#TeamPUSD
Sharing the Good News and Good Work of Students and Staff
June 2018 Edition
Superintendent's Message
Dear Team PUSD,
I know I speak for my fellow District leaders when I say, it was an honor to participate in the graduation and promotion ceremonies this month. I was happy to "sweat it out" on stage alongside our principals and board members for such an important milestone in our students' and families' lives. Many congratulations to graduating seniors, promoting 5th and 8th graders, and all Poway Unified students on their year of learning, growth, and accomplishments. Enjoy some of the fun photos below. After the flurry of year-end activities, I hope you and your families are getting some time to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate.
While our school year is technically over, there is plenty of work and activity happening around the district. Special education is running our extended school year, ESS and Youth Enrichment summer camps are in full swing, transportation is busy shuttling students for field trips, our staff is engaging in professional learning and development, facilities and maintenance crews are conducting renovations and repairs, and here at the District office we are busy hiring new staff and getting ready for the 18-19 school year. We are excited about the 100 new teachers joining our team, as well as the new principals leading three of our schools: a warm welcome to Andrew Gergurich at Painted Rock Elementary, Crystal Brownlee at Meadowbrook Middle School, and Bryan Schultz at Del Norte High School.
Andrew Gergurich
Bryan Schultz
Crystal Brownlee
I am also thrilled to welcome Carol Osborne as our new Associate Superintendent of Learning Support Services. She is returning to Team PUSD after serving as a principal at Morning Creek, then working at the San Diego County Office of Education in their District and School Improvement Department for the past five years. Carol brings innovative, high-quality leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement for student learning and equity.
Greg Mizel will join my cabinet as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, focusing on student safety and well-being and special education. For the past ten years, Greg has worked to inspire and guide Del Norte to becoming one of the top high schools in the country, and I look forward to seeing his leadership at the District level, for the benefit of all of our students. Welcome as well to Brian Morris, Director of Human Resources and Trevor Wilson, Director of Risk Management. And my thanks to the Board of Education for their continued confidence in me, as they extended my contract for an additional year to three years.
We've adopted both our budget and LCAP for 2018-19, which invests heavily in the success and well-being of our students and staff, and I am optimistic about our future as one of the best school districts in the country. As we look forward to Fall, I want to thank Team PUSD for an excellent year. I hope you take a moment to read through the June edition of our newsletter. It is truly a celebration of our final month of the 2017-18 school year.
Sincerely,
Marian Kim-Phelps, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Excellence in Education Video Series
PUSD digital media interns Sabrina Darian, Nathan Xia, Seth Dacio, Noelle Betz, and Zach Camerino (l to r pictured above) have been working all year with the Communications Department to create monthly “Excellence in Education” videos that highlight how PUSD is achieving its mission of college and career readiness throughout the District. Many thanks for a job well done! You can watch all of their past stories here. Their final "Excellence in Education" piece below highlights the unique partnership with Northrop Grumman, to bring hands-on STEM learning to high school interns.
Congratulations to next year's interns on their selection: Nepal Arslan, Zach Camerino, Esha Doshi, Damien Henson, Ryan Hulst, Katie Jose, Brendan Heath, Basma Bahia, Tyler Christian
Student, School, and Staff Achievements
PUSD Volunteers of the Year
Krissa Jensen
Tom McFadden
Andrea & Roger Mitchell
AT&T Inventors Challenge: Thomas Edison Award
National Merit Scholars
Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship Winners: This is the first group of winners in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors were awarded corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.
Sarah Cheng (Del Norte High School), National Merit Pfizer Inc. Scholarship
Valerie Chen (Del Norte High School), National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship
Christian Gaytan (Del Norte High School), National Merit Raytheon Scholarship
Ayaan Gopalan (Rancho Bernardo High School), National Merit Broadridge Scholarship
Rose Hong (Del Norte High School), National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship
Everett Lin (Del Norte High School), National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship
Anjali Ramesh (Del Norte High School), National Merit Northrop Grumman ScholarshipNational Merit Scholarship Winners: This is the second group of winners in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program, funded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation itself. 2,500 Merit Scholar winners were selected from a pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists. The winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
Allison Bao (Westview High School), National Merit $2,500 Scholarship
Steven Chen (Westview High School), National Merit $2,500 Scholarship
Samuel Hunter (Rancho Bernardo High School), National Merit $2,500 Scholarship
Robert Ozturk (Rancho Bernardo High School), National Merit $2,500 Scholarship
Andre Yin (Westview High School), National Merit $2,500 Scholarship
Kevin Yu (Westview High School), National Merit $2,500 Scholarship
College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Winners: This is the third and final group of winners in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program, awarding approximately 3,500 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and Universities. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.
Carson Thomas Alfonzo (Mt. Carmel High School), National Merit Texas Christian University
Evan Bartholomeusz (Poway High School), National Merit Brigham Young University
Advaita Chandramohan (Del Norte High School), National Merit University of Southern California
Hannah Cheves (Poway High School), National Merit University of Southern California
Carolyn Du (Del Norte High School), National Merit Harvey Mudd College
Elizabeth Durkin (Rancho Bernardo High School), National Merit University of Central Florida
Haemin Lee (Del Norte High School), National Merit University of Southern California
Rachel Leete (Rancho Bernardo High School), National Merit University of Central Florida
Student-Athlete Spotlight
Mt. Carmel Swimmer
Del Norte Lacrosse Player
Rancho Bernardo Decathlete
Josh Farmer will move on from RBHS to the University of Colorado to continue his track career as a decathlete. The decathlon includes 10 separate events: 100-meter run, discus, pole vault, javelin, the 400, the 100 hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 1,500. Farmer finished off his high school career as the 300 high hurdles champion in the San Diego Section.
Westview High School Student Wins Scholarlship
Poway High School Student Wins Scholarship
Poway FFA Scholarship Winner
Congratulations to Poway FFA’s Catalina Gonzalez for earning a Livestock Auction Scholarship from the prestigious Don Diego Foundation!
Annual Scholarship Report
PUSD students have competed successfully for dozens of local and national scholarship awards, accepting nearly $24 million in scholarships. The totals below include military academy scholarships. Scholarship amounts are self-reported by students to school sites and may not include all scholarships. Congratulations to all!
High School: Total Amount Accepted
Abraxas: $16,650
Del Norte: $5,871,823
Mt. Carmel: $2,669,656
Poway: $2,440,116
Rancho Bernardo: $5,654,499
Westview: $7,173,107
President's Volunteer Service Award
Abraxas Garden Project Wins Multiple Awards
Garden & Waste Diversion - A Model Program
Monterey Ridge Elementary School was in the spotlight when the San Diego County News team arrived to film a video highlighting the school’s garden and waste diversion program. Monterey Ridge’s school lunch sorting, site-wide recycling and composting program has become a model for other schools across the county.
Focus on Literacy Award
San Diego County Fair Student Showcase Results
Chloe Valdez, Westview HS Best in Class (Ceramic Other 3D)
Samantha Omer, Westview HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Ceramic Other 3D)
Carly Burstedt, Westview HS Best in Class (Drawing 2D)
Lili Olah, Westview HS Best in Class (Watercolor 2D)
Yuenji Lee, Westview HS Best in Class (Watercolor 2D)
Ned Jeong, Westview HS Best in Class (Watercolor 2D)
Naomi Lesberg, Poway Adult School, Best in Class (Thematic Art - Group Project)
Anastasis Papina, Mesa Verde MS, Best in Class (Other 3D)
Photography
Emilie Nguyen, Westview HS Best in Class (Monochrome Images)
Kienan Morrissey, Poway HS Best in Class (Monochrome Images)
Ryan Chaiyakul, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Color Photography)
Ashley Rose, Rancho Bernardo HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Color Photography)
Ella Saucier, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (San Diego County Lifestyles)
Alyssa Thompson, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Fair Theme)
Hannah Hguyen, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Fair Theme)
Rebecca Hebdon, Rancho Bernardo HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Fair Theme)
Basma Bahia, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (Fair Theme)
Ryan Chaiyakul, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Panoramic Images)
Allison Phifer, Poway HS Best in Class (Panoramic Images)
Ethan Wurtz, Poway HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Panoramic Images)
Macy Sadler, Poway HS Best in Class (Portrait Photography)
Ngefor Ndifor, Mt. Carmel HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Portrait Photography)
Isabela French, Rancho Bernardo HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Sports/Action/Motion/Blur Photography)
Francisco Sierra, Poway HS Best in Class (Aerial View Drone)
Adam Durbin, Poway HS Best in Class (Aerial View Drone)
Dawson Smith, Poway HS Best in Class (Photo Journalism-Photo Essay)
Jake Bowers, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (Photography-SN)
Best of Show
Best of Show
Best of Show
Lauren Wilson, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Packaging)
Rianna Mata, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (Packaging)
Lani Kapono, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (Packaging)
Joshua Chehov, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Posters)
Katie O'Connell, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Posters)
Lauren Wilson, Meadowbrook MS Best of Show & Best in Class (Portfolio)
Emily Gnad, Meadowbrook MS Best of Show & Best in Class (Typography)
Brenda Sanchez, Meadowbrook MS Best of Show & Best in Class (Typography)
Mio Teague & Sophie Schulze, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Two-Page Spread for Yearbooks)
Annabel Ng, Meadowbrook MS Best of Show & Best in Class (Documents)
Huy Pham, Rancho Bernardo HS Best of Show & Best in Class (3D Rendered Scenes)
Lauren Ayles, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (3D Rendered Scenes)
Westview Robotics, Westview HS Best of Show & Best in Class (Graphics Communication Group Project)
Emma Vander Veen, Meadowbrook Middle School Best in Class (Graphics Communication-SN)
Video
Nepal Arslan, Rancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (Documentary)
Elli O'Connell, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Fair Theme)
Yumeng He, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (Music Video)
Zach Camerino, Rrancho Bernardo HS Best in Class (News/Investigative Reporting)
Ella Moyer, Meadowbrook MS Best in Class (2D Animation)
Drafting & Technology
Poway High Engineering Academy
Best of Show:
Ryan Barnett, Individual Science Project
Anna Pieroni and Takato Timmerman, Science & Engineering-Group Project
Carson Sauriol, Architectural Renderings/Presentation
Jefferson Cannon, Architectural Other Design Areas,
Guiseppe Sullivan, 3-D Rendering
John McConnin, Robotics Engineering Project Group – Fabricated (Ben Ackerman, Ryan Adelman-Drummond, Arshia Alenaddaf, Myra Ashraf, Joshua Bailey, Dakota Barnes, Ryan Barnett, Noah Burns, Jennifer Byrnes, Andrew Camacho, Jenna Cao, Luca Capperucci, Ethan Champion, Ryan Chan, Sarah Chittle, Cedrick Chiu, Mois Cohen, Lindy Cornwall, Jacob Croston, Khirin Dacanay, Rhavi Dacanay, Sophia Dalke, Evan Donaldson, Jake Durham, Hirohito Fainza, Catherine Farrish, Lorenzo Fisher, Andrew Floyd, Shane "Kai" Flickinger, Aidan Friend, Cecelia Gant, Madalyn Haase, Sean Halaclar, Ethan Han, Justin Han, May He, Vaclav Jelinek, Tony Johnson, Nathaniel Leslie, Nicholas Lombardo, Caleb Lord, Conner Lucey, John McConnin, Gerrit Mcconnin, Andres Mendoza-Vazquez, Oscar Mendoza-Vazquez, Donovan Morgan, Tiffany Nguyen, Madalyn Nguyen, George Oraha, Eeann Panganiban, Sebastian Perico, Anna Pieroni, Wyatt Richards, Patrick Ritter, Jonathan Robins, Ana Isabella Rosentein, Jack Sanders, Jimmy Scott, James Setiady, Anton Skvoretz, Alexander Slocomb, Geary Smart, Elena Tomson, Fernanda Araya Valerio, Ariana Van Dusen, Sean Vazquez, Enzo Verna, Christine Wakayama, Ignatius Widjaja, Sara Wilson, Jonathan Wilson, Zack Wong, Amelia Zolzer)
Best in Class
Aaron Olitoquit, Architectural Renderings/Presentation
Mikayla Mann, Technical Drafting - CAD
Brooklyn Hall, 3-D Rendering
Tracy Richards, 3-D Rendering
Duncan Roca, 3-D Solid Modeling Prototype Projects
Craig Yandell, 3-D Solid Modeling Prototype Projects
San Diego County Fair: Instructor of the Year Award
PUSD Podcast Episode 9: Chad Koster, Director of Facilities, Maintenance, & Operations
Graduation & Promotion Photo Gallery
5th Grade Promotions & Last Day Pics!
Turtleback Elementary
Bernardo Heights Middle School
Black Mountain Middle School
Design39Campus
Meadowbrook Middle School
Mesa Verde Middle School
Oak Valley Middle School
Twin Peaks Middle School
Abraxas High School
Del Norte High School
Valedictorian: Rose Hong
Salutatorian: Shubham Gupta
Mt. Carmel High School
Valedictorian: Timothy Kha
Salutatorian: Johnathan Tran
Poway High School
Valedictorian: Jacob Allen
Salutatorian: Maria Cullen
Rancho Bernardo High School
Valedictorian: Samuel Hunter
Salutatorian: Nina Lu
Westview High School
Valedictorian: Kevin Yu
Salutatorian: Steven Chen
FUN PHOTO GALLERY
RB's B Boys!
Spring Concert
First Prom
Lending a Hand
Painted Rock 'n Roll!
Farm to Table
Art Gives Us Wings!
D39C Maker 39 Fair
ESS Summer Program
Field Trip Fun!
Made in the Shade
CSI!
Building Projects
Mural Dedication
Gold Rush
Poolside Learning
Last Day of Preschool
Almost Summer
Holocaust Survivor
Preschool Promotion!
Valley ES STEM Camp
Camp Invention at Morning Creek
Camp Invention at Del Sur
Memories Matter
FFA at the Fair
Summer Learning
Summer Reading Academy
PUSD Retirement Profiles
B.J. Brose
1. How long have you worked in PUSD:
26+ years (encompasses part time & full time)
2. What positions/sites:
Noon duty aide @ Pomerado; PIP Aide, ESS Program Aide Sub, ESS Lead Assistant @ Adobe Bluffs; ESS Supervisor @ Sundance; ESS Supervisor @ Stone Ranch (opened the school); ESS Supervisor @ Monterey Ridge (opened the school); Supervisor on Special Assignment (SOSA) for ESS @ District Office; ESS Operations Supervisor @ District Office
3. Favorite memory/memories from your time here:
Working with the kids…seeing them learn, grow, mature and have a lot of them come work for ESS! Building lifelong friendships with fellow employees, parents, and children.
4. Biggest change(s) you’ve observed in education:
Use of all types of technology
5. Advice for new hires:
Have fun, laugh, give high fives! Don’t take yourself too seriously!
6. What you’ll miss the most about your job:
The people and kids!!
7. Plans for retirement:
Relax, sleep in, and Travel!!
Eric March
1. How long have you worked in PUSD:
30 years
2. What positions/sites:
Elementary teacher at TBES 1988-1998, Asst. Principal at MCES 1998-1999, Principal of DCES 2000-2003, and 6th grade teacher at BMMS 2003-present.
3. Favorite memory/memories from your time here:
The students! Their wonder of learning and striving to make sense of their world raises me every day. They never cease to impress me. Working with dedicated parent community – we’re aiming for the same targets. Wonderful networking and learning opportunities through our varied Professional Development programs. (Miss the RB Inn dinners, but TLC points and salary are a plus!) Staff water wars on last day of school at TBES!!
4. Biggest change you’ve observed in education:
Student centered learning moves the focus from our inputs (teacher lessons) to outcomes (student learning.) Crowded curriculum! Skills and concepts taught at earlier levels than ever – definitely a mixed blessing. Technology makes so much access to knowledge possible, but injects huge distractions as well. Fragmentation of families and social shifts mean our need to teach a social curriculum and to be educators as well as counselors is greater than ever.
5. Advice for new teachers:
Always know that you have a huge impact, even though you may not have the satisfaction of seeing the outcomes. The parents are sending you the best children they have in the hopes that you’ll help grow them into better people; they aren’t keeping the good ones at home! Always ask yourself: If I were the parent of this child, what would I wish the teacher would do to help him or her? Strive to live a balanced life and nurture yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s hard to give what you don’t have, and your students need your best every day! Learn to laugh at yourself, because collectively even your class of K’s are smarter than you are. It’s true: they need to know how much your care before they are interested in learning about how much you know.
6. What you’ll miss the most about teaching:
The way greeting my classes each day always makes me put my self-absorbed thoughts on the back burner. Their curiosity challenges me to be my best and their energy can either drown me or buoy me up – it’s all in how I approach it. (Dare I say “mindset”?)
7. Plans after retirement:
Time with family and loved ones. A little travel. Biking and backpacking. Volunteering and maybe even a little subbing.
Ken Matson
1. How long have you worked in PUSD:
I was hired in PUSD August 1989 – so completing my 29th year.
2. What positions/sites:
Math teacher – MCHS (24 years)
PUSD Math Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) – District Office (4 years)
Math Teacher – PHS (1 year)
3. Favorite memory/memories from your time here:
Firstly – the people…a great place!
Seeing the “lights” go on in Math.
TOSA – strange working with adults.
Coaching – Volleyball, Track & Field, Academic League & Science Olympiad
Faculty Plays/Theater.
4. Biggest change you’ve observed in education:
Parenting.
Math used to be the tools in the box for other subjects…now applications play a big part.
How teaching changed due to Standardized Testing.
5. Advice for new teachers:
Don’t take it home every night…pick your times.
Take some quiet time when you get home (20 min) to let go of your school day so you can “be” there at home.
Find a teacher buddy & talk with them…a lot!
6. What you’ll miss the most about teaching:
The students…especially the ones who try.
7. Plans after retirement:
Gardening (if I can eat it…I’m interested), Competitive Bridge (card game), Reading, Exercise, Travel.
Lori Brickley
1. How long have you worked in PUSD:
I'm an original Bronco, I opened the school in 1990...Worked at MCHS for 4 years before that… doing the math = 32 years!
2. What positions/sites:
Science Teacher at RBHS and MCHS (AP biology now and about every other life science class ever taught in high school!)
3. Favorite memory/memories from your time here:
Most recent: This year has been pretty special. The day thousands of students walked out for 17 minutes to honor the victims of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting and to demand changes to our gun laws was exciting. Each year when a student finally asks me why I don't say the pledge of allegiance is always an inspiring day, and a day when the world shifts a bit towards acceptance and non-judgement. Oh, and every time a student has that "ah-ha" moment and the biological world makes sense as they see the connections between cellular respiration and evolution and ecology and homeostasis and they really "get" the big ideas of biology (and they score really well on their AP exam!).
Older: I took a group of students on an Outward Bound trip to Costa Rica. We all came home battered and bruised but ALIVE! The empowerment of surviving something like that allowed all of us to take more risks in our lives to affect the world in a bigger way… for good.
4. Biggest change(s) you’ve observed in education:
I think kids today are more self-actualized, they are waking up; they know the whole world is connected and that their realization of this is the key to their survival and happiness. They know they can affect change and that it is their job to do so, to make the world better and more equal for everyone. Oh, and there's more technology so the word can be spread more effectively and they can affect greater change in the world.
5. Advice for new teachers:
Teach who you are. Be flexible and understanding. Be patient. Be creative. Take risks. Pay attention to what your students are telling you with their energy. Listen. Go with your heart. Teach because you love kids, not the subject.
6. What you’ll miss the most about teaching:
The energy! The relationships with my students. The honor it is to watch them grow and realize their power and the light that is inside. I will miss the hell out of them!
7. Plans after retirement:
I'll be staying here and seeing what the world offers me for my next steps in fighting for social justice. I really hope to become a grandma someday too (that's a hint to my children)! :)
Apply by June 30th!
The committee will assist in the development of a Districtwide Safety Plan, focusing on preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery. Parents, staff, students, and community members are encouraged to apply. Apply at http://bit.ly./pusdsafetyplan
(Selected committee members will be notified in August, and the first meeting will be held in September.)
Keep Reading Over the Summer!
Keep your children reading over the summer with PUSD's free digital library: Overdrive - for ebooks and audiobooks on your computer or device! All they need is their student ID number and password.
Summer Work Permits
Summer Work Permits will be issued by the Poway Adult School
June 15 through August 21
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:00 to 11:00 am
Please allow a 24 hour turn around
Elementary Summer Time Enrollment
Elementary school offices are closed June 22nd through August 7th. From July 2nd through July 27th, enrollment for new students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 5th Grade will take place at the District Office, located at 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, 92128. To make an appointment, click here.
Secondary School Summer Office Hours
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