OCTOBER 2015 | SAN JACINTO, CA | www.sanjacinto.k12.ca.us

TOGETHER, WE ARE THE SAN JACINTO DIFFERENCE!

The fall season is upon us, and before we know it, we will be on break for the Thanksgiving holiday. This school year has picked up momentum and great things are happening with our students and staff as you will see in the following pages.

One of our recent undertakings was adoption by our SJUSD Board of Trustees of our single unified plan entitled The San Jacinto Difference. The San Jacinto Difference includes our new Mission, Vision, Core Values and Student Profile along with the Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP). It was developed through a large contingency of staff, parents, community members and most importantly, students — yes, we listened and took to heart student voices which were articulate, powerful, and insightful. I couldn’t be more proud of our team for their work on this new comprehensive plan that will usher SJUSD’s progress towards college and career readiness for all students by transforming our culture into the “Disneyland of schools,” where excellence and results are the norm, learning is fun and engaging, clear pathways for student success are developed, and passion is ignited.

Additionally, numerous Career Technical Education (CTE) programs at San Jacinto High School had an amazing presence at this year’s Southern California Fair in Perris, California, as you will see the many highlights on the following pages. We continue in our commitment to expand CTE options for SJUSD students in not only high school but also elementary and middle school.

Finally, San Jacinto High School has once again retained the victory bell in a convincing win over Hemet High School at Bulldog Stadium on October 9. Hemet High sold 1,007 tickets from their visitor’s booth, the largest crowd we have ever had at the away Hemet game, where we watched the Tigers defeat the Bulldogs, 26 to 10.

Thank you for taking time to read this edition of Great Things Happening. To continue to stay connected to SJUSD, please download our mobile application SanJacintoUSD, follow us on Twitter @SanJacintoUSD, “Like” and “Share” our new Facebook page, visit our website www.sanjacinto.k12.ca.us and sign up for email notifications by this link I Support SJUSD Schools! (http://goo.gl/forms/FQyT1p5ye7) or email us at IsupportSJUSDschools@sanjacinto.k12.ca.us.

It is my honor and privilege to continue to serve the students, staff and the community of San Jacinto!

Great Things Happening at

San Jacinto Unified School District...

Superintendent’s CornerSuperintendent’s CornerSuperintendent’s Corner By Diane PerezBy Diane PerezBy Diane Perez

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EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION TEACHERS

The SJUSD Board of Trustees welcomed two new Assistant Principals at their October regular meeting, both promotions from the teaching staff within the district. Ms. Amy Rose is now part of the Megan Cope Elementary campus, and Mr. Andrew Mante is part of the Record Elementary site. Both new management team members are very excited

about their new assignments, and their campus teams are happy to have them on board.

SJHS TIGERS RETAIN BELL FOR ANOTHER YEAR!

NEW ASST. PRINCIPALS AT RECORD & MEGAN COPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

At half time on October 9, 2015, the score was 3 to 10 with a Hemet High School Bulldog lead. The San Jacinto High School Tigers came back after halftime to win the game, with 23 more points to make the winning score 26 to 10. Coach Aric Galliano made sure his team was in tip-top shape and all their training paid off as the Bulldogs seemed to lack the stamina that the Tigers had in abundance throughout the game. Nice job, Tigers!

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NEW STUDENT CLUB AT ESTUDILLO ELEMENTARY

A new student-initiated club was organized at Estudillo Elementary called The Four Directions

Native American Club. Fifth-grader Su’la Arviso approached Principal Autumn Clark with her idea

and promptly complied with developing a club constitution and election of officers. The purpose of

the club is to promote cultural awareness; to inspire native American students to plan for college; to

learn about their heritage/traditions; to develop leadership, and to provide service for their school

community. First-grade Teacher Patricia

Chavez is the Faculty Advisor, and of Navajo

descent. With 10.8% of the Estudillo

Elementary population part of the Soboba

Band of Luiseno Indians, the club is a

welcome addition to the student activities

and was a popular booth at the school’s

recent Harvest Festival! Pictured L-R:

President Su’la Arviso, Faculty Advisor Ms.

Chavez, and Vice President Ciara Ramos.

INTRODUCING... THE SAN JACINTO DIFFERENCE!

At their October regular meeting, the Board of Trustees adopted The San Jacinto Difference, a new united, single District plan that includes updated/new Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Graduate Profile with courses of action centered on the District’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) through the collaboration and team work of Action Groups. Unlike any other plan or presentation of late, The San Jacinto Difference features student voices — the ‘why’ our District exists...to educate and empower all students to achieve academic excellence, personal growth and social responsibility. Each month, Great Things Happening will feature another aspect of The San Jacinto Difference.

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STUDENT OF THE MONTH

The Hemet / San Jacinto Student of the Month

Program recognizes 12th grade students from seven

schools in the Hemet and San Jacinto school districts

that demonstrate character, integrity, a love of learning, involvement in school activities,

athletics, and community service, or the ability to overcome challenging life circumstances.

The following high school seniors were recognized on October 28, 2015, at the monthly breakfast award ceremony held at The Sizzler Restaurant, 4762 W. Florida Ave., Hemet: left to right; Tahquitz High: Kyle Pagdayunan, HUSD Educational Options School (ACE Academy): Adrian Minijarez, West Valley High: Ben Jones, Hemet High: Sofia Vivanco, Hamilton High: Clint Packard, San Jacinto High: Joshua Scruggs, and Mtn. View High: Nathalie Campos.

Congratulations OCTOBER Students of the Month

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SJUSD COLLEGE KICK-OFF DAY A COMPLETE SUCCESS!

FOSTER YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

San Jacinto Unified School District (SJUSD) held a kick-off on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, to focus on college and career readiness throughout all 14 SJUSD school sites, as part of Riverside County’s College Kick-Off Day. The Riverside County Office of Education challenged each school district to implement activities for students, parents and community partners to explore and emphasize the importance of planning for post-secondary education, including two- and four-year college, trade school and/or the military. “This is the time of year we promote the college application process, and we conducted the Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) for all students in grades 9 through 11 today,” said Vanessa Gomez-Lee, lead counselor for SJUSD, “and even more importantly, we held activities today in all the lower grade levels, too, because planting the seed in all our students to be thinking about future possibilities can be a predictor of student success after high school.” Students and staff adorned their favorite college shirts, colors and career attire and attended lunchtime pep rallies, wrote in essay contests, and decorated office/classroom doors, just to name a few activities held today. “We were up for the challenge from the county to promote college and career readiness,” said Diane Perez, SJUSD Superintendent. "This is our vision for all our students, and implementing College Kick-Off Day on every campus, from our preschools to high schools, signifies our commitment to preparing all our students to be successful as they choose their own unique future.”

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SOCAL FAIR: OCTOBER 3-11, 2015

Congratulations to our fair participants!

Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat: Pam Zavala 2nd Place Market Goat: Beth Lara Torres 3rd Place in Market Goat Showmanship: Beth Lara Torres Champion Feeder Goat: Sahian Bolanos 4th Place Market Lamb: Nyshani Martinez

2nd Place Market Lamb: Isabell Alpirez 1st Place Carcass: Isabell Alpirez

1st Place Market and 7th Place Advanced Showmanship: Cassie Schenck 2nd Place Market: isabell Alpirez 1st Place Market and Reserve Supreme Champion Hog: Angelina Alpirez 6th Place Market: Fabian Castillo 1st Place Market: Maile Durham 9th Place Market: Sahian Bolanos 4th Place Market: Pamela Zavala 5th Place Market: Kyle Hoffarth 3rd Place Market: Sophia Olivas 8th Place Market: Franchesca Olivas 2nd Place Feeder Class: Maggie Zavala

1st Place—Hog Pen of Three!

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ACHIEVE-

The San Jacinto High School Career Technical Education (CTE) programs participated in the

fair this year, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Vince Record (SJUSD ASES Coordinator), Calvin Smith (CL

Smith Hay & Grain), Jeff Whittenburg (SJHS Woodshop Teacher), and SJHS Ag Program Teachers

Howard Wilson, Lindsey Stiff, and Danielle Scoggins. SJUSD is leading the pack in CTE work across

the county and there is no doubt with the wonderful displays of student work. Other participating

classes (not pictured) include Multimedia and

Photography. The Culinary Arts program held a

vegetable carving contest event to demonstrate

their depth of creativity with color and texture.

SOCAL FAIR: OCTOBER 3-11, 2015

Draw & Paint, Teacher Brock Essick

Ceramics, Teacher Wanda Simchuck

Culinary Arts, Teacher Debra Ward

Woodshop Technology, Teacher Jeff Whittenburg

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SCIENCE COMES ALIVE AT SAN JACINTO ELEMENTARY

Recently, 3rd grade students at San Jacinto Elementary were able to see science ‘come

alive’ as they were able to go inside a planetarium and look at consolations. It was a great way to

give the students a real life experience.

PRESCHOOL HOLDS FIRST SPIRIT DAY!

Even our preschool students are enjoying having Spirit Day,

and kicked off their new celebration with ’family’ day. Children

brought in family photos to share with classmates and the Office

Staff greeted families upon arrival and displayed their own family

photos!

MVMS FEATURED IN 2015 BOOK FAIR GUIDEBOOK

Monte Vista Middle School is fea-tured in the fall 2015 Book Fair Guidebook for their award winning Family Literacy Night held last school year. The guide is featured online as well as printed and sent out to every school and organization that will hold a book fair this fall. You can find the article on Page 19! Here’s the website link to the guidebook:

http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/F15_Guidebooks/MS/index.html

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Hyatt Elementary had lots of students with

perfect attendance in September and held their first

Perfect Attendance Luncheon — and that’s something to

dance about! Winning students were treated to a

special pizza lunch by Nutrition Services and ‘rocked the

house’ with Principal Bridget Heeren.

HYATT ELEMENTARY’S FIRST PERFECT ATTENDANCE LUNCH

NMMS RECEIVED MODELS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

At the 13th Annual Riverside County Education Summit, the Asset-Building, Results-Based

Campus Supervision model at North Mountain Middle School received a Models of Academic

Excellence award. The NMMS program allows the school’s campus security team to successfully

impose school rules and district policies that students believe to be unfavorable while still

maintaining a positive student-centered environment and a presence that is approachable. By

utilizing the 40 Developmental Assets framework to encourage behavior conducive to a positive

learning environment, the team works collaboratively to identify every available avenue to

impact students with positive reinforcement and affirmation.

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San Jacinto Unified School District Board of Trustees

President: John I. Norman

Clerk: Willie Hamilton

Member: Deborah Rex

Member: Jasmin Rubio

Student Member: Joshua Scruggs

Superintendent: Diane Perez

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services: Seth Heeren

Assistant Superintendent of Personnel: Matthew Hixson

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services: Sherry Smith

Principals

Preschool Director: Elizabeth Zaragoza Record Elem: Shelley Mendez

De Anza Elem: Lauren Armijo San Jacinto Elem: Juan Peñaloza

Estudillo Elem: Autumn Clark San Jacinto Leadership Academy: Col. Sick

Hyatt Elem: Bridget Heeren Monte Vista Middle: Janet Covacevich

Megan Cope Elem: Ken Swanson North Mtn. Middle: Dr. Karen Kirschinger

Park Hill Elem: Dulce Noriega Mtn. View HS/Mtn. Heights Acad.: Cliff Weaver

San Jacinto HS: Jordan Reeves

Non-Discrimination Policy

The District maintains a policy prohibiting all forms of discrimination, including harassment, with respect to actual or perceived sex, gender, ethnic

group identification, race, national origin, religion, color, physical or mental disability, age or sexual orientation. Harassment or discrimination by

any pupil, teacher, administrator or other school personnel, which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment, will not be tolerated

under any circumstances.

If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination or harassment, please contact the Assistant Superintendent, Personnel Services, San Jacinto

Unified School District, 2045 S. San Jacinto Avenue, San Jacinto, CA 92583, or by phone at (951) 929-7700, ext. 4232.

Great Things Happening at

San Jacinto Unified School District...