September 4, 2023
Today as we observe the Labor Day holiday – established in part to honor the contributions of American workers – it’s an excellent time to recognize not only the current contributions of our incredible EUSD employees, but also to celebrate the opportunities for our students.
In EUSD, every student is empowered to explore the countless possibilities for their future, so that they are prepared well for the next stage of their education – and excited about it! Our Framework for the Future, and the EUSD Learner Profile within it, allows students to imagine themselves in future possible careers.
One of the ways in which our teachers help students make these connections is through events like a “Career Day,” in which community members visit a school to talk to students at all grade levels about their professional path. For example, Career Day at Felicita Elementary is an all-day, all-school event – every student from Transitional Kindergarten through 5th grade participates, and they dress for success for their guests. Felicita Career Day is now in its seventh year thanks to the dedicated teachers who coordinate this extraordinary event. Career Day is typically held in late spring, and the most recent event drew more than three dozen professionals to campus. Presenters included an engineer, a police officer, a nutritionist, a dental hygienist, an editor, a coach, a college professor, and more.
With opportunities like this, our empowered learners can explore, ask questions, and make a connection between what they are learning and real-world possibilities!
We look forward to seeing students tomorrow, September 5, following the extended Labor Day weekend.
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
San Diego County Teacher of the Year: We are thrilled to share the very exciting news that EUSD is home to one of the five new county Teachers of the Year! Please join me in congratulating Wendy Threatt, a 4th-grade teacher at Felicita Elementary School. Mrs. Threatt joined this elite group of educators during a ceremony on August 25 to announce the 2023-2024 San Diego County Teachers of the Year, a program launched more than 30 years ago by the San Diego County Office of Education and Cox Communications to recognize the work of public school teachers. EUSD also was represented in this year’s program by Carrie McGibney, who taught at Rincon Middle School before joining the team of instructional coaches at the district office this school year. Mrs. Threatt and Mrs. McGibney truly reflect the professionalism and creativity of our EUSD teachers! To have Mrs. Threatt representing the outstanding work of our EUSD educators at this level is an incredible honor for our community.
Low-cost computers: Is your family in need of a low-cost desktop or laptop computer? The San Diego County Office of Education Computers to SD Kids are hosting a Smart Tools for Schools event from 9 to 11:30 a.m. noon Saturday, September 9, at the San Diego County Office of Education, 6401 Linda Vista Road, San Diego; enter on Via Las Cumbres. Follow this link to submit an application and schedule an appointment. The nonprofit organization charges an administrative fee of $100 for a desktop system or $150 for a laptop. View this flyer for further details. Direct questions to 858-200-9788 or programs@c2sdk.org.
Attendance is meaningful: Every school day counts when it comes to student success! September is recognized as Attendance Awareness Month, and we appreciate your support and encouragement for consistent student attendance. Every student is a valued member of our school community. Daily and on-time school attendance not only helps support our students' connection to school and learning, it is a key indicator of future success. Absences are understandable when a student is sick. However, missing 10 percent or just two days a month can cause a child to fall behind academically or feel disconnected from school. When students miss school, they are missed by their classmates and the caring adults on campus. Our district has numerous resources to support families. Please do not hesitate to contact your school site if you are experiencing any challenges to daily school attendance for your child.
Committee vacancies: EUSD is accepting applications to fill three vacancies on the Proposition E Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, which is composed of volunteer community representatives. The oversight committee reviews expenditures related to Proposition E, a $182.1 million bond measure approved by the Escondido City voters in 2014 to modernize school facilities. Additional details and applications for the committee positions are available online. Members serve two-year terms, for no more than three consecutive terms. Meetings are held at 5 p.m. every other month, with no more than six meetings per year. Employees of EUSD, as well as employees of district vendors, contractors, or consultants, are not eligible to serve on the committee. The application is available for download, and the completed document should be submitted by email to eusd_fac_docs@eusd.org.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools