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#TeamPUSD

Sharing the Good News and Good Work of Students and Staff

#TeamPUSDSharing the Good News and Good Work of Students and Staff

June 2016 Edition

Dear #TeamPUSD, I hope you can experience some rest and relaxation this summer. Whether you're working, taking time off, or both, take a moment to enjoy reading about the positive things happening around the District. The newsletter will be on break in July but will resume in August. Please send submissions to cpaik@powayusd.com

Sincerely, Christine Paik, Director of Communications

Acting Superintendent's Message Acting Superintendent's Message

Wherever you are right now in your PUSD educational career, Westview High senior Kevin Minear has some words of advice: “Do not take the quality of your education for granted. There is nothing more important than using the tools given to you, and PUSD schools give you so much extra help with schoolwork and personal relationships that it would be foolish to not take advantage of these resources.” Kevin should know, he’s been attending PUSD schools since he was in kindergarten. He’s on the far right in the photo below.

Class of 2016 (in 2003)

L to R: Danna D'Esopo, Tiffany Nguyen, Faith Thai, Arian Masoumi, Alexander Ly, Tiffany Duong, Jaylynn Elliott, and Kevin Minear
This kindergarten photo was taken at Adobe Bluffs Elementary School in the Fall of 2003. Now, these same kindergarteners graduated from high school this month. We snapped this reunion photo after tracking down six of the original eight students:

Class of 2016 (Today)

L to R: Danna D'Esopo, Tiffany Nguyen, Faith Thai, Alexander Ly, Tiffany Duong, and Kevin Minear


All six are headed to college, ranging from the University of Texas to UC Berkeley. Del Norte High senior Danna D’Esposo, who’s headed to Santa Clara University says, “I think PUSD was very good at presenting college as a goal for my future. I know that college has been talked about in school my kindergarten year through my senior year of high school.”


In fact, their kindergarten class was the first to launch Poway Unified’s district-wide campaign of “College and Career Readiness for All Students.” That remains our mission statement today. We see ourselves as a gateway to our students’ future. Just like proud parents watching their children walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, it is truly remarkable for us, as educators, to witness and reflect on the fruits of our labor. Read more of Dr. Mel Robertson's message here.

Everyday Heroes honors classified employees who demonstrate excellence in work performance, school and community involvement, and leadership and commitment to our District and students.
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Hilary Ramirez

Hilary is the ESS Supervisor at Sunset Hills Elementary. She is able to find solutions to problems with logic and organization, whether it's evacuation due to heavy rains or Character Counts Week.
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Beth Wells-Whitwam

Beth is a Student Support Services Assistant at Deer Canyon Elementary. She goes above and beyond and reaches an enormous amount of kids in her short time each day, often spending extra time at school.
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Anna Noel

Anna is an Instructional Assistant for Special Education students at Rancho Bernardo High. Every year she coordinates the Best Buddies Ball, a citywide dance for special ed students.
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Vicki Wahlsten

Vicki is a LAN Administrator Coordinator at the District Office. Vicki always displays a willingness and determination to find IT solutions. Her excellent communication skills, helpfulness, and patience go far with everyone she meets.
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Ruth Siopongco

Ruth is an Accountant II in the Finance Department. She is an outstanding team player who works to enhance other team members' skills and abilities. She collaborates well and is supportive, whether she's training new employees or contributing to department goals.
Team PUSD is designed to recognize an admirable team of employees, who together accomplish an exceptional task or project. The recognition is for two or more classified and/or certificated individuals who have made a significant contribution to the benefit of PUSD, an individual, his or her work site, the community, or other volunteer or service organization.
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Mary Ruth Huerta and Kristin Zuidema

These RSP teachers were recognized for going above and beyond for their students, teachers, and parents. They put in extra work to make sure that they're servicing their students with a top quality education. They both collaborate well and persevere through challenges with a positive attitude.
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BHMS Staff

Tim Biland, Carly Romero, Jill Halsey, Jane Lauderdale, Lisa Avalos, Karen Sare, Debbie Sabatini, Kika Robinson, Roger Coloma, Gina Stellwagen, Katie Dida, Susan Carpenter, Stephanie Ussery, LaShawn Summerour, Heather Lees, Kathi Ahles, Rick Simon, David Carmichael, Mary Jean Howe, Angel Chapman, Ian McKercher, Leonora Persichina, and Tippy Roberts were recognized by a student for their commitment and dedication to making the educational experience a very positive and successful one.
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Robert Lutticken, Barrett Becker, Robert Saxton

These teachers at Abraxas High School have designed and implemented the sustainable garden project, one that is noticed by and is the talk of the community. They have put in long hours to promote support all for the purposes of student learning. These students now have goals and are taking an active role in their own education.

Retirements Retirements

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Tracy Hogarth

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Mike Tarantino

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Malliga Tholandi

Classified Retirements

Odette Alkire, Rhonda Birich, Carolyn Boyll, Sandra Burgoyne, Pilar Caspelich, Marilee Cochran, John Di Marino, Diane Evans, Denise Hollander, Marcia Klaiber, Karen Long, Cheryl Milinkevich, Nida Prieto, Janette Reynoso, Christina Quiroz, Tony Silva, Judith Smith, Janet Stemfle, Susan Stoneman, Stanley Taylor, Michael Tremblay, Vicki Wahlsten, Sandra Wiese, Dian Woolsey

Certificated Retirements

Debbie Amberg, Christine Arrigo, Cora Bagley, Eunice Brothers, Susan Buhler, Kimberly Callian, Beverly Clark, Jeannie Dickinson, Coreen Gardella, Christopher Carter, Lorraine Carter, Beverly Clark, Sandy DelaMontaigne, Jane Dulong, Steven Ely, Kerry Ferrer, Nancy Flexer, Felicia Gahan, Catherine Glover, Melinda Hamill, Wendy Harper, Susan Healy, Deborah Hibbs, Alice Kemper, Larry Knorr, Mark Liska, Lesley Meisberger, Kim Lundgren, Karen McKenzie, Patricia Penner, Colin Pritchard, Larry Richards, Nancy Rutherford, Smail Saidani, Rebecca Sangalang, Deborah Sather, Susan Sheldon, Wendy Svenson, Colleen Van Nordheim, Noreen Walton

Student Achievements Student Achievements

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Athlete of the Year

Rancho Bernardo's Nia Akins was selected as Female High School Athlete of the Year. Whether it was on the track or heading off into the hills of a cross country course, you could usually find Akins in front of the pack by the end of the race. “The highlight of the year for me was when my teammates qualified for the state cross country championships,” said Akins. “I was really proud to lead them and it just goes to show that with a lot of hard work, you can accomplish your goals.”

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Water Smart Contest

Winners of the annual “Be Water Smart” youth poster competition were recognized by Olivenhain Municipal Water District. More than 50 fourth-graders participated. Ellie Lee of Stone Ranch Elementary won first place and Angel Lu of Stone Ranch Elementary won second place. Their posters will be featured in a 2017 Water Awareness Calendar and displayed on OMWD vehicles.

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Blood Bank Award

Marno Miller from the San Diego Blood Bank presented a check for $1,500 to Abraxas High School’s Leadership Advisor Carole De Bruin and her students, for winning the blood bank’s High School Challenge, with the most blood donated from a school of their size. The students say they will use the money toward their next community service project, building a “tiny house” for homeless students on campus.

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Ben Vereen Awards

This young woman from Westview High did not speak when she first arrived at school. But through her cello, Yvonne Li found her voice. She caught the attention of legendary performer Ben Vereen and recently was profiled and performed at the Ben Vereen Awards to multiple standing ovations.

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AVID Standouts

Congratulations to our AVID 8th Grade Standouts, Lucas Ginsberg (Twin Peaks), Trevor Mathis (Meadowbrook), Nikki Azimi (Oak Valley), Maria Gannon (Black Mtn.), Claire Buckley (Mesa Verde), and Samantha Taubman (Bernardo Heights). AVID stands for "Advancement Via Individual Determination."

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Student Board Member

Ella Smith has been selected as the 2016-2017 Student Board Member. Ella is a familiar face at our board meetings. As the Student Board Representative for Westview High School, she never misses a meeting, and delivers her reports with enthusiasm and confidence. Ella is a leader and education advocate. Her term will begin with the August 2016 board meeting.
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Studying in China

Mendel Baljon, a Poway High School incoming senior, will spend six weeks studying in China after being awarded a prestigious scholarship: the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth.

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Young Equestrian

10-year-old NiNi Hodge, a Garden Road Elementary student, is taking the competitive horse-showing world by storm. Last year she earned the title of "Reserve World Champion" at the 2015 Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show.
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Cox Scholars

25 seniors were awarded Cox Charities college scholarships this year. Two were from Del Norte High School: Gokul Swamy and Maya Allunario.

Staff Achievement Staff Achievement

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Double Fellowships

Design39 Campus TK/K/1 teacher Megan Power has been awarded two fellowships: one by the Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas. Megan is also one of 50 educators in the country selected as part of the “Emerging Leaders Class” for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). The program recognizes and prepares young, promising educators to influence education programs, policy, and practice on both the local and national levels.
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Volunteer Honored

Stan Kim was awarded Volunteer of the Year and the Golden Oak Award at Painted Rock Elementary. This is the first time an individual has received both awards. The Golden Oak Award is the highest award bestowed by the PTA. Kim started the Dad’s Club at Painted Rock, founded a “Lunch with Dads” week and “Dads Rock the Classroom,” all aimed at getting fathers more involved with volunteering.
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Classroom Heroes

Morning Creek 2nd grade teacher Amy Budde received an award from San Diego County Credit Union and iHeartmedia called "Classroom Heroes." Teachers, students, parents and the community are encouraged to nominate a deserving teacher. Amy will be honored on billboards throughout San Diego County.

Graduation Gallery Graduation Gallery

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Del Norte

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Mt. Carmel

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Poway High

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Rancho Bernardo

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Westview

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Abraxas

Fun Photo Gallery Fun Photo Gallery

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Engineering Academy

Ribbon cutting for Poway High's Project Lead the Way Certified Engineering Academy. It's one of only 11 in the state. PLTW courses allow students to receive dual credit, which counts for both their high school career and can be transferred to their college transcript.
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Bus Grants

Councilman Mark Kersey welcomed Rolling Hills Elementary to their field trip in Balboa Park. Mr. Kersey wanted to see the impact of the city council's approval of the CPPS grants to fund field trips for PUSD students.
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Battle of the Boats

Mt. Carmel physics students participated in their year-end tradition: the Physics Boat Challenge. The students build boats out of paper and balsam wood, and try to be the last one standing.
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5th Grade Promotion

This is retiring principal Jeannie Dickinson with her 5th graders at Garden Road on promotion day. On to middle school for the students and happy retirement to Jeannie!
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Job Shadowing

Poway High School engineering students joined Swagelok associates for a day of job shadowing. Students were given the chance to witness careers in action. The day was structured around the students moving to different stations. Each station focused on a specific aspect of business; operations, customer service, engineering, and interview skills.
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Max Out My Class

Many thanks to Mission Fed and 105.7 MAX FM for "Maxing Out" Lauren O'Rielly's class with gifts and prizes. Ms. O'Rielly received a gift card to spend on classroom supplies and her students got to record segments for the radio.

Upcoming Dates:

  • Spirit of the 4th Rancho Bernardo Parade on July 4, 2016 at 3:30pm
  • Check with individual school sites for registration times and dates
  • The next Board of Education meeting is August 23, 2016 at 6pm
  • The first day of school is August 16, 2016

Poway Unified in the News

  • Triple the graduation fun for Poway High Triplets
  • A blooming partnership for PUSD elementary schools
  • Mt. Carmel physics fun end-of-year tradition
  • Military father surprises daughter at RBHS graduation
  • Westview High graduation photo gallery
  • Del Norte graduation wrap up
  • 17 PUSD schools on state honor roll
  • Westview students talk about meeting the President
  • Female prep athlete of the year: RB's Nia Akins
  • Student voices: excerpts from 2016 senior speeches
  • Adobe Bluffs student wows SYTYCD judges with tap routine
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Poway Unified School District

Email: cpaik@powayusd.com
Website: Powayusd.com
Location: 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA, United States
Phone: (858) 521-2700
Facebook: facebook.com/PowayUSD
Twitter: @PowayUSD

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