Kari Hull, Joan Knoernschild, Steve Spence, and a team of directors and student musicians received permission from global recording artist Matisyahu, to make some age appropriate modifications to and record our own version of his hit song  “One Day” for our annual TEDxKids@ElCajon event.  The idea came from Avocado Principal Keith Himaka… Deputy Superintendent, Kari Hull, took it from there.  The result was a beautiful collaboration with the city of El Cajon and an opportunity to provide yet another stage for Cajon Valley Students to shine. We are grateful to the City of El Cajon and the El Cajon Police Department for closing down Main Street for the shooting of this music video.

Thank you for all those who participated!

As a part of Cajon Valley Union School District and in partnership with Code to the Future™, Los Coches Creek is the new premier Computer Science and Media Arts Magnet Middle School of the East County. Starting in the 2017-18 school year, in addition to our traditional honors English and accelerated math curriculum, students at Los Coches Creek will experience Computer Science and Media Arts through out their academic day in this public, tuition free 6-8 grade middle school. We invite you to schedule a guided tour of our campus and see our curriculum in action as we bring endless opportunities to each and every student. We look forward to being a part of your child’s future. 

Los Coches Creek Staff and PTA

Cajon Valley Union School District Water Lead Testing Results

As part of the new State program in 2017, school districts could work with their local water agencies to provide free testing of drinking water at all school sites. The District worked with our three water agencies: Helix Water District, Otay Water District and Padre Dam Municipal Water District during March – May to take several samples at each school to test and provide results.

Following the strict sampling instructions set forth by the State Water Resources Control Board, testing has been completed and we are pleased to report that all of CVUSD’s school campuses passed with good results. All schools were below the minimum recordable levels.

Click here to view the test results.

Scott Buxbaum, Assistant Superintendent and Chief Business Officer

Several months ago, we posted on this blog “a call for stories” about immigrant and refugee students. We have been blown away by all the responses! We have since taken all those stories and compiled them into a little booklet. Physical copies are also available through the print shop. Thank you to all the teachers that wrote in. I don’t believe there is another profession in America that has more daily interaction or long-term impact on immigrants than teachers. Teachers make the difference in our communities!

We’ve been distributing these booklets to lawmakers in Sacramento. On April 25th, Governing Board member Tamara Otero was invited to testify in the Education Finance Subcommittee in the California Assembly on a funding package that would distribute $5 million across the state to districts that receive large amounts of refugees. Her testimony made quite an impact on lawmakers. On May 23rd, the Subcommittee voted UNANIMOUSLY (across party lines) to approve the package, and actually increased it to $10 million! There’s still a long way to go before the funding is approved, but we’re hopeful these efforts will lead to additional funding to support our newest students. 

Tamara’s Opening Testimony is Here….

To See the Full Budget Subcommittee Hearing See Below…

To

Thank you to everyone who wrote in a story, and to all of you who do your part to improve the lives of our immigrant students every day. 

Eyal Bergman

Family & Community Engagement Officer