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  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent Update (1/11/23)

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, I hope that you all have enjoyed your Winter Break and were able to take time to enjoy yourselves and your families! As we began the first day of the spring semester today, I wanted to inform you all first of an update regarding my interim superintendent position that was finalized in last evening’s Board Meeting.  The Board has asked me to reconsider my resignation in an effort to maintain stability in the District while the search for a new permanent Superintendent continues. With a commitment to providing additional support including resources to lead the Business Services Division while serving as the Interim Superintendent, I accepted the request to remain in this position. I am grateful for the Board’s re-commitment and look forward to working as a governance team to continue making this the best district in San Diego County for our students, staff and teachers.  Superintendent Search Information The Board of Trustees continue to solicit proposals for superintendent search firms. The deadline for the receipt of proposals from firms will be on Friday, January 20, 2023. We have created a  Superintendent Search  page on our website and will continue to update this page with new information as it becomes available throughout the entire process. It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Thursday, Jan 12 2023

  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent Update (12/15/22)

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, The end of the semester is near! Thank you all for all of your hard work this year.  I would like to take this time to welcome our new board members: Rimga Viskanta (Area 1), Jane Lea Smith (Area 3) and Phan Anderson (Area 5). Our three new board members were sworn into office last night, and I am also proud to announce that all three will hold  leadership positions  as Viskanta was appointed as Board President, Smith was appointed as Board Vice President and Anderson was appointed as Clerk.  I want to conclude this message with a few notable items and other important information from yesterday’s board meeting. A s a reminder, all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly  here . Student Board Representatives Community Updates Last night, our student board representatives - Ruthie Bell (SDA), Sasha Bell (LCC), Nina Bernstein (Sunset), Julia Liu (TPHS), and Lexi Worms (CCA) - presented their monthly board reports. For a highlight of each of their board reports, visit the  December Student Board Rep Community Spotlight .  Superintendent Search Information The Board of Trustees took action to solicit proposals for superintendent search firms. The deadline for the receipt of proposals from firms will be on Friday, January 20, 2023. We have created a  Superintendent Search  page on our website and will continue to update this page with new information as it becomes available throughout the entire process. 2023 Board Meeting Schedule Finalized Regular School Board Meeting Dates for the 2023 calendar year were approved last night by the Board of Trustees. All regular board meetings are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The new board meeting dates are updated on the District’s  website .  Cold and Flu Season/Make-Up Work Policy As we approach the final days of the semester, I hope that everyone keeps in mind the District’s Make-Up Work Policy as we continue in the height of the December flu and cold season. We must all remain vigilant as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (better known as RSV) infections are impacting emergency room wait times and hospital capacity, and health officials are warning the flu may be more severe for a longer period of time this year. If a student must remain home from school due to illness, this is an excused absence. As we near the end of the semester, please keep in mind the District’s Make-Up Work Policy:  Absences & Make Up Work:  Per  AR 5113   Make-Up Work Policy    Excused Absence   A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can reasonably be provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time as determined by the classroom teacher, shall be given full credit. The teacher of any classroom from which a pupil is absent shall determine the tests and assignments reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence. Unexcused Absence   At the sole discretion of the classroom teacher, students may be allowed to make up quizzes, tests, and/or other school work for days students have unverified or unexcused absences or tardies in their classes. If a student needs to make up work, upon return to the classroom it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the teacher as to the appropriate time to make up the work. The teacher shall determine a reasonable time frame to complete the work.   Parents/guardians need to contact the Attendance Office if an absence or tardy is not cleared after 5 school days from the date parent verification was sent and is prohibiting a student from receiving credit for an assignment. Before I close, I would like to say that it has been a pleasure serving in the capacity of Interim Superintendent. As you may have heard, the board accepted my resignation in the Interim Superintendent position effective January 31, 2023 or until a new Interim Superintendent is appointed. I accepted the position in an effort to provide a familiar face during this time of transition. I’m sorry that my decision to step down will cause yet another change. Please know that even though I will be stepping back to my previous position I will still be here to support the District, our students, staff and community. Thank you all! Good luck to everyone on finals and please enjoy your Winter Break! It has been my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Friday, Dec 16 2022

  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent Update (11/18/22)

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, Last month, I communicated with you all that one of our initiatives for this quarter is to enhance our relationship with our community and to engage in more active, thoughtful and productive dialogue focused on improving equity and inclusion in our district. We’ve recently taken another step in our equity journey by hosting 10 local Jewish leaders from the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, the Anti-Defamation League, Hillel of San Diego, the JCC and local congregations to a listening and learning session with representation from all 10 of our school administrations earlier this week, and while the purpose of the meeting was to learn more about how we can all collaborate to recognize and combat Anti-Semitism and discrimination in all its forms, every person that was present in that meeting came away with so much more.  This listening and learning session indeed helped identify ways that we can become better allies in providing a safe learning environment for not just our Jewish students, but for all students. It also led to an understanding that we all - the entire SDUHSD community - need to find ways to be more empathetic to our neighbors. Our words and actions have the ability to affect more people than intended, so it’s important that we consider the impact of our words as we model civil discourse for our students.  A desire to have our individual voices heard above all others can lead to minimizing the voice of others. It is additionally important for us to speak up and avoid becoming complacent, which can lead to the types of discriminatory and hateful incidents and rhetoric that we have seen rise across the country. I am extremely grateful to Jason Nevarez, Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel, and Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, for starting the dialogue with our District leaders, and this partnership will continue as we work at our school sites to help combat anti-Semitism and divisive language and actions in our school community. Finally, I would like to thank these Jewish community leaders who alongside Rabbi Nevarez and Heidi Gantwerk collaborated with our group: Rabbi Alexis Berk (Temple Solel), Rabbi David Kornberg (Congregation Beth Am), Rabbi Ron Shulman (Congregation Beth El), Sara Brown (Holocaust and Genocide Educator), Betzy Lynch (CEO Lawrence Family JCC), Karen Parry (Executive Director, Hillel of San Diego), Fabienne Perlov (Regoinal Director, ADL San Diego) and Rachel Sato (ADL San Diego - Education). They have also released a  collective statement  regarding our meeting that I think wonderfully exudes the optimism and appreciation that everyone in the meeting felt.  I want to conclude this message with a few notable items and other important information from yesterday’s board meeting that was held at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center. A s a reminder, all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly  here . Student Board Representatives Community Updates Last night, our student board representatives - Ruthie Bell (SDA), Sasha Bell (LCC), Nina Bernstein (Sunset), Julia Liu (TPHS), and Lexi Worms (CCA) - presented their monthly board reports. For a highlight of each of their board reports, visit the  November Student Board Rep Community Spotlight .  SDUHSD Student-Led Cultural Bazaar A student-led district-wide cultural/identity bazaar will be held on  Saturday, December 10 at The Cove at Earl Warren Middle School . This bazaar, the brainchild of a group of Canyon Crest Academy students, will be a combination of sharing cultural information, educating others on misconceptions and prejudice, and expert guest speakers on cultural values combined with cultural dance/singing performances, fundraising through selling food/clothing, and general advertising for the individual cultural clubs across SDUHSD schools. If you have a student group or club and are interested in participating, please register at  bit.ly/sduhsd-bazaar-join . For more information, view the flyer  here .  Cold and Flu Season/Make-Up Work Policy We provided an update last month about the need to monitor our health and staying at home when feeling sick during the height of this cold and flu season. Thankfully, we have not seen any large-scale outbreaks that other North County school districts encountered. However, we must all remain vigilant as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (better known as RSV) infections are impacting emergency room wait times and hospital capacity, and health officials are warning the flu may be more severe for a longer period of time this year. If a student must remain home from school due to illness, this is an excused absence. As we near the end of the semester, please keep in mind the District’s Make-Up Work Policy:  Absences & Make Up Work:  Per  AR 5113   Make-Up Work Policy    Excused Absence   A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can reasonably be provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time as determined by the classroom teacher, shall be given full credit. The teacher of any classroom from which a pupil is absent shall determine the tests and assignments reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence. Unexcused Absence   At the sole discretion of the classroom teacher, students may be allowed to make up quizzes, tests, and/or other school work for days students have unverified or unexcused absences or tardies in their classes. If a student needs to make up work, upon return to the classroom it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the teacher as to the appropriate time to make up the work. The teacher shall determine a reasonable time frame to complete the work.   Parents/guardians need to contact the Attendance Office if an absence or tardy is not cleared after 5 school days from the date parent verification was sent and is prohibiting a student from receiving credit for an assignment. Thank you all, enjoy the weekend and remember that next week school is closed for Fall Break! I hope everyone is able to enjoy some down time with family and loved ones. It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Saturday, Nov 19 2022

  • High School Free Laptop Scholarship Contest Now Open

    Calling all SDUHSD high school students: don't miss your chance to win a brand new laptop!  The annual San Diego MTS and San Diego County Office of Education Laptop Scholarship Essay Contest is happening now through November 25, and 40 San Diego County high school students (grades 9-12) who have the best-scored essay on this year's prompt will win a new laptop.  Each year, the MTS and SDCOE along with sponsor Reyes Coco-Cola Bottling team up to award 40 San Diego high school students a free laptop as a part of its Laptop Scholarship Essay Contest. This year's prompt is asking students  about what they think of the MTS Youth Opportunity Pass pilot program so far.  For a full list of eligibility requirements, essay prompt and guidelines, download the attached PDF or visit sdmts.com/LaptopScholarship . 

    Thursday, Oct 27 2022

  • Noche de ayuda financiera en español - 2 de noviembre

    Estimados estudiantes y familias del grado 12 de SDUHSD, SDUHSD se complace en ofrecer una Noche de ayuda financiera en español el miércoles 2 de noviembre de 2022. Este evento sera en persona en Sunset High School a las 5 p. m. en el auditorio. Sunset High School 684 Requeza St. Encinitas CA 92024 Esta presentación estará a cargo de un Oficial de Ayuda Financiera de Mira Costa College, quien brindará información sobre cómo los estudiantes pueden solicitar ayuda financiera a través de la Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FASFA) o la Ley del Sueño de California (CADAA). Ambas aplicaciones ofrecen a los estudiantes la oportunidad de calificar para recibir dinero gratis para su educación postsecundaria. La información compartida en esta presentación se aplicará a los estudiantes de 12.º grado de SDUHSD que solicitan ingreso a la mayoría de las instituciones postsecundarias. Para acceder a la FAFSA, haga clic aquí . Para acceder a CADAA, haga clic aquí . SDUHSD celebró una Noche de Ayuda Financiera el 11/10/22, la grabación de esta presentación virtual se puede encontrar aquí . Los espectadores pueden agregar subtítulos y ajustar la configuración de YouTube para traducir la grabación a su idioma natal. Instrucciones aquí. ¡Esperamos que pueda unirse a nosotros para este evento de ayuda financiera en español en persona el 11/2 a las 5 p.m.!

    Thursday, Oct 27 2022

  • SDUHSD College Workshop Series Continues This Week

    Dear SDUHSD students and families, The  SDUHSD College (Virtual) Workshop Series  will continue this week with two sessions focused on the factors considered in college admissions and college admission testing. 10/19/22 @ 5pm: Factors Considered in College Admissions -  Link to Register Admission counselors from UC Irvine, Pepperdine University, and Lafayette College will present information about the various factors considered in the admission process (holistic admissions, committee evaluations, eligibility index, etc) and how applicants are considered for admission on their specific campuses.   10/20/22 @ 5pm: 2022-23 College Admission Testing -  Link to Register Admission representatives from Xavier College and Boston University will present  information about the different college admission testing (SAT/ACT) policies.  They will discuss the differences between test optional, test blind and test required while providing insight into their specific campus testing policies. Attendees in the live, virtual events will have the opportunity to submit questions during the session.  The session will also be recorded and posted on the  SDUHSD College and Career website  within 1-2 days after the live event. Once the recording is posted, the option to select a language other than English will be available. For a list of upcoming workshop topics, please view the  College Application Workshop series flyer . We look forward to sharing this important topic with our SDUHSD students and families. SDUHSD Counselors

    Tuesday, Oct 18 2022

  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent Update (10/14/22)

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, Today marked the end of the First Quarter on our academic calendar, and I want to thank our students, staff and teachers for all of their hard work over the past two months. We also need to take time to thank our parents and guardians as well for helping your students with homework, attending their concerts and games and providing them with support as they navigate middle and high school. It takes us all working together for the betterment of our students to make a successful school district, and I know that this positive collaboration will continue into next quarter as well. One of our initiatives for this quarter is to enhance our relationship with our community and to engage in more active, thoughtful and productive dialogue focused on improving equity and inclusion in our district. With this goal in mind, we will soon present information on a Listening & Learning series that we will hold throughout the district. The turnover in the academic quarter each year also corresponds with the beginning of cold and flu season. Please continue to monitor your health and remember to keep your student at home if they are feeling sick. San Diego County has seen an uptick in cases showing flu-like symptoms, including an outbreak at a North County school in a different school district, and this situation is a reminder on the importance of protecting yourself and those around you if you are feeling sick. I want to conclude with a few notable items and other important information from yesterday’s board meeting that was held at San Dieguito High School Academy. A s a reminder, all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly  here . Student Board Representatives Community Updates Last night, our student board representatives - Ruthie Bell (SDA), Sasha Bell (LCC), Nina Bernstein (Sunset), Julia Liu (TPHS), and Lexi Worms (CCA) - presented their monthly board reports. For a highlight of each of their board reports, visit the  October Student Board Rep Community Spotlight .  National School Psychology Week Resolution The Board unanimously voted to join the nation in support and recognition of National School Psychology Week from November 7-11. This resolution affirms our commitment to help our students and staff celebrate this year’s theme of "Together We Shine". The theme's concept provides a framework for our schools to highlight both the importance of students and staff members' individual strengths and attributes and the power of bringing people together. College & Career Board Update Our  College Application Workshop Series  continues next week with two more Fall webinars designed for 11th and 12th grade students to support post-secondary planning. Be sure to  register  for each webinar that you are interested in, and we hope to see you at as many as possible. Remember to keep an eye out for our November 9 webinar titled “Community College + Career Opportunities” as well.  SDUHSD Remains Diligent in Educating Students on Dangers of Fentanyl The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) local agencies have issued an alert about a new version of the synthetic drug fentanyl that comes in bright colors and resembles candy. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency warns that “rainbow fentanyl” appears in bright colors and in many forms, including pills, powder and blocks that can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy. To learn more about this dangerous opioid and what SDUHSD is doing to help protect students, please view our  entire message to families . ELAC Multilingual Learner Family Welcome Night We are pleased to announce our English Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC) Multilingual Learner Family Welcome Night that will be held on Thursday, October 27 at Earl Warren Middle School. This community-building opportunity will take place from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Coffee, refreshments and child care will be available.  Enjoy the weekend and we look forward to Monday’s start of the Second Quarter of the academic year! It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Saturday, Oct 15 2022

  • Message to the SDUHSD Community (10/4/22)

    San Dieguito Union High School District acknowledges the anxiety and hurt to our Jewish  community at Carmel Valley Middle School (CVMS) as referenced by the message from the Principal ; for that, we are deeply sorry. We are responsible for creating a safe school culture, which is done with the teacher’s presence, words, and practices, and we know that we did not meet that standard with the recent situation at CVMS.  As a district, we rely heavily on our ongoing educational partnerships, and this morning, I met with Rabbi Jason Nevarez of Congregation Beth Israel,  CEO/President Heidi Gantwerk of Jewish Federation of San Diego, Board President Mo Muir, Trustee Julie Bronstein, and Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, Bryan Marcus.   We are committed to working together on the following next steps:   SDUSHD will organize a listening session with Jewish Community Leaders and our district and school site leadership  Anti-Bias Training for faculty and staff – specifically around anti-Semitism  Commitment to repairing the hurt by holding ourselves accountable  Educational services will be looking into this lesson/unit and teaching methodologies as we ground all materials in the state standards –  Instruction shall be presented in a balanced manner, addressing all sides of the issue without bias or prejudice and without promoting any particular point of view (BP 6144).    As a district, we will continue to follow our Board Policies, Administrative Regulations, Ed Code, and State Standards but acknowledge that the classroom environment continues to change, and we must change how we teach our state standards to ensure students feel safe.  We look forward to listening to our Jewish community on how we can come together. 

    Tuesday, Oct 04 2022

  • SDUHSD Interim Superintendent Update (9/15/22)

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, Last night we heard from our school community and we have a shared goal for all students to feel safe on campus.   We are focused on building understanding and moving forward, working together toward our commitment to the well-being and safety of all students . Over the past few months we have seen many wonderful instances of our district students speaking up to make a difference on their school campuses and advocating for their right to an equitable learning environment, free from discrimination and harassment. This will forever be one of the shining moments that I will look back upon with  admiration.  Our students continue to take the courageous step to advocate for themselves as well as for others at our student forums and board meetings, and we are extremely proud of them.  In addition to the remarks heard from our students and community during public comments, last night’s  Board of Trustees Special Meeting at San Dieguito High School Academy also included a few other student-centered items and resources I would like to share with our community. A s a reminder, all items from the Board Agenda can be found on the district website or directly  here . Welcome to our Student Board Representatives for 2022-23 I hope that everyone will extend a warm welcome to our five Student Board Representatives for the 2022-23 school year. Last night Ruthie Bell (SDA), Sasha Bell (LCC), Nina Bernstein (Sunset), Julia Liu (TPHS), and Lexi Worms (CCA) were sworn in to their official duties and presented their first board reports of the year. For a highlight of each of their board reports, visit the  September Student Board Rep Community Spotlight .  Drug Awareness Month and Red Ribbon Week Resolution The Board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution to declare October 2022 as Drug Awareness Month and to join the nation in support of  Red Ribbon Week from October 23-31, which will encourage all students to make a visible statement of their commitment to a healthy, drug-free community in which to raise a generation of healthy, drug-free youth.  This resolution, centered around our students, is so meaningful, and we look forward to seeing another student-centered resolution on the agenda for the October board meeting. College & Career Board Update SDUHSD staff members, Melissa Sage and Jayme Cambra, presented an  update  on College and Career resources and offerings that are available to all students at the district level and on school campuses.  We are extremely proud of our counselors and all of the support and guidance that they provide to all of our students for their plans after high school. Our  College Application Workshop Series  begins Monday with the first of seven Fall webinars designed for 11th and 12th grade students to support post-secondary planning. Be sure to  register  for each webinar that you are interested in, and we hope to see you at as many as possible. Remember to keep an eye out for our November 9 webinar titled “Community College + Career Opportunities” as well.  AP Test Registration Remains Open Please be aware that  AP Exam Registration for 2022-2023 runs until October 5 for the optional AP exams corresponding to AP courses being taken in Fall semester or Yearlong AP courses. Visit  https://www.sduhsdapexams.com/  to review instructions and submit exam fees. I also want to recognize today being the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievement of the United States. As always, please visit our  Diversity and Heritage Calendar  each month to see a sampling of various cultural, religious and other days of celebration.  I want to reaffirm that SDUHSD  will conti nue to comply with state and federal laws and  Board Policies (BP/AR) that provide guidance and requirements to school districts with regard to nondiscrimination, equity and access, including  AB 1266 ,  Senate Bill 48 , BP 0410:  Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities , BP 0415:  Equity , as well as  BP  /  AR  5145.3: Nondiscrimination/Harassment. Let’s all continue to work together, and to all of our students, keep up the amazing work as we reach the midpoint of the first quarter. It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Friday, Sep 16 2022

  • Message to the SDUHSD Community (8/31/22)

    Good afternoon SDUHSD Community, SDUHSD strives to maintain a  welcoming and safe   environment for all our students and families of all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and faiths. W e want to reiterate that all SDUHSD school personnel will follow procedures to comply with applicable state and federal laws, and board policies and regulations to protect the rights of all students.   Our  Assurance of Nondiscrimination  can be found on our website.  San Dieguito Union High School District policy prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, targeted at any student by anyone, based on the student's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.  SDUHSD requires that school personnel take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so when staff witnesses an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying. We anchor our work around the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), board-approved in June 2022, where our areas of focus include Staff and Student Wellness and Equity and Access. We will continue to collaborate with the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to provide meaningful training for teachers and staff.   SDUHSD recognizes that recent comments about LGBTQIA+ hurt and offended students, staff, and parents within our district community.  We stand by and with our students and are dedicated to ensuring their safety and well-being in all of our schools.    In August, the district provided a workshop for approximately 700 staff members hosted by the SDCOE, titled “LGBTQIA+ 101: The Basics-Terminology, Laws, Best Practices, & Policy Change''. At this training, staff walked away with a basic understanding of laws and policies to support LGBTQIA+ youth, pronouns and gender-inclusive language, facilities, steps for providing a more inclusive environment, and community resources available to our students, staff, and families.  In the spirit of inclusivity, every month a  Heritage & Diversity Calendar  is posted on the district website with a small sampling of cultural, religious, and other days of celebration. For September, one highlight is the 2022 High Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - scheduled to begin at sunset on September 25 and end at nightfall on September 27. Students should never feel pressured to choose between school activities attendance and religious observance.  Education Code 48205 and  Administrative Regulation 5113  allow for excused absences for observance of a religious holiday or ceremony with advanced notice to the school .  In observance of these holidays, parents may elect to keep their children out of school or other extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities. All staff have been made aware that these are excused absences, and students may not be penalized for missing school activities related to these observances.  We remain committed to  providing an inclusive and safe learning environment for all of our school community. It is my honor to work for you! Tina Douglas Interim Superintendent

    Thursday, Sep 01 2022