There were so many impressive creations in personalized learning, World of Work, Sanford Harmony, and visible learning that I couldn’t fit it all into one video. Above there is one video of Naranca’s amazing staff and students and a separate video with pictures of great examples of visual displays, artifacts, student work, and teacher creations around our district focus areas. A couple community members who were curious to see what was happening at their neighborhood school joined Principal Mike Serban, Governing Board Member Karen Clark-Mejia, Chief Innovation & Engagement officer Ed Hidalgo, and me on our visit. They left completely blown away by what they observed. At the end of the tour we explained that what they saw is not typical of schools and classrooms outside of Cajon Valley. They said, “This principal and these teachers are models for the rest of the country.” I couldn’t agree more! Every grade and every classroom… System-wide progress in modern learning!

Governing Board Member Karen Clark-Mejia, Greenfield Assistant Principal Joan Knoersnschild, and I were treated to a preview of the 6^th grade opening number for Suessical. Principal Mike Kuhfal shared that they had just begun rehearsals for their spring musical. Excited to share this short video with you from their rehearsal. Every sixth grade student at Flying Hills participates either on stage or behind the scenes in the production. Principal Kuhfal also shared that a few of the classrooms were beginning to show implementation of district-wide initiatives (blended &personalized learning, World of Work, and Presentation Literacy. I will look forward to seeing the progress at our visit in the spring.

David Miyashiro, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Earlier this month Mayor Bill Wells, the El Cajon City Council, and our local government officials were highlighted by local news media on our efforts to make El Cajon a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family… “For Everyone”.  CVUSD Governing Board members Karen Clark Mejia, Tamara Otero, Jo Alegria and I have served on the East County Homeless Task Force led by several community leaders including CEO of the East County Chamber of Commerce, Eric Lund; ECPD Police Chief, Jeff Davis; and Meridian Baptist Church Senior Pastor, Rolland Slade.  SD Union Tribune reporter Karen Pearlman has been documenting community efforts to improve conditions.  http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/east-county/sd-se-elcajon-homeless-20170809-story.html

Mayor Wells has been interviewed by most of our media outlets on the city’s efforts.  The one below is from KUSI.  Mayor Wells has a background in clinical psychology and deep expertise on root causes behind homeless and mental health issues.

It is important for all of us to know that we have proven solutions that are helping our homeless students and their families transition into permanent housing and gainful employment.  The East County Transitional Living Center is a prime example of “What Works”.  Several of our students and their families are served by this community led effort to provide permanent solutions.  Please check out ECTLC here and share with anyone you know who can benefit from these efforts the City of El Cajon and the East County Homeless Task Force are directing our efforts toward.  https://www.ectlc.org/

We recognize that those contributing to panhandling and giving food to the homeless are doing so out of good will and intention.  Enabling homelessness, however, has proven to only prolong and potentially derail any opportunity for those in need to find permanent housing and pathways back to being contributing members of society.  It is important that the CVUSD family supports the El Cajon City Council, El Cajon Police Department, and the East County Homeless Task Force in our efforts to provide a permanent solution for the homeless in our community.

Very Sincerely,

David Miyashiro Ed.D., Superintendent

Cajon Valley Union School District

It can be challenging to help younger children connect, in a meaningful way, to the idea of someday having to get a job and go to work…It’s seems an abstract and distant goal. Something for adults to be concerned with, not children.  But the journey to a “someday” career, at least one that has meaning, and purpose, and feeds the soul, begins with knowing who you are, what you’re good at, and what you enjoy.  And that journey begins with exploration.  With a little creativity, a pile of cardboard boxes, and some thoughtful planning, kids can engage with the World of Work and experience a taste of what it might be like to have a real job, with real purpose.  Mrs. Reed’s 2nd grade class had the opportunity to do just that when she presented them with a challenge based on one of the career studies found in the 2nd grade WOW box.  It seems Santa was in the market for a new sleigh, and he was looking for a skilled Carpenter to build it.  Working with partners, Mrs. Reed’s students drew up blueprints for their original designs, and went to work cutting, assembling, and decorating their creations, in the hope one of them would be selected as Santa’s new ride.  The atmosphere in the classroom, and the hallway outside (turns out you need a lot of space to build a sleigh), was as lively as Santa’s Workshop. Kids got to experience, first hand, the challenges a real carpenter faces when pieces don’t fit together the way you planned…They had to think on their feet, problem solve, work it out.  It was a lot of hard work, but it was also a lot of fun.  In the end, what they designed was a fleet of unique creations, any of which “The Man in Red” would be proud to drive.  And who knows, maybe a seed was planted.  A seed that might one day bloom, and grow into an amazing, and soul-satisfying career as a carpenter.

Kirk Hoeben, Principal

Blossom Valley Elementary School

Back in 2016 Blossom Valley was chosen for a site visit when the US Dept. of Ed, Digital Promise, and the League of Innovative Schools came to visit Cajon Valley. Amazing to see the growth since then! Tim Dobbins, Assistant Principal of Los Coches Creek joined principal Kirk Hoeben and me as we toured classrooms and visited with staff and students. There were a few grade levels working on projects that showed the power of teacher collaboration. We saw a Mystery Science lesson that integrated a story and lesson on the career “Technical Writer” then went right into writers’ workshop. It was obvious where planning and lesson design were done in teams.   The rewards are that all children at a grade level benefit from the ideas and strengths of multiple teachers. We also observed students being introduced to “Meet Up/Buddy Up” from the Sanford Harmony resources. Tim Dobbins shared how impressed he was by caring atmosphere and warm environment everywhere on campus. The kids perked up when they learned he was from Los Coches Creek. “I’m going there!!!” many kids shouted out with a smile.

David Miyashiro Ed.D.

Superintendent