The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) shares information and important resources for school employees on its main webpage and on social media. Also, its dedicated COVID-19 website has resources and materials to assist administrators, educators, and families during the pandemic.

Be sure to follow @SanDiegoCOE if you're on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook for new information as it's available.

Planning for the State Seal of Civic Engagement

SDCOE and the Orange County Department of Education are partnering with Dr. Hueling Lee, executive director from Authentic Preparation Today, to host a webinar series on May 4, 11, and 18 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. each day.

This free series is designed to support the integration of civics across the curriculum. Participating educators, including school and district leaders, will discuss the Four Guiding Principles for Integrating Civic Learning, The Inquiry Arc of The C3 Framework, and the Civic Engagement Competencies Framework. Attendees will apply learnings to school and district planning for the State Seal of Civic Engagement. If you are interested, please register here. Registrations will continue to be accepted beyond the first day of the series.

Children's Literature and Equity

Coming up is Why Materials Matter Even More on May 6, LGBTQ Literature for Youth on May 10, and a multi-session event Indigenous Voices: Authentic Children's Literature on May 25 and 26. Get the link to share or register to join on the SDCOE Library Media Services webpage. 

School employees across the county have an opportunity to learn about Microsoft, Google, and other tech tools for free as part of SDCOE's Innovative Digital Learning Series.

The online series is held every Wednesday afternoon through June 29 and includes courses, live training, and resources to support digital learning and productivity. The lessons are centered around the National Equity Project’s Liberatory Design principles to increase innovation and equitable learning practices for distance learning. Throughout the series, participants will learn tools, platforms, and techniques to improve and customize instruction for all students.

This series is aimed at everyone, beginner to expert, and includes synchronous and asynchronous lessons and additional resources that can be accessed anytime. Access the registration page. Participants can join one of the sessions or all of them with the same registration link.

Wellness Together School Mental Health, in partnership with SDCOE and the California Department of Education, will host Mind Out Loud, a free, three-day virtual event for all middle and high school students to convene and boldly discuss mental health. It features The Hate U Give author Angie Thomas and Matt Stossel from the Netflix movie The Social Dilemma.

Visit the event website for complete details, including more featured speakers, daily schedules, resources for students, educators, and parents, and to register to attend.

The California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) presents its statewide Professional Development Summit May 26 to 28. The conference theme is, “Achieving an Equity Driven Education,” which focuses on highlighting policies and practices that promote education equity for African American and other students of color.

Visit the conference webpage to explore the areas of focus and speakers for each day. Registration pricing varies based on virtual or in-person attendance, and the number of days desired.

There are also registration options for single-day events on May 25 geared for students and parents; the virtual Youth Summit with a focus on music and esports, and the virtual Parent Empowerment Summit.

All educators are invited to attend the annual Teach for Innovation Awards event, hosted by Teach For America (TFA) San Diego.

The May 20 event from 6 to 7 p.m. will celebrate educators and leaders in San Diego County who are working hard to make excellent education a reality for all kids in our community. Winners for each of the award categories will be announced at the event. Dr. David Andrews, President of National University, will be presented with the TFA San Diego Honorary Alumni Award.

Register now for this free, virtual event and join TFA San Diego in celebrating the award finalists and honoree.

For maximum impact, each high school should nominate a delegation of students to apply — at least one each from 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. No prior experience is required and there is no charge to participate. Visit the conference website for complete details. The deadline to apply is June 4. 

The San Diego Union-Tribune is seeking junior and senior high school students of different cultural and economic backgrounds from throughout the county to learn about and produce community journalism.

Six students will be selected to participate in the program as a paid internship position. They will learn about journalism and civic engagement, and may have their work published online and in the newspaper. One student will receive a $5,000 scholarship. This year’s program runs June 21 through July 22 and will be conducted primarily online. Download a program flyer. Visit this page to learn more and apply. Applications are due May 13.

To attend the meeting click here and a Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the meeting date. For additional information, visit sdmocktrial.org, or call 619-844-2344 with any questions.

The USS Midway is celebrating San Diego County teachers with free single-day admission during May. All active K-12 teachers from public and private schools with a current teaching credential are eligible. This offer is available at the museum ticket booth only with a valid identification. Visit the Midway website for more information.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) supports the next generation of women interested in engineering and technology. SWENext is a no-cost program for K-12 students where they can attend events, subscribe to a monthly newsletter, or even form their own SWENext Club. For more information, contact [email protected]. 

The annual summer summit program which usually takes place in Washington, D.C. in June, will be held virtually this year. High school junior and seniors who are interested in this field can apply to attend the virtual summit through a local WTS chapter. View a flyer with details about this year's summit. View the application form. Applications are due May 15.

Student filmmakers can submit their creative entries to the 20th annual Innovative Video in Education Awards and Student Film Festival, better known as iVIE.

Entries are now being accepted for the various categories of the K-12 student video competition and festival which take place June 9 to 16. Films will be screened in a virtual platform and in person. Submitted videos are judged by media professionals and educators curated by Media Arts Center San Diego and prizes are awarded to top categories. Learn more at the iVIE Awards webpage. The deadline for submissions is May 12.

The program is free and offers students a screening of their film in the San Diego Asian Film Festival this fall and a $500 scholarship upon completion. View the program flyer for more information. Access the application page. The application deadline is May 16.

Celebrate and help promote Bike Anywhere Week in your school community. From May 16 to 22, families are encouraged to go by bike to some of their usual destinations, explore their community, or just ride around their neighborhood.

View all the Bike Anywhere Week virtual events, self-guided activities, and other resources available at the Bike Month webpage by iCommute, part of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

The Chargers Impact Fund, in partnership with Schools First Credit Union, is awarding Title I eligible high schools up to $1,500 in funding for their athletic departments. This effort is to assist high schools re-launch their tackle football programs for the 2021 spring or fall season. Visit the Chargers website for complete details. The application deadline is June 4 but grants will be awarded on a rolling basis while funding lasts.

Grants of up to $125 awarded to teachers of Pre-K through grade 9 to offset the costs related to having a pet in the classroom. Funds may be used for the purchase of a pet, its habitat, food, bedding, and other items such as toys, gravel, filters, and lights. Funding is intended for the purpose of teaching children to bond with and care for their pets responsibly. Eligible pets include small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and arachnids. Organisms that do not qualify include insects, worm/composting projects, or livestock (such as chickens/egg incubators). Visit the grant webpage for more information. The application deadline is June 1.

The Barona Band of Mission Indians awards $5,000 grants to K-12 schools for purchases that enhance academic performance and benefit current and future students. Funding is intended for the acquisition of supplies and materials, including computers, books, and other much-needed supplies that will promote educational improvements. Applications must be accompanied by an endorsement letter from a state executive office holder, senator, or assembly member within the school district. Visit the grant webpage for complete details. The application deadline is June 30.

The USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education will award up to $6,000 to students who participate in a social impact challenge. Individual students or groups of students in grades 6-12 participate by creating projects that show that art has the ability to build strong, connected, and empathetic communities. Students can make a video, write a poem, song, or blog, or produce a painting or piece of artwork that demonstrates the chosen medium’s potential to create a community that is stronger than hate. Visit the grant website for complete details. The application deadline is June 1.

The House of France in Balboa Park awards two $500 scholarships to high school seniors who have taken advanced-level French courses in high school. The selection criteria include answering two essay questions in English and one in French. View and download the application form. The application deadline is June 1.

Through Health Care Communicators (HCC) of San Diego, high school seniors in San Diego County who plan to enter the healthcare field after college can apply to win a $2,000 scholarship courtesy of AMN Healthcare. Visit the HCC website for more information. The application deadline is June 30.

San Diego Family Magazine has these helpful articles for families and students its May digital edition:

Flip through the digital edition. More ideas and resources are available at sandiegofamily.com.

What's Happening is a monthly publication from SDCOE that highlights free and low-cost enrichment opportunities for San Diego County students, teachers, and schools.

If you know someone who would like to receive What's Happening in their inbox each month, share this link with them. They can also email [email protected] and ask to be added to the mailing list.

Have feedback on What's Happening? Email the San Diego County Office of Education Communications department: [email protected]

858-292-3500 | www.sdcoe.net

The mission of the San Diego County Office of Education is inspiring and leading innovation in education.