SAUSD E-Blast for January 19, 2018
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.
ANASTASIA SMITH: NEW CHIEF OF THE SANTA ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT 
  
Anastasia Smith was sworn in as the new Chief of the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department on January 16, 2018. She was selected after a national search and brings more than 27 years of experience to the position. Board of Education members, Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips, district leaders and staff, David Valentin (Acting Chief of Police for the Santa Ana Police Department), and Smith's family and supporters attended the ceremony. "Now, more than ever, it is vital that (students) have the support system and the mentorship and the guidance of the fine men and women of the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department. I am very excited to be taking on this leadership role and to be leading them into the future," Chief Smith said. To read more, click here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SAUSD SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS AT SATURDAY'S 'SCHOOL OF CHOICE FAIR'     
  
Come and learn about the innovative and award-winning programs and services offered through SAUSD during the School of Choice Fair from 1 to 7 p.m. on January 20, 2018 at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana. Representatives from district departments and more than 45 schools will be available to speak about SAUSD programs, courses and services. There will also be entertainment provided by school bands and cheerleaders, and other student groups. MainPlace Mall is at 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92705.  
SAUSD KICKS OFF 130TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR
  
Parents, students, staff and community partners joined the Board of Education and SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips for a kick off celebration commemorating the start of the district's 130th anniversary year on January 12, 2018 at Plaza Calle Cuatro in Downtown Santa Ana. "We have a lot of educational heritage and legacy," Dr. Phillips said in a new video message about the event. "We want to make sure that everybody knows that we are doing great things now and have been a trailblazer for over 130 years." To watch the video, click here. To read more, click here
SAUSD SCHOOLS HOLD NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASSING DAYS  

To kick off the 2018-19 enrollment season and to spread the word throughout the City of Santa Ana that SAUSD schools are high-quality and an excellent option for parents to enroll their children, more than a dozen SAUSD schools simultaneously held "We are SAUSD Neighborhood Canvassing Days" within their boundary areas on and in the days surrounding January 13, 2018. Teams of volunteers went into the neighborhoods surrounding the campuses to share the attributes and qualities of these neighborhood schools and to tell parents why they should enroll their children there. To view photos, click here
BOARD OF EDUCATION HONORS STUDENT ATHLETES
  
Students from Century, Godinez Fundamental, Santa Ana, Segerstrom, and Santa Ana Valley high schools were honored at the High School Athletics Recognition Program, held January 16, 2018 at Villa Fundamental Intermediate during a special Board of Education meeting. Teams that earned CIF and/or league honors during Fall 2017 were celebrated during the event. "We are very proud of each and every one of you," Board President Valerie Amezcua told the crowd at the start of the program. To read more, click here. To view photos, click here.
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS 
  
The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.  

Members of the SAUSD Board of Education 

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

Stefanie P. Phillips, Ed.D., Superintendent

SPEECH & DEBATE MIDDLE SCHOOL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 20
  
Hundreds of students from SAUSD's national award-winning Speech and Debate program will showcase their skills during the Speech & Debate Middle School Tournament from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Santa Ana High School. Under the leadership of Communication Program Specialist Sal Tinajero, the program has grown to serve 600 students and sent a delegation to the National Speech and Debate competition for the first time in 2017, where five students placed nationally. It receives special support from the Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana, which has been involved with the program since its inception. To learn more, visit its Facebook page here
10 SAUSD STUDENTS NAMED DISNEYLAND "DREAMERS & DOERS"
  
Eighty-six Orange County students - including 10 from SAUSD - were selected by their high schools for their efforts to strengthen their communities, think creatively, conserve nature and live healthier as part of the Disneyland Resort's "Dreamers & Doers" awards. The community service program was created by the resort with the goal of encouraging and spotlighting high schoolers who give back to their communities through volunteering and other work. For a full list of honorees, click here.
KIWANIS TO SPONSOR GOOD CITIZENS LUNCHEON AT CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL
  
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana presented a $650 check this week to fund the upcoming 5th annual Century High School Good Citizens Luncheon. Century senior Yatziri Salgado, and CHS junior Monica Tavassoli, were invited to accept the check and to speak to the Kiwanis group about some of the community service projects at the school including the Centurion Buddies, and fundraising for children with cancer. Assistant Principal Anne Harper thanked the Kiwanis membership for its continuous support. The Kiwanis will recognize nearly 200 Century students who have logged at least 80 hours of community service during the Good Citizens ceremony on January 23, 2018.  
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESUMES ACCEPTING DACA RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
  
Due to a federal court order, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. Until further notice, the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017. Individuals who were previously granted deferred action under DACA may request renewal. USCIS is not accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA. To read more and to access required forms, click here.
TIPS DEPARTMENT TO HOST SPECIAL EVENT FEATURING ERIN GRUWELL  
  
SAUSD's Training, Induction and Professional Support (TIPS) department invites the SAUSD community to a special event titled "Erin Gruwell: An ordinary teacher with an extraordinary experience," from 4 to 5:30 p.m on February 21, 2018 at the Delhi Community Center, 505 E. Central Ave. in Santa Ana. Gruwell is a teacher, education activist, and founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, who has earned an award-winning reputation for her steadfast commitment to the future of education. In 2007, Paramount Pictures released "Freedom Writers," based on the Freedom Writers Diary, a New York Times bestseller that chronicled Erin's extraordinary journey with her 150 high school students who dubbed themselves the "Freedom Writers" in homage to Civil Rights activists the Freedom Riders. Seating is limited. Registration is required. To register, click here.  
CALLING SAUSD STAFF ALUMNI - TELL YOUR STORY! 
  
Calling all SAUSD staff members who are also SAUSD alumni - the district wants to tell your story! To celebrate the district's 130th Anniversary, the SAUSD-TV team is looking to explore and highlight the educational legacy of the district through the lens of those who attended district schools and who are now giving back to the community by working for the district. Video interviews will be recorded from 2 to 5 p.m. February 1, 2018 at the district office. To participate, please email theresa.cisneros@sausd.us by January 30, 2018.
UPCOMING EVENTS 
SEND US YOUR NEWS
Your school news is important to us! To have your items considered for inclusion in our weekly eBlast and/or via other District media channels, please submit items to theresa.cisneros@sausd.us by 5 p.m. Wednesdays for possible publication the following week. Due to space limitations, we may not be able to publish every item but will make every effort to share your news with the SAUSD community.
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