Parents of students received an email notification on Monday morning, Jan. 27, announcing that Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) Principal Nicole DeWitt will leave SRHS on Feb. 18 to begin a position as an Interim Instructional Support Officer for the Office of Leadership and Learning with the San Diego Unified School District. Dr. Matt Lawson will serve as interim principal, according to the message.

Here is the text of the email from DeWitt:

Dear Falcon Families,
Over the past few years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the parents, students, and staff of Scripps Ranch High School. Scripps Ranch is an amazing place and I am truly honored to work with such a passionate community committed to providing the best possible education for our students. 

Beginning on February 18th, I will continue to support SRHS, as well as other school sites, as an Interim Instructional Support Officer for the Office of Leadership and Learning. The Interim Instructional Support Officer position is a temporary position that I have been asked to fill until a formal candidate search can be conducted. In this role, I will primarily be assisting all of the high schools in San Diego Unified and will use the knowledge I have gained as the principal of Scripps Ranch High School to collaborate with my colleagues as we work to create safe and inclusive schools where all students can learn and thrive.​​

During this time of transition, Dr. Matt Lawson will serve as interim principal. Vice Principal Roldofo Parra will continue to oversee his same responsibilities for students with last names A-L, while educational specialist, Amy Hines, will serve as an interim Vice Principal for students with last names M-Z.

The decision to move into this temporary role for the district was an extremely difficult one, however, I do look forward to continuing to support SRHS as an Interim Instructional Support Officer and will be visiting the campus throughout the remainder of this school year to assist the admin team.

Thank you for your support, kind words, and faith in my leadership. I wish all of you the very best and will continue to be part of your Falcon family!

Go Falcons,
Nicole DeWitt
Principal

Beginning this fall, Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) classes will start at 8:45 a.m., according to a message e-mailed to parents from Principal Nicole DeWitt on Jan. 15.

The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board approved Healthy Start Times which are now mandated by California Senate Bill 328 requiring all California high schools start classes after 8:30 a.m. Middle schools may not start before 8 a.m. under the new state law. A new start time for Marshall Middle School had not been announced as of press time.

SRHS is not the only high school affected by this ruling. SDUSD requires Healthy Start Times to begin at all high schools for the 2020-21 academic year.

The law was passed based on scientific research on teens and sleep. Studies indicated that later start times are linked to increased student attendance, improved academic performance and health. Insufficient sleep among teens has been associated with a wide variety of adverse outcomes, according to DeWitt’s message.

The memo from Principal DeWitt requested that parents of students who will attend SRHS next year start planning for the change by coordinating carpools and considering before- and after-school arrangements. The adjustments families must make range from minimal to substantial. Families in which both parents are employed may have to make considerable adjustments to ensure their students arrive to school for the new class starting time. Initial reaction from SRHS parents filled local social media pages with comments and questions.

Principal DeWitt’s message indicated that she and her staff will work with school committees to determine the end time for the school day and any altered bell schedules for the 2020-21 school year. She stated that more information will be announced in upcoming weeks.

SRHS Music E-Waste Recycling Fundraiser
Bring old and unwanted electronics, computers, video game consoles, cell phones, cables, old holiday light strands and paper shredding to the Scripps Ranch High School Theater/Math building parking lot between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Jan. 25 and 26 to help the SRHS Music Program earn funds. Waste products accepted for a small fee include paper shredding, microwaves, vacuums, small fridges, printers, alkaline batteries and light bulbs.

For longer than most people on campus would know, Scripps Ranch High School was not open to college admissions counselors.

That changed when the school’s principal, Nicole DeWitt, arrived and decided to seek some help in that area in the summer of 2018, soliciting the assistance of Ginger Colletto, a parent of two Scripps Ranch High students.

“The goal was to bring in colleges on the campus because they hadn’t had any colleges visiting with the students at Scripps Ranch High for a really long time,” Colletto said. “I have no idea as to the last time that they allowed any college admissions counselors on campus.”

With Colletto’s help, the Wednesday College and Career Series was born. 

Colletto spent the summer working alongside a woman named Maureen Roadman, from the post-high school guidance group Explore Solutions, to put together a weekly program that would assist students in their college and career searches during the school’s lunch period.

Now, the program has become a well-known program on campus, bringing in 87 colleges to the school’s library so far this semester. Although some meetings only feature one representative, others have reached up to 40, Colletto said.

“The goal really is just to expand the kids’ horizons, you know, for them to realize that there’s a lot of different options out there and that there’s a lot of schools out there that really are interested in getting the kids from Scripps Ranch High because they are just truly a remarkable group of students,” Colletto said.

She said past meetings have featured schools such as the University of Washington, George Mason University, Miami University and UCLA as well as local options like UC San Diego and San Diego State University. Colletto also brings in career representatives including some from the City of San Diego, and engineers from the phone case company Otterbox.

One of Colletto’s main goals for the program is to bring in a diverse selection of schools, no matter the size of their campus. She said she hopes students will take advantage of the opportunity to ask representatives specific questions about each campus.

One of the biggest things students should consider asking college counselors is the cost of attending their school, Colletto said.

“I think in the past we’ve only looked at our own state schools and now we’re finding that a lot of the schools out of state are giving a tremendous amount and merit scholarships, making it affordable for kids to go out of state and be able to get out in four years,” she said.

It’s about giving back, being a good citizen.

Girls on the Run at Miramar Ranch Elementary School may sound like it’s all about running, but head coach Erin Patel assures that’s not the case.

“The program isn’t a running program,” Patel said. “Yeah, we run a 5k in the end, but it’s mostly focused on just developing confidence in the girls and also teaching them that giving back to their community is a big part of, you know, being a good citizen and a good human.”

The club, which has about 15 members between third and fifth grade, is split into two important parts. The first part of its meetings focus on issues important to young girls, such as negative advertising, self image and how to be a good friend. For the second portion, girls are sent to the track where they are encouraged to meet personal running goals, Patel said.

Although most girls aren’t able to finish a 5k at the start of the program, Patel said the most growth happens in their development as charitable humans. This semester, the group voted to put together “busy bags” for kids in the hospital.

“We have enough stuff, I believe, to make 90 bags and so the bags will be filled with little things just to keep you busy if you’re, like, in your hospital bed and you can’t move around that much,” Patel said.

Beyond just helping others, Patel said, the girls must learn about themselves as well.

She said a lecture about gossip was particularly impactful. As a mother who
doesn’t have a girl in the third-to-fifth-grade age range, Patel said she was shocked to learn about the pervasiveness of this issue.

“I think by the time that they had asked all their questions and we had talked about everything that was concerning them, we were almost out of time for that whole lesson and our lessons are like an hour and 15 minutes,” Patel said.

At this point in the year, the girls’ 5k was just around the corner. They were scheduled to complete the run at Crown Point in Mission Bay on Dec. 9 alongside about 500 other girls from other Girls on the Run chapters in San Diego, Patel said.

In a recent practice 5k, the girls left no doubt that they would kill it at the main event, Patel said.

“They all completed the practice 5k,” she explained, adding that she was pretty confident that the “girls would do great.”

Patel said the club won’t be returning in the spring because many of the girls will be participating in other sports, but she is planning on bringing back the group next fall.

“I know a couple of girls in third grade are already talking about next year like, ‘I want to do this next year. I want to do that,’” Patel said. “So, we definitely will be doing it again next year.”

When Oz meets Wonderland, Dorothy and Alice must avoid the Queen of Hearts and find their way home. A white rabbit goes rushing by, late for an appointment, a scarecrow attends a mad tea party and a newly courageous lion chats with a disappearing Cheshire cat. Dingeman Elementary School fourth and fifth grade students from Mr. Saguil’s and Ms. Morioka’s classes will show that two worlds can magically fit together in the charmingly funny musical “Dorothy in Wonderland” on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Dingeman Elementary Multi-Purpose Room.

This marks Dingeman Elementary School’s 22nd annual musical performance. The performance is free to attend, with donations graciously accepted to help offset production costs. 

An abundance of color, pageantry and music resonated from the main athletic field on the Scripps Ranch High School campus as the Falcons marching band and color guard hosted a marching band tournament on Nov. 2.

The entire event was an impressive spectacle. Marching bands adorned in a multitude of colorful uniforms performed and paraded for the numerous viewers in attendance.

Schools with bands scheduled to participate included Classical Academy High School, La Costa Canyon High School, West Hills High School, El Capitan High School, Grossmont High School, Valhalla High School, Castle Park High School, Desert Mirage High School, Redondo Union High School and Scripps Ranch High School.

The Scripps Ranch High marching band and color guard wrapped up the performances with and exhibition of the band’s routine called “The Tortured Mind.” The Falcons marching band demonstrated excellent mastery of musical adeptness while in motion.

The event culminated with an awards presentation featuring leaders of the Scripps Ranch High marching band and color guard presenting trophies to leaders of winning bands, complete with extravagant ceremonial salutes.

Some seniors at Scripps Ranch High School were busy painting and coloring their new parking spaces for the 2019-20 school year in one of the school’s parking lots. These students won bids for their parking spaces during an annual auction that raises funds for the school.

Seniors could purchase their own personal parking space and personalize it with their artwork for the school year.

Kindness Week spread kindheartedness through the halls of Jerabek Elementary School in October.

The week consists of classroom activities and school events centered on the message of being kind. Laura Stephens, founder of Kindness Week, said all the events are meant to be student centered. 

“At Jerabek, the students know we are a team focused on creating a culture of kindness. They are the leaders. All activities are meant to be led by the students – between the students,” Stephens said. 

Activities include students giving each other “Caught Being Kind” cards, kindness themed readings by students and classroom activities from homework to art projects, all focused on kindness. 

Stephens said this year’s first of three designated Kindness weeks every school year was notable because of the school’s new affiliation with the national No Place for Hate initiative founded by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). According to the local ADL website, No Place for Hate schools “are able to incorporate ADL’s anti-bias and anti-bullying resources with their existing programming to form one powerful message that all students have a place to belong.”

Stephens said all schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels in Scripps Ranch have committed to becoming No Place for Hate schools. 

“The combination of all the schools working together to get like activities going during the same week really expanded our reach to students and families,” Stephens said. 

At Jerabek Elementary, the week’s capstone was a celebration rally which included speaker David Charbonnet, CEO of VIP NeuroRehabilitation Center in San Diego. Charbonnet, who served as a U.S. Navy SEAL for a year and a half, was injured in a parachuting accident outside of San Diego. His injuries left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Charbonnet spoke to the students about the importance of combating adversity, staying positive and helping others. Stephens said it was a highlight for the students. 

The next Kindness Week will be held at the end of January 2020. Stephens said the school is working on an exciting event that is community focused for that week. Until then, as a No Place for Hate school, the students and teachers are finding ways to be kind every day of the year. 

Undefeated this season, the Scripps Ranch High School football team’s on-field success is on display for everyone to see. Less obvious, but also a source of team pride, is the team’s academic success. A recent grade check showed the team’s average GPA to be 3.71.

The high marks are the result of hard work by the student athletes and the prioritization of academic success by head football coach Marlon Gardinera.

“A high school coach doesn’t just coach football,” Gardinera said. “As a matter of fact, I think it’s about 25 percent of my job.”

Now in his third year as head coach, Gardinera played baseball at Oklahoma State and football at Mission Bay High School. He’s the father of two sons in local schools, one being Falcons running back Nicholas Gardinera. With experience as both a student athlete and a father, Gardinera said he created a “school first” policy because success in sports can be fleeting.

“Football is fun, sports are fun, but they’re temporary,” Gardinera said. “Very few people get to do them for the rest of their life, and even then, the rest of your life as a professional (football player) is, on average, five years.”

He brought that same idea to the Falcons football team.

“The goal when I got here was that I want to prepare these boys for life,” Gardinera said. “The idea was using the lessons football teaches to make sure these kids were successful on and off the field for the next step in their life, whether that’s a trade school, college or the military.

Of course, winning on the field was also important.

“I wanted to bring the academic excellence we’ve grown to love at Scripps Ranch to the football field. But the football players couldn’t suffer academically as a result of that,” he said.

Putting his ideas and ideals into motion, Gardinera started by raising the bar on the required GPA to be on the Falcons team to 3.0, higher than the CIF minimum of 2.5.

“We don’t need average,” he said. “If you have a C, any C, you don’t need to practice football; you need to practice school. And we’re serious about that.”

The other parts of the approach include mandatory study hall time, weekly grade checks by the coach and, when needed, improvement plans.

“If a kid has a C, we don’t throw them off the football team. We put together a plan immediately to get that C up,” he said. “That typically includes study hall and peer tutoring. I and other coaches will also ask, ‘Have you met with your teacher? How often?’”

Additionally, teachers pitch in to help students develop planning and notetaking skills. Sometimes students help each other, as in the case of older students who have already taken the classes and therefore know what needs to be done.

“We throw everything at it to get the kids grades up, to improve study habits and get them right,” Gardinera said.

Some players still struggle.

“When I realize or can Identify that effort is a part of it, I remove them from football,” the coach said. “Some kids are allowed to practice, but they can’t play. Some, because they’re not using their time wisely and haven’t made school a priority, they don’t need football. They need school. That’s why we’re there.”

Gardinera also meets with counselors and teachers to discusses student progress, and he’s always on the lookout for any behavioral issues that may arise.

“We tell the kids early on: if you wear our gear, if you wear that jersey on Friday, you represent us all,” he said. “Every decision you make, your choices, your behavior, it reflects on all of us, and we won’t tolerate anything but your best.”

In academic efforts, the comradery of teammates has also provided strong motivation.

“It’s the brotherhood,” the coach said. “They are their brother’s keeper and they don’t want to let each other down. They don’t want to miss out.”

Gardinera believes the work ethic instilled by high academic requirements has definitely shown on the football field, where the team has come back from a 2-8 and 6-4 records the previous year to this season’s 9-0 record.

“If you can convince a kid that school comes first, that details matter, that hard work matters, that time spent matters; if you can convince them of that, the hope, the goal, the purpose is that they transfer that work experience to everything,” he said. “As I think everybody can see right now, they’re translating doing everything right to the football field. Hard work is hard work, whether it’s football or studying for a big exam.”

The team’s success on the gridiron and in the classroom earned Gardinera Chargers Coach of the Week honors recently, which included $1,000 for the Falcons football program.

“If you’re on the right track and the culture is going in the right direction, you’re going to get better, Gardinera said. “It really just culminated all at the same time.”

Literally marching to the beat of their own drummers, members of the Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) marching band are hoping to come out on top as they kick off their season of competition.

The Falcons marching band season will begin at the end of October. With a group of 121 students including the color guard this year, the SRHS marching band will be performing music and a routine with the theme “The Tortured Mind.” Russell Shedd, music director at SRHS, said the theme, with music composed by Rob Stein, was introduced to the students during their pre-season band camp.

“We think the concept ‘The Tortured Mind’ is relevant to today’s modern teenager, so there is a lot to draw on as far as creativity and inspiration,” Shedd explained.

Students prepare for each season by attending a two-week-long band camp prior to school starting. Elaine Rosen, president of SRHS Music Boosters, said the boosters hire specialized coaches to work with the students to assist Shedd. These two weeks are spent learning the music and preparing for the endurance needed to perform in competitions. Students then practice three times a week to prepare thereafter as school begins.

“In addition to learning the music, they have to learn the positioning as well. As you might imagine, it takes multiple weeks to learn where you need to go and where you need to stand. They have to be able to find their certain spots on the field at certain times in the music,” Rosen said. “Just like any other sport, they also need to spend time conditioning as well.”

The competitions are executed by the California State Band Championships (CSBC) and bands are expected to adhere to strict rules such as timing their entrance and exit of their performance. The CSBC allows bands of all sizes to compete and then judges the performances against schools of similar size. 

Shedd stated that he is hoping for a high-ranking performance, as the band has placed in the top nine out of 80 groups in past years. He also explained that all students are welcome to take up marching band regardless of previous experience. 

“The program at Scripps is extremely inclusive. Anyone who has musical interest should join. It fits into every schedule imaginable. It helps students become lifelong learners and passionate supporters of the arts,” Shedd said. 

The marching band’s first competition is the Valhalla Field Tournament scheduled for Oct. 26 at Valhalla High School in El Cajon.

Two local elementary schools are bringing fall festivities to Scripps Ranch. Both Ellen Browning Scripps and Dingeman Elementary schools are hosting fall themed events for the local community to support their schools. 

EBS Fall Family Festival
The Ellen Browning Scripps (EBS) Fall Family Festival will be held on Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the school. Danyelle Comer, EBS ABF president, said this year’s events will include a cupcake walk, games of chance, a pumpkin carving contest and a variety of local food vendors. Comer said families can further support the school by participating in the Silent Auction. She also explained that the event will boast new events this year including game booths sponsored by each grade level, in addition to a new game that is likely to be a hit with the kids. 

“To add to the fun, our carnival chairs built a life-sized Candy Land, which will be run in partnership with the American Heart Association who is providing prizes for the game. And to promote heart health, we’ve added ‘healthful’ tips for the kids throughout the game,” Comer said. 

Attending the festival is free for all families. Twenty-five game and bake sale tickets can be purchased for $20, a raffle ticket for $5, or 10 game boards for $10 at the festival.

The EBS Fall Festival proceeds will go to support programs such as Everyone’s A Reader, Fine Artists, grade-appropriate Science Nights, International Night and Character Education. Everyone is encouraged to come in costumes appropriate for elementary aged children. For more information on the Fall Festival, visit ebs-afp.com/fallfamilyfestival.  

Dingeman Elementary Boo Bash
The Dingeman Elementary School Boo Bash will be held on Oct. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the school. The event will boast music, games, trick or treating and food.

Everyone is encouraged to come in costume. Attendees are asked to avoid costumes with gory decorations or costumes with weapons.