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  • Summer School Save the Date

    Santa Barbara Unified Families, It’s hard to believe, but we’re already at the halfway point of the school year. This time is a great chance to focus on the successes we’ve seen and plan opportunities for growth. We look forward to working toward a strong finish to the school year. While SB Unified is still just halfway through the year, District leaders are already planning Summer School. Please be sure to save these dates on your calendar as you plan vacations.  Summer School Elementary Secondary Extended School Year June 20-July 14 Session 1: June 12 - June 30 June 15-July 14 Session 2: July 3 - July 20 Racial Climate Assessment  In the coming weeks, there will be a series of focus groups held across our district to learn more about the racial climate in our schools and district offices/departments. As part of this work, we encourage you to participate and provide us with your input. This is one of the many ways we use to hear from you.  For more information or to participate, please contact  Anna Pilhoefer  at  apilhoefer@sbunified.org Tech Use Committee Meeting On Wednesday, January 25, Educational Technology Services (ETS) and Student Services will host this month's Technology Use Committee in the District Office community board room from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Important updates, tools, and parent resources regarding student digital safety will be shared. We welcome all community members to join and discuss the District's current 1:1 techEQUITY program and an opportunity to provide valuable input and feedback. All District Choral Showcase Please join us for a spectacular evening showcasing our various Choral Programs throughout the district. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, January 25th, at 6 pm, in the San Marcos Theater. Admission is free!  Celebrations A pair of Santa Barbara High School students won the Congressional App Challenge by creating a program that aims to strengthen student connectedness with an anti-cyberbullying approach. Senior  Christian Sanchez  and sophomore  Antonio Ayala  developed “One Connected” as a way for students to easily and safely join clubs/ organizations by browsing through the school’s Club Directory. “One Connected” has moderated communication features that have been implemented to allow students to carry out their messages safely. They make us SBUSD proud! With gratitude, Dr. Hilda Maldonado Superintendent Know a “Hero?” Nominate them today

    Wednesday, Jan 25 2023

  • Free UCSB Basketball Tickets for this Saturday!

    Santa Barbara Unified Families, The last few days have been busy with the rain and flooding. We know this time has not been easy, and we thank everyone for being so responsive during this time.  We are still seeing some lingering effects of the rain, including Metropolitan Transportation District (MTD) service disruptions for our booster bus services. MTD will resume its normal operations Thursday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day This Monday, schools will be closed to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Several events will be happening throughout the community over the holiday weekend, including  a list you can find here.  Please use this as an opportunity to speak with your students to reflect on the work done by Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. We look forward to seeing you back at school on Tuesday. Free UCSB Basketball Tickets for SB Unified Community You can get FREE tickets to UCSB’s basketball game this Saturday. The team hosts Santa Barbara Unified School District Night during its matchup against UC Riverside. You can claim the tickets by  clicking here , , enter promo code GAUCHOSGIVE,  or scanning the QR Code on the  attached flier . Go Gauchos!  COVID Reminder We thank everyone for following the COVID-19 guidelines over the last week. As a reminder, here is when people should take a test: If you feel sick, test. Test again 1-2 days later if the first test is negative If you were exposed, test when you find out  and repeat  every 2 days for a total of 3 tests For return to school, test the night before (or morning of) return AND repeat 2 days later If you get a positive result:  Stay home from school,  follow isolation guidance , let your school know If you have a negative result but still have COVID-19 Symptoms:  Stay home from school until you feel better and at least 24 hours after fever is gone Re-check with a repeat COVID-19 test in 1-2 days.   We also  highly and strongly recommend  that students and staff  wear a mask  for the first couple of weeks as we return from winter break. With gratitude, Dr. Hilda Maldonado Superintendent Know a “Hero?” Nominate them today

    Wednesday, Jan 11 2023

  • Schools Reopen Tomorrow

    Santa Barbara Unified Families, Faculty, and Staff, Schools and the District Office will reopen on Wednesday, January 11, throughout Santa Barbara Unified School District. The shelter-in-place has been lifted, yet, we know that some may still experience delays arriving at school or work. We understand that many of our community members are still being impacted by the remnants of this storm; please reach out if you need help. Buses may be late, delayed, or unavailable tomorrow. If you can drive your child to school, please do so. If you have been displaced due to this storm and are in temporary housing, send us a note to  askthesuperintendent@sbunified.org , and we will connect you with resources. We encourage everyone to follow all safety orders from Emergency Personnel. Staff will receive updates from their direct supervisors. Please continue to monitor your Parentsquare, email, and other forms of communication for updates.

    Tuesday, Jan 10 2023

  • Schools are Closed on Tuesday, January 10

    Santa Barbara Unified Families, Faculty, and Staff, Due to the current weather emergency, and out of consideration for the safety of our students and staff, schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 10. Based on extreme and unpredictable weather conditions expected in the morning hours, and continued road closures and flooding, county Sheriff, Fire, and EOC (Emergency Operations Center) officials are advising schools to remain closed tomorrow. When considering closing, we factored in the following: California Emergency Declaration by Federal Government Road Closures Ongoing rain with the maximum amount of impact occurring on Tuesday, Jan 10, between 6 am to noon Staffing availability Transportation - staffing shortages tomorrow with MTD We will continue to monitor this developing situation and will continue to provide updates as they become available. Please continue to monitor ParentSquare, email, and our website for more information.

    Tuesday, Jan 10 2023

  • Classes Canceled This Afternoon; Families Encouraged...

    Families, Today, due to the intense band of rain approaching our area,  we are encouraging everyone to pick up their children as soon possible.  Students will not be allowed to walk home.  Please call your school’s office for questions. We will accommodate any student whose parent/guardian is NOT able to come pick up their student. The A-OK and after-school care will be available. Student Transportation of America buses will be at schools by 1:30 p.m. We are working with MTD to send buses sooner than the 3:30 normal release time. Please let your school office know if no one will be home to greet your students. Schools continue to be safe for your children. There will be food and staff to watch over your students. Please know that your children are safe until you can pick them up. 

    Monday, Jan 09 2023

  • COVID-19 Winter Break Reminder

    Santa Barbara Unified families, It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays throughout our schools and the community.  In my experience, the holidays can be stressful. Being grateful through acts of service can go a long way to help clear both our minds and our spirits. We hope everyone has a restful and fun winter break and look forward to seeing all of you in the New Year on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.  Freedom4Youth Toy Drive Our students at Santa Barbara High School are making sure everyone has a chance at a happy holiday season with the second annual Freedom4Youth Toy Drive. The Amnesty International Club is collecting gifts for people who are currently incarcerated in Santa Barbara County Jail, Los Prietos Boys Camp, Santa Maria Juvenile Hall, and families who have been impacted by the system throughout Santa Barbara County.   The organizers are seeking donations of books, art & school supplies, children’s toys, socks, blankets, hygiene items, and snacks. Drop-Off Locations Santa Barbara High School San Marcos High School Freedom4Youth Ms. Elliott’s classroom: 61 Ms. Tilton’s classroom: F6 187 S. Patterson Ave. Unit A Goleta, CA 93111 MAD Academy Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The donation deadline is December 15th. We thank our student leaders for this inspiring opportunity to help others in the community. Winter Break COVID-19 Reminder Schools are once again distributing COVID tests to students and staff ahead of the Winter Break.  It's recommended that everyone test for COVID-19 before returning to school on Tuesday, January 3rd.  If you have a positive result, please contact the attendance office at your school and stay home. If you have a negative result, we look forward to seeing you back on campus and healthy.  Aptitude Clinical Labs will be adjusting its hours for the winter break. COVID tests at the Earl Warren Showgrounds will happen from 9 a.m. to 2 pm.m on Friday, December 23rd. They will be closed from December 24th- December 26th, along with December 31st through January 1st. Testing will resume its regular hours on Monday, January 2nd. Thank you for helping our efforts to ensure our school campuses are safe for all.  Insight Survey update We sent parents and guardians a ParentSquare, inviting them to take our initial racial assessment survey. As a reminder, the goal of the assessment, being conducted by Insight, is to get a gauge on the current state of anti-Blackness in our schools at all levels. We are asking all our staff, parents, and caregivers to provide honest feedback. As a learning organization, it is important that we have information to best inform us where our challenges exist in order to improve, most importantly it is critical that everyone feels safe and part of our community at all times. Please take the time to provide us with your honest feedback. We will provide results in the new year. If you have any questions about the survey, please direct them to Anna Pilhoefer, who is acting as our primary liaison to Insight, at apilhoefer@sbunified.org. Board of Trustees vacancy application The application period for the Board of Trustees vacancy opened on December 1, 2022, at 12:01 a.m. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. on December 16, 2022. The seat will be at-large until the 2024 election, meaning that anyone residing within the district’s boundary lines can apply to be considered. The Board of Trustees will invite qualified candidates to an interview process on January 5, 2023. If you’d like more information or want to download the application,  please visit our website here. Student YouTube Access ETS has been in the process of evaluating safeguards for our student devices that will help filter out irrelevant and harmful content on campus and at home. We are aiming to deploy this within the next 60 days, although we are still hard at work ensuring that we land on the best tool to ensure the safety, relevancy, and appropriateness of the content available to our students. In addition, the YouTube app is now categorized as a 17+ social media app. Because we cannot guarantee a safe and secure YouTube experience for our students at this time, the YouTube app will be removed from all student iPads starting Friday, December 16. This will continue until we can confidently ensure this is no longer a concern. Tech Tips At Santa Barbara Unified, we like to provide our families with plenty of support, including tips on how to utilize technology. As tweens and teens start sharing content and engaging with others online, it's important for them to understand the tracks they're leaving behind and what those tracks might reveal. Parents can help guide kids toward creating the kind of footprint they can be proud of. Here are some easy ways to accomplish this: Be a role model:  They’ll follow your lead, so practice what you want your tween to do. Use privacy settings:  Protect personal information at all costs. Let’s all make this holiday season an opportunity to support each other. Whether it’s through volunteering, donating, or helping those closest to us, small acts of kindness can make a big difference this time of year. I hope you have a fantastic winter break, and, as always, please feel free to message me at  askthesuperintendent@sbunified.org  if you have any questions or comments. With gratitude, Dr. Hilda Maldonado Superintendent Know a “Hero?” Nominate them today

    Thursday, Dec 15 2022

  • School Board Meeting This Monday at 5:00 p.m.

    We want to remind everyone that the December Board of Trustees meeting will be held on a different date at a slightly earlier time.  It will be this Monday, December 12, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Have a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you Monday night.

    Saturday, Dec 10 2022

  • REMINDER! Informational meeting about Alta Vista Mid...

    Santa Barbara Unified families: Alta Vista Middle College at SBCC is hosting an informational meeting on Tuesday, December 6, for students looking to earn their high school diploma while also exploring college and career pathways at Santa Barbara City College. Middle College is a hybrid independent study/college program, located on the SBCC campus. It combines independent study coursework delivered during one-on-one meetings with high school teachers, as well as SBCC classes with college professors and students.    Middle College predominantly serves high school juniors and seniors, but also occasionally enrolls mature sophomores.   As students work towards earning their high school diploma, they also actively experience and learn how to succeed in a college environment. Some of the most important skills students report learning are time management, communication, and learning how to be resourceful and reach out for extra support as needed on campus.  It's also an excellent opportunity for motivated students to sample various potential college majors and career pathways.     Students often graduate Middle College with about one year of college units on their transcript. Many students continue on at SBCC while others apply to and attend four-year universities upon graduating from high school.  The upcoming Information Night is set for Tuesday, December 6 at 6 pm in room A-160 at SBCC. Students (along with their families) interested in joining Middle College in Spring or Fall 2023, are invited to attend. Please RSVP for the meeting by contacting Regina Freking at 805-897-3561 or  rfreking@sbunified.org . 

    Monday, Dec 05 2022

  • Important information about enrollment and transfers

    Dear Santa Barbara Unified families:   Enrollment New student enrollment opened, December 1, for those enrolling for the first time and for former students who are returning after an extended absence from the Santa Barbara Unified School District. In addition, for those interested in a school transfer for the 2023-2024 school year, the enrollment window has opened as well.  Families who are enrolling with the Santa Barbara Unified School District for the  first time , may either complete the   enrollment  process through the Aeries Online Enrollment portal, OR you may contact your child’s school for assistance.   For 2023-24, children are eligible for Transitional Kindergarten if they turn five (5) between September 2 and April 2.  Children are eligible for Kindergarten if they will be five (5) on or before September 1. Open House For information about upcoming tours or Open Houses in elementary or junior high, contact your school of interest directly for more information. For information regarding high school open houses   click here . Intra-District Transfer (transfers within SBUSD) If you are interested in your child attending a school  OUTSIDE  of their school of residence, but live  INSIDE  the Santa Barbara Unified District Attendance Area, you will need to complete a transfer request in addition to the enrollment process. The priority window to apply for a transfer is  December 1, 2022 through January 20, 2023 at 5 PM . Online Transfer Applications opened, December 1 on the District website -   English   or   Spanish .   Additionally, paper applications are available for pick up in the Student Services office located at 720 Santa Barbara Street, 93101, or on our website   HERE . Inter-District Transfer (transfers between districts) If you are interested in your child enrolling in Santa Barbara Unified District school, but live  OUTSIDE  of the District’s Attendance Area, please contact your District of Residence for further information on Inter-District Transfers.     Student(s) already attending a school in the Santa Barbara Unified School District on an Inter-District Transfer must renew their Inter-District Transfers each year. The window to submit an Inter-District Transfer for the 2023-2024 school year is  December 1, 2022 through January 20, 2023 at 5 PM .   Reminders Here are a few friendly reminders from the Student Services Team to keep in mind during our Open Enrollment and the Transfer Application Window: Information for enrollment, transfers, and open house events can be found on our website at   https://www.sbunified.org/schools/enrollment-registration Student enrollment is based on the student’s home address. If you are interested in attending a school outside of your attendance area, an approved transfer is required.  The deadline to submit a transfer application is  January 20, 2023 at 5pm . Transfers submitted after January 20, 2023 are considered late transfers and will be reviewed on space availability and in the order in which they are received.  Transfers received after the July 2023 deadline will only be reviewed for 2nd Semester/Term 3. All paper transfers applications must be submitted to the Student Services Office.  Families cannot submit their applications to our school sites.   If you have questions, please contact your child’s school or Student Services at (805) 963-4338 ext. 6278 (English and Spanish) and/or ext. 6276.

    Friday, Dec 02 2022

  • Change is coming to Board of Trustees

    Santa Barbara Unified families, I hope that you had a restful Thanksgiving break, giving you a chance to reconnect with your loved ones, while also providing the space needed to help everyone reenergize a bit as we close out the calendar year. 2023 will bring about many changes at Santa Barbara Unified, particularly with the Board of Trustees. We will welcome Gabe Escobedo, who won his seat in the recent election. The Board will also choose a replacement for Trustee Laura Capps, who will exit her post effective November 30, 2022, in order to move into her role on the County Board of Supervisors. This will leave an at-large vacancy on the Board, which the district has chosen to fill through an application process.  More details can be found here. On December 1, 2022, the application process will open up (you can download the application at the same link), with the application period set to end on December 16, 2022 at 5 p.m. We encourage anyone with interest in the position to apply or reach out to  askthesuperintendent@sbunified.org  with questions. Keeping our campuses healthy As we return to the classroom after our week-long break, our continued focus will be to keep our staff and students as healthy as possible. With the influx of RSV, the flu and COVID-19 cases still prevalent, we encourage those that don’t feel well to prioritize their health and stay home to get the rest that is needed. We sent COVID-19 tests home for the Thanksgiving break, and will do so again for Winter Break, with the same recommendation of utilizing the test prior to the return of school on January 3, 2023. In the meantime, the district does have a surplus of take-home tests, so if you need one, please visit your school’s health office to secure one. Safety on campus comes in many forms, and keeping our classrooms as healthy as possible is a priority — and we thank the entire community for its help in making it happen. Have a great week! With gratitude, Dr. Hilda Maldonado Superintendent askthesuperintendent@sbunified.org

    Tuesday, Nov 29 2022