Energetic rhythms fill the air at San Ysidro’s Willow Elementary on weekday mornings when more than 100 TK through sixth-graders, joined by their older siblings, moms, dads and even a few abuelitas, walk or run laps around the school’s soccer and kickball fields for 30 minutes. Members of Willow’s new Walking Club carry bright yellow cards for staff members to stamp for each lap. After each mile, students can pick prizes from the treasure chest, such as a pencil, bracelet or ball.
Luis Ramos, a lifelong San Ysidro community member, was named principal of La Mirada Elementary School on Aug. 10 after serving in an interim capacity over the last year. Ramos joined the San Ysidro School District in 2005 as a sixth-grade teacher at La Mirada. He taught eighth grade and served as an assistant principal at San Ysidro Middle School before becoming assistant principal at La Mirada. Ramos was raised in the South Bay and graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in education.
Spanish-speaking parents in the San Ysidro School District learned fundamental English skills – alphabet, numbers, how to tell time, days of the week, colors and more – through a free class offered this spring by the District. Now, following the success of the inaugural English as a Second Language (ESL) class, SYSD will work with partner Southwestern College to offer two introductory English classes this fall at La Mirada and Willow elementary school parent centers, and a second-level ESL class at the District parent center.
Follow-up Story: Andy Vargas, the lead singer of legendary rock group Santana, discussed the importance of music in schools with Vista Del Mar Middle School students during an inspirational assembly on Dec. 7. Vargas shared the story of how his music career began and performed a song he wrote. Video and Photos are available
The San Ysidro School District, in partnership with the Sweetwater Union High School District’s San Ysidro Adult School, will offer free computer classes starting Wednesday, Jan. 10 for all levels of learners. Classes will run from 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at San Ysidro Adult School, 4220 Otay Mesa Road, San Ysidro.
The Apex Fun Run crew hosted a pep rally on Nov. 14 at Ocean View Hills Elementary to generate enthusiasm for an upcoming school fundraiser. Ocean View Hills students will run 26 to 36 basketball court-sized laps to raise money for their school on Thursday, Nov. 30. During the next two weeks, students will seek individuals to sponsor them in the fun run.
Follow-up Story: Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher and the Barona Band of Mission Indians Chairman Edwin “Thorpe” Romero presented a $5,000 grant to Willow Elementary on Nov. 3. The grant money will pay for books for the school library, allowing students in kindergarten through second grade to take home 10, 15 or 20 books to practice reading and enjoy with their families. Photos are available
Follow-up Story: Willow Elementary second-grader Naomi Fontes raised enough supplies to fill two U-Haul trucks to aid residents of Mexico devastated by a 7.1.-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 19. Her efforts generated with more than 200 care packages with essentials like toilet paper, baby wipes, canned food, rice and beans, which were all delivered to the Marine Service Station in Ensenada, Mexico. Photos are available
San Ysidro School District will offer low-income families a chance to buy refurbished computers and discounted Internet service from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Smythe Elementary, 1880 Smythe Ave., San Ysidro. The effort is a partnership with Cox Communications, Computers 2 Kids San Diego and other local service organizations.
Follow-up Story: San Ysidro School District is partnering with the San Diego Police Department this fall to educate students and parents about internet safety. The collaboration comes after law enforcement reported a general uptick in cyber-issues last year, including explicit images and content sent via cellphone or other electronic media.
Just two months into the school year, San Ysidro School District’s Willow Elementary is already seeing results from a newly launched program designed to reinforce positive conduct, boost academic success and decrease behavioral issues. The Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) System emphasizes ways to teach students about behavioral expectations and reinforces lessons with praise and incentives. “We’ve already seen fewer children being sent to the office for behavior issues – it’s great to see the program is working,” Assistant Principal Consuelo Carranza said. “Our new PBIS program is helping to ensure that our students have an amazing experience at Willow School while also praising them for their positive attitudes.”
San Ysidro Middle School eighth-graders studied, extracted and analyzed deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in mutant fruit flies and wheat germ this month as part of a program guided by scientists from the La Jolla-based Salk Institute for Biological Studies. This is the second year that the institute’s scientists have visited the school to lead a three-day program on genetics and biotechnology. Photos are available
Just a month into the school year, San Ysidro School District’s Willow Elementary is already seeing results from a newly launched program designed to reinforce positive conduct, boost academic success and decrease behavioral issues. The Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system emphasizes ways to teach students about behavioral expectations and reinforces lessons with praise and incentives.