November 20, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Volunteers at the El Cajon Valley High School Parent, Teachers and Students Association are hosting a school supply drive on Tuesday, November 29 at 7am-9am and again at 6pm-8pm. Community members are asked to add ECVHS to your holiday shopping list.  Below is a sampling of items that classrooms need.

By Vince Wallgren

November 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--As the public education establishment’s quandary over shortfalls in funding reaches critical mass, the time may be ripe for introducing sweeping changes to the entire system. 

During a recent broadcast of the Ladona Harvey Show, a education establishment insider asserted (paraphrasing) that among the more important elements in revamping the education system is a higher degree of parent - teacher communication; and that parents must be more involved in the overall education experience.

Targets of koala “hate tabloid” demand remedy for harassment allowed by university

November 13, 2011 (San Diego) — Students at California State University San Marcos filed a complaint Wednesday, against California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, under Titles IX, VI and II of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The complaint seeks immediate injunctive and remedial action against CSUSM, with regard to its decision to allow the distribution of a publication on campus known as The Koala because of the hostile environment the university has allowed the publication to develop at CSUSM.

October 30, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) -- Young artists in grades K to 12 are invited to free workshops to enter the 20th annual California State Junior Duck Stamp competition. The event is sponsored by Pacific South West Art (PSWA) and Heritage of the Americas Museum. All students who enter will receive a certificate form the State of California Fish and Game Department and be eligible for ribbons and awards.

By Doug Deane

October 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- The following local, state and national education news items are excerpted from a very informative e-newsletter published by Doug Deane, chair of the Business Education Committee at the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.

Our picks for Deane’s top education stories from the latest issue include:

 Employee award recognizes John Thomas’ many contributions to department

October 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The always rousing wheelchair basketball game, where tumbles and spills are as much a part of the action as the pivoting and spinning of custom-built wheelchairs across the gym floor, is set for noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Cuyamaca College gym as part of the college’s annual commemoration of National Disability Awareness Month.

October 17, 2011 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) is inviting all 11th and 12th graders to write and submit up to a 400-word essay on the importance of marketplace ethics and receive up to a $1,500 scholarship from the BBB. The presenting sponsor of the BBB’s scholarship program is Sycuan Casino in El Cajon. Last year’s winners included two high school students from East County high schools.

Update October 12:  A second cougar sighting occurred today within a mile of the school.  

October 11, 2011 (Poway) – Chaparral Elementary School in Poway has sent a warning letter to parents advising that the Sheriff’s Department reported that a mountain lion, also known as a cougar, had been seen in the neighborhood this morning.

October 9, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego State University (SDSU) has received a joint grant of $1.67 million for its Jobs Accelerator program from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Small Business Administration and the Employment Training Administration (ETA). 

“Our number one priority is job creation,” said Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego), in announcing the award. “Our region has been in dire need of this type of investment in our economy and our students. In a time when school and local budgets are being cut to the bone, this grant will go a long way to creating the good paying jobs we need, training the workforce, and help us move into a new green energy economy.”