One of the many things that makes EUSD so special is our strong community partnerships and our collective efforts to support all of our students. In an exciting collaboration between EUSD and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE), hundreds of 4th-8th grade students had an unforgettable experience on Monday, October 21, when they attended a remarkable Black Violin performance at the CCAE Concert Hall. Organized by the Expanded Learning Program, the event introduced students to the dynamic sounds of Black Violin, led by classically trained musicians Wil Baptiste (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin), who blend classical music with hip-hop to create a unique genre known as "classical boom." From the moment the lights dimmed, and the music began, the students were captivated by the powerful combination of music and message, as Wil and Kev encouraged them to follow their passions, work hard, and one day turn those dreams into a career. The show was an inspiring and engaging experience that left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. Click here to catch a glimpse of this wonderful experience provided to our EUSD students.
Video of inspirational message
The Escondido Rotary’s 51st annual Downtown Escondido Halloween Window Painting contest was a big success, once again thanks to middle school art students from EUSD. More than two dozen student artists from Hidden Valley, Bear Valley, Mission, and Rincon middle schools participated, coming up with their own festive designs for the windows of businesses along Grand Avenue. Congratulations to the students and their teachers, Tim Brownell, Bear Valley; Ryan Hill, Hidden Valley; and Ann O’Neill, Mission. A special shout-out to retired art teacher Chrissie Preston for joining the group and providing support to students. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Escondido, and we congratulate them on their 100-year anniversary! Here are the honorees in each category:
Overall Highest Judges Score: Amy Cruz Mendieta, Hidden Valley.
Highest Judges Score for Halloween Category: Maximus Martinez Encizo, Mission Middle; Mirfla Encizo Garcia, Orange Glen High School; Lilly Frank, Bear Valley; Camryn Tablbott, Bear Valley
Highest Judges Score for Artistic Category: Alexandra Valdez, Hidden Valley; Keyla Itzel Amezcua, Rincon
Highest Judges Score for Best Fall Category: Mireya Alfar, Sushil Kandel, Abigail MarLett, Hellen Hernandez, Elizabeth Schalnat, all of Bear Valley
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
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.
Halloween safety: We know that many children look forward to Halloween – dressing up, trick-or-treating, and more. Halloween activities are best enjoyed with safety in mind. Halloween 2024 is on Thursday, October 31. Be sure to check any communication from your school site regarding parades or other holiday activities. To ensure a positive experience for all students and staff members, costumes featuring gore, weapons, or full face masks are not permitted. For safety, please refrain from bringing candy to school. We recommend inspecting your child’s treats to ensure that there are no tricks. Check to ensure that all candy is commercially wrapped and that it is, in fact, candy. A significant number of food products infused with THC – the controlled ingredient found in marijuana – are packaged to look like popular candies that, when mistakenly eaten by children, can result in severe illness.
Computers2Kids: The San Diego County Office of Education and Computers2Kids are hosting an event for families to purchase affordable computers on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Morse High School, 6905 Skyline Drive, CA (Drive Thru Event). Since the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year, the partnership between SDCOE and Computers2Kids has provided refurbished computers to San Diego families. As of March 2024, they have provided approximately 3000 refurbished computers to over 1,300 San Diego families. We hope your families are able to benefit from this event. Follow this link to submit an application and schedule an appointment. Direct questions to 858-200-9788 or programs@c2sdk.org.
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