Edison, SD High International Studies are Blue Ribbon Nominees

Edison Elementary School and the School of International Studies at the San Diego High Educational Complex have been nominated for Blue Ribbons from the U.S. Department of Education.

The two schools were in a group of 35 submitted by the state Department of Education. Nominees generally receive the awards, which are generally announced in the fall by the U.S. Department of Education.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve at very high levels and/or where the achievement gap in narrowing. The Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement.

"Both of these schools have outstanding, innovative programs and hard-working students in very challenging neighborhoods," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. "Edison is a national leader in English-language learning and International Studies is regularly near the top of America's best high schools lists."

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is part of a larger U. S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds.

"There are only two other school districts of the thousand in the state that had two schools nominated," said Kowba. "This is another indication of the fine learning being done by students, the fine teaching being done by our teachers and all the fine work being done by our staff."

Nearly a dozen San Diego Unified schools have been honored over the years with a Blue Ribbon, most recently 2010, when the School of Digital Media and Design at Kearny High and Preuss UCSD charter picked up the prize. For more information on the Blue Ribbon winners, go to http://www.sandi.net/Page/33040.

IN THE NEWS: Conference to focus on school tech

Program at Innovation Middle School featured as SD Unified was only local district to gain federal Internet grant. Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune»

Montgomery Middle Grant Will Help Students Get Safely to School

Montgomery Middle School will begin a volunteer Safe Passage and Violence Prevention Coalition among students, school officials, parents and law enforcement thanks to a $1,000 grant from the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

The school's Volunteer Parent Safety Patrol will provide adult supervision on street corners along routes to school in order to address the fears of gangs and bullying that were reported by students in the school's 2009 Safe Passage Survey. Brochures and outreach fliers will inform parents and community members about Safe Passage efforts and will educate them about available resources and the health benefits of choosing walking and bicycling.

In addition, bicycle helmets will be purchased with the grant. They will provide basic protective equipment to students who cannot afford to purchase the equipment on their own.

Safe Routes to School programs are sustained efforts by schools, parents, schoolchildren, community leaders and local, state, federal and tribal governments to enable and encourage more children to walk and bicycle to school. The National Center, which serves as the clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes program, received 212 eligible Safe Routes mini-grant applications from schools and community organizations nationwide during this fifth award cycle.

Proposals selected in the highly competitive process distinguished themselves by identifying a need and proposing a sustainable program to address it.

For more information on Montgomery Middle School, contact Jonathan Ton, principal, at (858) 496-8330.

IN THE NEWS: Board President Discusses Budget, Student Achievement

The upcoming budget reductions and achievements by students and staff are discussed by Dr. John Lee Evans, board president. Courtesy KUSI-TV. Watch video from KUSI-TV»

Lincoln Student Becomes SDPD Cadet

Jasmine Ramirez

Jasmine Ramirez, a Lincoln High School of Public Safety student, recently graduated from the San Diego Police Department Cadet Program. Jasmine originally was interested in pursuing art after high school, but changed her mind after taking Lincoln's Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Careers course.

“I decided I wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement and help people,” she said. Jasmine was excited to qualify for the program and start the rigorous application process.

The program is voluntary and provides great law enforcement experiences such as ride-alongs, assisting with security and traffic control, and undercover work.Students receive community service hours during the program as well. Jasmine plans on working towards becoming a sergeant in the Cadet Program and learning as much as she can.

 

For more information, please contact Ray Beattie, CCTE Teacher, at rbeattie@sandi.net or visit the SDPD Cadet website at http://www.sandiego.gov/police/recruiting/opportunities/cadet/index.shtml.

IN THE NEWS: San Diego Unified’s vision for educational excellence

Board President John Lee Evans pens commentary in San Diego Union-Tribune:

As we enter 2012, the San Diego Unified School District is also focused on the year 2020. How can we afford to do this when we are facing budget shortfalls never seen over the past century? Simply put, we cannot afford to wait.

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Locally-Grown Lunch Menu Items are a Hit

Suzi's Farm says this is for San Diego Unified.

America's healthiest and tastiest school lunches continue to be in the cafeterias of San Diego Unified. For example,certified locally grown Kabocha squash from Suzie's Farm in the South Bay is our January Harvest of the Month, appearing eachThursday in school salad bars.

More than 10,000 pounds of the vegetable were grown especially for San Diego school kids. Local persimmons were so popular in December that they're staying on the salad bars until we run out, which will probably be in a week or so.

San Diego Unified's Farm to School program and itsinnovative Food Services Department keep our kids healthy and ready to learn.For more information, contact Gary Petill, Food Services Director, at (858)627-7301.