As we embark on a new year, the San Diego County Office of Education's P-3 team would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to shaping young minds and creating a positive learning environment for the students of San Diego County. As we embrace the opportunities and challenges that come with a new year, let us celebrate the past and look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead in the new year.

Each day, you plant seeds of knowledge and curiosity that will undoubtedly blossom into a future filled with promise. Together, let us continue to create an nurturing and inclusive environment where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.

Remember that you are shaping the leaders, thinkers, and innovators of tomorrow. May the coming year bring you joy, fulfillment, and recognition of the positive impact you make in the lives of your students. Here's to a year filled with exciting discoveries, meaningful connections, and continued growth. Thank you for your continued support and dedication!

Your partners in education,

San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) P-3 Team

The Great Kindness Challenge initiative, presented by Kids for Peace, is a global campaign that promotes kindness in kindergarten through grade 12 schools. It is a positive, action-based bullying-prevention initiative that creates a school culture of kindness, compassion, unity, and respect. The challenge checklist and toolkit provide many free resources to support California’s students and educators.

During this powerful, unifying, and uplifting week, students are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible using customizable checklists. The challenge gives every student an opportunity to model kindness and develop key social and emotional skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. Sample checklists can be viewed in English and Spanish. Check out this overview video. Kindness, pass it on!

This session is designed for P-3 educators to learn more about specific strategies to combat chronic absenteeism beginning with our earliest learners. Collaborate virtually with educators across San Diego County, and develop an initial action plan that focuses on communication and relationships as we work to interrupt chronic absenteeism. Access the registration page to learn more.

Session objectives:

Investigate powerful P-3 practices at the P-3 Administrator Institute. All district and school administrators are invited to a two-day institute to develop and explore their P-3 system. This institute provides intentional, in-depth time for participants to examine their current strengths and opportunities within their P-3 system in order to make actionable and relevant site-based changes. This exciting opportunity will foster learning, collaboration, and action planning to build a cohesive P-3 continuum. Come and leverage county partners in this exciting work. Register for the P-3 Administrator Institute and join us March 7-8.

It's not too late! SDCOE is excited to announce that we are currently enrolling for another TK Pathway cohort. This pathway is designed for multiple subject credentialed teachers who are looking to increase their capacity in working with our youngest learners and will support them with meeting the 24 Early Childhood Education unit requirement to teach transitional kindergarten. To participate, fill out the TK Pathway interest form to secure your spot today.

SDCOE offers a number of professional development opportunities on a variety of topics for preschool, infant/toddler teachers and administrators, and family child care providers. The workshops are intentionally offered to align to program quality goals and build upon existing skills. Check out the Early Education Professional Development catalog to explore how the workshops are differentiated by levels of expertise and target audience.

For registration or workshop questions, please email the SDCOE Early Education team.

SDCOE invites you to join Expanded Learning Opportunities Program professional learning opportunities. The first offering is the Site Leader Training Series, which is designed to support leaders who provide oversight and management of day-to-day program activities. Learn more about how to support your programs by attending this series. Sessions will be held Feb. 2, March 1, and April 12.

Join the Expanded Learning team for a one-day learning session: Setting the Foundation for Our Youngest Learners. This learning session is designed to support folks working with students at the site levels on Jan. 25. Access the link to learn more.

The Early Years Conference is a celebration of your personal learning journey and unwavering dedication to the continuous improvement of early childhood education. This year's conference promises to be an enlightening experience, aimed at showcasing how your role as an early educator fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion in all early learning and care settings.

SDCOE has received a grant from the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency to increase and strengthen the early care and education system of San Diego County. As such, the grant funds will be used to offset the cost of the registration to ensure those caring for our youngest learners have equitable access to professional development. Register for the Early Years Conference now or learn more.

The annual Leadership in Biliteracy Symposium is an awards celebration to acknowledge the individuals who have made significant contributions in promoting biliteracy for our students. This event honors leaders in school communities, promotes biliteracy as an educational asset, and celebrates the achievements of our community. For information on submitting an honoree, email Alicia Moyer. The event will be held April 25 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Prado. Register now!

Mark your calendars for our annual Equity Conference, a pivotal event that brings together educators, community leaders, parents, students, advocates, and policymakers. Join us Jan. 18 and 19 as we collectively strive to advance educational equity for every student. For more information and registration details, visit the SDCOE Equity Conference webpage.

Jan. 26-27

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Every year for more than two decades, SDCOE facilitates a popular dual language conference that brings together experts and practitioners of dual language from across the county, state, as well as visitors from other states and countries. Themes, topics, and sessions range from research to practice, addressing the needs of teachers, administrators, para-educators and parents/community members. If you are seeking to network and learn from dual language advocates beyond your local community, register to attend the conference.

The SDCOE professional development calendar highlights offering that may be a good fit for you and/or your staff.

SDCOE's grant team keeps an updated list of grant opportunities based on topic. For more information about grant opportunities and applying for grants, visit the SDCOE Grants webpage.

Subscribe here to the SDCOE Universal Prekindergarten newsletter. Access archived issues.