Newsletter
September 28, 2018
Virtual Academy students preparing a "Guess Who" board.
SCHOOL NEWS
Mission Viejo Safe Schools Challenge

Students, do you attend school in the city of Mission Viejo? If so, you have an opportunity to take part in a safety challenge offered by the City of Mission Viejo Police Services. Use your creativity and make a video about school safety for the chance to win $5,000 for your school! Act quickly, as the deadline is fast approaching. Contest rules and details may be found through the following link:


Olivewood Elementary Breakout Boxes
The 6th grade students at Olivewood Elementary recently had the opportunity to play "Save the Breakouts: Fact or Opinion?" a Breakout EDU game that reinforces 21 st century skills and the 4 Cs. It’s a collaborative learning experience that enhances critical thinking and creativity while fostering a growth mindset in students. Students were given a box that had been locked with multiple locks including directional locks, word locks, number locks, and key locks. They had 45 minutes to break into their boxes using the clues provided in an envelope and around the room. The best part of this experience was what happened after the 45 minutes (during the reflection process). Students identified the skills displayed by team members that made their group effective, looked for ways they could have been more productive, and reviewed their actions that showed evidence of a growth mindset. The entire process exposed what students are capable of when they work together! 
The Educational Technology team in SVUSD has built a library of K-12 games across the curriculum and teachers can sign up to co-facilitate a Breakout EDU game in their classrooms.
CIF for Unified Sports
“For the first time in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section history, Unified Sports will be competing. Trabuco Hills High School will host the inaugural CIF Southern Section Unified Track & Field Prelim on May 11, 2019, with schools from all over the Southern Section having the opportunity to compete. The top 9 pairs from each Track & Field event will move on to the Masters Meet at El Camino College on May 19 th , with the top 3 finishers earning a CIF Medal.
 
Kara Johnson, Special Education teacher at THHS, started the Unified Sports program in 2015 and believes every school needs this program to impact all students and positively change the way they see the world and the people in it. This culture has really spread throughout THHS and SVUSD, with the addition of 7 Unified Champion Schools for 2018-2019!
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THHS's 2017 Homecoming crowned the first Unified Sports athletes as their King and Queen.

Johoneel Hernandez and Ian Nagel pictured with Kara Johnson, Special Ed teacher and Unified Champion School District Coordinator.
Outstanding Teacher Award
Congratulations to Tom Krucli, teacher at Mission Viejo High School, for being selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Chicago.

This distinguished award has existed for more than three decades. Each year, the university invites entering students to nominate an educator that has influenced them, challenged them, or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth. Hundreds of letters are received from students who are inspired by their teachers who have changed the course of their lives, who taught them to re-imagine texts, to delve deeper into problem-solving, and to think beyond the borders of the classroom in the pursuit of their own education.

The University of Chicago congratulates not only Mr. Krucli, but also the faculty of MVHS, for their continued support of excellence.
MV Elks Lodge Donates $1,500
On Sept. 25 th , Esperanza Education Center was the proud recipient of a generous donation from the Elks Lodge. The $1,500 gift will be used for scholarships for students attending college and to purchase materials to make blankets for Veterans at the Veteran’s hospital. This special project sponsored by the Elks Lodge is called Blankets for the Brave. Lecturing Knight, Lane Keran, and Exalted Ruler, Mike Klinger, have forged a special relationship with Esperanza Education Center and are grateful to our students for taking on such a large Service Learning Project. Esperanza is equally grateful to the Lodge for their partnership with our students. We can’t wait to deliver beautiful blankets to the Veterans!
DISTRICT NEWS
PTA President's & Principal's Breakfast
On September 12th, the annual PTA President's and Principal's Breakfast took place, bringing together PTA Presidents and school site and district administrators. The event provided an opportunity for collaboration and sharing. Thank you to all of our PTAs for all they do to support our students and their learning!
Promotions & New Administrators
The following Administrators were formally introduced at the September Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to all of our promoted and new Administrators!

SVUSD Administrative Promotions
Heather Balog
Coordinator, Mental Health
Marguerite Long
Coordinator, Student Services 
Robert Sherlock
Coordinator, 7-12 STEM
Shawn Beese
Coordinator, Special Ed
Dr. Francis Dizon
Director Student Services
Katie Branley
Assistant Principal, Serrano Intermediate
James Newton
Principal, RSM Intermediate
Tim Tatum
Coordinator, Student & Health Services
Brad Lyall
Assistant Principal, La Paz Intermediate
New Administrators to SVUSD

Shane Vinagupta
Assistant Principal, Laguna Hills High
Michelle O'Neill
Coordinator, Student Services
Dr. Frances Hansell
Principal, Cielo Vista
Michelle McNeal
Activity Director, El Toro High
David Young
Principal, Serrano Intermediate

2018-19 Student Board Member
At the September Board of Education meeting, Board President Amanda Morrell delivered the oath of office to Jacob Walker, senior at El Toro High School, as he takes on the role of Student Board Member for the 2018/19 school year. Congratulations, Jacob!
SVUSD Employment Opportunities
SVUSD has an array of employment opportunities available throughout the year. The positions represent openings across the district and various divisions. All SVUSD openings can be accessed through the following EdJoin link, which is updated regularly:
Community Opportunities Offered by the OC Sheriff's Department
Annual Teen Influencer Summit
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 29
October 3
October 10
October 18
October 20
October 29
November 12
MADD - Annual Teen Influencer Summit - Ocean View High School
Back to School Night - High Schools
Back to School Night - Esperanza Education Center
Great American Shake Out - District Disaster Drill practice
City of Mission Viejo, Red Ribbon Walk - MVHS
District Staff development Day (no school for students)
Veteran's Day - District Holiday
SVUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION
Superintendent
Dr. Crystal Turner

Board of Trustees
President
Amanda Morrell
Vice President
Suzie R. Swartz
Clerk
Dr. Edward Wong
Members
Dolores Winchell
Dennis Walsh   
Student Board Member
Jacob Walker
               Board of Education Meeting Dates
The Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees encourages community members to attend and participate in its business meetings whenever possible.
Closed session board business is typically conducted at 5:00 p.m. followed by open session business typically beginning at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the SVUSD Education Center Board Room located at 25631 Peter A. Hartman Way, Mission Viejo.