Monday, January 30, 2017

What's New in GUHSD

GUHSD Launches California Thursdays Fare 

School Board Trustee Dr. Gary Woods gets in on the taste-testing fun with students at Grossmont High
GUHSD has joined an expanding statewide network of 71 innovative public school districts committed to serving freshly prepared meals made with California grown food. As the California Thursdays® program continues to grow, these delicious meals will soon become a regular part of menus for GUHSD students at all of our high schools next month.

The kick-off event at Grossmont High School yesterday featured students taste-testing a veggie bagel sandwich menu item featuring a healthy, student-tested recipe made onsite from scratch with local ingredients by a talented team of food service cooks. The avocados, cheese, bread and vegetables all come from nearby farms and producers.

The program is based on the simple logic that California children will benefit from eating fresh locally grown food. In addition to improving student health and academic achievement, this seemingly small change provides major benefits for farmers, regional economies and the environment. Many food service staff report that they are eager to make fresh meals and delighted to see the students they serve enjoying them.

For more information about the California Thursdays program and to see the interactive map of the Network, click here

12th Annual East County Young Men’s Leadership Conference

Mount Miguel Teacher Mike Love with members of  SDSU's SAAB Program who participated in the Conference
Over 75 young men from throughout East County and Southern California attended the 12th Annual Young Men's Leadership Conference at Mount Miguel High School on January 21, 2017. 

The event theme was: Get RE-Sensitized: YOUR Life Matters! The motivational morning keynote was given by Agustin Peña, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney. Ten thoughtful, uplifting workshops were offered by educators, business people, members of law enforcement, college students and community activists.

The afternoon highlight was a surprise visit and welcome from Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez. The closing activities included a tie drive wherein each young man in attendance received one or two ties and lessons on how to properly tie them. Everyone in attendance received a special limited edition conference t-shirt. Corporate support for this event was provided by The Men's Wearhouse and Instant Imprints. Community support was offered by the Student African-American Brotherhood (SAAB) chapter from San Diego State University. 

The conference was organized by the Brother 2 Brother Club of Mount Miguel High School, a group of young men who commit to the principles of accountability, pro-active leadership, self-discipline and intellectual development.

Supervisor Jacob Honors El Capitan Golf Phenom Breann Horn

Breann Horn with her Proclamation
County Supervisor Dianne Jacob issued a proclamation this week commending El Capitan junior Breann Horn for her success on the golf course and declared January 24, 2017, to be "Breann Horn Day" throughout San Diego County.

Supervisor Jacob spoke of how Miss Horn began golfing at the tender age of six and fell in love at the very first stroke. By age seven, she was competing in tournaments.

Among her many accomplishments as an athlete at El Capitan, Miss Horn has been honored as a Varsity MVP by the Grossmont Valley League for the past three years, and won first team in CIF this year.

Congratulations, Breann Horn, on receiving this honor!

Granite Hills’ International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Service Project

Granite Hills IB students with the ASB-provided recycling bins
Last spring, as part of an International Baccalaureate (IB) progam service project at Granite Hills, students reached out to UCSD to develop a partnership in order to recycle writing instruments through a company called TerraCycle. UCSD’s Anthony Singleton and LaWana Richmond came to Granite Hills to discuss a partnership and a “battalion” was formed. 
Recycling bins were donated by Waste Management and distributed to several classrooms on campus. Roughly 600 writing instruments were recycled.

This school year, several students formed a team to better implement the program on campus and work to expand its impact. Granite Hills’ ASB donated $1,000 to the cause this fall to purchase unique bins, which are now in all classrooms and offices on campus. Students also reached out to nearby Madison Elementary School and they are now a part of the effort to recycle writing instruments so that they do not end up in landfills.

The International Baccalaureate Program is an internationally recognized curriculum that offers 11th and 12th grade students an opportunity to earn the IB Diploma. To earn the IB Diploma, students complete and test in six IB subjects, write an extended essay of independent research guided by a faculty mentor, complete 150 hours of Creativity, Action, and Service activities, and participate in a critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge.

Save the Date: GUHSD Honor Band and Orchestra to Perform on 2/4

The GUHSD Honor Band and Orchestra will perform on Saturday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cuyamaca College Theater. The ticket booth opens at 6:15 p.m.; the admission charge for adults is $8. 

The Honor Band and Orchestra are comprised of talented high school musicians who have auditioned from throughout the District. We are fortunate to have guest conductors working with these students.

Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti will conduct the Honor Band. He serves as the Professor of Music Theory, Compilation and Conducting at Stanford University. Mr. Gary Horimoto will conduct the Honor Orchestra. He is the retired Director of Band and Orchestras at Rancho Bernardo High School. Please join us for an evening of wonderful music. 

Dr. Tim Glover
Superintendent