A SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLICATION
FEBRUARY 2014 | ISSUE 2
SWEETWATER
CURRENTS
S W E E T W AT E R H I G H STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A D AY I N T H E L I F E OF ISRAELI TEENS
CURRENTS ON THE GO! SIGN-UP NOW FEBRUARY & STAY UP DATE WITH SWEETWATER www.sweetwaterschools.org 2014TO | ISSUE 2 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 2
CONTENTS 04 COMMUNICATION LIAISONS SEARCH
08 OLYMPIAN HIGH SCHOOL WINS ACADEMIC DECATHLON
05 UPCOMING EVENTS 07 MAR VISTA SENIORS DIVISION 1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
10 SWEETWATER HIGH STUDENTS EXPERIENCE DAY IN THE LIFE OF ISRAELI TEENS
12 JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR WITH SOH GRAD
12 10 09 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
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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 ew Currents S nk below to su rants and u 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/
Public Library Prom Dress Drive Saturday, March 15, 2014 - 10am South Chula Vista Branch Library The public is invited to donate gently used prom dresses (2006present) for high school girls who cannot afford a dress. Dresses will be given away for free in March at the South Chula Vista Library. The program is in partnership with the Princess Project, a service organization that celebrates the beauty and diversity of teens by creating a memorable experience for Prom or Quinceañera. Dresses must be in excellent condition. All sizes, fabrics and colors are accepted. For information, call the library at 619- 585-5755.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS 18
Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, February 18 - 6pm to 10pm 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.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Starts Friday, March 7 @7pm Jack Tygett Performing Arts Center 820 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91911
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Click here for the VIP Invitation
Public Library Prom Dress Drive Saturday, March 15 @10am South Chula Vista Branch Library 389 Orange Avenue Chula Vista CA 91911 Board of Trustees Meeting Monday, March 17 - 6pm to 10pm Sweetwater Union High School District 1130 Fifth Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91911 Annual CUE Conference Thursday, March 20 Palm Springs Convention Center 277 N Avenida Caballeros Palm Springs CA 92262
iVIE Student Video Competition – Call for Entries Students can have fun while learning about collaboration and public service by creating a video for the Innovative Video in Education (iVIE) program. 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.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat March 7-9/14-16, 2014 Jack Tygett Performing Arts Center The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. A story of jealousy, betrayal, suffering, and eventually heart-felt reconciliation told through an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from countrywestern and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock 'n' roll! Directed by Sharon Maley; Musical Direction by Barbara Schroeder; Choreography by Valerie Ingram
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
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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MAR VISTA HIGH SENIORS SIGN TO DIVISION I UNIVERSITIES
Jimmie Hill
Andres Preciado
Mar Vista High Seniors Andres Preciado and Jimmie Hall have announced that they will be playing Division I College football in the Fall. Senior Offensive Tackle Andres Preciado received a full scholarship to Boise State University. Jimmie Hill has committed to playing football at Harvard University in Massachusetts. Both student athletes are in the top 10 of their graduating class, play multiple sports and are officers of ASB. Tyler Arciaga, Geometry and PE teacher at Mar Vista High believes it is the first time in awhile where a Mar Vista football player has received a scholarship to a Division 1 school. Both seniors will be signing their letters of intent at the Hall of Champions in February.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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OLYMPIAN HIGH SCHOOL WINS ACADEMIC DECATHLON 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN A ROW
Olympian High School once again took home top honors at the Academic Decathlon, the county’s longest-running academic competition. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Sweetwater school, which hosted the competition Feb. 1. at Olympian High. Hilltop High took second place, Sweetwater High placed third and Bonita Vista came in fourth! Results were announced at an awards banquet at the University of San Diego. More than 100 students participated in the event from 13 schools. Hilltop High came in second place and Sweetwater High came in third. The nine -member teams consist of three “A” students, three “B” students, and three “C” students. The San Diego County Academic Decathlon enables academically oriented students to enjoy the same sense of competition as athletes. Mission Federal Credit Union sponsored the event. Olympian High will now represent San Diego County in the California Academic Decathlon Championship.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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KUDOS!
Mayan Genius Bar Kudos to Sweetwater District teachers Sara Chai (MOM),
Alicia Johal (MVA) and Marielle Venturino (MVA) for their outstanding presentation at the iPad Summit held at the San Diego Convention Center. The teachers session Embracing Student Leadership: DIY (Do It Yourself) received exceptional reviews from summit attendees! Thank you ladies for showcasing the innovative work teachers are doing to make the iPad initiative such a success!
KUDOS!
Chula Vista Aquatic Club Kudos to Chula Vista Aquatic Club (CVAC) a local Water Polo Club whose athletes attend Rancho Del Rey Middle, and Hilltop High. In May, the athletes will travel to Mexico City with the Baja California team, to compete in Mexico's Olimpiada Nacional for Water Polo, Youth Division. Best of luck to all the athletes! Click here to watch news coverage.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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SWEETWATER HIGH STUDENTS EXPERIENCE DAY IN THE LIFE OF ISRAELI TEENS Sweetwater High (SUHI) students recently received a visit from a unique group of individuals who left an impressive mark on their lives forever. In collaboration with the Jewish Federation of San Diego and the City of National City, students from Kibbutz, Nahal Israel visited SUHI to give some perspective into the challenges of living in the region including the horrors of missile fire, sirens and bomb shelters as a part of their realities of teenage life in Israel. Students watched a film and engaged in an open discussion afterwards.
All Included is a film that the students created in order to give some perspective into the challenges of living in the region, as well as the realities of teenage life. In the film, Israeli teens make a commercial to attract Tel Aviv teens to their Kibbutz Nahal Oz for some summer fun. Swimming, parties, food and drink are “all included” for visitors willing to stay at this Sha’ar HaNegev kibbutz which is just a mile away from the Gaza border. But during filming, there is missile damage clearly visible in some of the shots, and then the sirens sound causing the teens to take cover in a bomb shelter. In their conflicted feelings and frustration they realize that being scared together is part of their ’fun’ and that this experience too should be in the commercial, since it is “all included” for anyone visiting Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The Israeli group hosted four sessions throughout the day which allowed hundreds of students to participate in the discussion. The emotional feedback from Sweetwater High students remained unison throughout the day. According to one SUHI student, the Israeli students provided a deeper understanding of the Arab-Israeli conflict and how they cope. The 13-minute film will be featured at the Jewish Film Festival February 6-16.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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2014 MTS & Coca-Cola Laptop Scholarship Calling All High School Seniors: Apply for the MTS & Coca-Cola Laptop Scholarship Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 MTS & Coca-Cola Laptop Scholarship. Forty high school seniors from the San Diego region will be awarded a laptop computer and commemorative certificate.
This year's essay question: Sixty people can ride a bus. Three hundred can easily ride a Trolley!
For a chance to win, write a 1,000 word essay on the many ways public transit can benefit the region and people of San Diego. Turn the essay in with an application form by Friday, April 11, 2014 at 5 p.m. If you get your application in early, you could win an iPad, iTunes gift card, Regional Monthly Pass or Hard Rock CafĂŠ gift card! Early application deadline is Friday, March 14, 2014 at 5 p.m. Click Here to download the Application Form. The MTS & Coca-Cola scholarship program is presented by the Metropolitan Transit System, Coca-Cola Refreshments of San Diego and the San Diego County Office of Education.
Mar Vista Academy Science Teachers Presenting at C.U.E. Annual Conference March 20 & 21, 2014 Annual CUE Conference - Palm Springs Convention Center Mar Vista Academy Science teachers Alicia Johal & Marielle Venturino will be presenting a session titled "Apps for the Middle School Classroom" and will discuss engagement, participation, student success, collaboration and more. Bring your iPad! Visit www.technologyqueens.weebly.com for more information about their projects & events.
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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SOUTHWEST HIGH GRADUATE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS HONOR Ruben Vega 2013 Sweetwater graduate and Gate Millennia Scholar who is currently attending his first year at Yale University recently received the experience of a lifetime! Renowned author and Yale Law School Alumni Justice Sotomayor recently visited the university to take part in the Yale Law School symposium focusing on her judicial career. Sotomayor spoke on her recently published memoir, My Beloved World. Her memoir resonates with many Latino students on the Yale campus in different ways. As part of her visit, La Casa Cultural: The Latino Cultural Center at Yale organized an essay competition giving three student leaders the opportunity to present the justice with the Center's Latino/Latina Legacy Award. Sweetwater’s very own Ruben Vega was fortunate to be one of the students selected and was invited to attend the reception, where he had the opportunity to meet the Justice and thank her for being such an inspiration in his life and in the lives of many people throughout the U.S. Thank you Ruben for continuing to make Sweetwater proud!
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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KUDOS!
Juan Neria Kudos to Juan Neria, ASB Dean at San Ysidro High School for being nominated for the Jr – National Life Group, “Life Changer of the Year Award”. This prestigious award is given to district employees who exemplify excellence, positivity and leadership in their day-to-day duties. Wishing Juan best of luck! Final results will be announced in March! Click here to watch his story.
KUDOS!
Mar Vista High Students Kudos to all Mar Vista High School students involved in the development of stricter regulations for the Social Host Ordinance Law, a directive that would punish adults for providing alcohol to minors. In December, the Imperial Beach City Council approved the new law with the assistance from Sweetwater District students. Congratulations to all involved parties, you make your district and community proud. Click here to watch 10 news coverage.
Free Eye Exams and Prescription Glasses Saturday, March 1st - 8am to 4pm Chula Vista High School The Chula Vista Community is in for a special treat! On March 1st, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, at Chula Vista High School, the Imperial Lions Club will be providing free eye exams and free prescription glasses (bi-focals and progressive lenses included) to the public. In addition, Dr. Eleanor Ritter from the “Dr. Oz” television show, will be providing a 15-minute physical, checking for diabetes, BMI, and cholesterol – all free of charge. The event includes a host of activities including a visit from Chula Vista Mayor, Cheryl Cox. If you are interested in volunteering or know of a student looking to fulfill community service, please contact Larry Hudson, Chairman, 760-554-6520
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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KUDOS!
Southwest Middle Cheer Team Congrats to Southwest Middle School cheer team who won 1st place this weekend at the Sharp International Cheer Competition! Way to go Yrianna and SOM cheerleaders, you all ROCK!!
Pledge to Save Energy! Did you know… • SUHSD’s average charge per kilowatt hour (kWh) is $0.21 • Average room has 1,500 watts of light (1.5kW) • Number of rooms in our district: 2000 (conservative approximation) • If we use 10 hours of light in each room, per day, the cost is as follows: Approximate cost per room per hour… $0.31 Approximate district-wide cost per hour… $620 “ “Per day … $6,200 “ “Per week… $31,000 “ “School year ... $1,116,000 Eliminate 1 hour of use per day for 1 year and we avoid paying $1,116,000 to SDG&E. How long are your lights on per day, 8, 10, 12 hours? Do you turn them off when you leave? We can shave off hours per day by simply flipping a switch and turning lights off sooner or using ambient light in the workspace. Turning off lighting when spaces are unoccupied is one simple thing that we can do as a team to conserve energy, improve our environment, and keep $ in our district.
-Thank you for your Conservation Participation!
www.sweetwaterschools.org
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