambassador group, GSA Collaborative, Council of ASB Presidents, Wellness Ambassadors, Clubs and Athletic Programs led the December Student Equity Coalition at Patrick Henry High School. The students prepared the agenda, led the discussions at the tables on topics that are important to them as students and began to construct action plans and next steps. Thank you to the parents, staff, community members and partners that joined the students for the event. We hope you can join the students for the next Student Equity Coalition scheduled on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 5-6:30pm at Morse High School.

Talking About Labor Unions is Work!

Clairemont High 10th graders in Ms. Profit’s class are ready to fight for their rights! They’ve been studying the United States labor unions between the end of the Civil War and the early 1900s. Today they brought the discussion into the 21st century. Chieftans participated in a Socratic Seminar in World History classes where they used primary source documents to discuss unsafe working conditions, wages and hours, the growth of labor unions and something they had a lot to say about - - - child labor laws! Students facilitated their own discussions with little teacher input. They were asking each other questions, referring to the text, and adding examples from personal experience. Students argued that working in coal mines was unsafe and deadly because of the powder, smoke, poisonous gas and falling rocks. Some wondered why it took the United States so long to pass the Workmen’s Compensation Law for people injured in the workplace. The discussion was academic and quite passionate! These students are fired up about the topic of labor unions - - and ready to put their opinions into action in the workforce!

Boys to Men Mentoring

The Integrated Youth Services Division has established a new partnership with Boys to Men Mentoring to bring mentors to selected students at Knox Middle, MTM, and Lincoln High Schools. These mentors meet with students three times a month and work on promoting responsible decision making through ownership, responsibility, integrity and respect. The participants are asked, "What do you want to improve about yourself?" The students participating will be invited to a weekend mountain trip where they will connect with their mentors outside of the school campus. For more information on the Boys to Men Mentoring program, please contact Katherine Aud @kaud@sandi.net or (619) 725-7329.

Positive School Climate Fair

The Integrated Youth Services Division hosted their yearly Positive School Climate Fair where close to 50 community partners gathered at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation to share resources, programs, and services they provide to our San Diego Unified Schools, students, and families. Students from SD SCPA performed during the fair followed by the Ballet Folklorico dancers from Rosa Parks Elementary School. After the performances, two students fro SCPA were approached by San Diego Pride Parade and asked if they would open the Pride Festival/Parade in Summer 2019! "I love watching our students perform, they are so talented", said Dr. Noemi Villegas "It is so wonderful to see all these organizations in one place to promote positive school climates on our school campuses. We are excited about holding another fair in the Spring.

Jimmie Johnson Champions Grant! Knox Library Makeover

Knox is the proud recipient of a grant for a school library makeover. This grant will allow them to add over 2000 needed books to the school library, as well as furniture to create a space for students to build their love of reading.

Special thanks to Ms. Ullman the Knox library tech for her help selecting books for this project!

Perry Elementary School Using Robotics to Solve Problems in the Real World

5th grade students in Mrs. Zitsman’s class at Perry Elementary School are learning how robotics can help solve scientific problems around the planet. The students began an in depth study of the tsunami that took place in Japan in 2005. Their team researched how robots were used to gather data underwater from the nuclear reactors. This translated into their hands-on learning using sensors and motors to program VEX robotics from Project Lead the Way. The students were engaged in the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and looking for the Cross Cutting Concepts of patterns and cause and effect. Student research also revealed how robotics could be used locally to help at the recently closed San Onofre nuclear plant near San Clemente.

TK/K Hour of Code at Fletcher Elementary

First grade students in Ms. Shawna Duncan’s class helped facilitate an Hour of Code with Ms. Mary Jennings’ TK/K students last week at Fletcher Elementary, one of 32 schools in the STEAM pilot.

Fletcher Elementary joined millions of students in participating in this annual Hour of Code event in over 180 countries across the world. The Hour of Code is celebrated to help encourage children to learn coding skills. Why is learning to code important? Technology is advancing every day. We are preparing students for an unknown workforce. While coding can lead students to career pathways in computer programming and computer science, it can also help them develop basic writing skills. Mitch Resnick, creator of a coding program called Scratch, states “When we learn to write, we are learning how to organize, express, and share ideas. And when we learn to code, we are learning how to organize, express, and share ideas in new ways, in a new medium.”

Learning to code is a win-win! During the Hour of Code, Fletcher students tried on different programs and projects from Scratch, Code.org, and Blockly and learned about different kinds of robots such as the Bee Bot, Dot and Dash, and OSMO. Acquiring robotics can be costly. Fletcher teachers fundraised through Donors Choose and were fortunate to gain resources for their school.

These new resources have inspired students and teachers to learn how to code. Their energy and enthusiasm engaging with coding is contagious. They are ready to take on the world one line of code at a time! Visit code.org to celebrate the Hour of Code and join the movement at your school or home.

Family STEAM Night at Angier Elementary

 Kindergarten students are STEAMing ahead at Angier Elementary! They celebrated their learning and introduced their parents to STEAM at a Family STEAM Night. STEAM program resource teachers, Zoë Randall and Lacy Szuwalski, introduced the STEAM curriculum and the importance of STEAM in education. Derek Suzuki, instructional technology resource teacher and Angier’s STEAM support leader, helped facilitate the night with the TK/K team teachers: Catherine Perry, Clare Flanagan and Alice Marie Burke. Principal Adrienne Cannon supported the evening’s events and welcomed families. 


The STEAM curriculum has been written for Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms across 32 schools in the district. STEAM units are inspired by the California Science Framework. They integrate Next Generation Science Standards and Project-Based learning. Units include Caring for Living and Nonliving Things, Plants and Animals Change Their Environment, Daily Weather Patterns, Animals and Environment, Human Impact, and Pushes and Pulls. Project Lead the Way supplements the STEAM curriculum with engineering projects. Students participate in STEAM blocks for one hour a day, four days a week.


Students highlighted their learning during STEAM block at the Family STEAM Night, which included a song and a Project Lead the Way paintbrush activity. Families used their creativity and teamwork skills to build a paintbrush and create a unique hand-painted design. Families left with knowledge of the STEAM program and motivation to empower their children to become the creators of tomorrow.


Contact the Office of Innovation STEAM resource teachers for more information on how to engage your parents in a Family STEAM Night. Zoë Randall: zrandall@sandi.net and Lacy Szuwalski: lszuwalski@sandi.net.

 

Bringing STEAM to the Fairgrounds

This year the district’s STEAM magnet schools were well represented at the annual STEAM Maker Festival in Del Mar. The festival is a full day event celebrating and exploring science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics through maker projects and competitions. Students from several SDUSD schools participated in the event including Kearny High School, Carson, Franklin, Linda Vista and Montgomery STEAM magnet schools. Exhibitors shared prototypes of their designs and hands-on activities with the public. Some of the designs on display included game prototypes from Franklin, an interactive music board from Montgomery, gliders from Carson, disc spinners from Linda Vista and robotics from Kearny. The event also boasted competitions for makers of all ages including fashion challenges, engineering events and project presentations. The STEAM Maker Festival is held every 1st Saturday in December at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

 

STEAM is a Family Affair

Carson Elementary STEAM Magnet has come up with an innovative way to bring STEAM home through a program they’re calling Beyond the Bell. Beginning January 19th, families will check out Beyond the Bell backpacks filled with activities that support the exploration of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics from the school library. Kits include art supplies, building tools, Spheros, Snap Circuits and more. The program is designed to get students and parents working together to design, build, imagine and create through the power of STEAM!

Morse HS Math Department Partners with the San Diego Math Project to Transform Math Instruction

Morse HS is one of three high schools in our district to receive a California GEAR UP grant to support classroom instruction and the only high school to use the grant to focus specifically on math instruction. The grant provides an instructional coach for the cluster, serving both Morse HS and Bell MS for six years. In addition, the grant sponsors a partnership with the San Diego Math Project for additional support. On Tuesday, December 11, the entire Morse HS math department spent the day discussing instruction and assessment in PLC groups with three members of the San Diego Math Project, their instructional coach, and an administrator working side by side with them. In February, most of the high school math department teachers will participate in a Lesson Study, led by the San Diego Math Project and their instructional coach, with participation expected from the Bell MS 8th grade math teachers. The combined dedication of the math teachers in the Morse Cluster and support from the GEAR UP grant will undoubtedly result in the development of a model secondary math program that prepares all of their students with meaningful 21st century skills.

 

SDUSD Student Panel at AVID National Conference

AVID National Conference was last week in San Diego, hosting about 1400 administrators and teachers from across the country. Students from San Diego High, Farb Middle, and Miller Elementary beautifully showed their confidence and public speaking skills while sharing their appreciation of AVID. 

Ruben from San Diego High’s Business & Leadership Academy states, “AVID taught me if I don’t ask questions, I won’t succeed. My community undervalues education and education does change lives.” Tra from Farb Middle says, "I’ve always wanted to go to college and AVID makes the path clear for me." Christina from Miller Elementary adds, "With AVID, I learned how to take notes to remember what I read." All the students commented how AVID feels like family, building confidence and friendships. Brooklyn from Farb Middle feels “every school should be an AVID school to help students be their best selves.”

PSAT scores have arrived!

PSAT/NMSQT scores have arrived and come with many FREE fantastic benefits! (1) Students get specific feedback on their scores and how to improve for the SAT. (2) All students get personalized tutorials through Khan Academy to improve their scores. (3) Students will be eligible for scholarships simply by completing the steps along the way to their college dreams. Sign up for your free account and link to your PSAT scores to start using these benefits: psat.org/myscore

Math Teachers and Admin Working Together!

Administrators and teachers from across the district got together recently to discuss best practices in math assessments. School sites gave a common assessment before Thanksgiving, and now school site teams are working together to examine common misconceptions for students and ways to address them. These discussions allowed sites to examine their own assessments and modify them to better fit the needs of their students. We can’t wait for this new knowledge to take root back in classrooms!

CSTA Climate Summit and Conference

The California Science Education Conference, held last weekend, was rooted in climate science and how can we, as teachers, create “Climate Warriors”. As teachers we are guides for our students, and students depend on us to be transparent about big issues we face as a community, such as climate change. Teachers were inspired to come back into their classrooms and work alongside their students to innovate solutions that create a better world. 

If you want to see some of the inspirational work that happened click here: https://conference.cascience.org/

Writing Matters!

On Tuesday, December 4th, English teachers from Kearny Engineering, Innovation, and Design (EID) met together to look at student writing to ensure that what students are doing in grades 9-12 is aligned and helping all students progress in their writing skills. Teachers Jessica Frichtel, Sean Armijo, and Kira Matsuo each brought writing samples from their classes that they used to look at common patterns and areas for growth in teaching and learning. With the goal of helping students be college and career ready, the teachers identified specific areas where they need to focus, including helping students understand the difference between summary and analysis, making sure students follow instructions and answer the prompt, and thinking about ways they, as teachers, can help students go deeper in their analysis. The outcome of this work is that students are continually more prepared for the demands of exams, such as the SAT and the Smarter Balanced, as well as ready for the expectations of college level writing.