February 12, 2023
In EUSD, every student is a writer! Writing takes place in every subject, in every grade level, and we come together to highlight this essential skill at our annual Young Authors Writing Celebration.
An estimated 700 students, family members, teachers, and district officials turned out on Wednesday afternoon at Bear Valley Middle School for the celebration of writing. “When we opened the doors on Wednesday afternoon, it was like a concert,” said Shannon Fralish, EUSD’s Coordinator of Expanded Learning.
This marked the 33rd year of the Writing Celebration, which has grown to be one of the district’s signature events.
“The Writing Celebration is just one way we recognize the many talents of our students in Escondido,” Orange Glen Elementary Principal Beth Crooks said. “It is wonderful to read our students' writing from every EUSD school, and to see how their writing evolves through each grade level. We enjoy bringing our students, families, and staff together to celebrate our writers, and look forward to this event each year.”
There’s no doubt that writing is an essential part of learning, and it’s infused in every way in EUSD classrooms. Teachers take every opportunity to link reading and writing to other core subjects to help students be successful in all areas. In the Writing Celebration, every grade level is represented, and the award-winning pieces include examples of informational, narrative, and opinion writing styles. Through such writing, students gain perspective, understanding, and knowledge.
The Writing Celebration program is especially significant because it highlights writing at every grade level, and the ongoing development of students’ writing skills. It’s also a wonderful display of pride and joy.
“This is a time to share our students’ hard work and creative minds,” Central Elementary Principal Crystal Underhill said. “It is a joy to see families come together to celebrate their young writer’s accomplishments, and to see the excitement and pride on all of their faces.”
For Fralish, who organizes the event, the best part of the writing celebration is simple and sweet: “Seeing the huge smiles on these kids’ faces!”
“There are so many moments of happiness and pride in our beautifully diverse community,” Fralish said. “The kids are all so excited, they lean in to proudly show family members their award-winning writing.”
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
Presidents Day: All EUSD schools and the district office will be closed Friday, February 17, and Monday, February 20, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
Bond dollars at work: Members of the Board of Education and the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee on Thursday toured the site of one of the district’s modernization projects, a new two-story classroom building at Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences. This project is part of the EUSD’s School Modernization and Facilities Improvement program, authorized under Proposition E, a $182.1 million bond measure approved by voters in 2014. The 27,000-square-foot building will be ready for students at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Four of its 16 classrooms will be equipped as lab classrooms. The building is considered “future-proofed,” with design layout and material choices that were made with lifetime maintenance in mind, to make sure the building will hold up in both quality and functionality well into the future, said Roy Nakamura, EUSD’s Director of Facilities Planning and Construction. In addition, the concept of a teacher-focused classroom has been revised to more student-centered instruction, with features that set a strong foundation for student success such as multiple teaching walls and moveable furniture and adaptable storage areas that support greater opportunities for collaborative work and flexible programs. Visit our Proposition E webpage for more on modernization projects.
Work with EUSD: The next EUSD hiring fair is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, February 28, at the district office, 2310 Aldergrove Avenue. Human Resources team members will guide individuals through the application process, including any necessary job assessments 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 paraeducators, bilingual family liaisons, nutrition assistants, noontime supervisors, licensed vocational nurses, speech language pathology assistants, accountants, 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.
College and career opportunity: Are you considering a career in education? Join us at one of our upcoming informational meetings to learn about the Palomar Paraeducator Partnership, a new program that supports paraeducators in earning a college degree. Full details on the meetings – scheduled for February 15, February 23, and April 12 – can be found here, and you can register online to attend. Through this program, employees will have the opportunity to connect with the community by working in our classrooms as a paraeducator while also earning an Associate Degree for Transfer at no cost through Palomar College. The next cohort will begin in fall 2023. Paraeducators may earn up to $32,000 a year with full benefits, grow their experience in the education field, and earn an associate’s degree to prepare for transfer to a California State University. Visit our website to learn more about this innovative program.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools