#TeamPUSD
Sharing the Good News and Good Work of Students and Staff
December 2017 Edition
Superintendent's Message
During one of my school visits this week, I had the opportunity to visit Jay Posteraro's band class at Mesa Verde Middle School. He and his students performed a piece for me. It brought me to tears. Not because the song was sad, but because I was struck by the immense privilege as educators, of bringing music into students' lives. As a K-12 school district, we often serve as the very first introduction to so many skills, passions, hobbies, and learning for thousands of children and adults. As we close out the 2017 calendar year, it is so exciting to see the proof of all this learning that has been taking place, in the form of final exams, performances, and competitions, to name a few. Many thanks to all of #TeamPUSD: students, staff, community members, and families for your role in what makes our District so successful.
One of our District goals is to continue to create pathways for our students that will propel them towards college and career readiness. PUSD leadership met recently with Dr. Joi Blake to move forward with our partnership with Palomar College, as they open their South Campus within our District in the Fall of 2018. We are very excited about the possibilities for our students in both academic and Career Technical Education areas.
Speaking of pathways, you know that my vision is to increase access to foreign languages for our students, starting at a young age. I am excited to announce tonight that Adobe Bluffs Elementary School will be starting a dual immersion program in Mandarin Chinese for the 2018-19 school year. This will be in addition to their existing foreign language and culture curriculum they are currently providing twice a week to their students. Watch the video below to learn more.
Ultimately, we hope to implement a K through 12 Mandarin pathway in PUSD, in addition to the Spanish pathway that already exists in PUSD. Great job to Principal Eddie Park and his staff, our community and overseas partners, and Associate Superintendent Dr. Mel Robertson and her support in realizing this vision!
Dr. Robertson and her staff are gearing up for our Local Control Accountability Plan, or LCAP, Community Forums. In January we will be holding orientation meetings for our school site leadership to support our upcoming forums, which will be taking place at all of our schools in January and February 2018. We hope as many of our stakeholders as possible will participate in these important meetings.
I want to wish everyone the happiest of holidays, as we head into the season. There are many holiday concerts and activities as our students share their talents at our school sites. May this time be filled with peace, rest, and reflection as well as much fun, family, and friends. That concludes my report and we’ll see you next year!
Your Superintendent,
Marian Kim-Phelps, Ed.D.
PUSD Podcast Episode 4
The Personnel Support Services department is a huge part of every school district. They like to say they are in the people business, because it takes a lot of people to support all the learning and services that go on in our schools. Listen to this month's podcast with James Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Personnel Support Services, to learn about how our district is staffed and how we make sure we hire and retain the best people for the job.
Student, School, and Staff Achievements
Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Grants
The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation presented $71,821 in grants to several local organizations and projects, including PUSD schools.
Receiving $6,500 grants were:
• Bernardo Heights Middle School for its Health and Fitness Circuit.
The $5,000 grant recipients were:
• The Bernardo Heights Education Foundation, which will put its grant toward science department Chrome Books.
• The Bernardo Heights Middle School Choir Boosters, who will use the money for microphone and audio modernization of the Rancho Bernardo High School Performing Arts Center.
The Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library received a $2,500 grant for its Success via Media and 21st Century Technology Learning Center.
The $2,000 grant recipients were:
• Rancho Bernardo High School Music Boosters so musical instruments can be purchased.
• Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association for the annual RB High Grad Nite celebration.
A grant for $1,721 was given to Westwood Elementary School for its Roadrunner TV.
The $1,500 grants were awarded to:
• Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library for its library concerts.
A $600 grant was given to Seniors Helping Our Kids so it can provide supplies to the program’s volunteer reading tutors who help students in the Poway Unified School District.
Robotics Grants
Northrop Grumman, PTC, Raytheon, Palomar Technologies, Monsanto Fund, Evolution Controls, Leidos, Qualcomm, BAE Systems, Booz|Allen|Hamilton, ABB, Intuit, Lockheed Martin, DoDSTEM, ViaSat, West Air Gases & Equipment, SES E-waste
Creative Writing Contest
Classroom of Excellence
Mt. Carmel All CIF Athletes
First Lego League
Adobe Bluffs Wins Grant
We the People
AVID School
Volunteer Service Award
Holiday Performances and Concerts
RBHS Winter Dance Concert
Tierra Bonita Holiday Choir
RBHS, BHMS, TPMS first joint orchestra Concert
Poway and Twin Peaks Choir Concert
Oak Valley Jazz Band
Sundance Band & Orchestra Concert
Westview Winter Concert
Mesa Verde Band
Midland Christmas Concert
Meadow brook Choir Returns!
Adobe Bluffs 5th Grade Band
Westview Winter Dance Concert
Hour of Code
Sunset Hills
Canyon View
X-Ploration Day!!
Robotics at Pomerado
Coding Buddies
Making Music
Chaparral
Thank you HP in San Diego! #HourofCode #futureprogrammers @BuhrCHES @PUSDinnovate
Valley
Deer Canyon
Canyon View
Fun Photo Gallery
Elf Mischief
Star Struck!
Toys for Tots at Poway High
X-ploration at Rolling Hills
DNHS & RBHS Best Buddies Club
Toys for Tots at Abraxas
D39C ESS Staff
King Ricardo
Stuck on You
Padres Squad visit Turtleback
Creekside Pans for Gold
Family STEAM Night at Sunset Hills
TNT Dunk Squad
The Force is Strong at Meadow brook
Westview Robotics
Old Fashion Day
Pajama Day at Sunset Hills
The Gift of Giving
Haircuts with Heart Cut-a-Thon
Kids Night Out
Great Day for Learning
JA Biztown
MRES Stem Challenge
Park Village Character Counts
Holiday with Heroes
Tech Cafe
Floral Design
Author Inspiration
Flying Principal
Book Tree
Mandarin Immersion Program
Spanish Immersion Program
Public Hearing: Election district map
The public hearing will be on
Jan. 31, 2018, 6 p.m.
Poway Unified School District Office Community Room
15250 Avenue of Science
San Diego, CA 92128
For more information on the hearing:
http://www.sdcoe.net/Board/Pages/poway-trustee-areas.aspx
News Minute
- News Minute 12-21-17
- News Minute 12-7-17
- News Minute 11-16-17
- News Minute 11-9-17
- News Minute 11-2-17
- News Minute 10-26-17
- News Minute 10-18-17
Important Dates:
- Winter Break: December 25, 2017 to January 5, 2018
- Non-Student day: Monday, January 15, 2018 (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
- Board Meeting: Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 6pm
- Public Hearing: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 6pm (County Hearing on Election Map)
- Non-Student day: Friday, February 2, 2018 (Professional Growth)
- District Recess: February 19, 2018 to February 23, 2018
Poway Unified School District
Email: cpaik@powayusd.com
Website: www.powayusd.com
Location: 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA, United States
Phone: (858) 521-2700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowayUSD
Twitter: @PowayUSD