October 2018
Kids Free in October is Back!
kids free in October 2017 at museums, museum council
Throughout October, kids 12 and younger can get in free to more than 40 participating museums across the county with a paid adult. 
 
There's a limit of two free children's admissions for each adult. Learn more and register for the free coupon at the San Diego Museum Council website. Mission Federal Credit Union branches across the county will also have the coupons available.
The San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park are also partnering with Mission Fed to offer free admission for kids during the month of October.

Children 11 years and younger can enjoy free admission to both parks all month long. Click here for a flyer with more information.
Win Prizes for Your Classroom with the Ashford University Book Club Presented by Sunny 98.1
Reward your students for reading and win prizes for your K-5 classroom by participating in the Ashford University Book Club presented by KyXy 96.5. 

Students who read the featured books and then go online to tell why they liked the book are entered to win a reading party for their class hosted by on-air personality AJ, from the AJ Mornings show, and a $100 gift card. The winner for this month will be drawn Nov. 1

These are the books for October, recommended by the San Diego Council on Literacy in partnership with Words Alive: 
• K-2nd: All Are Welcome, written by Alexndra Penfold
• 3rd-5th: Older Than the Stars, written by Karen C. Fox
• Spanish: La Idea Más Maravillosa, written by Ashley Spires

For more information, click here.
Chargers Champions Grant Application Deadline is Approaching
Chargers Champions
For the 2018-19 school year, the Chargers Champions School Grant Program is again providing funds to schools in San Diego and Imperial counties for physical fitness, nutrition, and athletic programs. High schools can apply for grants of up to $70,000, middle schools up to $40,000, and elementary schools up to $30,000. 

This year's application period is currently underway. Don't miss this opportunity for your school! All applications are due Oct. 12. Applications postmarked after that date will not be considered.

Click here to learn more. To download the grant application, click here. Contact Taylor Chavez at Taylor.Chavez@chargers.nfl.com with any questions.
Help Fight Hunger with the MLK High School ASB Food Drive Challenge 
San Diego County's high school Associated Student Body (ASB) organizations are invited to participate in the 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive Challenge. Donations collected will help the San Diego Food Bank provide nourishment for community members in need. 
 
Your high school's food drive can occur anytime between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31 for a period of two weeks. The four schools that collect the most food per capita will receive a cash donation to their ASB fund. Additionally, awards will be presented to their ASB presidents at the Washington-Lincoln Laurels for Leaders luncheon next February at SDSU. 
 
Click here for more information or email Kimberly Castillo.
Scholarship Opportunities for San Diego Students
Wendy's High School Heisman Scholarship

The Wendy's High School Heisman Scholarship is open to high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who also perform in at least one of the 47 school-sponsored sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee or the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Awards range from $500 to $5,000 across state and national levels. Applications are due Oct. 17. Click here for more information.


Horatio Alger National and State Scholarships

The Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is a national scholarship program that assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their lives.

The national scholarship is valued at $25,000 and the state scholarship is valued at up to $10,000. Both are open to high school seniors who meet several elegibility requirements.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 25. Click here for more information.


Torch Awards for Ethics Essay Contest

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is awarding scholarships to five high school junior and senior students who write outstanding essays on the importance of ethics and integrity in our community. 

The winners will receive cash scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 and are expected to attend the BBB Torch Awards luncheon on Dec. 7. The application deadline is Oct. 26. Click here for more details.


USD's Character Development Center Essay Contest

The University of San Diego's Character Development Center announces the fourth annual Fall Essay Contest sponsored by The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and the Character Education Resource Center.  
 
This year's theme, "Who is Your Hero?", asks students in grades 6 to 12 to reflect on the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps and our society by exploring what the virtues of honor, courage, and commitment mean in their own lives. 
 
All entries must be received by Nov. 14. Click here for more details.
Spread the Word About Rock the Vote San Diego
The Rock the Vote San Diego event will bring together a cross-section of young adults, entertainers, activists, artists, and community members to encourage youth to register and vote.

The Oct. 21 event from 2 to 8 p.m. at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park will feature musical performances, celebrity guest speakers, performance art, and more. At the event, youth age 16 and older can pre-register to vote, and those turning age 18 by Nov. 6, 2018, can register to vote in time for next Election Day.

The event is free. For more information and to register, click here.
Max Out Your Class with Cash and Prizes
Teachers, would you like $200 to spend on supplies and classroom projects? Radio station 105.7 MAX FM and Mission Federal Credit Union are looking to "Max Out" K-8 classrooms that can use a little extra help. The Max Out crew visits a deserving classroom every Tuesday during the school year.

Win great prizes, including a Visa gift card from Mission Federal Credit Union. A winner will be selected each week. Do you know a deserving teacher or classroom? Send your story and nominations to Monica Ventura. Self-nominations are accepted.
 
For more information, and to see recent winners, visit the Max Out My Class website
Local Museums Offer Educational Opportunities
USS Midway image
Invite a Veteran to Speak in Your Classroom

The USS Midway Museum's Bring a Veteran to Your Classroom program is designed to allow students to learn more about history and service firsthand from veterans. 

Docents at the Midway Museum are honored to be invited to visit schools and share their experience with students in an informative yet approachable way. 

Speakers can tailor their presentation to any grade level and length, and customize the program depending on the curriculum needs of any classroom. 

Click here to learn more and to request a speaker. 
Fleet Science Center Educator Open House

All K-12 teachers are invited to the Fleet Science Center's annual Educator Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4.

There will be presentations and shows every 15 minutes throughout the evening. Enjoy light refreshments while chatting with scientists, learning about science topics, and creating take-home projects. Attendees will also have access to Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition.

For more information and to register for this free event, click here.
San Diego Museum of Man Educator Open House

Join the Museum of Man for their annual Educator Open House from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 15.

Discover how the museum can be a resource to enhance classroom learning. The evening will feature tours of the Maya and Race: Are We So Different? exhibit, light refreshments, and a raffle.

For more information and to register for this free event, click here.
Free Guided Nature Hikes for Students

The San Diego Natural History Museum offers free nature hikes for students in grades 2 to 12 at multiple locations throughout the county. Hikes are guided by volunteer naturalists trained by museum staff and scientists.

There is a minimum group size of 15 students for the one-hour hikes that take place weekday mornings, from October through May.

Click here for more information, including detailed hike descriptions and a reservation form.
Free Professional Development Programs at the Museum of Tolerance
Experience a learning opportunity in the unique, immersive environment of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

The museum has several programs as part of their Open Enrollment Institute for 2018-19, such as Teaching Tolerance, Facing History and Ourselves, Journeys in Film, and more. Most seminars include special speakers, customized workshops with consultants, lunch, and a valuable resource kit. 

Click here to see a list of what is offered and to access flyers and registration information.
Nominate a Student for the Carson Scholars Program 
The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4 to 11 who have at least a 3.75 GPA and demonstrate humanitarian qualities. Students must be nominated by an educator at their school, and only one student from each school is able to compete. 

Nomination forms will be available Oct.15, and the deadline to nominate a student is Dec. 14. Click here to learn more details about eligibility and the application process.
SDSU Free Field Trip Days for Your Students
SDSU is offering two Field Trip Days during women's basketball season, which means multiple opportunities to bring your school or class to a game! 

Through a partnership between SDSU Athletics and the San Diego County Office of Education, free tickets to the Nov. 9 and Feb. 6 games are available for students, teachers, and chaperones.  

Doors open at 10 a.m. for educational activities, and game times are 11 a.m.

Schools are responsible for their own transportation to the game. Game tickets are free for K-8 students, their teachers, and chaperones. High school students are welcome but cannot receive free tickets, per NCAA recruiting rules.

To download an event flyer, click here. Click here to request tickets online.
Calling All School Choirs for KUSI's Songs of the Holiday Season 
This December, KUSI-TV Cable 9/Channel 51 will present the 25th annual holiday special Songs of the Holiday Season. This two-hour presentation highlights local school choirs singing songs of the winter/holiday season. The show will be produced at KUSI's studio and will air Dec. 24 and 25. 
 
School choirs can apply now and will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are due Nov. 1. 
 
Schools outside of the San Diego Unified School District should contact Monica Ventura for application materials. San Diego Unified schools should contact Brenda Kenyon
Do You Know an Exceptional Student Volunteer?
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is searching for top youth volunteers in the areas of serving those in need, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment, and more. 
 
The awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is the largest youth-recognition program in the country and is based exclusively on volunteer community service. 
 
The nomination process begins at the school level. Candidates can advance to state- and national-level judging. Students in grades 5 through 12 are eligible. Applications are due by Nov. 6. 
 
For detailed information, click here.
Nominate an Inspirational Student or Teacher to be Recognized on TV
The San Diego County Office of Education and NBC 7 San Diego invite you to nominate an inspirational student or teacher who is an outstanding individual on campus and within their community. 

An Inspirational Student of the Month is a high school junior or senior who not only excels in their curriculum and demonstrates leadership, but who goes above and beyond and takes initiative to improve their school and community's environment through service, philanthropic efforts, personal values, or a positive influence. Nominate a student.

An Inspirational Teacher of the Month is a dedicated K-12 educator who brings their energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to the classroom every day. They face challenges with ingenuity, are held in high esteem by their peers and students, or set an inspiring example through their community service. Nominate a teacher.

NBC 7 education reporter Rory Devine will recognize the selected student or teacher with a surprise visit to their classroom and interview the recipient for an Inspirational Teacher/Student of the Month segment that airs during a weekday newscast.
San Diego Workforce Partnership Offering Internship for Opportunity Youth
The San Diego Workforce Partnership is hiring young adults ages 18 to 24 for paid training and leadership development as part of OpportunitySD, an initiative focused on tackling the barriers preventing opportunity youth from getting connected to employment and education.

Opportunity youth are young people ages 16 to 24 who are neither enrolled in school nor employed. Preference will be given to applicants who are current or former opportunity youth. For more details and to access the application, click here.
Fund Your Innovative Learning Opportunity With a $500 Teacher Grant 
North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union, invites all San Diego area teachers who have a class project idea to apply for a grant through its biannual Teacher Grant Program. 

Any full-time classroom teacher in San Diego County who is looking to fund an innovative classroom learning opportunity can apply. The project should have clearly defined learning objectives tied to students’ academic needs, display creativity, and benefit a significant number of students.

Ten grants of $500 each will be awarded in November. Click here for more information. The application deadline is Oct. 19.
Big Discount on Inclusion Collaborative State Conference
Teachers or other personnel who are involved in the care and education of children with and without disabilities from birth to age 24 can get a big discount for the annual Inclusion Collaborative State Conference by attending it virtually at conference rooms in the San Diego County Office of Education’s Linda Vista campus.

During the Oct. 24 to 26 conference, participants will gain understanding and learn evidence-based practices that will help create and enhance equity, diversity, and inclusive practices in programs and communities. The special price for the virtual individual registration is $50 per person, a savings of almost $250 off the regular price.

The deadline to register is Oct. 19. Click here to register and view the schedule of events. 
Share Your Learning Resources, Toolkits Available
The Share Your Learning campaign is a collaborative project to encourage teachers to provide more opportunities for students to authentically share their learning through exhibitions, student-led conferences, and other presentations of learning. When students connect with an audience beyond the classroom, they can communicate, collaborate, and contribute, and schools can increase parent and community engagement in transformative ways. 

There are free toolkits and curated resources online that teachers can access to help implement this work more often in their practice. Teachers can earn continuing education units by participating in this campaign and reflecting on their practice. The campaign goal is to build a movement and let teachers know that there are thousands of educators nationally and globally who are committed to student-centered learning.

Sign up online and start sharing what your students are doing on Twitter, Facebook, or the Share Your Learning website using #shareyourlearning.
Do You Know a Teacher Who is a Hero?
Teachers Are Heroes is a program of Entercom Communications, home of KSON, FM 94.9, and Sunny 98.1, and Azusa Pacific University, in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education.  

Twelve times during the school year, the Teachers are Heroes team surprises amazing K-5 teachers across the county who have been selected by a panel of radio station and sponsor representatives. 

Recognized teachers receive money for classroom supplies in addition to other fun incentives, including an end-of-year celebration for their entire classroom.

Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond in their job to create a lifelong love for learning in children? Click here to learn more about the program and submit a nomination. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Community of Practice for History and Social Science Teachers
The San Diego County History and Social Science Community of Practice (CoP) serves to support the implementation of the 2016 California History-Science Framework. The focus of the CoP will be on deepening understanding of inquiry, how instruction can be shaped through key themes and questions, and developing plans for local framework implementation. 

CoP members will attend three full-day meetings Oct. 25, Jan. 24, and March 13, and will receive free admission to the Feb. 8 San Diego County History-Social Science Conference. Members can receive reimbursement for a substitute when they attend the conference.
 
Schools and districts are highly encouraged to send teams, which can include teachers, administrators, teachers on special assignment, and other interested educators, including paraprofessionals. There is no cost to join.
 
To register, click here. Contact Matt Hayes via email or at 858-292-3820 with questions.
University of San Diego Toreros Invite Students to a Free Game
The University of San Diego's Torero Achievement Club -- a partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education -- is a great way for teachers of grades 3 through 8 to expose their classes to a college campus and recognize student achievement. 
 
School groups of any size are invited to attend any Torero home game. Students will also take part in a special USD campus tour immediately before the game. Tours are led by staff and/or student athletes who will reinforce the importance of college, sports, and future careers. In addition to the free game tickets and tour, Torero Achievement Club participants will receive a free meal voucher for concessions.

Click here to view full game schedules on the Torero website. For more information and to reserve a game date, email Monica Ventura or call 858-292-3753.
Recognize the Civic Educators at Your School
The California Department of Education invites all public elementary, middle, and high schools to apply for the 2019 California Civic Learning Awards. These awards celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and identify effective models that can be replicated across schools. 

There are three award categories -- Excellence, Distinction, and Merit. Winners of the Award of Excellence receive a visit from California State Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.
 
The application deadline is Jan. 18. More information, including the complete application, is available here
Free Reading Program with the San Diego Gulls
The San Diego Gulls invite all 4th-grade teachers to participate in their Reading is the Goal program this spring. 

The program rewards students for the time they spend reading each day within a 30-day period. Individual prizes include Gulls merchandise and an ultimate goal prize of two tickets to a hockey game in March. There are additional group prizes for overall winning classrooms. 

To learn more and to sign up your class for spring, click here. Contact Melissa Werman at mwerman@sandiegogulls.com or 619-359-4716 with any questions.
Communications Resources in Multiple Languages
The California State PTA has a variety of resources in multiple langauges avaliable for free on its website. Teachers, principals, and administrators can download and share the resources with parents, families, and school communities as needed.

Click here to access the PTA website.
Share What's Happening with a Colleague
What's Happening is a monthly publication from the San Diego County Office of Education that highlights free and low-cost enrichment opportunities for San Diego County students, teachers, and schools. 

If you know a teacher or colleague who would like to receive What's Happening, please share this link so they can sign up to have it delivered straight to their inbox each month. They can also email communications@sdcoe.net and ask to be added to the mailing list.
Have feedback on What's Happening? Email the San Diego County Office of Education's Communications department: communications@sdcoe.net 
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