A SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLICATION
FEBRUARY 2014 | ISSUE 1
SWEETWATER
CURRENTS
SAN YSIDRO HIGH M A K I N G G LO B A L E D U C AT I O N A L C O N N E C T I O N S
CURRENTS ON THE GO! SIGN-UP NOW FEBRUARY & STAY UP DATE WITH SWEETWATER www.sweetwaterschools.org 2014TO | ISSUE 1 SWEETWATER CURRENTS 1
S W E E T WAT E R C U R R E N T S F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 4 | I S S U E 1
CONTENTS 04 COMMUNICATION LIAISONS SEARCH
10 SAN YSIDRO HIGH MAKING GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL CONNECTIONS
05 MONTH OF FEBRUARY 12 AUTHOR A.B. CURTISS VISITS GRANGER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 07 FRESH LOOK ON THE WEB FOR 2014 15 GOOD LUCK SUHSD ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAMS!
14 10 12 www.sweetwaterschools.org
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Board of Trustees Jim Cartmill • Bertha J. López • John McCann • Pearl Quiñones Dr. Edward M. Brand Superintendent Produced by: Grants & Communications
CT CONNEU S WITH
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! D E M R O F STAY IN SLL THE NEW A N O P U CATCH SITE TRICT WEB IS D E H T VISIT E NEWS PAG
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Communication Liaisons Search Do you want to contribute to spreading the good news going on at your school site or department? The Grants and Communications Department is looking for self-motivated individuals who will serve as the voice of their site. In this role, the liaison is responsible for acting as a bridge between their site and the Communications office. The purpose of this role is to enhance the flow of information provided to the Communications office for publication content (Currents) and website/media spotlight opportunities. If you are interested in serving in this role, please contact the Grants and Communications Department at (619) 691-5578 or gcomm@sweetwaterschools.org.
Submitting to
Currents is g e
tting easier!
In order to ca pture all the w onderful thing Communicati s going on in th ons Team has e Sweetwater developed a n Click on the li district, the G e w Currents Su nk below to su rants and bmission Form bmit all Curre for your conv nts story idea enience! s, events, kud os etc. in a sim convenient fo rmat! ple and Visit http://w ww
.sweetwatersch ools.org/curre nts/
Montgomery High Hosts Electronic Waste Disposal Event Montgomery High School is hosting a free Electronic Waste Disposal event on Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9 from 9:00AM- 4:00PM in the West Parking Lot of the school. The event is a unique and innovative way that allows nearby residents to dispose of working and non-working electronics in an environmentally responsible way. Stop by and dispose of your unwanted electronics and contribute to an ecofriendly environment.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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CALENDAR FEBRUARY 2014 04
Superintendent’s Hotline Dr. Brand is accepting calls at the Superintendent’s Hotline on Tuesday, February 4. If you have a suggestion or concern, call 691-5570 between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. to talk directly with the superintendent. The hotline is open the first Tuesday of each month.
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Notice of Public Hearing Proposed Establishment of Trustee Areas Thursday, February 6 at 6pm in the Board Room Sweetwater Union High School District 1130 Fifth Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91911
2014 Early Spring VIP Invitation You are cordially invited to our upcoming district wide events in February and March. Click here for the VIP Invitation
For more information click here.
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iVIE Student Video Competition – Call for Entries
Free Electronic Waste Disposal Event Montgomery High School Saturday, February 8, 2014 and Sunday, February 9, 2014 9am to 4pm West Parking Lot
Students can have fun while learning about collaboration and public service by creating a video for the Innovative Video in Education (iVIE) program.
Sponsored by: Montgomery High School Alumni
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Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, February 18 - 6pm to 10pm Sweetwater Union High School District 1130 Fifth Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91911
www.sweetwaterschools.org
The contest is open to students throughout the county in kindergarten through 12th grade. It culminates with an awards show May 6. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. March 7. The cost to enter is $10 per video. More information is available at www.ivieawards.org.
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Join Sweetwater School District’s Race For Autism Team Click here to join our Team To order a Sweetwater Autism Shirt contact: Joyce.Marganski@sweetwaterschools.org If you have questions contact: Lorna.McMurray@sweetwaterschools.org. Click here for flyer.
AT’S H W E E S D N A D STAY INVOLVE THE SWEETWATER HAPPENING IN COMMUNITY
ITY N U M M CO EVENT DARS CALEN SWEETWATER
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CHULA VISTA
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www.sweetwaterschools.org
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FRESH LOOK ON THE WEB FOR 2014 Starting this January, Sweetwater Schools, Departments and District websites will move to a fresh new look in design and content structure. Our first school to make the move is Bonita Vista Middle School with Bonita Vista High and Castle Park Middle as follow up projects this month. The new design can be previewed here at our Test School site. Standard across all school sites will be a boiler-plated and accessible main menu navigation. A slideshow on the homepage will link you to any page. Posting of announcements and documents will be easily accessible to your students, parents, staff or community to access. We have also begun integrating tools from Google such as the Google Calendar embed, Google Translator. We will also begin to utilize Google Docs to update Staff Directories or other documents that are in constant need of updating.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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CO CO M RE MO N N ER
Public Comment Needed on California’s First Common Core English Framework
. The Common Core Frameworks are an essential part of Common Core Implementation statewide, and now through early February the public is invited to give input and feedback on a draft of the framework for English Language Arts (ELA) and English Language Development (ELD). The English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (ELA/ELD Framework) will provide guidance for implementing the new Common Core State Standards and California's new English Language Development Standards. Addressing both English language arts and English language development, the ELA/ELD Framework will help ensure that California's students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and careers. The ELA/ELD Framework will help teachers, publishers, and other educators design instructional materials, curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning. "Across California, teachers and administrators are hard at work making this transition to modern new standards," Torlakson said. "With this framework, we're working to help guide that process, and I look forward to the public's feedback." Standards define the knowledge and skills students should acquire at each grade level. The State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards for English language arts in 2010, and the new English Language Development Standards in 2012. This new ELA/ELD Framework is aligned to those standards. The State Board last approved a framework in this area in 2006.
KUDOS!
Teresa Rubio Kudos to Mar Vista High senior Teresa Rubio for raising nearly $2,000 for typhoon victims in the Philippines. Rubio initiated the fundraiser, and with the support of the ASB was able to support the relief efforts of the Philippine Red Cross. Kudos to Teresa for initiating an international fundraiser that will touch the lives of those across the world!
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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The ELA/ELD Framework breaks new ground by providing a blueprint for relating English language development for English learners to the English language arts standards for a cohesive program. The draft framework focuses on the teaching and learning of English literacy and language in the English classroom and includes strategies for extending that focus into all subject areas. It also provides direction to educators to implement the standards in the context of California's diversity and helps them teach the critical thinking skills students will need for 21st century jobs. The ELA/ELD Framework has two primary audiences: educators and developers/publishers of curriculum programs and materials. The public has until February 13, 2014, to review the ELA/ELD Framework, available in hard copy throughout the state and also online. The draft framework is on the California Department of Education's Public Review and Comment on the ELA/ELD Framework webpage, where the public may leave comments via the digital survey or by email. Interested parties may also visit one of the 23 Learning Resource Display Centers statewide to review hard copies of the draft framework; the San Diego County Office of Education is one of those centers. The public's comments will then be presented to the Instructional Quality Commission in the spring for review and possible inclusion into the final ELA/ELD Framework. Then there will be a second public review in late spring or early summer. The Board is scheduled to take action on the final ELA/ELD Framework next summer. For more information on the development of the draft framework, visit the California Department of Education's Curriculum Frameworks Web page.
KUDOS!
Qualcomm (QUALity COMMunications) Alternative Education would like to extend a kudos to Qualcomm (QUALity COMMunications) for a budding partnership that will personally touch the lives of many Sweetwater students. Qualcomm has sponsored six of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams donating more than $16K to the following participating schools: Hilltop High, Eastlake High, Chula Vista High, Sweetwater High, Castle Park High and Montgomery High. Together, the Sweetwater District and Qualcomm are training the youth of the future to enter the expanding technological workforce. Thank you Qualcomm for supporting the Sweetwater District and the FRC teams.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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SAN YSIDRO HIGH MAKES A TRIP TO CHINA
SWEETWATER HIGH FIRE SCIENCE PROGRAM GOING STRONG SAN YSIDRO HIGH MAKING GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL CONNECTIONS This photo was taken in Harbin, China. The city is famous for their ice sculptures. San Ysidro High can add global educational leaders to their resume. Eight staff members and four seniors recently participated in a 15-day exchange with their sister school in Harbin, China. According to Principal Hector Espinoza, the trip to China was nothing short of a remarkable experience. The school’s unique partnership with the 2013 Chinese Delegation gave the group the opportunity to visit several schools and IB programs where student instruction is in English. "It was amazing to watch our students interact and make lasting relationships with their students," said, Kathleen Monegan, teacher at San Ysidro High.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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"Visiting their schools was the highlight. We watched their orchestra, dance, and traditional Chinese Music classes perform. We also visited two English classrooms and had a chance to interact with their students. "The group ended their trip in Beijing where they visited The Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Mings Tomb, The Forbidden City, The Great Wall, and the 2008 Olympic Village. According to Monegan, the relationships with the teachers, staff, and students at both schools will last forever and have greatly impacted their personal and professional lives. "It was a trip of a lifetime”, said Monegan.
Sweetwater Schools Receive USDA Farm to School Grant An exciting new program has come to the Sweetwater District thanks to a $50,000 grant by the US Department of Agriculture. The Farm to School Program helps to improve access to local foods in schools. Thanks to the Nutrition Services Department, much work has already begun to incorporate local products in our breakfast and lunch menus, and to teach students where their food comes from. The district has conducted significant community outreach and has partnered with several local farms to begin farm to school activities in our District. The response from students and administration officials has been very supportive of our efforts thus far. We are well poised to connect the existing efforts of several schools and to provide resources for further expansion throughout the district.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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GRANGER JUNIOR HIGH RECEIVES SPECIAL VISIT FROM AUTHOR Multi-published renowned author A. B. Curtiss recently visited Granger Junior High to speak and collaborate with students and staff on a new science fiction novel she is currently developing. Curtiss asked the students of Granger to provide her with feedback on the book. As an incentive to students, Curtiss will recognize all participants in the forthcoming published acknowledgements within the book. During her visit, Curtiss expressed her sentiments on writing and said, �Writing is my calling, the ground zero of my life, what I count on and cling to. Writing is where I am the most myself.� Granger Junior High is extremely thankful for the time Curtiss spent pouring into the future authors of the Sweetwater community and next generation!
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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www.sweetwaterschools.org
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KUDOS!
Grants & Communications Department Currents has received an Award of Merit for Outstanding Electronic Newsletter from the California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA). Congratulations to the Grants and Communications Team for their recognition at this year’s annual CalSPRA regional conference and awards ceremony “Becoming the Communicators of Tomorrow”. Each month the team works diligently to provide district employees and community members with the most up-to-date information and news happening within Sweetwater schools and community. This kudos would not be possible without the assistance of the "newsmakers" of the district. Kudos to all staff, students and community members who have contributed to making Currents an award winning publication!
KUDOS!
Maria Castilleja Congratulations to Maria Castilleja Executive Director of Curriculum and
Instruction for being selected as the 2014 Western Academic Assembly Distinguished Service Award winner for the Western Regional Office of the College Board. Castilleja is being honored for her outstanding professional achievement and overall contributions on behalf of students at the Sweetwater District. She is also recognized for her contributions in support of professional colleagues, over time. Castilleja will formally be recognized at the Western Regional Forum in Santa Clara, on January 31. Congratulations Ms. Castilleja again on your achievement!
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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GOOD LUCK ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAMS! Currents would like to wish the following ten SUHSD high schools best of luck at the 2014 32nd Annual Academic Decathlon taking place this Saturday, February 1 at Olympian High School. For more than ten years, the Sweetwater District has been the most represented district and dominated the winning title of Academic Decathlon Champion. Olympian High won the 2013 SD County Academic Decathlon, the fourth consecutive Decathlon championship for the school. The Academic Decathlon tests and rewards academic strengths at both the team and individual levels in ten events: six written tests in music, art, language and literature, mathematics, economics, and social science as well as three communications tests: an interview, an essay, and a prepared and impromptu speech. The final event is the Super Quiz, a College Bowl-type competition in which students compete as teams. A team consists of six to nine full-time students from the 10th through 12th grades of the same high school. This year’s awards ceremony will be held February 12 at the University of San Diego. For more information please contact the San Diego County Academic Decathlon Coordinator Nicole Shina, 858-292-3850.
Bonita Vista High • Castle Park High • Eastlake High • Hilltop High • Mar Vista High • Otay Ranch High • Southwest High • Sweetwater High • San Ysidro High • Olympian High
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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