SAUSD E-Blast for September 15 , 2017
The weekly e-blast is designed to keep the Santa Ana Unified School District Community informed of district and educational information, recognitions, opportunities, and resources.  Please feel free to share with others  who  are not on the SAUSD distribution list.
BOARD OF EDUCATION PASSES RESOLUTION SUPPORTING DACA  
In light of the recent announcement of the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA) program, while also leaving Congress a six-month window to possibly save the policy, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Board of Education this week passed a resolution supporting DACA and protecting and supporting SAUSD students, parents, and staff. To read it, click here.
SUPERINTENDENT PHILLIPS BEGINS VISITS WITH INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS 
 
Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips is aiming to meet with students at all SAUSD intermediate and K-8 schools by the end of 2017 as part of her focus to engage with students to learn more about them and how SAUSD can better serve them. In the last two weeks, Phillips has met with 21 students from Advanced Learning Academy and Villa Fundamental Intermediate. "This is one more way for us to get a student voice in the decision making process," Phillips said in a new video message about her planned visits. To view it, click here.
SAUSD'S CIRCULOS HIGH SCHOOL FEATURED ON NATIONAL TV BROADCAST
  
SAUSD's Circulos High School was celebrated, along with all of the XQ Institute's Super Schools, during an hour-long presentation on NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX on September 8, 2017. A group of SAUSD representatives attended the star-studded event in Hollywood, and a viewing party was held the same night at the Frida Cinema in downtown Santa Ana. Ed Source published an article about SAUSD being one of only four schools in the state to be named to the cohort. To read it, click here. In addition, XQ America has produced a video about Circulos. To watch it, click here. 
 
RAE RICE NAMED CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH  

The Board of Education this week recognized Rae Rice, a Program Specialist in Special Education, as the district's Certificated Employee of the Month for September 2017. "I really appreciate and want to acknowledge Rae," Darek Jaronczyk, Director, Special Education, said in a new video about her. "She is a true professional." To watch it, click here. 
MARIA VAN QUACKENBUSH NAMED CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

The Board of Education this week recognized Maria Van Quackenbush, a Student Records Technician in Pupil Support Services, as the district's Classified Employee of the Month for September 2017. "Maria is a phenomenal employee and she is an amazing team member," Heidi Cisneros, Executive Director, Pupil Support Services said in a new video about her. To watch it, click here.
Sonia Llamas, Ed.D.
BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THREE NEW SAUSD LEADERS

Congratulations to three new SAUSD leaders appointed this week by the Board of Education to cabinet-level positions. They are: Manoj Roychowdhury, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services; Mayra Helguera, Assistant Superintendent, Special Education/SELPA; and Sonia Llamas, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, School Performance and Culture. From 2012 to the present, Llamas has held the position of Director of School Climate for SAUSD. 
2ND ANNUAL ADAPTIVE TENNIS DAY HELD AT MCFADDEN INTERMEDIATE  

The Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana, USTA Southern California, First Serve Santa Ana and SAUSD teamed up on September 8, 2017 to hold the 2nd Annual Adaptive Tennis Day at McFadden Intermediate School. Over 125 students from McFadden Intermediate, Santa Ana Valley High School, and Adams, Harvey and Taft elementary schools participated. During the event, students were mentored by volunteer coaches (including SAUSD alumni), watched a demo tennis game, listened to a motivational speech, and received medals and parting gifts. The purpose is to demonstrate that athletes with disabilities can play tennis and have fun; the goal is to "Build Confident Kids Through the Game of Tennis." To view photos, click here. 
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS     

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education took place Tuesday, September 12, 2017. 

Kevin Sandoval, a student at Wilson Elementary School, led the Board and audience in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

During the meeting the Board recognized: SAUSD students who graduated from the Orange County Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor Association (OCLEEAA) 2017 Summer Explorer Academy; Certificated Employee of the Month Rae Rice; and Classified Employee of the Month Maria Van Quackenbush.

Presentations were also given to the Board regarding the district's Summer Enrichment Program, strategic public relations plan, and the unaudited actuals for the 2016-17 school year.

In addition, the Board adopted a resolution supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and adopted a resolution proclaiming September 15 to October 15, 2017 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.

In other actions, the Board also appointed Manoj Roychowdhury as Assistant Superintendent, Business Services; Mayra Helguera as Assistant Superintendent, Special Education/SELPA; and Sonia Llamas, Ed.D. as Assistant Superintendent, School Performance and Culture.

The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday,
October 10, 2017, at 6:00 p.m.

Members of the SAUSD Board of Education

John Palacio, President    
Valerie Amezcua, Vice President  
Cecilia "Ceci" Iglesias, Clerk 
Alfonso Alvarez, Ed.D., Member 
Rigo Rodriguez, Ph.D, Member 

Dr. Stefanie P. Phillips, Superintendent
SADDLEBACK PRINCIPAL RECEIVES 2017 OASIS COMMUNITY AWARD
  
Saddleback High School Principal Eddie Bustamante was honored this week with the 2017 Oasis Educator of the Year award from the Board of Oasis Center International. The mission of OASIS is to positively impact youth through replicable arts mentoring programs and to enhance the skills of local artists through community engagement.
 
MENDEZ STUDENT WINS NATIONAL ROCKET COMPETITION
  
Sophia Jasso, an eighth grader at Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School, is a national winner in the 11th annual Reach for the Stars National Rocket Competition. The competition promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education and is run in memory of Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space. Mendez held a local competition as part of the Yes! It's Rocket Science Summer Enrichment Program. Under the guidance of teachers Andrea Earl, Harold Garrett and mentor Jann Koepke from the Orange County Chapter of The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, students designed, built and launched rockets for the competition. The national winners will celebrate October 21, 2017 at the Space Camp/US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will receive a Space Shuttle Challenger commemorative medal and certificate signed by Astronaut Jon McBride, and will launch their rockets from Homer Hickam Field.
SADDLEBACK BLOGGER OFFERS TIPS ON HOW TO EMBARK ON SUCCESSFUL SENIOR YEAR 
Celine Oezkan, a senior at Saddleback High School and an intern in SAUSD's Communications Office, has written a new blog post offering peers tips on how to have a successful senior year. Oezkan aspires to attend UCLA to major in broadcasting and communications and minor in Journalism. She will upload weekly blogs to the district's homepage this school year to represent her experiences and those of her peers to give readers insight into their journeys as SAUSD seniors. Click here to read her posts.
SAUSD EMPLOYEE LOGS 1,500,000 RAIL MILES  
It's official. SAUSD's Chris Guenzler has ridden over 1,500,000 miles on the rails - equal to over 62.50 times around the world! An RSP Instructional Assistant at Heninger Elementary School who has worked in SAUSD for over 32 years, Guenzler has ridden trains in all 50 states and has traveled on every Amtrak route at least twice, plus all the trains of Canada's Via Rail as well as every intercity route in Canada. Guenzler got his 1,500,000 Rail Mile as he stepped off of Pacific Surliner 1567 at his home station of Santa Ana, California on September 9, 2017.
UPCOMING EVENTS 

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