Monthly Archives: March 2016

TEDxKids@ElCajon at SD STEM Festival, Petco Park San Diego

On Saturday March 5th, Liz Loether and TED ED Club leaders accompanied a team of speakers from the Cajon Valley Union School District to present their “Ideas Worth Spreading” on the home field dugout at Petco Park.  Words cannot describe just how awesome our kids were…

Granite Hills STING (Saturday, April 9th)

Click here for information and event registration https://granite.learningu.org/

STING W: LINK2016

Congratulations CVUSD Honor Band!

CVUSD Honor Band is earning its reputation of quality music with much dedication.   Students were hand picked by CVUSD district music teachers to perform with this ensemble.  Honor band rehearsals began in January of 2016.

Inaugural Year @ Bostonia Language Academy

As we wrapped up the second trimester of our inaugural year as the Bostonia 

Language Academy, and we jump into trimester three in excitement, there is so 

much to celebrate! Some of my favorite highlights from trimester two are the 

Computer Science LEGO unit, the implementation of Lucy Calkins common core 

standards-based informational writing unit, and the beginning of the Ambassador 

Guest Teacher Program.  

From January to mid-March our young scholars had an opportunity to work on 

LEGO build and LEGO robotic units, in both English and Spanish. These computer 

science units perfectly integrated language and literacy skills, as well as essential 

work skills like communication, collaboration, problem solving and project 

management.  Our students were motivated and engaged as teachers facilitated this 

wonderful experience.  

Our wonderful team delved deeper into the implementation of the Lucy Calkins 

writing program and they are currently finishing the informational unit. Mini-

lessons, small group and 1-1 conferencing, the use of rubrics, and focusing on 

student writing goals were daily occurrences in classrooms. As a result, our 

dedicated writers were able to develop informational books with a table of contents 

and a number of different chapters. The outcome of long hours of collaboration and 

planning, and a solid implementation of this unit are yielding outstanding student 

writing.

Through our partnership with San Diego State University, our students and teachers 

have an opportunity to welcome Ambassador Guest Teachers in their classrooms.  

This student teacher program enhances and extends the focus on multicultural 

experiences for our campus.  We have the privilege to work with three Ambassador 

Guest Teachers coming to us from Colombia, India, and Malaysia.  Developing a 

better understanding of the world around them is definitely a goal that we promote 

and nurture amongst our students.

For Trimester 3, we are ready to continue our focus on meaningful and enriching 

learning experiences! If you’d like to learn more about our school, please call me at 

588-3121, or send an email to jacobo@cajonvalley.net.  We are still taking student 

applications for the 2016-2017 school year!

Izela R. Jacobo, Principal

Bostonia Language Academy

Art Gala This Tuesday @ Madison Elementary School

You are invited to Madison’s 2nd Grade Art Gala and Auction this Tuesday between 3:15 and 5:00. Come place a bid and help students raise money to make care packages for homeless people in El Cajon.

Thanks,

Christine Sphar, Principal

Madison Elementary School

Howdy From Vista Grande!

At Vista Grande, we are using technology to kick up the rigor in student learning. Our teachers collaborate to provide equity and access to meaningful learning opportunities for every student. We are committed to ensuring a responsive school climate so that every student develops the 21st century skills needed to succeed. To quote a 3rd grade student, “Everyday is Digital Learning Day at Vista Grande.” From our  Transitional Kindergarten to Fifth grade classes, our students synthesize new information to create presentations on Google slides, participate in classroom discussions using Padlet, or use QR codes to research innovations that changed our world.
To show support for our Fourth Grade Square Dancers, our staff decided to dust off their cowboy boots, hats, and plaid shirts. Our goal is to provide rigorous instruction while still celebrating the uniques traditions that create an engaging learning environment.

 

Tita Cordero Bautista, Principal

Vista Grande Elementary School

Hillsdale Students and Former Huskies Receive Honors at National History Day

Hillsdale Students and Former Huskies Receive
Honors at National History Day

National History Day took place on February 27th and this year’s theme was Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History. Erik Baranski and Serena Andrade, 8th graders, represented Hillsdale Middle at the San Diego County Competition. Congratulations to both students who competed this year and last year and earned these awards for their exhibits.
Exploration, Encounter and Exchange in the Classical World, sponsored by the Friends of the Classics:
Erik Baranski – Junior Individual Exhibit – Archimedes – Man of the Millennium

Minority Group Accomplishments Through Diversity Award In Honor of Valerie Grayson, sponsored by Black American Political Association of California
Serena Andrade – Junior Individual Exhibit – Bessie Coleman

Congratulations also to our Hillsdale alumni, now attending Valhalla, who qualified for the State competition again this year. The Senior Group Performance winners.
Outstanding Historical Performance in Honor of Cassandra Davis, sponsored by Nicole Carnation Grolman:
Brooke Davalos, Dylan Buxbaum, Sehar Amini, Diego Cordova – Senior Group Performance – Exploring the Uncharted West: The Corps of Discovery

Want to know more about National History Day?
National History Day, is a year-long educational program that encourages students to explore local, state, national, and world history. After selecting a historical topic that relates to an annual theme, students conduct extensive research by using libraries, archives, museums, and oral history interviews. They analyze and interpret their findings, draw conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, and create final projects that present their work. These projects can be entered into a series of competitions, from the local to the national level, where they are evaluated by historians and educators.
In San Diego County …
Through participation in History Day programs, thousands of students across San Diego County are developing critical thinking skills and implementing common core standards.
Over the last twenty years, hundreds of San Diego students have represented California at the National History Day competition. In recent years, San Diego students have consistently placed in the top 10 at Nationals. Both the Junior and Senior Group Performances from San Diego County have won 1st place at the National Competition!

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Weird Science Rocks @ WD Hall


W.D. Hall students have been engaged in STEM/PBL units and have been having a great time learning! Students in Grades 4&5 culminated their STEM experience with Demonstrations of Learning (DOL). Guests and experts from throughout the community and district served as panelist. Third grade students were the audience as our intermediate students presented information on their Martian Base Design. Students worked through the Engineering Design Process, conducted experiments, wrote informational brochures, and created a blueprint for their Martian Base. Teams and individuals reflected on the learning experience and process which they shared in the DOLs. STEM units were collaboratively designed by grade level teachers, K-5. Kindergarten students are exploring Shapes Around the Neighborhood and building their own neighborhood. First graders are investigating From Seed to Plant and constructing a garden. Second graders are discovering animals and becoming Zoo Veterinarians. Third graders are becoming experts on Monarch Butterflies and will be building a butterfly garden with donations and support from the community. All STEM/PBL units incorporate 21st Century Skills of Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication as well as technology. It’s an exciting time for students at Hall!

Colleen Newman, Principal
W.D. Hall Elementary School

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