Superintendent's Message
Dear South Bay Parents/Guardians and Community Members,
On February 14, the nation suffered another school shooting, this time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the victims and their families, and we stand united with the Broward County Public Schools community.
Media coverage of this tragedy may have prompted questions and concerns from your children, and we want to provide resources that may help during these difficult conversations. High-profile acts of violence in schools can confuse and frighten students who may feel they, their friends or their loved ones are in danger. They will look to adults for guidance about how to react, and adults can help by talking with them about their fears. The National Association of School Psychologists offers effective ways to talk with students following such a traumatic event. Schools should:
- Create a sense of safety by returning to normal, predictable routines as soon as possible.
- Listen to the concerns and feelings of their students.
- Suggest that students limit their use of media to lower their stress and to maintain balance and perspective.
- Acknowledge that sleep difficulties are common and can lead to fatigue and poor participation.
For parents, the American Psychological Association (APA) recommends honesty with their children - acknowledging that bad things do happen, but reassure children with the information that many people are working to keep them safe, including their parents, teachers and local police. The APA also advises limiting children's exposure to news coverage following such traumatic events. Additional guidance can be found on the association's
website
.
This incident also highlights the critical importance of ensuring that our schools remain safe places for our students and staff, which is our highest priority. South Bay has a safety plan that is specific to each school that is reviewed every year with law enforcement. The Board of Trustees approved the updated safety plans for every school and department at their regularly scheduled February meeting. These four inch binders of information were distributed in October 2017 and handbooks indicate the most current research-based protocols for dealing with every type of emergency situation. Additionally, fire drills are conducted in schools monthly and lockdown and earthquake drills are conducted four times each year.
We have always had an outstanding relationship with local law enforcement and have redoubled our efforts to ensure that our procedures complement those of law enforcement.
We have installed security fencing at each site and all visitors must check-in at the office before entering a campus. Finally, we have the benefit of many parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff on our campuses and we ask that you report any unusual and suspicious activity. Please talk to your children to remind them that they, too, can report anything suspicious. We want everyone on our campuses to be empowered to speak up about anything that looks out of place.
Please keep the families affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
 Sincerely,
Katie McNamara
Katie McNamara, Ed.D.
Superintendent
|
|
Congratulations
South Bay Superintendent Katie McNamara has been named the Superintendent of the Year for Region 18 (San Diego and Imperial Counties) by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
Each year, ACSA recognizes outstanding performance and achievement as Administrators of the Year in various job-alike categories. Recipients must show strong support for the school management team, exceptional leadership in building school programs, commitment to educational quality and student achievement, commitment to professional growth, and creativity and innovation in dealing with issues and problems facing public education. Regional recipients in all award categories are considered for State-wide recognition, the winners of which are announced in late March.
Dr. McNamara was nominated in recognition of her ability to articulate her vision for what she believes students need, deserve, and can accomplish, regardless of their background or life circumstances. She believes that every child should be offered opportunities to learn, create, achieve, take risks, be challenged and thrive. The conviction she shows in support of her vision inspires everyone around her to their best self, from teachers and bus drivers to students and parents.
Board President Melanie Ellsworth is proud of this recognition. "This is a wonderful and well-deserved honor for Dr. McNamara and South Bay. Her influence and guidance as our Superintendent have cultivated a culture of growth, optimism, excellence, and teamwork that has positively impacted everyone in our community. The entire Board is thrilled with this acknowledgement of Dr. McNamara's leadership and we are very excited for the future."
Dr. McNamara was selected as South Bay's Superintendent in 2013. She previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services in the Solana Beach School District and as a Principal in the Del Mar Union School District. She began her career in the Riverside Unified School District, where she served as a teacher and Principal.
|
Nutrition
Whole Grains
 Next time your kids want a snack, look for whole grains. They are not only nutritious, but also delicious!
Barley, quinoa, oats, brown rice, or whole grain pastas, breads and cereals are some examples of whole grain foods. When reading food labels, look for the words "whole grain." Multi-grain, 100% wheat, cracked wheat, seven-grain, and bran usually are not whole grain foods.
Whole grains help keep your body healthy, your digestive system working properly, and are also a great fuel for the brain. They are rich in fiber, proteins, antioxidants, and vitamin B. Including whole grains as part of a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.
To gradually introduce whole grains to your family, you can combine whole grain foods and the refined grain foods they are used to until everyone has adjusted. Aim to make at least half of a day's grains whole grains.
Whole grain foods should be part of a healthy nutritious diet that also includes fruit, vegetables, dairy products and lean meats. It's easier for children to eat whole grains when they have good role models at home and these foods are easily accessible. Encouraging children to eat well from an early age will not only be beneficial for growth and development, but also for better lifelong eating habits.
All entrees served in our school cafeterias are made with whole-grains!
|
School Highlight - Emory
 Thanks to the hard work of teachers, Don Brizendine, Angelica Goulding and Melinda Seubert, as well as a partnership with the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Emory fifth grader students have the opportunity to be scientists.
Visiting Rangers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California State Parks visit the campus to provide hands-on opportunities for students to observe phenomena and make observations and predictions in their notebooks, just like real scientists.
At a recent visit, students learned about bird adaptations, the harmfulness of pollution, and discovered more about the flora and fauna in our community.
|
School Highlight - VIP Village Preschool
On January 19, VIP Village Preschool was transformed into a winter wonderland for Snow Day! Students and families played in in the snow, rode sleds, built snowmen, and made angels in the snow. It was a great community event!
|
Keep in Touch!
Information and Events
South Bay has many ways for families and community members to learn about District and school news, events, announcements, meetings, and much more!
You may also access the social media accounts for individual schools:
|
South Bay's Got Talent
District Event
South Bay's Got Talent is on Friday, May 18 at 6:00 PM in Burress Auditorium at the District Office. The event is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the SBUSD Education Foundation.
The evening will include student performances from every school, displays of visual artwork, food, and much more. Please save the date for this wonderful showcase of student talent and celebration of the arts!
|
Important Dates
March 8 - School Board Meeting
March 19-30 - Spring Break
April 2 - School Resumes (Minimum Day)
April 19 - School Board Meeting
May 10 - School Board Meeting
May 22 - Retirees/Service Awards
May 24 - School Board Meeting/Distinguished Scholars
May 28 - Memorial Day (No School)
June 5 - Last Day of School
|
|
|
|
|
|
