LV Innovation Center Leads the Way
Plus: LV News Briefs, Lupe's Mexican Eatery, Affordable Educator Housing Planned for LV Area, and LV Multi-Cultural Fair this Saturday
The Linda Vista Update
In addition to a number of K-12 public and charter schools, the Linda Vista area plays host to a number of prominent educational institutions, including the University of San Diego, Francis Parker School, Mesa Community College, and the San Diego County Office of Education. Each of these campuses/organizations face the challenge of providing students with a relevant and innovative education that can be used to ultimately prepare them for productive employment in the workforce. With our society’s technological developments occurring at a rapid pace, this academic challenge can be an exceptionally demanding one.
However, there is one educational site here in the community that is at the forefront of addressing this challenge in bold fashion, serving as a leader in introducing young students to the different kind of skills and opportunities associated with today’s high tech workplace requirements. The Linda Vista Innovation Center, located in the distinctive building at 2202 Comstock Street (shared with the Bayside Community Center), and part of the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), serves students throughout the county by providing them with a unique, hands-on classroom experience of exploring, creating, and learning designed to whet their appetite in regard to STEAM related skills and occupations. While spending a day at the Innovation Center students (mainly in elementary and middle school grades) gain exposure to high tech equipment and learn and apply real world skills. Since the 2022-2023 school year, the Linda Vista Innovation Center, one of several atypical schools operated by the SDCOE, has grown in popularity, going from servicing 1000 students annually to over 8000 students so far this school year.
The Linda Vista Innovation Center is a unique academic environment comprised of 17 classrooms and 35,000 square feet. The school has a principal – Christina Desanto –an administrative staff, and three full time teachers offering instruction to visiting students who travel to the Center as a class from various school campuses throughout San Diego County. While there for the day (from 9:30-10:00 am to 2:00 pm), these students make their way through different lab experiences in the various classrooms. In keeping with the spirit of innovation, the classrooms do not resemble the traditional appearance of a typical school. Instead, the visiting students sit at workspaces/desks that simulate the functionality of an industrial workplace setting. The classroom labs are fitted with up-to-date high tech equipment. And instead of merely sitting while a teacher lectures, students spend time receiving instruction from teachers and eventually spend more time actually planning, designing, problem solving and creating products. The unique classroom setting, along with the hands-on opportunities to use technology ensures the level of student engagement remains high and enjoyable during the entirety of the students’ visits. All of this makes for a fun and motivational academic experience that piques the interest of students in different STEAM related skills and makes them aware of the kind of non-traditional jobs available in the workforce. As explained by school principal Desanto, “Students get a chance to see what excites them.”
In moving from one lab to another during a typical visit (and up to 2 more visits during the school year to get through all labs), elementary school students get exposed to such occupations/career paths as energy, construction, and utilities, healthcare (optometry), and information and communications technologies, and digital media. Middle and high school students gain experience in labs that address robotics, computer coding, drones, electronics, 3D printers, computer-aided design, AR/VR technology, and podcasting. In short, students get to see first-hand what kind of job skills are required in the kind of occupations that produce the products they and their families use on a daily basis.
As part of the Innovation Center experience, students are also given the opportunity to explore what kind of occupations are compatible with their own respective interests and strengths. Students are asked to take an assessment to help them determine what career pathway might be right for them. They are then given access to Career Cards that link with their assessment results. The cards show specific occupations, the associated education level required, and median wages and projected growth in the coming years for that field. The assessment is given based on the theory that when a student finds a potential career connected to their personality type and personal preferences, “deeper interest and fulfillment will result.” This goes along with the saying “If you find a job you like, you will never have to work a day in your life.”
In addition to creating products with such technology as 3D printers, the idea of relating technology to the real world is stressed to students by teaching them how high tech is used to help solve real world problems in such areas as sustainable energy and water management. The concept of empathy is also taught in the labs so that students can appreciate how tech can be used to tackle accessibility challenges and develops aids for humans and animals with diverse needs.
Visit any school campus in the Linda Vista area and you will find teachers and staff working hard to provide students with a stimulating classroom experience; and, if you visit the Linda Vista Innovation Center you are sure to come away impressed by the degree of effort made by the San Diego County Office of Education, Principal Desanto, and her staff of teachers/administrators in guaranteeing that students are provided with a “Wow factor” classroom experience meant to make a permanent imprint on their concept of education.
LV News Briefs:
—City Trash Collection Mailer: All property owners in San Diego should soon start receiving a 7-page mailer that allows them to protest the proposed City trash collection fee. Property owners must cut out and mail back a post card located in the 7-page mailer indicating they protest the trash collection service. On June 9, the proposed trash collection fee/service will be discussed at a City Council hearing. If a property owner does not mail in a protest card before June 9, that will be counted as a vote of approval for the new trash collection service Check out what the mailer looks like by clicking HERE. Look for it in your mail.
—Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair/Parade: The 40th anniversary of the Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair/Parade will be held this Saturday April 26. The Fair, held on Linda Vista Road between Ulric Street and Comstock Street, commences at 10:00 am. The parade commences at 11:00 am. Come on out and enjoy the food, music, beer garden, dancing, and the kids fun zone. And don’r forget to watch the first ever Lumpia Eating Competition!
—USD Torero Baseball: After beginning the season with a 6-24 win-loss record that mainly consisted of an extremely tough schedule of non-conference play, the University of San Diego Toreros baseball team is now on a 9 game winning streak and currently in second place in the West Coast Conference (9-3 conference record). The Toreros’ most recent victory came against cross town rival San Diego State University this past Monday. This weekend the teams heads up north to play conference leading Gonzaga University in a three-game series. The Toreros return on Monday to play UC Santa Barbara (4:00 pm) and then play host to the University of San Francisco Dons on May 2-4.
—LV Planning Board Meeting: The Linda Vista Planning Board will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday April 28 (6:00 pm) at the American Legion Post 731, located at 7245 Linda Vista Road. Click HERE to read the meeting agenda.
Lupe’s Mexican Eatery for Taco Tuesday
We have driven by Lupe’s Mexican Eatery millions of times on our way up Linda Vista Road toward Costco Business Center or the Convoy District or Target, but never eaten there. Recently, with no restaurant in mind to review, we decided to finally try Lupe’s. They share space on LV Road right past Mesa College Drive with Starbucks, Subway and a couple of other restaurants. I thought of Lupe’s as just a fast-food place, but it was Taco Tuesday, so we decided to give it a try. I’m glad we did because I was wrong.
I learned that this was Lupe’s first location and opened in 2012. Because of their success, they have opened locations in Huntington Beach, Dana Point and other places in Southern California. According to their website, they start with fresh produce, high quality meat and authentic recipes. They have items that will satisfy the carnivores, vegetarians, and any Mexican food lover. It’s more “good food fast” than “fast food.”
They have a new breakfast menu consisting of chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, and more. Their all-day menu consists of many kinds of tacos, including meat, seafood, and veggies. They also have rolled tacos, mini tacos, burritos, bowls, combos, several types of fries, quesadillas, and veggie enchiladas, burritos, and bowls. They have soups, and shrimp entrees, salads, kids’ menu, desserts and beverages. As you can see, their menu is very extensive, and I recommend you peruse it online. You can order online and pick up your food or eat inside. We were very surprised at the size of the restaurant when we went in. It is spacious and decorated very nicely, has two big screen TVs, soft Mexican music, attractive lighting and very comfortable seating options.
You order at the counter, and they bring your food to your table. Steve ordered 2 potato veggie tacos. It was $10.50 and included mixed veggies, lettuce, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cotija cheese, and of course potatoes. You can add on to any order for an added charge and these add-ons are clearly shown on the on-line ordering menu. Steve said his order was filling and tasty. He said he could taste the freshness and liked the cut of the potatoes. He ate both of the tacos and did not offer me any. No surprise there.
I ordered the mushroom shrimp taco. It included mozzarella cheese, cabbage, Pico, avocado slice, chipotle sauce, mushrooms and about 6 nice sized grilled shrimp. It came on a double soft taco shell and was very overloaded, so I made two tacos out of it, which I thought was pretty clever of me. They were delicious. I didn’t expect so many shrimps, and of course, I love mushrooms, so I was a happy camper. The regular price of this item is $5.50 but I was surprised to learn that the Taco Tuesday price was $4.00 What a deal! I would get this again for sure.
The staff were very friendly, and we enjoyed our meal. I hope you will try it if you have not. It is very close to Kearny High School and there is parking in the rear. They seemed to be doing a nice take-out business. The prices were reasonable and the food very tasty and vibrant.
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Note: Our recent review of Volare’s Italian Restaurant generated the most responses we have ever had about any review. It appears this place is a favorite of many and, as a result of people reading this article, we got a very large number of LV Update subscriptions in a very short time. So, thank you and let us know if you want us to review your favorite restaurant.
LV Area Locations to Host Educator Housing
Two properties in the Linda Vista area owned by the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) have been identified as possible locations for affordable teacher housing. As a result of a vote taken by members of the SDUSD board of education at a March 25 meeting, the Revere Center (an administrative site located at 6735 Gifford Way in Linda Vista) and the Instructional Media Center (located at 2441 Cardinal Lane in Birdland) will be converted to affordable housing for teachers, as well as counselors and nurses, and para-educators like custodians, bus drivers and food service workers. The plan, which includes three other SDUSD sites, will involve the building of a total of over 1500 units, was made possible by the district’s expected consolidation of administrative buildings/services.
The planned units include “a mix of two- or three-bedroom housing units with one-bedroom units to accommodate employees without children.”
The affordable housing is intended to make sure teachers can afford to live in the communities they teach.
Upcoming Community Event
LV Multi-Cultural Fair and Parade
We at the Linda Vista Update hope to see many of our readers at this Saturday’s LV Multi-Cultural Fair and Parade. Look for us in the parade—our staff will be riding and walking as one of the parade entries. Back in 2022, we were proud to serve as the Grand Marshals of the parade. This year’s edition of the parade and fair should prove to be a fun one! We are hoping our very own Carnivore Sidekick will represent us well in the Fair’s first ever Lumpia Competitive Eating Event. If he loses, we hope to seek moral comfort while paying a visit to the fair’s Views and Brews Beer Garden. While there, we will also use the occasion to celebrate publication of the 257th issue (today’s issue) of the Linda Vista Update, which we started back in July 2020.
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The Linda Vista Update is a weekly digital newsletter that publishes informative, interesting, and fun news about Linda Vista and its neighboring communities. We welcome ideas for stories. Let us know about any interesting people, places, or upcoming events.