Winter Break Schedule for Schools, Offices

All schools and district offices will be closed from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2, 2012, as schools take their winter break.

Schools will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, for those on traditional schedules, while schools on year-round schedules will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

All district offices will be closed to the public from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2, 2012. Staff may be working during these two weeks, as schedules differ depending on the work group; many other office employees will be taking a combination of unpaid furlough, vacation time and holidays during the two weeks.

If you see an emergency at a school or district office, call School Police at (619) 291-7678.

IN THE NEWS: Marvin Elementary Students Talk Weather

Weather visit by morning news shows off science students at Marvin Elementary School.

Watch video from KUSI-TV»

GIS Connects Kearny SCT and Montgomery Students

A Kearny student, left, helps Montgomery students locate their GPS coordinates.

Students became teachers recently as GIS 3-4 students in the School of Science, connections and Technology at Kearny High visited eighth graders at nearby Montgomery Middle School.

Basic concepts of geographic information systems (GIS) data collection, spatial analysis and the use of GPS were in the curriculum, part of the celebration of National Geography Awareness Week from Nov. 14-17 and International GIS Day on Nov. 16.

Students at the Kearny schools regularly work with students at Montgomery, who are future Kearny Komets. Many of Kearny's advanced programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics begin with classes for the students in grades 6-8 at Montgomery, which is a member of the Kearny cluster.

Contact Corri Burgess, GIS teacher, at cburgess@sandi.net, for more information. To learn more about GIS day, check outwww.gisday.com.

Serra High School Student2Student Club Mentors Vista Grande Students

Serra and Vista Grande students talk about transitions.

Vista Grande Elementary School Student Council members wanted to ease the transition of students entering their school. With a mobile military student population of 35-40 percent, they were concerned about how difficult it sometimes is to be “the new kid.” Serra High School students came to their aid, traveling to Vista Grande recently to share some of the strategies used by Serra’s extraordinary Student2Student (S2S) Club.

The S2S Club helps students face the daunting experience of changing schools. Club members offer incoming students a forum to quickly feel welcomed, comfortable, included, and accepted into their new school community. Student tours, welcome packets, and social gatherings during the school year help to diminish the stress and uncertainty of the first days and weeks at a new school. At Serra, friendships often start with S2S.

Serra students shared tools and experiences and demonstrated icebreaker and team-building games that helped Vista Grande students develop their own plans for a Student Ambassador Club at their elementary school level. They answered questions and shared ideas, leaving the student council members with a clear plan for their new club.

S2S, and JS2S (Junior Student2Student) are powerful high school and middle school programs designed by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). Serra students and staff received extensive training from MCEC to customize an individualized program for implementation at their school site.

For more information about Serra’s S2S Club, contact Jason Demendonca, Club Advisor, at 858-496-8342 x163 or Marie Byrd, Parent Support Liaison and S2S Activities Coordinator, at 858-496-8342 x231.

Sustainable Technologies Facility construction progressing

Scripps Ranch High School's Sustainable Technologies facility is nearing the half-way mark. At 40 percent complete, the nearly $6.4 million facility is a College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) project funded by California Proposition 1D and local Proposition S bond funds.

It will house an innovative program that CCTE and Scripps Ranch High School are developing to focus on renewable technologies. The unique CCTE programwill encompass four emerging, high-growth industry sectors including building trades and construction, engineering and design,transportation, and power and utilities. Instruction will focus on areas such as green construction, renewable energy and utilities, alternative fuels, clean transportation, and innovative engineering and design.

For additional information, visit fpcprojects.sandi.net, www.sandi.net/PropS or www.sandi.net/ccte (College Career & Technical Education program info). You may also call (858) 637-3604

Taft Middle School Students "Mix It Up" at Lunch

Changing habits can be tough for anyone, but students at Taft Middle School chose to break out of their comfort zones and “Mix It Up” at lunch to bring attention to the epidemic of bullying.

Students participated in a nationwide “Mix It Up at Lunch Day” activity Nov. 18 where they were asked to sit in a different place and with different individuals than they typically do at lunchtime. This national campaign, launched by the organization Teaching Tolerance a decade ago, encourages students to identify, question, and cross social boundaries.

Taft Middle School’s lunch court was rearranged and specially decorated for the event. Every student was randomly grouped using colorful wristbands with letters to identify which group they would sit with at lunch. Students got their lunch and joined their assigned table, each having a student leader/facilitator, and were encouraged to engage in conversations with those at their table to discover what they had in common with one another. The event concluded with music and group dances like the Macarena, Cupid Shuffle, and Y.M.C.A.

“This is one of the many ways Taft Middle School is trying to address the epidemic of bullying,” said Principal Mike George. “It was truly an amazing sight to see our students “Mix It Up.”
For several days leading up to the lunchtime event, students were involved in lessons during their first period classes that fostered thinking about concepts such as differences/similarities, isolation, prejudice and “isms,” among other topics. According to Teaching Tolerance, studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away.

The event was sponsored by the PBIS committee and ASB.

For additional information, contact Vice Principal Lynn Ryan at 858-496-8245 or mryan@sandi.net.

Serra High Invites Parents to Experience Their Child's School Day

Student Brandon shows his mom, Kay, around school.

What would it be like for adults to go back in time to their high school days?

At Serra High, parents can experience it every year during "Come to School With Your Student Day." It allowed parents and guardians to "shadow" their child at school, spending time in their classrooms, observing during actual instruction time and even having lunch in the cafeteria.

Parents and guardians say they gain a better understanding of what their student is doing at school and in the classrooms.Others said it was helpful to “shadow” their student for the day and be reminded of what it’s like to be in high school again!

In addition to getting a taste of campus life, workshops on Naviance, the district's college and career planning tool, and A-G high school graduation requirements provided parents and guardians with information and resources to support their student’s academic success. The Nov. 10 event was the third-annual "Come to School With Your Student Day."

"Serra High believes that events like this are an excellent way to encourage parents to be more actively engaged in their student’s education," said Principal Mike Jimenez. "Allowing parents to observe classrooms during actual instruction time,for example, provides valuable insight into such things as specific teaching methods and styles. Walking the campus with the students during the day allows parents to experience the true climate and culture of our school."

Serra recognizes the value of parental involvement at school and continues to strive to help all students achieve academic success. For more information, contact Marie Byrd, parent support liaison, at 858-496-8342 x231