Cougar Connection
February 11 , 2024
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Diegueño Families,
The clouds parted and the sun came out for last week's New Families Open House ☀️
It was great to welcome 6th graders and their families to campus (see photos below and on Instagram). Here are a few reminders regarding planning for next year:
Current 8th graders - Submit your high school selection by Thursday, February 15 at 4:00 PM. It’s important to declare your preferred high school, even if you are planning to attend your “boundary” high school (La Costa Canyon for most Diegueño students). See the district's high school selection webpage for more information.
Current 7th graders - You don’t need to do anything at this moment.
Current 6th graders - Consult our Diegueño's course selection website for all the resources you need to complete and submit your student's Course Selection Contract. Please submit your student's contract to their current 6th grade teacher. Mark your calendar for our March 5th New Families Information Night.
Again, please try not to let anxiety creep in regarding selecting your student's next school and courses. All the options are excellent so just focus on finding the right fit. We're here to help answer any questions you might have!
Kindly,
Celeste Barnette, Ed.D.
Principal
(760) 944-1892 x6683
BUTTERFLY PROJECT
In February we are honored and excited to bring The Butterfly Project to Diegueño! This project would not be possible without the generous support of our PTSA!!
The Holocaust Butterfly Project, founded in 2006 by educator, Jan Landau and artist, Cheryl Rattner Price, is an educational initiative designed to teach students about the Holocaust and honor the memory of each individual child who perished during that time by creating a butterfly in their name.
Our students will design glazed, clay butterflies to honor a child's memory, and the butterflies will be part of a permanent, artistic installation on the side of our Learning Commons. The butterfly is often used as a symbol of hope, transformation, and remembrance. Through all English classes, every Diegueño student will watch the award-winning documentary, “Not the Last Butterfly,” engage in a class discussion, and be given a biography card as a way to connect with a child lost during the Holocaust. Our incredible art and ASB teacher, Kelly Casassa, will facilitate the painting and glazing of all the butterflies.
By painting ceramic butterflies, our are becoming a part of a program that has touched the lives of thousands of participants around the world.
FRIENDSHIP WEEK
You Still Have Time to Buy Your Student a Candy Gram
Do you want to send your student a candy gram? Visit our front office on Monday or Tuesday to write your student a message, we'll attach a chocolate, and then ASB students will deliver the candy gram to your student on Valentine's Day. Candy grams can be purchased for $1 by parents/guardians.
Please note that every student will receive a candy gram from ASB on Valentine's Day, but parent candy grams are an additional way to connect our families to the classroom and to our campus.
PTSA HAPPENINGS
Builder-Woodworker-Construction Help Needed
We have some production needs for the Spring drama production (March 26th) and for 8th Grade Promotion (May 31st).
If you have the skills, tools, and the willingness to help us build flats, please reach out to stacilaw@gmail.com. Looking for 1-2 people.
7th Grade Families Needed
We are in need of a team of 7th grade parents/guardians to help us set up for the 8th grade promotion celebration on the morning of May 31st, so that 8th grade families can focus on getting ready for their student's ceremony.
If you can be available, please email stacilaw@gmail.com. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
ATTENDANCE OFFICE REMINDERS
Students Who Miss School, Miss Out
There are many reasons a student may miss school and some can't be avoided. However, it is important to minimize missed days as much as possible. Discussions and activities happen in class that cannot be duplicated by just looking at the notes or Google classroom after class. In middle school, students are balancing six different classes, each having work that will need to be made up when students return to school. It can be stressful for students to balance their make-up work with their current work. Please try to plan vacations on non-school days.
Off-Campus Pass Procedure
With the 4-day weekend coming up, we want to remind you that you must make arrangements for off-campus passes in advance. To request an off-campus pass (for medical appointments or for going out of town), you must call or email at least 48 hours in advance and include:
- Your student's first and last name
- Time and date for the pass
If you will be picking up your student during nutrition break or lunch time, please remind your student to meet you in the attendance office for check-out. Your student is responsible to picking up their off-campus pass in the attendance office before school on the day of pick-up.
Email: DGAttendance@sduhsd.net
Phone: (760) 944-1892 x6605
Sorry! We Can't Accept Food Deliveries
Please understand the challenge it presents when parents drop off fast food or have food delivered to their students (from Grub Hub, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.). This tends to cause issues between students and creates more work for our front office staff. Fast food dropped off by parents will be held until the end of the school day and meals from delivery services will be refused.
Our strong preference is that students bring a meal with them from home or choose from our menu of free breakfast and lunch offerings (February lunch menus).
Thank you for your cooperation.
UPCOMING DATES
- Feb. 12 - Feb. 16 - FRIENDSHIP WEEK ❤️
- Monday, Feb. 12 - Late Start - Tardy bell rings at 9:45 AM
- Monday, Feb. 12 - Dress-Up Day - Wear Blue & Gold
- Monday, Feb. 12 - Intradistrict Transfer Window Opens (Closes on Feb. 26 @ 4:00)
- Monday, Feb. 12 - ISPE Application Window Opens (Closes on March 15 @ 4:00)
- Tuesday, Feb. 13 - Dress-Up Day - Western Day
- Wednesday, Feb. 14 - Dress-Up Day - Wacky Socks Wednesday
- Thursday, Feb. 15 - Dress-Up Day - Movie/Book Character Day
- Thursday, Feb 16 - High school selection window closes @ 4:00 PM
- Friday, Feb. 16 - Dress-Up Day - Pajama Day
- Monday, Feb. 19 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Weekend
- Tuesday, Feb. 20 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Weekend
- Wednesday, Feb. 21 - Single Period Day
- Monday, Feb. 25 - Late Start - Tardy bell rings at 9:45 AM
- Thursday, Feb. 29 - School Site Council Meeting - 3:00 PM
- Friday, March 1 - PTSA Board Meeting - 8:30 AM
- Friday, March 1 - Principal's Coffee (AKA "Bagels with Dr. Barnette") - 9:00 AM
- Tuesday, March 5 - New Families Information Night
- 5:00 PM - Electives Fair
- 5:30 PM - Special Education Information Presentation
- 6:00 PM - Information Night Sessions (Administration, Counseling, Math & English)
DISTRICT & COMMUNITY NEWS
FFEE February Newsletter
The Families for Equity in Education February newsletter includes:
- Black History Month
- Local events
- Equity walks and talks
- Cultural calendar
For more information, go to famforequity.com
SDUHSD Part Time Job Opportunities
San Dieguito UHSD has part-time opportunities available for Special Education Instructional Assistants, Bilingual Instructional Assistants, and Nutrition Services Assistants. Please visit the link below for a list of all available positions.
STAY CONNECTED TO DIEGUEÑO
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)