Our students are rising to the challenge to show how they make “Every Day Count!” We know how important it is for our students to come to school every day, and in February, our 5’ attendance trophy will go to the school site with the best activity or contest during the months of December and January. Your student’s daily attendance can help their school earn the trophy.
Juniper Elementary shared one of their attendance incentives. Every day a classroom has perfect attendance, a letter is added to the phrase “PERFECT ATTENDANCE.” Once the phrase is complete, the entire class has a popsicle party with their principal, Brooke Cottingham. How fun is that?
Congratulations to Mission Middle School’s Esports Team, which has been invited to join the innovative Esports Program. We are excited to announce that Mission Middle School’s Esports team is one of three schools selected to join a new Esports mentoring program hosted by SDCOE and UC San Diego! This program connects students with UCSD’s Esports community through monthly virtual workshops, mentorship, and discussions highlighting teamwork, leadership, and STEM skills. The program culminates with an optional visit to UCSD’s state-of-the-art Triton Esports Center, offering a firsthand look at the incredible opportunities in Esports. A big thank you to Ray Weagraff and all the Esports coaches at Mission Middle School for their dedication and hard work in making this incredible opportunity possible for their team!
Limiting Screen Time: In response to valuable feedback from parents and as part of our ongoing commitment to student well-being, we will be implementing a change to student iPads. Starting February 3, internet access on these devices will be restricted between the hours of 9 PM and 5 AM. This change is designed to help reduce screen time, encourage healthy rest habits, and ensure our students are ready for the next day of learning. At the same time, we remain committed to the importance of students having access to digital learning platforms that support their education during the day.
Here are this week’s updates and reminders:
Individual Student i-Ready Reports: Students in Grades K-8 take i-Ready diagnostic assessments three times a year that show their progress in Reading and Math. Students completed their second diagnostic in December 2024, and their score report with results for both Fall and Winter was mailed to parents/guardians on Friday. After students complete the i-Ready assessment, they get an individualized learning path where they can practice reading and math skills at school as well as at home. Please contact your child's teacher if you have questions about their score or learning path. For more information about i-Ready, please visit the i-Ready page on the EUSD website.
2025-26 Local Control Accountability Plan LCAP: Planning for the 2025-26 LCAP has begun. We truly value feedback and input from parents, guardians, staff, and community members. Please take a few minutes to complete the LCAP survey. The survey will be open through Sunday, February 16. Please note that there is no need to click on the Google Translate button on the form. It is already translated. There will be an opportunity to learn more about our LCAP and to provide input on February 12 at 4:30 pm at Farr Avenue Elementary School located at 933 Farr Avenue. Free childcare will be available.
Foundation fundraiser: We invite you to join the all-volunteer Escondido Education Foundation for its annual “Fall in Love with Escondido Schools” fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 7, at St. Petka’s Serbian Orthodox Church. The foundation welcomes parents, colleagues, and community members to this lively event that features good food, great friends of education, exciting auctions, and a special recognition of “caring hearts” – individuals and organizations that go above and beyond for our students. Reserve your spot early for the best price! Tickets are $60 per person if purchased by February 5. Tickets purchased after that are $75 per person at the door. Tickets are available on the foundation’s website. All proceeds go toward the Dr. Mike Caston Innovation Awards, which fund classroom and school grants in our district. View the Escondido Education Foundation Flyer by following the link (PDF).
Early Education Enrollment: New Student Enrollment opened on January 7, 2025, for Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Special Education Preschool. EUSD offers a full-day Transitional Kindergarten program to bridge the path between preschool and Kindergarten. For the 2025-2026 school year, children are eligible for TK if their date of birth is between September 2, 2020, and September 1, 2021. Students applying for Kindergarten must be age 5 on or before September 1, 2025. Students in EUSD TK and Kindergarten programs are eligible to participate in their school’s optional Expanded Learning program. The Expanded Learning program provides before- and after-school student care, from 6:30 a.m. to the morning bell and from the dismissal bell to 6:00 p.m. To find your neighborhood school of residence, use our online school locator tool. For questions regarding Special Education Preschool or about your student’s Special Education needs for next school year, contact the team at spedsupport@eusd.org.
Rooms Has a New Look! An update is required to experience the improved app, which you can do from the app store. The redesigned layout mirrors the navigation style of popular social media apps, aimed at making it more intuitive and user-friendly. The update also reduces the steps needed to find what you need, helping you stay connected faster than ever. We will soon be providing more guidance and walkthroughs of the new interface. If ready for the new look, you can choose to update your app today to explore the changes! Follow this link to the Rooms Guardian navigation update (PDF) and watch this Rooms app video overview (Youtube).
Youth Football Camp: The Escondido Police Athletic League is hosting a FREE co-ed youth football camp for school children ages 6-18. Join them on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at Orange Glen High School football stadium, 2260 Glenridge Road, Escondido. Arrive at 8:30 a.m. for registration. RSVP to escondidopal@gmail.com.
Library programs: The library celebrates Black History Month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, February 1, in the library’s Turrentine Room. The event will include a visit from the Gene Perry Ensemble, where you can enjoy Afro-Caribbean and Latin beats. View the Black History Month Celebration flyer by following this link (PDF) for more information on the celebration. Additionally, The Escondido Public Library invites EUSD families to join its Winter Reading Challenge. The challenge is underway now, with categories for all ages. Participants record their reading through February 9 to earn a prize or a chance to win a gift card. View the Winter Reading Challenge 2025 flyer here (PDF) for additional details.
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