SAUSD E-Blast for August 25 , 2017
The weekly e-blast is designed to keep the Santa Ana Unified School District Community informed of district and educational information, recognitions, opportunities, and resources.  Please feel free to share with others  who  are not on the SAUSD distribution list.
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS SANTA ANA UNIFIED SAFELY VIEW RARE SOLAR ECLIPSE 
Thousands of students in the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) learned about and viewed the Great American Eclipse in a safe school setting on Aug. 21, 2017. About 10,000 SAUSD students viewed the eclipse using special glasses provided by NASA and Google at nine intermediate sites and three K-8 schools that serve intermediate grades. Viewing events also took place at many of the District's elementary and high school sites. Willard Intermediate School student Carlos Flores said he was grateful to be able to witness such a rare event. "I thought, wow, we get to see the moon passing over the sun? And see the aura, or the corona, around the sun? It looked pretty cool." To read more and to view photos from some of our participating schools, click here.
SANTA ANA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION PROVIDES $50,000 FOR PILOT SAT PREP PROGRAM 
 
For the last several years, the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation (SAPSF) has supported SAUSD in various ways, including sponsoring the annual Artspiration showcase and providing student scholarships and mini-grants for teachers. To support the District's increased focus on college readiness, the Foundation recently donated $50,000 for a pilot program that will provide SAT preparation to 200 students at Century and Godinez Fundamental high schools. In addition, The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding allowing CollegeSpring to provide the preparation for 2017-18. "I am pleased that our partnership has found a new way to flourish," Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips said in a new video about the donation. To view it, click here.
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM EXPANDS
  
The 2017-18 school year is bringing with it a major change to the kindergarten programs of SAUSD. For the first time, six schools will offer All Day Kindergarten programs. Jackson will continue its long-standing program, with the addition of Lowell, Monroe, Pio Pico, Romero-Cruz, and Taft. To learn more about the District's Kinder programs, contact the SAUSD enrollment center at (714) 433-3481 .
 
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS     

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education took place Wednesday, August 23, 2017. 

Jessica Solis, a student at Villa Fundamental Intermediate, led The Board and audience in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

During the meeting, The Board also voted to:

Accept a Turnaround Arts grant for Sierra Preparatory Academy and Willard Intermediate School for 2017-18

Ratify an MOU with Los Angeles Education Partnership/Kaiser RISE Trauma Informed School Initiative for McFadden Intermediate and César E. Chávez High School

Approve new high school courses: Advanced Game Design and Development Course, Leadership, Link Crew, and Peer Leadership.

The Board also heard presentations on SAUSD's Family Engagement efforts and Restorative Practices.

Members of the SAUSD Board of Education

John Palacio, President    
Valerie Amezua, Vice President  
Cecilia "Ceci" Iglesias, Clerk 
Alfonso Alvarez, Ed.D., Member 
Rigo Rodriguez, Ph.D, Member 

Dr. Stefanie P. Phillips, Superintendent
Chávez school community representatives.
CHÁVEZ HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON MAKING STUDENTS W.H.O.L.E.  

As a new school year begins, César E. Chávez High School is continuing to focus on making students WHOLE (Well. Happy. Organized. Learned. Excellent). The school is in its third year of continued Trauma Informed training and  district leaders and Chávez staff members gathered recently to make a commitment to insure that a comprehensive therapeutic web exists at Chávez. In addition,  the SAUSD Board of Education this week ratified a Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles Education Partnership/Kaiser RISE Trauma Informed School Initiative for Chávez and McFadden Intermediate School, which allows for participation in a two-year pilot that will create trauma informed schools at both campuses.  Kaiser Permanente and the LAEP pilot will provide ongoing professional development to both. 
WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NAMED RECIPIENT OF CLASS ACT PROGRAM 
Wilson Elementary School is one of 32 K-8 schools in Orange County selected by the Pacific Symphony to bring the magic of symphonic music to 620 scholars. The Class Act's theme-based curriculum is aligned with both Common Core and VAPA standards. The theme for the Class Act Program is Trials to Triumph featuring the music of Ludwig van Beethoven. As a recipient of the Class Act Program, Wilson teachers will receive on-site training workshops, which will provide them with grade-level appropriate, multi-disciplinary arts activities to enhance Wilson Scholars' learning in multiple subject areas through music. To read more, click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS 

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