In EUSD, we continue to feature examples of Competency-Based Learning, thanks to the new EUSD Learning Model that is the foundation of our Framework for the Future. One great example of how our learning model comes together is our Elementary Band Concerts, where our 4th and 5th-grade students featured their competencies in learning how to play an instrument by performing at the California Center for the Arts of Escondido. Our students showcased their talents in an authentic environment! It was an outstanding performance. A huge thank you to our Elementary Band Teachers:
Peggy Baker
Jeff Johnson
Monique Niemela
Raul Yepez
eSports Championship: The Spring Middle School eSports Championship was held on Thursday, May 16, at Bear Valley Middle School. eSports teams from all five middle schools and Quantum Academy competed in four different games as spectators cheered them on. To qualify for the championship, students needed to complete lessons on the many careers in the $4 billion eSports industry. The event showcased our students’ sportsmanship, dedication to learning, and competitive spirit. Even our wonderful Superintendent joined in on the fun! Congratulations to our Champions:
Mario Kart: Mateo Guerrero of Bear Valley Middle School
Super Smash Bros: Alex Gomez Guzman of Mission Middle School
Rocket League: Isaac Ramirez of Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences
FIFA: Dylan Hernandez of Mission Middle School
Employee Recognition: On Thursday, May 16, in our district courtyard, EUSD took time to celebrate our 20 and 30-year employees, our retirees, and congratulated our employees of the year, both at the site and district levels. In addition, Ms. Cherry Lasho-Moore was named our Administrator of the Year. EUSD is full of dedicated employees who are shining examples of what makes our district such a special place for the children and families of Escondido. We congratulate all of our honorees for achieving these exciting milestones.
Enrollment and registration: Returning Student Registration and New Student Enrollment opened on Tuesday, May 14, for all grades 2024-2025 school year. Visit the Enrollment and Registration webpage to access the appropriate links and review important information for this process – whether you are a current EUSD family or new to the district, for students incoming in Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition:
To find your neighborhood school of residence, use our online school locator tool.
For the 2024-2025 school year, children are eligible for full-day Transitional Kindergarten if their date of birth is between September 2, 2019, and September 1, 2020. For full-day Kindergarten, eligible students must be age 5 on or before September 1, 2024.
Returning families will receive a letter by U.S. Mail with instructions for accessing the parent portal. It is essential that all returning students register through the online process in order to update essential information.
Preschool applications: EUSD State Preschool is accepting online applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Visit the preschool website to access the application beginning Wednesday. Applications will be accepted for children who will be age 3 by August 20, 2024. If your child will turn 3 during the 2024-2025 school year, you can apply on or after their birthday. Preschool classes are available at seven EUSD elementary schools: Central, Juniper, Glen View, Lincoln, Oak Hill, Pioneer, and Rose. EUSD Preschool is offered through the California State Preschool Program and licensed through the California Department of Social Services. Eligibility for the program is based on household income. In addition, students with IEPs also qualify for the State Preschool program. To learn more, visit the EUSD Preschool website or email preschoolenrollment@eusd.org. For Special Education Preschool options, including our responsive interventions and inclusive programs, contact the team at spedsupport@eusd.org.
Expanded learning: EUSD will continue to offer a range of before- and after-school expanded learning opportunities to all of our families next school year. These no-cost programs provide a safe, nurturing environment in which students thrive before and after the academic school day. The Before and After School Program Interest Form for 2024-2025 is now available on the Extended Learning webpage. The program is available to students in TK through 8th grade who attend in-person schools. Families must submit a separate form for each eligible child. Please visit your school office if you need assistance with the form. The deadline to submit an interest form is 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. Enrollment is subject to space available. A lottery will be conducted if interest exceeds available space, and students will be added to a waitlist.
Materials return: Site principals will be sharing information regarding instructions and a schedule for the collection of all district-issued materials, devices, and accessories, including textbooks, school library books, iPads, chargers and cords, and hotspots. Contact your school if your student is unable to attend on designated collection days. View this flyer for details on iPads and accessories that must be returned. Students in the middle school and Extended School Year summer programs will keep their district iPad and mobile hotspot until the conclusion of the programs. K-8 students will be given the opportunity to transfer files from their iPad and EUSD Google Drive. These resources will help with that transfer process: Copy iPad Files to Google Drive; Transfer files from a School Google Account to a Personal Google Account (select language at bottom of page); and Download data from a School Google Account (select language at bottom of page).
City library programs: The 2024 summer reading challenge kicks off on June 17 with the Escondido Public Library. Additionally, students aged 12-18 are invited to apply for one of 24 spots in the no-cost Watershed Explorers Summer Day Camp. View this flyer for complete details.
Classified School Employee Week: When our students arrive for the day, they are greeted by the Campus Supervisors, Custodians, and then our Nutrition team feeds them a nutritious breakfast. Then, this team goes to work to prepare a tasty lunch for the day. These are just a few of the many team members in EUSD who set the stage for learning. As the school day unfolds, sometimes a student isn’t feeling well, and that is when our Office Managers and Clerks take them in and show them to the Licensed Vocational Nurse who brings them comfort. In many of our classrooms, you will find our Paraeducators who support students in their learning directly in support of the teachers. School Library Technicians (SLT) are busy ensuring our students have their textbooks, access to the best libraries with books that further their learning, and because of our SLT’s all of our students always have access to technology.
Meanwhile, our teams of staff in the Carilyn Gilbert Education Center are hard at work keeping the computer systems running smoothly, the bills and all of our employees paid, and the curriculum organized and even printed in our Print Shop. Our clerical staff is on top of the programs they support, which drives the right resources to the right place every day.
Back at the schools, our Family Liaisons are steadily working to build and maintain parents' roles in their students' education. They organize parent workshops, fun activities for the whole family, food drives for those in need, and support for any student who faces any of the various challenges prevalent in our city.
If something breaks, from the playground swings to the water pipes in the ground, our Maintenance team jumps on the opportunity to save the day, but these situations are few and far between because our staff takes great pride in caring for the schools and fields that make up our District. At the end of the day, after all the students have finished their learning, a team of Custodians arrive to put the school back together to do it all over again the next day.
This coming week, we take time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our Classified staff. As you can see in the day in the life story above, our Classified team provides impactful contributions to the lives of our students and staff here in Escondido. To honor them, this week, many of our management personnel will be working alongside our Classified staff as they carry out their commitment to our District. We call this week ACE week, or Appreciate Classified School Employees Week. ACE week in Escondido started in 2009 when the California School Employees Association (CSEA) chose EUSD to participate in this initiative. All of our Superintendents since 2009 have remained committed to this program, and because of this and our great relationships with our employees, CSEA has once again honored us with this program for 2024.
Important dates: EUSD schools and the district office will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Classes resume Tuesday, May 28. The last day of school for students for the 2023-2024 school year is Wednesday, June 5. It is a minimum day for students. Please review the bell schedule for your child’s school. School offices will be closed to the public beginning Monday, June 17.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools