San Juan Scene - May 5, 2026
Date
News for San Juan Unified - May 5, 2026
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Join us for the annual Spirit of San Juan Awards on May 14
San Juan Unified will be celebrating its 13th annual Spirit of San Juan Awards on Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m. at El Camino Fundamental High School’s Center for the Arts, located at 4300 Eastern Ave. in Sacramento.
This award recognizes individuals within our school communities who exhibit exceptional character, remove barriers and provide an inclusive environment for all. This year’s honorees include:
Ojehi Benito-Oserogho - Student, Encina High School
Nia Blunt - Student, Mesa Verde High School
Kim Minugh - Teacher, Encina High School
San Juan High School Ambassador Program - Student Leadership Group, San Juan High School
In addition to honoring our Spirit of San Juan recipients, we will also celebrate our 2026 Classified Employees of the Year and 2027 Teachers of the Year.
Learn more about this event on the Spirit of San Juan webpage.
New stadium, new memories and new possibilities on the horizon
On April 23, students, staff, families and community members celebrated the ribbon-cutting of San Juan High School’s newly modernized stadium. Upgrades include a new track and field, tennis courts, improved amenities, and enhanced safety and accessibility features.
Hear from Principal David Levis and student Brenda Alcaide Navarro as they share how the stadium will serve students for years to come, strengthening school pride and creating a space where they can learn, compete and thrive together.
A first-generation future: How Brian Gomez turned challenges into opportunity
Brian Gomez, a 12th-grade student at Encina High School, is enthusiastic about his future beyond high school.
During his first two years of high school, Gomez struggled with motivation and attendance. At a time when he was still discovering himself, he realized he was surrounding himself with the wrong influences. Motivated by his desire to make his parents proud, Gomez began to take a more active role in his education.
How the K-2 reading difficulties screener guides student success
As part of a new state requirement, the reading difficulties screener was introduced this school year for students in kindergarten through second grade in the San Juan Unified School District.
Designed to identify early signs of reading difficulties, including risk factors for dyslexia, the screener helps teachers better understand how to support students' literacy. With early support, students can build the skills they need to read proficiently by third grade.
Celebrating impact in the special education community
On April 8, the San Juan Unified School District community gathered at El Camino Fundamental High School’s Center for the Arts to celebrate the recipients of the 36th annual You Light The Way awards ceremony. You Light the Way celebrates outstanding individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to San Juan Unified’s special education programs.
From more than 100 nominations, this year’s recipients included:
Caeley Kelly - Special education teacher, Carmichael Elementary School
Ed and Wendy Gonzalez - Parents and community members, Thomas Edison Language Institute
Keliah Owen - Student, Bella Vista High School
Culturally relevant learning opportunities at Encina High School
Encina High School continues to strengthen its commitment to student success through meaningful partnerships that support both academic growth and social-emotional development. Through a collaboration with Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS), students are engaging in culturally relevant learning experiences that amplify their voices, identities and perspectives.
New math curriculums support teachers and students
Following a review process that included teacher input and classroom piloting, the district selected Thinking Math! by Innovamat for TK through fifth-grade and Amplify Desmos Math for sixth to eighth-grade. Both programs support hands-on learning, real-world problem solving and meaningful math discussions.
What's happening this month
Students, parents, staff and community members are encouraged to attend the following Board of Education and committee meetings:
Facilities Committee Meeting – Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Curriculum, Standards, Instructional & Student Services Committee Meeting – Wednesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m.
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) Meeting – Thursday, May 7, at 6 p.m.
Board of Education Meeting – Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m.
AIEP Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting – Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.
LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m.
Board of Education Meeting – Tuesday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m.
Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting – Wednesday, May 27, at 6 p.m.
Board of Education, Facilities, Curriculum, DELAC, LCAP and CAC meetings will be held at the San Juan Unified School District Office (Board Room), 3738 Walnut Ave., Carmichael.
The AIEP Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting will be held at the San Juan Unified Digital Edge, 3738 Walnut Ave., Carmichael.
To stay up to date on all committee meetings or learn more about each committee, visit www.sanjuan.edu/committees.
Upcoming workshops and events for families in May and June
Families are invited to these upcoming workshops and events in May and June:
The annual FamFest will be on May 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Dyer-Kelly Elementary School. This free health, wellness and family engagement event will be a community celebration that connects families with resources, promotes student well-being and showcases the ways families can have fun together.
The next Families Matter session will take place on May 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Starr King K-8. The California Immigration Project will provide information about federal and state changes to Medi-Cal. Many changes to the Medi-Cal program will be implemented between now and 2028. Join us to receive accurate and up-to-date information to keep the immigrant community informed.
The next Community Care Hub is on June 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at Whitney Avenue Elementary School. Join us to learn about essential tools and resources to help support student success all summer long.
Family Fun Friday will take place on June 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Sacramento Bar Park in Fair Oaks. Join us for a fun event that brings families together through nature, teamwork and learning.
Learn more about these upcoming events at sanjuan.edu/familyed.
Families can also visit the video library to watch a video on “Beating the Summer Slide- Supporting Learning at Home.”
Family tip of the month: Mix it up at reading time
Reading at home every day for at least 30 minutes supports students’ skill development. Adding variety to reading time can keep your child interested. You can:
Read the news together. Choose a newspaper (in print or online) with comics. Ask your child which is funniest. Then, read and discuss an article or two.
Take turns reading. You could alternate pages. Or, you can read the narrative and have your child read the dialogue.
Encourage practical reading. Have your child read instructions while you cook, build or repair something.