District launches redesigned e-newsletter, ‘Unified Vision’

For the past several years, Friday Notes has provided information about the important and exciting activities occurring at our school sites, facilities and district offices as well as timely, relevant information for parents, staff and the community. Now it’s time for a change.

Keeping with the tradition of Friday Notes, our new e-newsletter will include school and district news, but has been redesigned to also include more feature stories and photos focused on student achievement and district initiatives as well as information about upcoming events. While we were changing the look, we thought a new name might better reflect our district’s Vision 2020 of creating a quality school in every neighborhood.

“Unified Vision” will be published monthly on the first Wednesday of every month. Although it’s distributed monthly, all news will continue to be posted on the district website and on our expanded social media so you won’t miss out.

With students at the heart of every decision, the district’s unifying goal is to prepare youngsters to be successful, positive, contributing members of society. We hope that “Unified Vision” will show you how we are accomplishing that goal every day.

To see the latest edition, visit http://sandi.net/unifiedvision

Enjoy!

District honors 2013-14 retirees with special reception

There was a mix of excitement and nostalgia at the Eugene Brucker Education Center front lawn as San Diego Unified said goodbye to its retirees.

Employees, families and honorees gathered to celebrate the dedication and service of the nearly 650 certificated and classified employees that are retiring from San Diego Unified this year. This includes more than 450 teachers who enrolled in the early retirement program.

Supt. Marten started the festivities Thursday, June 19, by expressing her appreciation to the retirees for their service.

“This year, I have the opportunity to say a very special thank you to all of you,” said Superintendent Marten. “You have made immeasurable contributions, and have given the priceless gift of time and talent to help our students achieve their best – in and out of the classroom. The success of our students is a reflection of your hard and heart work.”

On behalf of the Board of Education, Board Vice President Marne Foster expressed her gratitude to the retirees, thanking them for the tremendous impact they have on the lives of students across San Diego.

As part of the ceremony, each retiree had the opportunity to introduce themselves, say how many years they had been with the district and share details of their journey. Some have served the district for just a few years, others more than 40.

The Monroe Clark Jazz Band, directed by Chris Lea, provided entertainment during the reception and the district’s Food Services Department catered the event.

Board approves $1.2 billion operating budget for 2014-15 school year

Completing her first year as superintendent, the San Diego Unified Board of Trustees unanimously approved Cindy Marten's $1.2 billion "students first" spending plan Tuesday night.

"When the Board hired me last year, my task was to reevaluate every dollar to ensure we are focusing expenditures on proven methods to create quality schools in every neighborhood, improve student achievement and close the achievement gap," said Marten.

At the same time, the Board approved the district's LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan). It now goes to the San Diego County Office of Education for final approval.  See documents approved»

Despite lingering effects of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the 2014-15, $1.2 billion operating budget has no layoffs, reduces class sizes in lower grades, redirects staffing to classrooms, implements Common Core and focuses on English-language learners.

"I have always believed that however much money we have, in both good times and bad, we have a responsibility to improve the quality of education while serving as good stewards and promoting student achievement," she said. "I am confident that we will meet the needs of our students and support our educators and employees, while living within our means."

Facts

• No layoffs.
• Reduces K-3 class size from current school year from 27:1 to 25:1.
• Fully funds the implementation of the Common Core curriculum.
• Restores the school calendar to 180 instructional days.
• Stabilizes school staffing including improved front office allocations.
• Fully funds professional development for educators ensuring the best trained staff for our students.
• Transitions "non classroom" support teachers into the classrooms.
• Initiates an early retirement plan for approximately 472 educators, resulting in a net savings of approximately $8 million dollars next year.
• Supports biliteracy programs and implements Superintendent's English Learner Action Plan for Long-term English learners.
• Maintains classroom Gate and Seminar funding.
• Ensures open library hours at every elementary school.
• Maintains current level of services in arts, athletics, school safety, custodial, nursing and counseling.
• Maintains the nationally recognized i21 program, giving students and educators the latest technology.
• Maintains graduation coaches.
• Implements Transitional Kindergarten at all elementary schools.
• Meets contractual salary increases.
• Maintains existing level of health benefits for all employees.
• Phases out real estate sales to fund budget shortfalls.
• Initiates a multi-year real estate strategy to generate new real estate revenues.
• Includes approximately $223 million in facility upgrades and expansions in Prop S/Z funds.

Free lunch for families kicked off 2014 Summer Fun Café

Combine a “Walk with Meb and the Padres Friar,” a nutrition decathlon and a free barbecue and what do you have?

The kickoff event of San Diego Unified School District’s Summer Fun Café program, held June 25, 2014 at Skyline Hills Community Park. Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Sandip Kaur, Director of Nutrition Services, California Department of Education, and Superintendent Cindy Marten are joined in the fun.

Summer is a difficult nutritional time for many children. Not only does food insecurity increase among low income families during the summer months, but children also are at greater risk for obesity as they lose access to school meals they rely on during the school year.

The summer meal programs give children the nutritious meals they need to keep hunger at bay and remain healthy throughout the summer. San Diego Unified’s Summer Fun Café meals also support the community’s other summer programs and help draw children into educational, enrichment and recreational activities that keep them learning, engaged, active, and safe during school vacation. Participating in the Summer Fun Café program requires no paperwork, reservations or income qualifications.

San Diego Unified School District Food Services Department partners with the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, Military Child and Youth Programs, San Diego Public Library and several non-profit organizations to help fill the summer nutrition gap. The Summer Fun Café is funded through the US Department of Agriculture’s “Seamless Summer Feeding Option” and will be at 61 sites: 28 Park and Recreation Centers, 14 community and military sites, and 19 schools.

“Join us for lunch this summer,” said Gary Petill, San Diego Unified¹s Food Services Director. “It’s fun, it’s free, it’s easy and when the kids head back to school in the fall, they will be strong and ready to learn.”

Check out the Food Services website for a list of locations and special barbecues.

PE teacher Jill Schenk at SD High is Inspirational Teacher

IN THE NEWS:  Moving and motivating students is Jill Schenk's goal, NBC 7's Rory Devine reports, and her students and colleagues at San Diego High School say it's hard to have a bad day when she's around. Watch video from NBC 7»

Top administrators honored for 2013-14 school year

Administrators at schools and programs around the district have been honored by the Administrators Association of San Diego, the organization that represents many of San Diego Unified's managers, including principals.

Honored for the 2013-14 school year are: Barbara Baron, Program Manager, Instructional Resources and Materials Department; Cheryl Hibbeln, Principal, Kearny High Complex School of Digital Media and Design, and Construction Tech Academy; Sylvia Kravitz, Food Services Regional Food Services; Maria Moore-Flagg, Supervising Administrative Assistant, Auxiliary Services; Ana Morales, Manager, Translation and Community Services; Dr. Lesley Pearson. Early Childhood Education Program Administrator; Bob Raines, AASD Retiree Network.

For many years, the association has honored distinguished leaders for their service, Association President Donis Coronel said.

"This year, the Member Relations Committee redesigned the program and expanded the criteria to include eight areas of selection criteria," said Coronel.

The criteria are: how the nominee's work skills contribute to the organization and operation of the district; the nominee's interaction with coworkers and staff; the nominees leadership qualities; the nominees community involvement; the level in which the nominee volunteers and participates in work site activities; an activity of major involvement that affects the life of others; the level in which the nominee supports the educational process of adults and/or youth and the nominees commitment and involvement with AASD.

For more information, visit the association's website.

As Program Manager for Instructional Resources and Development, Baron is San Diego Unfied's top librarian, working with partners in the San Diego Public Library to create a better off-school environment for students to explore the world and complete homework. She's also worked with private sector partners such as Target and Heart of America to bring the organizations' "Library Makeovers" to many campuses.

Cheryl Hibbeln, outgoing principal of two of the small schools at the Kearny High complex, was honored for her visionary leadership and mentoring of principals, assets that she will continue using in her new high school coordinating position in the main district office. Her work at Kearny has helped the community to strengthen their high school standing ultimately drastically improving student achievement. Pioneering efforts in the area of Linked Learning at Kearny High School of Digital Media and Design have brought honors to the school from the state and federal governments.

At the Food Services Department, Regional Manager Sylvia Kravitz works to promote teamwork among her 24 Area Managers and staff, ensuring they provide the best tasting and most nutritious food to students, as well as providing outstanding customer service to our kids. She's also been dedicated to the professional development of her team, helping many to receive certifications from the School Nutrition Association. Outside of the workplace, Sylvia is active in her synagogue where she participates in activities including the winter inter-faith shelter for homeless individuals and families.

In her position in the Auxiliary Services Department, Maria Flagg Moore supervises the clerical staff in the Physical Plant Operations facility. She's helped many of her coworkers receive Microsoft Windows training along with other skills to help them improve their job performance and contributions to educating the next generation of San Diegans. Maria is active in the annual Holiday Hope Food Basket and Food Drive which benefits children and families at various San Diego Unified schools. She has also volunteered for women’s rights organizations that assist young girls and women.

Ana Morales leads the team of translators and interpreters in the district's busy Translation Services Department. At any time, translators and interpreters may be at locations all through the district, doing everything from helping students understand why they are being disciplined or having trouble with school, interpreting parent meetings, IEPs and public meetings such as the Board of Education. In addition to leading a high-performing team, Ana must ensure that all legally required translation and interpretation is performed in a district of vast size. Ana takes her involvement with local groups home with her as well, volunteering with organizations such as Ties for Teens, Mid City Community Advocacy Network and the Tariq Kamisa Foundation.

As Early Childhood Education Program Administrator, Leslie Barnes leads a team that works with the youngest San Diegans to give them a great start on their road to college and career. Students, families, and staff are treated with care, respect and compassion. Professional, yet firm, willing to listen, all the while keeping the best interest of the children and families at the forefront of each interaction -- that is Lesley’s way. She's also active in the community with Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Children's Hospital La Playa unit, the MADCAPS mother/daughter club, Westminister Presbyterian Church, Vanguard Theatre ans Sheakespeare Society.

Bob Raines was also honored for his work with AASD retirees. A 2007 retiree where his last position was Director of Assessment Services, he continues serving the district by staying involved with AASD and ensuring some of the district's most experienced and dedicated supporters -- its retirees -- continue to help San Diego's kids. He serves on numerous AASD committees, including those involved in healthcare for both retirees and current workers and member relations. Outside of AASD, Bob has been a member of Phi Delta Kappa since 1976, has served on the Greater San Diego Mathematics Council and was a member of the Voluntary Employee Benefits Association (VEBA) for two years.

Madison High garden, students, culinary teacher featured in Target ad

IN THE NEWS: Target Stores' 30-second commercial highlights company's donation to Madison High School, garden's positive impact on learning. The school's culinary arts teacher, Justin Halbert, joined a Target representative and a student on NBC 7's morning show. Watch video»

Well schooled in giving back; Education changed teacher's life, now he's returning the favor

IN THE NEWS: Juan Martin Sajche, a teacher at Morse High School in San Diego, returns to Guatemala each summer to be a volunteer teacher at a school he helped found. Read more from UT San Diego»

'Salute to Education' looks at Farm to School in the Classroom program at Audubon Elementary

IN THE NEWS: Kids who eat better, usually perform better in school, but students don't always make healthy food choices when they have the option. The Farm to School in the Classroom program is helping change that by linking nutrition education in the classroom to the lunch offerings in the cafeteria. Cox 4 visits Audubon Elementary School in Skyline to find out how. Watch video from Cox 4 San Diego»

Serra High counselor says goodbye after 43 years

Serra High counselor Susan Skinner was one of more than 700 employees who retired last week. Skinner spent 43 years with the San Diego Unified School District. Watch story from NBC 7»

District celebrates volunteers, partners who contribute to local schools

School-site volunteers, Partners-in-Education, advisory and cluster committee volunteer chairs were honored at the 2014 Volunteer and Partner Recognition event held at Clairemont High School on June 4.

Sponsored by California Coast Credit Union, honorees enjoyed a reception with entertainment provided by the student band Loose Gravel, followed by a formal recognition ceremony.

View event photos

Honorees were recognized for the countless hours, efforts and in many cases, funds they contribute to their local San Diego Unified schools. Each individual and organization was given a certificate and all were applauded for their efforts during the ceremony.

Superintendent Cindy Marten, Board President Kevin Beiser and California Coast representatives Rene McKee and Perette Godwin shared hosting duties. During the ceremony, Trustees Richard Barrera and John Lee Evans also thanked volunteers for their time and efforts.

Central Elementary School’s Warren LaVallee received special recognition for his 53 years of volunteer service to the City Heights elementary school.

Although the afternoon belonged to the volunteers and partners, the event also featured several outstanding student performances. The band Loose Gravel, which is comprised of elementary and middle school students from four San Diego Unified schools, played a mix of rock tunes during the reception while guests snacked on wraps, vegetables and cookies provided by the district’s Food Services Catering Department. Clairemont High’s own Kyra Johnson kicked off the ceremony with the National Anthem.

Each year, thousands of individuals volunteer their time at school sites across the district and organizations partner with their local school to provide a variety of services or goods to students.

San Diego Unified salutes all of its volunteers and partners and thanks them for their continued support and contributions.

Budding dessert chef sets sights on Cal Poly Pomona, hospitality career

Hannah Bowles, a graduating senior at Madison High, has been awarded Culinary Student of the Year by the San Diego County chapter of the California Restaurant association.

“She is the most talented and dedicated student I have taught in years," said Justin Halbert, her Madison culinary arts teacher. "She is our culinary team leader. As the dessert chef for a local, trendy restaurant, Hannah knows the standard of quality and professionalism it takes to be a successful employee and because of that, she is able to lead by example for her culinary team at Madison. Last year, even when Hannah wasn’t in my class, we collaborated on her recipes and planned a successful catering event for 250 people.”

A graduating senior, Hannah will be attending the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona to pursue a career in hospitality. She also hopes to get awarded the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation scholarship, a highly competitive award in the industry. She was accepted to three other universities, finishing high school with a grade point average greater than 3.8.

The California Restaurant Association San Diego Chapter is a strong supporter of San Diego Unified's culinary arts programs. The 30th Annual Gold Medallion Awards recognize the achievements of both restaurant and service provider members whose commitment to excellence makes a significant difference in the industry and communities they serve.

For more information on culinary programs in the district, please contact Angela Croce, CCTE Program Specialist, at acroce@sandi.net. For more information on the California Restaurant Association San Diego Chapter, please visit http://www.calrest.org/.

Jones Elementary salutes military families

Students, parents and staff at John Paul Jones Elementary School held a Parent Appreciation Day-Military Families Recognition as school's "Spotlight" event for May.

Dedicated to the parents of family members who are currently serving in one of the branches of our military service and family members who had previously served, parents and family members who served in Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan were honored for their service. Grandfathers and uncles who served in the Vietnam War were also honored by the students and staff.

The fifth grade students marched into the assembly area carrying a total of 50 flags of the United States.

"It was an extremely proud day at John Paul Jones Elementary school." said Mike George, a retired San Diego Unified principal who presided over the ceremony. "All Jones Elementary students and staff are proud of the service are parents and family members complete."

The school's Partner In Education is the U.S.S. John Paul Jones DD 53 that was out to sea on the day of the appreciation event.

Contact Principal Rita Powell for more information at (858) 496-8140.

Questions, answers about 2014-15 budget: Prop. 30 funding, strategic staffing, 3-year budget strategy

Proposition 30 turned the corner on education funding, but we still have a long way to go. It will take us three years after Prop 30 to have the state funding come up to the level of our current school operations. We are bridging the gap with property sales and an early retirement incentive. We will direct our limited funds to those budget lines that improve student achievement. Dr. John Lee Evans, Subdistrict A Trustee on the Board of Education, has prepared this information.
 
I understood that Proposition 30 would put a lot of money into our schools. Why do we still have budget problems?

Proposition 30 stopped the hemorrhaging of state budget cuts to education. But the current plan increases funding so slowly that we will take us until the year 2020 to reach the 2007 level of funding.

Doesn’t the Local Control Funding Formula give a lot more money to San Diego?

The LCFF addresses the issue of equity in funding across the state, but it does not address the issue of adequacy of funding. What does this mean? Governor Brown acknowledged that a district like Compton needs more resources than one like Beverly Hills to create a level playing field of opportunity. The formula does give us an additional grant for students from low income families, English Language Learners and foster children to meet all of their needs. So we are receiving more than some other districts, but the problem is that the base grant for all of the schools across San Diego and across the state is woefully inadequate. That’s why California has ranked between 46th and 49th place among states in per pupil funding for the past several years.

So where is this “extra money” that we have been hearing about?

There is no “extra” money. Last July we acknowledged that it would take three years to stabilize the budget to meet our current operations, staffing levels and class size. We adopted a three year budget plan (13-14, 14-15, and 15-16), which was the amount of time it would take for the income to catch up with our current expenses. If we could stabilize over these three years, we could begin to invest new revenue to improve our schools in the fourth year.

What is the shortfall and why are the numbers always changing?

When the preliminary budget was developed the shortfall was $115 million for 2014-2015 and the projected shortfall for 2015-16 was $69 million. The actual money the state gives us can change. It can go up or it can go down. If more revenues come to the state, our income can go up. On the other hand, it can get worse if the state decides to suddenly increase the district’s pension contribution. It can also go up or down depending on enrollment. These numbers are constantly updated, but the state would have to give us an extra amount equal to each of these shortfalls to begin to have extra money. That is not going to happen.

So how are we supposed to survive these three years?

The board adopted a School Stabilization Fund with proceeds from the sale of properties that the district is no longer using. This provides us money for these three years to avoid making harmful cuts. But it is not sustainable to continue selling properties that generate annual income for the district. This was a short term solution to bridge the gap.

How did we survive all of the state budget cuts the past five years?

We had concessions from all staff in terms of unpaid furlough days for a few years. At this point it’s not reasonable to ask our employees to make any more financial sacrifices. We had federal stimulus money paid to us over three years designed to avoid major layoffs. Of course, those funds are no longer offered. We used up reserve funds in every department to keep our schools successfully operating and there are no more reserve funds to tap.

Does the early retirement incentive for teachers help?

Yes. Because the state is not giving us enough money to employ all of our current staff, we save money by not replacing some of the teachers who retired. Of course, this cannot be done in every case, because we may lack the needed number of teachers with a particular subject credential. The board offered the early retirement incentive to avoid mass layoffs, which create instability in our schools for our students, especially in high poverty schools.

We had Vision 2020 forums to discuss how to spend LCFF funds, as required by the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP)? Weren’t we talking about how to spend all of the “new” money?

The LCAP is a method for the district to work with the community to set priorities for improving student achievement across the district and we must also show how the supplemental and concentration grants will be used to help the students with the highest needs. The district must show how our budget aligns with our goals for student achievement across the district with the limited funds that we receive. The Superintendent must creatively work with her staff to improve educational outcomes while living within our means. Just as a family must live within its budget, so too must the district. The only difference is that we cannot get a credit card for our operating budget that would allow us to borrow money this year and pay it back in future years. In spite of the budget limitations we will continue to improve student achievement, as we have successfully done for the past five years.

What has the board asked the Superintendent to do in developing our budget?

1. Complete a budget for all three years of the original plan that is balanced and demonstrates that there will be no shortfall by the following year.
   
2. Develop a budget that is student-centric, a budget that places the highest priority on student needs in the classroom.
   
3. Following the official adoption of the 2014-15 budget enter into a joint advocacy plan with the Board of Education calling for our state to address the inadequacy of public education funding in California, so that we can again become a national leader.
   

Gage Elementary students' artwork flying high at Lindbergh Field

Student artwork from Gage Elementary School in San Carlos has been selected for display at the San Diego International Airport's Commuter Terminal.

ArtReach Teaching Artist Jack White created this lesson that allows students to create a contour map of the face. The result is both a science project and a self-portrait. Fourth and fifth graders at Gage learned about the development and utility of the contour map while also exploring self-portraiture. This is one of a series of ArtReach workshops in development that focus on the juncture of science and art.

The Portrait Maps created during the lesson used photographs of their faces to create 3-D self-portraits. Portraits created by 26 students are on display at the Commuter Terminal at the airport now through August. The exhibit is pre-security so anyone can enter and enjoy the art.

Gage Elementary students have worked with ArtReach Teaching Artists since 2010. ArtReach has helped students create original art in a variety of media from paint to pastels to collage and more.

Find out more about Gage Elementary by visiting its website.

It's Ballet Folklorico de Escuela Longfellow performing at Pacific Beach Middle School

It was a memorable Ballet Folklorico performance as elementary students from Longfellow K-8 in Clairemont performed for middle school students at Pacific Beach Middle School, part of Pacific Beach Middle School's Cinco de Mayo celebration.


With boys and girls aged 7-14 performing, these students are part of a tradition and program that has been running for more than a decade at Longfellow, a Spanish-language immersion magnet school.

"Thank you to Gloria Cota, parent and Ballet Folklorico volunteer for setting up the event," said Ernest Remillard, Pacific Beach Middle School Principal.

Escuela Longfellow Ballet Folklorico is a parent-volunteer enrichment program that brings the Mexican and Spanish cultures to the students, who are learning the language through Longfellow's Spanish-language immersion program. It's been a part of the school's fabric for more than 12 years, with Vivana Enrique from Muevete Dance Studio as the instructor.

"I have had the privilege to coordinate this program at our school with amazing parent volunteers for the last ten years," said Cota. "Parents Christine Pilger and Valerie Gordon, Cherisa Archuleta, Carla Valdovinos and Myra Woodberry are also volunteers. We are overseen by our on site Resource Teacher Josie Ramirez."

The diversity of the school is definitely portrayed in the dance group that ranges in ages from 6-13 (grades 1-8).

"We have dancers in our group that started in kindergarten and are now at middle school age," said Cota. "We started with a group of 19 students and have grown into 48 students and have added an extra day to accommodate the demand."

Public performances are scheduled after each eight-week practice section.

"Each session always portrays a different region with different costumes and cultural awareness of that region," she said. "We perform at our school functions, Dia de los Muertos for the fall session, Cesar Chavez assemblies, spring open house and the year-end Multicultural Festival. The core group that performs at outside the school functions is our advanced group that has been dancing together for the last 4-8 years together.

"Other performances include Mesa College Festival of Colors, UCSD and we have been invited to perform at next year's Latino Film Festival."

For more information on the program, contact Longfellow K-8 Principal Diana Sanchez at (619) 276-4206.

Wangenheim Middle School welcomes, thanks Chargers for weight room

A grant from Chargers Champions program has brought new fitness options to Wangenheim Middle School in Mira Mesa.

Defensive tackle Corey Liuget, A.G. Spanos, Chargers Executive Vice President, Principal Dr. Matt Fallon were on hand for dedication of the facility, funded by a $40,000 grant from the program. Watch video»

"What the Chargers have done is invaluable," Principal Fallon said at the dedication event. "Besides the monetary donation, which is incredible, it demonstrates to the kids the importance of community and helping one another.”
Spanos, grandson of family patriarch Alex Spanos, said his grandfather began the Chargers Champions program as a way to give back to the community.

“This is a special initiative because it was started by my grandfather to help our schools,” said A.G. Spanos. “With budget cuts in the state, usually some of the first programs to get cut are the athletic programs. It is very important for students to create proper habits to stay fit and active for their lives. Therefore, our organization and my family feel it is important to help make up for that shortfall and create a better quality of life for the young people of San Diego.”

Fallon said the weight room will make Wangenheim a healthier place.

“We put the grant in taking a shot in the dark and this has been thrilling,” he said. “We’ve always wanted a fitness room but have never been able to afford or put it together even though we knew it was very important for the quality of our physical fitness program. When we were named it was really wonderful."

Seedless watermelon, grown in Hemet, is June's 'Harvest of the Month'

Every month San Diego Unified¹s Farm to School team is creating Harvest of the Month videos to connect students to their food and the local farmers that grow it. This month (June) we will be serving Red Seedless Watermelon at school salad bars every Wednesday. The video highlights the watermelon farm in Hemet, CA, the history of watermelon, and the nutritional value of watermelon. Watch video»

Students show off real-world knowledge

IN THE NEWS: Career technical education classes at Patrick Henry High School, in a variety of disciplines, are designed to give students hands-on training that prepares them for both entry-level employment and higher education. Read more from Mission Times Courier»

Thine contest winner is Pacific Beach Middle School

Pacific Beach Middle International Baccalaureate World School won a trophy for best scene at the Shakespeare Festival in Balboa Park. Eight Pacific Beach Middle International Baccalaureate World School students — Sophie Adams, Vance Allan, Nicholas Archer, Ryleigh Maple, Whitney Marshall, Nina Morch, Sophie Reich and Emma Rodriguez — with the assistance of their history and art teacher Mrs. Liebke and Music teacher Mr. O’Donnell, performed a scene at the Shakespeare Festival in Balboa Park in May.

The scenes had to be 9-11 minutes long, could be interpreted openly, but had to stick to Shakespeare’s words. Nina put together a compilation of a scene from Hamlet and a scene from Macbeth that all students performed.