Monthly Archives: January 2015

It’s a beautiful day every day at Cajon Valley Middle School. Our certificated and classified staff work tirelessly everyday in support of students and their personal and academic growth. Teachers and staff are collaborating with each other and working with students to create learning environments and activities that are meaningful and engaging. Teachers and staff are working to support each other in integrating both traditional instructional practices with the support of technology. CVMS is an amazing school because of the staff and students who come to school everyday with a collaborative, positive spirit.

Cougar Pride!
Gregory Calvert, Principal
Cajon Valley Middle School

We will be announcing the winning school, classes, and individuals from the 1st Annual Cajon Valley Hour of Code Contest next week. With participation from all CVUSD schools, eleven with 100% participation, and over 12,560 total participants, we are looking forward to celebrating this accomplishment by awarding a select number of prizes. Students interested in further developing coding skills can now experience computer science classes and events at the “Code Campus” at Emerald Middle School. The first “Hour of Code” Saturday will take place on February 7– which will kickoff free and low-cost ongoing classes, events, and camps. Feedback on the Code Campus has been very positive. Regarding the Winter Camp held in January, parent testimonials included things like: “When I asked my boys if there were any suggestions for improvements, I got a strong ‘no way, it was perfect!!’” and “This organization runs a fantastic camp…I would highly recommend!” Check out the events schedule at www.CodeToTheFuture.com, and stay tuned for an announcement featuring The Hour of Code Contest winners soon.

Andrew Svehaug, CEO

Code to the Future

 

All State Honor Band

Our very own Evan Johnsen (trumpet) has been selected to the All-State Honor Band. He is one of 8 students of all San Diego County Selected. He will be going to Fresno CA to rehearse with the top 100 musiciand from the state and perform at the Saroyen Theater. Their concert will be the final performance of a 3 day Music Conference. Other performing groups include The Canadian Brass, UCLA Wind Ensemble, Fresno State Orchestra, High School and Middle School All-state Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Bands. College’s from all over the United states will be recruiting from this event as well.

Feb 19-23rd  –  CBDA.org to see complete list of students and conference details.

 

Disneyland with Advanced Orchestra

The Advanced Orchestra had a great performance on Jan 23rd. There were many groups performing from all over San Diego and Los Angeles on that day. While we were waiting for our performance a very famous (in the band director world) director named Richard Meyer was there performing with his middle school orchestra. I had to meet him. It just happened to be that our Advanced Orchestra was playing one of his songs called “Night Shift”. Once he heard that he decided to come back and see our orchestra. One of my long terms goals has become a reality. To commission a piece of music where students get to give input into a subject or idea and we will submit it to a composer like Richard Meyer. Well after he heard our orchestra he is very interested. What a great opportunity. Can you imagine if the piece gets published and is performed worldwide with Hillsdale and CVUSD accredited.

Stuart Caldwell, Hillsdale Music Department
Hillsdale Middle School

The 4th and 5th graders at Lexington Elementary have taken the 10 Day Gratitude Challenge. The students are writing in a Gratitude Journal and wearing wrist bands so they can reflect on what they have. We all learned that being thankful brings happiness. And, when we are happy, we show more kindness.

One student shared that his gratitude wrist band actually brought him good luck because he had such a great day when he wore it.  When he was asked why he thought it brought him good luck, he looked a little puzzled.  One of the counselors explained that he was having a great day because he was looking for it!  He had a huge smile on his face as he walked to class.

 

Check out the Lexington Counseling Center Website and join us in the challenge!

 

http://schools.cajonvalley.net/webpages/counseling/gratitude.cfm

 

Tami Johnson MA, PPS, School Counselor

Lexington Elementary School

Teacher Margaret Donohue, SECA Cindy Komp, and parents Elvira and Marcos Trujeque organized an informative presentation by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for Madison’s K-2 students. The students learned about individual differences and respecting others with different strengths and weaknesses than their own. The presenter shared a cartoon video that explained muscular dystrophy, and then she led teachers and children in a physical model of how messages travel from the brain to the skeletal muscles both in healthy bodies and in people with muscular dystrophy. All of this education will go a long way toward building empathy for a classmate who has muscular dystrophy and respecting people with all types of challenges.

Christine Sphar, Principal
Madison Elementary School

Los Coches Creek’s honors English students wowed audiences on Friday, at the Winter Arts Program, with their imaginative biographical interpretations of a series of portraits by famed master, John Singer Sargent. Students in grades 6-8 worked in collaborative pairs, using goggle docs and internet resources to craft highly dramatic biographies, taking cues from Mr. Singer’s strikingly vivid depictions of the late 19th, and early 20th century, elite.  The event, coordinated and M.C.’d by Mr. Bill Roemmich, and sponsored by the LCC PTA, was attended by parents, teachers, students, school board members and our Superintendent, Dr. David Miyashiro, all of whom enjoyed a delicious continental breakfast.

Dana Stevenson, Principal
Los Coches Creek Middle School

Annie Pearson, first year teacher at Crest Elementary School, shared how she utilized “Crowdfunding” to equip her classroom with an impressive array of resources… We were impressed by the learning we observed, but equally impressed by her entrepreneurial leadership. Thank you Annie for sharing this resource with our colleagues across Cajon Valley! See pictures and details below…
David

“DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on our site, and you can give any amount to the project that most inspires you.

When a project reaches its funding goal, we ship the materials to the school. You’ll get photos of the project taking place, a letter from the teacher, and insight into how every dollar was spent. Give over $50 and you’ll also receive hand-written thank-yous from the students” (www.http://www.donorschoose.org/about).
As a new teacher, Donors Choose has helped me supply materials for my classroom that I could not have provided otherwise. I’ve been very lucky to have my first two projects fully funded within a month of posting on the website! Our first project was called “Let’s Get Rockin’ with a new Listening Center” where we received an organization box, over 50 books on CD, and a new CD player. Our second project allowed my students to get in touch with their organization skills with the project, “Organization is Key”. We now have individual chair pockets, pencil tubs, paper tubs, and drawers to help keep our classroom organized. This project was flash-funded by OshKosh B’Gosh in full right before the end 2014! I’ve been very fortunate to been given generous donations from family, friends, parents, and the community around Crest Elementary school to fund these two projects and in less than a week into our 3rd project, we have raised over $200 thanks to the matching promotions that Donors Choose gives to each teacher. My fellow teachers at Crest have also been successful in funding 5 projects this year. Donors Choose is an amazing website that every teacher should look into!
Thank You,

Annie Pearson
2nd Grade Teacher
Crest Elementary School
M.Ed. — Math, Science, and Technology Education
M.Ed. — Curriculum and Instruction
University of San Diego

Earth Discovery Institute serves up to 3,000 primarily fourth and fifth grade students from our district annually with science service-learning at Crestridge Ecological Reserve. Classroom teachers work with district’s Service-learning Coordinator to schedule field visits. Children explore Crestridge for 2-3 hours in groups of 9-12 with expert naturalist guidance. Grade level-specific science standards are addressed through nature-based, hands-on activities. Students participate in biologically-based habitat restoration. All students receive, use, and take with them a personal nature field journal. All participating classes are encouraged to conduct follow-up service-learning projects after their visits that extend their science learning and manifest that knowledge to the benefit of their schools and neighborhoods.

Please joins us for EDI’s annual fundraiser, the Lilac 5k Trail Run Walk & Fun Run January 31, 2015  at Crestridge Ecological Reserve (end of Horsemill Road El Cajon, Ca)

All funds raised benefit environmental and science education programs.

Register online & more information: http://www.earthdiscovery.org

 

Thank you,

 

Suzanne Mullins

CVUSD Governing Board

The 1st Annual Cajon Valley Hour of Code Contest has been very well received by students and staff district-wide. With participation from all CVUSD schools, over 11,800 students completed at least one hour of code in December. Eleven Cajon Valley schools had 100% participation (including kindergartners!) and several other sites achieved over 98% participation. In an effort to give students even more opportunities to develop coding skills, computer science classes will begin at the “Code Campus” at Emerald Middle School in February. Classes will feature inspiring and gifted instructors from Code to the Future, modern rooms designed by a University of San Diego learning-space expert, and courses tailored to the needs of our students. Though housed at Emerald, these classes take place after school, on weekends, and holidays– and are open to students from all schools. Stay tuned for the final results of our CVUSD Hour of Code Contest, including details on the winning school, classes, and individuals. Check out these early submissions from schools throughout the district. More to follow next week.

Andrew Svehaug, President & CEO
Code to the Future

Anza

Naranca

W.D. Hall

Los Coches Creek

Community Day School

Cajon Valley Middle School

Hillsdale Middle School

Click to Playhttps://animoto.com/play/o2adzSVP2YK0RB4rI8ND4A