Scotty, Beam Me Up! - Escondido Union High School District

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Education + Communication = A Better Nation 

Covering the Escondido Union School District and Escondido Union High School District 

www.schoolnewsrollcall.com 

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 21 FEBRUARY—APRIL 2011 

Scotty, Beam Me Up! 

® 

By Katie Ragazzi, Executive Director 

Escondido Education Foundation 

“Scotty, beam me up!” Gadgets and situations that many of us 

marveled at in science-fiction television shows, movies and books 

have become reality. If you agree with that last sentence, then, my 

friend, you are a “digital immigrant.” That means that you came of 

age before computers, smart phones, and tablets were ubiquitous 

and changing as fast as the speed of light. 

Meanwhile back at the ranch house, I mean the World Wide 

Web, children in school today are “digital natives.” As parents, 

educators, and active members of the community, we must evolve, 

too, in order to guide them as they discover whole new worlds 

with digital tools. 

[Cue the heroic music. The Escondido Education Foundation 

(EEF) enters the screen.] The third annual Escondido Youth 

Media Festival (EYMF) is June 3, 2011! Produced in partnership 

with the groovy Technology/Media Services Department of the 

Escondido Union School District (EUSD,) the media festival will be 

more exciting, inclusive, and ambitious than ever before. Why? 

Because EUSD students are leaders in the world of educational 

technology, according to an international computer manufacturer, 

and the purpose of the media festival is to provide a platform on 

which to recognize their excellent work in the areas of digital 

video, photography and audio media. 

Students from Collin Hanel/s 5th grade class at Bernardo Elementary School. 

SEE SCOTTY BEAM ME UP • PAGE 4 

Dia del Niño “Children’s Day” 

By Sam Abed, Mayor of Escondido 

Dia del Niño, or “Children’s Day,” will be celebrated once again in 

Grape Day Park on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. This year’s 

event is being produced by the Escondido Children’s Museum in 

collaboration with the City of Escondido. Dia del Niño is a celebration 

of children of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Everyone in the 

family, from grandparents to little ones, is encouraged to attend this 

special event. 

Grape Day Park will be transformed into a kid’s wildest dream at 

this year’s Dia del Niño. Games, inflatable jumpers, clowns, music, 

hands-on activities, live entertainment, vendor booths, delicious local 

food and much more will be on hand for the whole family to enjoy. 

You won’t want to miss the dynamic Sol e Mar group, whose expertise 

in musical genres and styles from Latin America and the Caribbean 

bring Brazilian and Cuban music and dance to life with sizzling flair! 

Whether you’re young, or young at heart, there will be something for 

everyone. The best part of all – admission is free! 

Dia del Niño is an event guaranteed to bring out the child in all of 

us. For more information, contact the City of Escondido 

Neighborhood Services Division at (760) 839-4057. 

Katie Ragazzi, Executive Director 

Escondido Education Foundation 

Instead of thinking of ourselves as a 

foundation, like that of a building, perhaps 

we ought to think of ourselves more as a 

bridge or a web. That’s because the way 

that the Escondido Education Foundation 

is now helping our school district in 2011 

has a lot more to do with “connecting” 

than with anything else. 

Like all nonprofits with both a volunteer 

board and a professional staff, we like to 

use an annual planning committee to 

divide up the work on projects that we 

identify as priority. But the laughter that 

you hear around the table when we meet 

quickly translates into sustained, intensive 

work. This takes place on committees, or 

late at night, or in networking sessions 

with friends, family and perfect strangers. 

Making Connections 

It is all about the good news that we see in 

our K–8 district. 

To effectively recruit new helpers, we 

now rely upon our Website and Facebook 

pages to spread out these local connections 

like ripples in a pond. Our events enable 

others to feel in their hearts that which we 

already know: that our hard-working students 

and teachers can always go the extra 

distance with strong community support. 

The Foundation tries to bridge the 

national and state-level world of nonprofits 

and various other educational foundations. 

Our work in Escondido benefits from the 

wisdom that is gained from these kindred 

spirits both near and far. 

Stephen Johnson is the author of Where 

Good Ideas Come From. He likes to say that fortune 

favors the connected mind. And how right 

he is! To be a part of our network, you can join us 

at www.escondido-education-foundation.org. 

Inside: Escondido Union School District pages 4—10 • Escondido Union High School District pages 11—13 • Contests pages 14 & 15

® 

Education + Communication = A Better Nation 


Kay Coop 

Founder / Publisher 

Home 

Room 

Neta Madison 

562/493-3193 

kay @schoolnewsrollcall.com 

Netragrednik 

One common thread that makes all 

school districts successful is community 

input. Both EUSD and EUHSD reach 

out to the community. Everyone in the 

community is a stakeholder in the 

education of our youth—our future. 

This issue includes articles from the 

classroom about technology, writing, 

leadership, critical thinking and much 

more. The academic opportunities are 

truly amazing. 

Be sure to enter our Contests on 

pages 14 & 15. The winners will be 

announced in our next issue May 18. 

Have a wonderful Spring Break! 

Covering the 

ESCONDIDO UNION 

AND 

ESCONDIDO UNION HIGH SCHOOL 

DISTRICTS 

FOUNDER / PUBLISHER: Kay Coop 

562/493-3193 

kay@schoolnewsrollcall.com 

ADVERTISING SALES: 

562/493-3193 

Fax: 562/430-8063 

CONTENT COORDINATOR: Barbra Longiny 

COPY EDITORS: 

Lisa Brock, Kate Karp & Anna Zappia 

CONTRIBUTING CARTOONIST: Neta Madison 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Laura Brune 

SCHOOL NEWS ROLL CALL 

P.O. Box 728, Seal Beach, CA 90740 

562/493-3193 


Copyright © 2006, School News Roll Call LLC 

Reproduction in whole or in part without written 

permission is strictly prohibited unless otherwise stated. 

Opinions expressed by contributing writers and guest 

columnists are their views and not necessarily those of 

School News Roll Call. This publication is privately 

owned and the right is reserved to select and edit content. 

2 SCHOOL NEWS ROLL CALL

Escondido Union School District 

2310 Aldergrove Ave., Escondido, CA 92029 • 760/432-2400 • www.escusd.k12.ca.us 

SUPERINTENDENT 

Community Input Drives Escondido Union Schools 

Have you ever wondered just how elected school board officials 

determine future school district direction? The Escondido Union 

School District has begun generating future direction ideas with 

its stakeholders; parents, students, teachers, and support staff, 

for its next set of strategic district plans. These plans, known as 

school board focus goals, will drive district leadership and 

resources for the next two years, 2011 and 2012. The board 

focus goals are typically beyond general daily operations, and 

are intended to lead improvement and innovation efforts 

throughout the district. 

Stakeholder input sessions are planned for the months of February and 

March. Remaining parent and community member sessions are as follows: 

February 17 at Mission Middle School, 6:30-8:30 p.m., March 1 at Bear 

Valley Middle School, 6:30-8:30 p.m., and March 22 at the Carilyn Gilbert 

Education Center 2310 Aldergrove Avenue, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Stakeholders may 

also e-mail EUSD’s superintendent with your input. Jennifer Walters may be 

contacted at jwalters@eusd4kids.org. Escondido Union School District encourages 

all community members’ perceptions in terms of: (1) what Escondido 

Union is doing well; (2) what ways can EUSD’s services to children improve; 

and (3) what skills need further emphasis in order that today’s students will be 

best prepared for their future jobs and workplaces. 

What happens to community and staff input once it is gathered? 

Administrative staff will report all input to the school board at the March 24 

school board meeting. Subsequent to the report, the school board plans a 

special Saturday morning school board meeting to discuss their individual 

priorities for the district and reduce multiple interests to eight to ten priorities, 

draft board goals, for which consensus can be reached. Draft focus goals will be 

presented publicly for additional input at school board meetings on April 14 

and April 28 with final approval and adoption at the April 28 public school 

board meeting. Community input about Escondido’s preschool, elementary, 

and middle schools matters! It matters to us as stewards of your tax dollars. It 

matters to our collective regional, state, and national economic future success. 

Lastly, it matters to the parents in our community, whose children deserve the 

highest quality educational services possible. 

Jennifer Walters 

SCOTTY BEAM ME UP • FROM PAGE 1 

EYMF 2011 includes categories for both classroom and individually produced 

videos, while the photography and audio categories feature individual work. The 

foundation awards cutting-edge technology to the winners in each category, 

including video cameras and multimedia devices. In addition, all EUSD students 

attending the festival may enter a drawing to win some exciting technology 

devices. 

Held in the stunning concert hall of the California Center for the Arts, 

Escondido, the 2011 Escondido Youth Media Festival will include an afternoon 

showing of all student projects nominated for a prize and awards at 7 p.m., 

both of which are free and open to the public. Additionally, the foundation will 

host a ticketed fund-raiser called Gizmos & Gadgets prior to the awards for those 

interested in contributing financially to pioneering technology, music and other 

innovative programs in EUSD. For more information about the festival or Gizmos 

& Gadgets, visit www.escondido-education-foundation.org. 

Don’t change channels yet! The Escondido Education Foundation invites 

parents and Escondido residents to learn more about the innovative learning 

that takes place every day in classrooms throughout all 23 schools. We are all in 

this together…this adventure of guiding young children towards fulfilling their 

potential. EEF invites you to use that smart phone, tablet, or keyboard to tell us 

you’d like to come aboard to “boldly go where no man has gone before!” 

See you June 3! 

Linda Woods 

President 

Marv Gilbert 

Clerk 

Escondido Union 

School District 

Board of Education 

Joan Gardner 

Member 

Zoe Carpenter 

Vice President 

Marty Hranek 


Home Education Program 

On the campus of L.R. Green School at 3115 Las Palmas Ave., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/432-2221 

Susan Freeman 

Principal 

Accomplished Writers 

Along with L.R. Green School, the Home Education Program is 

focusing on Writing this school year. The students are learning 

about the “6 + 1 Traits” of Writing in their daily work at home with 

their parents and in their weekly Language Arts workshops at 

school. So far this year, they have been honing their Ideas, 

Organization, and Voice skills. What progress they are making! 

Many of Home Ed.’s writers were already honored this school 

year at the Young Authors’ Reception, which is the culminating 

event of E.U.S.D.’s annual Writing Celebration. Congratulations to 

Justen, Miranda, Brandy, Erika, Amaya, Emilyn, Benjamin, and Samuel on a job 

well done. Your writing pieces impressed many readers, and you and your parents 

should feel quite pleased with your performance. 

Another way that Home Ed. students’ writing will be honored this year is 

through a special publishing opportunity called Student Treasures. The young 

writers will be given the chance to submit any genre of writing to a company 

called Nationwide Learning, and that company will publish each student’s work 

(and illustrations) as a beautiful hard-back book for free. These books are such 

memorable keepsakes for families. 


Escondido Union School District Services 

2310 Aldergrove Ave., Escondido, CA 92029 • 760/432-2400 • www.escusd.k12.ca.us 

Strong Learning Community 

Preschool/First Years Of Escondido 

835 W. 15th Ave., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/489-4131 

Quality Starts Early 

When parents are involved in their children’s education, the 

entire school community benefits. Each of our 23 schools is 

working hard to create opportunities for even greater parent 

participation. 

Our principals and teachers were busy this fall sharing 

information about school assessment data and individual student 

achievement through informational meetings and parent-teacher 

conferences. Felicita School parents attend evening meetings 

Leila Sackfield every six weeks to learn about curriculum and how they can 

Assistant 

support their children’s success. Reidy Creek parents have been 

Superintendent, 

Educational trained to assist with art lessons. Reidy Creek arent Janice Arcaro 

Services developed the FAVE (Fine Arts Volunteer Educators) program to 

train parents to assist with art lessons. 

At a recent visit to Oak Hill and Central schools, I saw large groups of 

parents working diligently under the direction of the site’s parent liaisons 

to assist in preparing classroom materials. Parents at Rincon Middle School 

regularly have lunch with the students. Our Safe Walk program strategically 

places parents along common walking routes to ensure that our children are 

safe as they walk home from school. At the January meeting of our district’s 

English Language Advisory Committee, large groups of parents were trained 

in how to use questioning strategies to help their children understand 

content and develop English skills. Many of those parents will be returning 

to their individual sites and sharing that information with other parents. 

This training complements the ongoing teacher training that staff members 

are attending this year. 

These are just a few of the many examples of the strong parent involvement in 

our schools. We will continue to foster the home-school connection—a powerful 

tool in ensuring that our students continue to achieve at high levels. 

Jan Zelasko 

Coordinator, 

First 5 Escondido 

Why does quality matter in preschool? The research is clear: 

children that attend a quality preschool are successful in elementary 

school and are more likely to graduate from high school and 

earn higher incomes and less likely to be involved in crime. A 

quality preschool program includes higher education levels of 

teachers, staff development in the latest research in brain development 

and best practices, and intentional teaching that focuses on 

socialization, early literacy, language and problem solving. The 

EUSD preschool program fully incorporates the CA Preschool 

Foundations and assesses children by standards developed the 

California Department of Education. 

Preregistration for the 2011–12 

school year begins in March 2011. To 

be eligible to attend a free five-day-aweek 

preschool program, children 

must reside within EUSD boundaries, 

be 4 years old by December 2, and 

either meet income eligibility guidelines 

or reside in one of the following 

school attendance areas: Central, 

Conway, Farr, Felicita, Glen View, 

Juniper, Lincoln, Pioneer, Oak Hill, 

Rock Springs or Rose. Applications 

will be available at all elementary 

school sites and at the preschool 

office. Return completed applications 

to the preschool office. Call the office 

for information. 

Take Us Home! 

The humble potato is nutritious, abundant and inexpensive. 

Potatoes deliver vitamin C, fiber and plenty of other vitamins and 

minerals, and all for only 110 calories per medium potato. And zero 

fat, too! 

But there’s a problem, not with the potato, but with the way 

that we eat it. Most of the potatoes that Americans eat are fast 

food french fries cooked in deep-fat fryers, and which mostly 

deliver lots of fat calories and whopping amounts of sodium. 

It’s better to eat a baked potato with a little butter or sour cream, 

or even fresh mashed potatoes. Or, you can even make home-cut 

“fries” tossed in a bit of olive oil and then baked in the oven. 

We don’t need to give up french fries altogether. But we should try to eat 

Virginia Carter 

Director 

Nutrition Services 

more potatoes that start out in the kitchen looking like actual potatoes! 

How about some edamame? Pronounced “ed-a-mom-ay,” these are young soy 

beans that are usually served steamed or boiled with a little salt, or as a dip or 

side dish and snack. Edamame are one of the few “complete” vegetarian sources 

of protein. They contain all nine of the essential amino acids that your body 

cannot make on its own. 

We should always eat better by trying lots of different fruits, veggies, nuts and 

whole grains for a healthy diet. You’re bound to find a few that you really like! 

To help you get a step up on eating healthier, start reading the nutrition fact 

labels on the foods you eat. A lot of unhealthy eating habits develop because we 

don’t think too much about what we’re buying. 

Studies show that when people pay attention to what they eat, they eat 

healthier. And that starts with reading the label! 

Are you 

looking for me 

for the contest 

on page 15? 

COVERING THE ESCONDIDO UNION AND ESCONDIDO UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS 

FEBRUARY—APRIL 2011 5

Bear Valley Middle School 

3003 Bear Valley Pkwy., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/432-4060 

Mark Garner 

Principal 

Greetings from Bear Valley 

Visitors from different districts, local and out-of-state, come to 

learn about our Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics 

(STEM) classes and robotics program. Mr. Steve Tillinghast developed 

the programs and serves as teacher and coach. We have two 

teams that put in a lot of their own time and effort, spending 6-7 

hours weekly, including lunch periods, afterschool and Saturdays 

working on the robots and projects. Our 6th grade team, the “Ursa 

Majors” and our 7th grade team, the “Bear Bots” competed in local 

and regional competitions. The teams’ hard work paid off as both 

qualified for the FIRST (For the Inspiration & Recognition of Science and 

Technology) Lego League Southern California Championship, being 2 of 20 that 

qualified out of 80 teams that competed in local competitions. The teams were 

recognized with awards for their project and their prowess in the competitions. 

Bernardo Elementary 

1122 Mt. Heights Drive, Escondido, CA 92029 • 760/432-2700 

Lisa Clark 

Principal 

Enrichment Opportunities for Students 

This year, our PTA is offering after-school enrichment classes 

for first- through fifth-grade students. Classes are taught by PTA 

volunteers, run for six weeks. and are limited to 20 students. 

The first six-week session offered art for first- and secondgraders. 

Using various types of media, students created beautiful 

artworks that revolved around the stunning physical changes in 

autumn. The African drumming class for third through fifth grades 

was hands-on learning at its best. Students learned African 

rhythms on tubanos and djembes and used nonpitched percussion 

instruments such as shekeres, gogonkui 

and bells to fill out the sound. 

During the second six-week session, 

second- through fifth-graders will enjoy 

the old art of loom knitting. In Exploring 

the Atmosphere, third- through fifthgraders 

will learn how to build a 

high-altitude balloon, design experiments 

and predict the balloon’s 

trajectory. Students will also learn how 

GPS works and all about navigation. 

First- through fifth-graders will learn 

Spanish through props, games and 

songs. 

A third session will be offered in the 

spring. We are always looking for 

Bernardo volunteers to share their skills 

and talents with students. Please visit 

our website for more information. 

Conway Elementary 

1325 Conway Drive, Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2435 

Central Elementary 

122 W. Fourth Ave., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/432-2431 

Fabiola Elias 

Principal 

What Makes Us Great: Part 2 

Our last article highlighted how parents and our community 

volunteers are a big component of what makes Central great. The 

second piece of what makes Central great is our students. 

If a visitor comes to Central, just about 100 percent of the time 

they’ll say how polite, how hardworking and, mostly, how happy 

our students are. And certainly, if you need a pick-me-up, all you 

have to do is walk into a classroom or walk out onto the playground 

and you are assured of an instant energy boost. 

One example of our students’ greatness is our Student Council, 

which has transformed into a practical student body with offices such as School 

Spirit, Community Service, Conservation and Cleanup. Through Student Council, 

great things are happening for the school, such as conserving energy and keeping 

our campus looking clean, and the community as well, such as collecting juice 

pouches for wildlife conservation and donating to local shelters. 

Another example of how great our students are is our Peace Patrol. Peace 

Patrol students help other students work through their disagreements through 

mediation techniques. The Peace Patrol program has worked so well at Central 

that other schools are adopting it! 

That’s how great our students are at Central School! Stay tuned for Part 3 of 

what makes Central great! 

Steve White 

Principal 

Peace Patrol Kicks Off the New Year! 

By Kelley Keyser, CARE Youth Support Specialist 

Conway School kicked off 2011 with the implementation of 

Peace Patrol comprised of 20 4th and 5th graders who have been 

trained in peaceful conflict resolution. These students commit to 

being positive role models at school, maintain satisfactory grades, 

and serve on Peace Patrol once a week during recess or lunch time 

for the remainder of the school year. Peace Patrol members are 

encouraged to help with disputes before they become physical and 

need adult intervention. Their 10-hour training involved teambuilding 

activities, communication exercises, discussion of different types of 

conflict, and learning about language that escalates and deescalates conflict. 

Conway Peace Patrol members are: April Acosta, Alexandra Ariza, Saul Armenta, 

Colby Bingham, Raymond Felix, Olivia Gomez, Nathaniel Jennings, Ashley Keophakdy, 

Bryan McDonald, Manon Perrin, Angel Rangel, Emily Rodriguez, David Ruiz, Roman Sandoval, 

Julie Santos, Tyra Taylor, Laura Toral, Emily Trejo, Kain Trevino, and Shaedin Wheatland. 


Farr Elementary 

933 Farr Ave., Escondido, CA 92026 • 760/735-3049 

Angel Gotay 

Principal 

Meeting Our Goals are Easy as Pie 

When our PTA president, Mrs. Elisa Rios, asked me if I would 

be willing to participate in a celebratory stunt at an assembly when 

our students met a specific reading goal, I was very interested and 

replied, “Of course!” Little did I know what she or the students had 

in mind for me. The goal was for our students to read 100,000 

minutes in a two-week period. Students documented their reading 

on a log provided by their teachers while our fabulous PTA kept 

track of their daily progress. 

So you’re probably wondering what stunt the students and PTA 

had planned for me. They decided they wanted to throw pies at me in front of the 

entire school once the reading goal was met. Students, teachers and parents 

constantly asked me if I was 

really going to let students 

throw pies in my face? I told 

them that a promise is a promise. 

On the day of the assembly 

the air was thick with excitement. 

I was so proud of our 

students, their parents, and 

their teachers. OUR STUDENTS 

DID IT! Actually, I never 

doubted that they would. I sat 

through about 25 pies, and I 

must say I enjoyed every one 

of them. Today our students 

continue to express their 

enthusiasm for reading. It was 

so worth it!!!! I love this 

school!!!! 

Glen View Elementary 

2201 E. Mission Ave., Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2448 

Cesar Carrasco 

Support Staff Superstars 

Most parents may not be aware of the many issues that schools 

face daily. As principals, we rely on our office staff. 

I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our office staff: 

Alicia, Nina, Rosio, and our school nurse, Kelly. They are the first 

impression a parent or visitor develops when calling or coming into 

our office. They handle a wide variety of parent questions and 

concerns with a smile and friendly demeanor. 

I would like to give a special thank you to our parent liaison, 

Maria “Cece” Ortiz. Mrs. Ortiz makes a special effort to support 

Principal 

and guide parents in addressing issues that are important to them and make it 

possible for them to have a voice. 

We are truly fortunate to have staff that caring, knowledgeable, and have a 

strong desire to provide a high quality of service. Thank you to all of them for 

working as a team and helping to move us forward. 

Hidden Valley Middle School 

2700 Reed Road, Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2457 

Trent Smith 

Principal 

After-School Opportunities 

For many of our students, school doesn’t end with the last 

period of the day. We recognize that students often need 

additional opportunities for academic support, social interaction, 

and athletics. 

Students in need of academic assistance have their choice of 

attending after-school homework clubs with their own teachers or 

our After School Intervention Support program (ASIS), supervised 

by teachers in our library from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. every Monday, 

Tuesday, and Wednesday. Our goal is to provide students with a 

quiet place to work on homework and receive tutoring support. 

Students looking for a chance to make positive connections with their peers 

can join a variety of after-school clubs. We have Club Live, a program that brings 

students together to promote the prevention of youth alcohol, tobacco, and 

other drug use. We also have Peer Leaders Uniting Students (PLUS), which 

provides students with opportunities to develop leadership roles and promote 

positive change on campus. We also offer several other after-school programs, 

such as Girls Taking Action, Good News Bear Club, Helping Hands Jr., and the 

National Junior Honor Society. 

For those students wanting to play sports, there are several options available 

throughout the year. Students can participate in football and volleyball in the fall, 

basketball and tennis in the winter, and soccer in the spring. 

At Hidden Valley Middle School, we want to ensure that all of our students 

have multiple opportunities after school to receive support, pursue their interests, 

and develop new skills while making positive connections with students and staff 

in a safe and supervised setting. 


Juniper Elementary 

1809 S. Juniper St., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/432-2462 

Kelly Mussatti 

Principal 

Nina Bouvier, Maria Ortiz, Kelly Dyresen, Alicia Batalla, and Alma Wright 

In Full Swing 

Our Juniper School Jaguars are in full swing academically this 

time of year. We have returned from our winter break and jumped 

into our preparations for California Standards Tests (CSTs) and 

winter Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) testing this 

year. Our students are becoming content vocabulary experts as 

they work in their English-language development groups. They are 

also working hard on improving their critical thinking skills 

through their writing this year. Many are writing in math journals, 

explaining how they solved problems or what they were thinking 

about as they worked. Others are writing about science or social studies, comparing 

and contrasting cells, describing animal coverings, or writing about the 

causes of the Revolutionary War. It is amazing to see how much students are 

learning through their content area conversations. They are using some very 

complex sentences and high-level vocabulary, both in the classroom and in 

discussions on the playground. 

Our PTA has also been busy planning our school-wide events for the rest of 

the year. We are looking forward to our February Run for the Heart, a fun running 

event for every student, helping the students focus on health and working 

with our partners from the Larry English Leading Education to Athletes for their 

Dreams (LEAD) Foundation to raise awareness about the importance of exercise 

for students with asthma. We are also planning some other spring events, such as 

our annual movie night and Spring Fling. These great activities are fun for all of 

our Jaguar families and allow us to spend time together. 


Lincoln Elementary 

1029 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92026 • 760/432-2466 

Elisa Fregoso 

Technology in the Classroom 

Lincoln School has brought technology into every classroom by 

providing technology kits, which include; six iPods, microphones, 

and headphones, to be used for small groups and group projects. 

The first lesson was to introduce the responsibility, care and 

function of the ipods. The next lesson was a structured voice 

recording lesson on fluency, using the idea of the students 

recording and then listening to evaluate their own work. Once they 

had evaluated their work, they were to re-record using a goal they 

had set for themselves. After those lessons, the students moved 

Principal 

into other recording activities using fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. 

Some students have even 

created projects using 

pictures and voice recordings 

together, which really 

demonstrates the depth of 

their knowledge. 

Students are highly 

motivated and very excited 

to use the ipods for 

learning. 

We are working hard to 

prepare our students to be 

citizens of the digital world! 

We are providing opportunities 

to use technology for 

Kindergarten student is modeling carrying the ipod with care, 

using the letter C=care formation with her hand. 

L.R. Green Elementary 

3115 Las Palmas Ave., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/432-2260 

Susan Freeman 

Principal 

“Every Student, Every 

Teacher, in Every 

Classroom, Everyday! 

Students Learn Sign Language 

Visitors to L.R. Green might notice that students seem to be 

using their hands a lot to communicate. Thanks to our Deaf and 

Hard of Hearing class students, all students at L.R. Green are 

learning to communicate in ASL (American Sign Language). 

Each week, at the Friday Flag Assembly, one of the DHH students 

teaches a “Sign of the Week.” Last week, in honor of Martin Luther 

King Jr., students learned the sign for “dreams.” Students have 

learned many signs in the past few weeks and each week they 

practice them so 

they build their 

sign language 

vocabulary. 

L.R. Green 

students are 

working hard to 

communicate 

with their Deaf 

and Hard of 

Hearing peers, 

and the deaf 

and hard of 

hearing students 

are working 

hard to teach 

signs to their 

hearing friends. 

Miller Elementary 

1975 Miller Ave., Escondido, CA 92025 • 760/432-2470 

Jim Scott 

Principal 

Awesome Mustangs 

When the Miller School staff considers all the great attributes of our 

students, we recognize we have an awesome student body that shines 

in many ways. In this edition of School News Roll Call, we shine the 

spotlight on several students who have achieved beyond simply good 

enough—they are great students who shine brightly in front of all. 

In January, fifth-graders Mary Zareh, Brian Vu, Brian Nguyen, 

and Kaitlyn Pressley were recognized at the Escondido Union 

School District Board meeting for being outstanding students, 

Miller Student Champions. Each received a certificate signed by 

the superintendent and School Board members. Top-notch students such as 

Mary, Brian, Brian and Kaitlyn reach such high levels of performance with the 

help of dedicated parents, family members, and teachers. Congratulations to 

them, and thank you for being awesome Miller Mustangs! 

In February, fifth-graders Joseph Holt, Trinity Hunt, Joel Kulbeck, Marcus Martinez, 

Kaitlyn Pressley, Ryan Robinson, Logan Shade, Sunny Shah, Ashley Shattles, Eduardo 

Torres, Nathan 

Vermillion, 

Brian Vu, and 

Charlotte Walter 

represented 

Miller School in 

the annual 

Escondido 

Union School 

District Math 

Field Day competition. 

These 

students are 

among the top 

performers in 

math at Miller. 

They competed 

against students 

from the other 

Miller Student Champions Brian Vu, Mary Zareh, 

Brian Nguyen, Kaitlyn Pressley with Mr. Scott. 

16 district 

elementary 

schools. 

Nicolaysen Community Day School 

420 N. Falconer Road, Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2474 

Randy Garcia 

Director 

Students Prepared to Succeed 

The Nicolaysen Community Day School (NCDS) services the 

most high-risk students in the Escondido Union School District. 

Students are placed at the NCDS for a variety of behavioral 

reasons. Students are either placed at the NCDS as a 90-day 

behavioral placement or an expulsion order. 

Each student that attends the NCDS is required to complete a 

rigorous rehabilitation plan that is designed to ready the student to 

be successful at a comprehensive school site. These plans consist 

of community service requirements, counseling requirements, acceptable attendance 

and grades, parenting classes, and various other requirements that are 

tailored to each individual student needs. In order for the student to successfully 

complete the program offered by the NCDS the student must meet every single 

requirement on their plan. If the requirements are not met then the student will 

not be allowed to attend a comprehensive campus, which is not an easy task. 

This year the staff at the NCDS is very proud of the accomplishments of many 

of our students especially as they return to a comprehensive school site and 

continue to improve their behavior, attendance, and academics. 


North BroadwayElementary 


Libby Campbell 

Helping Others – The North Broadway Way 

At North Broadway School, students, staff, and parents know 

and follow The Bronco Way. We know how it feels to follow The 

Bronco Way…even when no one is looking! 

The Bronco Way: Be yourself, but be your BEST self. Treat 

others the way you want to be treated. Make good choices. 

At North Broadway School, we work together to support our 

community. We know how it feels to help others. Fall and Spring 

food drives help fill the shelves at Interfaith Community Services. 

‘Lost and Found’ clothing is collected and delivered to the 

Principal 

Assistance League of Escondido to help needy families. Every January, we collect 

warm clothing and blankets during our ‘Clean a Closet, Warm a Heart’ program to 

help our community during the winter months. And, for over ten years, the North 

Broadway staff has been serving breakfast at the Interfaith Community Center. 

At North Broadway School, we believe that helping others – The NB Way – is 

making a difference in our community…and, that feels good! 

Oak Hill Elementary 

1820 Oak Hill Drive, Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2483 

Cliff Smith 

Principal 

A Healthy Lifestyle 

Oak Hill School was treated to an assembly presented by the 

San Diego County Water Authority about water conservation in 

our community. This informative assembly taught us where we not 

only get our water, but how to conserve water. In addition, all 

pupils learned about the water cycle and important tips about the 

future of our water. Saving water is a part of our everyday 

lives.Third grade pupils were honored with an anonymous donation 

to them this month. 

The YMCA 

worked closely 

with a benefactor 

to present each 

third grader with 

a new bike and 

helmet! We’re 

encouraging a 

healthy lifestyle 

and riding a bike 

promotes exercise 

and good 

cardiovascular 

health. Thanks 

so much to the 

YMCA for coordinating 

this 

positive program! 

Leslie, Austin, Samantha, and James first grade students are eager and ready to help others! 

Orange Glen Elementary 

2861 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2487 

Rick Ausby 

Principal 

Earning, Saving, Investing 

In every facet of American society, tough economic times 

demand we all learn to do more with less. Nowhere has that been 

more evident than in the public school system. Every day, schools 

are faced with the challenge of improving academic scores with 

fewer resources. To accomplish this, schools and families have to 

be more frugal and more creative. 

At Orange Glen School (OGS), staff, parents, students, and 

community partners are finding creative ways to earn, save, and 

invest. We have partnered with our “bank down the street” to start 

Mission 2 $ave. Every Tuesday, bank tellers from a local bank set up shop during 

lunch time, giving students the opportunity to open accounts and deposit money. 

So far over 100 Orange Glen students have started new accounts. There has 

never been a better time to teach children the value of saving money. 

ASB is working with staff and parents to help earn money for Orange Glen. 

Every week we have Recycle Friday. Students bring in recyclables, which are 

then redeemed for cash. ASB then uses the cash to invest in our brand new 

Accelerated Reader (AR) Renaissance program. This is the old AR program gone 

high tech. It is Web-based and allows parents to access student results from 

home. With the money being raised by Recycle Fridays, and with the help of the 

PTA, it looks like our students will have access to this new program for many 

years to come. 

Earning, saving, investing…Go, OG! 


Pioneer Elementary 

980 N. Ash St., Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2412 

Marcia 

Karadashian 

Principal 

MAP Hall of Fame 

It is the start of a new year, which means Pioneer Elementary School 

will be celebrating its second MAP Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. 

Last fall the top scoring students in each grade level were 

enshrined in the MAP Hall of Fame as a way to motivate students 

to do their personal best in reading, language, and math. Pioneer 

even had a “triple crown winner” who scored the highest on all 

three tests within her grade level. 

One of the several mottos at Pioneer Elementary is “Prove It!” 

Every student knows they are capable of going to college, but they 

are expected to “prove it” to the teachers, parents, and community. Taking the 

MAP test is one of many opportunities for students to “prove” they are hard 

workers. 

However, this second round of MAP testing poses a new challenge to ALL students. 

Students who show the most imPROVEment will be enshrined at the ceremony. 

The students are motivated, and the expectations are high at Pioneer. Who 

will become the newest members of the Pioneer Hall of Fame? Come by our front 

office and see for yourself. 


Reidy Creek Elementary 


Beth Crooks 

Principal 

Setting Goals and Keeping Them 

At Reidy Creek, we can provide a more rigorous instructional 

methodology by setting meaningful learning targets that are sure 

to engage every student. 

Our teachers have worked very hard to make certain that their 

students are actively engaged in the learning process. This is an 

important part of good instruction, and it has always been a strong 

focus at Reidy Creek. 

But student engagement means more than just requiring the 

children to be “on task.” They also need to participate in the 

learning process with structured activities, responses, collaboration and accountability. 

It is the type of learning that occurs when they completely lose track of 

the time because they are so involved in their tasks. 

In the past, we have established the specific learning targets in our grade-level 

action plans, but now they are no secret! We are currently sharing them with the 

students so that they will know for certain when they’ve reached their target 

goals and achieved success. 

When you enter a classroom at Reidy Creek you will see a number of “I can…” 

statements on the various boards, assignments and student work. This gives the 

children a clear and concrete goal to reach every day. 

Earlier this year, our Reidy Creek Champions were presented to the school 

board members so that they could tell them about the specific learning targets 

they had achieved. Student Dylan Foote mentioned to the group that,“I can read 

60 words in a minute.” Hailey Bunsold said, “I can add 2-digit numbers!” Faye 

Vuongvouvhed told them, “I can break words into syllables.” And Hailey Baldwin 

proudly assured the board members that, “I can say my multiplication facts 0–9!” 

Later this year we will be looking forward to having all of our students set and 

meet a personal learning target. 

Rock Springs Elementary 

1155 Deodar Road, Escondido, CA 92026 • 760/432-2284 

Rock Springs Top Readers Take a Ride 

On December 3, 2010, Rock Springs honored it’s top A.R. 

readers with a limousine ride to dinner in San Marcos. Thanks to 

the generous donation ten students, two per grade level, were 

picked up at Rock Springs and treated to a ride in style. After a 

twenty-minute ride, the students were treated to a feast sponsored 

by the Rock Springs PTA, which ended in take-home containers 

for everyone. When asked how the students liked this reward for 

their hard work? The school principal, Audrey Frank, responded, 

“this was a great reward for our ten readers, but I know they will 

Audrey Frank 

Principal 

have a lot of competition after second trimester, when we do it all over again.” 

Rincon Middle School 

925 Lehner Ave., Escondido, CA 92026 • 760/432-2491 

Jon Centofranchi 

Principal 

21st Century Learners 

At Rincon Middle 

School, we are constantly 

striving to prepare students 

for the 21st century, and 

life in an ever-changing 

world. We realize that more 

than ever we are preparing 

students for jobs that don’t 

exist yet. That’s why we 

focus on skills such as critical thinking 

and problem solving, collaboration, 

effective oral and written communication, 

and accessing and analyzing information. 

Students build these skills using 

specific grade-level curriculum as the 

medium, and content standards as the 

guide. This year, we are also exploring 

new and exciting ways to utilize 

personal electronic devices(student’s 

cell phones, iPods, etc..) to enhance 

learning. Students already text, blog, 

wiki, Google, and instant message, in 

addition to using Facebook and 

MySpace to facilitate social networking. 

We all need to move forward and 

embrace the 21st century, as we 

continue to prepare students for their 

future, and ours. 

iTouch 

Students using cell phones. 

Rose Elementary 

906 N. Rose St., Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/432-2495 

Deb Ganderton 

Principal 

Better Together 

Rose Elementary School is one of two schools in the district to 

receive the Building Effective Schools Together (BEST) grant, a 

seven-year grant offered through Palomar Family Counseling. This 

grant affords our school the opportunity to offer site-based counseling 

for students during the school day. It provides prevention 

and intervention programs for problematic behaviors and offers 

explicit teaching and reinforcement of appropriate behaviors. It 

also offers support to students in small group settings, as well. 

Our entire staff, both certificated and classified, is committed to 

the grant’s implementation. We have a team of teachers who serve in a liaison 

capacity between the grant and their grade-level peers. They met this summer to 

construct a school-wide discipline plan and continue to meet monthly in an 

ongoing effort to further refine our program. The grant also provides funding for 

a Teacher on Special Assignment. She works in a part-time capacity with staff, 

students and administration on issues related to behavioral expectations and 

offers training to support staff. Qualified counselors work with students, both 

individually and in groups, to resolve concerns and offer support and assistance. 

They also present an entertaining and engaging series of ongoing lessons in our 

primary classrooms related to acceptable social behavior. The Incredible Years 

component of the grant offers support and education to our parent population, 

as well. 

This grant services and supports all aspects of our school population, 

students, staff, and parents, and the essence of the endeavor is reflected 

in its title—that together, we can build effective schools. 


Escondido Union High School District 

302 N. Midway Drive, Escondido, CA 92027 • 760/291-3200 • www.euhsd.k12.ca.us 

SUPERINTENDENT 

Public Education, A Priority With Lasting Impacts 

Over the next couple of months, each Californian will be 

asked to evaluate the personal and professional impacts of the 

Governor’s most recent budget proposals. Certainly, it is important 

for the State, as well as all of us, to come to resolution on 

how best to embrace changes in our life style’s that may be 

necessary for all Californians. Services will need to be curtailed 

and corporate, as well as personal budgets will need to be 

adjusted. Only then, will we be able to come to grips with the 

fact that real solutions are needed to solve real problems. I’m 

sure you are aware; Public Education has been significantly impacted by three 

years of year over year reductions, and will once again be impacted regardless 

of whether or not voters get a chance for input this June. While the specific 

fiscal impacts for 2011 are unknown at this time, direct impact on students is 

certain. 

The continuous reductions in school funding by the State have necessitated 

changes by all school systems, evidenced in trimming of services, programs and 

personnel. Many have been forced to dismantle the structures needed to afford 

all children the best opportunity for a strong education and a successful future. 

A shorter school year, fewer intervention programs and fewer advanced placement 

pathways all lead to challenges for our children and the future of our 

State. 

Each month at the board meeting, the Escondido Union High School 

District has recognized a student for a being “most inspirational.” Some times 

the recognition is a result of the differences a student has made in the lives of 

others through community service. Some times it is due to significant commitment 

a student has demonstrated to a program, club, or sports team. More 

often than not the recognition is bestowed because of the personal dedication 

shown toward academic pursuits despite overwhelming odds. Elias Ruiz was 

recently recognized for just such reasons. An untimely death of a parent, 

coupled with some poor personal decisions, had him teetering on the brink of 

being a high school drop out. Eighteen months and many intervention programs 

later, Elias will graduate this May and is looking forward to continuing his 

education at Palomar College. Also noted at the board meeting was Matt 

Baglio, a graduate from San Pasqual High School. As a professional author, 

Matt’s book “The Rite” has been developed into a movie starring Anthony 

Hopkins and was released to theatres across the country in January. These 

two gentlemen are reflective of a contrast in academic development and 

professional paths, yet both are contributing to our society. 

Public Education is the key to success for all of our children. Each student 

is unique, each one faces challenges, and each can and will make an impact on 

our community, and possibly the world. Please, for our children; help keep 

Public Education a priority in California and support adequate funding necessary 

for student success. 

Edward J. Nelson 

Superintendent 

Escondido Union High School District Board of Education 

George McClure 

President 

Tina Pope 

Vice President 

Randy Garcia 

Clerk 

Kurt Marler 


Escondido Adult School/ROP 

220 W. Crest St., Escondido, CA 92025 

760/739-7300 • www.escondidoadultschool-rop.com 

New Year, New Building, New Era 

By Brian Head, Assistant Principal 

Dom Gagliardi 

Principal 

Jon Petersen 


A ribbon-cutting ceremony held in January and attended by students, 

dignitaries and community members officially opened the 

school’s new building at 220 Crest St. in Escondido. This marks the 

beginning of a new era for Escondido Adult School and the Regional 

Occupational Programs. As principal Dom Gagliardi observed in his 

welcoming remarks, “This is the first time since the school opened 

in 1968 that the school has had its own permanent building that 

houses both its offices and the majority of its classrooms.” 

(L to R) Escondido Adult School and ROP Principal, Dom Gagliardi is all smiles as the ribbon is 

cut for their new building. Joining in the festivities are EUHSD Board Members Jon Petersen, 

George McClure, Tina Pope, Kurt Marler and Superintendent Ed Nelson. 

Formerly an office building, extensive remodeling was required to turn offices 

into classrooms and to create a new main administration and registration area. 

In addition, considerable work was required to make the building fully compliant 

with ADA requirements and accessible to all students. An open-ceiling atrium is 

at the core of the building, and a central fountain and stream complete an attractive 

ambience appreciated by staff and students alike. Construction crews were 

working on the finishing touches right up to move-in day. 

The school will offer classes for a high school diploma, GED, adult basic education 

and English as a second language at this new location. These programs run from 

8 a.m. until 9 p.m. In addition, the new facility will house the Business and Office 

Occupations program, other computer classes and the popular Medical Assisting 

program. Also important are two impressive parent-education classrooms, where 

parents accompany their young children, intent on learning together. On-site child 

care for those attending classes and free parking are also available. 

As impressive has been the district’s commitment 

to adult education in these challenging 

economic times. Our district superintendent, 

Ed Nelson, stated how the investment in the Crest 

property represented a very valuable commitment 

to the community. 

“As we come out of recession, when was there 

more need of retraining of adults?” he asked at 

the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Many of them 

have to train for new careers, and we’ll have to 

look at the training necessary to get them into 

those careers.” 

With the administration and staff excited and 

committed to exceeding community expectations by 

providing excellent and engaging programs, this is 

indeed a new era for Escondido Adult School. For more 

information on classes or to register, visit our Web site. 



Escondido High School 

1535 N. Broadway, Escondido 92026 • 760/291-4000 • www.ehscougars.com 

Rich Watkins 

Principal 

Some New Additions to greatness 

By Steve Bridges, Athletic Director 

On the evening of February 18, 2011, six new members will be 

inducted into the Escondido High School Hall of Fame. The categories 

for this outstanding recognition include community service, 

the arts, professional service and athletics. This event will take 

place during the Cougars’ Avocado League home basketball game. 

This year’s inductees include Pam Walker from the Class of 

1970. She will be honored in the “Community Service” category for 

her many years of hard work and dedication, both on campus and 

in the community. Pam has spent her entire professional career as a teacher and 

counselor in the Escondido Union High School District. 

In the “Arts” category we will be inducting an Oscar-winning visual effects 

supervisor, Scott Farrar. An alumnus of the Class of 1968, Farrar’s innovations 

and creative imagination have changed the artistry of special effects. His work 

has appeared in such movies as Cocoon, Transformers and Star Trek, to name a 

few. 

Orange Glen High School 

2200 Glenridge Road, Escondido 92027 • 760/291-5000 • www.orangeglen.com 

Tom Allison 

Principal 

Parent Center Strengthens Parents & Teachers Partnership 

By Doug Paulson – Parent Involvement Coordinator 

Working together for student success: that’s the key focus of 

the new Orange Glen High School (OGHS) Parent Center that 

opened on January 20. The Parent Center offers a variety of 

resources and expertise, provided in a convenient location, which 

will enable parents to increase support for their children’s success. 

Through the Parent Center, parents can meet to discuss scholastic 

issues and participate in workshops designed to help students 

improve their academic achievement. School personnel will be 

available each evening to work with parents individually on any challenge their 

children may be facing. 

“Our parents want to be involved and the OGHS staff wants to be sure parents, 

as well as students, receive individualized assistance,” said Principal Tom Allison. 

“By opening the Career Center for evening and weekend hours, as well as incorporating 

the Parent Center into this area, we are creating time and space for a 

truly cooperative community between parents and the school.” 

Parents enjoy sharing ideas, challenges and resources 

to support their students’ success in the new Orange Glen Parent Center. 

Pam Walker, EHS Alumni (1970) and School Counselor, 

is one of six inductees to the 2011 Escondido High School Hall of Fame. 

A Grand History 

In the “Professional Service” category we will be inducting Thomas R. 

McGetchin from the Class of 1954. Mr. McGetchin was a world-renowned champion 

of planetary science. In fact, one of the buildings at NASA is named the 

“Thomas McGetchin Hall,” and was dedicated in 1980. 

In the “Athletic” category there are three inductees. First, we will be 

inducting All-CIF football/wrestling/baseball player Jack Thoreson. Our second 

athlete will be Mark Redman from the Class of 1992. Mark was All-CIF First 

Team, NCAA All-American, College World Series MVP, and a first-round draft 

choice for the Minnesota Twins! 

The third nominee to be inducted (posthumously) is Marie Mena. Marie was a 

four-sport varsity athlete, 2002 Valley League Player of the Year, North County 

Female Athlete of the Year and a second-team All-Big 12 softball player. 

A public reception to honor these incoming members of the EHS Hall of Fame, 

along with their families, will be held in the Escondido High School Performing 

Arts Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Following the reception, a presentation of the 

honorees will be held during half-time at the boys varsity basketball game. 

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Athletic Director 

Steve Bridges, at (760) 291-4030. The community is welcome to join in with our 

salute to these outstanding Escondido High School graduates! 

Open from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on 

Saturdays, the Parent Center is staffed by school personnel familiar with all 

aspects of the school’s academic and social programs. In addition to one-on-one 

assistance, a variety of workshops will be available and will include topics such as 

positive parenting, computer basics, college awareness and English and Spanish 

as a second language. 

“Many of our parents can’t get to school to get a question answered during the 

regular school day,” said parent and District English Learner Advisory Committee 

(DELAC) President Rosa Pedraza. “They are desperate for opportunities to learn 

more about the school system and how to help their kids do well.” 

Increasing parental involvement on Orange Glen’s campus has been a high 

priority for OGHS Patriot staff. The efforts to get more parents on campus and 

actively involved has been successful, and there has been significant growth of 

organizations such as the PTSO and parent booster clubs. With Escondido Union 

High School District’s first Parent Center, OGHS is anticipating a continued 

increase in parent participation and student success. 

As the parent involvement coordinator, I have been impressed by not only the 

number of parents interested in learning more, but by their deep level of commitment. 

For the past two years, parent education meetings have been held once 

per week, with 60–150 parents regularly attending. Orange Glen High School 

parents want more educational opportunities to meet the individualized needs of 

their students. We are proud to be able to work together for the benefit of all 

OGHS Patriots. For more information about the OGHS Parent Center, 

call (760) 291-5000. 


San Pasqual High School 

3300 Bear Valley Pkwy., Escondido 92025 • 760/291-6000 • www.sphs.euhsd.k12.ca.us 

Parent Involvement Earns Student Success 

By Jennifer Rasmussen, Parent Involvement Coordinator 

A recent Harvard study states that the most successful students are 

those whose parents set high academic and social expectations for them 

as well as enforce a dedicated time for homework every day. I believe, as 

the parent-involvement coordinator, that parents should add four additional 

qualifiers to enhance this recipe for student success: understanding 

how the school system works, setting and reviewing long-term as well as 

short-term goals with students, ensuring eight to 10 hours of sleep per 

night, and telling their children that they love them every day. 

San Pasqual High School has amazing support from parents, and the staff is 

Erin Smith 

Principal 

dedicated to building strong partnerships reflecting the themes noted above. 

Throughout the year, counselors, teachers and other staff members offer a wide 

variety of informational academic workshops, including assistance with college 

and career opportunities. Even with these efforts, the path to graduation and 

future success can appear like a complex maze, with numerous testing dates, 

deadlines, registration processes, policies and procedures. 

Thanks to Title I funding that began last year, SPHS is now able to offer 

comprehensive parent-education programs. The San Pasqual Parent Education Plan 

is based on building strong communication between the school and parents in order 

to foster higher academic and social accountability for its students. Parents and 

guardians and their children are requested to attend trainings together, which 

ensures that families are on the same page when discussing topics such as goal setting, 

resources or available school programs. Parents are given vital information on how 

the school can support them in building a sense of accountability within their children. 

Many opportunities are still available for SPHS parents interested in helping 

their children to reach their personal, academic and social goals. Additional information 

is available on the school’s website. 

Monthly Meetings, 7–8 p.m. 

Wednesday, March 9: How to Keep Drugs off Campus and Out of Our Homes 

Thursday, April 7: Keeping Our Children Safe from Gangs and Graffiti 

Thursday, May 5: Internet Safety—Understanding Legal and Academic Rights 

While Protecting Our Children from Cyberpredators 

Saturday Goal-Setting Seminar, April 9, 8 a.m.–noon, assisted by trained staff. 

Students and parents work together to establish goals in areas such as academics, 

responsibilities, chores, health and relationships. Reservations required. 

Parent Ambassador Workshops and Training: Designed to provide parents 

with the information necessary to navigate through the high school maze, the 

program utilizes trained parents to reach out and assist five other families within 

the SPHS community. Training, provided in English and Spanish, began Feb. 9 

and is open to all parents, including those of incoming ninth-graders. 

We hope all parents will consider attending parent-involvement?? trainings 

and meetings as we work together to enhance student success at San Pasqual 

High School. 

Parents and students work together at a recent Goal Setting Workshop, one of many opportunities to 

enhance student achievement offered through the San Pasqual High School Parent Involvement Program. 


Valley High School 

410 N. Hidden Trails Road, Escondido 92027 • 760/291-2240 • www.vhs.euhsd.k12.ca.us 

Saundra 

Uribe-Silverman 

A Model Continuation High School 2010-2013 

The California Department of Education provides the opportunity 

for continuation high schools throughout the state to apply for the 

status of Model Continuation High School. Each school maintains 

this designation for three years and then re-applies if they continue 

to meet the criteria. 

Continuation schools typically enroll students 16 to 18 years of 

age that are credit deficient and at risk of not graduating. Students 

may also be in need of a flexible schedule due to the need for 

employment because of family responsibilities or other critical 

Principal 

needs. In addition to providing state mandated course curricula, continuation 

education emphasizes guidance, career orientation as well as preparation for 

community college or job training. 

A Model 

Continuation High 

School provides at 

risk youth with 

exemplary programs 

specifically designed 

to give them a 

second chance to 

stay in school, graduate 

and then go on 

to a better life 

brought about by a 

broader range of 

Students, teachers and staff take pride in Valley High School’s 

recognition as a “Model Continuation High School 

opportunities due to 

receiving a high 

school diploma. 

The Model Continuation High School Recognition Program is a partnership of 

the California Department of Education and the California Continuation 

Education Association. The goal of the partnership is to identify and recognize 

outstanding programs and create a resource list of quality programs for school 

visitations and for other continuation high schools to emulate. Valley High School 

is in its second term of the Model School designation and has had many local 

visitors as well as visitors from central and northern California and as far away as 

Arizona. Each visitor is in search of new and improved ways of teaching at risk 

students and also reaching students with low motivation or challenging behaviors. 

Valley High School being a recipient of the prestigious Golden Bell Award, has 

demonstrated that the staff through hard work and determination has developed 

programs such as the “Response-ability Program” and “Connections” that provide 

the foundation for student success. These programs were developed and refined 

by the staff to help students become more responsible and also bond to school in 

a way that students have not experienced before. Each year at graduation, students 

are provided with the opportunity to express their feeling about Valley and most 

indicate that the connection they felt to their school is what helped them remain 

focused and motivated to complete their high school diploma. 

Along with specialized programs, Valley also offers a highly structured 

environment both in and out of the classroom with as high caliber of course 

offering including science labs, state of the art technology and strong instruction 

in core academic areas provided by highly trained, caring teachers. To be eligible 

for the Model School honor, all applicant schools must also be accredited by the 

Western Association of Schools and Colleges which requires that schools demonstrate 

program effectiveness in the areas of school management, curriculum, 

instructional strategies, assessment and evaluation, guidance and counseling, and 

educational climate. Each time Valley has been accredited, it has received the 

highest designation of WASC accreditation which is six years. 

Valley is proud to join the ranks or three other San Diego County continuation 

high schools which were also designated as Model Continuation High Schools this 

year. Throughout the state of California there are 509 continuation schools 

providing educational programs for about 69,000 students. Of those schools, 

55 have been designated as Model Continuation High Schools. 


Word Match Contest 

Entries must be received by April 15 2011 

From the correct entries one name will be drawn to win a $20 gift certificate redeemable at Barnes & Noble. 

Car Parts 

Trunk 

Muffler 

Headlight 

Transmission 

Bumper 

Clutch 

Radiator 

Air filter 

Steering wheel 

Air bag 

Seat belt 

Carburetor 

Defroster 

Hood 

Antifreeze 

Engine 

Battery 

Wipers 

Windshield 

Key 

Gasoline 

A safety device that inflates upon a 

car’s impact with another object 

Provides movement for the car 

Used to open locks 

A device that mixes air and gasoline 

Enclosed storage space in a car, 

usually behind the rear seats 

Rubber devices to clean the windshield 

Used to position the wheels in the desired direction 

Glass protection from the elements, 

located in the front of car 

Liquid placed in the radiator to keep car 

from overheating 

Cells storing an electrical charge 

Bulbs on front of car for night driving 

Motor 

Opens up and down to allow access to the motor 

Device to melt ice and frost and prevent their formation 

Allows for shifting of gears in a manual transmission 

Removes impurities from the air 

Retraining device 

Metal or rubber strips at the front and 

back of car for protection 

A device through which circulating water 

passes to cool the engine 

Used to silence engine noise 

Rules 

One word in the list does NOT have a definition match. 

When you have completed the word match, one word will be left and that is 

the word you email to: 

kay@schoolnewsrollcall.com (Please put “Escondido Contest” in the subject line) 


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Contest!! 

This drawing is 

hidden somewhere 

in this publication. 

When you find it, 

email the 

page number to: 

Kay@schoolnewsrollcall.com 

(Please put “Escondido Contest” 

in the subject line) 

Your entry must be received by April 15, 2011. 

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Scotty, Beam Me Up! - Escondido Union High School District

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