Taste of the Triangle entices appetites to support schools

UC High Culinary Arts Club

EdUCate!, the University City Foundation for Public Schools, recently hosted its 19th annual Taste of the Triangle. This successful fundraising event has a long history of supporting schools and students. It brings together parents, school administrators, teachers, community members, students, volunteers and local restaurants in order to raise funds for University City public schools: University City High School, Standley Middle School, and Curie, Doyle and Spreckels elementary schools. This year's Taste of the Triangle grossed more than $78,000.

The pre-event VIP reception featured one of EdUCate!’s most enthusiastic supporters, Chef Bernard Guillas, of the fabulous Marine Room on La Jolla Shores. Guillas has participated in Taste of the Triangle since 2008. He wowed this year’s VIP crowd, along with Advanced Sommelier Lisa Redwine, with a food and wine pairing demonstration.

The main event was a gastronomic experience of numerous restaurant sponsors, each donating time, staff and freshly prepared food “tastes” for attendees. Participating restaurants included: 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro; Baskin Robbins – Costa Verde; Bite of Boston; Carriage Trade Catering; Corner Bakery Café; Eureka! Burger; The French Gourmet; Great Maple; Herringbone; Islands; Leucadia Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant; Lorna’s Italian Kitchen; The Marine Room; The Melting Pot; The Palm; Seasons 52; Sushi on the Rock; Tender Greens; and Whisknladle.

A highlight of the evening was the UC High School Culinary Arts Club's table, with food prepared by our very own student chefs. These students continue to explore their passion for culinary arts in a club setting after the school's culinary arts classes were eliminated.

The event raises money for University City cluster schools through ticket sales, a live and silent auction, and direct donations. Several corporate sponsors helped offset the costs of the event. Guests of honor included four UC cluster school principals, San Diego Unified Board of Education President and UC resident John Lee Evans, Superintendent Bill Kowba, and Superintendent-designate Cindy Marten.

For more information, contact Anne St Louis, EdUCate Board, amstlouis@earthlink.net or 619-985-9070 or visit http://www.uc-educate.org/ .

At Holmes Elementary, pink principal is reward for jogging to $16,500

Just what was Holmes Elementary School Principal Jonathan Saipe doing recently when he rode around the school on a pink bicycle wearing a pink tutu?

He was honoring his challenge to the students and Holmes community to raise $10,000 in the Spring Donation Drive held in conjunction with the Holmes HERO (Homes Educational Run Off) Jog-a-Thon. This was a joint effort by the school's PTA, students, staff and community and raised a total of $16,500 for the Clairemont K-6 school.

Saipe showed his school spirit by being “pinkified” when the community raised over $10,000. When the total reached $15,000, he rewarded the students by giving them the opportunity to eat lunch with friends in other classes and grade levels one day a week.

"Our HERO Run is a great tradition which brings our school community together for a fun day of exercise, music, and snow cones.” said Saipe. "I will do it every year if it provides extra motivation and laughs for the students.”

In addition to the pink frills, the school's headmaster also tinted his hair pink and wore a pink outfit for the day.

"The kids and staff screamed with excitement when I rode my pink cruiser out to our Monday morning assembly on the playground,” he said. "We’ve all been working very hard lately, with testing and implementing the Common Core Standards. It was great seeing the kids smiles as I visited classrooms throughout the day."

The money raised will help fund the school’s visual and performing arts program, which includes a choral music teacher and Arts Attack supplies; ongoing technology needs; field trips; instructional supplies; and the Mileage Club.

What's next for the Clairemont neighborhood school? The annual Spring Fling will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11. Festivities include a silent auction, cake decorating contest, arts and crafts, student performances and activities for the entire family. For more information, visit www.sandi.net/holmes or contact Principal Jonathan Saipe at jsaipe@sandi.net.

Madison High automotive technology teacher, program are honored

Teacher Omar Sevilla with a student.

Madison High School’s automotive technology program and its teacher, Omar Sevilla, have been honored as 2013 Program of the Year by the California Industrial and Technology Association.

The program was cited as being "one of the finest examples of current teaching programs in the career technical education field," said the association's past president, John Chocholak.

Sevilla accepted the 2013 Program of the Year award from the association recently in Sacramento.

"We're state champs in auto, too," said Madison Principal Richard Nash. "Congratulations to Mr. Sevilla; it's his hard work that has made this such a quality facility."

The automotive technology program at Madison High was transformed in December 2010 with the opening of a 10,000 square foot facility housing eight auto bays as laboratories, classroom space for more than 70 students, energy efficient features and sustainable products and designed according to industry standards, based on input from professionals in various commercial automotive fields. The facility was built using Proposition S and state Proposition 1D matching funds.

Madison’s automotive program achieved industry certification from National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation in Spring 2012. Students can receive industry certification after completing a sequence of courses that enhances their employability. The current sequence of courses includes Transportation Technology, Automotive Technology and Brakes, Steering and Suspension.

For more information, contact Sevilla at (858) 496-8410.

Seven seniors are Gates Millennium Scholars

Graduating seniors from Kearny High Science Connections and Technology, San Diego High School of Business, Scripps Ranch High School and University City High schools are among 1,000 students nationwide who have been awarded 2013 Gates Millennium Scholarships.

The program awards the Class of 2013 Gates Millennium Scholars good-through-graduation scholarships which can be used to pursue degrees in any undergraduate major at the accredited college or university of the recipients’ choice. It is funded through a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has helped remove barriers to education for more than 20,000 high-performing, low income students since it was established in 1999. It is administered by the United Negro College Fund in partnership with with the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund.

Three students from University City High School – Susan Stewart, Matthew Wood and Calvin Yao – received the scholarships. Also receiving scholarships were: from the San Diego High School of Business, Miguel Anzelmetti and Anesheawa Senior; Nhat Quang Thai, Kearny Science Connections and Technology; and Solomon Ephraim, Scripps Ranch High School.

"All of us at the San Diego Unified School District commend the hard work of these students and are thrilled with the opportunity they are receiving from the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program," said Superintendent Bill Kowba.

According to the program, it provides recipients with leadership development opportunities, mentoring, academic and social support as well as financial support. Known for its recipients' high graduation rates, Gates Millennium Scholars have a six-year graduation rate of more than 86 percent (38 percent higher than the national graduation rates for all students) and comparable to the rates for students from high-income families.

Students have already been accepted to four-year institutions. Scripps Ranch High's Ephraim is scheduled to attend UC Santa Barbara. At UC High, Susan Stewart is slated for UC Berkeley, New York University or UCLA; Matthew Wood, Brown University; and Calvin Yao, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago or UCLA. San Diego High's School of Business Miguel Anzelmetti is going to UCSD and Anesheawa Senior is going to Tuskegee University.

Qualifications for the program include: a 3.3 grade point average; African American, American Indian – Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American ethnic groups; will enroll for the first time at a U.S. located, accredited college or university (with the exception of students concurrently pursuing a high school diploma) in the fall of 2013 as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student; have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities; meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria. First-time college enrollees can also be GED recipients.

For more information, visit the program's website.

Hancock Elementary to receive Target library makeover

Grand opening at Kimbrough Elementary in 2011.

Hancock Elementary in Murphy Canyon is scheduled to be the latest San Diego Unified school to receive a makeover from Target School Library Makeover Program.

The school, which primarily serves the Santo Terrace/Murphy Canyon neighborhood of housing for U.S. military dependents. Other schools to receive Target library makeovers in San Diego Unified include Angier, Kimbrough and Miller elementary schools.

"We once again appreciate the generosity of Target Corp. and the Heart of America Foundation," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. "I have attended the grand openings of these libraries and can tell you the children are so excited about the great books and wonderful improvements."

To transform the school library, Target partners with The Heart of America Foundation and enlist the pro bono work of the Target design and construction teams. Additionally, Target relies on its team-member volunteers at local stores and across the country to help breathe new life into the libraries.

Each school will have the option to receive a Target Meals for Minds food pantry. In partnership with Feeding America affiliates, Target Meals for Minds food pantries will provide students and their families with more than 22 pounds of fresh produce and staple foods each month.

“The Target School Library Makeover program is part of our commitment to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “By reimagining school libraries and transforming outdated spaces into state-of-the-art learning centers, Target hopes to ignite a love of learning and put more children on the path to high school graduation.”

Through initiatives like the Target School Library Makeover program, Target is helping more children reach academic milestones such as reading proficiently by the end of third grade. By the end of 2013, Target expects to have completed 175 school library makeovers and impacted more than 93,000 students through the program.

Superintendent-designate discusses education issues

Superintendent-designate Cindy Marten was recently interviewed by Comcast Media, giving her thoughts about education, San Diego Unified and Central Elementary School. Watch interview»

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California Department of Education wants public views of new science curriculum

Three public meetings will be held throughout California in April and May to accept public comment on the latest draft of the California Department of Education's Next Generation Science Standards. Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade.

The updated standards reflect the major advances in science over the past 15 years and aim to help students achieve the practical skills they need to succeed outside the classroom, maintaining California’s economic and technology leadership in the world. A consortium of 26 states developed the standards.

A review of the standards by a panel of science experts is under way. Later this spring, the panel will review the public comments. In the summer, the State Board of Education is expected to receive feedback from the panel and public meetings. Then in the fall, the State Board is expected to consider adoption of the new standards.

View the latest draft of the science standards at the Next Generation Science Standards website. The public may also submit comments by Webinar at the second public meeting listed below; by email to NGSS@cde.ca.gov; by mail to 1430 N Street, Room 4309, Sacramento, CA, 95814-5901; or by fax to 916-323-2833. If special accommodations are needed, contact the person listed for each meeting. If any member of the public has further questions about the meetings, contact Karen Martin at the California Department of Education’s science standards office at 916-323-5847.