On Wednesday, February 4, Bear Valley Middle School served as the perfect backdrop for our annual District Writing Celebration, a headline-worthy evening that brought our Framework for the Future to life! It was an incredible chapter for our community as 150 talented authors from across all EUSD schools (including LLA and Home Education) showcased their writing. This event provided a powerful platform for our students to grow as Effective Communicators and Empowered Learners, giving them an authentic audience to "publish" their writing. Seeing these young writers connect with a room full of families and educators was a vivid reminder of the bright future they are drafting every day. A special thank you to the Escondido Education Foundation for their donation of the memorable awards and pens provided to each Writing Celebration recipient. Congratulations to all of our featured authors for reaching this impressive milestone!
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
Spring Break Day Camps:
EUSD Expanded Learning is excited to offer three No-Cost Spring Break Day Camp options:
TK-5th Grade YMCA Day Camp - Camp EXPLORE!
When? April 6-10 (5 days) from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where? Central and Farr Elementary.
What? Enjoy a week of fun with our YMCA partners. The week includes an educational trip to the Safari Park and many new learning experiences, such as archery, cooking, art, and more! New this year are swim excursions at the YMCA pool (3rd-5th graders)!
2nd-5th Grade Theatre Camp with Mosaic Theatricals- ¡Camp Exprésate!
When? April 6-10 (5 days) from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where? Reidy Creek Elementary.
What? Enjoy a week of theatre camp with our local partner Mosaic Theatricals (formerly known as CCAE Theatricals). At ¡Camp Exprésate!, students will learn about singing, acting, dancing, set design, and more! This week also includes an educational trip to CSU San Marcos.
6th-8th Grade Boys and Girls Club Day Camp - EXPLORE San Diego!
When? April 6-10 (5 days) from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where? Bear Valley Middle School
What? The week is packed with exciting San Diego-themed field trip experiences, including stand-up paddleboarding in Mission Bay, the UCSD Challenge Course, archery, a visit to the Fleet Science Center, and a trip to SeaWorld!
An email/text with details and a link to the interest form was sent on Monday, February 9, to all families. Camp participants will engage in a wide variety of activities designed to give students a fun, interactive, and safe spring break experience. Space is limited, and a random lottery will be held if interest exceeds the available space. Families will be notified of enrollment status (enrolled or waitlisted) in early March.
February festivities:
There is much to recognize in February, such as Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and Presidents Day. We are proud to share highlights from classrooms around the district. The origin of Black History Month dates back to 1915, and it gained official recognition in 1976 thanks to President Gerald Ford, who called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Around EUSD, lessons on Black American history are incorporated in countless ways and highlighted during this time. Mrs. Wirth's first-grade class at L.R. Green Elementary School recently brought history to life by creating a life-size poster of Martin Luther King Jr. through a hands-on project connected to RIASEC, the school’s redesign focus. Each student contributed to a different part of the poster based on the area of interest in RIASEC that they most closely identified with, allowing them to explore their strengths while working collaboratively toward a shared goal. When all the pieces were combined, the class revealed an impressive final display that celebrated teamwork, creativity, and the inspiring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., helping students connect their own interests and talents to making a positive difference in the world.
Summative ELPAC:
Students in kindergarten through grade eight who are classified as English learners will take the Summative ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California) every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English. Administration of the Summative ELPAC began in EUSD on Monday, February 2, and will continue through Friday, May 29. Each school has a specific testing window within the EUSD window. If you have questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or principal. To learn more about the ELPAC, go to the Starting Smarter Website.
Library programs:
The library is hosting a free Lunar New Year celebration from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 28, in the North County Mall Center Court, Level 1. The event will include a visit from the Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society, which will provide lion dancing and a Kung Fu demonstration. View this flyer from the Escondido Public Library (PDF) for more information on the celebration. Escondido Public Library Flyer (Spanish PDF)
San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering
Join Illumina and Love STEM San Diego for a day of discovery and fun at the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering! Families are invited to enjoy more than 100 hands-on activities, exciting experiments, live performances, reptiles, rockets, prizes, and more. This FREE community event is perfect for all ages and a great way to spark curiosity and creativity in young minds. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Petco Park in San Diego.
Resources for Food Assistance
We want to make sure families are aware of local resources that offer free food and support for those who may need it. Here are a few options available in our community:
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help connecting with these resources.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus:
All EUSD students have access to no-cost breakfast and lunch. Families can view our new online menus. Select your school and menu to see what is being served every day.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools