Sweetwater Currents May 2013

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A SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLICATION

SWEETWATER CURRENTS

MAY 2013

Students Win Big at Magkaisa/Karangalan Scholarship Conference

Chalk Drawing Festival Chula Vista High Student Artists Participate in Street Painting

Sweetwater Libraries

Southwest Middle Teachers Form “Dream Team” for an Inspirational Student

Where Print Books and e-Books Live in Harmony

Sweetwater Parent Committees

CELEBRATE BILITERACY With State Schools Chief

PLUS! GRADUATION www.sweetwaterschools.org

WORKS DIALOGUE P.9SWEETWATER CURRENTS MAY 2013

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S W E E T W A T E R C U R R E N T S M AY 2 0 1 3

CONTENTS FEATURES

KUDOS

03 STUDENTS WIN BIG

Magkaisa/Karangalan Scholarship Conference

07 MONTH OF MAY

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

10 NEW CCSS RESOURCES

From The California Department of Education

13 CABE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Congratulations to 2013 Winners

16 SWEETWATER LIBRARIES

Where Print Books and e-Books Live in Harmony

08 MICHELLE SPIELMAN

& CVH/SCPA Student Artists

09 MARGARET SEDOR

To Serve on the NASP Executive Council

09 MONTGOMERY HIGH ALUMNI

Honored at UCSD’s Festival De Las Estrellas

19 RON LOPEZ

Administrator of the Year Honors

19 SOUTHWEST MIDDLE TEACHERS

Form Dream Team for Inspirational Student

21 SCIENCE & ENGINEER WINNERS SUHSD Students Awarded at Fair

23 SUPERINTENDENT’S COLUMN The Finish Line is Just Ahead

Board of Trustees Jim Cartmill • Bertha J. López • John McCann • Pearl Quiñones • Arlie N. Ricasa Dr. Edward M. Brand Superintendent

FACEBOOK

www.sweetwaterschools.org

Produced by: Grants & Communications

TWITTER

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Rancho del Rey Middle Students Use iPads to Go Global

Students Win Big at Magkaisa Karangalan Scholarship Conference Sweetwater students participated in the annual Karangalan Magkaisa Student Conference last month at Olympian High School. Karangalan is a Tagalog word that means, “pride, dignity, and honor. The Karangalan Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Filipino American senior students in the Sweetwater Union High School District who have demonstrated excellence in academics and community involvement.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Rancho del Rey Middle Students $500 Winners:

Use iPads to Go Global

Reece Akana – OLH • Jacob Aquino – MOH • Joanne Daquiog – SUH Katherine Dumangas – MVH • Alexzander Hurst – ELH • Ashley Mae-Masa – OLH Anna Marie Quenano – MOH • Reymark Vargas – SUH

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Rancho del Rey Middle Students $250 Winners:

Use iPads to Go Global

Maren Claire – SOH • Cynthia Kaui – CVH • Riley Mangubat – BVH Judie Carpio Nazareth – MOH • Danica Mae Pascua – SUH Shehara Mae Osea Seapno – SUH See www.magkaisahsc.blogspot.com for more information.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Sweetwater Parent Committees Celebrate Biliteracy with State Schools Chief

Parent representatives from our Sweetwater DELAC and DAC-Title 1 groups recently rubbed elbows with top state education officials. They were invited to receive an award on behalf of the Sweetwater District for supporting the state Seal of Biliteracy in Sweetwater schools. Students that graduate with the specific Bilingual academic proficiency requirements receive both the district and state seal of biliteracy. Sweetwater had 35 parents attend this conference in Long Beach this past February. The Parent group is pictured here with the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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MAY 2013 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

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Mother’s Day

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School Principal’s Day

6

First Annual STEAM Summit

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7

Teacher Appreciation Day

19-25

8

CBOC Meeting

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9

27

School Nurse Day

School Board Meeting

Classified School Employee Week

Memorial Day

NEWS & VIEWS • See the latest Sweetwater Spotlight • Read the latest Budget Updates here • Keep up with the latest Board Updates and recent minutes

FACEBOOK

www.sweetwaterschools.org

TWITTER MAY 2013 SWEETWATER CURRENTS 7


KUDOS! Michelle Spielman & CVH Student Artists Michelle Spielman, CVHS/SCPA Visual Art Teacher encouraged a group of 9 Chula Vista High School Student-Artists to participate in Southwestern College’s Women’s History Month Street painting Festival. See their work here.

THE SWEETWATER SPOTLIGHT Community Bridge Dedication at BVM AS SEEN IN

Bonita Vista Middle School recently hosted an inauguration event to commemorate a new pedestrian foot bridge that connects the community with athletic fields. “This bridge is an important symbol of our partnership with the community,” said Board of Trustees member Jim Cartmill. “This renovation and inauguration was long overdue.” Read the full story in the Sweetwater Spotlight here.

See the great things that happening across Sweetwater School Campuses. Sign up to receive the Sweetwater Spotlight in your inbox at www.sweetwaterschools.org/spotlight MAY 2013 SWEETWATER CURRENTS 8 www.sweetwaterschools.org


Graduation Works Dialogue

SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:45am to 11:30am SUHSD Professional Development Center 680 L Street, Suite C, Chula Vista, CA 91911 Mayor Cheryl Cox invites you to join members of our community to discuss literacy in Chula Vista at the fourth Graduation Works Dialogue.

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Among other activities, the event will include: Networking breakfast Screening of the 15-minute documentary Voices and Faces: Literacy in San Diego, featuring the stories of adults who were illiterate for most of their lives and how their lives changed in their quest to read Interactive panel discussion by individuals featured in the film Spotlight on local efforts to teach both children and adults to read, and how the community can support and engage in this important work Look for an invitation and registration information in your email soon!

KUDOS! Montgomery High School Alumni

Montgomery High School alumni were honored at UCSD’s Fiesta De Las Estrellas! Honorees were Marcela Alvarez - Class of 2012 - Salutatorian and Loreno Real - Class of 2011 -Valedictorian.

KUDOS! Margaret Sedor

Congratulations to Margaret Sedor, who has been elected as a National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Delegate Representative and will now serve on the NASP Executive Council. Margaret will provide leadership to all of the delegates from the Western region in all decisionmaking and policy development of the NASP governance.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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NEW CCSS RESOURCES

Common COREner Opportunity to Participate: What Do YOU Think about the Draft Mathematics Framework? The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce that the draft Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Framework), and the online survey have been posted for public review and comment on the Mathematics Curriculum Framework Web page. The draft Framework incorporates and supports the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). The draft Framework and online survey will be available online through June 17, 2013. The online survey allows you to respond to as many or as few of the questions as you choose and to provide comments on the draft chapters. You also may e-mail more extensive comments on the draft Framework to MATHFRAMEWORK@cde.ca.gov. You may view the attached flyer for more information. The field review and survey results will be collected and presented to the Instructional Quality Commission.

Mathematics Professional Learning Module Webinar On Thursday, April 25, 3:30 p.m., the California Mathematics Project will present a detailed outline of how potential leaders and professional development providers can facilitate a session or series of sessions using the K–12 Standards for Mathematical Practice Professional Learning Module. The webinar will include an overview of the module, overview of the instructional guide for facilitators, and materials available for use. Please see the attached flyer for information about participating in this webinar.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Final Next Generation Science Standards Now Available On Tuesday, April 9, the final Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – a new set of voluntary, rigorous, and internationally benchmarked standards for K–12 science education – were released. The standards identify science and engineering practices and content that all K–12 students should master in order to be fully prepared for college, careers and citizenship. The NGSS and supporting Appendices can be found on the Achieve, Inc. NGSS Website. New California science standards, based on the NGSS, will be presented to the State Board of Education (SBE) in July 2013, with adoption in November 2013 pending SBE approval. For more detailed information about the development process and timeline for adoption of new science standards in California, please visit the CDE NGSS Webpage. To join the CDE NGSS electronic mailing list, please send a blank e-mail to join-ngss@mlist.cde.ca.gov.

New CCSS for Mathematics Publishers’ Criteria for High School and Revised Criteria for K-8 The lead writers of the CCSSM have released High School Publishers’ Criteria for the CCSSM. This document – developed by the CCSSM writing team with review and collaboration from partner organizations, individual experts, and districts using the K–8 criteria – aims to support faithful CCSSM implementation by providing criteria for materials aligned to the CCSSM. The K–8 criteria have also been revised based on helpful feedback contributed by partner organizations and individual experts over the past six months, including practical feedback from districts working with the criteria. You will find both sets of criteria posted on the CDE CCSS Mathematics Resources Webpage.

To view past CCSS Updates, please visit the CCSS Resources Listserv Archive.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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SUHSD STEAM SUMMIT Sweetwater Union High School District is pleased to present the first annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Summit on May 6, 2013. The purpose of the STEAM Summit is to recognize, highlight, and promote STEAM learning and innovation in SUHSD. The Summit will also showcase the use of iPads by teachers and students in middle schools as well as the use of iPads in school robotics programs, the Mayor's Cup Cyber Challenge and Visual and Performing Arts projects integrating art, music, and technology. This event is FREE for the entire community including families and students who will enroll in SUHSD for the first time in July.

WHEN & WHERE

Otay Ranch High Sc hool 1250 Olympic Parkw ay Chula Vista, CA 9191 3 Monday, May 6, 2013 from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM (PDT)

R E G IS T E R H E R E

http://suhsdsteamsu mmit.eventbrite.com

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Congratulations to our SUHSD CABE Scholarship Winners When’s the last time you got Great news over the phone? Winners of the 2013 CABE Scholarship Awards have all received a very exciting personal phone call informing them of their prestigious award. Awards will be presented later in May at the CABE Scholarship breakfast. All scholarship winners will be asked to give a 1 minute inspirational message to all the incoming 7th graders when they receive their award. Each Scholarship winner also named their most inspirational educator; those educators will accompany the student who nominated them on stage to receive their award. Congratulations to Sweetwater staff winners for your dedication to our students! It is truly an honor! Click here to see a full list of Students Scholarship recipients and inspirational educators.

SUHSD Students Volunteer The American Lung Association (ALA) sponsored a 5K Run or DYE event on Saturday, April 6. Led by Gale Marshburn, TUPE brought 2 busses of over 100 student volunteers from all 25 SUHSD schools. The SUHSD volunteers’ hard work earned the ALA $8,000 to go towards lung cancer research. Our students worked well with volunteers from all our sites and the community. They relied on leadership skills to use their own initiative and help out before, during and MAYStadium 2013 SWEETWATER 13 afterwww.sweetwaterschools.org the 5K that brought in 13,000 participants to the Qualcomm parking CURRENTS lot.


12th Annual Teacher Appreciation Night at Petco Park

On Friday, May 3rd, the San Diego Padres and the San Diego County Office of Education will be honoring the local teaching profession with the 12th annual Teacher Appreciation Night at Petco Park. All of San Diego County's newly named District Teachers of the Year, as well as the reigning 2012 San Diego County Teachers of the Year will be recognized on the field prior to the ballgame. In addition, the Padres are offering a special discount and Drawstring Backpack giveaway to all faculty and staff from San Diego County schools who purchase tickets with a Group Sales Executive or through this page by entering the promotional code: TEACHER. You can purchase tickets through www.padres.com/teacher and enter PROMO CODE: TEACHER. For groups of 20 or more, contact Padres Group Sales at (619) 795-5010 or groupsales@padres.com. For more information click here. We look forward to celebrating the evening with you!

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Staff Soccer League If you’ve been near the Borderview YMCA Soccer field on a Friday afternoon this past month, you saw a real Sweetwater sight! An impromptu, just-for-fun soccer league has propped up, and the real news is who the players are. Principals and staff from across Sweetwater are hanging up their business suits and professional-wear and donning soccer shorts to engage in a little healthy competition. Participating staff hail from SOH, SUHI, MVH, OLH, MAAC and others. Apparently there is much debate over who are the reigning champs. According to SOH Prinicpal Lee Romero, there is no doubt that the SOH staff team reign. Of course, MVH principal Wes Braddock and other players don’t quite agree. According to sources, Romero is even considering purchasing and presenting a trophy to himself.

THE SWEETWATER SPOTLIGHT “U.S. News & World Report” Names Sweetwater Schools among Best of 2013 AS SEEN IN

Annual Study Ranks America’s Best High Schools In its annual ranking of schools, U.S. News & World Report magazine has named the best schools in the nation. For the second year in a row, all 12 of the Sweetwater District’s comprehensive high schools were named Silver Medal winners, placing them among the top 10 percent of over 18,000 eligible schools in the U.S. Read the full story in the Sweetwater Spotlight here

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Sweetwater Libraries: Where Print Books and e-Books Live Together in Harmony

As e-books have become more available, Sweetwater librarians have been adding electronic books to their collections. All district libraries recently acquired a reference ebook collection from Gale Publishing Group that includes over 100 volumes of reference books that support the curriculum in different subject areas. e-Books and print books are not at odds; they coexist peacefully together in our libraries. A recent study found that only one in ten people with e-readers abandon print books entirely; those who have e-readers tend to read more books (both print and electronic) than those without. Research shows that print books and e-books are enjoyed for different reasons. e-Books are preferred for being able to get a book quickly, and print books are preferred for sharing books with other people. So whether you read an electronic or print book, visit your school library (or virtual school library) to find your next favorite book soon!

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Check out more artwork from our talented students here.


Community Opportunities San Diego Fallen Agents Memorial Run 2013 The 2013 San Diego Fallen Agents Memorial 5K run and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run (formerly known as the Roberto Duran Run) is an easy course that winds along the international border access with views of normally restricted areas along the U.S. and Mexico border. This fun, family-oriented event is hosted by the Roberto J. Duran Scholarship Foundation and will feature the following: • Micro-chipped timing. • Race results will be live, online and will include photos & video of runners at the finish line. • The ability to receive updates on athletes as they cross points on the course and have those updates sent to Facebook, Twitter and mobile phone. • Awards will be given to the top 3 runners in all age divisions. • A law enforcement expo of horses, ATVs, canines and much more!

When: Saturday, June 8, 2013, 5K begins at 8:00 am, 1 mile Kids Fun Run begins at 9:00 am. Where: Las Americas Premium Outlet Center, 4445 Camino De La Plaza #350, San Ysidro, CA 92173 www.sdagentmemorialrun.com

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Community Opportunities Young Latino Journalism Scholars Program Accepting Applications U-T San Diego is now accepting applications for its Young Latino Journalism Scholars Program, which will provide selected high school students with a paid summer mentoring program.Please share this opportunity with your teachers and staff so that they may pass it along to the students. Applicants should be 16 years old by April 24, 2013. Applications and additional information are available at: www.utsandiego.com/younglatinojournalism. If you have questions, please contact blanca.gonzalez@utsandiego.com or at 619 293-1241

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Southwest Middle School Teachers Form “Dream Team” for an Inspirational Student How far would you go to turn someone else’s dream into a reality? Southwest Middle School English teacher Dianna Talbott is leading that charge along with over a dozen SOM staff, otherwise known as the Dream Team. Recently, Talbott received a letter from former student and current SOH senior Ruben Vega. Vega will attend either Princeton or Yale and was recently named an NBC 7 Inspirational Student of the Month. His letter inspired Talbott to appeal to her SOM colleagues and the Dream Team was born. They have already raised over $300 and will be presenting him with the donation in May. Upon reflecting on the accomplishments of her former student Talbott says, “Ruben’s achievements are a reflection of not only his serious effort but also of the effort of all the teachers he has had throughout his ten years here in the United States.” The money will provide living expenses in support of Ruben’s hard-won dream of attending an Ivy-league University. Want to be part of the Dream Team? To contribute to Ruben’s dream, email esther.parrena@sweewaterschools.org or call (619) 628-4000. Deadline for donations is May 15th.

KUDOS! Ron Lopez

Congratulations to Ron Lopez, Director of Special Services. Ron was named among the Administrators of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators, Region 18.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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MAY 1-2

VAPA EVENTS CALENDAR Visual & Performing Arts Department

SCPA Drama Spring Showcase

15-16

SCPA Dance Concert

2

Digital Media Showcase

17

Mariachi Spring Concert

3

SCPA Chula Vista Foundation Honors

22

SCPA Spartan and Gospel Choir Concert

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SCPA Senior Recital

24

SCPA VMA Concert (Vocal Music Association)

30

SCPA Spartan Orchestras Concert

7 8 10

District Orchestra Concert

SCPA House of Guitars in Concert

SCPA Spartan Bands Concert

Visit the VAPA Calendar page

for more details.

THE SWEETWATER SPOTLIGHT Three Sweetwater Schools Named California Distinguished Schools AS SEEN IN

Every two years, the state of California honors the top middle and high schools by naming them as Distinguished Schools. This year, the Sweetwater Union High School District had three schools named among the 218 schools honored across the State and the 19 in San Diego County. They are: Bonita Vista Middle School, EastLake Middle School and Eastlake High School. Read the full story here. www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Apple & DELL Employee Purchase Program Now Available

DELL Computers Purchase information is available on the Fiscal Services webpage.

Apple Computers Purchase information is available on the Educational Technology webpage.

the om fr rs ne in w d ar w A t en ud St er at Sweetw ir Fa ng ri ee in ng E d an e nc ie Sc go ie 2013 Greater San D Check out the list!

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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Special Thanks from Hilltop Middle Book Drive

Damian Zabe, 9, from right, works on his math during class March 14 at Frank Antonides School in West Long Branch, N.J. His fourth-grade class at Monmouth Beach School is attending the school after their school was heavily damaged in wake of Hurricane Sandy. (Photo: Mary Frank, Asbury Park, N.J., Press)

Hilltop Middle School’s teacher librarian, Erin Southam, on behalf of teacher Maria Murphy and the students from Monmouth Beach School in Monmouth, New Jersey would like to thank the following donors for providing the funding to ship 12 boxes of books collected at the recent joint book drive between Otay Ranch High School and Hilltop Middle School from Chula Vista, CA to Monmouth NJ: Pablo Garcia-Ibarra (Hilltop Middle School), Gloria Benitez (San Diego Customs Brokers Association), and a special thanks to San Diego Customs Brokers Association and Clara Ruvalcaba. $180 was raised to ship these books across the country. More than 650 books will be headed to Monmouth Beach School to help reopen their school library. Monmouth Beach Schoolwww.sweetwaterschools.org was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy and is scheduled MAY to reopen in June. CURRENTS 22 2013 SWEETWATER


Superintendent | Dr. Edward M. Brand

SUPERINTENDENT’S COLUMN The Finish Line is Just Ahead It’s hard to believe that the end of the school year is only a few weeks away. First of all, I want to thank you for all of your hard work during the CST testing period. I have no doubt that we will once again show that our schools are continuing their movement up the scale. This time of the year is great, as I talked about it in an earlier column this year, it’s “Banquet Season” – that time of year when we celebrate the accomplishments of our students, our schools and our staff. Each year, Sweetwater doesn’t fail to disappoint. Out of only 1,000 students in the entire U.S., our district has at least five Gates Millennium Scholars. These students are the best of the best. In the coming weeks we will continue to hear about the great accomplishments of our students and the new and exciting paths that they will be taking next year. Our staff has continued to perform on the highest levels possible. Next week we will name our district employees of the year and we hope that they will continue on in the County and State recognitions. Our own Ron Lopez, Director of Special Services was named among the administrators of the year by the Association of California Administrators. We were recently made notified that the Sweetwater Union High School District had three California Distinguished Schools, Bonita Vista Middle School, EastLake Middle School and Eastlake High School. They were named among the 218 schools honored across the State and the 19 in San Diego County. In addition, US News & World Report just named all 12 of our comprehensive high schools as Silver Medal winners for the second year in a row, placing our schools in the top 10 percent of all schools in the entire nation.

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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As a district we’ve taken on some tough challenges and strived for new heights. We’ve continued our commitment to improving school facilities and are close to opening new facilities at Montgomery Middle and breaking ground on new projects at Montgomery High and National City Middle. As we head into the home stretch, I know that we will continue to achieve at an amazing pace. I look forward to joining you in celebrating our collective and individual successes at our school promotion and graduation ceremonies. It’s great to be in Sweetwater!

line t o H ’s t n e n d n e t dent’s Hotline o n te rin e Superin p Su e th en 2:30 ting calls at

cep betwe t Dr. Brand is ac rn, call 691-5570 e c n o c r o n A reminder tha io st n the first e hotline is ope u have a sugge Th yo t. If n e 7. d y n a te M rin y, e Tuesda the sup talk directly with to . .m ry month. p 30 4: d n a Tuesday of eve

www.sweetwaterschools.org

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