MEDIA ADVISORY -- San Diego Unified to Celebrate National Parent Involvement Day November 21

MEDIA ADVISORY FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

DISTRICT TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PARENT INVOLVEMENT DAY NOVEMBER 21

WHAT: Schools and departments across San Diego Unified School District are celebrating the invaluable role that parents/guardians play in supporting student learning and public education. Five events for your consideration include: "Come to School With Your Student Day" at Serra; "Shadow Your Student" at Patrick Henry High and Whitman Elementary; a student recognition, proclamation by the city and guest speaker Walter Lam, President & CEO of Alliance for African Assistance at Language Academy; and "Family Reading Night" at Sandburg Elementary. Several other activities are noted at the end of this advisory. Media is invited to attend any of these activities.

WHEN/WHERE: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013
7:10-7:45 a.m.: Serra High School, 5156 Santo Rd. (92124).
8-11:47 a.m.: Patrick Henry High, 6702 Wandermere Dr. (92120)
9:30-11 a.m. Whitman Elementary, 4050 Appleton St. (92117)
5:45-7:30 p.m.: Language Academy, 4961 64th St. (92115)
6-7:30 p.m.: Sandburg Elementary, 11230 Avenida del Gato (92126)

DETAILS:
SERRA HIGH
On "Come to School with Your Student Day," parents may shadow their student for a few classes to get a better understanding of what their child experiences each day. For some, it's also a chance to relive high school. This is the fifth consecutive year the school has hosted this event.

PHOTOS/INTERVIEWS:
Parents and students will be available for interviews in the Family Resource Center, room 231 from 7:10 to 7:45 a.m., along with Serra High's school site operations specialist and event coordinator Jeff Thomas. School starts at 7:30 a.m. Cameras will be allowed to follow parents/students into class from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. Please check-in at the office before heading to room 231.

PATRICK HENRY HIGH
Principal Listy Gillingham will give a brief presentation in the library at 8 a.m., then parents may shadow their student during periods 2-4. Following period 4, parents are welcome to stay and have lunch with their student(s).

PHOTOS/INTERVIEWS:
Principal Gillingham and parents will be available for interviews in the library from 8-8:34 a.m.; Cameras will be allowed to follow parents/students into class during period 2 from 8:34 a.m. to 9:31 a.m. Please check-in at the office before heading to the library.

WHITEMAN ELEMENTARY
Whitman Elementary families are invited to see their students in action, hear a presentation on common core and learn about volunteer opportunities with Whitman PTA.  

PHOTOS/INTERVIEWS:
Principal Pam Thompson, parents and students will be available for interviews in the library during the event, which runs from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Please check-in at the office before heading to the library.

LANGUAGE ACADEMY
Language Academy welcomes guest speaker Walter Lam, president & CEO of Alliance for African Assistance, who will speak about the importance of parent involvement. In addition, Language Academy middle school students will be recognized for outstanding academic achievement. The school will also present a proclamation by the City of San Diego recognizing Nov. 21 as National Parent Involvement Day.

PHOTOS/INTERVIEWS:
Language Academy Principal Cynthia Arce, PTSA President Gabriela Contreras-Misirlioglu, parents and students will be available for interviews from 6-6:35 p.m. and following the meeting, which concludes at 7:30 p.m. Noted below are other noteworthy photo opportunities:

6:35-6:55 p.m.: Walter Lam, President & CEO, Alliance for African Assistance
6:55- 7:00 p.m.: Presentation of proclamation letter by City of San Diego (Recognizing National Parent Involvement Day)
7:00-7:20 p.m.: Middle school student recognition

SANDBURG ELEMENTARY
At "Family Reading Night," students are encouraged to dress in their PJs, bring a blanket and their favorite stuffed animal as they listen to the principal, teachers and parents read short stories. Milk and cookies will be served.

PHOTOS/INTERVIEWS:
Principal Geof Martin, parents and students will be available for interviews from 6-6:30 p.m.

BACKGROUND: National Parent Involvement Day is a joint effort between San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs to recognize parents/guardians and the invaluable role they play in supporting a child's learning at home and at school. Research indicates that when parents are strategically involved in children's learning, student achievement significantly improves and schools are more effective.

To recognize the day, schools were encouraged to host celebrations that honor parents/guardians and facilitate further parent engagement. National Parent Involvement Day was started 19 years ago by Project Appleseed.

Other School Activities on Nov. 21:
7:15-8:15 a.m. : UC High School UCHS Auditorium, 6949 Genesee Ave. (92122), "Chat with the Principal." The principal will give a presentation on "The Benefits of Celebrating Effort and Recognizing Achievement - a Look at Western versus Eastern Cultures." The PTSA will provide refreshments and appreciation gifts to say "thank you" to UCHS parents and guardians for their support.

8-10 a.m.: Marshall Middle School Community Room, 9700 Avenue of Nations (92131), Breakfast and principal chat.

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.: Standley Middle School, 6298 Radcliffe Dr. (92122). Principal Heidi Eastcott will host events for parents throughout the day. Each event will include a demonstration for parents of the new PowerSchool Parent Portal. (7:30 a.m.: Coffee with the principal; 3:05 p.m.: Cookies with the principal; 6 p.m.: Pizza with the principal).

CONTACTS:
San Diego Unified School District: Jennifer Rodriguez, communications specialist, 619-725-5598 (Desk) 619-847-6029 (Cell)

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