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.

Chesterton Elementary looks back at "Month of the Military Child"

From deployments to new schools, military children are faced with unique challenges that civilian kids may never experience. In an effort to recognize the hard work and applaud the courage of military children and how “They Serve Too,” the Department of Defense deemed April as the Month of the Military Child.

Principal Akoni Derige and the Chesterton Elementary School Community celebrated the month with Marines who spent the day at the school on Friday, April 11. The volunteers assisted the physical education department throughout the day.

Students had the opportunity to rotate through "PT" stations with 28 Marines. The students were challenged and cheered on by the Marines as they completed each rotation. Military students were also treated to a special pizza lunch with the Marine volunteers and were given the opportunity to ask questions, share stories, and celebrate their military connections.

Each child was also given a certificate of appreciation for being a military kid! The event was made possible due to the support from the School Liaison office. The School Liaison serves as the link between military families, the installation commander, military agencies, and schools by providing assistance in matters pertaining to student education.

For more information, contact Principal Akoni Deridge at rderige@sandi.net.

Parents/Guardians can help fund schools by returning federal survey cards

Students at most schools last week brought home Federal Impact Survey Cards, which your school is asking parents/guardians to complete and promptly return to their schools. The returned cards qualify the public schools for significant dollars in federal funds.

The annual survey determines the number of military and non-military federally connected students in the public school system for whom the district receives impact aid funds. These funds provide partial reimbursement to the district for local tax loss resulting from tax-free federal installations or property. By filling out and returning the survey cards, parents help our schools claim and benefit from the district’s authorized share of federal support. Each survey card is important because federal impact aid is determined from the survey card responses. Please, complete, sign and return the card as it is the children who will benefit.

"It's important for all parents to return these cards," said Supt. Cindy Marten. "It only takes a few minutes and it helps our district qualify for much-needed federal funds. If you're active duty military, live in Navy housing, or are a civilian working on one of our bases or a federal property, you know the importance of returning these cards."

The San Diego Unified School District has a high proportion of military dependents and federal lands within its boundaries, as San Diego is a worldwide center for Navy and Marine Corps activities.

"These school districts face special challenges." says the US Department of Education's website. "They must provide a quality education to the children living on the Indian and other Federal lands and meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, while sometimes operating with less local revenue than is available to other school districts, because the Federal property is exempt from local property taxes."

Under federal privacy rules, information on the Impact Aid survey cards is not used for any other purposes. If you have questions about Impact Aid or the Impact Aid survey card, please contact your principal.

Back-2-School Resource and Enrollment Fair for military families coming Saturday

The San Diego Unified School District, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps School Liaison Programs, is holding its fifth annual Back-2-School Resource and Enrollment Fair for military families new to San Diego from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, August 3, at Farb Middle School, 4880 La Cuenta Drive (92124).

Each summer, many military families move to San Diego after our schools have closed. Our Fair allows them not only to enroll their children in school, but to learn about local district, military, and community resources. Families can explore neighborhood and school choice options, sign up for free or reduced price lunch, find out about many of our district's programs, and get connected with key military and community supports.

San Diego Unified and military representatives will be present to meet with families. All of our past community exhibitors have been invited to send printed information that will be made available to families. All families will be invited to the free lunch provided by Food Services and sponsored by SDG&E. Newly enrolled students will also have the opportunity to win prizes and receive free backpacks.

$2.5 Million, 3-year Defense Department Grant Goes to Five Schools

San Diego Unified School District has received a $2.5 million, three-year grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to help more than 3,000 students in five elementary schools learn about good nutrition and English language arts.

Fourth-grade students from
Mrs. Culver's class at Miller Elementary School join
Trustee Kevin Beiser, Navy staff and
San Diego Unified staff at grant announcement.

The grants will serve students at five schools: Angier Elementary in Serra Mesa, Chesterton Elementary in Linda Vista, Mason Elementary in Mira Mesa and Hancock and Miller elementary schools in the Murphy Canyon military housing area. A parent/guardian outreach program will bring the nutrition program to the students' homes.

At a July 18 news conference announcing the grant, Kevin Beiser, San Diego Unified Board of Education Vice President, said the programs will help students ­ and their parents and guardians ­ learn about nutrition, while technology and tutoring will help students improve their English language skills. A significant part of the program will bring teacher training on these issues.

"Childhood obesity and difficulty in learning English-language arts are national problems, but some of the challenges faced by military dependents -- our youngest heroes -- are especially difficult," said Beiser. "Anyone who grew up in a family where Dad or Mom was in the service knows the challenges faced."

According to the Department of Defense Education Activity, not only does San Diego have one of the largest concentrations of military dependents in the nation, San Diego County is a preferred posting for families who have kids with special needs due to the Naval Medical Center San Diego.

The grant will provide funds for a three-year effort: $897,948 in 2014; 2015, $813,096; and 2016, $788,096. There are 2,246 military dependents at the five schools, joining 1,038 non-dependents. All will benefit from the programs.

The program is divided into the nutritional and English language arts programs. The nutrition program will include development of gardens at the schools, family-focused health and nutrition promotion, and teacher professional-development and coaching in nutrition education.

For English language arts, student tutoring, integration of English language arts curriculum with the district's i21 technology and teacher professional development are on the agenda.

San Diego Unified School District had more than 9,000 students who are military dependents, 6.2 percent of the district's enrollment, during the 2012-13 school year. Naval Station San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, SPAWAR, Naval Air Station North Island, MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego and the Naval Medical Center San Diego are all within the boundaries of the San Diego Unified School District.

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Cabrillo, Dewey Elementary Schools Split Half-Million Dollar Grant

The Department of Defense has awarded a $503,000 grant to the San Diego Unified School District to fund language programs in Mandarin Chinese at Dewey Elementary School and German at Cabrillo Elementary. The schools will combine classroom instruction in the languages with cultural enrichment activities.

The program is designed to expand, strengthen and coordinate strategic foreign language programs for military dependent students. San Diego Unified serves students whose parents are stationed at Naval Station San Diego, Naval Base Point Loma and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The Department of Defense Education Activity Educational Partnership facilitated the grant review and selection process.

“This grant is going help give our kids a leg up in the global economy,” said Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego), who serves on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “With the innovative advancements in communication and technology, the world is getting smaller. If America’s future generations are going compete with countries that are rapidly catching up to the United States, they will need the skills and tools to do so.”

San Diego Unified's Operation World Language Project will provide military dependent students attending Cabrillo and Dewey an opportunity to learn German or Mandarin through a foreign language elementary school program that combines classroom instruction with cultural enrichment activities.

"We recognize that significant language gains are made at an early age and are proud to work with the San Diego Unified School District on this endeavor and to enhance K-12 language education,” said David Edwards, Program Manager, Defense Language and National Security Education Office.

There are more than a million school age children from military families, with the majority attending public schools throughout our nation. DoDEA is committed to supporting educational outcomes for all children of military families.

"The Defense Language and National Security Education Office and the DoD Education Activity are pleased to partner with the San Diego Unified School District in realizing the Strategic Foreign Languages Expansion Program, which is focused on improving strategic foreign language education in military-connected schools," said Dr. Michael Nugent, Director, Defense Language and National Security Education Office.

To be eligible, Local Education Agencies must have a military student population of at least five percent at the district level. Participating schools must have a military student population of at least 30 percent. The S-FLEP projects may be implemented at any grade level.

"We recognize that significant language gains are made at an early age and are proud to work with the San Diego Unified School District on this endeavor and to enhance K-12 language education,” said David Edwards, Program Manager, Defense Language and National Security Education Office.

School program that helps military children is ending

IN THE NEWS: A Federal grant that paid for tutoring, training, support groups is expiring. Read more from UT San Diego.

Parents/Guardians Can Help Fund Schools By Returning Federal Survey Cards

Students at most schools last week brought home Federal Impact Survey Cards, which your school is asking parents/guardians to complete and promptly return to their schools. The returned cards qualify the public schools for significant dollars in federal funds.

The annual survey determines the number of military and non-military federally connected students in the public school system for whom the district receives impact aid funds. These funds provide partial reimbursement to the district for local tax loss resulting from tax-free federal installations or property. By filling out and returning the survey cards, parents help our schools claim and benefit from the district’s authorized share of federal support. Each survey card is important because federal impact aid is determined from the survey card responses. Please, complete, sign and return the card as it is the children who will benefit.

"If you're active duty military, live in Navy housing, or are a civilian working on one of our bases or a federal property, you know the importance of returning these cards," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. "But it's important for all parents to return these cards. It only takes a few minutes and it helps our district qualify for much-needed federal funds."

The San Diego Unified School District has a high proportion of military dependents and federal lands within its boundaries, as San Diego is a worldwide center for Navy and Marine Corps activities.

"These school districts face special challenges — they must provide a quality education to the children living on the Indian and other Federal lands and meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, while sometimes operating with less local revenue than is available to other school districts, because the Federal property is exempt from local property taxes," says the US Department of Education's website.

Under federal privacy rules, information on the Impact Aid survey cards is not used for any other purposes. If you have questions about Impact Aid or the Impact Aid survey card, please contact your principal.

Military Family Appreciation and Resource Night Nov. 7

Military families can explore information about local services and community organizations, enjoy free food, and participate in family activities that focus on academics and resiliency-building at the upcoming Military Family Appreciation and Resource Night, scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Miller Elementary School, 4343 Shields St.(92124).

Hosted by San Diego Unified School District Area 2, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps School liaison programs, resources available to assist and support service members and their families will be on display.

This event is open to all military families with students in schools located in the Henry, Scripps Ranch and Serra high school clusters – the high schools and their feeder elementary and middle schools.

Please visit the San Diego Unified's military family and student support webpage for details about this and other upcoming events.

For additional information, please contact Kimberly Shapazian at 619-725-8168.

Military Student Needs Conference Eyes Dewey Elementary

Dewey staff with Dr. Jill Biden,
second from right.

Like many schools with a high number of students who are military dependents, Dewey Elementary School has a "transition room" where students, parents and the support community can get together to help the kids of soldiers, sailors and Marines make friends and adjust to their new surroundings.

“The Connections Corner is a comfortable environment where questions can be answered and anxieties calmed by a friendly face," said Principal Tanya Belsan.

The Connections Corner is open daily and is staffed by parent volunteers, and Navy and Marine School Liaison Officers. It helps kids and parents adjust to the stresses of military life that include frequent moves, one or both parents being deployed for months.

Belsan was asked to talk about her experiences at a recent conference on military dependent kids. 

About 88 percent of Dewey students have one or more parents who are active military members. Dewey has created a military-friendly environment for students and their families, bringing military school liaisons from the Navy and Marine Corps and other community resources together.

Robin Williamson, school liaison officer from Naval Base Point Loma, described the process of creating transition rooms at Dewey and 10 other San Diego area military-impacted schools. These rooms are dedicated solely to welcoming new military families into the school and community. Families use the rooms to learn about school and community resources and connect with other military families.

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined the group of educators, students and military family members at the University of Southern California on Jan. 19 for the Building Capacity in Military-Connected Schools project, a consortium of eight military-connected school districts, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the University of Southern California.

For more information, contact Belsan, (619) 223-8131.