January 28, 2024
In EUSD, every student is an Effective Communicator! In the EUSD Learner Profile, part of our Framework for the Future, an Effective Communicator is an effective listener who can clearly express ideas. As Effective Communicators, our students communicate with purpose and express coherent ideas; are receptive and responsive to others’ input and ideas; communicate with confidence across various media and maintain a responsible digital footprint; and communicate with an awareness of audience and context.
The community at Limitless Learning Academy is a shining example of EUSD students – as well as our caring staff members – as Effective Communicators. Limitless Learning Academy is an extraordinary school of choice in the Escondido Union School District. LLA serves students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, with exceptional instruction online as well as optional in-person programming.
On a recent Thursday morning at Limitless, students attending class via Zoom were engaged in live instruction with their classroom teacher, tackling math problems in real time. Christy Stringfield’s 5th-graders had four strategies to choose from in solving math equations – number bond, arrow way, unit form, or fraction form. “I’m giving you some different ways. Which way did you like best?” Stringfield asked her students. “You get to choose which way to do it that’s best for you. I see some of you choosing to do it the number bond way, some the fraction way.”
The feedback between Stringfield and her students was immediate. And this type of instruction happens in every Limitless classroom, at every grade levels! At Limitless, learning is personalized for students, and flexible for families. Students are empowered to be advocates for their education as they develop their interests, all in a caring community.
Following engaging lessons via Zoom in the morning on school days, Limitless students have the option of attending in-person enrichment activities on campus, which is located on Ninth Avenue in the heart of Escondido. These include one-on-one and small group academic support as well as games, physical activity that corresponds to PE time, team building, art, STEM, and the new Liger TV media production club. Thursdays at Limitless are reserved for EUSD’s new Elementary Enrichment Wheel, a rotation of activities led by credentialed instructors once a week for sessions that last five to nine weeks.
Currently, Limitless students of all ages who choose to come on campus are enjoying art with teacher Emily Sprowell, music with teacher Liam Keefe, and STEM with teacher Tom Borer. Effective communication is seemingly nonstop throughout these enrichment classes, as classmates learn to collaborate, take turns, engage in trial and error, ask questions, discover new skills, and more.
Keefe led 7th- and 8th-graders in making and editing music with the Apple tool Garage Band, Isabella, a 7th-grader, was eager to share her catchy creation, in between Keefe’s review of chord progressions and pop progressions. Later, a younger group of students worked to pay close attention as Keefe asked them to play a G chord and demonstrate the second fret on their ukuleles. In art, Sprowell explained depth and perspective as students made progress on a multi-step art project. Meanwhile, Borer’s older STEM scholars created and launched water rockets and younger students focused on building structures. Students found that it takes partnership and communication to manage instructions and multiple steps in the creation process. Students don’t shy away from asking questions and seeking assistance. Out in the spacious field, rocket makers examined what did and did not work after each launch, with Borer encouraging his students to share their observations while adding his own: “We learned something new! The hot glue does not work well with the green tape, but the hot glue on the plastic was fine.”
Schedule a visit to Limitless Learning Academy to see if it’s the right fit for your family, or apply now through the EUSD School Choice Intradistrict Transfer program. Explore all of our schools online to see vibrant examples of the EUSD Learner Profile in action.
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
Academic success: Every school day counts when it comes to student success! While daily, on-time attendance is an essential component of this success, attendance means much more than simply being present. A child’s sense of focus and well-being are equally important for their academic and social-emotional growth. With that in mind, please know that cellphone use during instructional time is prohibited under the district’s student conduct policy. Cellphones should be turned off and put away at school. Their use during school time is disruptive to classmates and teachers, and contributes to lost class time. In addition, the use of a cellphone’s camera, video, or voice recording functions should not be used to infringe on the privacy rights of peers and staff members. Nutrition is another key factor in student success, and every child attending school in person on campus in EUSD is eligible to receive a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no charge. Research confirms children whose nutritional needs are met – including eating a nutritious breakfast regularly – have fewer attendance and behavior problems, and are more attentive in class. Contact your school office or Family Liaison if you need assistance regarding attendance, nutrition, or other concerns affecting your student’s success in school.
Work with EUSD: If you are looking for meaningful work in a vibrant, diverse community, then be sure to join us at the next EUSD hiring fair, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, January 29, at the district office, 2310 Aldergrove Avenue. Human Resources team members will guide individuals through the application process, for numerous essential full- and part-time positions across the district. Please review the event details and pre-register on Eventbrite. On-campus and district office positions include paraeducator; licensed vocational nurse; noontime supervisor; nutrition assistant; orientation assistant fluent in Qʼanjobʼal; electrician trainee; speech and language pathology assistant; and more. Employees who work more than five hours a day are eligible for enrollment in EUSD benefits and retirement programs. Find all employment opportunities here.
Share your thoughts: Feedback from our parents and guardians is valued and essential as we reflect on current performance, areas for improvement, allocation of resources, and future goals through our annual LCAP Priorities Survey, which is available online through February 2. Your responses are anonymous – and very much appreciated! We are collecting input from all of our stakeholders as we update the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan, the blueprint tied to state funding that describes how our schools support the success of all students. A community meeting to gather in-person input will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 1, at Bear Valley Middle School.
Love Esco Day: Community supporter Love Esco invites EUSD families to join “Love Esco Day” on Saturday, February 3, for community service projects at locations around the city, including EUSD schools. The daylong event launches “Love Esco Month,” with volunteer opportunities throughout February. “Love Esco Day” activities begin at 8 a.m. at Grape Day Park, followed by service projects at 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome. Visit the Love Esco Day website to check availability on service projects and to register. Love Esco focuses on connecting with local businesses, nonprofits, organizations, and other community members to “spread love and kindness to every corner of Escondido.”
Foundation fundraiser: The Escondido Education Foundation welcomes parents, colleagues, and community members to its annual “Fall in Love with Escondido Schools” fundraiser on Friday, February 9, at the Escondido Elks Lodge. The event includes dinner, live and silent auctions, and recognition of Caring Hearts Award recipients Victoria Smith, a Special Education teacher at Orange Glen Elementary; Mersedes Barta, supervisor of the YMCA program Rose Elementary; and Mireya Alarcon, a Special Education paraeducator at Rock Springs Elementary. Tickets are $45 on the foundation’s website and $50 at the door. All proceeds go toward the Dr. Mike Caston Innovation Awards, which fund classroom and school grants in our district.
School choice: For families who wish to apply for a transfer for their child to attend a school other than their neighborhood school of residence or one of EUSD’s specialty schools, such as Quantum Academy and our Dual Language Immersion schools, the School Choice application window is open through Wednesday, January 31. To find your neighborhood school, use our online school locator tool.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools