PTA salutes dedication of volunteers working with children at San Diego schools

What's the value of PTA volunteer hours?

According to the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs, it is $7,638,632.10. That's more than half the amount that San Diego Unified receives in a typical year from the California Lottery.

The San Diego Unified Council of PTA’s held its annual Founders Day Celebration at San Diego State University  on May 19. The recognizes the founders of the PTA, including Alice Birney and Phoebe Hearst, and provided the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions that parents, teachers, principals, and community volunteers make at our schools.

Derby Pattengill, President of the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs, presented Board President Kevin Beiser (pictured above) with a symbolic check for $7,638,632.10. The check represents the monetary equivalent of  the volunteer hours contributed by PTA volunteers during the 2013-14 school year. Board President Beiser said, “the value of time and effort invested by our PTA volunteers is beyond measure.”

"The San Diego Unified Council of PTA’s is proud to work alongside the district to support students,”  said Pattengill. "Last year, the symbolic check was for $4.2 million, and this year, it is at $7.6 million. This represents a large increase in the amount of time, energy and enthusiasm that PTA volunteers bring to schools."

This year marked the council's 25th year.

Student art work earns recognition in annual PTA Reflections Program

A dozen students from schools across the district earned awards in the 2013-14 National PTA Reflections program. Organized locally by the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs, the annual program is designed to enhance rather than replace a quality arts education and provides opportunities for students, preschool through grade 12, to express themselves and receive positive recognition. This year’s theme was “Believe, Dream, Inspire.” Categories include dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and the visual arts.

Ninth District PTA Award of Merit
Language Academy	Claire Hathaway	Dance Choreography	Primary
Challenger Middle	Anabella Noguera	Film Production	Middle
Sandburg Elementary	Johann Karlsen	Literature	Primary
Sandburg Elementary	Daniel Mellon	Literature	Primary
Jefferson Elementary	Brooke Nassif	Literature	Primary
Challenger Middle	Crystal Huynh	Literature	Middle
Mira Mesa High	Tien Pham	Literature	Senior
Challenger Middle	Eliana Bazzo	Photography	Middle
Wangenheim Middle	Jordan Skeith	Visual Arts	Middle
Ninth District PTA Honorable Mention
Challenger Middle	Jasmine Galvez	Dance Choreography	Middle
Standley Middle	Blake Berke	Music Composition	Middle

Read more on the Ninth District PTA website .  

PTA honors students' artistic creativity, skill

More than 30 young artists in the San Diego Unified School District have been honored by the San Diego Unified Council of PTA.

The Reflections Arts Recognition Program is a national arts recognition and achievement program for students. Since 1969, more than 10 million students across the nation have taken part in this popular PTA program.

"This year, 2013-14, we had a wonderful assortment of Reflections entries," said Barbara Flannery, Vice President of Programs for the local PTA. "Our Reflections reception will take place in February."

Award of Merit entries are on display in the Normal Street Central Office foyer. Entries are divided into five levels: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12) and Special Artist.

"The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for students, parents, schools and communities is unmatched with the majority of California PTAs participating in the program at all PTA levels," she said.

The Reflections Program provides an excellent opportunity for students:

• Unleash their creative talents and be inspired;
• Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork;
• Experience the joy and fun of making art;
• Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme;
• Receive positive recognition for their original works of art.

As an added bonus, in showcasing and celebrating student talent, the Reflections Program increases community awareness of the importance of the arts in education. Congratulations to the artists have received an award of Excellence and their Reflections Entries have and moved on to the next level which is county wide through Ninth District PTA.

"Thanks to our Reflections volunteers who made this all possible: Ann Mellon, Sabrina Bazzo, Desiree Rauterkus, Rebecca Cosgrove, NiChelle Cannon, Christy Korda and Shawny Sheldon from San Diego High School Art Department; Kristina Alfonso from Children’s Museum; and the Helix High School Music Students," she said.

Students honored were from Mira Mesa High School, Wangenheim, Standley and Challenger middle schools, Language Academy, and Sandburg Elementary schools.
For more information on the program, contact Flannery at  baflannery@yahoo.com.

'Fashion Moms' get warmup for Whitman Elementary fundraiser

The big fundraiser next week at Whitman Elementary School had a preview last month as participants in the 2013 Whitman Fashion Mom Contest were serving food and hosting games during the school's Family Fun Night last month.

One of the regular events at the North Clairemont campus brings together the school community in an evening of fun and games. Emma's Gut Bucket Band, regular performers for community events at Whitman Elementary, warmed up the crowd with live bluegrass music.

The moms working hard that night will be back in the Whitman cafetorium at 12:30 p.m. this Saturday, Dec.16, as part of the "Whitman Fashion Mom" contest. With a goal of raising funds for a new track and improvements to the school's field, audience members will "purchase votes" for $1 each for their favorite Whitman Fashion Mom.

Contestants, all members of the school's PTA, have an opportunity to be a winner in four categories: Most Votes, Most Fashionable, Best Runway Performance, and Facebook Fashion Mom. All contestants will be given gifts for their participation.

Supporters can purchase a vote for their favorite contestant for $1 each. For each vote purchased you can get a raffle ticket for an opportunity to win a variety of prizes, including the Grand Prize of Four One-Day Hopper Passes to Disneyland California Resort.

Schools celebrate parents on National Parent Involvement Day

Schools across the district hosted a variety of events that brought parents to campus in honor of National Parent Involvement Day Nov. 21. From shadowing students and chatting with principals, to receptions filled with food and music, schools said “thank you” to parents for the important role they play in their child’s education.

Dad and son at Whitman Elementary.

Parents at Crown Point Junior Music Academy joined their students for lunch while being treated to musical performances by the school’s Suzuki Violin players, CPMA orchestra and jazz bands, and Pacific Beach Middle School’s string group.

"There must have been over 100 families present,” said Principal Muriel Bartolini. “It was so great to see how happy each child was to be able to eat lunch with his or her parents.”

Across town at Whitman Elementary, parents spent about 30 minutes observing their students in the classroom. In Mr. Brady’s second-grade classroom, several students showed their parents how they use netbooks to enrich their studies. The PTSA also hosted refreshments in the library for parents while Interim Principal Angela Zarzosa shared information about the new Common Core Standards and Local Control Funding Formula.

“I think our event was successful in reaching out to parents, as I saw many parents who had not attended these types of events before,” said Celeste Bobryk-Ozaki, Whitman PTA treasurer and one of the event’s organizers. "As a community member, I believe in the district's Vision 2020 Plan, a quality school in every neighborhood, and this includes a parent engagement program."

At both Serra and Patrick Henry high schools, parents had the opportunity to shadow their students for a few classes, while other schools hosted receptions for parents and opportunities to talk with the school’s principal. The underlying idea behind all of the events was to thank parents for their contributions and emphasize how important they are to their child’s education.

Milton Martin, vice principal at Sandburg Elementary, took time out of his busy work day to show support for his son, Nicholas, who is a sophomore at Patrick Henry High.  

"As parents many times we wean ourselves from participating in our children's lives as they get older, but our teenage children need us just as much, if not more, than they did when they were younger," Martin said. "I also wanted to also meet some of the students our son supports in the "Circle Of Friends," program. I'm very proud of our son for having such a compassionate heart and wanted to encourage him to continue in that vein." 

National Parent Involvement Day is a collaborative effort between the district’s Parent Outreach and Engagement Department and the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs to recognize parents/guardians and the invaluable role they play in supporting a child's learning at home and at school.

Other activities in the district in honor of National Parent Involvement Day included:

• University City High School hosted a special “Chat with the Principal.” The PTSA provided refreshments and appreciation gifts to all attendees and the principal gave a presentation entitled "The Benefits of Celebrating Effort and Recognizing Achievement - a Look at Western versus Eastern Cultures."
• Language Academy welcomed Walter Lam, president & CEO of Alliance for African Assistance, who spoke about the importance of parent involvement. A proclamation by the City of San Diego was also presented, recognizing Nov. 21 as National Parent Involvement Day. In addition, more than 20 Language Academy middle school students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement.
• Marshall Middle School hosted a breakfast and principal chat.
• Standley Middle School hosted events for parents throughout the day, including coffee, cookies and pizza with the principal. Each event included a demonstration for parents of the new PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• Sandberg Elementary hosted "Family Reading Night," where students, dressed in their PJs, munched on milk and cookies and listened to the principal, teachers and parents read short stories.
• Zamorano Elementary hosted a morning reception and allowed parents to observe their children in the classroom.
• Loma Portal Elementary hosted as Western BBQ for parents to eat lunch with their child

This was the district’s second year celebrating National Parent Involvement Day. The national event was started 19 years ago by Project Appleseed. For more information on National Parent Involvement Day, contact Bea Fernandez at bfernandez@sandi.net or your school's PTA representative.

Community members, staff encouraged to support the PTA

You do not have to be a parent or teacher to join the PTA. Anyone can join a school PTA and support the organization's mission to positively impact the lives of all children and families. Superintendent Cindy Marten recently showed her support by joining the PTA at Cherokee Point Elementary School. She is encouraging San Diego Unified employees and community supporters to follow her lead.

The superintendent was the guest speaker at the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs general meeting on Sept. 23, where she talked about the district’s Vision 2020 of creating quality schools in every neighborhood. The district has deemed that one of the 12 indicators of a quality school is parent/community engagement around student achievement. The PTA is one avenue to support that quality.

 If you are interested in joining a PTA or starting a PTA, please contact the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs at 619-297-7821 or sducpta@yahoo.com.

Superintendent lauds PTA volunteer contributions as "priceless"

Supt. Kowba receives the Honorary Service Award from
the PTA. Joining him are his daughter, Elizabeth, left, his
wife, Maureen, and Barbara Flannery, President of the
San Diego Unified Council of PTAs.

A $4,254,750.07 check from the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs to the San Diego Unified School District?

The check may not have been real, but the amount was – it represents the monetary equivalent to the District of the 192,174.8 volunteer hours donated by PTA members this school year. A mock check for the amount was presented to Supt. Bill Kowba at the Council's Founders Day dinner on May 20.

"Even thought the PTA has assigned a monetary value to this, the real value to our kids is priceless," said Kowba, who will retire from the district at the end of June.

In addition, the Council of PTAs presented two service awards, recognized special unit PTAs who met the membership challenge and one National PTA award winner.

Superintendent Bill Kowba was presented an Honorary Service Award for the outstanding commitment he showed to the students of San Diego Unified School District these past seven years in his various roles from "CFO to CEO," said Barbara Flannery, President of the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs.

"The superintendent is known for his 4 a.m. emails and his calm in the face the state education budget crisis," she said. "He has become a true supporter of parent involvement and belongs to multiple PTAs in the district. The Honorary Service Award recognizes outstanding service to children and youth."

In attendance with him were surprise guests, his wife, Maureen, and daughter, Elizabeth.

Flannery was presented a Continuing Service Award for her decade of service to the students and families of San Diego Unified. She started out in PTA as just a helper, later becoming President of Language Academy PTA and moving up to Council PTA to serve as webmaster, secretary and president. She is presently the Council PTA representative on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee for Prop S and Z and will continue her service to the community as vice-president of Programs for the Council.

Linda Zintz, Director of Communications, and Dr. Betsy Cook, Principal of Marston Middle School were recognized for their two years of service as liaisons to the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs Executive Board for San Diego Unified and Administrators Association of San Diego, respectively.

The Honorary Service Awards Program is the funding source for the California State PTA Scholarships and Grant Programs.

PTA programs at 19 schools units were recognized for membership increases of more than 25 members, 37 schools had an increase in membership. Six schools were recognized for having more than 300 members: Hearst PTA, Holmes PTA, Marshall Middle PTSA, Mira Mesa High PTSA, Spreckels PTA and with a high of 605 members La Jolla High PTA.

Lindbergh Schweitzer PTA received the California State PTA award, “Members Matter, Teachers Matter,” for an overall increase in members and with 100 percent of their teachers joining the PTA. The unit received a free State PTA Convention registration.

Cadman PTA was a recipient of the National PTA “Take You Families to School” grant.
Three schools organized this year's event: Creative Performing and Media Arts PTSA, America’s Finest Charter School PTSA and San Diego High School PTSA.

Karen Fleck, Ninth District President, presided over the installation of the 2013-15 Executive Board: President Derby Pattengill, Executive Vice-President Laura Schumacher, VP of Leadership Betsy Mueller, VP of Programs Barbara Flannery, VP of Communications Cathy Lackmann, VP of Legislation Celeste Bobryk-Ozaki, Secretary Bey-Ling Sha, Treasurer Janine Morrow, Auditor Michelle Cass, Historian Kelly Barnes and Parliamentarian NiChelle Cannon.

Also in attendance were Board of Education Vice President Kevin Beiser, and past PTA Council Presidents Barbara Peluso, Debbie Vincent, Patt Sloan, and Cindy McIntyre.
The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs is comprised of 80 school-level PTAs in the San Diego Unified School District. To start a PTA at your school, contact Vice-President of Leadership Betsy Mueller at sducpta@yahoo.com.

At Holmes Elementary, pink principal is reward for jogging to $16,500

Just what was Holmes Elementary School Principal Jonathan Saipe doing recently when he rode around the school on a pink bicycle wearing a pink tutu?

He was honoring his challenge to the students and Holmes community to raise $10,000 in the Spring Donation Drive held in conjunction with the Holmes HERO (Homes Educational Run Off) Jog-a-Thon. This was a joint effort by the school's PTA, students, staff and community and raised a total of $16,500 for the Clairemont K-6 school.

Saipe showed his school spirit by being “pinkified” when the community raised over $10,000. When the total reached $15,000, he rewarded the students by giving them the opportunity to eat lunch with friends in other classes and grade levels one day a week.

"Our HERO Run is a great tradition which brings our school community together for a fun day of exercise, music, and snow cones.” said Saipe. "I will do it every year if it provides extra motivation and laughs for the students.”

In addition to the pink frills, the school's headmaster also tinted his hair pink and wore a pink outfit for the day.

"The kids and staff screamed with excitement when I rode my pink cruiser out to our Monday morning assembly on the playground,” he said. "We’ve all been working very hard lately, with testing and implementing the Common Core Standards. It was great seeing the kids smiles as I visited classrooms throughout the day."

The money raised will help fund the school’s visual and performing arts program, which includes a choral music teacher and Arts Attack supplies; ongoing technology needs; field trips; instructional supplies; and the Mileage Club.

What's next for the Clairemont neighborhood school? The annual Spring Fling will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11. Festivities include a silent auction, cake decorating contest, arts and crafts, student performances and activities for the entire family. For more information, visit www.sandi.net/holmes or contact Principal Jonathan Saipe at jsaipe@sandi.net.

Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary Principal pays off on PTA challenge

The California PTA challenged all PTAs to have 100 percent teacher membership by January 31, and at Lindbergh Schweitzer that was no problem, reports Principal Deanne Rohde.

After meeting the goal, Vice Principal Muriel Bartolini had the idea to challenge the students and their families to increase their PTA membership to exceed 250, and if they did, she and Principal Deanne Rohde would come to school with purple hair and serve pizza or ice cream to the classrooms that turned in the most memberships.

"Guess what," said Rohde. "They did it again!"
Robert Patton's second grade and Mary Morgan's fourth grade were the classes that won the treats and helped the membership soar over the 250 mark. The PTA increased their membership which helps students succeed by strengthening the partnership between home and school.

"Congratulations and thank you to all who turned in new PTA memberships," said Rohde.

PTA, sanctioned by the National PTA, are parent-teacher organizations that operate at many San Diego Unified schools. Families are urged to join their school's PTA or other parent-student-teacher organization as a great way to support their school, get more involved in their child's education and network with parents.

For additional information contact Media Production Assistant Julie Harris at jharris2@sandi.net or 858-496-8400.

SD Unified Council of PTAs receives $2,000 translation grant

The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $2,000 Outreach Translation Grant from the California State PTA. The Translation Grants are available for a variety of PTA programs and projects such as:

• Translating PTA information and materials including items such as flyers, handouts or website content into other languages
• Translation at PTA meetings, programs and events
• Activities to build and strengthen a PTA's central involvement in its school community
•  Programs to enhance family/ school communications and partnerships
• Activities to encourage and facilitate the engagement of non-English-speaking parents in PTA meetings, programs and events

The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs will use the funding to translate its Officer Survival Guide Booklets into Spanish. These booklets were developed to help school site PTA presidents, treasurers, secretaries and membership unit officers understand their roles and responsibilities.

“We are very excited to receive this funding,” said Council President Barbara Flannery. “The Council is always looking for ways to engage more Spanish-speaking parents in PTA leadership roles at their schools. Having the booklets in Spanish should help these efforts.”

For more information, contact the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs at sducpta@yahoo.com or visit the website at www.sdcouncilpta.org.

Schools, Departments Celebrate Parents on National Parent Involvement Day

Sixth-graders at Marston Middle listen to parents
share their college and career experiences.

You may have recently noticed an influx of parents on school campuses, in classrooms and walking through the quad, side-by-side with their students. Were the students in trouble, you wondered? Were students aging more quickly than ever? Luckily, neither was the case. They were all participating in National Parent Involvement Day.

National Parent Involvement Day on Nov. 15 was a collaborative effort between the district’s Parent Outreach and Engagement Department and the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs to recognize parents/guardians and the invaluable role they play in supporting a child's learning at home and at school. Schools and departments across the district celebrated with events large and small.

Sixth graders at Marston Middle School in Clairemont listened to a nurse, piano teacher and restaurant owner, all of whom studied at San Diego State, as they shared how their college experiences impacted their career choices. Each guest had a varying career path, which helped students understand there can be many paths to success.

Students peppered the guests with questions like “Is your job hard” and “What is the best day you’ve had at work”?

The nurse told a story about helping to revive a man by holding his heart in her bare hands. She said that being able to talk the man the next day after he was so close to dying was amazing and one of her best days at work.

Approximately 20 total speakers visited Marston throughout the day to share their experiences.

At Tierrasanta's Serra High, parents joined their students in class as part of “Come To School With Your Student Day.” By shadowing their students during the day, parents got a better understanding of what their child experiences each day at school.

Field Elementary hosted a volunteer breakfast in which more than 20 parents enjoyed a variety of bagels, fruit and pastries that were provided by the staff. Students made colorful posters to thank the many mothers and fathers who share their time at their children’s school.

A Fay Elementary parent spins the lucky
wheel at the school's thank you breakfast.

Fay Elementary said thank you to its parents/guardians from their involvement by hosting a special “Fay Café” in which coffee, cake and Mexican sweet bread were served to nearly 100 parents.

Parents also got to try their luck on the spinning prize wheel, cheered on by teachers, support staff and students. Many parents came away with gift cards, free picture packages, and even turkeys, thanks to several donations from local stores.

Several other schools across the district also hosted events in honor of National Parent Involvement Day.

• Ibarra Elementary held a Community Resource Fair.
• University City High School hosted an Open House for parents.
• Lincoln High School held a “Principal Chat.”
• Standley Middle School handed out kisses…the chocolate kind to parents and guardians.
• Miller Elementary hosted a Juvenile Diabetes Walk
• Ballard Parent Center hosted a Community Resource Fair and parent workshops.

This was the district’s first year celebrating National Parent Involvement Day, and will likely continue to be a yearly celebration. The national event was started 18 years ago by Project Appleseed.

For more information on National Parent Involvement Day, contact Melissa Whipple at mwhipple@sandi.net or your school's PTA representative.

Get Involved in Parent Involvement Day Nov. 15

The San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Unified Council of PTAs invite YOU to Celebrate National Parent Involvement Day on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.

More than 30 years of research indicates that when parents are strategically involved in children's learning at school and at home, student achievement significantly improves and schools are more effective.

The San Diego Unified School District and Council of PTAs both agree that parent engagement focused on supporting the learning process, both at school and at home, is critical to increasing overall student achievement.


For more details, contact your local school or Melissa Whipple at mwhipple@sandi.net.

La Jolla High PTA Honored for 700+ Members

La Jolla High School's PTA has received two awards from the Ninth District PTA, the organization's local chapter.

The high school's association was recognized by for having more than 700 members, the highest in the San Diego Unified School District.

"That's what we're proudest of," said Dana Shelburne, La Jolla High Principal. "Each of our PTA volunteers — parents, teachers and staff — should be very proud that they have brought this level of involvement to La Jolla High School."

The school was also recognized for the Life 101 program, which brings speakers to the school to talk with Senior Vikings about challenges they will face as adults, such as how to manage money, rent an apartment and stay healthy. The program was developed by a La Jolla High parent (and PTA member) Linda Rutgard, with funding from the PTA.

The PTA's Ninth District serve the children and schools of San Diego and Imperial Counties. With 367 PTA associations representing more than 70,000 PTA members, Ninth District PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy association in San Diego. Find out more about the PTA at http://www.ninthdistrictpta.org/.

For more on La Jolla High School, visit the school's website.

SD Unified Council of PTAs Donates 170,800 Volunteer Hours

Barbara Flannery, Jose Gonzales, Superintendent Bill Kowba and Board Member Kevin Beiser

Arika Daniels, Bey-Ling Sha and Derby Pattengill

Bey-Ling Sha, Mary MacKenzie, Ann Marie Haney, Barbara Flannery

Barbara Flannery and Melissa Whipple

The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs presented Supt. Bill Kowba with a mock check for $4,000,139, which represented the estimated dollar value of the 170,800 volunteer hours donated by PTA members this school year to the district. Board member Kevin Beiser joined the superintendent for the special presentation, which took place at the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs Founder’s Day Meeting on May 23.

“In reality, a dollar amount cannot be put on the volunteer hours given by PTA members each year,” said Kowba. “These committed volunteers are priceless to the district.”

The Council of PTAs also presented four service awards, recognized special unit PTAs who met the membership challenge and one National PTA award winner.

Mary MacKenzie and Mary Ann Haney accepted the Honorary Service Award presented to Community Council for Music in the Schools, a non-profit agency that revitalizes donated instruments to ensure that all San Diego Unified students have access to good musical instruments. The council also hosts the annual Honors Orchestra. The Honorary Service Award recognizes outstanding service to children and youth.

Melissa Whipple, family engagement resource teacher at the Ballard Parent Center, was presented an Honorary Service Award for her continuing support of student success through parent education. Melissa uses the National PTA Family Engagement Standards to frame her program.

PTA Council board members, Derby Pattengill and Bey-Ling Sha,each received Very Special Person award for outstanding service in the Our Children, Our Future [www.ourchildrenourfuture2012.com] ballot initiative – an initiative to solve the continuing school budget crisis.

Twelve district school PTAs were recognized with membership awards. Whitman Elementary PTA was recognized for its Family Evenings Science Week, which was funded by the National PTA “Take Your Family to School Week” grant. Benchley-Weinberger Elementary PTA was recognized by Ninth District PTA for Best Printed Newsletter and La Jolla High School PTA was recognized for Outstanding Continuing Program – Life 101.

The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs is comprised of 81 school-level PTAs in the San Diego Unified School District. To start a PTA at your school, contact Barbara Flannery at sducpta@yahoo.com.

Holmes Elementary Students Raise $26,000 on the Run

For the sixth straight year, Holmes Elementary students relied on their strength and endurance to raise more than $26,000 for their school. The sixth annual Holmes H.E.R.O. (Holmes Educational Run Off) Jog-a-Thon, sponsored by the school’s PTA, was held last month. More than 300 volunteers, parents and community members cheered the 530 students as they rounded the track to raise money for completed laps. The money raised will help fund the school’s VAPA program, which includes a choral music teacher and Arts Attack supplies; ongoing technology needs; and the Mileage Club.
What's next for the Clairemont neighborhood school? Celebrating its 50^th birthday on Saturday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the annual Spring Fling. Festivities include a silent auction, cake decorating contest and activities for the entire family. For more information, visit www.sandi.net/holmes or contact Principal Jonathan Saipe at jsaipe@sandi.net

Festival Raises Funds for University City Schools

The University City High band performs.

Guests, from babies to senior citizens, filled the Standley Park in University City on a beautiful day to enjoy a variety of games (from cow milking to climbing wall), contests (sauerkraut popsicles?! Really?!), music (accordions are enjoying a comeback), food mmm…French Gourmet’s strudel and pretzels after a big bratwurst), and beverages (10 delicious microbrews and 20 gallons of artisanal root beer to wash everything down), all to raise money for EdUCate! (The University City Foundation for Public Schools).

The Blue Angels were nice enough to perform, as were the Standley Middle School and UC High marching bands.

Oktoberfest kicked off EdUCate’s fall Dollardo to www.uc-educate.org. All proceeds from the event and from DAD will fund teacher and principal grants at the five schools this year.

University City and all San Diego Unified schools know how tight things are and appreciate your support in providing UC cluster students with supplemental supplies.

IN THE NEWS: Volunteers earn PTA service award

Linda Dowley, Kathy Fackler and Sarah Schrier recently received the PTA Honorary Service Award for their “endless hours of volunteering for La Jolla High School,” according to PTA President Betsy Mueller. Read more from the La Jolla Light»

PTA Celebrates 75 Years at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary

PTA members Mary Morgan and Rita Brandt hold the California Ninth District Legacy Award Certificate

Back in 1935, a new home cost $3,925 and a gallon of gas was 10 cents. A new Studebaker automobile would set you back $665 and a ladies swimsuit was $6.95.

And in San Diego, a new school called Sunshine School was opening to help disabled students. A PTA was formed at that school, then located on 35th Street.

Fast forward to 2011, what was Sunshine School is now the legacy of Lindbergh-Schweitzer Elementary School in Clairemont, and the PTA is still active and involved in helping kids and their school.

To honor this legacy, the Ninth District PTA recently recognized the school, its parents and community with a Legacy Award Certificate.

For additional information contact Julie Harris, Media Production Assistant at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary School, (858) 496-8400, jharris2@sandi.net.

For more district news, subscribe to the Superintendent's Friday Notes.

PTA Hosts Parent Workshop on Compensatory Education

The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs has partnered with the California Association of Compensatory Education (CASE) for the second time this year to offer insights in Compensatory Education and what it means to your school and your students. This seminar is free and open to all interested parents. You do not need to be an School Site Council (SSC) representative to attend and your school does not have to be a PTA school. The seminar will cover budget allocations.

Guest Speaker: David Page, DAC Chairperson

Date: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011

Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Location: PTA Bungalow at the Ballard Parent Center in Old Town, 2375 Congress Street, Bungalow 7, San Diego (92110)

RSVP: (619) 297-7821 or sducpta@yahool.com

What is a School Site Council? The School Site Council – also called SSC – oversees how federal and state categorical funds such as Title I dollars are spent at your child's school. The School Site Council develops and approves each school's Single Plan for Student Achievement – a plan of actions to raise the academic performance of all students.