WEEK OF OCT. 11, 2021
Official newsletter of the Santa Ana Unified School District, designed to inform the community about District related news, opportunities, and resources. 
Please share and follow SAUSD online!
DISTRICT NEWS
WEEKLY UPDATE FROM SUPERINTENDENT JERRY ALMENDAREZ: OCT. 11, 2021
In his new weekly newsletter to the community, Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Superintendent Jerry Almendarez provides information on trustee elections, flu shot clinics, Covid testing consent forms, and more. To read it in English, click here. To read it in Spanish, click here.
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET OCT. 12, 2021
The Board of Education is scheduled to meet Oct. 12, 2021 at the District Office. Closed session begins at 5 p.m.; open session starts at 6 p.m. Click here to read the agenda, to watch the meeting live, and to learn how to make a public comment.
PUBLIC HEARINGS REGARDING TRUSTEE AREAS AND ELECTIONS BY-TRUSTEE AREAS TO BEGIN OCT. 18, 2021
The Board of Education recently approved a plan to study the process of establishing trustee areas and elections by trustee areas that would take effect commencing with the November 2022 election. Public hearings on these topics will be held over the next few months. The first meeting is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 18, 2021 at Santa Ana High School, 520 W. Walnut St. Click here to access the public hearing schedule and to learn more.
AB 104 STUDENT GRADE CHANGE DEADLINE EXTENDED TO OCT. 18, 2021
The AB 104 student grade change deadline has been extended to Oct. 18, 2021. AB 104 allows students who were enrolled in high school during 2020-21 to apply to have one or more letter grades replaced with a pass or no pass grade. For more details, click here: /bit.ly/2YhSQiP
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
The District marked National Walk to School Day 2021 with a special procession and program at the McFadden Institute of Technology on Oct. 6, 2021. Superintendent Jerry Almendarez joined special guests - including Congressman Lou Correa, Senator Thomas Umberg, and Deputy Chief Enrique Esparza of the Santa Ana Police Department - in encouraging scholars to adopt safe practices while walking to and from campus. Click here to watch. 
#PROUD2BESAUSD PROFILE:
NORA GARCIA, SAUSD ALUMNA AND EMPLOYEE 
Today’s #Proud2BeSAUSD profile comes from Nora Garcia, M.A., Ed.D., a proud SAUSD alumna and teacher!

Dr. Garcia is a home teacher for the District, and proud product of SAUSD. She attended Lowell Elementary, Willard Intermediate and Santa Ana High School.

One of her favorite things about SAUSD is the supportive relationship between colleagues; everyone working together toward the same goal to provide every student with the best quality education.

“I am #Proud2BeSAUSD because we are a caring community of students, parents, and teachers. I am very grateful for the many wonderful teachers that contributed to my education.”

Are you a proud SAUSD parent, student, employee, graduate or community member? Tell us your story, and send us your photo, for a chance to be featured in our materials. Click here to participate.
SANTA ANA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION OFFERING SPARK GRANTS
The Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation is offering Spark grants to provide up to $1,500 to educators for projects that do not have an available funding source. The proposed project must advance student learning in the classroom, support students’ attainment of their educational goals, and integrate into existing curriculum, instructional methodology, or educational programs. The deadline to apply is Oct. 11, 2021. Click here for more information.
SAUSD COVID-19 INFORMATION & RESOURCES
Looking for COVID-19 resources? Click here for information regarding SAUSD’s facemask requirements, COVID-19 guidelines for students and staff, COVID-19 dashboard, virtual learning options, and COVID-19 services available for parents, students, and staff.
DOWNLOAD PARENTSQUARE APP TODAY
SAUSD is now using the ParentSquare app to increase communication among families, schools and the District. Download the app today at the Apple AppStore or Google Play to begin receiving important news and updates from SAUSD teachers, schools, and departments. Click here for more information.
IN THE NEWS
JEREMY COGAN FEATURED IN AMERICAN BUILDERS QUARTERLY
Jeremy Cogan, director of facilities planning for SAUSD, has been featured in American Builders Quarterly for his “future-forward” vision. “I want kids to think of school as a place where they feel valued, where they matter,” Cogan says in the publication. “When kids go to Disneyland, they feel like special humans in a special place made just for them. When our buildings can do that, then I’ll know we’ve been successful.” Click here to read more.
OC REGISTER: CHILDREN JOIN IN ANNUAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
The Orange County Register covered SAUSD’s Walk to School Day event at the McFadden Institute of Technology. Click here to read it.
OC SPORTS ZONE: SEGERSTROM VICTORIOUS AGAINST CERRITOS
Segerstrom High School’s football team wrapped up non-league play Oct. 8, defeating Cerritos 35-6. OC Sports Zone has photos and a re-cap of the game. Click here to read it. 
OC SPORTS ZONE: PHOTOS FROM SANTA ANA, SADDLEBACK GAME
OC Sports Zone covered the football game between Santa Ana High and Saddleback high schools on Oct. 8 at the Santa Ana Stadium. Click here to read it.
SCHOOL NEWS
Visit our SAUSD school websites and follow our schools on social media for news on programs, accolades, events and more!
SEGERSTROM HIGH SCHOOL EARNS TOP HONORS IN STATEWIDE 2021-22 RACE TO SUBMIT CAMPAIGN
The school counseling and higher education team from Segerstrom High School was honored Oct. 7, 2021 for its efforts in helping the school score third in the statewide 2021-22 Race to Submit. The campaign aims to increase the number of financial aid applications filed by California high school seniors, which is the first step toward college success and helps students qualify for federal and state aid. Click here to read more.
SANTA ANA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SPEAK DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH VIRTUAL FORUM
Destiny Ceja and Anna Fierro - two students from Santa Ana High School’s speech and debate team - are scheduled to speak during an Oct. 14 Hispanic Heritage Month virtual forum sponsored by the Orange County Department of Education. The event celebrates Latino cultures and contributions in Orange County. Click here for more information.
VALLEY’S FRED MACIAS NAMED COACH OF THE WEEK BY LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Congratulations to coach Fred Macias, of Santa Ana Valley High School, who was recently named the Los Angeles Chargers’ Orange County Coach of the Week. For nearly two decades, the Chargers have teamed up with the NFL to host the team's High School Football Coach of the Week program. The program recognizes high school football coaches who have made a difference in the lives of their players through leadership, hard work, and a special dedication to their young scholar athletes. Each winning coach receives $1,000 for their school's athletic department.


Posted by SAUSD - Early Childhood Education: “Math: time, graphing, counting, number recognition and one to one correspondence. @daviselementarysausd”
Posted by roosevelt_roadrunners: “Roosevelt-Walker Speech and Debate Team. Coach Andres, a former Santa Ana student, is meeting with our students and assigning them their speech. We are getting ready for a successful year.”
Posted by Heroes_elementary_sausd: “Heroes students and staff did a great job during COVID testing today! It was quick and easy and you could feel the smiles through their masks after! So proud of our Heroes Huskies today and every day… working hard to keep everyone safe and learning at school!”
Posted by ala_wolf_pride: “Congratulations to Hugo G. for being our Wolf of the Week! Mrs. Younger nominated Hugo because he is Proactive, Responsible, and shows Excellence!”
Posted by Carr Intermediate School Music: “All Carr Instrumental Music Students worked on Breezin’ Thru Music Theory. Music theory is necessary to read music when rehearsing.  Students enjoy using this music theory program!”
Posted by centurycenturions: “Rain or shine our Centurions are hard at work.”
Posted by valleyculinary: “Check out these perfectly golden brown waffles from today’s period 6 Culinary Management class.”
Tweeted by Godinezsports: “Congratulations to our GFHS Athletes of the Month for October!
Michael Aguilar, Jayden Hernandez, Samantha Ibarra, Darlyn Avila, Jacob Chimal, and Vanessa Flores. Good job to all!!”
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Oct. 12, 2021 - Regular Board Meeting
  • Oct. 26, 2021 - Regular Board Meeting
  • Nov. 5, 2021 - Duty Day - Student Free Day - K-12
  • Nov. 9, 2021 - Regular Board Meeting
  • Nov. 11, 2021 - Holiday - Veteran’s Day - All schools and District offices closed. 
RESOURCES