Monthly Archives: February 2015

On Tuesday, February 24th, The Governing Board voted 3-2 to approve a plan to open a Language Academy for the students of CVUSD. Over the last 16 months, district staff and the Learning Environment Task Force (LETF) invested countless hours into research, studies, projections, and planning to identify a site and prepare a timeline to add “World Languages” to the current magnet programs Cajon Valley offers (International Baccalaureate – Montgomery, 21st Century Learning – Madison, Fine Arts Magnet Education- Flying Hills, STEAM – Emerald).

Fine tuning the details about next steps and communication to staff and community will be the district’s priority over the next several weeks. In anticipation of this transition, Madison Elementary School and WD Hall Elementary School prepared short videos welcoming families affected by this change who are currently attending Bostonia Elementary.

CVUSD School Board Members Suzanne Mullins and Justin Slagle join CVEA leaders Dave Szymanski and Chris Prokop at the CTA school board brunch at Yom Ham’s Lighthouse. Education Leaders and Governing Board Members networked, discussed and problem solved issues facing public education in California.

“Integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do .”

Chris Prokop, President
Cajon Valley Educators Association

Anza 3rd graders actually worked in the garden this week… our first students to hands-on the area! Here are a few pictures. I also posted about it on EDI’s Facebook page. (We confirmed with the teachers that photos were OK.) The kids were really excited and they taught us to say ‘dirt’ in Chaldean and Arabic! It was wonderful.

Cathy Chadwick, Earth Discovery Institute

EmSTEAM’s soft launch of the Hour of Code Saturday has allowed us to establish the systems for an extremely high quality program. Students are eager to return and parents are grateful for providing this opportunity for their children at no cost. One parent said, “How can you possibly have this event for free?”. Another parent who stayed all day with his two children said, “I am so blessed to have this opportunity for my children” as he played a game of chess with a third grader.

We are happy to announce that, beginning on Saturday, February, 28th, all CVUSD elementary and middle school students 1st grade through 8th will have the opportunity to attend Hour of Code Saturdays. We will be distributing flyers to each site next week. Sign up online at www.CodeToTheFuture.com as soon as possible since this event will fill up quickly!

Sincerely,

Steven Bailey – Principal EmSTEAM
Andrew Svehaug – CEO Code to the Future

It’s time to announce the Grand Prize Winner from the 1st Annual CVUSD Hour of Code Contest. The eleven schools with 100% participation are each receiving a scholarship for at least 1 of their students to visit the Code Campus. They are: Anza, Avocado, Cajon Valley MS, Community Day, Crest, Emerald MS, Greenfield MS, Hillsdale MS, Los Coches Creek MS, Rios, and W.D. Hall. These schools all went to great lengths to give their students an opportunity to experience the Hour of Code and deserve the highest commendation for their success in this contest. Special mention should also be given to several schools that were very close to 100% such as Naranca (98.5%), Vista Grande (98.16%), Jamacha (96.85%), and Blossom Valley (96.58%).

Congratulations to the winner of the Grand Prize…. W.D. Hall!!! Dr. David Miyashiro and I had the pleasure of visiting the W.D. Hall students during two morning assemblies. They were presented with a “Code-like” Mega-Check symbolizing their accomplishment, and were thrilled to hear that they will experience a day of Code Camp at the Code Campus this year.

The final tally of CVUSD students who participated in the Hour of Code is 12,560 students! This is an amazing accomplishment considering the fact that this contest was launched on December 3. With such a strong result in 2014, 100% participation from all students district-wide in December 2015 seems like a realistic possibility!

Code on CVUSD!

Andrew Svehaug, CEO Code to the Future

Children wore PJs to school, then families were invited to return in the evening for a short PTA meeting, a discussion about early literacy, the importance of reading aloud to young children and strategies demonstrated by the principal. Families then had cookies and milk, then cuddled with their children on blankets and pillows while reading aloud with their little ones. It was a true family event with moms, dads, grandparents and siblings. One family came all the way from Campo! Special thanks to the PTA for cookies and milk, SECAs Inge Helmer and Cindi Brooks for their assistance and teachers Stacey Barta and Yvonne Vizcaino for turning the MPR into a cozy, family friendly reading room.

Ginny Pinkerton
Principal, Sevick School
Area Coordinator, State Preschool Program

The RSD Student Council recently honored those who serve our country by inviting all Rancho Military personnel, active and retired, to join us for an assembly to honor their service. The 5th grade class performed “The Spirit of America,” “We Remember,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” for students and military families. All Rancho Military personnel took center stage, with their child or grand-child, and shared their military branch, title, and years served. RSD students demonstrated respect for our hard working 5th grade class, and our very own Rancho San Diego Heroes. Go Ravens and Go USA!

Cherie Wall, Principal
Rancho San Diego Elementary School