MEDIA ADVISORY: District and City Leaders to Join Pacific Beach Elementary Students, Community to Celebrate Start of Construction for New Kindergarten Building, Joint-Use Field Expansion

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

 

 

District and City Leaders to Join Pacific Beach Elementary Students, Community to Celebrate Start of Construction for New Kindergarten Building, Joint-Use Field Expansion

 

Friday, October 6, 2023 

 

WHAT:            District and city leaders will join Pacific Beach Elementary School students, staff, 

and community members in celebrating the groundbreaking for the 93-year-old school’s Whole Site Modernization and Joint-Use Field expansion project. 

 

WHEN:            Tuesday, October 10, 2023 

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. 

 

WHERE:         Pacific Beach Elementary School 

1234 Tourmaline St.,*  

San Diego, CA 92109

 

*See map below for event location and media staging area. 

 

VISUALS:       8:30 - 8:42 a.m. - Students Lead Pledge of Allegiance, Mission Bay High School 

                                                    Cheer Team Performs, Pacific Beach Middle School Concert 

     Band Performs 

                                              8:42 - 8 53 a.m. - Speakers 

                                              8:53- 8:58 a.m. -  Shovels to the Dirt, Photo Opps 

                                              8:58 - 9:15 a.m. - Media 1-1s, Campus Tour 

 

                       A construction postcard, fact sheet, and renderings can be found here. 

 

SPEAKERS:  Cody Petterson, Board of Education Trustee, San Diego Unified School District 

                       Joe LaCava, Councilmember, City of San Diego 

                       Jennifer Grondek, Principal, Pacific Beach Elementary School

                       Kylie Fortmann, 5th Grade Student, Pacific Beach Elementary School 

                       Kate Nestojko, 5th Grade Student, Pacific Beach Elementary School 

                       Shelby Skiles, 5th Grade Student, Pacific Beach Elementary School 

                       Carolyn Hernandez, Teacher and Alumni, Pacific Beach Elementary 

 

BACKGROUND: 

Located along Tourmaline Street, Pacific Beach Elementary School has served the community for 93 years. 

 

First opened in 1930, Pacific Beach Elementary began with just one campus building, then added an additional building in 1938. As the population grew, so did the campus. Five additional buildings were added from 1940 - 1957. In 1976, the 1930 buildings were replaced by one building, with five buildings constructed for the former Los Altos Child Development Center. At that time, three portable classrooms were added due to the increased student population. In 2004, a 1.8-acre joint-use field along Turquoise Street was created for student and public use. 

 

Now in 2023, construction is beginning on a Whole Site Modernization and Joint-Use Field expansion project that will bring students a new kindergarten building, a grass playfield, a secure main campus entryway, renovated classrooms, and shade shelters. 

 

Funded by local bond measures, the upcoming kindergarten facility will include modern, state-of-the-art classrooms and collaborative workspaces that lead out to a new play structure with a shade shelter. A second shade shelter will be installed in the general play area. All existing classrooms, the student services facility, and the multi-purpose room will be renovated and all restrooms and the school kitchen will be upgraded. To make room for these new facilities, the three portable classrooms that were built in 1976 will be removed.

 

A community request, the one-acre expansion of the joint-use field will include a walking and running track, a renovated basketball court, play equipment, new trees and benches, a drinking fountain, secure perimeter fencing, and a public access gate. 

 

As part of the Play All Day partnership with the City of San Diego, the joint-use field will be accessible to the community as a local park after school hours and during school breaks. 

 

A Universal Transitional Kindergarten through fifth-grade campus, Pacific Beach Elementary offers robust arts and science programs; music, theater, and dance opportunities; and hands-on scientific experiences through a partnership with San Diego Youth Science. 

 

The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025. 

 

PARKING MAP: 

Media can enter through an entrance gate along Turquoise street. A construction crew member will be at the gate. 

RELATED LINKS: 

                        Read more about the Play All Day Parks program here. 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Jamie Ries, Information Services Specialist, San Diego Unified, (619) 855-9283, jries@sandi.net.

San Diego HS to honor alum killed in combat ten years ago

 

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

San Diego High School Honors Alum Killed in Combat with Memorial, Documentary Screening and Mentorship Opportunities  

 

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

San Diego High School students will view the documentary, “Ultimate Sacrifices: CPT. Jennifer Moreno,” exactly ten years after the 2006 San Diego High School graduate died during combat operations in Afghanistan. During a special program honoring CPT. Moreno’s life, students will engage in a panel discussion & lunch, and participate in a memorial tribute. 

WHAT:	Students will view the documentary, “Ultimate Sacrifices: CPT. Jennifer Moreno,” participate in a panel and in a tribute memorial in CPT. Moreno’s honor.
WHEN:	Thursday, Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
WHERE:	San Diego High School in the auditorium 1405 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101

 

VISUALS:	9:30 - 9:45 a.m.	Students Perform: National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and AJROTC presentation and posting of the of colors
	9:45 - 10:50 a.m.	Documentary screening
	11 a.m. - 12 p.m.	Panel Discussion
	12:00 - 12:15 p.m.	Tribute, SDHS Wall of Honor Memorial, Moreno Family Presentation

 

BACKGROUND: CPT. Jennifer Moreno grew up in Logan Heights and graduated as a top marksman and leader in the JROTC Program at San Diego High in 2006. CPT. Moreno attended University of San Francisco on a ROTC scholarship and earned a nursing degree. After graduation, CPT. Moreno decided to serve as a nurse in the U.S. Army. She completed the Army Airborne training in 2009 and while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, she volunteered to serve as a Cultural Support Team (CST) member attached to the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. 

CPT. Moreno, alongside the members of the female led Cultural Support Team, was an essential mediator for the Special Operations unit. The main task of the unit was to help soldiers in the front lines to communicate and mediate with Afghani women, whose interactions with men could be seen as inappropriate in their culture. Critically, the Cultural Support Team put women on the front lines during a time when they were still barred from full-time combat jobs in the military. 

On October 5, 2013 during a Special Operations raid in Zhari District (Afghanistan), a suicide bomber initiated an ambush in the compound the Army team was entering. During the 12 additional blasts that injured 30 rangers and killed three, CPT. Moreno chose to not follow stand-by procedures in order to give essential medical assistance to a fellow soldier trapped nearby, which resulted in the triggering of another IED that led to her death at the age of 25. 

AllTru is honoring CPT. Moreno’s life through a special presentation of the documentary, “Ultimate Sacrifices: CPT. Jennifer Moreno,” followed by a panel discussion and lunch social with AllTru role models and teammates of CPT. Moreno.. 

AllTru panelists are: Alex Horton, Army, Intelligence Officer, Cultural Support Team Leader. George Fraser, Combat-hardened Green Beret & Four-time Purple Heart Recipient. Catherine Harris, Highly-decorated Senior Enlisted Leader, Cultural Support Team Leader. Maria Maio, Army Logistics Officer, Cultural Support Team Leader. Jeff Dawson, Explosive Ordnance Technician on target October 5th, Silver Star Recipient. 

AllTru represents a community of role models, notably women combat veterans who served alongside special operations forces. 

The CST Community understands the value of equal access to opportunity, both from the lens of building high-performing teams and from the lens of promoting stability and prosperity. In an effort to honor the legacy of their fallen sisters, AllTru seeks to ensure all have access to opportunity. 

This event is for professional journalists. Please confirm attendance in advance:

communications@sandi.net. 

 

MEDIA PARKING: 1405 Park Blvd., Lot C, north of I-5 on-ramp.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Murad, Public Information Coordinator, San Diego Unified School District, 619-925-4790, mmurad@sandi.net 

 

###

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE:

NEWS RELEASE

Application Window Opens for School Choice at San Diego Unified 

Gives students the opportunity to attend grade-appropriate district schools outside their neighborhood for 2024-25 year 

October 2, 2023

SAN DIEGO – Starting today, and over the next six weeks, students in the San Diego Unified School District have the opportunity to enroll in schools outside their neighborhood boundaries, including magnet schools. The Choice window for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Click here for more information 

All San Diego Unified students are eligible to submit a Choice application, as are out-of-district students and those attending private or charter schools. 

More than 10,000 area students through all grade levels typically apply to San Diego Unified’s Choice program, and last year roughly 85 percent who applied on time received a spot at one of their top three school selections.

“Our neighborhood schools are the perfect fit for many of our families,” San Diego Unified Operations Support Officer Marceline Sciuto said. “But others may be looking for a specialty program offered at another school, like language immersion, STEAM, visual and performing arts or International Baccalaureate. Perhaps another location just fits better for childcare or a parent’s workplace. Whatever the reason, we have an excellent school for every family.” 

School Choice enrollment is determined through a computerized lottery system. Weight is given to factors such as sibling enrollment and magnet program continuity. Priority is not given based on when the application is received during the enrollment window, provided it comes in by the deadline of Wednesday, November 15. After that date, applications will be processed in the order in which they are received. Click here to see specific programs offered by schools.

Families will receive an email notification by late February indicating whether a student has been accepted or waitlisted to a school of Choice.

 

Parent information sessions will be conducted via Zoom on October 11 and 12 in conjunction with our Family Engagement office.  Log in information is available at this link:  https://www.sandiegounified.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=28033813. 

 

The district offers personalized consultations for families who wish to discuss their options with an enrollment specialist, or for those having difficulty with the application process. The multilingual staff at the Family Welcome and Enrollment Center is available in English, Spanish and Tagalog at (619) 260-2410 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

 

Media availability: Senior Director, Marceline Sciuto

 

Contact: Communications Director Maureen Magee, mmagee@sandi.net, (619) 381-7931 

 

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Post Agenda

PLEASE NOTE:

 

·       Committee Meeting Agenda: Executive Board of the District Advisory Council (DAC) for Compensatory Education – Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Zoom Meeting

Committee Meeting Information: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2023-24_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information
BoardDocs Agenda Link:  http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sandi/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CVKSZL751F2A

·       Zoom Meeting Link: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/83627699361
OR by phone: 669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 836 2769 9361
         

Please forward to staff and as appropriate, print agenda and post in a prominent, publicly accessible location at your site.

 

---

Additionally, please refer to the below links for upcoming meetings, agendas, and minutes of the board advisory committees:

• Audit and Finance: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/audit_and_finance_committee/overview 
• CTEAC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CTEAC/2023-24_meeting_schedule_and_information
• CAC: General Membership— https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2023-24_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board— https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2023-24_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information
• DAC: General Membership— https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2023-24_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board— https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2023-24_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information
• DELAC: General Membership and Executive Board— https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DELAC/2023-24_meeting_schedule_and_information
• CSFC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CSFC/meeting_schedule
• ICOC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/departments/facilities_planning_and_construction/bond_programs/independent_citizens_oversight_committee/icoc_meeting

Thank you.

 

Melissa Hamilton (formerly Hudson)

Confidential Administrative Assistant II

Board of Education

mhamilton@sandi.net

"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." - Robert M. Hutchins

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

 

 

NEWS RELEASE: U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education and San Diego Unified Leaders Join City Heights Students, in Dedicating New George Walker Smith Education Campus

 

 

 

 

News Release 

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education and San Diego Unified Leaders Join City Heights Students, in Dedicating New George Walker Smith Education Campus 

 

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 

 

SAN DIEGO - One of the largest public investments in City Heights’ history is officially complete, as the George Walker Smith Education Campus was formally dedicated. 

 

Named after the first African-American elected to office in San Diego County, the George Walker Smith Education Campus houses the completely rebuilt Wilson Middle and Central Elementary Schools. 

 

On Wednesday, Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson welcomed U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, the family of the late George Walker Smith, Central and Wilson students, and community members to help celebrate the new schools and their namesake. Students from Hoover High School’s Army JOTC, drumline, mariachi band, and cheer team performed during the festive event

 

“We dedicate this campus to past, current, and future students, but also to the City Heights community,” said Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson. “We acknowledge Mr. Smith for his devotion to young students and bringing people of all ethnicities together.” 

 

Opened in 1938 as a one-building school along Polk Avenue, the former Central campus was expanded throughout the years to keep up with growing student enrollment. Predating Central, Wilson was originally built in 1924 as a two-story schoolhouse, serving the thriving suburban community along El Cajon Boulevard.

Now located along Orange Avenue,  the new campus provides seven modern buildings, including a new Performing Arts Center and a parking structure with roof-top playcourts to the Wilson Middle site, and nine new buildings to Central Elementary. 

On the Central side are 26 new general-purpose classrooms, 14 specialized classrooms, a Library Learning Center, a multipurpose room, an after-school program room, a community clinic, a health center, student services offices, and three new play areas.  Each of the general classrooms has access to an approximately 280-square-foot collaborative space designed for pull-out instruction. Specialized classrooms include five kindergarten classrooms, five special education classrooms, and four preschool classrooms.

A large, centrally located soccer playfield will be built and included in a joint-use area that will also include the roof-top hardcourts at Wilson Middle.  Along with a promenade connecting Orange Avenue to El Cajon Boulevard, this innovative play area will be shared by both schools and with the broader community as a park after school hours. 

Former San Diego Unified Superintendent and Central Principal, Marten advocated for the campus rebuild project. 

 

"San Diego and Central Elementary will always hold a special place in my heart, and to return to a campus that has been completely transformed is awe- inspiring,” said Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten. “San Diego Unified’s commitment to quality facilities that foster high-quality teaching and learning, its intentional involvement of staff, families, students and neighbors in the design process, and the outcomes these projects are producing, demonstrate how the school district is raising the bar for its students."

The new Central opened to students in August, and plans are underway to redevelop the former Central campus. 

“Bond funds have single-handedly transformed City Heights and communities within my district and beyond,” said Richard Barrera, a Board of Education Trustee. “We’re transforming the lives of our students while also transforming communities at the same time.” 

Barrera and the Board of Education voted unanimously to name the campus that hosts Central and Elementary and Wilson Middle after George Walker Smith in March 2021. 

Smith made local history when he was elected to the Board of Education in 1963. Serving for 16 years, Smith initiated a diversity campaign to encourage trustees to travel to historically black colleges to recruit black teachers and educators. 

“George personified equity for all students and spent his life building civic engagement throughout San Diego,” said Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Board of Education Trustee for San Diego Unified. “He was a legend then and his legacy lives on to this day.” 

 

RELATED LINKS: 

Agenda Item: Board of Education Recommendation to Name District Facilities in Honor of George Walker Smith

Board of Ed. Video: Recommendation to Name District Facilities in Honor of George Walker Smith 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Jamie Ries, Information Services Specialist, San Diego Unified, (619) 855-9283, jries@sandi.net.