SAUSD E-Blast for the Week of April 12-18, 2019 
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.
SAUSD NAMED MODEL SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD FOR 4TH TIME  

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) was named a State Model SARB this week by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, marking the 4th time that the District has received the distinction. SAUSD is among 23 school attendance programs being recognized as model School Attendance Review Boards (SARBs) for outstanding strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism and increase student attendance. The Model SARB award recognizes excellence in specific content areas, including establishing goals and objectives, implementing prevention and intervention strategies, and developing collaborations with local agency resources. All 23 SARB programs will be recognized at the state conference of the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance on April 19, 2019 in Napa.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HONORS SAUSD 'DIFFERENCE MAKERS'

The Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce this week honored SAUSD students and staff during the 9th annual Difference Makers luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana. Century High School Counselor Beau Menchaca was named Educator of the Year, and 10 students received $1,000 scholarships from local businesses. The Difference Makers Celebration recognizes those leaders in the community who go above and beyond the call of duty in improving the lives of others. Congratulations to all! For a list of winners, and to view photos, click here.
SAUSD STUDENT ENTRIES TO BE DISPLAYED DURING IMAGINOLOGY FESTIVAL 

SAUSD will be well represented at the Imaginology Festival taking place at the Orange County Fairgrounds on April 12-14, 2019. Students from Advanced Learning Academy - Early College, Mendez Fundamental Intermediate, Santa Ana High School and Santa Ana Valley High School have been named Division Winners in categories ranging from jewelry to photography. In addition, 28 projects created by 26 STEAM and art students from Advanced Learning Academy - Early College will be on display. Admission is free. To learn more about Imaginology, click here.
MIDDLE COLLEGE STUDENT NAMED ORANGE COUNTY 'YOUTH OF THE YEAR' 

Middle College High School student Ana Gonzalez has been named the Orange County Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast. The award recognizes a student ages 14-18 who demonstrates academic achievement and leadership skills, and engages in community service. She received a $5,000 scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast and another $6,000 from the Orange County Area Council for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This week, she traveled to Sacramento to compete for the state Youth of the Year title. Spectrum News 1 has produced a new video about Gonzalez and her inspiring story. Click here to watch it.
SADDLEBACK STUDENT ARTWORK CHOSEN AS THEME FOR 43RD ANNUAL VSA FESTIVAL  

The artwork of Saddleback Student Maximo Jauregui was chosen for the 43rd Annual VSA (Very Special Arts) Festival to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana. Meximo's artwork is a wonderful representation of this year's theme. "You're Out of This World". Maximo will be recognized for his artistic talent during the opening ceremonies of the festival. Congratulations Maximo!
BOARD OF EDUCATION

The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at 6:00 p.m.

Members of the SAUSD Board of Education

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

Stefanie P. Phillips, Ed.D., Superintendent
MASONS DONATE $20,000 TO LITERACY PROGRAM AT MADISON ELEMENTARY  

Madison Elementary School this week held a special assembly to thank members of the Masonic Lodges of Orange County and Long Beach for providing 150 Kindergarten students with books to read at home this school year through the Raising a Reader program. Madison parents organize the program and distribute the books to students weekly. The Masons provided $20,000 to fund Madison's participation. The partnership was established through the school's work with the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative (SAELI). The program included student performances, a school tour, and remarks from students, parents and school leaders about the benefits of the Raising a Reader program. For photos, click here.
3 STUDENTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS AT OCADA COMPETITION 

Two teams of automotive students from Santa Ana High School and Santa Ana Valley High School recently participated in the prestigious 26th Annual Orange County Automotive Dealer Association (OCADA) Automotive Technology Competition at the Hyundai Motor America headquarters in Fountain Valley. Automotive instructors Felix Carrillo from Santa Ana and Saul Garcia from Valley, along with parents and supporters from the community, cheered students on. Both teams did well and three students from Santa Ana Valley High School were awarded $1,000 scholarships each to the community college of their choice. SAUSD is the only District in the county with two high school automotive programs certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
SEGERSTROM MARKS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 

Segerstrom High School students came together recently to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Week, shedding light on the difficulties that some students face and the support that SAUSD offers them. Among other things, students pledged to "be kind" and "end the silence," and provided information to peers on the schools' Mental Health Awareness Club and SAUSD's We Care campaign.
MAGDA GIANNIKOU MENTORS SAUSD STUDENTS

Musician and composer Magda Giannikou recently worked with several SAUSD high school students, as an outgrowth of a Banda Magda concert held during the Boca De Oro arts festival in Downtown Santa Ana. Magda led a jazz improvisation full performance at Santa Ana Valley High School, where she taught students a song in Greek about the ocean, and worked with the Santa Ana High School orchestra and choir groups as well. Her advice: be curious about the world as you "play what you experience, and there are so many things to explore."
UPCOMING EVENTS 
THE AMAZING RACE: SANTA ANA UNIFIED EDITION COMING SOON

Once again, A Healthier SAUSD is partnering with Feet First Entertainment to bring "The Amazing Race: Santa Ana Unified Edition" to SAUSD employees. The event runs from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Godinez Fundamental High School/Centennial Regional Park. Click here for details.
SEND US YOUR NEWS
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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