On Monday, January 16, school sites and district offices will be closed in commemoration of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Security Patches For Windows Computers
The IT Department wants to remind district employees who use Windows computers of the importance of keeping their systems updated with the latest security patches. Please review the Windows Update instructions or visit the IT Department website at http://www.sandi.net/it.
Upcoming Workshops
Race/Human Relations & Advocacy Diversity Workshop
SDCS Race/Human Relations & Advocacy Department is continuing its series of workshops for administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses and other interested staff on “Building Positive Relationships with Students of Color.” Contemporary topics applicable to urban school settings are being offered in the workshops.
Workshops being offered in February are:
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Tuesday, February 7, 3 – 4 p.m. at the Malcolm X Library Closing the Achievement Gap. Discussion regarding challenges and barriers to teaching and learning.
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Thursday, February 9, 3 – 4 p.m. at Serra High School Building Community Relations. Discussion regarding parent involvement and community resources.
RSVP by January 31, 2006, to Race/Human Relations & Advocacy at (858) 490-8678. Topics for upcoming workshops include Peer Mediation; Biases and Stereotypes; African American Males/Females; Latina Females/Latino Males; Gangs, Schools and Communities; and Immigrant Populations.
Emerging Technologies Workshop
SDCS Educational Technology Department is presenting a series of workshops to provide an overview of and resource for some of the latest technologies. The latest workshop being offered is:
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Wednesday, February 15, 4 – 6 p.m. at the Center for Technology, Montgomery Middle School, 2470 Ulric, Room 305 How to Make a Podcast. This workshop will give an overview of Podcasting, demonstrate Podcasting software, and provide ideas for student projects, assignments, and other educational uses. Register here
Future workshops include Blogging in Education, Create an Educational Online Learning Community using Moodle and Wikis.
San Diego County Office of Education Technology Workshops
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is offering three hands-on technology workshops in January:
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Wednesday, January 18, 1-3 p.m. Compression with Quicktime (Mac/PC) Just back from MacWorld, George Cook, an Apple trainer extraordinaire, will guide attendees through the latest and greatest functions of Quicktime Pro on either Macs or PCs. Fee: $15
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Wednesday, January 18, 4-6:30 p.m. Hands-on with Garageband (Mac) Garageband lets you easily perform, record and create your own music. You can use your own instruments or voice or use the instruments included in Garageband to create soundtracks for videos, DVD’s or podcasts. Fee: $15
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Wednesday, January 25, 4-6:30 p.m. Podcasting (Mac) Discover how you can be a part of the new podcasting wave of media literacy and how it can be used in the classroom.
Workshops will be held at Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center, 6410 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, 92111. For more information, call Mary Jacques at (858) 292-3877.
Student Recognition Ceremony
On Tuesday, January 24, at 4 p.m., the Student Recognition Awards Ceremony will take place at the Eugene Brucker Education Center Auditorium, 4100 Normal Street, 92103. The Board of Education and Superintendent will recognize more than 500 of our students for their outstanding achievements. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Zintz at (619) 725-5568 or email lzintz@sandi.net.
Recycling Program Update
The Recycling Program of SDCS has created new activities for the Planet Protector Clubs. Planet Protectors Clubs are and can be set up at elementary schools to help with recycling, energy and water conservation at the school. Activities are geared for 4th and 5th grade levels. Planet Protectors assist with collection and education. Members receive jackets, fun activities and prizes for participating, at no cost to the school. Call the Recycling Program at (858) 627-7376 or email Andrea Eaton at acalbow@sandi.net to get activity materials or more information about starting a club at your school.
Volunteer San Diego’s Youth Leadership Conference – Student Applicants Needed
Volunteer San Diego’s annual Youth Leadership Conference, formerly known as the SAVY Youth Leadership Conference, will be held on Tuesday, February 28, from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Joan Kroc Peace and Justice Center at the University of San Diego. The conference is geared to ignite and enhance the leadership qualities in San Diego’s young people. San Diego County students currently enrolled in grades 8-12 are eligible to apply to attend the conference. Applicants must submit a written application, a letter of recommendation and commit to attending the entire day in order to be eligible for acceptance. (Students/schools provide their own transportation.) Through a partnership with SDCS Community Relations Department, there will be no registration fee for the first 100 SDCS students who apply. A $15 registration fee is required for all other students who wish to attend. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 31. For more information, call Joy Jankowiak at (858) 636-4124 or email jjankowiak@volunteersandiego.org.
Teacher Of The Year Nomination Deadline Approaching
The deadline to submit your school site's nomination for 2006-2007 Teacher of the Year is Monday, January 23. All nominated teachers will be recognized at a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 9. Nominees will also have the opportunity to apply to the district-level competition. Further information is included in Administrative Circular 48, attachment 1 (Nomination Form) and attachment 2 (Application). Sites should work with their SDEA representative to coordinate a decision before the January 23 deadline. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Zintz in Communications at (619) 725-5568 or lzintz@sandi.net.
Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge
The Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge is a fun and educational program that teaches K-6 elementary school students about the importance of recycling while earning cash for their schools. From January 1 until April 17, 2006, participating schools will earn $5.00 for every 60-gallon collection bag they fill with plastic shopping and grocery bags and bring to a local Wal-Mart store for recycling. The three elementary schools in San Diego County that bring in the most collection bags will receive additional cash grants: First Place - $1,500; Second Place - $1,000; Third Place- $500. There is no cost for schools to enroll in the program. More information and enrollment are available here.
Annual Community Leaders Celebration
The Administrators Association of San Diego City Schools (AASD) will host its Annual Community Leaders Celebration on Wednesday, February 8, at 7:30 a.m. at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in Mission Valley. Guest speaker Superintendent Carl Cohn will address the topic: “Our Plan” to Move San Diego City Schools Forward. Cost is $26.00/person, which includes breakfast and validated parking. Contact Linda Crout-Hamel, AASD office manager, at (619) 295-2118 or via e-mail at linda@aasdcs.org for a registration form or additional information.
National Law Week Celebration Poster And Essay Contest
In celebration of the 48th anniversary of Law Week (May 1-6, 2006), the San Diego Bar Association and Lawyer Referral and Information Services are sponsoring a poster and essay contest. This year’s theme is Achieving Liberty through the Balance of Power. The poster contest is open to San Diego County students in grades K-6. Poster contest prizes are: First Place - $100 savings bond, Second Place - $75 savings bond and Third Place - $50 savings bond.
The essay contest is for students in grades 6-12 and prizes are: First Place - $400 savings bond, Second Place - $300 savings bond and Third Place - $200 savings bond. The deadline for contest entries is Tuesday, January 31. For contest details or more information, call Robyn Day at (619) 231-0781, ext. 121.
New American History Essay Contest For Students
The New Americans Immigration Museum and Learning Center is now accepting essays for its fifth anniversary essay competition, "Family Histories: Migrants to the United States Since 1945." Students in Grades 6-12 are encouraged to apply before the deadline on March 18. This competition is open to students with a wide range of writing abilities and experience, and it is designed to work within the California Standards in Language Arts and History-Social Science. Applications, user guides, teacher aids and posters are available online or by email to essay@naimlc.org.
Buick Invitational Tickets Still Available
As a fundraiser, the district’s P.E./Health & Athletics Department is selling tickets to the 2006 Buick Invitational PGA Golf Tournament, taking place at Torrey Pines Golf Course, January 23-29. Tickets are currently available for purchase until January 22. For more information, see flyer or call (619) 725-7126.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Fair
Volunteer San Diego will be hosting a free community fair in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Saturday, January 14, from 1-4 p.m. in Balboa Park. At the fair, student leaders from Students Actively Volunteering for You (SAVY) will be highlighting the importance of school funding for arts and athletic programs. SAVY Leaders have selected school budget cuts as one of the most important issues in their community. The fair will feature up to 19 different art and athletic booths and clinics, which will allow young people the opportunity to learn and participate in activities that their schools might not be able to fund, e.g., sculpting, drama, Tae Kwan Do, yoga and more. There will also be an advocacy booth for those concerned about school funding to express their thoughts. Donations of school supplies for needy schools will also be accepted. For more information, visit www.volunteersandiego.org or email savy@volunteersandiego.org.
8th Annual San Diego Multicultural Festival
On Saturday,
January 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the 8th
Annual San Diego Multicultural Festival will
take place along the Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade (across from the
San Diego Convention Center, between Fourth Avenue and Market Street
on Harbor Drive). Festivities include free hands-on children’s activities,
two stages featuring multicultural performances, food booths, community
information, free opportunity drawings and merchandise from around the
world. For information, visit www.ccdc.com or
call (619) 235-2222.
On January 8, 2006, Mission Bay High School Principal Tom Yount was included in a San Diego Union-Tribune article, “Teachers on the lookout for teens with tunes.” The article examined how portable music devices such as iPods impact the school environment.
The San Diego Union-Tribune ran an article on January 9, 2006, about SDCS Superintendent Carl A. Cohn’s plans for parent involvement in the district. That article was accompanied by another piece highlighting Parent Voices for Education (PAVE), a grass-roots network that aims “to provide parents with balanced information about education policies and give them opportunities to talk to one another and education officials.”
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