Cougar Connection
October 15, 2023
Fall Family Fun Night
Message from Principal Celeste Barnette
Red Ribbon Week is always an impactful experience for our students. Last week's calendar of events started with a very meaningful Substance Abuse Prevention Assembly presented Rocky Herron, a 31-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Rocky has delivered a similar presentation to more than 130,000 students in 15 countries. Rocky's message centered on:
- Strategies for handling peer pressure
- How to get help
- How and why addiction occurs
- How to identify potentially harmful drugs
- Teen brain development and the impact drugs can have on teens
Here are some additional resources from the San Diego County Office of Education. If you haven't already done so, take some time to discuss what your student's takeaways were.
Wednesday was also a meaningful day for our students. Our PTSA brought in first responders to talk with our students about the dangers of drinking, drug use, and vaping. A million thanks to the event coordinator, Bridget Burke, for her hard work and to all the parent volunteers who helped!
Kindly,
Celeste Barnette, Ed.D.
Principal
(760) 944-1892 x6683
Zombie Fun Run Fundraiser
We need to raise $30,000 to continue offering all the amazing school-wide activities that our ASB sponsors throughout the year including:
- School celebrations and dances
- Family nights and festivals
- Student and competitions
- Spirit days
- Club fairs
- Lunchtime activities
- PRIDE parties
- March Madness basketball tournament
- Skate Demo
- Zombie Fun Run
- And more!!!
In place of having students sell wrapping paper or magazines or asking for money throughout the year, we are putting all our efforts into this Zombie Fun Run fundraiser. We're asking each student's family to contribute 25 cents per day or $50 for the whole year. Please consider donating at least $50 by Friday, October 27. Click on the Donation Form button below for more information including the prizes the top fundraisers will earn. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!
PTSA Happenings
PTSA Poker Night Fundraiser
Saturday, November 11th
6:00 PM
Califino 3238 Grey Hawk Court, Carlsbad
Please donate to our Inaugural Poker Tournament Fundraiser. All proceeds benefit Diegueno's Student Support Services!
ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT!
- Permanent outdoor games (ex. concrete ping pong table)
- MORE shade on campus
- Counseling Service's new Chill Lounge aka The Best Room Ever!
WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Poker Players - big discount for couples! Open to all genders!
- Non-Players - Billiards, Golf Sim, Cornhole & Shuffleboard
- Raffle Prizes ($200 minimum value please)
CAN'T ATTEND THE EVENT?
- Sponsor a Faculty Member!
SPONSORS!
- Pay to play while advertising your brand! Your friends or staff can play in your company t-shirts!
- Several sponsor levels available - ad rotation on large TV screen (in between "the football" of course)
This event is open to the public and we need your help spreading the word. Please pass it on!
Watch this video
Mendocino Farms Fundraiser
Wednesday, October 25
2:00 PM to closing
268 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Order online for pick up or delivery using the promo code GIVEBACK or by showing this flyer and Mendocino Farms will donate 30% back to Diegueño's PTSA.
Counselors' Corner
As a follow-up to last week's Red Ribbon Week activities, we ask that you take time to connect with your student on this important topic. Here are some great tips from https://www.redribbon.org/
- Eat dinner as a family, aim to eat dinner together four or more times a week. Use family dinner as an opportunity to really connect with your children.
- Talk to your kids and set clear rules about not using drugs, work with your children’s friends’ parents to set common boundaries and share this message with family and friends.
- Secure and take regular inventory of your medication, safely dispose of unused/expired medication.
- Do not allow underage youth to drink alcoholic beverages or use tobacco or other drugs in your home.
We are available to help with any type of assistance that you may need, so feel free to contact us. Sarah Wilhelms (Last names A - G) & Laura Martin (Last names H - Z)
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, October, 17 - English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting (6:00 PM in Learning Commons)
- Monday, October 23 - Late Start (9:45 tardy bell)
- Wednesday, October 25 - Mendocino Farms PTSA Fundraiser - 2:00 p.m. - Close
- Friday, October 27 - PTSA General meeting 8:30 in Learning Commons
- Friday, October 27 - Bagels w/Dr. Barnette 9:00 in Learning Commons
- Monday, October 30 - ZOMBIE FUN RUN 2023 - in your PE classes (dress like a ZOMBIE)
- Tuesday, October 31 - Halloween Costume Contest @ Lunch (Dress code appropriate - no full face masks or weapons)
- Thursday, November 2 - Canine Unwind Therapy Dogs Visit
- Thursday, November 9 - Skate Demo
- Friday, November 10 - Sky Zone PTSA Fundraiser
- Saturday, November 11 - PTSA Poker Night Fundraiser
English Learner Advisory Committee
The next ELAC meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, October 17, from 6-7pm in the Learning Commons at Diegueno. During this meeting we will discuss Multilingual program options, student placement, progress monitoring, and reclassification. Spanish translation and childcare will be provided.
Linked here is the Multilingual Program and Resources FAQ Sheet that I passed out to parents/guardians at Back to School Night. It has a lot of information about the ML program at Diegueno and the different support and resources offered.
La próxima reunión de ELAC del año se llevará a cabo el martes 17 de octubre de 6 a 7 p.m. en Learning Commons en Diegueno. Durante esta reunión discutiremos las opciones de programas multilingües, la ubicación de los estudiantes, el seguimiento del progreso y la reclasificación. Se proporcionará traducción al español y cuidado de niños.
Aquí se encuentra la hoja de preguntas frecuentes sobre programas y recursos multilingües que entregué a los padres/tutores en la Noche de Regreso a Clases. Tiene mucha información sobre el programa ML en Diegueno y los diferentes apoyos y recursos que se ofrecen.
Community News
Stuffed Animal Toy Drive
La Costa Canyon High School students Michael and Elizabeth Christensen have organized a community-wide stuffed toy drive to benefit Toys for Tots, Ronald McDonald House Charities and children in crisis through local Encinitas and Carlsbad first responders.
The siblings have set up donation drives and collection sites at five different locations: La Costa Canyon, El Camino Creek Elementary, Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary, Diegueno Middle School and the Encinitas Sheriff’s Department’s North Coastal Station. Donations will be collected from Oct. 9 through Oct. 20.
Families for Equity in Education October Newsletter
Click here for October FFEE
Stay Connected
During the school year you will receive this Cougar Connection newsletter every week. This is an important way to stay updated about what’s happening on campus and to learn how to set your child up for success. Other ways to stay connected include:
Bookmark our school website
Subscribe to the Diegueño events calendar
Follow the official Diegueño Instagram account
Follow the official ASB Instagram account
Download the Parent Square app to get his newsletter sent directly to your phone (Apple App Store; Google Play)
Download the Membership Toolkit app to access the private school directory if you joined PTSA (Apple App Store; Google Play)