Summer Commencement Ceremony to recognize class of 2014 graduates

More than 100 district students who were unable to attend June graduation ceremonies with their high school class will get the chance to walk in San Diego Unified's annual Summer Commencement Ceremony, scheduled for Friday, August 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Lincoln High School, 4777 Imperial Ave. (92113).

"Our students have been working toward this goal their entire lives," said Superintendent Cindy Marten, who will officiate at the ceremony. "Truly, they've lived by our 'no excuses' rule and have made it through many challenges. They have earned the opportunity to take the ceremonial walk of graduates. I am so proud of their ability to persevere."

Students from all of the district's 18 high school campuses will participate. Each student's name, as in the traditional ceremony, is read aloud as they make their way across the stage in black caps and gowns.

The special summer ceremony has been a district tradition since 2005. Before this late-summer ceremony was established, students would eventually receive a diploma by mail but wouldn't be able to participate in a graduation ceremony. This ceremony allows seniors who needed additional time to complete the California High School Exit Exam or credit requirements needed for graduation to be recognized.

High school graduation requirements include 44 semester credits, a 2.0 or higher grade point average, science and math course requirements, and passing the exit exam.

Growing from STEM to STEAM

Dancing parabola? Pantomiming volcanoes? These are not science projects gone awry but examples of STEAM projects at work.

In California, the San Diego Unified School District Visual and Performing Arts Department took on the challenge of developing STEAM curricula for their third through fifth grade teachers. Their work focused on teaching earth, life, and physical sciences along with dance, theater, and visual art. Read more from the Kennedy Center ArtsEdge.

Superintendent Cindy Marten 'exceeds expectations'

The San Diego Unified Board of Trustees has released Superintendent Cindy Marten's first year evaluation, finding that "Cindy Marten has exceeded our expectations," in a joint statement released by the five-member Board of Trustees.

"Ms Marten has exceeded our high expectations, embracing the board’s Vision 2020 and:
-  Has put teaching and learning at the center of the organization
-  Excels in her ability to reach out to the community and a broad range of stakeholders
-  Manages the larger vision of the district, while being attentive to all levels of operation
-  Has brought forth a strong team of leaders who share her passion for improving student achievement for all students.
-  Developing strong multi-year budget strategies

Responding to the Board of Education’s evaluation, Ms. Marten said she was "gratified by the Board's confidence," and "excited to continue this important work, alongside extraordinary educators and staff in ensuring we serve the needs of all of our amazing students."

The Board of Education focused its evaluation on four of the indicators for Quality Neighborhood Schools:
-  Access to broad and challenging curriculum
-  Quality Teaching
-  Quality Leadership and
-  Professional Learning for all

On the operational side, the key factor was budget development.

The following rubric was used to measure progress in each area:

Beginning – The Superintendent has launched the work and there is no evidence of progress yet.
Developing – The Superintendent has launched the work, is continuing to develop the implementation, and there is some evidence of progress.
Accomplishing – The Superintendent has accomplished the implementation of the work and progress is evident.
Extending – The Superintendent has accomplished the work and significant progress/impact is evident.

The School Board rated each focus area as follows:

Access to broad and challenging curriculum: Accomplishing
Quality Leadership: Extending
Quality Teaching: Developing
Professional Learning for All: Accomplishing
Operations and Budget Development: Extending

Trustees Extend Superintendent Cindy Marten's Contract Another Year

Superintendent Marten's accomplishments to date have reinforced the Board's confidence that her leadership will result in greater success for all students. Therefore, the board has decided to extend her contract for an additional year beyond the original four-year contract.

The Board of Education indicated that, “while many challenges are ahead, we are confident that under the leadership of Cindy Marten, all students will thrive and have the opportunity for success.”

‘Run to Learn’ program encourages students with disabilities

For children with disabilities, participation in the right exercise program can improve their quality of life and increase their aerobic capacity and overall mobility.

For more than 60 district and charter students, the "Achilles Kids: Run to Learn" program provided them the opportunity to exercise and compete in a virtual 26.2 mile marathon over the course of the 2013-14 school year. Each participant received a new pair of Saucony running shoes and an Achilles International t-shirt.

“The facial expressions of the students were priceless,” said teacher Daniel Feldman, who coordinates the program. “In addition to receiving new running shoes, the students felt achievement in reaching their physical activity goals and in the process, gained confidence and had fun.”

As part of the marathon, students from grades K-8 complete as many laps as they can based on their ability levels. Some of them are physically challenged, medically fragile, and/or intellectually challenged. To complete this marathon, they run, jog, walk, or someone pushes their wheelchairs during this year-long adapted physical education activity.

This is the 13th consecutive year that Feldman has coordinated the Achilles Kids program, which is part of the Achilles International program that helps bring hope, inspiration, and joys of achievement to children with disabilities. Participants included students who receive adapted physical education from schools including Euclid Elementary, Hollie Drive Charter School, Horton Elementary, Knox Middle, Marshall Elementary, Paradise Hills Elementary, and Riley School.

“With the help of this program,” Feldman said, “my students have been eager to attend their adapted physical education class.”

For more information, contact Carrie Rea, Program Manager, Related and Specialized Services, crea@sandi.net or call 858-573-5941.

Elementary school students spend summer exploring science

IN THE NEWS: About 100 second- and third-grade students from southeastern San Diego have been meeting twice weekly for the past month to learn about earth restoration. The students' meetings take place at EarthLab, a 4-acre San Diego Unified School District property in Encanto. At EarthLab, students improve their scientific literacy with science-focused demonstrations and instruction. Read more from KPBS.

Standley Middle student wins USD essay contest

Character is hard to define for many, but seventh-grader Ashley Meader already has a firm grasp of its meaning and purpose.

Her essay entitled “Human” won first place in the University of San Diego School Of Leadership and Education Sciences’ Character Matters essay contest.

Responding to the essay theme “Why Character Matters,” her essay described the significance of the 10 Badges of Character and how they are an integral part of our lives. Those badges of character include respect, responsibility, gratitude, compassion, courage, citizenship, self-discipline, trust, honesty and perseverance.

“See, character is the basis of human nature. It is what drives us to help one another, to make the world better than it already is,” Ashley wrote in her essay. “Because character is what causes accomplishment. Accomplishment causes success. And success opens the door to making a bigger and better impact on the world.”

Ashley received a plaque from USD for her accomplishment, which was presented to her in class by a representative from the USD School of Leadership and Education Services.

“Ashley truly displayed character traits such as responsibility, courage, perseverance and self-discipline by taking on the challenge of the contest and reading her insightful and inspiring essay to her classmates,” said Ashley’s teacher, Judi Lattimore.

Each year, the Character Development Center at USD sponsors the essay contest. The Center works with educators and youth to promote the development of life skills necessary for a productive personal and social life.

San Diego Unified Joins Nationwide Effort to Improve Achievement of Young Men of Color

Sixty big-city public school districts from across the country, including San Diego Unified School District, released a pledge to improve the academic and social outcomes of boys and young men of color at a White House event with President Obama today. Superintendent Cindy Marten was among the attendees at this historic event.

In a call to action by the Council of the Great City Schools, each of the urban school districts support boosting efforts to prepare males of color for college and careers. This pledge will include a number of actions, including a focus to reduce the disproportionate number who drop out of school or who are suspended, and to help them succeed.

“The pledge we are making with President Obama is a promise to our boys and young men of color that we firmly support equity and the opportunity for our students to fully realize their potential,” said Superintendent Cindy Marten. “It represents an unprecedented platform that sends a strong signal to the nation. As leaders of the largest public urban school districts, we stand with the White House to commit our resources, efforts, hearts and minds to act with courage and conviction to positively impact the life outcomes of our young men.”

Nearly 32 percent of the nation’s school-age African-American males and 39 percent of the country’s school-age Hispanic males are enrolled in big-city public schools. San Diego Unified has approximately 46.5 percent Hispanic students and 10.5 percent African-American students enrolled in its schools. The 2013 graduation rate for San Diego Unified white students was 94.1 percent, the graduation rate for Asian students was 92.9 percent; compared to a graduation rate of 82.8 percent for African-American students and 81.6 percent for Hispanic students.

The San Diego Unified Board of Education adopted a resolution on June 10, 2014, in support of the pledge by urban school districts to address the achievement gap, particularly regarding males of color.

“The achievement gap is an urgent matter that we must address as a school district,” said Board of Education Vice President Marne Foster. “We have established multiple strategies and are closely monitoring students who are on track for graduation in order to have a laser-like focus on supporting our students.”

San Diego Unified approved the Local Control and Accountability Plan that specifically outlines the goal of “Closing the Achievement Gap with High Expectations for All” as the first goal. This plan outlines specific actions and metrics that San Diego Unified will implement to measure ongoing progress in closing of the achievement gap, among other goals.

In “A Pledge by America’s Great City Schools,” each of the 60 urban school systems committed to carrying out specific actions. San Diego Unified has implemented or will be implementing the following actions:

• Board of Education adoption of the pledge in collaboration with Council of Great City Schools on June 10, 2014.
• A Harvard Study was conducted in 2013-14 to examine problems of practice in the school district that included: 1) Evaluating discipline policies and practices; 2) Enhancing early childhood readiness; 3) Closing the achievement gap and increasing graduation rate; 4) Improving teacher and school leader recruitment, retention, and evaluation; 5) Long-term English learners.
• Provide access to classes required for admission to the University of California and the California State University System (A-G courses) are a part of the graduation requirements for the class of 2016. San Diego Unified will closely monitor the ongoing progress by males of color towards completing these requirements.
• Establishment of the Lincoln High School Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Middle College in collaboration with the San Diego Community College District.
• Collaboration with the Association of African American Educators for implementation of the Blueprint to Accelerate the Achievement of African American and African Students.
• Collaboration with the Latino Advisory Committee to develop and implement Cultural Proficiency Standards.
• Establishment of the San Diego UNIFIED Through Diversity Committee to develop recommendations to the Superintendent and Board of Education.
• Organization of the Teacher Pipeline Task Force to explore and address issues of diversity in the teaching corps. This work is being carried out in partnership with local universities, employee organizations, and community based organizations.
• Development of the Local Control Accountability Plan that includes metrics and measurements to monitor the access and completion of rigorous coursework such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College and Career Technical Education classes.
• San Diego Unified is currently implementing the Uniform Discipline Policy, which offers direction to principals to reduce the disproportionate number of suspensions of young men of color by utilizing Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports and Restorative Practices.

U.S. Dept. of Defense approves $34M grant to modernize two district schools

On July 16, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) approved a grant for more than $34 million to provide needed facility improvements at Hancock and Miller elementary schools in the Tierrasanta community. This DOD grant will be combined with approximately $8.6 million in existing Proposition Z bond funds for a total construction budget of nearly $43 million to perform repair, renovation and replacement work at the two schools.

This federal funding allows the district to replace more than 20 aging, portable classrooms with state-of-the-art permanent classrooms to achieve a more functional learning environment at Hancock and Miller. This will have a significant, positive impact, and supports the initiative to provide quality neighborhood schools.

"San Diego Unified's Vision 2020 calls for quality schools in every neighborhood," said Superintendent Cindy Marten. "This generous grant from the Department of Defense will help ensure that the students at Miller and Hancock elementary schools receive a world-class education in a state-of-the art learning environment."

"This is another example of how kids benefit when we collaborate with our community partners," added Kevin Beiser, president of the Board of Education. "We are pleased to work with the DOD and are grateful to receive this grant. We have a proud military tradition in San Diego, and we are glad to have the opportunity to give back to our service men and women by providing their children with the best possible learning environments."

Construction at Hancock and Miller is scheduled to start in spring 2016 and is estimated to be complete in late 2018. The schools will remain open while construction is underway. Construction phasing and other strategies will be employed to minimize disruptions to the teaching and learning environment.

Planned site improvements in the whole site modernizations will include:

• Renovation of existing open classrooms 
• Replace aging portables with single-story permanent classrooms 
• Replace and enhance campus security, as well as fire and emergency safety systems 
• Renovate and enhance existing heating ventilation and air conditioning systems 
• Replace aging electrical systems and upgrade technology network infrastructure to support the i21 Interactive 21st Century Classroom Technology Initiative 
• Repair and replace sidewalks including accessible ramps and stairs 
• Renovate and upgrade food services areas 

On April 5, 2011, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act was signed into law, authorizing the DOD to provide up to $250 million to construct, renovate, repair and expand elementary and secondary public schools located on military installations in order to address capacity or facility condition deficiencies.

Related links:
DOD News Release: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16831
Hancock ES project info (scroll down to "Project Schedules"): https://fpcprojects.sandi.net/Pages/Reports.aspx?SchoolName=9136
Miller ES project info (scroll down to "Project Schedules"): https://fpcprojects.sandi.net/Pages/Reports.aspx?SchoolName=9206

San Diego Unified earns perfect score for transparency in bond program

San Diego Unified earned a perfect score from the San Diego Taxpayers Association for transparency in the bond program and is one of only two school districts to earn this distinction. The report was released on July 9.

According to the report:  "The San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation conducts research on issues relevant to taxpayers including transparency. Taxpayers should be able to quickly determine if new libraries, new pools and new classrooms, for example, that school district officials promised to voters while pitching the bond have been built. In many districts, this information is easier to find today than it has been in the past. This report is intended to provide tools for San Diego County school districts to use in the ongoing process of improving transparency with respect to school facilities bond programs.

Only San Diego Unified School District and Sweetwater Union High School District earned perfect marks on the Transparency Scorecard, with all other districts having at least one missing section."

Read the full report.

Read the report summary.

Media coverage:

School bond programs are more transparent, study shows, UT San Diego, 7/14/2014

Report: San Diego school district construction bond programs becoming more transparent , San Diego 6, 7/14/2014

Language Academy eighth-graders excel on AP tests

Language Academy students are serious about mastering multiple languages – and are showing it by successfully testing at the college level.

Twenty students in the school’s AP Spanish course and 16 students in the AP French course passed this year’s Advanced Placement exams administered in May.

“We are so proud of our wonderful school, our language programs and our K-8 faculty,” said Principal Cynthia Arce. “But most of all, we are proud of our incredibly hard-working and talented students.”

Twenty students in Mr. Altamirano’s AP Spanish course successfully passed the exam with an average score of 3.77. Four students earned a 3; Landon D, Isabel M, Niki T, and Capri W. Thirteen students earned a 4; Antony R, Jorge R, Diana R, Julio R, Rodolfo M, Katy P, Joscelynn L, Sofia G, Alyssa D, Alejandra C, Denessa C, Kaitlin B, and Jalani B. Three students earned a 5; Fiona H, Zusan M, and Adrian S.

Sixteen students in Mr. Pique’s AP French course successfully passed the exam with an average score of 3.39. Ten students earned a 3; Shola A., Zoey B., Jewliet C., Charles D., Lauren D., Maya G., Camden K., Emma R., Delaney S., and Zane V. Three students earned a 4; Olivia H., Emily U., and Lucius W. Three students earned a 5; Ashley O., Maya S., and Yasmine S.

The majority of AP exams are taken by high school juniors and seniors, but the world language exams are the only tests made available to younger students.

According to the College Board, the AP Language courses focus on linguistic proficiency and cultural competency, so in rare situations these courses can be successfully offered earlier than ninth grade among students who can already speak, read, and write the language with fluency.

All of the AP students have shown advanced achievement at a college level, and have shown degrees of mastery of their target language. Depending on the passing score, students may be eligible to claim college credits of 5, 10, or even 15 semester units. Students may now also consider fulfilling their minimum two-year high school world language requirement by studying a third language in high school.

“What makes these results more impressive is that our Spanish and French classes met only four days per week this year,” Arce said. “In addition, our year-round schedule meant that we had five fewer weeks of school before the exams were administered.”

Principal Arce added that this was the first year the official AP French class was offered.

For more information about Language Academy, contact the principal at 619-287-1182.

Middle school promotion ceremonies planned for July 18, July 21

Friday, July 18, 2014

School	Time	Location
Clark Middle	6:00 – 7:30	Amphitheatre, 4388 Thorn St. (92105)
Farb Middle	5:00 – 6:30	Joint Use Field at Farb, 4880 La Cuenta Dr. (92124)

Monday, July 21, 2014

School	Time	Location
Audubon K-8	9:00 – 10:00	Auditorium, 8111 San Vicente St. (92114)
Bethune K-8	9:00 – 10:30	Lincoln High Theatre, 4777 Imperial Ave. (92113)
Golden Hill K-8	9:30 – 10:30	Multi-Purpose Room, 1240 33rd St. (92102)
Knox Middle	9:15 – 10:30	Lower Lunch Arbor/Field, 1098 S. 49th St. (92113)
Language Academy K-8	9:30 – 10:30	Auditorium, 4961 64th St. (92115)
Logan K-8	9:00 – 10:00	Auditorium, 2875 Ocean View Blvd. (92113)
Montgomery Middle	9:00 – 10:30	Auditorium/Lunch Court, 2470 Ulric St. (92111)
Perkins K-8	9:15 – 10:30	Middle School Area, 1770 Main St. (92113)
Wilson Middle	12:30 – 1:30	Lunch Court, 3838 Orange Ave. (92105)

No Exercises Planned

• Dana Middle
• Riley Middle
• Wangenheim Middle

Graduating seniors recognized by City Council Member Myrtle Cole

Twelve graduating seniors from Lincoln, Morse, SCPA and Gompers Prep that exhibited academic excellence and outstanding community engagement during their high school career have been immortalized in the Walls of Excellence.

Emmanuel Llanda

These walls, located in Lincoln Park, were established in 2000 to display the names of exemplary high school seniors that are graduates of the four high schools in the Fourth Council District.

This year’s honorees included:

Lincoln High School: Cydnee Chappell, Keraneicia Aaron and Seifone Vorarath
Morse High School: Ma Delta Caraulia, Emmanuel Llanda and Stormy Evans

San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts: Gillian Mooney, Michaela Valk and Martin Martiarena

Gompers Preparatory Academy: Julio Ramirez Miranda, Louisa Gutierrez and Zayra Chavez Montes  

These students have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, have a history of community involvement, have demonstrated significant improvement, and are proud residents of the Fourth Council District.

As honorees, the students participated in the induction ceremony June 7, which was attended by Council Member Myrtle Cole and San Diego Unified Board Vice President Marne Foster. They were also honored at the June 17 City Council meeting. Lincoln High also recognized its students at their senior awards night in June.

Photos courtesy of the Office of City Council Member Myrtle Cole.

Inspirational Teacher of the Month is Muirlands' Michael Fiedler

IN THE NEWS: In a time when many school fine arts programs are being cut, Muirlands Middle and La Jolla High teacher Michael Fiedler has seen his program grow to a crescendo. NBC 7's Educational Reporter Rory Devine has more. Watch the video from NBC 7.

From principal to super: Big year of change

IN THE NEWS: Not long ago, Cindy Marten spent her days overseeing a couple dozen teachers, intervening in playground scuffles and advocating for her mostly poor Spanish-speaking families in City Heights, where she worked as an grade-school principal. What a difference a year makes. As superintendent of California’s second-largest school district, Marten has spent the past 12 months building a $1.2 billion budget and crafting education policies for 130,000 students and 6,000 teachers. Read more from UT San Diego.

'Kids Crew' cleans-up University Heights

Second-grader Hanna Patterson is making a difference, one piece of trash at a time.

Inspired by her class’s “Sharing the Planet” unit of inquiry at Birney Elementary, Hanna created the “Kids Clean-up Crew,” also known as the K.C.C. With the help of her teacher, Ms. Lori Rapczynski, Hanna and the Kids Clean-up Crew picked up litter on the school grounds and around the University Heights neighborhood on a recent Saturday afternoon in June.

Although shocked by the amount of litter to pick up, the students enjoyed identifying items that could also be recycled. The “Kids Clean-up Crew” even received a standing ovation outside Lestat’s Coffee House for their efforts.

Hanna first began picking up litter while taking walks with her mom around her own neighborhood. The response from people on the street and business owners was so positive that Hanna was motivated to expand her efforts to other neighborhoods and get other kids involved, so she created the “Kids Clean-up Crew.”

Hanna’s desire to make an impact on the world exemplifies the curriculum being taught as part of the International Baccalaureate program at Birney, which encourages students to take action that makes a difference to and in the world.

She looks forward to joining with other kids to organize more “Kids Clean-up Crew” neighborhood clean-ups. To get involved with Kids Clean-up Crew, please email info@birneypta.com for more information.

School honors young girl’s legacy

IN THE NEWS: Described by her teachers and peers as highly motivated with a strong personality, fifth-grader Yusra Nasir loved to laugh and spend time with her friends. She loved colors, pink playdough and jewelry, especially bracelets. All that — her vibrant character and her favorite things — were the inspiration for a colorful mural at Clairemont’s Lafayette Elementary School, where Yusra was a student. Read more from UT San Diego.

Board Trustee Evans shares insights into 2014-15 budget creation process

IN THE NEWS: At Superintendent Cindy Marten’s recent press conference, reporters seemed genuinely surprised that she could present a balanced budget with some good news while filling a shortfall first estimated to be $106 million. How is this possible after one board member has repeatedly said that the district is paying the price for years of financial mismanagement? What happened to one claim that the board’s earlier plan was a “ticking time bomb” destined to blow up right around now? Read more from Voice of San Diego

Garfield Elementary students celebrate English fluency

Students at Garfield Elementary School are more proficient in English and marked the occasion with a grand celebration.

Superintendent Cindy Marten, Board Trustee Richard Barrera and Principal Lali Barhoumi joined students and staff June 18 to celebrate the reclassification of 14 students to Fluent English Proficient, and two others who almost reached the designation.

In order to be reclassified, these students demonstrated English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking using a variety of measures, including state tests and classroom performance. They began the school year designated as English Learners and are now designated or “reclassified” as Fluent English Proficient.

The celebration included student speeches and a presentation of awards and medals. Students also shared their reclassification stories in a book that was published and distributed to all attendees.

Garfield Elementary honors its reclassified students each year during a June celebration.

Principal Selection Community Meetings

The end of June traditionally marks the time of year when there are changes in leadership at school sites as a result of retirement, promotion, personal choice or reassignment.

In the district’s continuing efforts to keep interested stakeholders informed about leadership personnel changes at schools and at the district, the following schools will be posting openings for new principals in 2014-15: Mission Bay High School, Serra High School, SCPA, Twain High School, Bell Middle School, Balboa Elementary, Cabrillo Elementary, Carver Elementary, Field Elementary, Freese Elementary, Hancock Elementary, Jerabek Elementary and Loma Portal Elementary.

As these principal positions are filled, it may result in leadership changes at other schools. The district will continue to communicate future leadership changes as they may occur.

The principal selection process will continue to be a community-based, open process led by the area superintendents. The community process includes staff and parent input.

We encourage you to participate in this process by attending the meeting at your school site. Input from parents and staff is important to making sure the needs and focus of a school are reflected in its leadership. Parents and school site staff should receive a separate notification from their school with meeting details. Here is the full schedule of meetings:

Mission Bay High School: Monday, July 7, at 5 p.m.
SCPA: Wednesday, July 9, at 5 p.m.
Serra High School: Thursday, July 10, at 6 p.m.
Twain High School: Wednesday, July 9, at 4 p.m.
Bell Middle School: Monday, July 7, at 5 p.m.
Balboa Elementary: Monday, July 7, at 8:30 a.m.
Cabrillo Elementary: Meeting held June 11
Carver Elementary: Meeting held May 27
Field Elementary: Thursday, July 17, at 4:30 p.m.
Freese Elementary: Meeting held May 29
Hancock Elementary: Tuesday, July 8, at 4:30 p.m.
Jerabek Elementary: Wednesday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Loma Portal Elementary: Tuesday, July 8, at 5 p.m.

The district’s goal is to have all schools begin the 2014-15 school year with principals in place.

Muirlands Middle School's music teacher is county's "Inspirational Teacher"

IN THE NEWS: Growing program in La Jolla and sharing love of music with students is Inspirational Teacher Michael Fiedler's mission. See story from NBC 7 and San Diego County Office of Education»