EUSD Staff Newsletter
March 2020 Edition
Dear Colleagues
Dear Colleagues,
Upcoming Superintendent Coffee Chats
Here are the dates and various locations hosted across the District from 9am-10am.
- Thursday, April 16 - El Camino Creek
- Friday, April 17 - Olivenhain Pioneer
- Thursday, April 30 - Ocean Knoll
"Scammers spoofing COE phone number" - Nathan
Get Ready, Get Set, Get to Know Census Workers
Who’s knocking on your door?
Quick 2020 Census safety tip: Know how to identify a census worker. Preparations for the census are already underway and there may be Census Bureau representatives visiting your neighborhood. Read more on how to verify that someone works for the Census.
SPANISH: Censo del 2020 tip de seguridad: Aprenda cómo identificar a un trabajador del censo. Los preparativos para el censo ya han comenzado y tal vez vea representantes del Buró del Censo en su comunidad. Siga leyendo para aprender cómo verificar si una persona trabaja para el Censo.
Have questions or need more resources? Email census@sdcoe.net.
Math Update from Ed Services
This has been a year of learning when it comes to math! We continue to receive feedback from teachers across the district regarding our math pilot with iReady and Ready Classroom materials. The Math Committee will meet again this month to discuss what resources best support student learning in math. Thus far, we have consistently heard positive feedback about the iReady Diagnostic and the personalized My Pathway available for students. We have heard mixed results about the book and workbook from Ready Classroom. We have also heard that many teachers haven’t explored all of the resources, which is why we continue to share the Monday Math Moments with you. These are meant to be resources that you can access as you see fit, to meet your students needs.
We also continue to encourage the development of problem-solving in our students, through the strategies of Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) and Exemplars. If you are interested in signing up for CGI professional development, Year 1 or Year 4, for next year, please click here to complete the brief interest survey. We will roll current Year 1 participants into Year 2, and Year 2 into Year 3 when we offer CGI cohorts again next year as a PD Pathway. We will also be looking to form a group of teachers interested in working through CGI problem sets and a scope and sequence over the summer. If you are interested in participating in that work, please let us know through this interest form.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Social Emotion Learning (SEL) at EUSD
Throughout this school year, our students and staff have been hard at work on three big instructional areas: Math, Science, and Social Emotional Learning.
As you know, we are in a year-long pilot program with the iReady and Ready Classroom math resources. Our math committee has worked hard to gather feedback from staff and students about how the program is working for student learning. We have also received feedback from parents through our LCAP Community Input Sessions at each school. Our goal is to provide high quality resources to teachers that support problem solving and mathematical thinking for all of our students. If you have questions about your child’s progress in math, please be sure to connect with his/her teacher.
Our Science instruction continues to address the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which are taught through units that were developed by Teachers on Special Assignment at the district office, in collaboration with classroom teachers. Our NGSS lessons follow the 5 E model, which is pictured below. We want our young scientists to experience science through this learning model to make connections and to foster greater critical thinking.
Social emotional learning (SEL) happens in every class every day in some way. It also happens formally in the TRAC (Teambuilding Regulation Awareness and Community) lessons that your students experience within their classroom at least every other week. TRAC lessons support the Core SEL Competencies of: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.
With a focus on math, science, and social emotional learning this year, we appreciate how hard students and staff have been working to expand their learning. It is so exciting to visit classrooms across Encinitas and see students excitedly sharing their questions, exploring their passions, and developing problem solving and critical thinking skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Thank you for being our partners in this work!
Earth Week Turns 50!
Building Bridges for Parents & Schools (Staff)
“No matter how skilled professionals are, nor how loving families are, each cannot achieve alone, what the parties working hand in hand, can accomplish together.” -Peterson & Cooper
We are blessed to have careers that give us the opportunity to grow and nurture the children who walk through our classroom doors each day! Alongside students, we also have the privilege of serving our families. As a support to our work in this area, we are fortunate to have our Parent & Community Liaison, Veronica Gonzalez! Veronica can assist teachers, parents, and schools in the following ways:
Contact parents to communicate information about students
Connect families with medical, counseling, and food services
Assist with completing school forms
Facilitate parent participation in school
Translation for non-English speaking parents
Support with parent trainings & workshops
Assist parents soliciting help and advice regarding district programs
Connect families with community enrichment opportunities such as the public library and local events
Facilitate services for foster and homeless students
In the spirit of equity, Veronica will be available to support schools & families on the days listed below:
Monday: Capri
Tuesday: Ocean Knoll
Wednesday: Paul Ecke Central
Thursday: Park Dale Lane
Friday: On a rotating basis:
El Camino Creek
Flora Vista
La Costa Heights
Mission Estancia
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
To connect with Veronica, you can email her at veronica.gonzalez@eusd.net
Building Bridges for Parents & Schools
“No matter how skilled professionals are, nor how loving families are, each cannot achieve alone, what the parties working hand in hand, can accomplish together.” -Peterson & Cooper
Did you know that EUSD has a staff member available to assist families? As a support to our work in this area, we are fortunate to have our Parent & Community Liaison, Veronica Gonzalez! Veronica can assist parents in the following ways:
Communicate information about students, especially if you speak Spanish and your child’s teacher does not speak Spanish
Connect families with medical, counseling, and food services
Assist with completing school forms
Facilitate parent participation in school
Translation for Spanish-speaking parents
Assist parents soliciting help and advice regarding district programs
Connect families with community enrichment opportunities such as the public library and local events
Facilitate services for foster and homeless students
In the spirit of equity, Veronica will be available to support schools & families on the days listed below:
Monday: Capri
Tuesday: Ocean Knoll
Wednesday: Paul Ecke Central
Thursday: Park Dale Lane
Friday: On a rotating basis:
El Camino Creek
Flora Vista
La Costa Heights
Mission Estancia
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
To connect with Veronica, you can email her at veronica.gonzalez@eusd.net to schedule an appointment or to ask for assistance.
Staff and Student Water Bottles
Reusable Water Bottles Coming Soon to Your School Lunch line!
In efforts to reduce waste and single-use plastic across the district, Child Nutrition Services will be shifting the type of water they sell to our students. Instead of a traditional single-use plastic water bottle, the lunch line at each school will be selling water that comes in a reusable aluminum bottle. These bottles can be washed and used for later use, eliminating any plastic waste from going into the landfill.
We encourage our EUSD students to bring reusable water bottles from home and fill them at the hydration stations at each school. If students do forget their water bottle at home, Child Nutrition Services will always have reusable water bottles for sale at their school’s snack bar! Thank you for assisting us in reducing waste and supporting our green initiatives.
Concordia University Irvine - off-campus Master's programs for teachers
Concordia University Irvine (a WASC Accredited University) is offering off-campus Master’s programs for teachers. Please click here to view the flier regarding an upcoming informational meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Vista.
Encinitas Superheroes ~ Race for Autism
“Encinitas Superhero” team for the upcoming NFAR race. Attached are some photos you may want to use and below is a link with more info if you’d like to include any of that info on it.
https://www.raceforautism.org/Team/View/125207/Encinitas-Superheroes
Keeping Up with Technology Can Be Tough
Farm Lab in the News... (Staff)
Did you know?
Farm Lab’s 6th Grade entrepreneurial experience, Salad Wars, made the local news! Check out the articles in both the Encinitas Advocate and Coast News!
I Love a Clean San Diego is hosting their annual ‘Adventures in Sustainability' workshop at Farm Lab on Saturday, May 2nd. Learn easy shifts to be more sustainable in all areas of life - hobbies, travel, and even pet care! Check out all the details and register here.
The USDA Farm to School Grant project continues! The second round of Student Menu Development Ambassadors created seasonal ‘Salsa-mole’ in the central kitchen - that was highlighted on the salad bar at all nine school sites on March 17th! Check out the student made PSA about their recipe here.
The all district Farm to School Menu Showcase, featuring all Student Menu Ambassador Team recipes, their promotional materials, and locally sourced tacos from CNS, will be held at Farm Lab on May 8th. Save the date!
The Research and Design rooms are waiting to be utilized by YOU, teachers! Check out the R&D Powerschool page for all of the details - and to sign-up!
Farm Lab has recently provided tours to Superintendents and leadership teams from Solana Beach, South Bay, Pittsburgh, PA, and several members from the SD County School Boards Association. We were also asked to present on our farm to school efforts in a USDA webinar. Local and national organizations are taking notice of this innovative space that enriches the bodies and engages the minds of our students. Bravo, EUSD!!
We have two volunteer opportunities weekly! Join The Ecology Center’s farmer every Thursdays and Saturday from 10-12. Our strawberries for the school salad bars should be popping up soon!
Farm Lab Update... (Parent)
Did you know?
Farm Lab’s 6th Grade entrepreneurial experience, Salad Wars, made the local news! Check out the articles in both the Encinitas Advocate and Coast News!
I Love a Clean San Diego is hosting their annual ‘Adventures in Sustainability' workshop at Farm Lab on Saturday, May 2nd. Learn easy shifts to be more sustainable in all areas of life - hobbies, travel, and even pet care! Check out all the details and register here.
The USDA Farm to School Grant project continues! The second round of Student Menu Development Ambassadors created seasonal ‘Salsa-mole’ in the central kitchen - that was highlighted on the salad bar at all nine school sites on March 17th! Check out the student made PSA about their recipe here.
The all district Farm to School Menu Showcase, featuring all Student Menu Ambassador Team recipes, their promotional materials, and locally sourced tacos from CNS, will be held at Farm Lab on May 8th. Save the date!
The Research and Design rooms at Farm Lab have hosted several classes since opening in January for nutrition science, robotics, and more! Check out what Mr. Leonard from PEC did with his 6th graders here! (Instagram post)
We have two volunteer opportunities weekly! Join The Ecology Center’s farmer every Thursdays and Saturday from 10-12. Our strawberries for the school salad bars should be popping up soon!
Farm Lab has recently provided tours to Superintendents and leadership from Solana Beach, South Bay, Pittsburgh, PA, and several members from the SD County School Boards Association. We were also asked to present on our farm to school efforts in a USDA webinar. Local and national leadership teams are taking notice of this innovative space that enriches the bodies and engages the minds of our students. Bravo, EUSD!!
SDCOE Teacher Opportunities
Past Versions of ALL Staff and Community Newsletter
Encinitas Union School District
Email: heather.hultgren@eusd.net
Website: www.eusd.net
Location: 101 South Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas, CA, USA
Phone: 760-944-94300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncinitasUSD/
Twitter: @eusdtweets