In EUSD, we believe that student learning should be personalized, authentic, competency-based, and inclusive and equitable. Our teachers strive to create these conditions in all of our classrooms so that students are engaged and supported as they grow as learners. As part of the EUSD learning model, competency-based student learning is driven by targeted instruction, assessment, and a feedback cycle that monitors progress toward desired grade-level knowledge and skills.
Authentic Learning Experiences with Science Field Work: EUSD partners with local organizations to provide science-based fieldwork experiences for all students. One of our partners includes The Escondido Creek Conservancy. The Escondido Creek Conservancy serves every 3rd grader in the Escondido Union School District. They provide classroom lessons to each class that introduces local habitats and common plants and animals to students. Then each school attends a field trip to the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve to participate in a rotation of stations that includes a habitat hike, an insect investigation in the nature center, a hands-on lesson about water quality and its impact on the Southern Steelhead Trout, and a lesson about leaves vs litter and the impact litter has on our ecosystem. Take a look at some recent pictures from Pioneer’s 3rd-grade visit to Elfin Forest.
Attendance: Our students are all in, making Every Day Count!! Students are showing their commitment to learning by coming to school every day, and showing their school spirit at the same time! In September, students representing every school were able to participate in a poster contest, which was a great success. There were so many creative entries, and it was tough to select a winner, but after much deliberation, the winning poster was designed by 5th-grade student Luisa Daniela Romo Ayala from Felicita Elementary. Felicita received a poster-sized replica of her artwork to display, stickers with the poster design to pass out, and Luisa’s poster will be posted to our EUSD attendance web page. Congratulations Luisa! Felicita Elementary School will also have the honor of displaying the 5’ Attendance Trophy in their office for the next month. Make sure to check out all the fun.
Thank you to everyone participating in our attendance activities and showing your school spirit. There will be more exciting activities planned throughout the year. Be sure to ask your school about upcoming events. It is your commitment to student success that makes EVERY DAY COUNT!!!
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
FLAG RUGBY is back! We had a great start to the Flag Rugby season last Saturday, with each school showing heart on the field and families cheering from the sidelines. Felicita’s cheer team brought extra spirit to the day. This program is run through our Expanded Learning after-school enrichment classes and our partnership with the San Diego Legion, our local professional rugby team. Thank you to everyone for making it a fun, energetic day—we’re looking forward to the next game. Check out this Flag Rugby highlight video from last Saturday.
Schedules: Elementary Flag Rugby Schedule (PDF) / Middle School Flag Rugby Schedule (PDF)
Red Ribbon Week: The annual observance of Red Ribbon Week begins on October 23 and runs through October 31. This year’s national theme is “Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free.” The health and safety of our students is a top priority, and we are proud to support this important drug-abuse prevention campaign. Our schools embrace the program in numerous ways, including spirit days, door decorations, and special assemblies. We appreciate your support in encouraging your students’ participation in these activities, and we are grateful to our parent volunteers who contribute to the success of this important week. With the increased presence of edibles – potent food products that contain THC, the controlled ingredient found in marijuana – it is essential to have conversations with children about the dangers of edibles, which can easily be mistaken for candy. In addition, the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl is often found in fake versions of common prescription and over-the-counter medications. It is important to educate students of all ages about the dangers of these drugs, as well as about accepting such food items or medications from classmates or older friends.
Adolescent Substance Use Awareness and Prevention Workshop: All EUSD families are invited to attend this important and informative workshop on Monday, October 28, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Rincon Middle School MPR. Hear about teen substance use trends in the community and learn how to talk with your student about substance use. Students are welcome to attend. Childcare and light refreshments will be available.
Student devices: EUSD utilizes technology in nearly every aspect of instruction, and access to information technology through district-issued iPads is integral to our vision to actualize the unlimited potential of every learner. The district’s Acceptable Use Policy: Student Technology, which can be reviewed on our website, outlines the expectations for students for the appropriate uses of technology. In addition, parents and guardians may wish to manage access to their child’s school-issued device through the JAMF Parent App available to you. While students are instructed on the responsible use of technology, the JAMF app allows guardians to implement additional restrictions on a student iPad as needed. Instructions for setting up JAMF Parent access are available by clicking on the JAMF Parent Guide on your student’s iPad or online through the EUSD Knowledge Base website.
Community events: Our friends in the Escondido Union High School District invite the community to visit the annual Pumpkinfest at the Escondido High School. Pumpkinfest is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 26, at the EHS Farm, 1535 North Broadway. The 6-acre farm has a pumpkin patch, with hundreds of vine-fresh pumpkins. Admission is free, with pumpkins, plants, other farm goods, crafts, and food for sale to raise funds for the school’s agriculture program. Other activities include a petting zoo and hayrides.
Celebrating School Nutrition: Last week was recognized as National School Lunch Week, which was established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has in and out of the classroom. In EUSD, the Nutrition Services team provides over 16,000 nutritious and delicious meals per school day. Thanks to these 150 staff members, under the direction of Director Anna Scimone, students in all grade levels have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, from-scratch entrees such as spaghetti and meatballs and crisp salads, and more. Education is also an important part of the team’s work. The team hosts farmers market assemblies from the nonprofit organization Food 4 Thought and has implemented a precise recycling process at meal time to reduce food and materials waste. I am proud of our extraordinary nutrition program!
Breakfast and Lunch Menus: All EUSD students have access to no-cost breakfast and lunch. Families can view our new online menus. Select your school and menu to see what is being served every day.
And Remember, Every Day Counts in EUSD!
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools