SCESD Shines

Dear SCESD Community,

On Monday, March 2, we will celebrate Read Across America Day in a very special way: by launching our very first Salinas City Reads!

For 90 minutes, community members, from our Mayor and elected officials to local business and civic leaders, will step into our classrooms to read alongside our students. When our city shows up with a book in hand, we send a powerful and unified message: Leaders are Readers.

Third grade reading proficiency is our floor. It is a shared commitment that anchors our work and opens doors to every child’s future success. While events like Salinas City Reads spark joy, connection, and belonging, they also reinforce the focused, intentional instruction happening in every classroom each and every day to ensure our students become confident, capable readers who thrive by design.

We warmly invite community partners who are interested in participating as guest readers to contact Mary Duan at (831) 455-6789. Your presence matters. Together, we can cultivate belonging one story, one classroom, and one child at a time.

Warmly,
Rebeca Andrade, Ed.D.

Feb. 28: STEAM field trips take place.

March 2: National Read Across America Day.

March 2-5: Spring Student Culture and Climate Survey administered to students in grades 3-6; make-up surveys take place March 9-10.

March 3: ELPAC Parent/Guardian Night takes place at 6pm at University Park.

March 5: Dual Immersion Parent Informational meeting takes place at 6pm at Sherwood.

March 6: Professional Development Day; no school.

March 7: Family Leadership Conference takes place at Kammann School.

March 9: Spring 2026 Trustee Town Halls begin. See fliers for details.

March 10: Board of Trustees meeting takes place at the District Office.

The District's Trustees are looking forward to gathering—with community and in community—for the Spring 2026 Town Hall Series. They will discuss the District's Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP), facilities, the Learner's Profile, Community Schools and more.

All are welcome to attend any of the meetings, regardless of your Trustee area. Childcare will be available, and interpretation services will as well. We will share a meal as well.

Please see the flyers below. We look forward to seeing you!

At 6pm on March 6, our Dual Immersion Program will hold a parent information meeting—the last scheduled meeting before Dual Immersion enrollment closes on March 31. If you are interested in a Dual Immersion education for your child(ren), you must attend one information meeting before enrollment. See the flyer for details, and we look forward to you joining.

As the season soon shifts into spring, there is renewed energy across school communities, and an important opportunity to continue strengthening daily attendance. Warmer weather often brings increased activities and distractions, yet maintaining consistency in showing up each day ensures students stay connected to learning and to one another. Every lesson builds on the previous one, and sustained attendance protects the coherence of instruction so that progress continues uninterrupted.

Deep appreciation is extended to families, students, educators, and site leaders for the collective efforts that have led to recent attendance gains. The positive momentum seen during recent Power Days reflects a shared commitment to fostering a strong sense of belonging in every classroom. When students feel welcomed, valued, and engaged, attendance improves, and so does academic growth.

As preparations begin for Power Week, March 30-April 2, this is a time to build on success. Let’s continue reinforcing routines, celebrating improvement, and communicating the importance of being present every day. Spring is a season of growth, together, strong attendance will help every student thrive and finish the year with purpose and pride.

Below please find the attendance dashboard, which tracks Districtwide attendance.