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  • San Dieguito Union High School District Superintende...

    Good evening SDUHSD families, The board held a special meeting this afternoon and unanimously approved the termination of Dr. Cheryl James-Ward as Superintendent, without cause, effective August 15, 2022. The Board wishes Dr. Ward well in her future endeavors. I know this has been a difficult time for our district, and I want to assure our families that our staff continues to be committed to our students. In an effort to provide some stability, I have agreed to continue to serve as the Interim Superintendent through June 30, 2023. This will allow the Board to conduct a thorough search process with staff, student and community input and the hopes of a permanent Superintendent in time for the start of school in the Fall of 2023. In the coming months, the Board will develop a timeline for the selection process. I hope you are able to continue to enjoy some family time this summer and we look forward to having your students back in August. It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Monday, Jun 27 2022

  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent Update

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, I hope that you are all having a safe start to your summer and enjoying some family time! Last night, the District held its Board of Trustees Regular Meeting at San Dieguito High School Academy, and I want to share a few highlights that you should be aware of prior to the 2022-23 school year. As a reminder, all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly  here . Mary Anne Nuskin Approved as Associate Superintendent of Human Resources At the June 9, 2021, Regular Board Meeting, the Board approved the appointment of Mary Anne Nuskin as Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, subject to approval of an employment agreement at the Board's next regular meeting on June 23, 2022.  I am happy to report that Ms. Nuskin’s employment agreement was approved at last night’s meeting, and she will transition into her new role on July 1, 2022, after serving as the first and only principal at Pacific Trails Middle School since it opened its doors in Fall 2015.  We are grateful for her leadership and are ecstatic that she remains committed to serving the San Dieguito community. 2022-23 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Approved and Adopted The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is the way that school districts are expected to share performance data, needs, actions, and anticipated outcomes that guide the use of available Local Control Funding Formula dollars.  According to Education Code section 52060, the LCAP must describe for each district the annual goals for all students as well as how services will be increased or improved for students who are English learners, living in Foster care, experiencing homelessness, and/or living in a household with low income. The LCAP must address and align to the California eight state priorities as well as local priorities identified by the district. The LCAP must also describe the specific actions that the district will take to achieve the goals it has identified with budget details that show the level and type of state expenditures made to support these actions.  The Board unanimously passed and adopted our LCAP plan for the  2022-23 school year .  2022-23 Budget Approved and Adopted In addition to the adoption of our 2022-23 LCAP, the Board unanimously approved our   budget for the upcoming school year . The approved budget includes the continuation of Student Support Facilitators, expansion of the psychologists work year by 10 days, an additional computer technician, the addition of four counselors with placements at Canyon Crest Academy, La Costa Canyon High School, San Dieguito Academy and Torrey Pines High School as well as additional funds to on-going deferred maintenance projects. Summer School Update Summer school and Extended School Year (ESY) is successfully underway at San Dieguito Academy High School with approximately 875 students and 75 certificated and classified staff members.  We have expanded our course offerings (middle school / high school) from last year to include both middle and high school ELD classes, English 8, 10 & 11, Chemistry, and US & World History in addition to a number of math remediation classes, online bridge options and well-attended classes for Biology 9 and English 9. Independent Study Online (ISOL) has close to 80 students enrolled and the Having a Voice Program is up and running as well.  Due to the variety of student needs on campus, we also have the addition of a bi-lingual administrative secretary, a Student Health Care Specialist, two campus supervisors, and over 20 instructional assistants for the ESY programs. Four Credentialed Education Specialists are team teaching in a variety of our general education classes in addition to bi-lingual aides and AVID tutors to support specific classrooms. Nutrition Services serves free breakfast and lunch daily. The first semester of summer school ends July 1st and the second semester will run from July 6th - 26th. Additional information can be found on the  Summer School page of our district website. District Office Modernization Project As a reminder, the district office modernization project gets underway soon which will necessitate the closure of the District Office at 710 Encinitas Blvd. The project will help bring the district office building at 710 Encinitas Blvd. into ADA compliance while also providing greater functionality and more efficient working spaces for district employees. More information will be provided as the process continues. The District Office will be closed for construction beginning July 14, 2022. The current timeline calls for a staggered exit of various departments out of the district office with construction scheduled to begin in August 2022 and end in May 2023. We will post information on our website as we progress through the project, including the temporary location of each department. Thank you to all, and we hope that you remain safe and healthy this summer. It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Saturday, Jun 25 2022

  • Juneteenth Office Closure

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, Today, June 19, marks a monumental turning point in American history as the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States of America. Now commonly known as Juneteenth, the district office will observe this federal holiday on Monday, and all offices will be closed. We hope that everyone continues to be safe and healthy this summer, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back! Thank you, and it is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Sunday, Jun 19 2022

  • Mary Anne Nuskin Appointed SDUHSD Assoc. Superintend...

    Good morning SDUHSD community, I am proud to announce the appointment of Mary Anne Nuskin as its new Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, pending contract approval at the June 23 Regular Board Meeting. Mrs. Nuskin will transition into the role on July 1, 2022, after serving as the first and only principal at Pacific Trails Middle School since it opened its doors in Fall 2015. She has served a variety of roles within SDUHSD since joining the district in 2003, including previously serving as principal at Diegueño Middle School and Earl Warren Middle School prior to leading at Pacific Trails. Pacific Trails has flourished under her leadership and continues to be recognized as one of the top middle schools in the state of California. In the most recent US News Rankings , PTMS is ranked No. 1 in San Diego County and No. 25 statewide based on a system that ranks performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well middle schools prepare their students for high school. In the coming weeks, district leadership will engage stakeholders in the process to find a new principal at Pacific Trails Middle School. It is our priority to find an exceptional candidate and ensure a smooth transition into the 2022-2023 school year. We are grateful for her leadership and are ecstatic that she remains committed to serving the San Dieguito community. I also want to share with you words that Mrs. Nuskin sent to our community regarding the opportunity to serve in a new capacity: “It is an honor to be selected as the next Associate Superintendent of Human Resources for the San Dieguito Union High School District. We are a professional community of excellence, and student achievement is our highest priority. I look forward to this new journey in my career where I will have the opportunity to hire and support highly qualified teachers and support staff. I am so grateful to have had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build and open Pacific Trails Middle School.  Our community is wonderful, our students are outstanding, and our staff is exceptional!” Thank you, and it is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Monday, Jun 13 2022

  • Congratulations SDUHSD Family!

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, Congratulations! We have all made it through yet another school year, and today is always a bittersweet day as we say goodbye to our classes of 2022 but also rejoice in their times of celebration over the past few days of middle school promotions and high school graduations.  This past month working as your interim superintendent has reinforced my love for this District and dedication to the students, teachers and staff that make SDUHSD such a special place.  Please remember to be safe this summer. Practice proper hygiene, use safety precautions when traveling, be aware of your surroundings, but most importantly, enjoy your break! We want to make sure that all of our students returning to us next school year come back as their best selves, and for those of you who are moving on to new challenges, we trust that you will be prepared to meet them head-on. The  2022-23 instructional calendar can be found on our website, for those that like to plan ahead! Congratulations again, class of 2022, and we look forward to seeing the rest of you next school year! It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Saturday, Jun 04 2022

  • Congratulations SDUHSD Family!

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, Congratulations! We have all made it through yet another school year, and today is always a bittersweet day as we say goodbye to our classes of 2022 but also rejoice in their times of celebration over the past few days of middle school promotions and high school graduations.  This past month working as your interim superintendent has reinforced my love for this District and dedication to the students, teachers and staff that make SDUHSD such a special place.  Please remember to be safe this summer. Practice proper hygiene, use safety precautions when traveling, be aware of your surroundings, but most importantly, enjoy your break! We want to make sure that all of our students returning to us next school year come back as their best selves, and for those of you who are moving on to new challenges, we trust that you will be prepared to meet them head-on. The  2022-23 instructional calendar can be found on our website, for those that like to plan ahead! Congratulations again, class of 2022, and we look forward to seeing the rest of you next school year! It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Saturday, Jun 04 2022

  • Last Week of School, Finals & Summer Break

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, As we head into the end of the 2021-2022 school year, we want to celebrate our community and the resilience and commitment that you have shown. Through challenges and successes, we have kept on learning! Moving toward graduation, promotion and other end of the year events taking place this week, we also want to ensure that everyone is healthy and able to attend these activities.  COVID Safety With an increase in COVID cases, we remind you of some healthy choices that help ensure participation in end of the year activities. Stay home if you are COVID positive or you are feeling sick. ( SDCOE COVID Decision Tree ) Due to the rise in COVID cases, consider taking an at-home COVID test if you are not feeling well.  Families are now eligible to receive up to  eight additional free at-home COVID tests from the United States Postal Service . Masks remain strongly recommended but not required. Everyone should feel free to follow their own mask choice. To minimize the spread of germs, we also want to remind you of regularly washing your hands.  Mental Health Awareness It's the last day in May, and while it is the month we talk most about mental health awareness, the resources can be applied all year long. Our goal was to provide foundational knowledge about mental health plus information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern.  More info can be found at Maintaining Mental Health  https://bit.ly/3x38QUz Final Exam Tips With final exams, end of year activities and summer break approaching, this time of year may get stressful. Here are a few helpful tips: Keep up healthy habits. Get plenty of sleep, eat balanced meals, drink water, and include movement in your daily routine. Minimize media intake and choose what you focus on. Make time for yourself, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Read a book, play a game, take a walk, call a friend, slow down and catch your breath. Be mindful of your schedule. Monitor study and down time balance. Plan ahead and say “no” to activities if you’re feeling overbooked. For students - remember that grades and test scores do not define or predict success in life. If you prepare well and give your best effort, no matter the outcomes, that is great! If any grades don’t come out as hoped, please don’t let it take away any of your self-confidence or change your perspective. It’s okay! There are multiple ways to show what you know, especially in your areas of interest. Everyone has different strengths and skills - whether artistic, physical, being a great writer or speaker or storyteller or scientist. Please keep this in mind for yourself and your peers.  If you do start to feel overwhelmed, acknowledge your feelings and reach out for help if needed. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, teacher, coach, or counselor, when needed.   Summer Break Resources With the upcoming summer recess,  we encourage you to relax, unwind, and settle into an enjoyable break . During these times, it’s more important than ever to find time for you and your well-being.   While schools are closed, we want to remind you of the resources available in our community. We encourage you to save these resources so you can easily reference them should you or a family member need help during the break. Care Solace helps finding counseling service for you as a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by San Dieguito Union High School District. Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in any language, or visit www.caresolace.com/sduhsdfamilies and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone. For emergency mental health support: Call 911 or and request a Crisis Intervention Trained (C.I.T.) response or go to the closest emergency room for support Text “Hello” or “Home” to 741741 for help Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255/English: 800-273-TALK/Español: 888-628-9454/TTYY: 800-799-4889 Online chat:  suicidepreventionlifeline.org Trevor Lifeline LGBTQQ+ Crisis Support: 1-866-488-7386 Thank you, and we look forward to an exciting week of activities! It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Wednesday, Jun 01 2022

  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent's Update

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, We are just one week away from the end of the school year! As we approach these final days of school, I want to share a few items from last week’s Board of Trustees Regular Meeting. As a reminder, all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly  here . 2022-23 Bell Schedules Bell schedules for the 2022-23 school year were approved by a unanimous 4-0 vote that keeps all of our schools in compliance with SB 328 that was signed into law on October 13, 2019, with a mandate that: 1) Start times for high schools must be no earlier than 8:30 a.m., and 2) Start times for middle schools must be no earlier than 8:00 a.m. To review the approved bell schedules, visit the link here:   2022-23 Approved Bell Schedules . Torrey Pines Aquatic Facility The board voted unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda which included an item (Item 10C, #8) to provide architectural/engineering services for the Torrey Pines Aquatic Facility by Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects. The funding source for this item comes from Fund 40-00 which is a fund specific to facilities and construction projects. We will have a facilities board workshop in the near future to discuss all of the facilities districtwide. District Office Modernization Project In a unanimous 4-0 vote, the Board approved the final Guaranteed Maximum Price with Barnhart Reese Construction, Inc., for the district office modernization project. The budgeted money for this project will come out of the Fund 40-00 which is a fund specific to facilities and construction projects. The project will help bring the district office building at 710 Encinitas Blvd. into ADA compliance while also providing more efficient working spaces for district employees. More information will be provided as the process continues. The current timeline calls for a staggered exit of various departments out of the district office with construction scheduled to begin in August 2022 and end in May 2023 We will post information on our website as we progress through the project, including the temporary location of each department. During the month of May we celebrated our teachers and staff in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day and Classified School Employees Week. They have worked tirelessly to support our students this year and we are grateful they are part of our SDUHSD family! Thank you to all of our students, staff and parents for your hard work as we approach the end of the school year. Please remember to continue to stay safe, especially with prom, graduation and other end of the year activities on the horizon. Families are now eligible to receive up to   eight additional free at-home COVID tests from the United States Postal Service . Everyone that is interested should feel free to take advantage of that offer with summer right around the corner. We also have additional at-home test kits available at each of our school sites. With Monday being Memorial Day, I would like to take the time to recognize the men and women who died, while serving in the U.S. Military. I know first-hand the sacrifices that military families make and I’m grateful. Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend! It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Saturday, May 28 2022

  • California Student Mental Health Week, Check In & Le...

    This week is Mental Health week across the nation and we encourage you to check in with yourself and your friends and family and to explore more ways to take good care of yourself. Find out how to check in on your mental health and of those you care about.  We are hopeful that you find these tools and resources useful!  Checking in with Yourself 10 Proven Tools can Help You Feel Stronger and More Hopeful Connect with others Stay positive Get physically active Help others Get enough sleep Create joy and satisfaction Eat well Take care of your spirit Deal better with hard times Get professional help if you need it   Checking In with Others Normalize mental health by talking about it directly! You don’t need special training to have an open, authentic conversation about mental health – and often, just talking about it, listening and empathizing can be the first important step in understanding someone, and helping them get support if needed. Start a conversation to see how you can help. Here are some quick pointers you can use for  having a real conversation with the people in your life.Visit these links to find out how  Checking in with People You Care About and  Check In Resources .  Let people know you’re willing to talk about it - The easiest way to let people know you're willing to talk is to be open about your own and allow it to come up naturally in conversation in the same way. The timing doesn’t have to be perfect. Speak to them privately - start with an expression of care, followed by an observation. Examples "I wonder if what's happening at work these days is stressing you out." "With everything that's going on in your family, I wonder if you're feeling overwhelmed.” Let them know you get it, and that it’s okay – and normal – to struggle in response to life’s challenges. “I've been through things in my life, too, and what I've often found is that talking about it helps. Whatever it is, I'm here to listen and support you." For further information and resources:   5/9/2022 Today Free Caregiver/Parent Workshop    Each Mind Matters - Resources for all communities Taking Good Care of Yourself - MHA Positive peer influence and prosocial behavior is powerful. Information on youth-lead mental health coalitions can be found at For Teens By Teens and Teen Guide To Mental Health and Wellness English / Spanish . A quick and easy way to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a free, anonymous, and scientifically-validated mental health screen at mhascreening.org . Your results can be used to start a conversation with your primary care provider or a trusted friend or family member, and you can begin to plan a course of action for addressing your mental health. Caresolace.com/sduhsdfamilies free, confidential counseling referral; San Diego Resources   English and Spanish Don’t wait until you’re in a crisis situation to get help. Keep these numbers at hand: San Diego Access & Crisis Line - Free and confidential support for people experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis. Call 1-888-724-7240 to talk with a trained and experienced counselor 24/7.  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources Call 1-800-273-8255 to talk with a trained counselor 24/7.  

    Tuesday, May 10 2022

  • California Student Mental Health Week, Check In & Le...

    This week is Mental Health week across the nation and we encourage you to check in with yourself and your friends and family and to explore more ways to take good care of yourself. Find out how to check in on your mental health and of those you care about.  We are hopeful that you find these tools and resources useful!  Checking in with Yourself 10 Proven Tools can Help You Feel Stronger and More Hopeful Connect with others Stay positive Get physically active Help others Get enough sleep Create joy and satisfaction Eat well Take care of your spirit Deal better with hard times Get professional help if you need it   Checking In with Others Normalize mental health by talking about it directly! You don’t need special training to have an open, authentic conversation about mental health – and often, just talking about it, listening and empathizing can be the first important step in understanding someone, and helping them get support if needed. Start a conversation to see how you can help. Here are some quick pointers you can use for  having a real conversation with the people in your life.Visit these links to find out how  Checking in with People You Care About and  Check In Resources .  Let people know you’re willing to talk about it - The easiest way to let people know you're willing to talk is to be open about your own and allow it to come up naturally in conversation in the same way. The timing doesn’t have to be perfect. Speak to them privately - start with an expression of care, followed by an observation. Examples "I wonder if what's happening at work these days is stressing you out." "With everything that's going on in your family, I wonder if you're feeling overwhelmed.” Let them know you get it, and that it’s okay – and normal – to struggle in response to life’s challenges. “I've been through things in my life, too, and what I've often found is that talking about it helps. Whatever it is, I'm here to listen and support you." For further information and resources:   5/9/2022 Today Free Caregiver/Parent Workshop    Each Mind Matters - Resources for all communities Taking Good Care of Yourself - MHA Positive peer influence and prosocial behavior is powerful. Information on youth-lead mental health coalitions can be found at For Teens By Teens and Teen Guide To Mental Health and Wellness English / Spanish . A quick and easy way to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a free, anonymous, and scientifically-validated mental health screen at mhascreening.org . Your results can be used to start a conversation with your primary care provider or a trusted friend or family member, and you can begin to plan a course of action for addressing your mental health. Caresolace.com/sduhsdfamilies free, confidential counseling referral; San Diego Resources   English and Spanish Don’t wait until you’re in a crisis situation to get help. Keep these numbers at hand: San Diego Access & Crisis Line - Free and confidential support for people experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis. Call 1-888-724-7240 to talk with a trained and experienced counselor 24/7.  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources Call 1-800-273-8255 to talk with a trained counselor 24/7.  

    Tuesday, May 10 2022