 |
We Are Jammin'!
Dear Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) Family, Friends, and Partners,
I hope that you and your family are well and in great spirits.
If you feel something in the air, you are correct. JCCS staff and students are jamming! Students have been participating in the spring Take Action Jam, which provides them the opportunity to display academic excellence, reflect on their learning, celebrate their achievements, and elevate their voice and agency. Students created projects that identified and provided solutions to tough issues like the drug crisis and climate change, or debated the pros and cons of an issue like cloning. Some examples of their work are included throughout my message.
In addition, our San Pasqual Academy students were jamming across California on their annual college road trip, visiting eight different college campuses across the state. And finally, throughout April, JCCS staff was busy preparing for Federal Program Monitoring, which is an evaluation by the state of local educational agencies who receive funding for certain programs. I’m happy to share that JCCS passed with flying colors!
|
|
|
|
|
We also kicked off our celebration season by honoring our amazing administrative assistants on Administrative Assistant Day at the end of April. We will continue our celebrations throughout the month of May by honoring staff on School Principals Day, National Teacher Appreciation Week, Classified School Employee Week, School Lunch Hero Day, and National School Nurse Day. JCCS will also hold our annual parent recognition celebration event later this month to honor all our wonderful parents.
I would also like to send a shout-out to our Reading Intervention team, trained by Catherine Casey. Through their efforts in collaboration with our instructional coaches, principals, classified staff, and teachers, JCCS staff is creating a “loving to read” culture. The data from our Renaissance Learning and other assessments have shown significant growth in reading scores. Additionally, our libraries with culturally responsive and engaging texts are helping to increase interest in reading among our students.
|
|
|
|
|
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. You, our students, and the mental health of the community at-large remains a priority. Please help me get the word out by checking out the calendar of activities, Feel Better Bops, and wellness recipes. Additionally, SDCOE was recently awarded a mental health services grant that will enable JCCS to bring in five to eight interns, who will be supervised by our amazing School Social Worker team.
As is my tradition, and as we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I leave you a quote from Lao Tzu:
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”
With much admiration and appreciation,
Executive Director
Juvenile Court and Community Schools
|
|
|
|
Monarch School Students Receive Visits from California Justices |
|
More than 60 students at Monarch School had the opportunity to learn about the judicial system from four California justices – Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and from the Fourth District Court of Appeals Administrative Presiding Justice Judith McConnell, Associate Justice Martin Buchanan, and Associate Justice Jose Castillo.
Chief Justice Guerrero, who grew up in the Imperial Valley, shared a mix of life and professional experiences during her 40-minute talk with students. Her parents were originally from Mexico and was the first member of her family to go to college. Her mom instilled in her a love of learning while her dad showed incredible work ethic working multiple jobs to support their family.
“I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck,” she told students.
Julieta, a junior, said that hearing that Chief Justice Guerrero was a first-generation college student resonated with her and said it was nice to hear from someone who had similar life experiences and that “they can achieve great things,” she said.
|
|
San Diego SOAR Academy Embraces Reading Challenge |
|
Students at San Diego SOAR Academy’s East Mesa location got into their own competition this March, only it’s not focused on basketball but on reading.
As part of the March to 300 challenge, students read more than 400 books, surpassing the original goal of 300.
The challenge was created as a way to build excitement for reading, Principal Nathan Head said.
“We decided to just have a little fun,” Head said. “It has really taken off.”
As a reward for surpassing the goal of 300 books, students and staff members celebrated with an ice cream social and certificates of appreciation in early April.
|
|
Food Service Team Provides More Than Just Meals
|
|
Distributing food to students is an important service our schools provide and the individuals who deliver that food offer a friendly face and a consistent presence — and represent more to some than just a meal.
“We get to hear the stories, maybe why they are having a bad day, and hear some things that not everyone is so lucky to hear about,” said Lucero Diaz-Kennon, food service program assistant for JCCS. “Because of that, we have created a very good rapport with our students. It’s the human side of the profession.”
The SDCOE Food Services team serves students at JCCS, Monarch School, and Cuyamaca Outdoor School. The JCCS team includes six field assistants and three subs, plus Diaz-Kennon and Supervisor Jerry Smith, who deliver vended food to all JCCS sites.
Some of the field assistants have been delivering to the same school for years so they are familiar to students and staff alike. We honor them all during School Nutrition Employees Week May 1-5.
“They put their hearts into the profession, and they are appreciated by the students and staff,” Diaz- Kennon said, adding that when she subs for a field assistant, the students start asking when they’ll be back. “The connection we make with the students is one of the best parts of the job. It’s very special.”
|
|
Student Spotlight: Genesis |
|
The JCCS student representative on the San Diego County Board of Education for April was Genesis, a 9th grader at Global Academy of California.
Principal Roberto Carrillo said that Genesis works hard and gives it her all. “She always has a smile and is friendly and helpful to all,” he said. “We’re very proud of her.”
Teachers said that Genesis is positive and supportive and always willing to do what she needs to get ahead.
At the Board of Education meeting, Genesis shared that she has been a student in JCCS since the age of six, attending Monarch School for several years before enrolling at Global Academy.
“Since attending Global Academy, I became more involved in my community and part of Friday Night Live, where we’re currently working on an underage drinking project,” she said. “Seeing what’s going on in the world helps me want to make a difference.”
|
|
|
Students at 37ECB treated staff, parents, and the community to a spectacular gala featuring music, art, presentations, and refreshments. The gala was hosted in partnership with Outside the Lens, the arts organization teaching students about photography, filmmaking, digital media and more. The students presented projects they've created this year as part of the partnership. |
|
|
|
Rosas, a student at San Diego SOAR Academy's Youth Transition Campus, painted this portrait of famous African American painter Faith Ringgold for a project her and her classmates completed with Combat Arts SD during Black History month. Students were given a choice of different famous African American artists to create artwork about. Rosas chose Faith Ringgold and the American flag as the background. |
|
|
|
Cash for College Workshop
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is sponsoring a CASH for College webinar focused on students from the alternative education arena, specifically Continuation Education and Juvenile and Community Court Schools. Learn about the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and Chafee Grant for Foster Youth. Encourage students to participate, especially those who have yet to complete the FAFSA. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Visit the CSAC website for more details or click the button below to register. |
|
Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at the San Diego County Office of Education and in school districts across the county. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
