Media Advisory from San Diego Unified School District, April 4, 2016
California Supreme Court Chief Justice to Present California Civic Learning Award of Excellence to Kumeyaay Elementary
WHAT: California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye will visit Kumeyaay Elementary School to present the California Civic Learning Award of Excellence to the K-5 school. Kumeyaay was one of three schools in California to receive the award and the only elementary school selected.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 5, 10-10:45 a.m.
WHERE: Kumeyaay Elementary School, 6475 Antigua Blvd. (92124)
DETAILS: The 45-minute ceremony will begin with an overview of the elementary school's three areas of civic learning, presented by Principal Maria Montgomery, teacher Stefanie Krieg, members of the Spirit Club and students from each grade level. Guests will then be escorted to the garden to learn about the school's Garden to Café program and finally to their outdoor learning area to talk about Project H.O.W.L. (Habitat and Outdoor Wildlife Learning). The event will culminate with a plaque presentation by the Chief Justice.
Agenda:
- Library: Gallery Walk of three areas of civic learning – facilitated by Principal Montgomery, Stefanie Krieg, members of the Spirit Club, and representatives from each grade level
- Garden: Students offer insights into the Garden to Café program
- Project H.O.W.L.: Students and Mrs. Gay Young explain the importance of the outdoor habitat
- Special Tribal Meeting (All-school Assembly)
- Welcome/Introduction: Principal Montgomery
- Speeches by fifth-grade students Lindsay Griffin and Maya Ordas
- Remarks by San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten
- Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye remarks and presentation of plaque
- Closing Remarks: Teacher Stefanie Krieg
- Closing: Principal Montgomery
SPEAKERS:
- California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
- San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten
- Principal Maria Montgomery
- Fifth-grade students Lindsay Griffin and Maya Ordas
PHOTOS: Students and guests in the garden and outdoor learning area; plaque presentation by Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye.
BACKGROUND: The Civic Learning Awards, now in their fourth year, were created to celebrate public schools' efforts to engage students in civic learning. The Civic Learning Awards program is part of Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye's Power of Democracy civic learning initiative and partnership with the Superintendent of Instruction Tom Torlakson, launched in 2013 at the Civic Learning Summit.
The winners were selected by an expert panel, based on the depth and breadth of their civic learning courses or programs. Six schools received Awards of Distinction, including Pacific Beach Middle School, and 78 schools received Awards of Merit. Schools in San Diego Unified that received Awards of Merit include: Crawford High– Academy of Law, DePortola Middle, Mission Bay High and Sherman Elementary.
On April 14, 2015, San Diego Unified's Board of Education approved a resolution in support of Civic Learning. The Board asked the district to make a commitment to work toward developing civic literacy of all its students by integrating the Six Proven Practices identified by the National Council for Social Studies into instructional practice and school life. In addition, it asked that the district establish a goal to make schools aware of and encourage participation in the application for the annual Civic Learning Award.
Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, Communications, 619-847-6029, jcornelius@sandi.net
For more information about the Power of Democracy K-12 civic learning initiative and local Civic Learning Partnerships visit www.PowerOfDemocracy.org.
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