SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
Dr. Eric Prater, Superintendent

Whether it’s a county track meet at the new San Luis Obispo High School stadium, outstanding theater performances like Mama Mia or The Addams Family, Choir performances, Robotics or Mock Trial competitions, PTA Fun Runs or 60’s celebration bashes, San Luis Coastal is a place where students thrive and our community comes together. 

At this week’s School Board meeting, we heard from students and staff at Teach Elementary School as they discussed coding innovations and cooperative, hands-on projects. Students were able to share how they approach complex problem solving and how they perceive failure as an opportunity to grow as learners. 

We also had the opportunity to hear from the iINNOVATE team (in partnership with the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation) as they presented their vision to prepare students for the next generation of industry expectations and workforce. I’m thrilled to see these action steps to provide all students with experiences that go beyond the traditional learning of a classroom. At the elementary level, we have Innovation Labs at all of our schools where students have opportunities to solve complex problems and learn how to work together as a team. At the middle level, we have designed electives that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and the Arts. We are excited to offer middle school modules focused on STEAM experiences in the evenings at our comprehensive high schools taught by Cal Poly Fellows. As students move into the high school level, they will have several options to pursue their passions. 

I was reminded today of the importance of connecting with our students. For the past several years, we have empowered student voice through the Superintendent’s Student Senate. Two of our amazing Student Senators from San Luis Obispo High School took it upon themselves to create “Spotlight on You”, a series that will highlight the different cultures and traditions of students on campus. This first video highlights our Muslim Student Association as they celebrate Ramadan. I can’t tell you how proud I am of these students and their work. They make me excited about what our future holds. 

As we approach the end of the school year, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on the things you are grateful for. Whether it's the support of family and friends, good health, or the opportunity to learn and grow, there is always something to be thankful for. Let's make an effort to express our gratitude and spread positivity throughout our community.

Thank you for your continued support of San Luis Coastal. I am truly grateful to be a part of this remarkable school district community.

Sincerely,

Eric

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Diane M. Frost, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

Adult School Update
Parent Participation Program and Co-op Preschool 
Our annual Parent Participation Clothing, Book, & Toy Swap, and Pony Pictures are underway this week. Families have been bringing in gently used items, allowing others to “shop”.

Pony Pictures are a beloved, long standing spring tradition at PPP. It has been lovely to see the smiling faces of both parents and children as they enjoy time and photos with Star, the gentle pony.

Parent Participation is also gearing up for a four week summer session during the month of June. Registrations have been consistently growing each session since returning to school post-Covid, and brand new families are joining often. We are happy to be able to staff and offer additional classes in the summer to meet the incredibly high demand. Classes will begin June 5 and end on June 30. Registration opens on May 5 at noon. 

High School Diploma (HSD)
As the end of the school year approaches, the Adult School continues to see consistent enrollments. Greg Kraemer’s HSD class is currently serving 18 students with several more requesting orientation appointments. Barbara Hoffman’s jail program celebrated two new graduates and one new enrollee, just this month. There have been 23 total graduates between Greg Krammer’s HSD and the County Jail program since starting in September.

High School Scientists Conduct Long Term Study on Santa Cruz Island
On March 30th, 14 students from Morro Bay High School and 6 students  from Coast Union partnered to conduct a scientific study on Santa Cruz Island through a school funded program called the “Field Studies Collaborative” (FSC). This program was founded by Paso Robles High School science teacher Mark DiMaggio and his colleagues, with the mission to give high school students the experience of being out in nature while simultaneously conducting real world hands-on research.   

This recent trip, the first ever outside of Paso High, was spearheaded by Andrew Crosby (Coast Union High) and Kennedy Crockett (Morro Bay High). The group traveled to Ventura Harbor, hopped aboard a boat, and spent five days on a very special part of the island that is co-managed by the Nature Conservancy and the UC Natural Reserve System. The public does not have access to this portion of the island as it is reserved for conservation projects and research. The project, a collaboration between Morro Bay High School and Coast Union also was partnered with Cal Poly and the US Geological Survey to create a long term study that measures the effects of the dead annual invasive grasses on the germination of native plants on the island.  Approved by The Nature Conservancy, the study grants these schools permission to camp at the Field Station and gave students access to the wide range of remote ecosystems on the island. This kind of opportunity is usually only available to qualified college students, and both Morro Bay High and Coast Union are immensely grateful for this remarkable and very rare opportunity for young students who yearn for enriching opportunities to inspire future career options in science. 

The student takeaways from this trip ranged in their depth and meaning. For some, this trip reinvigorated a love for learning and inspired  students’  future course of study for college. Senior Alexa Contreras stated, “To say that this trip has opened my eyes and motivated me for life is an understatement. I was interested in environmental science before taking this trip, and this only solidified my decision to pursue a career in this subject.” 

Other student takeaways and outcomes were focused more on personal growth. On this 5 day adventure students were away from phones and technology and were able to form wonderful friendships with one another. Graceyn Costa, a junior from Morro Bay High noted, “Every moment of this trip has impacted my life. The adventurous spirit of those around me inspired me to be daring and seek adventure. Stargazing by the creekside with friends new and old filled me with an overwhelming sense of peace.  I have never had an opportunity such as this before and will forever be grateful for the experiences and people who made it special.”

 

BUSINESS SERVICES
Ryan Pinkerton, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

SLCUSD Family U-Pick
Join us this Saturday (4/22) from 9-4pm at Cal Poly Farm for an SLCUSD Family U-Pick Event! We’re picking blood oranges and mandarins and the first pound is free for all SLCUSD students, staff and families (additional fruit is $2.50/lb). Directions and more information can be found here.