San Juan Scene - Dec. 3, 2024

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San Juan Scene - Dec. 3, 2024 Date

News for San Juan Unified - Dec. 3, 2024

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San Juan Unified’s open enrollment period begins Dec. 9

San Juan Unified’s open enrollment period begins on Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. During this time, you can submit an application to have your student attend a school other than their neighborhood school as long as there is space available and you are willing to provide transportation for your student.


Families can now log in to Parent Portal to view their child’s assigned school for the next school year to help them decide whether to participate in open enrollment. As soon as you log in to Parent Portal, you will see both your child’s school for this school year and their assigned school for the next school year (2025-26) listed just below. No further action is needed if you are satisfied with your child’s assigned school for the next school year. If you would like to apply to make a change, you can complete an open enrollment lottery application starting Dec.9.


Because open enrollment is a computer-generated lottery and not approved on a first-come, first-served basis, you can submit your application at any time during the open enrollment period.


Applications will be available online at www.sanjuan.edu/openenrollment and at the San Juan Central office, located at 3700 Garfield Ave. in Carmichael. For more information, call (916) SAN-JUAN or email oel@sanjuan.edu.

San Juan Unified thanks you for supporting Measure P

Results from our recent election show that the San Juan Unified community has approved Measure P to improve classrooms and teaching environments! As of Nov. 26, Measure P received 60 percent of the vote, surpassing its required 55 percent approval rate.


“On behalf of our students, teachers, staff and families, I would like to thank our community for helping advance and support student success," said Superintendent Melissa Bassanelli. "Measure P will bring transformative change to our school facilities allowing us to provide state-of-the-art facilities for career education and enhancing all of our schools. Thank you for voting and for your support in approving Measure P.”


San Juan Unified’s bond program undergoes strict accountability requirements, including independent annual financial audits and a review of all spending by a citizens’ oversight committee. Bond funds cannot be used for administrative salaries or pensions.


Stay up to date on current construction projects and learn more about the district’s facilities master plan on the construction news webpage.

Join us for Katherine Johnson Middle School’s campus launch

Katherine Johnson Middle School will be launching its new campus on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the new location, 2641 Kent Drive! The school will be celebrating its completion with a rocket launch and resource fair for families.


Community members are invited to explore the new campus during a showcase tour after the ceremony. The tour will feature the administrative office, library and a classroom.


Katherine Johnson’s new campus features a brand-new administrative office, classrooms, a STEAM lab, media studio, multipurpose room and playfields. Decked out in space-themed murals and a quad resembling the orbit of our solar system, the outer space theme of the campus is an homage to the school’s namesake, mathematician Katherine Johnson.


RSVP to join us for this historic campus launch ceremony. You can learn more about Katherine Johnson’s new campus by visiting its construction page.

Community partnerships are key to supporting our schools

As part of an effort to strengthen community engagement with our schools and to invite more vital partnerships, San Juan Unified invited its vast network of community partners, elected officials and other community liaisons to be Principal for a Day, where participants were assigned a school local to their organization, and spent the morning shadowing that school’s principal in their day-to-day work.


In addition to this valuable experience for our community, a small group of principals were assigned different community partners and visited their operations as part of our first-ever Community Partner for a Day.


Learn more about Principal and Partner For a Day in this short video.

San Juan Unified students honor Ruby Bridges during annual walk

In the quiet morning hours of Nov. 14, dozens of students from Lichen K-8 gathered at various spots across their neighborhood, uniting to walk together in a show of solidarity against racism and bullying.


The annual event, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, happens every November to honor the courageous first steps taken by Ruby Bridges as she integrated an all-white school, paving the way for future generations.


Schools throughout San Juan Unified School District joined the annual event, with students coming together to walk and reflect on Bridges’ legacy by making sure that all identities, perspectives and lived experiences are recognized, included and honored.


Read more about this year’s Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day here.

Woodside K-8 and El Camino Fundamental High give thanks for their communities

San Juan Unified School District is incredibly grateful to all of the staff, families and students that make up our diverse and impactful communities.


Our communities are our valued partners in educating our students. Through the positive and collaborative relationships we build with our community, we can continue to foster safe and supportive environments for all.


Join Superintendent Melissa Bassanelli as she joins Woodside K-8 and El Camino Fundamental High School in expressing thanks for all that our school communities do.

Volunteer fingerprinting clinic on Dec. 5

Any San Juan Unified parents/guardians or community members who want to complete the fingerprinting process to sign up to volunteer at our schools, but are unable to make an appointment during the business day, are invited to our walk-in volunteer fingerprint clinic. The clinic takes place on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Board Room, located at 3738 Walnut Avenue in Carmichael. Fingerprinting is provided free of charge. Applicants must bring a valid photo ID.

What's happening this month

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We’re almost halfway through the school year, so make sure you stay informed on what’s happening in your school district! Students, parents, staff and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend the following Board of Education meetings:


  • Curriculum, Standards, Instructional & Student Services Committee Meeting - Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Choices Charter Room 15 at 6:30 p.m.

  • Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting - Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the District Office Board Room at 6 p.m.

  • Board of Education - Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

  • District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) Meeting - Thursday, Dec. 19, at the District Office Board Room at 6 p.m.


To keep up to date on all the committee meetings or to learn more about each committee, visit sanjuan.edu/committees.

Upcoming workshops and events for families in December

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Families are invited to these upcoming workshops and events in December:


  • Visit a Community Care Hub to access free district and community resources, learning tools, school supplies, food boxes, diapers and more.

    • Dec. 5 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Cameron Ranch Elementary School

    • Dec. 19 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Dyer-Kelly Elementary School

  • Attend Fostering Conflict Resolution Skills on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. This virtual workshop is designed to help parents and guardians guide their children in resolving conflict effectively and respectfully.

  • Attend Talleres, a Spanish-speaking workshop, on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. This workshop, presented entirely in Spanish, provides tips and tools to support a successful school year for your student.

  • The San Juan Central Food Closet is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., excluding non-school days and holidays. It is located at 3700 Garfield Avenue in Carmichael and serves those in our community in need of non-perishable food items.


Do you need more resources? Visit our website for more information. Learn more about these upcoming events at www.sanjuan.edu/face.

Family tip of the month: Help your child be a leader

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Whether they are naturally outgoing or shy, all students can develop and benefit from leadership skills. To help:


  • Talk with your child about the qualities of effective leaders (they can listen, communicate and problem-solve, etc.).

  • Help your child consider other people’s points of view. Leaders make people want to work together.

  • Let your child lead a family meeting.

  • Point to leaders in the news. Also tell your child what you are doing and why when you act as a leader.
San Juan Unified School District
www.sanjuan.edu

The San Juan Scene electronic newsletter delivers monthly school and district information to parents, students, staff and community members. Click here to view previous editions of San Juan Scene.