SAUSD E-Blast for November 3 , 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.
NWEA DONATES $5,000 RESEARCH PRIZE TO SAUSD FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS  

Researchers from NWEA - working in partnership with SAUSD - recently won first place in the Social-Emotional Assessment Design Challenge, a competition for assessments that measure social-emotional learning (SEL) sponsored by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. The winning study, led by NWEA research scientists Jim Soland and Nate Jensen, focused on how students' "rapid guessing" behavior on an academic assessment can be used as a proxy for measuring SEL competencies. NWEA is donating the $5,000 award prize to SAUSD to use for student scholarships. Soland, Jensen and other NWEA representatives presented a check to SAUSD representative Edmond Heatley, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent of Administrative Services at the district office on November 2, 2017. "We could not have done this research without Santa Ana," Jensen said. "So we're so fortunate at NWEA to be able to donate that check to Santa Ana where it can further have a positive impact on students."
SAUSD SCHOOLS CELEBRATE RED RIBBON WEEK
  
Schools across the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) celebrated Red Ribbon Week from October 23-31, 2017 with various activities and special themed days. Students at some schools, for example, styled their hair in innovative ways on Crazy Hair Day, while others dressed up in pajamas on Pajama Day. The 2017 National Red Ribbon Week theme was "Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free." To view a sampling of Red Ribbon Week photos from SAUSD schools, click here.
SANTA ANA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS 4TH ANNUAL 'VALLEY DE LOS MUERTOS' EVENT
  
Students and educators from Santa Ana Valley High School participated in the 4th annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) themed celebration, Valley de los Muertos, on November 1, 2017 outside the high school auditorium. Hundreds of people purchased food, got their faces painted and watched as students from schools across the district performed mariachi music, ballet folklorico dancing and more. The steps leading up to the auditorium were turned into a giant altar decorated with colorful altar boxes created by students in memory of their deceased loved ones. Rigo Maldonado, a ceramics teacher at Valley who was integral in starting the annual gathering, said the goal of the event is to teach students about the meaning and symbolism behind a holiday that is growing in popularity in mainstream culture. "For me it is a celebration of life," he said. "We are celebrating the people who meant a lot to us, whether it be family or friends or people in our community." To read more and view photos, click here.
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS     


The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 6 p.m.

Members of the SAUSD Board of Education

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

Stefanie P. Phillips, Ed.D., Superintendent
SPURGEON, LATHROP AND MACARTHUR STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM MARIACHI ACADEMY  
  
Students from Spurgeon, Lathrop and MacArthur Fundamental intermediate schools recently showcased the skills they acquired as part of a 12-week program between the Jose Hernandez Mariachi Academy and Santa Ana Unified's Engage 360° after-school program during special graduation performances at their schools. Since 2015, the academy has taught mariachi music at Lathrop, Spurgeon, Carr, Willard, McFadden, MacArthur Fundamental, Mendez Fundamental and Villa Fundamental intermediate schools, and Sierra Preparatory Academy. Students learn 2 to 3 songs on trumpet, guitar, guitarron, vihuela or violin for 12 weeks, and Jose Hernandez of Mariachi Sol de Mexico visits each school to see the students hard at work. "It's such an honor to be able to teach mariachi music here in the Santa Ana school district and I hope to see more kids the next time we start," Hernandez said in a new video about the performance at Lathrop. Click here to view it.
WILLARD, SIERRA STUDENTS ATTEND TRIBUTE TO HENRY SEGERSTROM
  
On October 30, 2017, 180 students and staff members from Willard Intermediate and Sierra Preparatory Academy were guests of the Segerstrom family at a performance of the world- renowned Russian Marinsky Orchestra. Not only did the students get to be in the audience with the Segerstrom family and the likes of Helen Mirren and Placido Domingo, they were provided special seating behind the orchestra to experience a bird's eye view and close up of the orchestra and conductor. In addition, the students saw a tribute to Henry Segerstrom, who attended Willard and Santa Ana High School in the 1930s. Henry T. Segerstrom was valedictorian and class president at Santa Ana High School. He was a real estate developer and arts philanthropist who was instrumental in transforming Orange County from a provincial bedroom community into a nexus of culture and commerce. His wife Elizabeth has continued in his philanthropic endeavors by bringing Turnaround Arts into Santa Ana schools and in supporting SAUSD students to have these rich arts and culture experiences that open up minds and opportunities to advance them in their learning.
ART BY SAUSD STUDENTS FEATURED AT MAINPLACE MALL   
  
Art by students from Willard and McFadden intermediate schools and Saddleback and Godinez Fundamental high schools was on display at MainPlace Mall's Bootacular Dia de Los Muertos Celebration on October 28, 2017. Students in Helen Seigel's Art 3 class at Godinez were among those who were challenged to create original images inspired by Dia de los Muertos. They learned collage (French for cut and paste) technique, starting with cutting pieces of textured color from magazines. "Like them, I also stayed up late at night, working many hours over the weekends," Seigel said. "Together we made our dreams come true! When you work hard... good things happen! I am incredibly proud of them and honored to exhibit alongside their amazing work."
SAUSD'S INSTAGRAM FOLLOWING IS GROWING! 
  
SAUSD's official Instagram account is growing! If you are not following us on Instagram, you are missing out on daily news from across the district and posts highlighting all the amazing teaching and learning that goes on at SAUSD campuses. We are celebrating 1,200 followers, a 62% increase in less than a year. Help us continue to grow by following us and sharing this great news with your friends. Additionally, we have more than 25,000 followers and "likes" on our SAUSD, SAUSD Superintendent, SAUSD Teaching and Learning, and Santa Ana School Police Department Facebook pages. You can also find us on Twitter and  Vimeo as well.
SAHS STUDENTS WORKING WITH BREATH OF FIRE ON NEW PRODUCTION    
  
The Santa Ana High School Theatre Arts Conservatory and Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble are working together to present a series of four adapted legends and myths from Mexico, Nicaragua and Cuba during "Leyendas," a new production coming to the Cal State Fullerton Grand Central Art Center's Little Theatre. The project came out of the shared desire by the two groups to create and share live, performed theatre relevant and reflective of the Santa Ana community and be accessible to underserved communities with little to no access to theatre. Together the two groups generated a repertoire of four short pieces that can be toured and presented (together or separately) in traditional and non-traditional spaces. A preview takes place at 7 p.m. on November 17, 2017; productions are at 1 and 5 p.m. on November 18, 2017. The theater is at 125 N. Broadway in Downtown Santa Ana. Admission is free; reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 657-205-7714.
UPCOMING EVENTS 
Nov. 8:  6 p.m. The Little Mermaid Jr., Willard Intermediate School

Nov. 9:  6 p.m. The Little Mermaid Jr., Willard Intermediate School

Nov. 10: Holiday - Veteran's Day

Nov. 11: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Speech & Debate Middle School Tournament, Century High School

Nov. 15: 7 to 9 p.m. Annual Marching Band Showcase, Santa Ana Public Schools Sports Complex
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Your school news is important to us! To have your items considered for inclusion in our weekly eBlast and/or via other District media channels, please submit items to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Wednesdays for possible publication the following week. Due to space limitations, we may not be able to publish every item but will make every effort to share your news with the SAUSD community.
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