Newsline - January 28, 2008 :: San Diego Unified School District

Newsline

January 28, 2008

Certificated Positions at New Schools
Applications will be accepted February 1-11 for certificated positions at the two new schools opening fall 2008: Sherman Elementary (K-5), 450 24th St., 92102, traditional calendar school offering a Spanish language immersion program. Innovation Middle School (7-8) (previously the CPMA site), 5095 Arvinels Ave., 92117, traditional calendar school with a focus on integrating 21st century technology, science, math, and engineering into the curriculum. For information, see Admin. Circular 57 or contact Trish Wagner at pwagner@sandi.net or (619) 725-8011.

Apply Now for Spring Intersession
The Spring Intersession program is March 24-April 4. Applications are now being accepted from certificated and classified staff from year-round sites interested in Spring Intersession employment. Certificated employees must submit an electronic application by Thursday, January 31. Online applications and instructions are posted on the Employment website under "Quick Links". For information, see Admin. Circular 53 or call (619) 725-8007. Classified employees must submit a Scantron application to Ester Victorio, Human Resources, Room 1241, Ed Center, by 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 13. For information, see Admin Circular 54 or call (619) 725-8114. Applications submitted on or before the deadlines will be used to determine certificated and classified staffing eligibility for Spring Intersession.

Share Your Expertise, Earn Extra Income
Do you have knowledge that you would like to share with other professionals? The Discover Program is seeking instructors to teach classes to certificated and classified employees during the 2008 Spring Session (April - June). Instructors are paid $45.29/ hr. for instruction time and $30.57/hr. for prep time spent outside of assigned workday. If interested or for information, contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net or (858) 496-1887.

Open Enrollment for Catastrophic Leave Bank Ends Thursday
Catastrophic Leave Bank Open Enrollment for all employees in the Office-Technical and Business Services (OTBS), Operations-Support Services (OSS), and Paraeducators (PARA) Bargaining Units ends Thursday, January 31. For information, see Admin Circular 45 or contact Gloria Rangel at grangel@sandi.net or (619) 725-8172.

School Site Teacher of the Year Nominations Due Thursday
Recognize and honor excellence. Nominations for school site Teachers of the Year are due Thursday, January 31. All nominated teachers will be recognized at a special Day of the Teacher celebration on May 6. 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.

District Trainings
School Site Council (SSC) Training “Improving Student Achievement: Revising your Single Plan for Student Achievement” provides in-depth guidance for School Site Council team members. The training will increase participants’ knowledge in the responsibilities of the SSC in revising the Single Plan for Student Achievement; aligning school goals with federal, state, and district data; developing SMART goals based on school/student data; and making budget decisions that improve student achievement. Translation services and child care will be provided. For training dates and to register, go to http://studata.sandi.net/saa/app/trainingreg/. For information, contact the Program Monitoring Department at (858) 496-4048.

Show Me the Money
The Office of Resource Development offers free grant-writing workshops for school and work sites. Workshops cover district procedures when seeking outside funding and basic grant-writing tools and tips. Handouts of resources are provided. For information or to schedule a workshop at your site, contact Elizabeth Blower at cblower@sandi.net or (619)725-7221.

Funding Opportunities
Innovation Generation Grants – The Motorola Foundation will be providing $4 million in Innovation Generation Grants to organizations that engage K-12 students and teachers in innovation, science, technology, engineering and math. The maximum award is $100,000. The application deadline is Saturday, March 1. Project Orange Thumb offers awards to schools with gardens and/or gardening projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, sustainable agriculture and/or horticultural education. Ten grant-award winners will be selected. Each winner will receive up to $1,500 in Fiskars Garden Tools and up to $800 in gardening-related materials. The application deadline is Friday, February 15. For a complete listing of current grant and funding opportunities, visit the district Office of Resource Development website at http://www.sandi.net/depts/grants/.

Professional Development
Take advantage of upcoming Discover Program professional development classes. Moodle I starts this Wednesday, January 30. February classes begin Saturday, February 2. New classes are posted daily. To view course descriptions and to register, go to the Discover website. For information, contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net or (858) 496-1887. Prep courses for the March 15th California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) begin Thursday, February 21. Courses are available for Single Subject English , Single Subject Science (general Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geoscience), Single Subject Mathematics , and Multiple Subjects . Courses are free for district employees; $60 for others. The registration form is due Thursday, February 14, by 5 p.m. For information and to register, contact Lucy Del Valle at ldelvalle@sandi.net or (619) 725-7142. The San Diego County Association of African American Educators (AAAE) will hold 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. Register before January 29 for discounted rates. For information, contact aaaesandiego@gmail.com or (619) 717-2441.

Spotlight on Students and Schools
Educator Spotlight, a column in the San Diego Union-Tribune's new Our San Diego section, is looking for stories on deserving students, schools, and educational programs to put in the spotlight. These include anyone who has overcome enormous odds to be successful, notable off-site activities such as volunteering, or a successful school-wide effort. E-mail ideas directly to David Ogul at david.ogul@uniontrib.com and copy the Communications Department at communications@sandi.net. For information, contact Jack Brandais at jbrandais@sandi.net.

CSA Designation Cards Due Thursday
Community Service Association (CSA) members who want to designate a specific agency or agencies to receive their donations must submit designation cards by Thursday, January 31. Designation cards received after that date will not be honored. Cards can be sent through school mail to Mary Bartholomew, CSA. For information or a designation card, call Mary at (619) 465-2210.

Adopt-A-School Program
Joe’s Crab Shack restaurants have established several programs to assist schools, including Student Certificates of Achievement, Teacher Appreciation Certificates, and School Spirit Night at Joe’s. For information, contact Courtney Salway at CSalway@joescs.com.

Upcoming Events
Community Leaders Breakfast San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will be the featured speaker at the annual Community Leaders Breakfast sponsored by the Administrators Association of San Diego City Schools (AASD). The event will be held Monday, February 11, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Town and Country Convention Center. Tickets are $28 per person. For information or to register, contact Linda Crout Hamel at linda@aasdcs.org or (619) 291-7131. Ed Center Blood Drive A Mobile Blood Drive will be held Monday, February 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the parking lot at the Ed Center. Schedule an appointment online at www.sandiegobloodbank.org (Sponsor code SDSD). For information, contact Katheryn Wester at kwester@sandi.net or (619) 725-7640. Upcoming Phi Delta Kappa Events Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) is sponsoring two upcoming events. A dinner and presentation by Drs. Penny Gray and William Streshly, authors of “From Good Schools to Great Schools: What Their Principals Do Well”, will be held Wednesday, February 13, beginning at 5 p.m., at the Handlery Hotel and Resort. Cost is $20/person. Registration deadline is Friday, February 8. The annual County Superintendents Reception/Dinner is scheduled for Monday, March 3, at the Kroc Peace and Justice Center, USD. Reception begins at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker is Bill Bushaw, Executive Director of PDK International. Cost is $30/person. Registration deadline is Friday, February 22. For information and to register, contact Jeannie Steeg at jeannie@aasdcs.org.

In the News
KPBS-FM reported on State Superintendent Jack O'Connell’s recent visit to Rowan Elementary where he went to learn how teachers closed the racial achievement gap at the campus. Board President Katherine Nakamura discussed Superintendent-elect Dr. Terry Grier on the KUSI Morning News. KUSI-TV morning reporter Rod Luck recently visited the Oak Park Conservatory of Music and the Mandarin Chinese program at Barnard Elementary.

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