AT A GLANCE: 

~EUSD Vision~

Ignite the Limitless Potential of All Learners.

 

Dear EUSD Community,

As we conclude this last week before Thanksgiving Break, I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all of you. In my home, we have a tradition of going around the table to express gratitude. It is always a special time. I am grateful for the following:

A community that is engaged and involved in education. I see so many families at schools, at drop off, at events and volunteering. It truly makes a difference for students!

The absolute best staff in education anywhere. It does not matter which campus, department or district location I visit, our certificated and classified staff all care so deeply about students and their work. 

A Board of Trustees that has set a clear vision and plan for the future that puts students at the center of everything!

Children that come to school every day wanting to learn and be loved.

I hope this next week of break is special for all of you. I recognize that not all families observe Thanksgiving in the same way. However you spend this time, I hope it includes rest, connection, and care for one another.

Wishing you a safe, restorative break.

Warmly,

Andrée Grey, Ed.D.
Superintendent

 

At La Costa Heights, we continue to uphold our district’s core values—joy, belonging, and service—which guide every decision we make and shape the experiences that help our students thrive. We are deeply committed to developing the whole child through our Learner Profile competencies: being an empowered learner, global citizen, wellness advocate, confident collaborator, skilled communicator, and innovative thinker. These qualities come to life daily in our classrooms, across our playgrounds, and throughout our school-wide events and traditions.

This year, our students have found meaningful ways to live out these attributes in action. During Inclusion in Action Week, students showed what it means to be inclusive humans—building empathy, celebrating differences, and ensuring everyone feels valued and connected. During Red Ribbon Week, they took an Oath of Honor, committing to making safe and healthy choices for themselves and their community—an example of our students growing as wellness advocates and global citizens.

Our 5th graders have also taken on exciting new leadership roles this year. As empowered learners and innovative thinkers, they are researching and crafting their own student-created bill to present—not in Sacramento this time, but directly to our local legislators. Through this process, they are learning how their voices can create real change right here in our community.

In addition, our Peace Keepers Club has been a powerful example of confident collaboration in action. Students have been developing conflict resolution skills, practicing empathy, and working together to make our school a more peaceful and supportive place for all.

Our students have also embraced creativity and communication through the arts. With the guidance of a teacher sponsor, they are writing, directing, and acting in student-created plays—an incredible demonstration of skilled communication, innovation, and empowered learning. These projects showcase how capable and creative our students are when given the opportunity to lead their own learning and share their voices.

Together, we are building an inclusive, joyful, and student-centered community—one where every child is seen, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.

 

Students wrote inclusion pledges to create a paper chain for their inclusion in action flag.

Student-created and directed rendition of the musical Hamilton.

 

Encinitas Union School District recently had the opportunity to welcome Dr. Kerry Magro as part of our Inclusion in Action programming. This special visit was made possible through a partnership between the Special Education Parent Council and the National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR), bringing Dr. Magro’s inspiring message as a person with autism to every EUSD student and to families during a dedicated parent information night. His presentation highlighted the importance of inclusion, disability awareness, acceptance, and the everyday impact of kindness—values that continue to guide and strengthen our work in EUSD. For those who were unable to attend the parent night, you can watch the presentation below. 

Schools across the District created large-scale artwork that was made from student pledges and notes about inclusion. During Inclusion in Action weeks, TRAC lessons are centered around disability awareness and how to be more inclusive and understanding. Students then had the chance to pledge to be more inclusive and share what they've learned. On Ocean Knoll's Sea of Inclusion wall, students shared what inclusiveness means to them. Fish adorned the wall with notes such as "Inclusion is embracing differences and letting people join you" and "Inclusion is helping people no matter what they look like or what their background is." 

Ocean Knoll parent and athlete Ryen Reed generously volunteered to share her story as someone born with cerebral palsy, and answered questions about wheelchair use. Ryen is an accomplished handcyclist currently training as a hopeful for the 2028 Paralympic Games, and her passion and dedication inspired students throughout her visit. Students had the chance to try out handcycling bikes and basketball wheelchairs during her visits, providing a meaningful, hands-on experience designed to build understanding, empathy, and a deeper awareness of the diverse ways people move through the world. 

OPE had a few special furry visitors during Inclusion in Action. Kobe, Saylor and Luna are all certified therapy dogs part of the Love on a Leash organization. Students got to spend their recess learning about their new friends and the purpose of therapy dogs, while giving as many hugs and belly rubs as possible. 

During Inclusion in Action, our incredible media aides showcased books that broaden students’ understanding of people with disabilities. OPE Media Aide Jennifer Rohr also shared that she invited special guest readers to enrich the experience. A student with dwarfism read a story featuring a character with dwarfism to second grade classes, and author Sally J. Pla joined the OPE Book Club to discuss and read one of her books that features a character with autism. Disability representation in literature not only allows students with disabilities to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, but it also fosters inclusion, awareness, and acceptance among all learners. 

 

The updates listed below were presented at the EUSD Board of Trustees meeting held on November 4, 2025:

Leslie Wright, Coordinator of Enrichment and Intervention, and Jennifer Bond, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability, presented an update on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in EUSD. They were joined by three MTSS TOSAs (Teachers on Special Assignment) to further explain the impact of MTSS at the school sites. 

Dr. Lisa Forehand, Director of Leadership and Learning, was joined by several teachers who are part of the Report Card Committee to provide an update on the report card creation process, changes made, and what to expect moving forward. First semester report cards will be sent home with students on January 16, 2026. 

Students from Paul Ecke Central joined Principal Wes Sechrest to share a school update. The presentation highlighted PEC’s beloved Grandparents and Special Visitors Day, an annual tradition at the end of November filled with music, community, and celebration. To give everyone a sneak peek of the fun to come, the talented fifth graders performed the song "Celebrate.” It was a highlight of the meeting! To watch their performance on Instagram, click here.

 

More than 200 students, families, staff, and community members braved the rain at Capri Elementary as they joined the school’s first-ever Ruby Bridges Walk-to-School Day! They were also joined by Encinitas City council member Jim O'Hara and EUSD Board members Marlon Taylor and Tom Morton. 

Capri joined thousands of schools across the country and walked to school in her honor. Everyone was encouraged to wear purple and proudly walked together in celebration of inclusion, belonging, and standing up against racism and bullying.

In preparation for the walk, students had the chance to learn about Ruby's courage in class. At just six years old, Ruby became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans on November 14, 1960. Her fearless walk into William Frantz Elementary, escorted by U.S. Marshals through crowds of protestors, forever changed public education and remains a powerful symbol of courage, resilience, and the fight for racial equality.

A HUGE thank you to Victoria Fulton, parent at Capri, for organizing the event and creating such a meaningful learning experience for students! 

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the bike safety make-up trainings. The deadline for students to have permit tags on their bikes or scooters is November 21st. 

If you were unable to attend the make-up assemblies, you can sign up for an approved bike safety class online through the city of Encinitas or Carlsbad. 

After your student has attended a training, please submit a bike permit application through the district website. Once submitted, they will receive a district-issued parking permit ID tag which will need to be affixed to their bike, e-bike, or scooter. ID tags will be issued through your school’s front office. 

If you have any questions, please contact your school office. Thank you.

 

Fall is in full swing and students district-wide have been busy exploring a variety of environmental literacy topics and projects with BCK Programs.

At Capri Elementary, Green Team students helped resume EUSD’s first food recovery program. Each week, leftovers are collected from the lunch line and are then donated to a local organization via a partnership with Feeding San Diego. This important effort seeks to minimize food waste (which is a win for the environment!) and also gives back to the wider Encinitas community.

La Costa Heights Green Team students performed a skit at the Synergy Gathering to teach classmates about food waste and to remind everyone to only take what they’ll eat from the lunch line. Students also made posters encouraging families to compost their Halloween pumpkins in the green bin. LCH 3rd graders are pitching in too—students are helping process salad bar scraps in the school’s vermicompost bin, feeding the worms, and getting the Green Team garden bed ready for future fun!

At Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary, the Green Team has been focused on a comprehensive litter study and campaign to help mitigate stormwater pollution coming from campus, with a focus on reducing micro and meso plastics. Students have also been spending time exploring the garden and tasting a variety of unique fall flavors, like broccoli flowers!

Food recovery at Capri.

Composting signs at LCH.

Garden tasting at OPE.

 

Substitute Office Manager & School Service Secretaries Positions:

EUSD is now hiring for substitute office managers and/or school services secretaries. These positions are a great opportunity to be part of the EUSD community and to gain valuable school office experience. The job listing can be found online at edjoin.org/EncinitasUSD. You can also contact Jane McGuigan at jane.mcguigan@eusd.net for more information. 

Save the dates! EUSD has partnered with several outside organizations to offer the following workshops free to all parents.

-Technology & Kids, Oct. 15th at 6:30 pm, at El Camino Creek:
Learn the ins and outs of your child's online world through a dynamic presentation and Q&A with Digital Wellness Educator & Screen Time Consultant, Julia Storm. 

-Internet Safety, Nov. 5th from 5:30-7:00 pm, at El Camino Creek: Presented by the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, gain valuable insight on how to protect your children from online dangers. 

-Artful Conversations, Jan. 14th from 5:00-7:00 pm, at Olivenhain Pioneer: Presented by the National Conflict Resolution Center, learn effective communication strategies, including how to handle challenging conversations with your children. 

-The Bystander Challenge, Feb. 25th from 5:00-7:00 pm, at El Camino Creek: Presented by the National Conflict Resolution Center, learn how to empower your children to become "upstanders," and how to take action when they see inappropriate behavior. 

-Drug Awareness, April 15th from 5:30-7:00 pm, at Olivenhain Pioneer: Presented by the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, gain an understanding of youth drug use in the community, including a focus on vaping.

Childcare and translation will be provided at all workshops. Additional reminders for each workshop will be sent prior to the event.

The San Diego County Office of Education's Educational Technology team is launching a new virtual training series aimed at supporting families. The eight-session series is designed to help parents understand online safety and become confident digital partners in their child's learning journey. 

All sessions are free to attend and will take place via Zoom from 4 to 5 p.m. Register online to receive the meeting links. 

Training Schedule:
-The Dark Side of Tech (Digital Detox) - Dec. 2
-Understanding Cyber Envy - Jan. 27
-Info Security and Passwords - Mar. 10
-Popular Apps - What Are They and Should Your Child Use Them? - Apr. 15

 

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   ENCINITAS UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT  |  101 S. RANCHO SANTA FE ROAD, ENCINITAS, CA  92024