February 19, 2024
We hope you enjoyed the extended holiday weekend, and we look forward to seeing our students back on campus tomorrow, February 20.
In EUSD, every student is a Creative Problem Solver. They seek opportunities to creatively design solutions, solve complex problems, and act on novel ideas – all with a can-do attitude!
Recently, Pioneer Elementary 1st-graders enthusiastically tackled complex problems and creative solutions during a mobile exhibits visit from the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, one of our outstanding community partners in education. Every 1st-grade class participated in the hour-long experience in which museum educators led students through five engineering-focused stations.
“What does an engineer do?” Museum Education Manager Mary Cate Foster asked students to kick off the session. The 1st-graders responded with answers like, “They fix things!” and “They make things look new!” Foster agreed, adding: “At the museum, we like to say that engineers are problem solvers. Today, you’re going to be engineers, and solve some problems.”
And so the students went to work in small groups, tackling projects like the “Rigamajig: Build a Machine That Moves,” and “Ramps: Build a Rollercoaster With a Loop That Ends in a Crate.” In total, there were five mobile exhibits provided by the museum. The room buzzed with teamwork, excitement, and curiosity as the small groups 1st-graders attempted to build a fort that protected a person inside of it, or created a story using colors on a light wall, or constructed a town using Rokenbok pieces.
These Creative Problem Solvers proved that tackling challenges, together with their classmates, can be loads of fun!
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
February festivities: There is much to recognize in February, and we look forward to sharing highlights from classrooms around the district celebrating Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and Presidents Day. Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. Lunar New Year for 2024 began on February 10, kicking off the Year of the Dragon. Quantum Academy embraced the Lunar New Year by incorporating the holiday and its dragon theme into its monthly Create with the Principal gathering to make a decoration for the front office. Principal Krystle Miller shared that participants crafted a dragon with paper chains, and one of the 8th-grade Quarks created the colorful dragon head. We invite you to share with your family this engaging National Geographic article, which explores how Lunar New Year is celebrated by people around the world!
Share your feedback: A community meeting to collect input as we update the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, at Farr Avenue Elementary School. We hope you will join us in person for this important session! Feedback from our parents and guardians is valued and essential as we reflect on current performance, areas for improvement, allocation of resources, and future goals. The district’s LCAP is the blueprint tied to state funding that describes how our schools support the success of all students. There’s still time to share your feedback through our LCAP Priorities Survey, which is open through February 27. This survey aims to collect input from all of our stakeholders. Responses are anonymous.
Flag Rugby season: Don’t miss the opportunity to see our new flag rugby players in action as our competitive season gets underway! All games are played at Rincon Middle School, with elementary matches starting at 9 a.m. and middle school teams facing off at 10 a.m. on February 24, March 2, March 9, and March 17. All EUSD teams are coached by professional athletes from SD Legion, San Diego’s Major League Rugby team. Major League Rugby represents the highest professional rugby competition in North America. This is the inaugural season of coed flag rugby in EUSD, with 22 schools participating thanks to the efforts of our Expanded Learning team and support from SD Legion!
Work with EUSD: If you are looking for meaningful work in a vibrant, diverse community, then be sure to join us at the next EUSD hiring fair, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, at the district office, 2310 Aldergrove Avenue. Human Resources team members will guide individuals through the application process, for numerous essential full- and part-time positions across the district. Walk-ins are welcome, or visit Eventbrite for event and pre-registration details. On-campus and district office positions include paraeducator; nutrition assistant; school clerk; and temporary and substitute positions. Employees who work more than five hours a day are eligible for enrollment in EUSD benefits and retirement programs. Find all employment opportunities here.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools