Keeping parents in loop helped district find its way

IN THE NEWS: Parents of special-education students in San Diego may not always agree with how the school district educates their children, but they know whom to call when they have a problem, and their phone calls are routinely returned. And when the school district wants to get information out to those families, it has several tools to do so — including emails, texts and robocalls — so that everyone gets the same information at the same time. Read more from the Seattle Times.

‘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.

Lafayette students, community create mural in memory of favorite student

IN THE NEWS: 60-foot artwork created by the Lafayette Elementary School students and community is a lasting legacy of their late classmate, Yusra Nasir. Watch story from Fox 5 San Diego»

A teacher for the toughest times: Caren Waller is an educator at Rady Children's Hospital

IN THE NEWS: For more than 20 years, Caren Waller, has been teaching at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. She does everything from read stories to patients to communicate with school districts about how to best serve injured or ill students. When she first started, she was one of three educators who would push a cart around from room to room. Now, there are six teachers and five assistants working from multiple classrooms throughout the hospital.

Waller, a Leucadia resident who attended Patrick Henry High School, tells us about her unique teaching position. Read more from UT San Diego»

Special Education panel honors those who go "above and beyond"

The Above and Beyond Awards, which honor individuals who have contributed “Above and Beyond” the usual expectation in the area of Special Education, were held on May 8, 2014. The Community Advisory Committee for Special Education in collaboration with SDUSD hold the nominations and awards annually and are open to school district employees, students, family members and community members. Pictured above are the 2014 CAC Above and Beyond Award winners. Bottom Row, left to right: Sonia Picos (Executive Director of Special Education), April McKay, First Sergeant Keller, Shannon Dearborn, Valerie Crisci, Ian Law, Jeannie Heffley, Christy Scadden (CAC Chair). Back Row, left to right: Rakeisha Gomez, Lieutenant Colonel Josten, Joanne Gilson, Sara Fredrick, Mary Kay Cook, Maegan Champion.

Whittier students figure out how to keep things clean and excel at science

Students at Whittier School; alternative, special education K-12, are benefiting from the incorporation of all components of the district’s 20/20 Vision: achievement, neighborhood, parents, effective teachers, district leadership, and community.

Whittier teachers Melanie Mastin and Tim Schamp have created a way for high school students to apply skills learned in science class through campus jobs and school businesses. All teachers develop units of study based on standards given a “no worksheet challenge.”

When connecting units of study with high-level standards, such as biology and earth science, science projects and campus jobs produce a high level of performance that transfers to authentic, real world experiences. The application of these skills is tied closely to Common Core State Standards.

The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle unit in science class prompted Schamp’s transition skills class to study the impact of paper towels used at Whittier School for custodial use for the Going Green Fair.
Results from this project led to the creation of the Whittier Towel Service. This campus job provides cloth towels to offices and classrooms throughout the campus.

Another example of student performance aligned with high level standards is the yearly Whittier School Science Fair. For the past four years, Whittier School student science projects have placed at the district wide Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair held at Balboa Park. On March 25, Alex Latimar-Galvan received a second place ribbon for his science fair project about magnets.

Mastin and Schamp continue working together to create additional science based campus jobs and student businesses. Currently a science unit on water conservation and xeroscape gardening will lead to creating a rain water harvesting system which will provide water to drought tolerant school gardens.
For more information about Whittier School please contact Janice Von Arx, principal, 858 490-2770 or jvonarx@sandinet.

'National Showcase District' award comes for Action Based Learning

Action Based Learning programs at 38 schools have earned San Diego Unified a National Showcase Award from the technique's founder Jean Blaydes Madigan.

A program that uses brain-based, brain-compatible strategies to teach academics kinesthetically by using purposeful movement, Action Based Learning Labs have been implemented in 38 schools, spanning preschool through high school.

The labs are a developmentally based series of motor and fitness activities that fill in developmental gaps to prepare the brain for learning, according to Carrie Rea, Program Manager, Related and Specialized Services, Special Education Division.

"Action Based Learning in the district is a collaborative effort between physical education, adapted physical education, occupational and physical therapy, classroom teachers and administrators," she said, "to support all students in multiple learning modalities."

For more information, contact Rea at crea@sandi.net.

A special drum line at Lafayette Elementary School

IN THE NEWS: A visit by CBS 8's Larry Himmel to Lafayette Elementary School in Clairemont finds Learning about music with drums works for hearing impaired and hearing students. Watch video from CBS 8»

Whitman Elementary string ensemble crosses hearing threshold

It's unusual enough to say that a group of violinists in grades 5-6 would be performing with one of San Diego's top orchestras, the Greater San Diego Chamber Orchestra.

It's even more unusual that half of the ensemble, the Whitman Strings, from Whitman Elementary School in Clairemont, are either deaf or hard-of-hearing. Under the direction of San San Blain, an instrumental music teacher, the students performed with the Greater San Diego Chamber Orchestra on March 9.

"The Whitman Strings is a special performance group consisting of 5th and 6th grade violin students in the music program," said Susan Aaberg, one of the teachers at Whitman. Students volunteer to attend extra rehearsals, memorize their music and participate in special performances.

"What makes this group unique is that half of these students have 'normal' hearing and half of them are deaf or hard-of-hearing," said Aaberg.

Whitman elementary school is the designated school for children with hearing loss who are learning to communicate through listening and spoken language instead of sign language. There are approximately 80 deaf/hard-or-hearing students at Whitman, aged 3 years through grade 6.

"At Whitman, the DHH students are “just Whitman kids,” she said. "They participate in running club, music class, band, and ASB. They play sports, take karate, join a dance company, speak two languages, succeed scholastically and yes, even play violin."

For more information on the program, contact Aaberg at saaberg@sandi.net.

Officers respond to call for help from Special Olympics

Officers from the San Diego Unified School District Police Officers participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting the Special Olympics of California.

“Our School Police Officers were honored to participate in the event and help raise awareness for Special Olympics,” said Michael Marquez, School Police Operations Lieutenant.
School Police participants in the May 28 event included Officers Luis Espinoza, John Ross, Cain Arrelano, Bashir Abdi, and Jenifer Gruner.

The officers joined more than 120 law enforcement agencies participating in the Torch Run, which began in Chula Vista on May 28 and will end in Los Angeles Saturday, June 8.


The southern leg route of the Law Enforcement Torch Run includes police officers, staff and law enforcement from the cities of San Diego, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad and Orange County.

The goal of the Special Olympics Torch Run is to raise awareness and raise funds for community-based support programs that help benefit people with intellectual disabilities. San Diego County Special Olympics reaches athletes from Oceanside to San Ysidro. The money raised helps pay for free, year-round sports programs and competitions.

Special Education ‘Above and Beyond’ awards honor 15

The Community Advisory Committee for Special Education and San Diego Unified's special Education division have named 15 to its Honor Roll for "exceptional contributions to the educational outcomes of students with disabilities."

Honored were Erin Grettenberger, Alcott Elementary; Andrea Marcus, Bay Park Elementary; Andrew McNally, Behavior Support Resources; Irene Reed, Behavior Support Resources; Jane Doft, Vocational Rehabilitation; Kyle Benson, Fletcher Elementary; Patricia Harver, Cubberley Elementary; Alison Labastida, Alan Morales, Aaron Smith, Millennial Tech Middle School; Dana McKenna, Doyle Elementary; Rita McKerring, Green Elementary; Janice Von Arx, Lisa Walker, Whittier Center.

The committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Education and Special Education administration on the implementation of the Special Education Local Plan Area. This plan is a legal document that describes how the district provides services to students with exceptional needs. Committee membership is comprised of parents with students who receive Special Education services, parents with students in general education, district staff from both special and general education, community agency representatives and any community member who is interested in Special Education.

Any parent of a student in the district, staff or community member may attend and participate in committee meetings. For more information, visit the committee's website.

Therapy dogs help Whitman, Lafayette, CPMA and Madison deaf, hard of hearing students

All San Diego Unified students are expected to receive their high school diplomas and degreed, four-legged visitors to four San Diego Unified campuses are helping deaf, hard of hearing students to reach that goal.

Specially trained collies Lana and Amos, trained by Michael Neu and his wife, Karen Meyer, have had a significant positive effect on academics for students who are deaf/ hard-of-hearing at Whitman, Lafayette, CPMA and Madison, said Jeanne Cicchetto, a San Diego Unified Resource Teacher in the deaf/hard-of-hearing program.

"Regular visits with these collies have provided students with an opportunity to learn about canine care and how hearing dogs can assist people with hearing loss both in their homes and in the community," she said. "Students return to their classwork with an increased ability to focus and an obvious feeling of well-being. Improved communication skills, independence and self-esteem are other benefits the students exhibit after their canine visits."

For more information on the program, contact Cicchetto at 858-490-8412.

Morse High Student Stands Tall Despite Challenges

IN THE NEWS:  A gifted athlete, Michael Akers has a purple belt in judo and plays second base for the Morse High School Tigers. He is a contact hitter and batted .300 as a freshman. This year, he made the citywide All-Academic Baseball Team. And with high school winding down for him, Michael is thinking about college: San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton top the list. Read more from UT San Diego»

Evaluating English Language Learners for Special Needs a Challenge

IN THE NEWS: San Diego Unified's new techniques for identifying students in need of special education will help reduce lopsided referral rates of English-learners to special education. Read more from Education Week (registration required)»

De Portola Middle School 'Walk and Roll' Celebrates Friends, Fitness

De Portola Middle School in Tierrasanta had a great day of celebrating fitness, fundraising, and acceptance of friends from all walks of life through the second annual "Walk and Roll" event sponsored by the Circle of Friends club.

"We had over 160 students join together in a parade around the outdoor stage," said Principal Elizabeth Gillingham, "walking with friends while holding signs pledging to be friends with others."

Students were sponsored by family and friends for each lap walked or rolled (some in wheel chairs) raising money for their club and working on their overall fitness with friends. The event was held May 8.

"We had students holding signs to promote kindness and acceptance," said Diana Aquilizan, a moderate-severe education specialist. "We also encouraged them to dress alike, walk a like or do some other creative collaborations."

For more information, contact Principal Gillingham at (858) 496-8080.

Nominate Someone who Goes Above and Beyond for Students with Disabilities

Each spring, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education honors individuals who go "Above and Beyond" for district students with disabilities. Nominations are now being accepted for the annual "Above and Beyond" awards that recognize parents, staff members, students and community members who exemplify the district's commitment to high expectations for all students. The deadline to submit nominations is April 12, 2012.

Information and nomination forms can be found on the CAC website. With questions, e-mail SDCACawards@gmail.com or leave a message for the CAC at 619-725-7650.

There's No Place Like "Holmes" for Special Friendships

Holmes was the first elementary school in the district to start a Circle of Friends, the social language skills program of inclusion that provides valuable support for students with special needs. It is based on the establishment of friendships between students with disabilities and their trained, nondisabled peers through meaningful interaction in a natural environment. Circle of Friends clubs can be found throughout the district at all school levels:  elementary, middle and high schools.

 

During Circle of Friends at Holmes Elementary, groups of one to two students with special needs join three to four general education students for 35 minutes. The students eat lunch, play board games and participate in structured, cooperative activities such as making friendship bracelets, creating cards and playing Buddy Bingo. During the holidays, the Circle of Friends had a Halloween mummy contest, played Pin the Feathers on the Turkey and decorated Christmas cookies.

 

Circle of Friends gives students with special needs the opportunity to learn conversational language skills and work on developing positive peer relationships. The general education students learn how to be patient, tolerant and accepting of the students with special needs. The program promotes teamwork, cooperation and working together.

 

To learn more about Holmes Elementary School, contact Principal Jonathan Saipe at jsaipe@sandi.net. For more information about Circle of Friends, contact Brittni Weaver, speech pathologist, at bweaver@sandi.net.

IN THE NEWS: CPMA Hip Hop Hard of Hearing Featured

Group rocks on TV in the morning; Feb. 24-25 show featured. Watch video from KUSI-TV»

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Partners with District on Parent Program

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law successfully launched its Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program (PREP) thanks to the generous support of Qualcomm, Inc. and its partnership with the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD).

This past spring, PREP:

• Trained almost 300 parents about their child’s educational rights;

• Recruited 25 volunteers to provide educational consultation advice to 24 parents

• Facilitated three workshops in collaboration with SDUSD’s Parent Outreach and Engagement Department

Workshops in March and May focused on parents’ rights and responsibilities regarding school discipline. The June workshop focused on the parents’ role in special education identification and advocating for Individual Education Plan (IEP) services.

 

For more information, contact the committee at PREP@lawyerscommittee.org or call 202-662-8600.

Field Day Brings Fun for Visually Impaired Students

Visually impaired students from around the county enjoyed a wide variety of activities during the recent 29th annual County Wide Field Day for Students with Visual Impairments.

The approximately 120 students in attendance and their families made crafts, played games, participated in field events, had a barbecue lunch and had the opportunity to swim at the South Clairemont Recreation Center and Pool during the event on May 20.

At Field Day, students hang out with old friends and make new ones. The event also gives teachers and family members a chance to connect.

Thanks to the North Park Lions Club, San Diego Kite Club, Puppy Raisers with the Guide Dogs for the Blind and Girl Scout Troop 1765 for donating time and services.

For more information, contact Leia Morgan at lhook@sandi.net.

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