Equity Conference 2020
Save the date and
register for SDCOE’s
Equity Conference in January at the San Diego Convention Center. The event on Jan. 16 and 17 will be a valuable time for county offices, districts, schools, community partners, and parents to collaborate and learn together about how to engage effective, systemic change. This conference brings together nationally recognized speakers and spotlights current research and best practices. The Equity Conference sessions are focused on strengthening our systems to better respond to the linguistic, cultural, social-emotional, and mental-health needs of all students, and to create the conditions for them to thrive and make healthy choices.
Educational Music Programs
Each season, the
Classics 4 Kids Orchestra performs 12 STEAM professional orchestra concerts as field-trip events at the historic Balboa Theatre. These 50-minute interactive orchestra concerts are designed for teachers and children in grades PK-6. Each participating class receives an optional free docent visit two weeks before, provided by our long-term partners Advocates For Classical Music, accompanied by a free audio CD and detailed lesson plan. Concert content aligns with state standards for pre-K through grade 6. Tickets are $7 per person or $6 for Title 1 schools.
March 5 and 6 — Ferdinand the Bull: Celebrate the literary classic in this musical adaptation of Munro Leaf’s iconic tale. Experience this lovable character and his story promoting peace, self-acceptance, and appreciation of nature, brought to life by the dynamic Malashock Dance.
May 14 and 15 — The Silk Road: Join us for an incredible cultural exploration as we journey along the ancient silk road trading route. Students will learn about music from China, India, the Middle East, and Italy for an international experience like no other.
Beethoven, the Music Genius
Ludwig van Beethoven changed classical music forever — making it bigger, bolder, and more outrageous — all while losing his hearing. Learn strange and wonderful facts about the life of this gifted and temperamental genius as you enjoy pieces of his most famous music played by the
San Diego Symphony.
California Arts Standards Workshops
- Explore the shifts, structure, and intent of the standards
- Surface curricular and instructional implications
- Examine Universal Design for Learning
- Develop an implementation approach
- Discover resources for support
- Network with colleagues
Provided by The California Arts Project.
2020 CMEA-SBS Solo & Ensemble Festival Registration Now Open
Registration for the 2020 California Music Education Association Southern Border Section (CMEA-SBS) Solo & Ensemble Festival is now open. This festival provides students with the opportunity to perform either solo or in a small ensemble and receive clinic-style feedback and written evaluation from an experienced adjudicator. Those individuals or ensembles who receive a "superior" rating will be eligible to participate in the State Solo & Ensemble Festival to be held in San Bernardino County in May. The CMEA-SBS Solo & Ensemble Festival is open to students in grades 4-12 in instrumental, voice, and guitar categories.
Learn more at the CMEA website.
Youth Media and Tech Camps
In Media Arts Center San Diego’s
fall and winter camps, youth ages 6-14 will learn cinematography, editing in iMovie or Final Cut Pro, stop motion, storyboard creation, and green screen use. A matinee of their completed films will be screened on the last day of camp to a full house at the Digital Gym theater. No experience is necessary.
NEA Big Read: Read Imagine Create
The National Education Association’s Read Imagine Create campaign provides opportunities for middle and high school students to read
A Small Story About the Sky by Alberto Rios and create a personal response (literary, media, performance, or visual art) to one or more of the poems. Many entries will be presented at events and libraries throughout the county in April. Cash prizes are also awarded. Poetry workshops and copies of the book will be available. Many teachers have all of their students participate, but individual students are welcome. Visit the
Read Imagine Create website for more information. Entry deadline is Feb. 13.
Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition for high school students. Competitions begin at the classroom/school level. Winners at each participating school advance to the San Diego County regional Poetry Out Loud competition on Feb. 4. The San Diego County winner competes in Sacramento at the state finals and the winner in Sacramento advances to the national competition in Washington D.C. Last year a San Diego County student was among the top state finalists. Write Out Loud offers workshops for teachers as well as for students to help them select, understand, and recite their poems. Teachers can begin by conducting competitions with only a handful of students, an entire class, or an entire school. This program is to inspire understanding, appreciation, and recitation of poetry, not writing original poetry — though that is often a result of students becoming more involved in published poems.
Blindspot Collective
Blindspot Collective, a local theatre company, is bringing San Diego County public schools three unique plays that cultivate a positive school climate. Programs include pre-show workshops and a student-appropriate show brought right to school campuses.
- Danny's Story is touring high schools Dec. 9 to 20. Through role-play and discussion, the show is designed to equip high school youth to advocate for their peers in the midst of conflict, while deepening an understanding of LGBTQ+ youth populations.
- Safa's Story is touring elementary and middle schools Feb. 18 to March 6. Designed to create dialogue about cultural sensitivity and accepting difference, the show is a rare type of interactive performance that empowers students to stand up for themselves and their peers.
- Untold is touring high schools April 27 to May 8. This gripping play weaves music, movement, and the exact words and stories of real people to explore the mental health crisis in America, where it's estimated that one in four people will struggle with mental illness during their lifetime.
