December 14, 2018

From the desk of Superintendent Chris Williams

Engineering This week in our Engineering pathway our PRHS students presented their robotic projects- the task was to create recycling projects for plastic based materials with sorting options. They presented these designs to a panel of judges. Thank you to our teacher: Alisa Bredensteiner for your commitment to our students!

Elementary Athletics Over 200 elementary student athletes will compete in the wrestling championships this Saturday, December 15, at PRHS in the Gil Asa Gym. Boys and girls in 3rd-5th grade will be battling it out for a chance to earn a medal and take a place on the awards podium. The meet begins at 9:00am and the cost to attend is $3/adults and $1/students. All proceeds benefit PRHS wrestling. Best of luck to all of our competitors and coaches!

College and Career Our counseling staff has been busy helping students access the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI). CCGI works to ensure that all 6th-12th grade students in California have access to guidance and support as they plan, prepare, and pay for post secondary education and training. CCGI partners with K-12 school districts to support students, counselors, parents, and community-based organizations with technological tools that help guide the college and career planning and preparation process.

Students create accounts on the platform, where they can complete college and career planning activities appropriate for their grade level that will guide them, step-by-step, through the development of an informed postsecondary plan. As students progress through the platform's curriculum, they can save favorite careers, colleges, and majors to their account and store documents like letters of recommendation, resumés, commendations or awards.

Tools on the platform allow students to: explore potential careers, search for colleges, create a college financing plan, log community service, work and extracurricular experiences, launch and track applications to both the California State University and California Community Colleges, as well as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

This week, SSgt Luna, Marine Corps Station Commander for San Luis Obispo County, spoke with our 8th grade ELD students at Flamson Middle School regarding serving in the military as a profession. As part of our College and Career pathway, students participate in an Informational Interview, asking questions regarding job responsibilities, work environment, pay and benefits, as well as personality and skill traits needed and what adults love or dislike about their job to see if it may be a future occupation they are interested in pursuing.

VAPA PRJUSD Bands and Choirs across the district treated friends and family to very special winter performances this week! Visual and Performing Arts in Paso Robles Joint Unified is a vibrant and active arts community consisting of a staff of arts teachers who engage a focused district-wide student body.

Congratulations to the FMS Drama class on a marvelous performance of a Christmas Carol. December is the most wonderful time of the year for visual and performing arts in PRJUSD!

The dancers at elementary sites have been learning and practicing a Latin Cha-Cha style routine to the song, “Madre Tierra (Oye)” by Chayanne. Many of our students showed leadership skills by translating the song into English in front of their classmates. Their passion and enthusiasm as they sang and danced was an encouragement to the hearts of our staff and one of the highlights of the year!

In Art Club at FMS, students are creating their own silkscreens by painting drawing fluid on screens and then blocking them with Screen Filler. These artists are excited to have created masterpieces which we’ve printed on T-shirts and are selling to raise money to, hopefully, go on a field trip to the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. They are also looking forward to printing on reusable shopping bags, sweatshirts, and more right on campus in Art Studio 302! Look for these amazing products at schoolwide events coming up in the near future.

Students at Liberty have been working on seasonal paper folding projects, including stars and Christmas trees. They are having a lot of fun learning how to follow technical directions, work together, and create paper decorations!

The elementary music team is busy teaching a Nutcracker unit. Students have learned to identify orchestra instruments, perform rhythm stick routines to a Nutcracker pieces, and learned about music form.

The Bearkitten class was captivated by the PRHS POP Music class performance. Thank you Mr. McDonald and your students for this experience!

Student Recognition Across the district we are celebrating our outstanding students! As we enter our winter break, PRJUSD would like to thank all of our teachers and staff for the dedication and commitment to our young community members. Your hard work does not go unnoticed!

Big Bears Butler had their Big Bears on Campus meeting this morning to support engaging dads and other role models in the school experience. Fun, and donuts, was had by all. This month’s discussion focus was on generosity and dad’s are provided with additional “take it home” resources to encourage dialogue with their Bears throughout the month.

PRYDEPaso Robles Youth Development Enrichment after school programs have been busy with lots of engaging fall activities. For the upcoming winter break PRYDE staff have been dreaming up activities that will engage students in social opportunities, arts, crafts, math, reading, science, and more! For more information about PRJUSD after school programs, please visit https://www.pasoschools.org/Domain/135.

We would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season! Students will have a minimum day on Thursday, December 20 and return on

Monday, January 7, 2019. Enjoy your time off!

3350 Education Drive ● San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 ● Phone 805-543-7732 ● Fax 805-541-2605 ● slocoe.org

December 12, 2018 Dear Paso Robles JUSD Students, Families, Faculty, Staff, and Community: At the board meeting on December 11, 2018, the district trustees unanimously agreed to have Julian Crocker, former Paso Robles superintendent and retired San Luis Obispo County Superintendent of Schools, serve as an interim superintendent for the district. Dr. Crocker will assist the newly elected, reelected, and returning trustees in making informed decisions regarding next steps in governing the district. The Deputy Superintendent, Jen Gaviola, Chief Academic Officer, Carol Kenyon, and Chief Business Officer, Brad Pawlowski fully endorse and welcome Dr. Crocker. Senior leadership will work with Dr. Crocker, faculty, staff, district site leadership, and the trustees to strategically plan and implement next steps in navigating the district through current challenges. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education will continue to support the district with fiscal oversight, direct and indirect intervention, as well as providing Dr. Crocker any resources available. I fully support the trustees’ decision to appoint Dr. Crocker on an interim basis. My office looks forward to reviewing the progress he, the district leadership, and the trustees make in stewarding the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. Please do not hesitate to contact my office directly if you have any questions. Sincerely,

James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools