District's Musicians, Singers, Performers Show Off to Raise Funds

Those who teach the arts, those who support those who teach the arts, and those who learn from those who teach the arts will take the stage at Taft Middle School this Saturday to help raise funds for San Diego Unified's arts programs. The SDUSD Glee Club Sing Out is scheduled for 7 p.m this Saturday, Nov. 5 at Taft Middle School auditorium, 9191 Gramercy Dr. Tickets are just $10 and are available at the door or by calling (858) 539-5349. Lloyd Pest Control is the evening's title sponsor. "Between the students, teachers and staff, there's a lot of talent in this district," said Karen Childress-Evans, director of the district's Visual and Performing Arts Department. "We're going to have a lot of fun on Saturday night and we hope to sell out the house to support arts programs." The evening's bill includes performances by the Marshall Middle School Chorus, Pacific Coast Harmony Barber Shop, SDUSD Tap Dancers and the SDUSD Glee Club Singers. Host will be Cathryn Beeks of KPRI-FM. "We're certainly not going to solve any financial crisis with this show," said Childress-Evans, "but we want San Diego to come out and see what excellence we have in our district." A silent auction wil also be held to benefit district arts programs. Those wanting to donate to the silent auction should call (858) 539-5349.

Kearny CTA, Crawford IDEA Cash In at CANstruction

Teams from two high schools have come out winners in the annual local CANstruction program, an annual competition to not only collect cans of food but create art. The "SpongeBob Squarepants Goes to CAN Diego" exhibit by Kearny Construction Tech Academy students received Best Use of Labels and People's Choice Awards from the judges, who are local architects and engineers. Crawford IDEA students received an Honorable Mention for their gear exhibit. More than 3,000 pounds of food, with a retail price of more than $4,000, was used in the Kearny exhibit. The cans were donated to Kearny for the exhibit and now that the competition is complete will be passed on to local food banks. San Diego's top Architects and Engineers compete annually in a design-build competition to create giant works of sculptural art, made entirely out of canned foods. These structures are up to 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. No interior structural support is allowed. These are solid structures made entirely out of canned food. The Architects and Engineers are judged and the winners announced at the Gala. Once the structures are taken down, all of the food is donated to local San Diego food banks. For more information on the programs, contact the College Career and Technical Education program at (858) 503-1841.

IN THE NEWS: Home/Hospital Teacher Named Inspirational Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to San Diego Unified teacher Caren Waller for being named NBC San Diego iInspirational Teacher of the Month for October. She was nominated by the staff of Rady Children's Hospital for her dedication to teaching students whose current classroom is a hospital room. Watch the NBC San Diego video.

One Good Deed Deserves Another

On Sunday, Sept. 18, Kearny School of Digital Media and Design ninth graders joined students from throughout the county at SurfAid International's monthly Surf 'n' Serve event at Eli Howard Surf School in Cardiff.

Students participated in a Coastal Cleanup and in return received a free, two-hour surf lesson from professional surf instructors. Surfboards and wetsuits were provided by Billabong.

Students received a surprise visit from Dr. Dave Jenkins, founder of SurfAid Interational. Kearny DMD students are partnering with SurfAid this school year as they develop their global citizenship skills and learn about how they can support victims of natural disasters throughout the world. 

For more information, contact Meghann Hughes, educational specialist, at mhughes1@sandi.net.

IN THE NEWS: Thurgood Marshall 'Teacher of the Year' Profiled

Getting the right answer is fine, but Jean Chalupsky is much more interested in getting her students to really think deeply about how they’ve come to whatever answer they give, whether it’s right or wrong. Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune»

Chinese Dancers Perform at Barnard Elementary

Kung fu demonstration

Was it ancient China or the auditorium at Barnard Chinese Magnet School? That’s what students, parents, staff and visitors were asking during a performance by a visiting troupe from the Zhejiang University of Media and Communications.

The elaborate show, excerpts from the traditional Chinese opera “Eastern Rhyme of Passion,” was the Zhejiang perfomers’ first stop on their US tour. It included elaborate, traditional costumes, kung fu and music with traditional Chinese instruments, including the koto, sheng and two-stringed Chinese fiddle or erhu.

“It was an amazing event for all of us at Barnard,” said Eddie Park, Barnard principal. “The performance was something rarely seen in the US, plus our students were able to learn from the actors.”

All of the performers are teachers at the university and were able to share their specialties with the Barnard students. For example, students participated in demonstrations of kung fu and were able to see how many of the unique instruments are played.

Barnard students learn
from Chinese musician.

Following the long flight from China, the players from Zhejian University, which is in the city of Hangzhou near Shanghai in China’s southeastern section, performed at Barnard. Later that evening, they performed at Pt. Loma High, which also offers Chinese Mandarin language classes.

“We want to thank our partners in education, the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University and managing director Dr. Lily Cheng, for arraigning the group to be able to perform for our community,” said Park. “Thank you and Xie Xie!”

For more information on the Barnard Mandarin Chinese program, contact Park at (619) 224-3306.

Point Loma High Remodeling Project Passes Halfway Mark

The Prop. S-funded Motion Picture Industries facility project at Point Loma High is more than 50 percent complete. The $3 million project includes remodeling a 4,800-square-foot portion of the school’s 900 building into a new facility for the Motion Picture Industries program.

This College, Career and Technical Education program prepares students for careers in the motion picture industry, and will serve more than 300 students. Features of the remodeled facility include screening and editing rooms, an audio suite and studio, and audio-video hub.

This is one of three active Prop. S-funded projects at Point Loma High School. For additional project information, visit fpcprojects.sandi.net or for Prop. S information, email PropSinfo@sandi.net, visit www.sandi.net/PropS or call (619) 725-7252.