What's Happening
What’s Happening is a community service from the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to connect families, students, and educators with free and low-cost opportunities and resources, including educator grants and scholarships/contests for students. Helpful information is updated regularly on this page with highlights published at the start of each month as an e-newsletter.
Email communications@sdcoe.net if you have an opportunity to share with educators, students, and families in San Diego County.
Sign up to receive the What's Happening monthly newsletter by clicking the 'Sign Up' icon below.
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Free and low-cost opportunities for educators and students
![two female students presenting in front of seated group of educators]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736356925/sdcoenet/e8tmubf1axjzhuungyvh/WH-NHD2025.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736356925/sdcoenet/e8tmubf1axjzhuungyvh/WH-NHD2025.png","width":460}])
Join SDCOE at this year's History Day on March 1 where you will have the opportunity to hear more about this event at a special informational session and see some of the student projects. Educators and community members can also sign up anytime before the event to volunteer as judges at this annual competition.
![San Diego Public Library Winter Reading Challenge art with text]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736197529/sdcoenet/ecw939pyg9euuxptgde1/WHwinterreadingchallenge2025.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736197529/sdcoenet/ecw939pyg9euuxptgde1/WHwinterreadingchallenge2025.png","width":460}])
Kids and adults can start the year off with a winter reading challenge with the San Diego Public Library. The Be a Reading Machine challenge encourages readers of all ages to dive into the world of engineering, robots, inventions, and artifical intelligence.
![Lacrosse athlete interacting with young girl]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1702409058/sdcoenet/hudnzefworwvo22ijqts/WHAztecsGWSDayparticipants.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1702409058/sdcoenet/hudnzefworwvo22ijqts/WHAztecsGWSDayparticipants.png","width":460}])
Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with the Aztecs by attending the SDSU vs. Wyoming game on Feb. 8 at Viejas Arena. Free tickets are available to all K-8 students for this game, which includes pre-game sports clinics and a post-game autograph sesssion with the Aztec women's basketball team.
![Sea World San Diego logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1673294758/sdcoenet/vxq6z69tams0wpbsl8eh/WHSeaWorldlogo.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1673294758/sdcoenet/vxq6z69tams0wpbsl8eh/WHSeaWorldlogo.png","width":460}])
SeaWorld San Diego is offering free admission to K-12 classroom teachers with the Teacher Fun Card and discounted admission to kids 3-5 with the Preschool Fun Card. Apply before the spring 2025 deadlines for activating the cards.
![UCSD women's basketball team playing a game]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1695929434/sdcoenet/tcegxyknbrqpzrnf8xvb/UCSD-womens-basketball.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1695929434/sdcoenet/tcegxyknbrqpzrnf8xvb/UCSD-womens-basketball.png","width":460}])
UC San Diego presents National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Feb. 8. A pre-game sports clinic where kids will have the chance to meet women scholar athletes and participate in fun activities is followed by the Triton women’s basketball game vs. UC Irvine at 2 p.m. The game is free for K-6 students.
![Inspire Curiosity logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736268544/sdcoenet/s0puigkk1yumfsdoh2xk/WH-InspireCuriosity.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736268544/sdcoenet/s0puigkk1yumfsdoh2xk/WH-InspireCuriosity.png","width":460}])
Inspire Curiosity aims to provide STEM education to children in grades 3-7. Elementary and middle school students can sign up to attend weekly virtual classes that cover a variety of STEM topics. These free classes are held on Sundays from 2 to 3 p.m.
![San Diego County Fair’s Student Showcase: Celebrating Creativity and Talent]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736268190/sdcoenet/x8q06egoqxufxr3eipkx/WH-SDfair.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736268190/sdcoenet/x8q06egoqxufxr3eipkx/WH-SDfair.png","width":460}])
The San Diego County Fair’s Student Showcase Exhibit is back and ready to shine! Encourage your students to participate in this unique competition open to middle and high school students that also includes a dazzling array of student-created works from elementary schools.
![San Diego Foundation Logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1732656409/sdcoenet/h8wk4mec89jbsftzcxha/WH-SD-Foundation.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1732656409/sdcoenet/h8wk4mec89jbsftzcxha/WH-SD-Foundation.png","width":460}])
The San Diego Foundation is hosting the next Annual Common Scholarship Application (CSA) Guidance Summit on Jan. 22. This session will support counselors, advisors, and teachers with the tools and knowledge to navigate the CSA process successfully.
![Group of smiling students walking holding LGBTQ+ flags]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733169453/sdcoenet/gjmyzu9ssk9bpxo72tfi/WH-NRCF.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733169453/sdcoenet/gjmyzu9ssk9bpxo72tfi/WH-NRCF.png","width":460}])
National Rainbow College Fund is hosting its next scholarship overview webinar on Jan. 23. in preparation for the inaugural 2025-26 National Rainbow College Fund scholarship application that opens Jan. 15. Learn valuable insights for teachers, counselors, coaches, and student-serving professionals.
Resources from SDCOE
![Stock photo of diverse people sitting and talking]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736469635/sdcoenet/oo8uh4vlsf4cjnzzispl/diverse-group-adults-talking.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736469635/sdcoenet/oo8uh4vlsf4cjnzzispl/diverse-group-adults-talking.png","width":460}])
Navigating school spaces as an educator of color comes with unique challenges and experiences. SDCOE's Educator Pathways Community of Practice affinity group aims to give these educators a unique professional setting to meet, speak freely about the challenges they face, and reassure each other they are not alone.
![Soccer balls in a cart near the school PE field]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1675806998/sdcoenet/m0mlubgdngdk56xtyn2l/soccerballs.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1675806998/sdcoenet/m0mlubgdngdk56xtyn2l/soccerballs.jpg","width":460}])
HHSA, SDCOE offer mini-grant funding to support schools, in traditionally underserved communities in updating their physical education programming and increase students' physical activity.
![San Diego Museum of Natural History dinosaur statues]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736963328/sdcoenet/gjfodqbw3rbns5odfx8h/SanDiegoMuseumofNaturalHistory-FossilMysteriescopy.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736963328/sdcoenet/gjfodqbw3rbns5odfx8h/SanDiegoMuseumofNaturalHistory-FossilMysteriescopy.jpg","width":460}])
San Diego Museum Month, the region’s largest annual celebration of art, culture, history, science, nature and more, will return for its 36th year from Feb. 1-28, 2025.
![Black History Month graphic]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1643223293/sdcoenet/cbtgyqr06tlpuk9znxvm/black-history-month.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1643223293/sdcoenet/cbtgyqr06tlpuk9znxvm/black-history-month.png","width":500}])
During Black History Month, let's embrace the opportunity to engage and educate our students about the rich and diverse history of African Americans. To help celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of black individuals who have helped shape our country, we have compiled resources for you to use in the classroom this month and all year round.
![cff innovation in education grant program inspire innovate achieve impact request for application]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1734545015/sdcoenet/rbdbnymph7iqoesuho16/25-cff-innovation-in-education-grant-application.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1734545015/sdcoenet/rbdbnymph7iqoesuho16/25-cff-innovation-in-education-grant-application.png","width":460}])
A total of $25,000 in Innovation in Education STEAM grants are available for San Diego County K-12 school districts and charter schools through the Classroom of the Future Foundation. Apply online now through Feb. 7.
![san diego county office of education future without boundaries]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1693507979/sdcoenet/gcivpsftqstcs0ruevgo/three-teenagers-group-diverse.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1693507979/sdcoenet/gcivpsftqstcs0ruevgo/three-teenagers-group-diverse.jpg","width":460}])
The San Diego County Board of Education is accepting online applications for student board members now through Feb. 1 on the SDCOE student board member webpage.
