Eleven schools in the Chula Vista Elementary School District are among 156...
Recent News
Arroyo Vista Charter Earns National Blue Ribbon School Honor
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr., recently announced that Arroyo Vista Charter School was named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School, which was heartily congratulated in the community. Arroyo Vista is among only 279 public and 50 private schools to receive this honor—and among only four in San Diego County. “National Blue Ribbon […]
School and Community Leaders Celebrate Groundbreaking for New School
Cheered by community leaders, the Board of Education recently tossed the ceremonial first spades of dirt that signaled the start of construction on the 46th campus in the District. Saburo Muraoka Elementary will be located at 1644 Santa Alexia Ave., near Santa Victoria Avenue. It will cost about $48 million, including the purchase of 10.3 acres. […]
AT&T ‘Flash Funding’ Supports Teachers’ DonorsChoose Requests
AT&T national initiative supports teachers’ DonorsChoose requests at military-connected schools In a surprise announcement, AT&T revealed that it has “flash funded” projects listed by San Diego County teachers on the DonorsChoose.org crowd-funding site, including all 19 projects in CVESD. AT&T selected the districts involved because of their military-connected schools, and high concentration of military-connected students. […]
School’s Veterans Parade and Ceremony as Stirring as Ever
Be a hero. At Veterans Elementary, it is more than a slogan. The school’s 10th Annual “Honoring Our Heroes” Veterans Parade and Ceremony was as patriotic and at times as emotional as ever. The parade included area high school marching bands, classic cars shuttling dignitaries and veterans alike, and a touching march of students with […]
Where’s Waldo? At Lauderbach
Several schools in the District put their own unique spin on Halloween with literacy-themed parades and events. For example, “Trick or Read” promoted reading at J. Calvin Lauderbach Elementary on Oct. 30. Students and staff dressed as their favorite storybook characters. About 170 parents attended a morning presentation, with the school’s PTA, before breaking out […]
CVESD Honored by State Business Organization for Achievement
The District and 26 individual schools are selected for respective ‘Honor Roll’ distinctions The Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) has announced that the Chula Vista Elementary School District is one of only 11 districts in California to be named a 2014 “Honor Roll” district. “Your district stood above the rest in getting your […]
Padres and STAR/PAL are a Hit with Silver Wing Students
Students from Silver Wing Elementary in south San Diego caught fly balls, took swings in the batting cage, and ran the bases during a simulated game while being cheered by their local heroes: the San Diego Padres and San Diego Police. The baseball “camp” took place Aug. 18 at Petco Park, the home of the […]
2015-16 School Year: From ‘First Day’ Tears to Patriotic Tributes
Kindergarten parents shed a few tears. Teachers formed welcome “tunnels” at school entrances. And PTA leaders set up coffee and pastries to welcome parents. Most of the District’s 45 schools began the school year on Wednesday, July 22. (Ella B. Allen School, Hilltop Drive Elementary, and Vista Square Elementary are being modernized this summer and […]
Board Approves $5 Million for Teacher Collaboration
The Board of Education set aside $5 million to employ additional teachers starting in the 2015-16 school year with a focus on Visual and Performing Arts, which in turn will provide classroom teachers with release time for collaboration. The funding for collaboration while also boosting arts instruction District-wide was being hailed by classroom teachers and […]
STEM Fair Draws Broad Tech Participation
More than 30 speakers from a variety of companies and public agencies came out to Discovery Charter recently to talk about careers in science, technology, and engineering, and how math is used in everyday life. It was all part of the school’s first STEM Career Fair. Kenneth J. Brown, Director of Engineering, Commercial/Industrial, for Leviton […]
Purple Reigned at Olympic View Elementary
If you were seeing purple at Olympic View Elementary last month, it was no accident. Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue. On April 15, Olympic View celebrated “Purple Up! for Military […]
Gaining Ground in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity
A comprehensive four-year initiative to improve the health and wellness of students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District has resulted in the most positive trends to date in the fight against childhood obesity. The results of the District’s 2014 measurement of the height and weight of every preschool through sixth grade student were announced […]
Masonic Awards are Still Going Strong after Nearly 90 Years
Retired Navy Capt. Jack Evans was a second-class seaman assigned to the battleship USS Tennessee when he awoke December 7, 1941, to the sounds of war as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. “Everything was on fire. There was fire everywhere,” recalled Evans, in an oral history provided to the website Witness to War. “Even the […]
Young and Young at Heart Get Fit Together
One generation grew up watching black-and-white television, the other is still growing up and as likely to watch Apple TV as ABC. No matter their age, however, participants in the Intergenerational Games each knew how to toss a giant parachute, wiggle a hula hoop, and share a smile. It was all part of a sun-splashed […]
Classroom of the Future Has Arrived at Feaster Charter
At Mae L. Feaster Charter’s Engineering Lab, third grade students learn about torsion, tension, compression, and shear. They collaborate to construct model bridges. Upper grade students learn to code for “Arduino,” an open-source electronics platform intended for making interactive projects. Feaster students are taught the value of working with a team, revising an idea when […]
District Shares English Learner Success with State Board
Mauricia Saucedo was a parent volunteer when she first began working with English Learner students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. A landmark Supreme Court decision in 1974 guaranteed children an opportunity to a “meaningful education” regardless of their language background. The Supreme Court decision stemmed from a lawsuit in San Francisco, but its […]
Spotlight: Cook Elementary
On an annual basis, each school in the Chula Vista Elementary School District provides an oral presentation or written report to the Board of Education on educational progress and future plans. Hazel Goes Cook Elementary recently presented its progress report to the Board. Check out this cool video about the school: Enjoy!
Feaster Charter is Among Finalists for National Honor
The National Center for Urban School Transformation has announced that 22 schools from across the country have been chosen as finalists for the National Excellence in Urban Education Award. Among the finalists is Mae L. Feaster Charter in the Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD). “These schools are among the best urban schools in the […]
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 26,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 10 sold-out performances for that many […]
CVLCC 11th Graders Demo Video Game ‘Coding’ to 8th Graders
Event promotes ‘Hour of Code’ during Computer Science Education Week Video games like Asteroids, Frogger and Pac Man might be better known to their parents’ generation. But for 44 eleventh grade students from Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (CVLCC) School, the classic arcade games served as a great introduction to coding. The students programmed their […]
Palomar PTA Leader’s Death has Shocked, Galvanized Community
The news hit Palomar Elementary Principal Erika Taylor like a shock. Her school’s PTA vice president was killed the day after Thanksgiving. It was an extraordinarily violent crime. Leonor Castillo was allegedly run over by her estranged husband not once but twice. She was the mother of three daughters, ages 3, 8 and 10. The […]
Teachers Honored for Making the Grade at ‘Tenure Tea’
More than 70 teachers from across the District were honored recently for making the grade as newly tenured teachers. The District held its 22nd Annual ‘Tenure Tea’ reception at the Education Service and Support Center to recognize teachers who made it through a rigorous screening process. The event was held on December 10, 2014, and the […]
Veterans’ Holiday Sacrifices are Remembered
There was hardly a dry eye in the audience when Loma Verde Elementary fifth grade student Georgia Magallan-Tejeda first read her winning essay at the Marine Corps Birthday Cake Ceremony and Veterans Day event at the Veterans Home of Chula Vista. Georgia won first place and a $40 Barnes and Noble gift card in the […]
Montgomery School Shines After ‘Green Apple Day of Service’
John J. Montgomery Elementary was abuzz recently as more than 75 volunteers, including 10 students, came out to “green” the campus by performing service work. The project commenced a year-long Green Schools Challenge implemented by the San Diego Green Building Council. “The Green Apple initiative is just an amazing effort,” said Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D., Superintendent […]
Hedenkamp News
Originally posted on Hedenkamp Elementary School:
red ribbon week A million thanks to the Camarena Family for providing such an outstanding Red Ribbon Week Assembly. Over 1100 Hedenkamp Huskies were able to meet members of the DEA, FBI and the Chula Vista Fire Department. In addition, the DEA trained dogs, Kilo and Riley, were here…
‘Little Gem’ of a Parade is Still Growing
The Ninth Annual Veterans Day Parade, hosted by none other than Veterans Elementary School, will take place on Friday, November 7 with a special designation. The school’s parade has the official endorsement of the Chula Vista City Council. City Councilwoman Patricia Aguilar, wife of a Vietnam Veteran, said she was proud to support the school […]
Students Get ‘Charged Up’ for Dental Care
This was not your typical visit to the dentist, what with San Diego Chargers players giving high fives to students receiving free dental care and Chargers cheerleaders providing extra encouragement with great smiles of their own. Throw in festive music, free t-shirts, and player autograph signings and the day could not have gone much better […]
Talk about a cold welcome!
Forgive students and staff at Hazel Goes Cook Elementary for the chilly reception they gave on Sept. 19 to Executive Director Matthew Tessier and Superintendent Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D. Cook sixth grade students Soleil Alvarado and Jet Jackson dumped buckets of ice water on Tessier and Dr. Escobedo as part of the ALS Association “Ice Bucket Challenge.” The […]
Bring your Mom and Dad to School
Originally posted on Camarena Elementary School:
Camarena Elementary School View original post
Teammates Reunite at CVESD Alumni Event
Retired teachers Sue Bear and Faye Nance worked together as first grade team teachers at Parkview Elementary in the 1970s. They remain good friends to this day, whether traveling together, playing Bunco or sharing stories from their classroom days. Bear and Nance were among those in attendance at the 23rd reunion of the CVESD Alumni […]
Hedenkamp News
Originally posted on Hedenkamp Elementary School:
grandparents’ day Mark your calendars now for Hedenkamp’s first annual celebration of Grandparents’ Day. All Grandparents are invited to Hedenkamp on Friday, September 12 @ 8:15 a.m. for pastries, coffee and juice. At 8:45 a.m., Grandparents are invited to walk their grandchildren to class and be introduced. Click on…
They Eat What for Lunch Over There?!
Some students held their noses. Others, well, spat out the offerings. So it went for Reporter Larissa Wohl of ABC’s “The List” television news magazine, as she conducted a hilarious “Taste Test” recently at Camarena Elementary. The taste test compared school lunch items from around the world. Radish kimchi, channa masala, marmite and sardines were on the menu. There were no […]
CVESD Honored for Outstanding Service to Military Students
Coalition salutes partnership between military installations, school districts, and universities to support military connected students and families The Chula Vista Elementary School District was among a select few school districts in the nation to be honored recently for excellence in working with military connected students. Known as the LTG (Ret) H.G. “Pete” Taylor Partnership of […]
Halecrest Teachers are on a Mission
Halecrest Elementary teachers started the school year with a staff activity that included reading an article called “Teacher as Bully: Knowingly or Unintentionally Harming Students,” by Ruth Sylvester. http://www.deltakappagamma.org/NH/dkgbulletinwinter2011.PDF (Page 42) “We thought about things we might have done and identified examples from the text,” said Halecrest Principal Shayne Wilson. “We then brainstormed how we could do […]
Bayfront Charter High Hosts its First 9th Grade Class
There were festive school cheers, inspirational speeches by city leaders, and performances by a live band. And that was just day one at Bayfront Charter High, which opened on Wednesday to 80 ninth grade students in modern, office-style classrooms in a building that also is home to United States University. Mayor Cheryl Cox was guest […]
Learning Comes to Life at Daly Academy Therapy Garden
Daly Academy, in the Chula Vista Elementary School District, is blooming. Thanks to generous donations of time, talent and resources, the Student Therapy Garden has been revived, replanted and ready for students’ hands-on learning. The working garden was formally rededicated at a recent “Garden Party” attended by students and their families, donors, volunteers, and dignitaries […]
Palomar Principal Touts a Good ‘Splash’
Palomar Elementary Principal Erika Taylor is the kind of leader who thrives in the deep end of the pool. Taylor is a former lifeguard and swim instructor who can personally attest to the benefits of the City of Chula Vista’s swimming program. When Kaiser Permanente kicked-off the seventh year of “Operation Splash” in Chula Vista, […]
Lady Comets Basketball is Streaking
The Joseph Casillas Elementary School is starting to build a dynasty when it comes to girls basketball. The Lady Comets won the district championship on March 21 with a rousing 27-21 victory over the Clear View Voyagers. The match was played at Chula Vista High. It is the fifth girls championship for Casillas in the […]
Bilingual Education Association Honors CVESD Leader with State Award
Emma Sanchez, the District’s executive director for Language Acquisition and Development, was selected as Administrator of the Year by the California Association for Bilingual Education. Sanchez was presented the award at the recent CABE Anaheim 2014 State Conference, which was attended by more than 4,000, teachers, administrators, board members, parents, student teachers, and community leaders. […]
Paralympic Gold Medalist Kicks Off School Tour in CVESD
Decorated summer Paralympic swimmer and track athlete Rudy Garcia-Tolson is visiting one Chula Vista elementary school per school morning through March 14 to promote the Winter Paralympics. Garcia-Tolson is running around the track with students, demonstrating how his prosthetics work, and showing audiences that he can skateboard, too. Garcia-Tolson, a bilateral amputee, has enthralled students as a motivational […]
New Charter High School Coming to CV Bayfront
BAYFRONT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL is scheduled to open in July 2014 for 150 ninth grade students. The school is being developed as an extension of Robert L. Mueller Charter School and its award-winning middle school (MCLA). It will operate on the campus of United States University, which is located at 830 Bay Blvd., Chula Vista. Every aspect […]
Salt Creek Safe School Environment
Originally posted on Salt Creek Elementary:
? Maintaining a safe and respectful environment at Salt Creek is something that we evaluate almost on a daily basis through observation, reports, and feedback. We held Safety Reminders assemblies for our 1st-6th grade students last week emphasizing several key points. We thank our School Resource Officer for being…
Read Across America Spirit Week
Originally posted on Camarena Elementary School:
Camarena Elementary School View original post
Student Speakers Inspired and Challenged Us
The participants in the 2014 District Speech Contest regaled listeners with inspiring personal reflections about the meaning of liberty, service, courage and sacrifice. The finals were held Monday, February 24 at the Education Services and Support Center. For a complete list of the finalists and champions, click here: 2014 Speech Contest – finalists. Superintendent Francisco Escobedo, […]
Spelling B-E-E has Students Buzzing with Pride
Students from Hazel Goes Cook, Halecrest, Olympic View, Salt Creek and Enrique S. Camarena elementary schools squared off in an epic spelling competition for grades K-6 at Casillas Elementary on a recent Saturday. This event has doubled in size over the years and contest organizers intend to involve up to 10 schools next year. Several members and […]
Elementary Students’ Interest in Engineering Takes Flight
Engineers Week activities at Vista Square Elementary bring engineering to life Vista Square Elementary students tossed a barrage of handmade airplanes in the direction of Principal Anateresa Herrera-Wood. And not a single student got in trouble. In fact, she complimented the students on their success. The aerial display was among Engineers Week activities that culminated […]
CVESD is about to engage thousands of parents in unique dialogue
With nearly 30,000 students in 45 schools, the Chula Vista Elementary School District faced a considerable challenge in engaging a learning community of that size in meaningful conversation. The challenge only intensified with the introduction of the Local Control and Accountability Plan. The state-mandated funding plan, referred to as LCAP, requires meaningful input from all […]
Support is Critical for Foster Students, Our Neediest Students
Imagine being a child removed from birth parents and/or separated from siblings. Imagine being that child, trying to keep up academically, socially, and emotionally while transitioning to a new school, and new foster parents. Then, repeating the experience. Sometimes, over and over. “Typically, foster youth are an invisible population. They are invisible because of a […]
Loma Verde Students ‘Learn the Ropes’ – and Medical Science
Five weeks of research and exploration into the field of medical sciences culminated in a unique graduation ceremony for 29 students from Loma Verde Elementary School. Accompanied by their parents and siblings, the Loma Verde students were honored recently as “Saturday Scholars” at the Surface Warfare Medical Institute, San Diego. The fifth- and sixth-grade students […]
Feaster Charter Says, ‘Lettuce Celebrate’ New Greenhouse
A lot of schools have school or community garden projects. At Mae L. Feaster Charter School, the concept of a school garden didn’t just get off the ground. It was taken to another level. Feaster recently held a ribbon-cutting for a Hydroponic Greenhouse. Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient […]
Thousands of Students Discover ‘Living Coast,’ Thanks to Unified Port of San Diego
Almost half the students from the Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) who attended a Coastal Education Program at the Living Coast Discovery Center during a recent two- and half-year period were able to participate because of a grant from the Unified Port of San Diego. The Port’s Environmental Services Program provided $31,000 to CVESD, […]
Students Give Thanks, Appreciation for First Responders, and the Military
As an officer detached to a K-9 unit, Chula Vista Police Officer Chris Walters is used to crowds of students gathering around him. They’ll want to pet police dog Ares, ask his handler all manner of questions, or just hang around. Walters can appreciate every minute. This has been a difficult year for law enforcement, […]
‘Gem of a Parade’ is a Veterans Tradition
As military veterans marched with their school-age children, the 2016 “Honoring Our Heroes” Veterans Parade and Ceremony tugged at the heart as well as our national pride. The 11th annual parade took place on Friday, November 4, and included high school marching bands, community groups, and classic cars that shuttled dignitaries and veterans alike. The marching of […]
CVESD Principal Receives Grant to Champion Creativity in Schools
Debra McLaren is one of 20 elementary and middle school principals from across the nation who has been selected by Crayola and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) to receive a “Champion Creatively Alive Children” school grant. McLaren is principal of Wolf Canyon Elementary in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. Crayola and […]
Students and Staff Help Model Preparedness in Great California ShakeOut
Schools across the Chula Vista Elementary School District took part in the state’s annual earthquake drill called the Great California ShakeOut at 10:20 a.m. on October 20. The event marked a day of individual and community activities featuring the largest earthquake drill ever organized. Great Shakeout events are intended to foster a culture of preparedness […]
Chula Vista Elementary School District 