World Aids Day is Dec. 1

Students around the district will be participating in World Aids Day events on Dec. 1. For example, at Lincoln High School, one of the school's partners, the San Ysidro Heath Center, will be working with students to educate each other on the disease and handing out pencils and ribbons.

• More on World Aids Day»

Padres Host Student Body Presidents

Student leaders from La Jolla High, above, and Patrick Henry High, below, were guests of the Padres.

ASB presidents and other student body officials were guests of the San Diego Padres for a game just before the season ended.

Presidents from Clairemont, Crawford, Patrick Henry, La Jolla, Mission Bay, Morse and Point Loma high schools received tickets to enjoy time together as the home team won its last game of the season. It was an evening of laughter and memorable times.

Race Human Relations and Advocacy is thankful with this new partnership with the Padres that allows the students to have a group experience out in the community.

Thank you to Alex Montoya, Manager of Latino Affairs and Christina Papasedero, Coordinator, Community Relations and Padres Foundation, and the San Diego Padres for this opportunity.

For more information on the Race, Human Relations and Advocacy program and ASB government, contact Rodolfo Parra at (858) 490-868.

de Portola Again a "Middle School to Watch"

Our students

de Portola Middle School in Tierrasanta has been re-designated a model middle school by the California Department of Education's Schools to Watch™−Taking Center Stage (STW™−TCS) program.

The school's academic excellence, responsiveness to students needs were lauded by Tom Torlakson, state Superintendent of Schools, in an announcement from Sacramento. Across California, 11 schools were returned to the "watch" list, while four schools were added to the honor roll. There are more than 1,300 middle schools in California and 95 in San Diego county. dePortola is being joined by Olive Peirce Middle School in Ramona as the only honored schools in San Diego county.

"I commend the students, their parents, teachers, and administrators, for their efforts in helping make these 15 schools models of excellence," Torlakson said. "Their success is amazing, especially considering they are swimming against the tide of massive budget cuts, crowded classrooms, and school employee layoffs."

A "school to watch" for several years, dePortola and all schools in the program are recognized for theirsuccess in four areas: implementing best practices focused onacademic achievement;responding to the developmental needs ofyoung adolescents; offering a fair and equitable education for allstudents; and instituting organizational processes and proceduresthat foster and sustain academic growth.

"dePortola is one of the outstanding schools in our district," said San Diego Superintendent Bill Kowba. "Every day, students, teachers and staff are ready to learn and grow. Principal Elizabeth Gillingham and her team deserve the congratulations they are receiving."

The Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage program identifies high-performing school models that demonstrate academicexcellence, developmental responsiveness to the needs and interests ofyoung adolescents, social equity, and organizational support. Model schools host visitors from California and around the world whoare looking for replicable practices that will help them improve theirmiddle grades schools and close the achievement gap.

For more information about the Schools to Watch™−Taking Center Stagemodel school program, visit the California Department of Education Website at California Schools to Watch--Taking Center Stage - Middle Grades.

Memorial Preparatory gets $10,000 NFL PLAY 60 Grant from Chargers

Students at Memorial Preparatory for Scholars and Athletes did not let an unprecedented San Diego power outage in September stop their plans to hold Back to Football Friday. They instead rallied to show off their Chargers pride a week later, earning a chance to win a NFL PLAY 60 grant.

Their resilience paid off as Memorial Preparatory was selected to receive a $10,000 grant from the Chargers and the NFL for demonstrating their passion for the Bolts.

Tight end Randy McMichael, kicker Nick Novak, safety and long snapper Mike Windtwere on hand to present the school with the grant and talk to students about health and fitness today. Following a Q&A session, McMichael, Novak, Stuckey and Windt held a NFL Physical Education Class for students.

The NFL PLAY 60 Super School sweepstakes selected one school in each of the 32 NFL markets and two non-NFL markets. Winning schools are receiving a $10,000 NFL PLAY 60 grant for health and wellness programming or equipment and a visit from NFL players.

Memorial Preparatory hosted a lunchtime pep rally for their Back to Football Friday event where students competed in a hot dog eating contest, a door decorating contest and tug-o-war matches. The funds from the grant will be used toward an exercise science lab where the school’s goal is to increase cardiovascular machines and purchase Polar Heart Monitors, buy computers and build a body analysis section.

To celebrate the start of the 2011 NFL season,fans were encouraged to demonstrate their passion for their favorite NFL teams by planning a unique Back to Football Friday event for their school, all to support youth health and wellness. Schools that entered the Back to Football Friday contest submitted photos of their event and answered brief essay questions.

• Find out more at Chargers.com»

IN THE NEWS: Late night call opens the door to a new career in classroom

Britney Sandoval was literally called to teach. A graduate of UC San Diego, she was working in retail and trying to figure out what to do next. She got a phone call late on a Thursday night asking if she could show up the next morning to fill in for a teacher who’d just quit during lunch. Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune»

New Equipment Saves Students "Trip to the Hospital"

Dr. Marcia Veltre, audiologist, and Lisa Campbell, deaf/hard of hearing preschool teacher, with her morning class.

Whitman Elementary School started the new school year with a new sound booth for hearing tests. The new booth is equipped with a GSI audiometer, a tympanometer for obtaining middle ear information, visual reinforcement display screens, and is large enough to allow a two-person team to test very young children.

Before getting its own sound booth, Whitman students would have to go to Rady Children’s Hospital or Lafayette Elementary School for testing.

The auditory/oral communication program at Whitman serves nearly 70 deaf/hard of hearing preschool through 6th grade students.

For more information, contact Principal Pam Thompson at pthompson1@sandi.net.

Kimbrough Elementary Receives Target Library Makeover

The Kimbrough Elementary community, along with Target Corp., The Heart of America Foundation, The Mission Continues, United Through Reading and hundreds of volunteers, recently unveiled the school's renovated library.

Superintendent Bill Kowba was joined by California Sen. Juan Vargas, San Diego County Superintendent Dr. Randy Ward, Area Superintendent Gil Gutierrez, and Kimbrough Principal Flavia Soria, along with Kimbrough students and volunteers, in dedicating the renovations on Nov. 10.

This project is part of the 2011 Target School Library Makeover program and Target’s partnership with The Mission Continues and United Through Reading. Kimbrough Elementary joins Miller Elementary as the second school in the San Diego Unified School District to receive a Target School Library makeover. Miller’s remodeled library was unveiled in 2010.

The renovated space features 2,000 new books, eco-friendly design elements, new furniture, carpet and shelves and technology upgrades such as computers and iPads.

As part of the library makeover, Target will also launch a Target Meals for Minds food pantry, which will allow families to choose from a variety of staple foods and fresh produce to take home.

As part of the celebration, children’s author Laura Numeroff will read to students from her new book, “If You Give a Dog a Donut.” After the event, each student will receive eight books to take home, including Laura Numeroff’s new book.

Through programs such as Target School Library Makeovers, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education, with a focus on reading, by the end of 2015.