November 6, 2018 Attention High School Students! Here is your opportunity to participate in the exclusive San Diego Unified School District TEDx event: Are you interested in being 1 of the 12-15 student speakers for this year's TEDxYouth@SanDiego event in March? If so, please see the flyer for more details and complete the application here: https://www.tedxsandiego.com/youth-speaker-application/ The application is due on Friday, November 9th. For questions, please contact Stacey Seiders at sseiders@sandi.net or 619-725-7125. PLTW STEAM Collaboration at Miller Elementary School Last week was the week to celebrate and collaborate on STEAM and Project Lead the Way at Miller Elementary School. 4th and 5th grade teachers from Miller, Cabrillo, Perry, Hancock, Vista Grande and Miramar Ranch Elementary Schools forged a bond and collaborated on PLTW grade level modules in VEX Robotics, Energy and Collisions and Infection Detection. All schools are participating in a Department of Defense grant through the Children and Youth In Transition and STEAM Innovation Offices. It was a fantastic time to meet new friends and begin forging ahead with a common STEAM vision for our students! https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/pltw-steam-collaboration-at-miller.html Mira Mesa High's CTE Biotechnology pathway is awarded grant from Cal Coast Congratulations to Lisa Yoneda and the Mira Mesa High School Tech Site Internship Program. They won the Cal Coast Cares Foundation Educator Grant of $2000. Through the internship, the MMHS biotechnology students all run a non-profit business where they apply their biotechnology laboratory skills and their 21st century skills in order to make the supplies and assemble over 200 STEM ScienceBridge kits each year. Each of the ScienceBridge kits is donated to a high school classroom in San Diego County and contains enough supplies to allow 10 groups of students to complete a hands on STEM experiment(s) on the topic of Enzyme activity, Bacterial Transformation, Protein Purification, or Ocean Acidification for free. The education grant will allow the Mira Mesa High School Tech Site Biotechnology program to continue our ScienceBridge kit internship program by funding the supplies needed to produce the kits. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/mira-mesa-highs-cte-biotechnology.html What happens when seniors meet local industry professionals? They network and earn summer internships. Exploring Solutions and Counseling & Guidance worked together so seniors from Scripps Ranch, Morse, Mira Mesa, and University City high schools, among others, could have 1-on-1 conversations with local industry leaders. Professionals from SDGE, Price WaterhouseCoopers, KPBS, Salk Institute, Moores Cancer Center and more shared their story and path with dozens of eager high school students. One student from Morse shared, "this event is amazing. I had no idea that mechanical engineers could work in so many different areas. It has definitely opened my eyes to the possibilities." Another student from University City interested in sports broadcasting was eager to land an internship with the Padres or Fox Sports. Counseling & Guidance is very thankful to our partner Exploring Solutions for hosting this event. Enhancing students' career awareness is crucial for maximizing their postsecondary success. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/what-happens-when-seniors-meet-local.html Mira Mesa quarterback showing signs of magic Marauders senior Noah Tumblin has passed for 1,323 yards and 13 TDs with no interceptions this season. Click here...https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sd-sp-preps-noah-tumblin-mira-mesa-20181025-story.html Huge SUCCESS for SDUSD students at the Cal SOAP College Fair More than a thousand students, over the course of 4 hours, listened to fantastic presentations and spoke 1-on-1 with representatives from dozens of colleges and universities. This was an incredible event to see students from 8th grade to 12th grade expanding their college knowledge. One school counselor ran into a former middle school student who is now in 11th grade. The counselor coached the student to have a meaningful conversation with admission reps from Princeton U. and U. of Pennsylvania. The Counseling & Guidance department, in partnership with Cal SOAP, are excited for the attendees who are one step closer to making their post-secondary dreams come true. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/huge-success-for-sdusd-students-at-cal.html Patrick Henry High School celebrates a CIF Championship victory for their girls tennis team Congratulations to the Patrick Henry High School 2018 CIF Champions, the first Girls Tennis Title in school history! Click here...https://phpatriots.net/2018/10/27/girls-tennis-cif-champions/ Click here...http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sd-sp-preps-tennis-westview-patrick-henry-carlsbad-20181026-story.html Crawford High School's ASB Hosts Kindness Week In honor of Anti-Bullying Month, Crawford High School students wrote positive messages on paper hearts to kick off their first ever Kindness Week. The pictures show how their first day, 'Heart Day', turned out. Kindness is contagious! https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/crawford-high-schools-asb-hosts.html FC Barcelona Sends Barça Academy Coaches to Oak Park Elementary School Oak Park Elementary School students were excited to discuss the most important value of soccer with coaches affiliated with the best program in the world: HEART (Humility, Effort, Ambition, Respect, Teamwork). Then the students got some time with the coaches on the field. As part of an ongoing partnership between FC Barcelona and the San Diego Unified School District, this was one of several school visits scheduled for this school year. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/fc-barcelona-sends-barca-academy.html Crawford High School runner's talented legs carry championship heart Crawford High School cross country runner Nader Ali, center, is congratulated Tuesday after winning his division at Morley Field. Click here...   http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/columnists/bryce-miller/sd-sp-miller-naderali-20181104-story.html The Storytelling Hallways of Montgomery Middle School As you walk through Montgomery Middle School, the hallways have been transformed to a museum, curated with student projects. Although it’s easy to assume these came from an art class, the work on display is from all classes. The staff has made the curation of student projects a priority. You will see people stopping in the halls to take a closer look at the work and read the informational guide that includes the project titles, process, and descriptions. This commitment to showcasing student artifacts sends a message to students and parents that the Montgomery Middle School staff values what their students create and produce. #shareyourlearning https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-storytelling-hallways-of-montgomery.html What is an International Baccalaureate school? SDUSD school choice applications are due November 13. When exploring all the wonderful options, you might be wondering, what is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school? SDUSD has 8 IB schools: Birney, Jefferson, McKinley, and Sessions Elementary Schools; Roosevelt and Pacific Beach Middle Schools; and Mission Bay and San Diego High Schools. IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. IB teaches all learners to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. Click on any of the school names to learn more about their IB program or watch this short video. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/what-is-international-baccalaureate.html Real Data, Real Results Students at Thurgood Marshall Middle School do not only look at science data created by someone else, they learn to make their own datasets. When students are invested in generating their own data, analysis, and interpretation, then they are thinking like real scientists. As more students use Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) across all grade levels, not only will they have a common lens to look at science, they will be prepared for what science is like far beyond college. This is just one example of building up students’ 21st century skills! https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/real-data-real-results.html Spooky Science Parasitic worms, zombie snails, vampire bats. Spooky Halloween spirit was infused in every minute of biology classes at Serra High School on Halloween! Students audibly groaned as they watched a fungus take over and kill an ant before using its body as a host. Students used bingo cards to mark down any ecological interactions that they noticed in the video. Was is parasitism? Mutualism? Predation? Competition? Commensalism? Just ask a 9th grader at Serra. But we recommend not asking at meal time! https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/spooky-science.html Urban Surf 4 Kids - Ohana Gala Urban Surf 4 Kids is a unique outreach organization that works with orphan and foster kids. Using water as a catalyst, Urban Surf 4 Kids teaches kids how to first have fun, and then give back to their communities and neighborhoods through local service projects. The Ohana Gala is their annual fundraiser and the event is on Saturday, November 10th from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Portuguese Hall in Point Loma. There will be a dinner catered by Dukes La Jolla, a speech from one of the kids, a raffle, silent auction and more. Here is a link to an article about the event:  https://medium.com/@eetzioni18/the-ohana-gala-urban-surf-4-kids-annual-benefit-night-752cb45177b0  This is a link to purchase tickets:  https://fundraise.urbansurf4kids.org/event/the-ohana-gala/e205026 The first 10 people to use the code ELI10 when purchasing get $10 off. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/urban-surf-4-kids-ohana-gala.html Cultivating Science Leadership through Capacity Builders For the first time, TK-5 science teachers have the opportunity to take part in ongoing NGSS Capacity Builder train-the-trainer model of professional learning. Two teachers from every elementary school site are being provided a substitute and are invited to attend 5 days of training where they are learning approaches to take NGSS practices and pedagogical moves back to their school site.  The goal is to help capacity builders become trained facilitators of NGSS workshops that will help their school site build capacity in teaching science. We kicked off with an adult learning experience where teachers engaged in an investigation to explore thermal conductivity as it relates to the bigger phenomenon of the urban heat island effect. Teachers also took back resources to help them get started on sense-making notebooks with students. Using these notebooks throughout the year, we will be looking deeply at student work in the science classroom. Our middle and high school capacity builders also kicked off their workshops this year and are building on their work by inviting science content experts to their classrooms and going out into the field to conduct investigations. All TK-12 teachers will be engaging in meaningful work to build a community of practice, grow their leadership capacity, and design and debrief lessons through a modified teaching and learning collaborative. Here are are just a few inspiring quotes from our participants about the importance of science education: “I love science and would love to share my love with my students. I believe it is truly important to teach science everyday to give students a chance to learn about the world around them. The hour I teach science is the most fun of the day!” “Science education means to me teaching our kids about the world around them!!” “Students are actively engaged in real world inquiry. This means they are finding out how the world works or maybe even finding solutions to some of our problems.” We are thankful for these passionate educators who are working to make science an integral part of their students’ experience across the district!  https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/10/american-heart-association-recognizes.html Elementary STEAM Bright Spots More than 100 TK/K teachers are now fully trained in our first several STEAM curriculum units. These units are based on the CA NGSS Science Framework and infused with STEAM topics thanks to our collaboration with Instructional Technology ,Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA), and the Office of Language Acquisition (OLA). One of the ways we like to kick off our STEAM training is to celebrate bright spots. Bright spots help us look for the good things that are working in our classrooms and by identifying and analyzing what’s working, and to build on their successes. If you’re not familiar with the research behind brights spots, read the story by Jerry Sternin and his co-authors for their book, The Power of Positive Deviance: How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World’s Toughest Problems, inspired by Chip and Dan Heath who introduced this story in their book, Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard.: https://brightspotsculture.wordpress.com/the-original-story/ Some bright spots teachers have already shared with us highlight personal student successes, especially with students who struggle in other areas of their day, who light up at the chance to express their creativity and learning during STEAM. In response to what STEAM means to me, one teacher replied: "Providing opportunities for my students to engage and learn in the math, science, engineering contents all while building and encouraging exploration, discovery, failure/effort and curiosity. " We look forward to sharing more from our upcoming ongoing training next week! Thank you to our teachers who are introducing students to their first experiences with science, engineering, tech, art, math and reading using joyful, play-based, hands-on approaches to learning. We STEAM! https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/10/language-academy-setting-morning.html San Diego High School students visit BioLabs Students from San Diego High School's School of Science and Technology participated in a unique hands-on learning experience at BioLabs. The students visited the state of the art facilities and were given a tour while interacting with real world BioTech entrepreneurs. BioLabs offers co-working spaces for life science startups; unique places where you can test, develop, and grow your game-changing ideas. The goal is to change how scientific entrepreneurs do business by building an ecosystem that empowers bioinnovators to grow quickly, while maximizing capital efficiency. For a culminating activity, the students worked in groups and used Design Thinking strategies to create a "pitch" that would solve an influenza outbreak for a specific population. They presented their pitches to a panel of mock investors to simulate an experience a startup biotech company would participate in. San Diego Unified is very fortunate to have partners like BioLabs who create unique learning experiences for students! https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/san-diego-high-school-students-visit.html Black Minds Matter This community presentation, led by Dr. Luke Wood, Chief Diversity Officer and an SDSU Distinguished Professor of Education will balance a discussion of issues facing Black students in education, focusing on unconscious bias and microagressions as well as recommendations for improving conditions for our young students of color in San Diego. Join us at Morse High School from 4:30-5:30pm with time for questions afterwards. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/black-minds-matter.html Students at Mann Middle School Discuss Culture The students at Mann Middle School took some time out of their day to share with the Youth Advocacy Department their ideas about culture. Students were asked, “What is the most important thing about your culture?” The answers were a great jumping-off point for sharing with educators the things that mean the most to our students. Youth Advocacy continues to help make schools a place students want to be. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/students-at-mann-middle-school-discuss.html What does inclusion look like? Kindness weeks and awareness weeks are one of the many ways that schools can make sure that people feel welcomed. Schools all across the district are promoting inclusion as they see problems that can happen if people feel isolated. What is your school doing and how can we support? Send your stories to the Office of Youth Advocacy, Program Manager, Candice Fee at cfee2@sandi.net. Together we can make sure that all students are included and happy on our campuses. https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/what-does-inclusion-look-like.html Students Speak Out Students from a variety of high schools and middle schools got together to activate their voice as Equity Ambassadors. What do the students want? Several topics were brought up in a student led brainstorming session. Students will get together with experts in these identified areas this week to determine some goals and next steps. What happens to education when we look at it through student eyes? https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/students-speak-out.html Kindergarteners at Jefferson Elementary exploring Open-Mindedness, Culture, and Identity! Kindergarten students practice the IB learner profile focus of open-mindedness: “We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.” Beginning with their first unit, “Who We Are” students create self-portraits that reflect their identity and culture to share with their learning community. This student is featuring his self-portrait created with marker and watercolor paints. “My culture is special because it has lots of parts and my family is very big and loving.” https://sdusdoss.blogspot.com/2018/11/kindergarteners-at-jefferson-elementary.html STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES What is the Common App? The Common Application, which is also more informally referred to as the Common App, is an advanced college application that is used to help prospective college students apply to multiple institutions at once. While you cannot apply to every single accredited institution by using this single online application, you can apply to a large number of undergraduate programs all across the world. Visit: https://www.commonapp.org/ for more information Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's R2L NextGen Program Are you a high school student who wants to learn about how government works? Apply now to CHCI’s R2L NextGen program and take advantage of an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. R2L® NextGen is a week-long leadership and civic engagement program for current high school sophomores and juniors. CHCI will bring a group of Latino high school students to D.C. to learn about how the Federal Government works, meet key leaders, visit historic sites and develop a deeper understanding of how they can affect positive change in their communities and their nation. CHCI is excited to announce that we will be hosting two classes of R2L NextGen participants in 2019. The program is completely FREE of charge to all selected student participants. APPLICATION DEADLINE January 15, 2019 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time San Diego County students will participate in the program during the week of July 15-20, 2019. In order to be eligible to apply, students must: Reside in San Diego County Be a current 10th or 11th grade student Demonstrate interest in learning more about civic engagement While CHCI does require applicants to share their grades and a copy of their transcript, there is no minimum GPA requirement to apply. All individuals are welcome to apply. However, preference is given to individuals with financial need. Interested in applying? Visit apply.chci.org and complete the application named R2L NextGen – San Diego, California Latino College Expo Nov. 8 at Southwestern College T‍he 1st Annual Latino College Expo is a FREE event bringing together high school students, scholarship opportunities, and seminars such as 411 for the Student Athlete and How to Find Money for College. Students visit one-on-one with over 50 Colleges, Universities, Private Institutions and Trade Schools. Students receive one-on-one CASH FOR COLLEGE assistance and filling out financial aid forms (FAFSA assistance) from Student Aid Commission. There are opportunities to get accepted on the spot, have application fees waived and scholarships awarded. Students should bring thier official transcripts and SAT/ACT test scores; 10 copies recommended. Latino College Expo™ will engage Latino middle, high school, and current college students in resources and opportunities that exist in higher education and positive post-secondary pursuits. In addition, students will learn about Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), Educational Funding Sources (Dream Act, Cal Grants, etc.) and Internship & Career opportunities to help them succeed. Southwestern College: 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA, 91910 Everyone including students and families, is welcome 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm. United Technologies STEM U Mentoring See how a STEM mentor can help you achieve your dreams — college and beyond. Apply today to be paired with an online STEM mentor for guidance on everything from college apps to career tips. What you get from this one-on-one mentorship program: Free, online coaching No need to meet in person. You can touch base with your mentor from anywhere in the world. Guidance on college applications Navigating the college application process can be hard. Let someone who has been there show you the (right) way from the start. Leg-up in your career 93% of self-made millionaires attributed their wealth to having a mentor. Get the guidance you need to succeed in the future. A global network of peers You have the chance to meet an awesome group of peers and STEM professionals who are as passionate about STEM as you are. Click here for more information.  Freemont Foundation Scholarship Applications are now being accepted for the Freemont Foundation Scholarship Program. The James M. & Erma T. Freemont Foundation will award thousands of dollars in scholarships for the 2019-20 academic year to students with a record of leadership and volunteerism in the community and participation in extracurricular school activities. The deadline is January 18, 2019. Interested students may receive complete details and apply for the Freemont Foundation Scholarship Program by visiting  FreemontFoundation.com/scholarships. Please feel free to contact us at info@FreemontFoundation.com. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program Amazon Corporate LLC has established a scholarship program to assist high school seniors who are taking or have completed an advanced placement computer science course and who plan to continue their education at an accredited four-year college or university majoring in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering or other computer related field of study. The 2019 program will be accepting applications from November 1, 2018 through January 15, 2019. Thanks for your interest in the program! The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance, and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability, or national origin. Contact Us: Email: amazonfutureengineer@scholarshipamerica.org Phone: 1-507-931-1682 and ask for the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program https://www.scholarsapply.org/amazonfutureengineer/ Attention Middle School Students, Your School is Invited to Participate in this Year's Cross Country Intramural Meet If you are interested, talk to your school about signing up to participate. DATE: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 PLACE: Morley Field Sports Complex (near the baseball field), 2221 Morley Field Dr., San Diego, CA 92101 TIME: 3:30 PM race start EVENTS: 2 MILE BOYS & GIRLS RACE. Course is a mix of grass, dirt and trail running and will be marked with cones. A professional will run ahead to guide the leaders, and official times will be recorded. AWARD PRESENTATIONS: Will take place after all runners have completed the race. Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for boys and girls in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Parents and friends are encouraged to come out and cheer on the athletes. We hope to see everyone there! For questions about the event, please contact Coach Patrice Shumaker at pshumaker@sandi.net. SD Police Department Cadet Program The Cadet Program is a voluntary, non-enforcement entry level position with the San Diego Police Department for people ages 16-21. After a six-session academy, Cadets may choose to go on ride-alongs, assist with security and traffic control, work undercover and much more. The Cadet Program provides great law enforcement experience, and therefore is very beneficial to those interested in a career in law enforcement. Cadets receive continuous law enforcement training, develop individual potential, and meet others their age with similar interests. The Cadet Program is always interested in responsible, honest, and hard working youths. Click here for more information. For more student opportunities, please visit the Office of School Innovation & Integrated Youth Services website UPCOMING EVENTS 2019-20 School Choice Application Window Now Open- Closes November 13 https://www.sandiegounified.org/neighborhood-schools-and-enrollment-options Tuesday 11/06/18 Mann Sea World Ocean Link Lab Experience Click Here for More Information Wednesday 11/07/18 Roosevelt Sea World Ocean Link Lab Experience Click Here for More Information Wednesday 11/07/18 Student Equity Coalition 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM (Clairemont High School) Thursday 11/08/18 Latino College Expo (Southwestern Community College, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista) Monday 11/12/18 Veteran's Day Observance No School Tuesday 11/13/18 2019-20 School Choice Application Window Closes https://www.sandiegounified.org/neighborhood-schools-and-enrollment-options Tuesday 11/13/18 Logan K-8 Sea World Ocean Link Lab Experience Click Here for More Information Wednesday 11/14/18 Bell USS Midway Excursion Click Here for More Information Wednesday 11/14/18 Grant K-8 Sea World Ocean Link Lab Experience Click Here for More Information Wedneday 11/14/18 -Thursday 11/15/18 CPMA Shakespeare Festival 2018: A Midsummer Night's Dream 6:30PM (CPMA Performing Arts Center, 5050 Conrad Ave 92117) A Midsummer Night's Dream (adaptation). This comedy by William Shakespeare involves the events leading up to the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. Young lovers, a troupe of six amateur actors, who are controlled by forest fairies make this story fun and magical. Click Here for Tickets Thursday 11/15/18 DELAC General Meeting 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Ballard Center- 2375 Congress St) Friday 11/16/18 Great American Smoke-Out Monday 11/19/18 & Tuesday 11/20/18 College/FAFSA/ Dream Act Application Workshop 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Lincoln High School, 4777 Imperial Ave) Tuesday 11/20/18 Universal Children's Day United Nations Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 and is celebrated on November 20th each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. Friday 11/30/18 National Hispanic College Fair 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (USD- Hahn Center) Friday 11/30/18 UC Fall 2019 Admission Application Filing Period Closes Friday 12/07/18 - Saturday 12/08/18 & Friday 12/14/18 - Saturday 12/15/18 SDSCPA Presents: "The Crucible" 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Ole Kittleson Little Theater) Click here for more information For a complete list of upcoming School Innovation & Integrated Youth Services events visit our on-line calendar or your school's website. For more information about the Office of School Innovation & Integrated Youth Services please visit our website.