CPMA students shine at Disneyland music competition

They say Disneyland is a magical place where dreams come true.

For nearly 200 students from the Creative, Performing and Media Arts (CPMA) Middle School in Clairemont, their participation in the annual Southern California Music in the Park celebration really did make their dreams come true.

Facing tough competition from as far away as Idaho and Texas, CPMA’s Advanced Orchestra and Choir captured not only first place in their division but best overall middle school orchestra honors as well during the competition on June 1, 2013.

In addition to its amazing orchestra performance, CPMA captured several other top honors throughout the event, including: first place Women’s Choir, first place Treble Choir, second place Advanced Band, and second place Jazz Band. Several CPMA students also took home top honors for their outstanding work, including: middle school Instrumental Soloist, Andrew Nathenson; middle school Vocal Soloist, Molly Hafer; and middle school Student Accompanist, Sean Lambert.

"Congratulations to all our students who participated," said Principal Scott Thomason. "These students really shine as artists. They are wonderful ambassadors for their neighborhoods, which are in every corner of our district."

For more information on the school, visit its website.

Kids get hands-on, high-tech summer camp

IN THE NEWS: There is no evidence of the nation’s STEM deficit at Lincoln High School this summer.  Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are occupying the minds of more than 700 students from throughout San Diego County at a three-week program sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers. Read more from UT San Diego»

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Superintendent Marten discusses quality neighborhood schools

IN THE NEWS: Appears on morning news programs to outline direction for implementing Vision 2020.

• Watch video from KUSI-TV»
• Watch video from NBC San Diego»
  

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Join the District contingent in this Saturday’s Pride Parade

San Diego Unified employees, students, parents and interested community supporters are invited to join the district's contingent in this year’s Pride Parade taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, July 13, in Hillcrest.

Supt. Cindy Marten and members of the district's Safe Schools Advisory Committee will be leading the group. Participants will gather at the corner of University Avenue and Normal Street between 8:30 and 11 a.m. The district's contingent number is 63, zone G.

The parade begins at University Avenue and Normal Street, proceeds west on University Avenue to 6th Avenue, turns south on 6th Avenue, ending at Balboa Drive and Upas Street. If you are interested in participating, email Moises Aguirre at maguirre@sandi.net. Participation is free.


For information about the parade and parking, go to http://www.sdpride.org/parade.htm.

Central Elementary continues camping trip tradition

More than 120 students from Central Elementary School continued an eight-year tradition of having an overnight camping trip, learning about the outdoors at the Louis Stelzer County Park in Lakeside.
The program, funding by a grant by the Jarrett Meeker Foundation, brings the students from the City Heights school along with teachers and staff to learn about Native American culture, San Diego county's plants and animals and even the stars above.

"This is the first time many of these kids have not only been away from home, but away from their parents overnight," said Superintendent Cindy Marten, who attended based on a promise to her students made in the fall of 2012, before she became the district superintendent.

Students learned about Kumeyaay Indian life from members of the nearby Barona Indian Reservation, owls and rescue dogs from rangers and volunteers from the San Diego County Park and Recreation Department and Sheriffs Department, plus hikes in the park, tent camping, campfires and a camp breakfast. The programs presented are carefully designed to supplement the standard third-grade state curriculum.

"The children from Central live in the middle of the city with very little opportunity to ever experience the outdoors and to camp in a tent," said Judy Meeker, President of the Jarrett Meeker Foundation. Mrs. Meeker and her son, Jon, accompanied the Central kids on the overnight adventure.

Jarrett Meeker suffered an accidental death at age 8. His parents, Judy and Keith, started the foundation in his memory, according to the foundation website, to share their son's "love of nature and people (and) to give kids that aren’t as lucky the same chance to experience and learn about nature as Jarrett had."

"The opportunity that the Meeker Foundation gives the Central kids is outstanding," said Marten. "Over the years, I have seen a profound impact in our kids after they return from the trip. It really opens their eyes and their hearts to the world of nature."

After several years at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, the program moved to Stelzer Park to provide a wider range of learning opportunities for the students, said Jon Meeker. Louis A. Stelzer County Park is an approximately 374-acre day-use park and was the first park in San Diego County designed to be handicapped accessible.

In addition to the Meeker Foundation, support for the program comes from San Diego County Sheriff Department Canine Search and Rescue, Lake Murray Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts Troop 362 Rancho San Diego, San Diego Astronomy Association, Urban Corps of San Diego County, Barona Cultural Center and Museum, Stelzer Park Endowment.

Other support comes from Craft by Cindi Lohry and Iris Meyer, Sky Hunters’ Owl Presentations, Krusin' Kritters Animal Presentation, and Young Audiences.

According to the San Diego Reader, Louis Alexander Stelzer purchased the property as a private retreat in the 1940s, calling it Shadow Mountain Ranch. Upon his death in 1972, he deeded the land to the county so that children would have a place for outdoor education. The park is named in his honor and was dedicated in 1982. It became the first recreational facility in Southern California designed to accommodate visitors of all abilities. Interpretive panels are found on the trails. There is also a large camping area reserved for the use of sanctioned youth groups.

For more information, visit the websites of the Meeker Foundation, Louis Stelzer County Park and Central Elementary School.

• Read story about the 2010 trip from UT San Diego»

JROTC Cadets return from 2013 Leadership Camp

The final day of classes for students in the San Diego Unified School District may have officially ended on June 11, 2013; but for hundreds of JROTC students, their education extends beyond the regular school year. Two hundred JROTC students attended a one-week JROTC Leadership Camp in Cedar Glen, CA, June 21-27.

Cadets gained valuable outdoor experience in the Lake Arrowhead area, while participating in many physically challenging events. This fully-funded camp is sponsored by the U.S. Army Cadet Command and designed to consolidate kids from various San Diego Unified high schools and combine them into five newly formed units. Student leaders will immediately face the challenges of supervising, bonding and motivating their new companies.

Throughout the week, students rotated through various educational sessions to include map/compass orientation, wildlife/habitat sciences, environmental safety awareness, and maintaining personal health and wellness in extreme conditions. However, it was definitely not an all work, but no play adventure. Cadets had plenty of time to participate in extracurricular activities which included horseback riding, archery, canoeing, rock-wall climbing, rappelling, and confidence courses.

Selection to participate was completed at respective high schools, as JROTC teachers identified cadets that had excelled throughout the year in academics, physical fitness and leadership potential. Most importantly, this outward-bound camp experience rewards students for their personal achievements and gives them an opportunity to build new friendships. The life lessons learned at the JROTC Leadership
Camp inspires cadets to step out of their comfort zone and accept new challenges with greater self-confidence and personal motivation.

For more information on JROTC in the San Diego Unified School District, visit the program's website.

Bittersweet time as Barnard Asian Pacific Language Magnet moves to new location

IN THE NEWS: Barnard Elementary closes out its site in Pt. Loma and heads over to Pacific Beach, where the language program will expand at the former Bayview Terrace Elementary School site. Watch video from San Diego 6»

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