Benicia Unified School District had 366 eighth grade students during 2018-2019 school year, according to the California Department of Education. Los Angeles Unified School District had the highest number of eighth grade students enrolled in California with 44,658.
According to numbers provided by the National Center for Education Services, California is expected to see a decrease of three percent in public elementary and secondary school enrollment from 2017-2029. The state expected to see the largest drop in enrollment is New Mexico with a projected 12 percent decrease, while Washington D.C. is projected to see a 14 percent increase over the same time period.
Bird Rock and La Jolla elementary schools bid farewell to retiring employees
Lorene LaCava, left, holds a sign made for her during a surprise parade recognizing her retirement from Bird Rock Elementary school after 25 years.
(Elisabeth Frausto)
Dec. 21, 2020 8 AM PT
As the two-week winter break begins for students and staff across San Diego Unified School District, three staff members from Bird Rock Elementary School and La Jolla Elementary School are beginning a much longer break: retirement. They are part of the 370 district employees who opted for an early retirement package and whose last day with students was Dec. 18.
Lorene LaCava is retiring from BRES after 25 years, the last 23 teaching kindergarten after a year each teaching science and fifth grade.
Los Angeles Unified School District had 45,896 seventh grade students during 2018-2019 school year, according to the California Department of Education. Los Angeles Unified School District had the highest number of seventh grade students enrolled in California.
According to numbers provided by the National Center for Education Services, California is expected to see a decrease of three percent in public elementary and secondary school enrollment from 2017-2029. The state expected to see the largest drop in enrollment is New Mexico with a projected 12 percent decrease, while Washington D.C. is projected to see a 14 percent increase over the same time period.
The principals of the La Jolla Cluster of schools, composed of the five public schools in La Jolla in the San Diego Unified School District, reported last week on progress toward improving social support for students while schools are closed to in-person instruction.
La Jolla High School Principal Chuck Podhorsky told the Cluster Association at its Dec. 17 meeting online that the school’s counseling team has begun conducting office hours during which students can seek individual, private help.
“Students are really taking advantage of that,” Podhorsky said.
He encouraged parents to reach out if their child needs one-on-one counseling. “We have a lot of resources available at the high school level,” he said.
San Ysidro Health hosted its second annual “El Zapaton” children’s shoe give-away last week. The drive-thru event provided new shoes, book bags and essential health kits to the organization’s pediatric patients – the majority from households of pandemic essential workers. This year San Ysidro Health distributed 433 pairs of shoes to children in the South Bay and East County regions.
“San Ysidro Health is committed to provide comprehensive health services and support to all the region, including parents, many who are essential workers, and families who reside in zip codes where the COVID-19 rate is much higher than the rest of the county,” said Kevin Mattson, president and CEO.