San Juan Scene - May 6, 2025

Date

San Juan Scene - May 6, 2025 Date

News for San Juan Unified - May 6, 2025

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The annual Spirit of San Juan Awards to be celebrated on May 8

San Juan Unified will be celebrating its 12th annual Spirit of San Juan Awards on Thursday, May 8 at San Juan High School’s Theatre.


This award recognizes individuals within our school communities who exhibit exceptional character, remove barriers and provide an inclusive environment for all. This year’s honorees include:


  • Taya Baggett - Student, Cameron Ranch Elementary School

  • Sonia Botello - School/Community Worker, Dyer-Kelly Elementary School

  • Kristi Char - Teacher, Mira Loma High School

  • Sara Opeyany - Teacher, Lichen K-8

  • Anna Stellmacher - Student, Rio Americano High School

  • Baryalai Talash - Instructional Assistant, Mira Loma High School


Learn more about this event on the Spirit of San Juan webpage and RSVP here.

Champions of Special Education honored at You Light The Way awards

San Juan Unified School District’s Special Education Department and Community Advisory Committee honored outstanding students, staff and community members at the 36th annual You Light The Way Awards (YLTW).


Students Parker Levine Scheidegger and Samrita Naidu from Rio Americano High School, teachers Jody Presto from Orangevale Open K-8, Shane Molaison from Harry Dewey Fundamental Elementary School and Baily Bowden from Will Rogers Middle School, and Ralph Richardson Center PTA members James and Monique Moraga and Sarah Medal were celebrated for supporting the educational journey of students with exceptional needs.


The YLTW awards recognize the dedicated effort these individuals have made to meet the needs of all students. Thank you to our honorees who continue to light the way!

San Juan High School to break ground on stadium modernization project on May 20

San Juan High School is set to begin a highly anticipated stadium modernization project, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for May 20 at 9 a.m.

This transformative project will bring significant upgrades to the school’s athletic facilities, including:


  • A new synthetic track and field to enhance training and competition opportunities for student-athletes.

  • Two new tennis courts to expand sports offerings and provide additional space for student and community use.

  • A new ticket booth, concession area and restroom building to improve the overall game-day experience for athletes, families and fans.


The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026 and will serve as a hub for school pride, community engagement and enhanced athletic programming.

My San Juan Story: Alum returns to lead theater program that shaped him

For Sean Melby, teaching theater at Mesa Verde High School isn’t just a job — it’s a full-circle moment. A 2010 graduate of Mesa Verde, Melby credits the school’s theater program for changing his life. Now, as the Career Technical Education (CTE) theater pathway instructor, he’s paying it forward by inspiring the next generation of performers and creatives.


“The previous theater teacher (Deni Scofield) kind of changed the trajectory of my life in a huge way. And so when I became a teacher, a lot of it was because of the work that she put into me and the confidence I gained in Mesa Verde’s theater program.”


When Scofield announced her retirement, she reached out to Melby, asking if he wanted to take over the program.

San Juan Unified parents find help through English Learner Advisory Committees

Raihana Safi, a parent from Dyer-Kelly Elementary, has found confidence in helping her newcomer student with the support of her school’s English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).


“We moved from Afghanistan recently, everything was new to us, especially the school system,” shared Safi. “Attending ELAC meetings has helped me understand how to support my child’s education.”


San Juan Unified School District’s ELACs are available at several school sites to support multicultural families in navigating the education system, sharing district resources and schoolwide updates.

Join us for some spring-tastic back-to-back family fun this Friday and Saturday!

All San Juan Unified School District families are invited to FamFest on Friday, May 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Arden Middle School. FamFest is a free event filled with activities for the whole family – featuring dancing, yoga, art, raffle prizes, Sami’s Circuit and more!


If you are looking to unleash your competitive side or want to cheer on others, join the San Juan Education Foundation for the Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, May 10 at Arden Middle School. The tournament will support the fundraising efforts for the San Juan Unified Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Scholarship Program.


Register for FamFest and sign your team up for the Pickleball Tournament today!

Del Campo High School launches new podcasting course for upcoming school year

Del Campo High School students will soon get the chance to flex their creative muscles in a whole new way. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the school will offer a new podcasting course designed to help students with their interviewing and storytelling skills.


More than 30 students are already signed up for the course, and Del Campo teacher Kimberly Powell has even started brainstorming story and podcast ideas with some of the students ahead of the new school year.


The course will focus on developing a wide range of storytelling and technical skills. Students will learn how to research, prepare interview questions, organize their ideas and deliver content in a way that engages listeners.

From Kabul to Sacramento: friends reunite at Thomas Edison Language Institute

Two sixth-grade students at Thomas Edison Language Institute recently experienced a heartwarming reunion, one that crossed countries and years.


Yalda and Tarawat were best friends in Afghanistan during first and second grade. They never expected to see each other again until they walked into the same classroom here in the San Juan Unified School District earlier this school year.

Check out adult education summer courses

San Juan Unified’s Adult Education program is offering free and fee-based summer classes to community members 18 years of age or older.


Offerings include:


  • Clinical Medical Assisting

  • Computer Basics

  • For those interested in a medical office career and who speak a language other than English, a new Pre-ELL Pathway to Medical Coding is being offered. This free summer course is a preview of the Medical Coding program, which starts in the fall and is specifically designed to support English-language learners exploring this career path.

What's happening this month

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Stay informed and engaged with your school district! Students, parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to attend the following meetings:


  • Curriculum, Standards, Instructional & Student Services Committee Meeting – Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Board Room

  • Board of Education Meeting – Tuesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Board Room

  • LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday, May 22, at 6 p.m. in the District Office Board Room

  • Board of Education Meeting – Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Board Room

  • District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) Meeting – Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. in the District Office Board Room


These meetings are an excellent opportunity to stay informed, share your input and connect with district leadership.


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

Upcoming workshops and events for families in May

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


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

    • Thursday, May 15, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at San Juan High School

    • Thursday, May 22, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Encina High School

  • Attend the Parent Project: Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior series, which helps support households struggling with difficult teen behavior. Meets weekly on Wednesdays through May 28 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Casa Roble Fundamental High School.

  • Join the Families Matter Workshop on summer learning resources on Tuesday, May 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

  • Attend the Understanding Special Education and Your IEP workshop on May 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at San Juan High School.


Learn more about these upcoming events at www.sanjuan.edu/face.


Families can also visit the video library to watch a video on What Parents Should Know: A Crash Course on Substance Prevention. Visit sanjuan.edu/familyed to view the video.

Family tip of the month: Inspire interest in learning

graphic of two adults hugging a child

Your words and actions set a powerful example your child learns from every day. To foster your student’s desire to learn:


  • Show that you enjoy learning. Let your child see you reading books and watching educational TV. Attend school functions. Try new things. Look for answers to questions.

  • Share what you learn. Talk about interesting facts, new ideas or scientific discoveries with your child.

  • Discuss the fact that most problems can be solved when people work together.

  • Express faith in your child’s ability to learn. Praise effort and persistence.
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.