Staff Bulletin: Scenes From Schools, March 3, 2004

March 3, 2004

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Scenes from Schools

•	Freese Elementary Opens New Library and Classrooms Students at Freese Elementary held a dual ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the new Proposition MM library and classroom building. The morning event was geared toward the younger grades, and the afternoon event was geared toward the older students, parents, community members and district representatives. Students also dedicated three trees to Freese staff members who had passed away and sang "Love in Any Language" as a tribute. The new classroom building will accommodate 5th and 6th graders and will replace many bungalows.
•	Construction Tech Academy Thanks M & O Staff On the behalf of Construction Tech Academy (CTA) at Kearny High School, Director Glenn Hillegas and CTA student Elio Ruiz recently had the opportunity to thank Chief Operating Officer Lou Smith and other Maintenance and Operations (M & O) staff for their contributions to helping CTA get off the ground. The M & O Department was instrumental in developing partnerships between CTA and industries to help reduce costs and meet important deadlines for the Academy. M & O staff also assisted with planning, estimating, project management and some of the labor involved. Lou Smith was presented with a CTA Green Bay hard hat in appreciation. CTA originally grew from the necessity for collaboration between industries and education to meet student and community needs, and it is the first developed small school within a larger high school. It opened in the fall of 2002 with an initial class of 120 9th graders. An additional 9th grade class will be added each year until the Academy reaches its full enrollment of approximately 400 students in grades 9-12. CTA combines a rigorous learning environment with technical and industry projects for students interested in architecture, engineering, or the construction trades. Upon graduation, students are prepared for college, apprenticeship programs or a job in the industry.
•	Mission Bay High School Holds First Science Fair in Over 20 Years On January 23, Mission Bay High School hosted its first site-based science fair in more than 20 years. The best of nearly 400 projects, representing work from students in grades 9-12, were on display for judging and recognition in Mission Bay's new library. Thirteen selected projects advanced to the Jan. 27 district-level science fair, held at Challenger Middle School. The top three of these projects will advance to the county level in mid-March. Commitment to the science fair program has grown substantially with the expansion of the school's science fair, and now includes teachers from the Math and English departments. Many of the teachers show their support by volunteering to work with students after school and on weekends to expand the science fair program. "Everyone wants to work with a winner and we have loads of winners among our students, particularly when they are encouraged and given the opportunity to excel," says Dr. Weinshanker, Science Fair Coordinator. "We need to point proudly to our successes here at Mission Bay High School."
•	Food Services Celebrates Dr. Seuss' Birthday The Seussentennial (Dr. Seuss' 100th birthday) and "Read Across America" were celebrated on March 2 by the Food Services Department with a "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" menu of bright blue/green fish sticks in elementary cafeterias. Parents were invited to join their children for this Seussian fete, and Sea World's Shamu visited Kimbrough's kindergarten students. Shamu's assistant read the "One Fish, Two Fish..." book to students while the class and Shamu listened intently. In addition, Food Services is proud to donate over 400 Dr. Seuss books to elementary school libraries throughout the district in celebration of reading and Dr. Seuss' 100th birthday.

The mission of San Diego City Schools is to improve student achievement by supporting teaching and learning in the classroom.