IN THE NEWS: Mann Middle School Stars on Morning News

Music, science and breakfast featured on Morning News. En Español, courtesy KBNT-TV. Watch video»

IN THE NEWS: Marshall Middle Students Make Music and Science

Students at Marshall Middle School in Scripps Ranch are combining music and science... and making their own instruments. Watch video from KUSI-TV»

“Dancing with the Students” Teaches Grace and Manners

Students at Green Elementary Academics and Athletics Magnet School are discovering that there are more ways to get exercise than running and doing sit-ups. In Ms. Patterson’s Physical Education class (photo), students are receiving lessons in cotillion-style ballroom dance and etiquette.

Students are learning manners, respectful attitudes towards each other and how to approach each other politely to “ask for the dance” as they gracefully dip, spin and turn with style in the school’s Multiple Purpose Room (MPR).

The MPR also hosts a gymnastics and tumbling program, which uses professional gymnastics equipment that teaches balance, flexibility, focus and body strength. Want to learn more? The school is hosting tours on Mondays at 7:45 a.m. through Feb. 14. No need to sign up, just come as you are.

For more information, contact Principal Bruce Ferguson at (619) 460-5755.

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

School Police Receive Federal Security Grant

San Diego Unified School Police Department has been awarded $116,750 for the purchase of a replacement power generator for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as well as bulletproof blankets to be used during the rescue of students and staff in the event of an emergency.

The grant was received as part of the recent award of $7.7 million to San Diego county agencies to coordinate and improve response to homeland security and other catastrophic events, such as wildfires and earthquakes. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided the funds to the California Emergency Management Agency.

For more information, contact Lt. Rueben Littlejohn, San Diego Unified School Police, at (619) 725-7036.



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IN THE NEWS: Superintendent Talks Budget Challenges

Supt. Bill Kowba talks about the challenges for the 2011-12 school year on the Morning News. Watch video from KUSI-TV.

Robot Teams Get FIRST Marching Orders

FIRST students celebrate the new season.

Student teams from 38 Southern California schools gathered early on a Saturday morning to hear the announcement of this year's "game" for the 2011 FIRST Robotics Competition. (FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.)

Six San Diego Unified high school teams are scheduled to compete in this year's regional competition on March 10-12 at the Valley View Casino Center (formerly the San Diego Sports Arena). Students will work hundreds of hours leading up to the regional competition to build a robot to compete in the "game." The regional competition event is free to the public and very exciting to watch

This year's "game" involves putting tubes of various sizes onto racks within competition guidelines and standards.

Winners of the regional competitions will advance to the national competition in St. Louis. Kearny, Mira Mesa, High Tech, Madison, Crawford, and Lincoln high schools from San Diego Unified are currently scheduled to compete this year.

Teams will often work with other schools on portions of their robots and utilize each other's resources such as tools and machines.

For more information, contact Bill Berggren, CCTE program specialist, at (858) 503-1753.

Community Town Hall hosted by Assemblymember Marty Block

Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego), representing the 78th Assembly District, invites the community to share views and ideas regarding Governor Brown's proposed state budget during a town hall meeting this week.

Learn more about the $25 billion state budget deficit and its effects on education. Share your thoughts on how the proposed mix of spending cuts, revenue increases and realigning of county and state program responsibilities may affect you.
 
The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at Patrick Henry High School, 6702 Wandermere Dr. (92120)

See flier for details or visit www.asmdc.org/block.

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