San Juan Scene - Aug. 5, 2025

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As we begin to prepare for the first day of school on Aug. 14, San Juan Unified School District would like to encourage families to complete the Annual Student Information Update as soon as possible. The Annual Student Information Update asks families to:

• Update Emergency Contact Information: All students are required to have updated emergency contact information on file so the district and your school can communicate with you in case of an emergency.
• Complete the School Funding Form: All families are asked to complete one school funding form per household to help our schools receive funds to support your students’ success.
• Get the 2025-26 Family Handbook: Review and acknowledge receipt of this year’s family handbook, containing district resources and information regarding your rights and responsibilities.
• Review Demographic Information: Families are asked to review the demographic information for their student(s) and can update phone number(s) and race, as needed.

Visit www.sanjuan.edu/parentportal to complete the Annual Student Information Update by Aug. 31.

Encina High School is set to begin construction on a brand-new science building. To celebrate this exciting milestone, the school community is invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 9:30 a.m.

The new facility will feature state-of-the-art science classrooms designed to support hands-on, real-world learning experiences. These classrooms are part of a larger effort to create a more engaging and inclusive learning environment for all students.

The science building is just one element of a broader modernization effort at Encina, which includes upgrades to existing classrooms, administrative building, the cafeteria, locker rooms and library. The full modernization is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

These improvements are made possible thanks to voter-approved school facilities bonds, which reflect the community’s continued investment in safe, modern and inspiring learning environments for students.

San Juan Unified has released a new Facilities Master Plan (FMP), a comprehensive, interactive tool that will help guide facility improvements across the district in the years to come.

Available now at www.sanjuan.edu/fmp, the master plan provides a detailed look at the condition of each campus and support site, along with data-driven recommendations to prioritize future investments. The plan supports the district’s commitment to creating safe, modern and equitable learning environments for all students.

The FMP will be updated regularly as projects are completed, new needs emerge and additional funding becomes available. This ensures the plan remains responsive to changing conditions and community priorities.

Families, staff and community members are encouraged to explore the interactive Facilities Master Plan dashboard, which allows users to review data and information by school site.

Communicating with school staff can be challenging for families who are new to the country or have limited English proficiency. But a new tool introduced across San Juan Unified School District is helping to break down some of those barriers.

During the 2024-25 school year, San Juan Unified began rotating Pocketalk devices at select school sites, initially focusing on campuses that serve large populations of multilingual students and families.

The handheld translation device resembles a smartphone and supports over 160 languages, providing real-time voice and text translation. It's designed to help families and staff hold two-way conversations when a live interpreter isn’t available.

Over the summer, San Juan Unified School District welcomed new Deputy Superintendent of Schools and Student Support Timothy “Chip” Dale, Ed.D. Dale brings more than two decades of experience as a teacher, principal and district-level leader, with a people-first approach and a deep belief in the potential of public education to transform lives.

For many San Juan Unified students, learning continued throughout the summer months. Learn more about how students in all grade levels beat boredom by learning something new!

At Camp Winthers, summer is more than sunshine and s'mores. It's a week of self-discovery, connection and community. Located in the Sierra Nevada, this long-standing San Juan Unified School District program brings students together through outdoor learning, shared traditions and inclusive activities. Campers participate in activities such as archery, rock climbing, canoeing, and more, while developing confidence, forming friendships, and gaining independence.

Many high school students return as counselors to give back the experience they once received, creating a supportive environment where campers can be themselves and try something new. Camp Winthers leaves students with memories, skills and a sense of belonging they carry into the school year. Watch here.

At San Juan Unified, newcomer students had the opportunity to enroll in a summer program uniquely designed for English language learners.

This year, incoming seventh- through ninth-grade students participated in the Middle Newcomer Summer School program. With only four weeks of instruction, students gained additional English language skills through math, art, ELD and STEM learning opportunities. These activities also allowed students to learn how to collaborate through LEGO building and poster making.

This summer, rising fourth through sixth graders from San Juan Unified School District discovered just how far their imagination could take them at the Aerospace Museum of California’s “Dream it… Build it: Design, Build and Engineer” summer camp.

“Everything at the Aerospace Camp has some kind of hands-on element linked to education, so it’s a truly engaging partnership where the [California Teaching Fellows] are one-on-one with the students, helping them and answering their questions,” said Natalia Aguirre-Mazzi, San Juan Unified’s family engagement coordinator.

Learn more about this year’s Aerospace Museum Summer Camp.

Middle school students participated in hands-on learning activities centered around high school CTE programs over the summer. At Mira Loma, students learned about vital signs and human anatomy during the summer program. Students also researched various majors in the medical field to help narrow down their interests and determine what they want to learn in high school. Exploring Health Sciences and Body Systems prepares students for high school CTE classes in the Medical Assisting Pathway available at Mira Loma, El Camino, Rio Americano and Casa Roble.

These summer programs not only introduce students to different CTE classes offered in high school but also give students a chance to explore many career paths while learning about themselves.

Students, parents, staff and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend the following Board of Education meetings:

• Board of Education Meeting – Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m.
• Board of Education Meeting – Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m.

Both meetings will be held at the San Juan Unified School District Office (Board Room), 3738 Walnut Ave., Carmichael.

To stay up to date on all committee meetings or learn more about each committee, visit www.sanjuan.edu/committees.

Students who frequently miss class suffer academically, and their absences affect their classmates’ learning, too. To show your child that attendance is important:

• Make it clear you expect on-time attendance in every class, every day.
• Schedule appointments for non-school hours when possible. Limit family trips to school breaks.
• Don’t allow your child to stay home to miss tests, catch up on sleep or finish schoolwork.