San Juan Scene - Oct. 1, 2024

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San Juan Scene - Oct. 1, 2024 Date

News for San Juan Unified - Oct. 1, 2024

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Arcade Middle School celebrates new beginnings with a ribbon-cutting ceremony

Three cheers for Arcade Middle School! The school cut the ribbon to its brand-new campus during their Back-to-School Night on Sept. 19.


Student government representatives led a campus tour after the ceremony for community members to visit the administrative office, activity commons, pHabLAB, media lab, library and multipurpose room.


Staff, students and community members alike shared their excitement for the new campus throughout the ceremony. Umran Haqdost, Arcade student government president said, “This new campus gives us more opportunities to explore our future creativity and future, giving us new space and new electives such as media and classes we can explore for our future paths.”


Read a recap about Arcade’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Measure P is on the November 2024 ballot

As approved by San Juan Unified School District’s Board of Education, Measure P, San Juan Unified School District’s Classroom Repair Measure, will appear on the November 2024 ballot.


Many local schools are more than 70 years old and in need of significant repairs. A recent report showed that San Juan Unified has as much as $3.5 billion in need. This measure could provide taxpayer funding to: keep classrooms safe and clean, fix deteriorating classrooms and leaky roofs, fix water pipes, plumbing, bathrooms, and electrical wiring, provide safe drinking water, and replace outdated security and fire safety systems.


It could also upgrade vocational and career education classrooms, upgrade math and science labs and give students more access to music, visual and performing arts facilities.


If passed by voters, Measure P will authorize $950 million in bonds, with annual tax rates of approximately 6¢ per $100 of assessed value, while bonds are outstanding.


Learn more by visiting the Measure P webpage.

My San Juan Story: How Aref Asimi became supervisor of the newcomer support team

Once a newcomer himself, Aref Asimi, the supervisor of the newcomer support team at San Juan Unified School District, now leads efforts to help newcomer students and families adjust to their new schools and community.


His journey in the United States began in 2017 when he arrived as a refugee from Afghanistan. Shortly after, he started working as a bilingual instructional assistant at Del Paso Manor Elementary School, where his passion for helping others quickly became clear.


Read more about Asimi’s journey here.

Special Education celebrates first resource fair at Arden Middle School

On Sept. 12, families, staff and community partners from across San Juan Unified School District’s Special Education programs gathered for an evening of connection, support and fun during the Special Education Resource Fair at Arden Middle School!


Families had the chance to connect with district leaders, meet with members of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and explore a variety of district and community resources. Attendees also enjoyed a complimentary barbecue dinner, live music and engaging games.


Watch a short recap of the afternoon here.

Mariemont Elementary School to cut ribbon on campus modernization project

It’s time to cut the ribbon on Mariemont Elementary School’s campus modernization project! Join the Mariemont community on Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. to celebrate the campus upgrades.


Mariemont’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will feature student and staff speakers and an opportunity to tour the newly modernized campus after the ceremony. The event will occur concurrently with the school’s annual Jogathon, which will also begin at 9 a.m.


RSVP to this event by filling out the form.

Casa Roble Fundamental High School teacher receives national honor in journalism

San Juan Unified School District congratulates Casa Roble Fundamental High School teacher Melissa Cameron for being named one of nine "Rising Star" recipients by the Journalism Education Association (JEA).💫📝


Cameron is known for cultivating an engaging and positive student culture within the classroom. Read more about Cameron and the community that she’s built within her classroom on our website: sanjuan.edu/CasaJEA.

ABC10 names Andrew Carnegie Middle School music teacher as Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to Igor Fedorov, a music and band teacher at Andrew Carnegie Middle School, for being recognized as the September 2024 Teacher of the Month, presented by ABC10 and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.


Learn more about Fedorov and what makes him a standout teacher in the video below and by visiting ABC10’s Teacher of the Month webpage.

Share your voice about your student’s instructional materials

San Juan Unified is seeking student, family and staff input on proposed instructional materials for the following subjects now through Dec. 18:


History-Social Science

  • American Government

  • Advanced Placement American Government

  • Advanced Placement World History

  • Advanced Placement Macro Economics

  • Cultural Anthropology

  • Constitutional Law, Political Science, Criminal/Civil Law, You and the Law

  • English 3: Ethnic Studies


Math

  • Financial Math

  • Math Modeling


World Languages

  • Japanese, all levels, including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (Please note that the Japanese language material review is only available via in-person review at Choices Charter School.)


There are many ways to get involved in the materials selection feedback process. Anyone can provide in-person feedback by scheduling an appointment with Loretta Naas.


Proposed instructional materials also can be reviewed online. Input on these materials can be provided at any time in multiple languages via the online Instructional Materials Community Feedback Form.

What's happening this month

FALL in love with engaging with your 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, Oct. 2, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

  • Board of Education - Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

  • Curriculum, Standards, Instructional & Student Services Committee Meeting - Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

  • LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Meeting - Thursday, Oct. 17, at the District Office Board Room at 6 p.m.

  • Board of Education - Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

  • District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) Meeting - Thursday, Oct. 24, at the District Office Board Room at 6 p.m.

  • Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting - Wednesday, Oct. 30, 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 October

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


  • Regional Community Care Hubs will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 (Starr King K-8), Oct. 10 (San Juan High) and Oct. 24 (El Camino Fundamental High). Join us for a free resource fair to access essential tools for student success.

  • A workshop on Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences will be available online on Oct. 21.

  • The Parent Project series takes place on Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Sylvan Middle School. This ten-session program helps support households who are struggling with difficult teen behavior.

  • The Fall Families Matter Conference will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Arden Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for free workshops and engaging activities.

  • The Family Leadership Academy series will take place on Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Winston Churchill Middle School. This four-week program, starting on Oct. 29 and ending on Nov. 19, empowers families to become leaders at the school and district level.


Learn more about all of these opportunities at www.sanjuan.edu/face.

Free instructional assistant preparation class enrolls year-round

San Juan Unified’s Adult Education program is offering a preparation course for those interested in taking the district’s instructional assistant exam. The class is free and enrollment is open all year. Learn more.

Family tip of the month: Set weekly learning goals

Setting short-term goals and experiencing the thrill of achieving them can help your child stay motivated. Each week, help your child:


  1. Choose one goal at the beginning of the week, and write it down.

  2. Plan steps to take to achieve the goal.

  3. Brainstorm solutions for any snags that crop up along the way.

  4. Evaluate what worked and what didn’t and set a new goal.
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.