Prop. S Update: Serra High Earns “W” On New Football Field

Principal Mike Jimenez, left, and Area Superintendent David Lorden, right, join Serra players as renovated stadium is dedicated.

It may still be called “The Hole,” but Serra High School’s stadium now has a new synthetic turf football field and all-weather track, thanks to Proposition S.

The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held prior to the school’s first home game Sept. 23, a 27-13 non-league win over University City High. Athletic Director Jonn Pisapia, joined by Board Trustee Kevin Beiser, Principal Michael Jimenez, and others, cut the ribbon as the football team anxiously awaited play on their new field.

The $2.4 million football field/track improvement project is one of several Prop. S-funded projects planned at Serra High over the next five years.

For more project information, visit our school facilities projects page at http://fpcprojects.sandi.net.

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Program helps parents help their kids, work better with teachers and principals. En Español. Watch video from KBNT-TV»

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: San Diego High Shows Off on Morning News

NBC 7's Morning News visits San Diego High where they meet the football team, cheer squad and much more. Courtesy KNSD-TV. Watch video»

Nordstrom Scholarships Go to Two San Diego Unified Students

Madison High School student Krissylyn Johnson, center, celebrates her scholarship award with Nordstrom representatives Jenn Campbell, left, and Anita Crandall.	Two high school students in the San Diego Unified School District -- one from Madison, one from San Diego High -- have received four year, $10,000 scholarships from the Nordstrom department store. Krisslyn Johnson of Madison High and Anita Agoh of the School of Science and Technology (SciTech) each received the college scholarships from the store. The scholarship provides the students with $2,500 per year for four years. In 2011, students in the 28 states where Nordstrom currently has an operating full-line store will be eligible to apply for a Nordstrom Scholarship. Eighty scholarships will be awarded. Each scholarship will be paid out in equal installments of $2,500 over four years to the selected student's college of choice. Students must be attending a four-year college or university. For more information on the scholarship, go to the Nordstrom Scholarship website.	Anita Agoh of SciTech at San Diego High celebrates her Nordstrom Scholarship award with her family. From left, San Diego High Counselor Andreanna Murphy, Counselor; Anthonia Agoh, Anita's mom; Anita; Anita Crandall, Nordstrom representative; Johne Agoh, Anita's father; Awele Agoh, brother; Anita Crandall, Nordstrom.

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Montgomery Student Artists on Display in Balboa Park, Cricket Corporate Headquarters

Student Eric and artist Diana Duval.

Students at the Art Institute reception.

Student Adriana with her art.

Artwork from students at Montgomery Middle School is featured at the San Diego Art Institute at the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, through this Sunday, Oct. 9.

The artwork, from Montgomery sixth-grade students, is on display in the David Fleet Young Artist Gallery, which features student artwork from all over San Diego County. The school also has an ongoing relationship with Cricket Wireless, which has displayed student artwork from Montgomery in its Kearny Mesa headquarters for several years.

Teachers Lorraine Castro, Edelmira Gomez, Lisa Gardner and Emelyn Leppard have continued to teach art at the school and ensure the students have an outlet for their work. Gomez and Castro make time for art and infuse artistic expression into their sixth-grade social studies classes, while Gardener, the school's art teacher, brings it to ESL classes. Leppard, who at one time taught photography at the Linda Vista campus, works her local connections to ensure the student work gets exhibited.

"Art brings the curriculum alive," said Gomez.

Timothy Field, director of the San Diego Art Institute, says the organization is committed to finding creative ways to infuse art into school curriculum, as well as motivating students through exhibiting their artwork at the Institute. This is the 12th year the student work from Montgomery has been on display.

The Art Institute exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Institute, 1439 El Prado in Balboa Park. For more information about the David Fleet Young Artists Gallery, contact Elizabeth Morton at the Art Institute at (619) 236-0011.

The exhibit at Cricket Wireless headquarters, 5887 Copley Drive, San Diego, is not in an area open to the public.

For more information on this and other programs at Montgomery Middle School, contact Jonathan Ton, Principal, at (858) 496-8330.