How can you get students excited about school and learning?? Well …one way is to witness your Principal have pie thrown in her face! And so this week, several students got to do just that after a day of Jog-a -Thon activities. Students cheered and laughed as they watched their Principal have pie thrown at her … students could not get enough of Mrs. Knight’s reaction. The event was so fun that we can’t wait to do again next year.

Linda A Gudino

School Office Manager

Anza Elementary

(619) 588-3116

Hour of Code Contest

We are hosting an Hour of Code contest. Classes may participate in the Hour of Code any day/time between December 3-19 (participation is optional). The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show anybody can learn the basics. It has become a global initiative aimed at reaching 100,000,000 participants, and has received support from leaders and celebrities like President Obama, Ashton Kutcher, Marissa Mayer, and Susan Wojcicki. Students are able to participate in a 1:1 environment, in pairs, on a projected screen, or by completing an “unplugged” activity requiring no computer at all. The winning school will receive a Code Camp Field Trip! Read the Contest Details (prizes will be awarded to selected classes and individual students) and ensure your students are counted, and have FUN doing the Hour of Code!

Below is one short video introducing the Hour of Code followed by a presentation by Liz Loether, Teacher at Cajon Valley Middle School, that provides information on the Hour of Code with simple and fun ways to get it started in the classroom.

21st Century learning is alive and well at Los Coches Creek! Teachers and students are diving into the one-to-one pilot program, using technology to inspire and transform student work products that are real-world oriented and directly reflect the heart of the common core. Students are using online math resources through the Go Math program, in conjunction with teacher designed note-taking tools and formats, to design projects, build Google presentations, and complete complex problem solving activities. In history, English and science, students are accessing a variety of video, audio and print resources, then collaborating using multiple Google docs to positively comment on, or enhance one another’s work.

Dana Stevenson, Principal
Los Coches Creek Middle School

The First Annual S.D. Arts Run 5K will take place on January 31st at DeAnza Cover Park right on the water. The proceeds of the event will go to support the Arts and Arts Education here locally in San Diego with Flying Hills Elementary (FAME) being chosen to receive a portion of the proceeds this first year.

Attached is a flyer for the event. In addition, registration is open now and can be found on Active.com by searching “S.D. Arts Run”. If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor at the event please check out the PDF packet’s below.

Register today at active.com

The San Diego Play Company

sdartsrun@gmail.com or visit sdplayco.com

Early Bird Flyer

SD Art Run VENDOR Packet

San Diego Play Company 5k Sponsorship Packet

Our class is teamed up with Classroom Champions, a program that connects classrooms with Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Each month there is a theme like goal setting, fair play and this month is persistence. Along with these traits are lessons from the athletes, and video links that support the work. We also received a tablet and microphone along with 30 t-shirts from the program. It is something many of schools should apply for next year. A link to the program is http://www.classroomchampions.org

Yesterday we held a Google hangout with our athlete, Josh Sweeny, where students were able to bring specific questions to the conversation and chat We had about 80 students in our library yesterday talking with Josh. Here is a link to the chat posted by Classroom Champions

It was a great experience for our EL students to write relevant questions and speak directly to our athlete in front of a large audience. Here is a link to the video. We will continue this partnership throughout the year. Today students are writing letters to Josh thanking him for his time and effort. I asked them to write about what they have learned from him thus far. Here are some great quotes:

I have learned…

You don’t have to pay attention to what people say

You made me believe I can do anything I put my mind to

You made me believe in myself again

You are an awesome coach and I would love to work with you someday

Instead of having fans, you are an idol to many people around the world

I learned a lot of things from your wise talking, to be more of a leader than a follower.

Always try your best no matter what happens

And one of the quietest girls in my class sent a heartfelt letter that included her own favorite quote “Use your smile to change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile.”

A great event, and great reflections today. I love that we can bring in others from the world at large into our classrooms to support our message of leadership and resiliency.

Have a great day!

Janet Ilko, Teacher

ELD/Leadership at CVMS

Video of Phase 4 Chromebooks and charging carts, in the process of being unpackaged, asset tagged, engraved, cabled and loaded in the carts. The team is making tremendous progress and will begin delivering carts as soon as they are ready. Teachers slated to receive or who have already received Chromebooks… please share this short video with students to show how many people behind the scenes are working to make their education better and provide them with the technology they need. Thank you to the team behind the magic curtain!

Sharon Clay
Manager, Purchasing & Warehouse
Cajon Valley Union School District
Ph (619) 588-3266 Fax (619) 441-0843
clays@cajonvalley.net

The staff at Flying Hills has enthusiastically focused on the areas of writing and the Arts this year. Our teachers have undergone extensive training with the Lucy Calkin’s Common Core Writing curriculum along with train​​ing through our CoTA (Collaboration of Teaching Artists) integration grant. We are excited about making learning meaningful and memorable for our students as we give them the foundational skills to effectively communicate while emphasizing each child’s uniqueness and creative spirit. Flying Hills is definitely an inspiring place to be!

Jeremy Lyche, Principal
Flying Hills Elementary School