Noche de Cuentos is a Mar Vista Academy family event where everyone was invited to participate, have fun and enjoy great stories! Students, teachers and parents set up a gallery of altars for loved ones that have passed. After decorating their cookies,coloring their “calaveritas” or getting their face painted, participants enjoyed stories told by two great story tellers.
This year we had the participation of Marilyn McPhie from Story Tellers of San Diego, entertain us with great scary and not so scary stories in English. We also had Ms. Rosalinda Garcia, BA in Theatre from UABC in Tijuana, present a great cultural play about why and how we set altars on the Day of the Dead. Big thanks to MVA’s teachers, staff, students and families who participated, and enjoyed this year’s Noche de Cuentos.
The Sweetwater Union High School District recently hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the districts new Sports Medicine and Wellness Center. The new facility used to assess, treat, and rehabilitate injured student athletes is the first- of- its-kind in San Diego County and the state.
“Thanks to our partners SDSU, UCSD, Sharp Hospital and long-time philanthropist Doc Camarata for making the Sweetwater District Sports Medicine and Wellness Center a reality,” said Dr. Karen Janney, Sweetwater District Superintendent. “Thanks to all who have supported student athletes of the Sweetwater District.”
The Wellness Center will serve more than 15,000 student athletes in the Sweetwater District and is formally named the Dr. Charles Camarata Sports Medicine and Wellness Center. Dr. Camarata is the founder and head of the Southwest Sports Wellness Foundation. He has been an integral part of the clinic by his generous financial support and the organizer of an annual pre-participation sports screening assessment/exam (PPE) that involve EKG screenings to detect unforeseen heart issues in students.
In addition, Dr. Camarata organized the “Free” Saturday Morning Injury Clinic for injured youth in the Sweetwater District for more than 25 years. In 2004, he established the districts Sports Medicine Career Technical Education courses (CTE) in eleven high schools throughout the district.
Uniquely, the clinic is located in a centralized location with easy access for students on both the East and Westside areas of the district. The clinic is staffed by Sports Medicine doctors, led by Dr. Daryl Bates, Physical Therapists, and Certified Athletic Trainers who provide services at no cost to students.
The clinic not only serves as a hub for Sweetwater District athletes, but it also serves the entire South County Region in partnership with Southwest Sports Wellness Foundation and several other community organizations, including UCSD, SDSU, and Scripps Chula Vista.
“Thanks to all of the collaboration provided by many South County Stakeholders, the idea of having a Wellness Center in Sweetwater is now a reality,” said Joe Heinz, SUHSD Coordinator of Athletics. “This facility is providing critical support to students in this district and in many ways is helping save lives.”
What: As the founding member of the Social Justice Corps, a coalition of educators from South County, she advocates equity for students by organizing forums, workshops, and school teams focused on compassion and justice.
Where: She began her teaching career in 1987 and has taught in Venezuela and Florida for parts of her career. She came to the Sweetwater District in 1997 and is currently teaching Restorative Practices and Peer Counseling at Hilltop High.
Why: Louise believes her strategies in the classroom provide students with ways to transform and thrive. She believes that a teachers love has the ability to transform the world.
What: Tara values the teaching profession and enjoys facilitating environments where her students work through problem solving processes to gain higher understanding of their work.
Where: She began her teaching career 21 years ago at Castle Park Middle School in the Sweetwater District. Since then, she has worked at Bonita Vista Middle and is currently teaching Exploring Computer Science and Exploring Technology at Eastlake Middle.
Why: She believes the nations needs for programmers will continue to grown and she teaches each class with enthusiasm and passion for technology.
What: Katina says the gift of education broke the welfare cycle she was raised in as a young child. To her, education is the only thing in life that can afford students the opportunity to lift them up from their adverse circumstances.
Where: Katina has taught core subjects in residential treatment facilities for foster teens and is currently a Special Education Teacher at Hilltop High Learning Center.
Why: She believes when she is able to engage with her students she is able to navigate them through life’s tough spots. In addition to teaching, this teacher is a mentor for the San Diego County Social Service and Foster Care System.
What: Caro teaches Home Economics and Health Education at Chula Vista Middle. She says her classroom is a place where hard work and integrity are rewarded and failure is not an option. It is her belief that before students can begin to love learning, they first have to love themselves and believe that they are loved and valued.
Where: Saclauso Caro began her teaching career in the Philippines in 1986. She has been teaching Home Economics and Health Education at Chula Vista Middle since 1994. She has been recognized on many levels such as District Advisory Council Teacher of the Year.
Why: As a teacher, she strives to begin each day stirring her students’ passion for learning and to find their deeper humanity and happiness.
On August 4, 2018 over 600 athletic coaches from across the Sweetwater Union High School District convened at Sweetwater High School for the first-ever All Coaches Meeting.
The Sweetwater Athletics Office convened this professional development opportunity for coaches to provide an overview of several important topics that are relevant to athletic coaches. Topics included compliance, Title IX, facilities, safety, and much more.
The event also featured the introduction of a coaching mentor program that provides guidance and support for all athletic coaches across every sport offered in the Sweetwater District.
Four students and their teacher from the Poseidon Academy at Mar Vista High went on a two week trip to New Zealand and Australia this summer. In New Zealand they visited Auckland and Kia Ora. Next, they flew to Sydney and spent four days touring the city, the opera house and the beaches. Following that they headed up to North Queensland to Cairns. In Cairns they got the opportunity to go snorkeling and diving on the Great Barrier Reef. The four students were, Alexis Bowlby, Ethan Hadley, Damon Thomas and Guillermo Gonzalez. They were led by long time academy teacher and marine science instructor, Mr. Olmos.
Despite high rates of hunger across the country and San Diego County, the Sweetwater District continued to provide meals during the summer break to students, who during the regular school year rely on those meals.
Nearly 1,800 students and 300 adults were given a nutritious meal at no cost over the summer break. The Seamless Summer Meals Program was set-up inside the National City Police Department Storefront offices located in the Plaza Bonita Mall.
“Our goal was to provide a bridge to students to get a meal and the proper nutrition they need and deserve during the summer,” said Eric Span, Director of Nutrition Services. “We follow all USDA guidelines and that’s something we are very proud of. “
“We appreciate being part of such a meaningful community program,” said Kelli Nenaber
Senior Director of Marketing Westfield Plaza Malls. “We greatly appreciate the efforts the Sweetwater District put into ensuring the families in our community are cared for and nourished, especially outside the school year routine. “
Any child 18 and under was given a free meal which included breakfast and lunch options. Thanks to a grant, meals were also provided to nearly 300 adults as well.
According to Span, in addition to the no cost meal, guests were happy that there was seating made available to enjoy their meals.
“A lot of kids like to spend most of their days during the summer at the mall. This was a great opportunity to reach kids while their out and about enjoying their summer break,” said Span.
In its third year of working towards Excellence through Equity, the Sweetwater District hosted its first Inaugural Equity Symposium. The event, held at Olympian High School was attended by more than 1,500 district teachers, faculty and staff.
The theme of this year’s Symposium suggests “Excellence through Equity” and the districts goal was to share ideas and possibilities as well as explore challenges related to the implementation of educational equity in our schools.
The symposium looked at student equity through the lens of relationships and the essence of education being based on creating a culture of excellence for all students.
“Today is about continuing our work around teaching, learning and equity,” said Sweetwater District Superintendent Dr. Karen Janney. “Our classrooms often time are the safe harbor for many of our students in an uncertain world. It’s crucial that we empower each student to attain their personal and academic goals while they are with us.”
There were more than 80 different panelists and presenters who shared their knowledge and experiences during high engaging sessions and workshops throughout the symposium.
Dr. Pedro Noguera, a distinguished Professor of Education and Information Studies at UCLA keynoted the symposium. Noguera’s research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions, as well as by demographic trends in local, regional and global texts.
In his keynote address, Noguera said he was heartened by his visit to Sweetwater, and he noted schools need to get in the culture of affirming students. He said, “When that is done, kids rise above their circumstances. When they are left to figure things out on their own, that is when schools produce inequalities.”
During his keynote, Noguera shared that equity and equality are not the same. So how do we accommodate the differences amongst our students? He suggests, “by eliminating barriers in learning for all students. Be the advocates and barriers when needed for children who have none.”
Today more than ever, there is a need and desire for more inclusive schools, greater access and opportunities for students, fairness, and improved student outcomes.
“The Sweetwater District is committed to promoting excellence for staff, students, schools, communities, the district office, and both systematic and systemic programs,” said Dr. Fulcher, Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Culture and Support Services. “We will continue to make this year the year to make a difference in the lives of our students.”
In its third year of working towards Excellence through Equity, the Sweetwater District hosted its first Inaugural Equity Symposium. The event, held at Olympian High School was attended by more than 1,500 district teachers, faculty and staff.
