The
Grossmont Union High School District Announces New School for the 2015-16
School Year
In an effort to expand
educational options that meet the needs of our East County youth, the Grossmont
Union High School District is launching the IDEA Center, a small high school of
choice, open to students grades 9-12 next school year. The IDEA Center will
focus on college and career readiness through a college preparatory curriculum
linked to career and technical education pathways.
Characterized by small class
sizes and an integrated curriculum infused with technology, students at The
IDEA Center will each receive a Chromebook for student use at school and home.
Students will choose an individualized learning plan that leads to career
exploration, internship opportunities and demonstrations of their learning
prior to graduation. The IDEA Center teachers are content experts who are
highly skilled in Linked Learning collaboration and technology use in the
classroom. Staff members will serve as mentors/advisors to each student working
to support their academic needs and personal growth.
The school is located at
1600 N. Cuyamaca Street in El Cajon and will operate on a 4 X 4 quarter system
with teachers teaching three classes and an advisory period each day. Teachers
work in Linked Learning interdisciplinary teams, with whom they meet during
common prep periods to collaborate. Teachers support and advise students in
preparation for ongoing demonstrations of learning, internships, and projects.
For more information click https://goo.gl/1hCddx. Open Houses will be held at the
school on June 3 and June 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 1600 N. Cuyamaca Street
in El Cajon.
We are pleased to provide
you with yet another valuable option to help maximize your student’s academic
and personal success.
GUHSD
included in CA Career Pathways Trust Grant Awards
This week, State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson awarded $244 million in
grants to 40 programs that blend academic and career technical education,
connect employers with schools, and train students for jobs in high-demand
fields.
The San Diego County College
and Career Readiness Consortium was awarded a California Career Pathways Trust
Grant of $13.1 million. As one of over 15 districts participating in this
grant, the Grossmont Union High School District expects to receive approximately
$1.4 million over the two-year scope of the grant. This project aims to support
career pathway programming county-wide through professional development for
teachers and counselors, curriculum development and industry engagement, with
facilitation from the United Way of San Diego County. The project features
career pathways in the following industries: advanced manufacturing, clean
energy, and information and communications technology.
California Career Pathways Trust grant
recipients are tasked with creating sustained career pathways programs that
link businesses, K–12 schools, and community colleges to prepare students for
the 21st century workplace.
Steele
Canyon Twins Named 2015 Grossmont Healthcare District Healthcare Heroes
 |
| Veronika and Anjelika Cannon, 2015 Healthcare Hero Award Recipients |
Two Steele Canyon High School
twin sisters were recently honored by the Grossmont Healthcare District with
2015 Healthcare Hero awards. Seniors Veronika and Anjelika Cannon were
recognized for their volunteer service at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa.
Since the end of their ninth grade year in June 2012, the two sisters have volunteered
about 1,500 hours.
Their volunteer service (700
hours for Anjelika and 800 hours for Veronika) has included spending time in
different hospital areas, such as the Women’s Center, Rehabilitation Unit,
pharmacy, Medical Intensive Care Unit, East Tower and the Thrift Korral. Since
they are among the more experienced Junior Volunteers, both girls have become
involved in training new junior volunteers. They were named Junior Volunteers
of the Month, Anjelika in January 2014 and Veronika in March 2014.
In addition to volunteering
at the hospital, the girls have participated at the American Heart
Association’s San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk. They have also volunteered as
aides in classes for students with disabilities at Fuerte Elementary School,
Lexington Elementary School and Hillsdale Middle School. They spent several
weeks last summer volunteering at Camp Harmon, a residential camp for children
and adults with disabilities that’s operated by Easter Seals. They also have
served the past two years at Noah Homes, assisting the residents with bingo
games, dances and other activities. Anjelika also is mentoring a girl attending
Bostonia Elementary School in El Cajon as part of the Big Sisters program.
My hat’s off to these two
inspirational sisters for their diverse and valuable volunteer service to our
community.
Monte
Vista Receives Grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries
Monte Vista High School has
been selected to receive a $7,000 library grant from the Laura Bush Foundation
for America’s Libraries. The foundation's mission is to help encourage a love
of reading and learning for students. This foundation provides library grants
to schools in order to expand, update, and diversify book and print
collections.
“No matter what you want to
be when you grow up – a doctor or a lawyer, a senator, an artist, or a teacher,
reading will help you reach your goal…By providing more schools with better
reading materials, the Laura Bush Foundation helps students understand more of
the world around them and its limitless possibilities,” said Mrs. Laura Bush.
Since its inception in 2002,
the foundation has awarded over $12.5 million to almost 2,500 schools across
the country. In addition to the annual grants, the “Gulf Coast School Library
Recovery Initiative” in 2006 provided more than $6.3 million to school
libraries affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita so that they could rebuild
book collections lost or destroyed in the storms.
Save
the Date: Student-run Twelfth Night Production on June 4 & 5
Upstart Theatre Company is
proud to present its inaugural production, William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night,
hosted by the Valhalla Theatre Arts Department. Upstart, founded in 2015, is
comprised of and run entirely by students from schools throughout the Grossmont
Union High School District, and is dedicated to keeping classical works of
theatre alive on the modern educational stage.
This is the first time ever
that a fully student-run play has been produced at Valhalla and the first time
students from multiple schools have collaborated to perform a play. Directed by
Christopher Torborg (Valhalla), and starring Ashley Brown (Monte Vista) as
Viola and Joseph Chavez (Valhalla) as Orsino, this rollicking comedy takes us
on a hysterical romp through 1930s Illyria, featuring mistaken identity and
found love. Two nights only: June 4 and 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Valhalla High
School Theater, located at 1725 Hillsdale Road in El Cajon. Tickets $10 for
adults, $8 for students, $5 for children five and under/senior/military;
available here or by calling (619) 593-5454.
Superintendent Ralf Swenson
