Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) students played an important part in the recent SDCOE all-staff event, creating works of art to share and taking pictures at the event.

Students from San Pasqual Academy took photos as part of the We Are From activity organized by Outside the Lens, which offers a variety of digital media courses to students who attend JCCS programs.

Participants enjoyed cookies baked by students in the career technical education culinary arts program at the San Diego SOAR Academy Youth Transition Campus. In addition to baking, these students are learning cooking, food production and handling, and server safety. Several students also participate in a culinary arts pre-apprenticeship program, which connects them with job training and potential employment after release. 

Students at the Youth Transition Campus also shared artwork and writings created during a course offered by Outside the Lens. Artwork from youth at Davila Day School, the SDCOE school for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing, was also on display.

Attendees also heard music created by students at San Diego SOAR Academy's East Mesa site through a partnership with David’s Harp Foundation, which provides internship opportunities and general instruction in music education, sound engineering, and multimedia production.

And then there were the candles made by students at Lindsay Community School as part of their entrepreneurship course. Students at both Lindsay and 37ECB make candles, soaps, incense, and other items and sell them at open markets and online. This course is offered as part of the Marketing and Services CTE pathway. 

The all-staff event featured a sampling of the career technical education programs and arts courses available to our students. JCCS has a robust woodworking program at YTC (previously at SOAR Academy East Mesa), a cafe at 37ECB where students learn about making coffee and customer service, and additional photography and multimedia opportunities with other arts partners.

Monarch School students have the opportunity to take a college-level film studies course this fall thanks to a partnership with San Diego City College. 

Approximately 13 students in grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the course, which provides an introduction to the medium of cinema as a means of expression and communication. Topics include aesthetic and storytelling techniques, history of the industry, and current developments, among other items.

The course is being taught twice per week at Monarch School by adjunct professor Rizzhel Javier. Credit received in the course is transferable to University of California and California State University campuses. 

“It is important for our students to have access to college-level courses while enrolled in high school so that they gain exposure to the demands of a college level while maintaining the support from the high school teachers and staff,” said Monarch School Principal Dyane Plumly. “In these courses, students understand the demand of higher education, and it motivates them to improve their skills in their high school courses to ensure they are college and career ready.”

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The JCCS student representative on the San Diego County Board of Education for September was Zander, a freshman at Global Academy of California.

Principal Floyd North said that Zander is the student who will brighten your day and when he speaks, you can hear his passion and optimism.

“Zander is a passionate young man with creative ideas and artistic talents,” North continued. “He is responsible and always puts in the extra effort to do things correctly. When you see Zander, you see hope, genius, and a leader.”

This year, he enrolled in his first college course and enjoys participating in the A Reason to Survive arts program. North said Zander is full of creative ideas and may choose to write comic books, graphic novels, or become an entrepreneur in the future. 

Zander credits his teachers and counselor at Global Academy help him keep focused on completing work on time and helping him sign up for college classes. 

Each month, the San Diego County Board of Education recognizes a student from Juvenile Court and Community Schools at its regular meeting.

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