Crawford High students develop app for neighborhood information

Inspired by a CNN report about a group that builds mobile-phone applications for government agencies, a group of Crawford High School students decided to try to replicate that model in their City Heights neighborhood. But they shifted the focus to community organizations.


Their first project was creating an app for Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (Mid-City CAN), so City Heights residents could stay up to date on events, news, social media and staff contacts.

The group of students, called Crawford High School Apps for Community, in Andrea Cascia’s College Career and Technical Education Web Architecture class, spent about six weeks creating the app.


Team member Arlene Flores, 16, described what she learned.


“I was able to experience what it was like to work with a client and work with a group to develop something,” Arlene said. “I also learned a lot about Mid-City CAN.”


Students created a mock-up of the app with design software. They programmed it with internet-coding language and other types of coding, including JavaScript.


They got to show off their finished work at the 2013 Office of College, Career and Technical Education Showcase, where dozens of San Diego Unified students demonstrated their projects. The Apps for Community team had cookies printed with an illustration of a mobile phone containing the Mid-City CAN and Crawford High School logos. Their booth also had signboards explaining some of the background for their project.


The group chose to create an app for Mid-City CAN because they felt a connection to its work.


“I heard about what they do -- they help kids keep off the street and create skate parks and other community-related things,” Steven Ly, 16, said. “I wanted to get involved and help spread the word.”


Other team members included Phuc Nguyen, 16, Kevin Turcios, 17 and Juan Munguia-Lara, 18.


The group’s teacher was pleased by the final product.


“The app will help Mid-City CAN reach its youth audience,” Cascia said. “It is motivating for students to see mobile technology used to do good in their community.”


Steven was the main app developer. He took several online classes to help him develop the app.

“I got to use what I learned online and put it in an app,” he said. “I was the only one in the class that was coding at the moment.”

To download the app, use the QR code in the photo. For more information on the program, contact Cascia at acascia@sandi.net.

Cubberly Elementary event builds bridges to the future

Fifth-graders from Cubberley Juarez, Wegeforth and Jones elementary schools got a head start preparing for the workforce at the second annual Building Bridges to the Future, a career-ready event for elementary students. Approximately 175 kids explored fields ranging from engineering, robotics, the Coast Guard to the arts in directing chorale music.

“It’s never too early to begin thinking about your future," Cubberley Principal Rosemary Cruz told the students. "Begin now so that your learning has meaning and purpose,”

Honored guest speaker, Supt. Bill Kowba explained to students that before joining the school district and being appointed superintendent, he had a long career in the military. Supt. Kowba also explained that one may be in a career for many years and eventually choose a different path later on.

The event featured six presentations from speakers like Shalimar Oliver, an animal control officer for the San Diego County Department of Animal Services, and San Diego Sports Hall of Fame member Willie Buchanon, a former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. Chemist and Cubberley parent, Brad Savall, from Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development LLC, inspired a student to proclaim his career aspirations.

"I learned so much about science today,” said fifth-grader Alejandro Sanchez. “I want to build new atom structures and molecules and now I know I want to be an engineer, scientist, or chemist when I grow up.”

Presenters encouraged the students to set goals and pursue professions they would love, even if they did not have a particular career in mind already.

The event was organized for Serra Mesa neighborhood schools by Cubberley counselor, Molly Williams and 4th/5th grade teacher, Steffanie Zambrano. For more information please contact Mrs. Williams at mwilliams9@sandi.net.

Green Elementary students run their way to $33k

Green Elementary School's students have run their way to $33,481.11 in donations from the school's supporters during the PTA's annual Jog-A-Thon.

"This is a fantastic amount of support from the PTA and our school community," said Principal Bruce Ferguson. "And we have to congratulate the kids and our staff, who did the running."

Green, an academic and athletic themed school in the San Carlos neighborhood, receives support from the PTA for the school's art and music program, as well as hosting events during the year. The Jog-A-Thon is one of the signature events during the school year and was held in April. The traditional Jog-A-Thon fundraiser collects pledges for how far students run.

"It was a voluntary event where all fundraising was done after school and the running was coordinated with Green’s physical education department to be part of their curriculum," said Ferguson. "This year, in addition to every student participating, teachers, local fireman, and parents also joined in."

For more information, check out the school's website or contact Principal Ferguson at bferguson@sandi.net.

Jackie Robinson YMCA scholarships go to 11 District students

The Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, located in the Mountain View neighborhood less than a mile from Lincoln High School, has provided eleven San Diego Unified students with $1,000 scholarships.

The Jackie Robinson Tribute and Scholarship was established to honor the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. According to the organization's website, "since the first event in 1997, the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA has awarded over $100,000 to more than 150 students in Southeastern San Diego to help them pursue their dreams of higher education."

Receiving scholarships are: Jessica Aguilar, Limna Lio Hernandez, Natalia Shaw, Point Loma; Radhiya Bryant, Kristoff Liilliard, High Tech High International Charter; Lydiette DeJesus, Carolina Leon, Javier Mendez, Gompers Prep Academy Charter; Malcolm Foster, San Diego Met; Gabriela Mejia, Patrick Henry; Mayra Rodriguez, Lincoln.

For more information, see the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA website.

School districts gain flexibility in governor’s budget proposal

Big changes may be afoot for school districts if Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed 2013-14 budget comes to fruition. Read more: San Diego Community News Group - School districts gain flexibility in governor’s budget proposal

District employees' giving honored by Salvation Army

The Salvation Army Kroc Center honored San Diego Unified's employee charitable arm, the Community Services Association, as Partner In Education Donor of the Year at their dinner to recognize volunteers and donors.

The Community Services Association of San Diego Unified School District was founded in 1956 as the employee charitable association for classified and certificated employees. It supports educational, health and human services in San Diego County.

Since 1982, the association has provided more than $60,000 in charitable contributions to various Salvation Army Programs in San Diego. The Kroc Center Free Family Arts and Literacy Program has received $6,000 in grant funding from the association since 2004. The program includes monthly events that engage the whole family in arts and literacy, and each child leaves with a free book! The grant funding has provided 2,400 books to children in the community, building their home libraries and promoting a love for reading. For many, this was the first brand new book they have ever received.

Michele Fettig, CSA Secretary/Treasurer, accepted the award on behalf of the association's Board of Directors.

In other CSA news, the winning sites of the contest for the highest percentage increase in new CSA members this school year are: Balboa for elementary schools; Muirlands, middle schools; and SCPA, atypical schools.  Mental Health Resource Center is the winner in the central office category. Each school  received a check from CSA in the amount of $100 made payable to their ASB accounts; Mental Health Resource Center augmented its training budget with the $100.

For more information about CSA, please visit its website.

La Jolla High welcomes Bird Rock council students

IN THE NEWS: La Jolla High School’s Associated Student Body members welcomed fellow student council members visiting from Bird Rock Elementary for a morning of shared experiences. Read more from the La Jolla Light»