Newsline - December 10, 2007 :: San Diego Unified School District

Newsline

December 10, 2007

Safety Awareness Week, December 10 - 14
The district’s Safety/Health Action Committee (S/HAC) has designated December 10 – 14 as Safety Awareness Week. Employees should take this opportunity to inspect their work areas and report any unsafe condition to their site administrator or immediate supervisor. Work orders for corrective actions can be initiated by calling the Work Order Desk at (858) 627-7250, or Glenn Boogren at (858)-637-3698. The S/HAC is a joint management and union committee that meets periodically to review and make recommendations on current or outstanding occupational safety concerns. Read the latest edition of The Safety Net , published by S/HAC. For information, visit the Risk Management website at www.sandi.net/risk.

DWA Maintenance during Winter Break
The Information Technology Department will be performing system-wide maintenance during Winter Break that will result in brief outages of District Wide Applications (DWA). Access to PeopleSoft /Zangle/ Encore will not be available from 11:30 p.m., December 29, to 8 p.m., January 4. Access to Exchange / E-mail will not be available from 8 a.m., January 2, to 8 p.m., January 4. Your patience during this necessary maintenance period is appreciated. For information, contact Scott Kovacik at skovacik@sandi.net or (619) 725-7512.

Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increases January 1
Effective January 1, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service standard mileage reimbursement rate will be increased from 48.5 cents per mile to 50.5 cents per mile. The district mileage reimbursement rate for district business will also increase to 50.5 cents. For information, see Information Circular 504 or contact Sandy Davis at (619) 725-7756.

HR Upgrades System for Classified Recruitments
Human Resources is implementing an upgrade to the applicant tracking system for classified recruitments. Beginning January 7, 2008, classified job openings will be posted electronically and applicants will be able to apply online. Computers will be available in the Education Center lobby for those without a home computer or available work computer. Detailed instructions on how to apply will be provided and HR staff will be available in the lobby and by telephone to provide assistance.

Nominate Your School Site Teacher of the Year
Recognize excellence. Nominations are now being accepted for school site Teachers of the Year . The deadline to submit a nomination form is Thursday, January 31, 2008. All nominated teachers will be recognized at a special Day of the Teacher celebration on May 6, 2008. Qualified nominees will have the opportunity to apply to the district-level competition. For information, contact Linda Zintz at lzintz@sandi.net or (619) 725-5568.

Public Auction Set for December 20
The district is holding a public auction starting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 20, at the Supply Center Yard, 2351 Cardinal Lane, 92123. Obsolete, no parts available, and beyond economical repair furniture and equipment will be for sale. Arrive at 9 a.m. to preview items and to register. A $200 cash refundable deposit is required to receive a bidder number. For information, contact Rose Gustafson at (858) 522-5850 or Anstead’s Auctioneers and Associates at (619) 233-3148.

District Trainings
School Site Council Training: Building a Cohesive Team Program Monitoring is conducting another Building a Cohesive Team School Site Council (SSC) training session on Tuesday, December 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. New and returning SSC members will benefit from the training, which includes information on roles and responsibilities, categorical budget guidelines and transfer requirements, parliamentary procedures, and team-building strategies. To register, go to http://studata.sandi.net/saa/app/trainingreg/. BoardDocs Training Scheduled in January Trainings on the web-based automated agenda transmittal system, BoardDocs, will be conducted in January 2008. All staff who draft, submit, route, or approve Board of Education agenda items should attend one of the following trainings: Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 2-4 p.m., Ed Center Auditorium Thursday, January 17, 2008, 9-11 a.m., Ed Center Auditorium After the trainings, Board agenda items will be submitted via the BoardDocs electronic automated system. RSVP not required. For information, contact Cheryl Ward at cward@sandi.net or (619) 725-5522 or Cathy Nunez at cnunez@sandi.net or (619)725-5634.

Professional Development
Discover Program Partners with Mingei International Museum The district’s Discover Program and Balboa Park are partnering to offer a unique workshop, Basket Weaving: Integrating Mathematics and Visual Arts , (1/2 credit), on Saturday, January 12, from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at the Mingei International Museum. Using both art and math skills and techniques, participants will design, prepare and weave a reed basket. For information, to register, or a complete list of upcoming classes, visit the Discover Program website at http://www.sandi.net/discover or contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net or (858) 496-1887. AAAE Conference Set for February The San Diego County Association of African American Educators (AAAE) will conduct its 17th annual conference, Putting Our Children on Dry Ground... Securing the Future of all African American Students , on Friday, February 29, and Saturday, March 1, 2008. Register before January 29 for discounted rates. For information, contact aaaesandiego@gmail.com or (619) 717-2441.

Student Opportunities
Math Challenge for Grades 2 -5 Total Recall Learning invites students in grades 2-5 to compete for the title of Math Idol in the first math contest of its kind. Participants will need to download and go through a free version of the multiplication table software posted online at http://totalrecalllearning.com/index.pacq. Students have until Sunday, January 6, 2008, to complete the challenge. Two grand prize winners will be determined. Participation is free. Full details can be found at http://www.TotalRecallLearning.com. 18 and the Law! Course for High Schoolers The presentation, 18 and the Law!, is designed to provide students with helpful information - in a fun medium - about the legal ramifications and responsibilities upon turning 18, the age of majority. The format and length (20 min. to one hour) can vary according to teacher/school preference. For information or to schedule a presentation, contact Jason Radford at jason.radford@dlapiper.com or (858) 677-1422. Free Nutrition Curriculum The University of California Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program offers standards-based free nutrition/gardening curriculum and training for teachers of all grades. Available curriculum includes Go Glow Grow, Happy Healthy Me, Reading Across My Pyramid and Eat Fit for Teens. For information or a copy of the curriculam, contact Stella Weaver at sweaver@ucdavis.edu or (858) 694-2122.

Funding Opportunities
Teacher as Researcher Teacher as Researcher grant is for teachers who conduct research inquiries in their classrooms. The International Reading Association sponsored grant supports teachers in their inquiries about literacy and instruction. Grants can be awarded up to $5,000, although priority will be given to smaller grants in order to support as many teacher researchers as possible. The application deadline is Tuesday, January 15. For information, go to www.reading.org.

Upcoming Events
Magnet Matriculation Fair Language Academy, a Spanish/English Dual Immersion Program and French Immersion Program, is hosting a Magnet Matriculation Fair on Wednesday, December 12, from 6 to 7 p.m., to introduce students and families to district high schools, including Magnet and Choice Programs. For information, contact Chantal Fernandez at cfernandez@sandi.net or (619) 287-1182. Connect College/Career Conference Staff, students and parents are invited to attend a workshop on how to prepare for college on Thursday, December 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Morse High School. For information, contact Ana Anderson at aanderson2@sandi.net or (619) 725-7232. SCPA Open House for Prospective Students Prospective students and their families are invited to visit the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) on Saturday, December 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. Visitors will get a campus tour, receive information on the school’s arts programs, see an excerpt from a musical production, and meet faculty and staff. Reservations encouraged but not required. Contact Stephanie Steiner at ssteiner@sandi.net or (619) 470-0555 ext. 283. Community Resource Fair All school counselors, administrators, teachers and parents are invited to attend the Counseling and Guidance Department’s Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, December 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Marina Village Captain’s Room. For information, contact Earlene Dunbar at edunbar@sandi.net or (858) 503-3180. Save the Date Marshall Middle School Principal Rick Novak is retiring. A reception in his honor will be held Friday, February 1, 2008, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the San Diego Hall of Champions. For information, contact sbailie@sandi.net or (858) 549-5400, ext. 3014 or 3011.

In the News/New on the Web
Video clips of TV segments featuring our schools and students are now available on the district website. Go the News section and watch Rod Luck’s visit to Doyle Elementary and the Chargers visit to Webster Elementary.

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