Starting Monday, June 2, all district elementary school cafeterias will begin a lunch tray recycling program. This hands-on learning experience will demonstrate how students can make a difference in our environment simply by returning lunch trays to their original containers for recycling. The program will save water, energy, eliminate chemicals that pollute our waterways, and reduce waste in our landfills. For information, contact David Wray at dwray@sandi.net or (858) 627-7304.
Attendance All-Stars Incentive Program
The Office of the Superintendent is designing a district-wide attendance incentive program, scheduled to launch in the 2008-09 school year. Input from administrators, school staff, teachers, families and students is needed to build a successful program and a questionnaire has been developed to solicit feedback. The deadline to return the questionnaire is Friday, June 13. For more information, contact Jennie Breister at jbreister@sandi.net or (619) 725-5598.
Scholastic’s Teacher Store is Now Online
Scholastic’s Teacher Store is now online as an Oracle (formerly PeopleSoft) eProcurement Direct Connect vendor. Schools now have a streamlined, point-and-click tool to order classroom materials from Scholastic’s Teacher Store. Scholastic joins Lakeshore Learning, School Specialty, and Sportime as Direct Connect vendors that can be easily accessed online to order classroom and school supplies. For information, contact Arthur Hanby at ahandby@sandi.net or (858) 522-5808.
New Avenue for Publicity and Recognitions
The San Diego Union-Tribune has started a new web site called www.sdbackyard.com and is looking for event listings from schools. Registration is required. Look for the "Share" button to list your event story or upcoming event. Be sure and also e-mail a copy of the item to communications@sandi.net so it can be posted on the district Campus Calendar. For more opportunities to publicize events, go to http://www.sandi.net/comm/mediaguidelines.html. For information, contact Jack Brandais at jbrandais@sandi.net or (619) 725-5570.
Professional Development
New Elementary Science Program
The Science Department is hosting a series of informational meetings for teachers and administrators to introduce the new 2008-09 elementary science program. Topics include the new FOSS curriculum, units of study, kit rotation schedule and professional development schedule. Ten meetings are scheduled throughout the district. For more information, contact the Science Department at (619) 725-7315.
National Environmental Education Foundation
The National Environmental Education Foundation is launching a new five-year initiative, called Classroom Earth, designed to encourage the infusion of environmental content into core high school curricula using hands-on, experiential activities, applied knowledge to real world phenomena, and the latest web-based technologies. Single Course Grants: $5,000; Cross-Curriculum Grants: $10,000; Professional Development Grants: $1,200. The application deadline is Friday, June 20. For information, visit www.neefusa.org.
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 .
Student Opportunities
Free Educational Conference for Grades 6-12 Students + Families
The Ballard Parent Center announces a free educational conference for parents and students (grades 6-12) at the University of California, San Diego on Saturday May 31. Presentations will be held in English and Spanish and will provide information about UC San Diego and its many opportunities. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Transportation for this event will be available from different locations throughout San Diego County. For information, contact Rafael Hernandez at (858) 534-4250 or rshernandez@ucsd.edu, or register online at http://sea.ucsd.edu/comienza/ .
Historical Society Seeks Teen Advisory Council Members
The San Diego Historical Society is now accepting applications for its Teen Advisory Council. The year-long internship allows high school students to share their thoughts on how best to engage their peers in the understanding of local history and the importance of museums. The application deadline is July 1. For information, contact Johnna Jalot at Johnna.jalot@sandiegohistory.org or (619) 232-6203, ext. 112.
“Save Our Seas” Poster Contest
In celebration of National Zoo and Aquarium Month, Legoland California is sponsoring a Save Our Seas poster contest for children ages 4 to 12 years. The theme for the poster is protecting our seas and the creatures that live in them. The entry deadline is Monday, June 16. For information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.
Gifted and Talented Education Showcase
The first San Diego Unified GATE Seminar Showcase will be held Thursday, May 29, from 5-7 p.m, at the Ballard Parent Center in Old Town. Individual schools and school clusters will display the uniqueness and strength of their GATE Seminar programs. All district employees, parents, students and community members are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Limited parking is available in the Ballard lower parking lot, accessible from Congress Street. For information, call (858) 573-5992.
CalPERS 2008 Retirement Planning Fairs
It’s never too early or too late to plan for retirement. Learn about the benefits and options available to you at an upcoming CalPERS Retirement Planning Fair. For information, visit www.calpers.ca.gov.
Upcoming Events
Fulton Elementary Technology Night
A special Technology Celebration will be presented at Fulton Elementary on Tuesday, May 27, from 5:30-7 p.m. For information, call the school at (619) 262-0777.
Toler Elementary School 50th Birthday Celebration
The celebration will take place Thursday, May 29, from 5-8 p.m. Festivities include a science fair, silent auction, refreshments, music, and burying a time capsule. For information, call the school at (858) 273-0294.
San Diego CARS+ End of Year Celebration
California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Educators (C.A.R.S.+) members are encouraged to bring a special guest (instructional aid, school psychologist, principal, teacher, etc.) to their End of Year Celebration being held Thursday, May 29, from 3:30-6 p.m., at Chevy’s Mission Valley. For information, call Karen Karagozian at (858) 496-1827.
Crawford Advance Placement Round-Up
The Crawford Educational Complex is hosting an Advanced Placement Showcase & Awards Celebration on Thursday, May 29, from 5:30-8 p.m., in the library. The event highlights the importance of taking Advanced Placement classes. For information, contact Ginny LaRowe at glarowe@sandi.net.
Freese Elementary Spring Open House Festival
The Arts and Culture Magnet School will host a Spring Open House Festival on Friday, May 30, from 6-7:30 p.m. Displays and activities will showcase student work from this school year. For information, call (619) 479-2727.
Unified Voices of San Diego Concert
Students from 16 San Diego Unified middle and high schools will participate in the Unified Voices concert on Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m., in Brown Chapel at Point Loma Nazarene campus. Admission is free. For information, contact Ann Marie Haney at ahaney@san.rr.com.
Best of the Best Showcase
Come see what the students at Crawford Educational Complex Multimedia and Visual Arts School have done this year. The Best of the Best Showcase will be held Wednesday, June 4, from 5-7 p.m., on the Crawford campus. The event is open to the public. For information, contact Melissa Woods at mwoods@sandi.net or (619) 583-2500, ext. 2885.
Cadman Elementary School Presents
Cadman students will present “The Little Mermaid” dance production on Thursday, June 5, at 5:30 p.m., on the Cadman outdoor stage. Bring your lawn chairs. For information, call (858) 273-3703.
Memorial Academy 86th Birthday Celebration
Memorial Academy of Learning and Technology Charter School is celebrating 86 Years of Education on Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festivities include a computer and bike raffle, free food and live music. For information, visit http://memorial.sandi.net/.
Retiring Types
A Retirement Celebration for Literacy Department program manager Ginny VanBenthuysen will be held Friday, May 30, from 5-9 p.m., at Admiral Baker Club. Cost is $35. For information, contact Leslie Caporale at lcaporale@sandi.net.
A Retirement celebration for Oak Park Elementary special education teacher Candis Kolb will take place Saturday, June14, from 3-6 p.m., at a private residence. For information, contact Gina Greenlee at rgreenlee@sandi.net.
Mission Bay High School will be honoring retirees Ileana Pelaez, Sally Richards, Jerry Surdy, Tom Hetherington and Mike Seaman at Acapulco's Restaurant in Old Town on Thursday, June 5, from 4-7 p.m. Tickets are $7. For information, contact Kathleen Chenelle at kchenelle@sandi.net.
A Retirement Celebration for Audubon Elementary teacher Linda Reardon will be held July 9, at 1 p.m., at Bonita Golf Club. Cost is $25. RSVP due by June 1. For information, contact Sharon Kitchen at skitchen@sandi.net.
Save the Date
The 2008 New Everybody Recommitting to Academic Achievement (ERAA) Back to School Conference and Festival will be held Saturday, August 23. For information, contact Pazzaz at (619) 264-6870.
Fifteen high schools in San Diego Unified School District were named to Newsweek magazine’s yearly list of the nation's best public high schools.
Three Henry High School students recently won a third-place prize in C-SPAN's annual StudentCam competition, a video documentary contest that invites students to produce a video, using C-SPAN programming that explores a current political topic. The San Diego Union Tribune highlighted the students in the May 22 Student Spotlight column.
KUSI reporter Joe Lazura visited Wangenheim Middle School on May 20, airing live segments from the wood shop and advanced orchestra while reporter Bridget Naso visited the modern dance and string orchestra at the School of Creative and Performing Arts. Videos are available at http://navicast.edtech.sandi.net/. Click on “Communications.”
Do you have an announcement for Newsline? Newsline is published every Monday; the deadline to submit items is noon on the preceding Friday. E-mail items to communications@sandi.net and mark “Newsline” in the subject line.
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