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  • Welcome Back, MHUSD Families!

    August 2022 Message from our Superintendent, Dr. Carmen Garcia Hello Morgan Hill Unified Families,   Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! To our new families—welcome to MHUSD! You’ll quickly find that our school community is brimming with amazing people that are warm, inviting, and always willing to help. To our returning families—thank you for your continued partnership as we all work together to support your child and prepare them for the future of their dreams!   We are excited about the new opportunities that the 2022-23 school year brings to our district! Throughout the summer, we have been diligently planning, collaborating, and preparing to continue the work we started last year to enhance academic, enrichment and support, as well as social-emotional opportunities for each and every student across our campuses.   As a school district, our decisions and day-to-day functions are aligned-to and in support of our LCAP goals. In short, these goals set out to ensure ALL students are achieving at high levels and are college and career ready; establish and promote strong family and community engagement with our parents/guardians/families to impact student achievement and wellbeing; enhance student engagement, social-emotional learning, and increase positive school climate so that our school community feels supported and secure in our schools and classrooms.   To this end, and after hearing from many of our students, families, and staff throughout the last school year, we have increased services to provide elementary students with greater enrichment and support during the school day (music, art, PE, among others) while providing our teachers with built-in prep-time allowing us to continue to build our capacity as a Professional Learning Community (or, PLC). At the high school level, we also enhanced learning opportunities by maintaining in-school tutorial support and expanding course offerings with an additional period for students and an additional prep time for our teachers to collaborate during the school day for their own PLCs that focus on curriculum alignment and student outcomes.   This school year families will also see a bolstered before and after school program that provides students with both academic and enrichment options. We are also incredibly excited to launch our own district Family and Community Engagement Center this fall that will serve as a hub for our district parent activities and serve to complement the parent and family engagement efforts of our individual school sites. We’ve gathered a lot of input from parents and guardians and will continue to reach out for suggestions on parent university courses, classes, and other services that MHUSD families would like to see and experience.   We look forward to working alongside each of you as we continue to do the important work of ensuring the academic success, social-emotional wellbeing, and college and career readiness of each and every MHUSD student.   Thank you for your commitment to our school district and to our students! Let’s make it an awesome school year!       2022-2023 UPDATES Morgan Hill Unified Families, We hope that you have had a fun, restful summer and feel rejuvenated and ready for a new school year. The first day of school, which is Tuesday, August 16,  is quickly approaching. As we prepare to return, the district would like to update you on a few important items. UPDATED BELL SCHEDULES AND BUS INFORMATION As we have previously informed our families, each school site has updated its website with the bell schedule for the 2022-2023 school year as well as the district instructional calendar. If you have not already done so, please note any changes to your school’s bell schedule since last year. Transportation information, such as bus routes and applications is currently available on the district website . COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AND TESTING This school year, masks remain a highly recommended and effective tool to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. Schools will have masks available upon request.  If your student gets sick with symptoms (like cough and fever), please keep them home. Talk to your school if your child was exposed to someone with COVID-19 outside of school. The district is still required to report positive cases. Please notify your school if your child tests positive. A positive case will need to remain in isolation for a minimum of 5 days.  After that, if they are without symptoms, and test negative with an antigen test (home test) they can return on day 6. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is shifting the focus to at-home testing kits and starting the process of treating COVID as any of our other infectious diseases (ie: strep throat, flu, shingles, etc.) Last school year, our District used PCR test kits as a large part of our testing protocols, and many sites utilized the BinaxNow professional grade antigen tests through Primary.Health.  We will no longer be using these tests as we transition to over-the-counter at-home test kits. At-home testing materials are available for you to obtain at your school site. Your school site will reach out to you to pick up at-home tests if they have not already. We ask that you p lease test   the day before returning to school, on August 15. Parents should upload their results to the Primary.Health program. If parents have not created an account for their child, they can do so by clicking on the link below. Please repeat the test in three days, on August 18. Primary.Health Registration  STUDENT MEALS All Students in California will receive free breakfast and lunch at school this academic year. To continue to receive crucial funding for our schools, we are required to maintain household income data. We ask that all families complete this brief income survey form . Even if your child doesn’t eat meals at school, completing the form helps to strengthen the meal program and provides income-eligible families discounts on testing, bus passes, internet providers and more.    STAY CONNECTED!  MHUSD uses the ParentSquare tool for communication at both the district and school levels. Download the app or use it on a desktop. We also share information on social media ( Facebook , Twitter and Instagram ) and Peachjar , which is a digital flyer solution. Follow us to stay informed! BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM EXPANSION This year our families will see a bolstered before and after school program for TK through 8th grade that provides students with both academic and enrichment options in order to support our parents and families. These programs will engage students in age-appropriate learning and enrichment activities in a safe and supportive learning environment on each school campus that houses grades TK through 8th grade. Per State regulations, students with areas of identified need will be granted a seat at no cost. If your student does not fall within these categories, we are designing a program whereby your child can still participate at a cost-effective rate. Please complete this brief survey for all of your children in grades TK through 8th grade so we can more fully understand the needs of our school community.   MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT My name is Corina Sapien and I am honored and excited to serve as the Director of Family and Community Engagement in Morgan Hill Unified School District.  I have worked in South County public schools for over 25 years in various roles including as an elementary principal for seven years in Gilroy Unified School District.  I look forward to meeting you as I make my way around to each of your schools’ Home & School Club and ELAC meetings, Back-to-School Nights, Family Nights, etc. In MHUSD, we believe that a whole family and community approach is the best way to truly provide an excellent education to our children. As the first teachers of their children, families are the biggest asset we can tap into and partner with to ensure our children have the best opportunities for success, not just in school but in life. We are excited to meet and welcome our new families, to welcome back returning families, and to continue to develop partnerships with you.  I wish you all a very happy and successful new year! FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Each school site will provide information about back-to-school activities which will provide you and your child with an opportunity to build community connections, both with their peers and other families. Additionally, we are pleased to provide our families and the community at large with the opportunity to engage with our Superintendent and Board Members at our monthly coffee chats held at coffee shops around the district. We will announce upcoming dates for these casual, unscripted forums on ParentSquare soon. We hope you’ll join us! We are planning to open a Family and Community Engagement Center which will complement our school sites’ parent outreach. Please see the districtwide family and community engagement calendar , available on our website for other upcoming events.   CURRENT MHUSD EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES   Join our Job Fair tomorrow from 12:30 to 3:30 pm at the District Office! The Morgan Hill Unified School District has several openings available in Certificated, Classified and Management roles. See Edjoin  for details. Here are just a few: Administrative Assistant Community Liaison Culinary Teacher Construction Teacher Health Assistant Accounting Specialist Student Nutrition Assistant Important Dates August 16  - First Day of School August 16 - Board of Education Meeting August 16  - Call for Student Board Member Applications August 30 - Student Board Member Applications Due August 30 - Chats with Carmen 4:30-6pm Peet's Coffee See a complete list of Parent Engagement activities and more on our website calendar. Questions or feedback? Email: communications@mhusd.org

    Wednesday, Aug 10 2022

  • MHUSD June District Digest

    June 2022 Message from our Superintendent, Dr. Carmen Garcia Hello Morgan Hill  Unified   community,   I want to express my gratitude to  our school community for  a   positive and productive year, filled with many accomplishments, and moments of joy and unity.  Working together with  you  as a team   has been the key to our success .   Congratulations to our Seniors, who will be starting a new and exciting  part of their lives . We believe in you and your ability to succeed in your  college and   career  pathways .  I  am thrilled  about   the  new opportunities  you will encounter, and I know you will all   work hard to achieve your goals.   On behalf of District leadership, I hope  everyone   enjoy s  a safe and wonderful summer. I look forward to seeing you in  the  fall . Than k  you for  your  continued support.             WELLNESS CENTER NEWS Ann Sobrato Wellness Center: Supporting Students Through Finals Ms. Martina and Ms. Ruby have provided support through finals by handing out encouragement cards with Lifesavers to students before school and during their breaks.  Britton Wellness Center Prepares Students for Summer The Wellness Center has been busy this month handing out wellness summer resource kits to our students that include wellness activities and mental health resources. Our counselor, Ms. Sara continues to work with Youth Space to create LGBTQ support for our students by hosting LGBTQ clubs in the Wellness Center during lunch. Collaboration with Youth Space will continue into our 2022-2023 school year! The Counseling/Wellness Team worked diligently to create a Wellness Promotion for all of our 8th-grade students. The Wellness Center hosted a celebration and provided each student with a certificate and wellness treat to honor their hard work and commitment to their mental health and wellness. We are so very proud of all of our students!   Ann Sobrato Students Celebrate Pride Month June is already upon us!  June is the LGBTQ+ Pride month when we celebrate our diverse students who bring all the colors of the rainbow into our community. Scientific research reports that LGBTQ+ youth who have at least one accepting adult in their life are significantly less likely to report depression or suicidality over a twelve-month period. Let’s show our support!   Martin Murphy Wellness Center Support and Celebrates LGBTQ+ Community At the Wellness Center, we continue to provide mental health support and services for our students, while also providing a safe and calming space where our students can take a break. This month, we celebrate our LGBTQ+ community. We’ve invited a guest speaker from the LGBTQ Youth Space to speak to our students during lunch. We said farewell to our 8th graders and arranged warm hand-offs with the high school Wellness team. We will miss them and wish everyone the very best on their new journey. We bid farewell to some of our staff leaving Martin Murphy and celebrated the end of the school year with a staff appreciation breakfast. Paradise Valley Students Self-Regulate with Slime The Fifth-grade self-esteem group made slime to help support students' self-regulation. The tactile sensation of playing with slime can serve as a temporary distraction from a person's emotions and stress. They also were able to meet the Wellness Counselor from Britton so they are aware of all the Wellness Center services available to them when they start in the Fall. San Martin/Gwinn Makes Splash with Sensory Bottles Both the elementary and middle school students were able to make these sensory bottles, often referred to as calm down bottles. When a sensory bottle has items such as glitter in it that move slowly, children (and adults) are often mesmerized by watching their slow descent and this calms their breathing and helps them regulate themselves and their emotions. School Highlights Paradise Valley Engineering Student Leaders Organize Fulfilling Year This year has been a jam-packed year!  We learned a lot of new things while having fun at the same time!  We welcomed over 30 guest career speakers from more than 4 countries (via zoom), had over 20 student leadership committees, went on amazing field trips, stayed late for events, and opened our library and relaxation room.  Our all-girl Nightingales won the TECH challenge and the school hit a record for most money raised in a Panther Prowl. A group of 4th graders created a club to raise donations for those in conflict zones across the world. We can’t wait to see what events the student leadership committees run next school year!   Martin Murphy Middle School Students Receive Scholarships Congratulations to 7th graders Cailyn Fang and Serena Prola, recipients of the AAUW California Tech Trek Camp Scholarship.  Recipients of this highly competitive scholarship will attend a 7th-grade girls' week-long virtual STEM camp this summer.  Workshops and hands-on projects will dive into STEM areas such as Engineering Design and using the design process to code Arduino and Servo robotics components, DNA, Plasma and Power=I^2R. Britton Middle School Headed Into Summer on Positive Note   Leadership Students say, “Britton is ending on a positive note. We’ve spent the year building community, learning together, and making wonderful memories. Most recently, students engaged in on-campus activities such as Robotics, Lunchtime games, and Student Voices. We are particularly proud of the change in our policies we were able to enact this year. We heard what the students wanted, researched, advocated for a better Britton, and together, we were able to build that. We are excited for the Fall Semester!” Jackson Academy of Math and Music Summer Survival Kits JAMM is providing Summer Stress Relief Kits as a parting gift to support students experiencing stressful times during the summer. Bubbles, Playdoh, an emotion management chart, mood pencil and a journal complete the very useful package.  Central High School Headed to the Finish Line Central Students are preparing for final exams and completing projects to close out the school year.  Interact students are organizing an amazing field day for after graduation to send all of our students and staff to their summer break with big hurrah! Community Adult School Evening ESL Class  As staff and students at MHCAS are wrapping up their established goals for the year, the students will take the summer to reflect, ready to return to continue their journey in August. Community Adult School Morning ESL Class Congratulations to all students graduating this year! We look forward to seeing the rest of you in the fall.  Registration opens again on August 1.   Live Oak High School Students are busy taking finals this week and wrapping up the year.  We held three award ceremonies in May,  for the Green and Gold Awards, Senior Awards and Athletics Awards.  Both our Baseball and Softball teams battled it out in the CCS playoffs as well.  Students in Mrs. Round's Culinary and Foods classes have been busy cooking and last week made 3-course meals Los Paseos Students Spread Their Wings Los Paseos First-graders and Kindergartners watched caterpillars spin their chrysalis homes and transform into butterflies. Spread your wings and have a great summer! Remember to handle each other with care! Nordstrom Elementary School Cheers on Apex Runners Nordstrom Elementary  Students in all grades participated in their second annual Apex Fun Run. It was a wonderful community event. All families were welcomed to campus to cheer on the students. Nordstrom encourages students to stay active this summer!  Barrett Elementary School is Popping to the Finish Line Barrett has been counting down the days with an array of fun activities. We’ve had readers’ theater, a class play, a magic show with science, and an open house party with tacos and churros. We also had a performance from the cheer squad, the choir, and our fifth graders on their recorders. We celebrated the reclassification of a few of our English learners. Upcoming are some field trips, a talent show, field day and our end-of-year celebrations. We wish everyone a relaxing summer! P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy Raises Funds for Ukraine A team of 4th Graders from Ms. Seacrist's class organized a fundraiser to help kids in the war zone of Ukraine and other places around the world:  The P.A. Walsh Fundraiser for Ukraine. The students created bracelets, key chains, bookmarks, fidgets, and other fun items.  A pop-up shop was set up where students could purchase these goodies.  Also, classrooms collected change for donations as well. All funds will support UNICEF .   With their organizing efforts, P.A. Walsh raised $888.44! Way to go Walsh! HUMAN RESOURCES CURRENT MHUSD EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES   The Morgan Hill Unified School District has several openings available in Certificated, Classified and Management roles. See Edjoin  for details. Here are just a few: Elementary Teacher Board Certified Behavior Analyst Counselor English Teacher Math Teacher Science Teacher Speech and Language Pathologist Therapist Bus Driver Paraprofessional Dispatcher Supervisor of Maintenance & Operations Director of Secondary Education Important Dates June 1 - JAMM 8th Grade Awards June 2  - SMG, Britton, Murphy 8th Grade Awards June 2 - Central High Graduation, Community Adult School Graduation June 3 -   Live Oak, Ann Sobrato Graduation June 3 - Last Day of School See a complete list of Parent Engagement activities and more on our website calendar. Questions or feedback? Email: communications@mhusd.org

    Thursday, Jun 02 2022

  • MHUSD May District Digest

    May 2022 Message from our Superintendent, Dr. Carmen Garcia Hello Morgan Hill Unified Community, Thank you for your partnership as we aim to provide a high-quality education for our students. Allow me to take this opportunity to highlight the amazing work that our teachers, staff, and administrators do every day at our schools. In May, we especially recognize the commitment of our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers’ care and dedication are the pillars that support the progress of our students and the success of our school district. Join me in thanking each and every one of our teachers for their leadership and their commitment to excellence. May is also a month when our community raises awareness about mental health. This includes promoting healthy social and emotional development for all children and youth, recognizing when young people are at risk or are experiencing mental health challenges, and identifying how to intervene early when there are problems. We believe in the key message: “It is not only okay to ask for help. It is necessary.”   Please know that there are resources and support available for our students, staff and families. Effective and timely assistance can save lives. Please reach out if you are experiencing a difficult time. We are here for you! Morgan Hill Unified is a caring community ready to help. You are not alone. Thank you for your continued support.         Now Enrolling for 2022-2023!  Whether your child is new or returning to the Morgan Hill Unified School District, visit our enrollment page   on our website for useful information to help you with all of your enrollment needs. Kindergarten eligibility for students who turn 5 on or before September 1 TK eligibility for students who turn 5 between September 2nd-February 2nd On-site childcare Art for all grades Music and band programs English learner programs Dual Immersion programs Social emotional support for all grades   WELLNESS CENTER NEWS Live Oak Wellness Center: All Students Belong The Live Oak Wellness Center is a safe haven for students who feel overwhelmed during their school day. We often see students come through our Wellness Center because they are experiencing anxiety and stressors related to school, grief from the loss of a loved one, conflict with peers or family, an inability to focus, or even a lack of motivation. Students often enjoy the calming atmosphere as well as the opportunity to de-stress. When they need a counselor to talk to about personal matters they can access adult support. Our Wellness team, partners with parents, teaching staff, and administrators to get students back to class and back on track. Students may need a listening ear for a few minutes or need ongoing support and weekly check-ins. During these communications, student self-awareness grows and strategies are provided on how to cope, regulate, get along with others, communicate, and identify how and why they feel the way they do. Overall, we want our Live Oak students to feel welcome and have a sense of belonging. This is the place where they will be validated and supported. The Wellness Center gives students a place to connect with others through small groups, and interactive activities, and provides students with access to community resources. Throughout this month students have learned that mental health and well-being start from within. Martin Murphy Wellness Center: Reducing the Stigma Around Mental Health A few weeks ago, we welcomed Ms. Sadie, our new Wellness Assistant, to the Martin Murphy Wellness Center. Ms. Sadie is passionate about creating a safe space for students and supporting them in their social-emotional learning. Some fun facts about Ms. Sadie: She loves plants, being at the beach, watching movies with her kids, and loves super colorful Vans.  We’re excited to have her join our team!   Last month we celebrated Earth Day at the Wellness Center. We recognize that environmental wellness is one of the eight pillars of living a balanced lifestyle. Students decorated small terracotta pots and planted mini succulents, and students were encouraged to keep our campus and community free of trash.   The Wellness Center also supported students during testing days. We passed out motivational quotes and mints for students before testing to encourage students to give their personal best because everyone is “ Mint to Succeed.”   Our fun Friday art lunches continue to be very popular.  Students made beaded bracelets and used aromatherapy lava stones to create phone charms for themselves and their friends.   May is Mental Health Awareness month. We continue to provide ongoing mental health support and services for our students. We focus on maintaining a safe and calming space where our students can come and take some time to practice self-care and talk with our counselor, Ms. Jutta. As the school year comes to an end, we continue to lead important conversations about mental health to reduce the stigma around mental illness and foster an environment of wellness. P.A. Walsh "Peace Room" The P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy is excited to offer The Peace Room as a space to support all students.  The Peace Room is a safe space where students can take time to calm their bodies. Students are encouraged to talk about their feelings.  It is a space where students engage in restorative practices as students listen to one another.  Students enjoy the space as a calming environment where they can heal and receive encouragement.  The space was designed as an interdisciplinary sensory space to meet the different learning modalities of students; and to support their social, emotional, and cultural competencies which can influence academic growth. School Highlights Ann Sobrato High School Students Announce Intentions Last Friday, we celebrated the Sobrato senior class on Signing Day. Students announced their intentions related to college, vocational schools, military and work choices. Students committed to community colleges, such as Gavilan, Evergreen and DeAnza; California State Universities, such as San Jose State, CSU Monterey Bay, and Cal Poly; University of California, such as UC Santa Barbara, UCLA and UC San Diego; Ivy League or private Schools, such as Harvard, Brown, and Santa Clara University; out of state schools such as Boise State, University of Nevada Reno, and Oregon State; vocational schools such as Carrington, electrician and plumber unions; branches of the military, such as West Point (U.S. Army), Navy, Air Force and Marines. Our jazz band played while students announced their post-secondary plans, and students were treated to cookies and popcorn. Sobrato Wind Ensemble and Concert Band Rank Superior Congratulations to the Sobrato Combined Wind Ensemble and Concert Band on winning 1st Place at the Santa Cruz Music in the Parks Band Festival. They earned a Superior Rating, which is the highest possible rating. Sobrato's Outstanding Wrestler: Nyla Valencia Nyla Valencia placed 3rd at the U20 Wrestling World Trials in Fort Worth, Texas.   Click here for additional information and details. Nyla won the 50kg title on Sunday at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Nationals Championships en route to being named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. In Sunday’s best two out of three title matches, Valencia downed Nina Pham, an NAIA National Champion from Wayland Baptist, 19-8 and 10-0, to win the title in the U23 division. Amazing performance from a Bulldog student-athlete. With this result, Nyla will represent USA Wrestling in the world championships in Spain in September. Live Oak High School  has had student voices at the front and center of its current activities.  Our students participated in an impactful walkout to raise awareness of Sexual Harassment and Assault. Additionally, students participated in an Environmental Campus Clean Up contest with Ann Sobrato High School.  Our staff and students sported our new Autism Awareness shirts to show unity and pride for our Autistic students and community members P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy is Finishing an A-MAZE-ing Year PA Walsh is busy wrapping up an amazing year of learning and growing. The students are enjoying the mindful maze that was painted on the blacktop by volunteers of our neighboring Community Christian Church. Statewide testing kicked off for our older students last week and part of our social emotional Learning lessons included our younger students creating posters and notes to wish the test-takers luck. And, to finish off the week strong, every Friday our Home and School Club is passing out Icees to all of our students.   COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Chats with Carmen Join us for our last "Chats with Carmen" before the school year ends. These unscripted, casual conversations with the Superintendent have been well attended by parents, guardians and community members. We'll be at Peet's Coffee, 755 Cochrane Rd. on Monday, May 23 from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Hope to see you there!   Board Member Coffee Chat Join us for our Board Member Coffee Chat scheduled for May 24, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at Lawson's Bakery, 18562 Monterey Rd.  Get to know your Board Members in an open and casual atmosphere. Board President John Horner and Trustee Adam Escoto will be present.  HUMAN RESOURCES We're Hiring!  Applications are currently being accepted for both Certificated and Classified positions via Edjoin.org. Please visit the direct link to the EDJOIN website to apply. Questions? Contact Human Resources (408) 201-6000. Important Dates 05/17 Board of Education Meeting 05/23  Chats with Carmen 05/24  Board Member Coffee Chat 05/30  Memorial Day 06/02 SMG, Britton, Murphy 8th Grade Awards 06/02  Central High Graduation 06/03  Live Oak, Sobrato Graduation See a complete list of Parent Engagement activities and more on our website calendar. Questions or feedback? Email: communications@mhusd.org

    Tuesday, May 17 2022

  • April MHUSD District Digest

    APRIL 2022 Message from our Superintendent, Dr. Carmen Garcia Hello Morgan Hill Unified,   We are so proud of our student leaders for being caring, global citizens and making meaningful contributions to our community. As we celebrate Earth Day in April, we would like to create awareness of the importance of taking care of the environment.   A clean environment is crucial for healthy living. The land we live on, the water we drink, and the air we breathe are key to our survival. If we care about the quality of our lives, caring for the environment should be a priority as well.     Our actions have an important impact on our planet. This Earth Day, let’s remember the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  If you can, make an effort to buy multi-use products rather than single-use products. Reusable items go a long way and keep our community clean from litter. Planting a tree is a great idea, although it might not be on our to-do list every day, we can contribute to clean air through other efforts such as opting for public transportation.  These guidelines can help us make small but impactful everyday choices that reduce waste in our community.   I encourage us all to learn more about ways we can contribute to a greener community, and share what we learn with our family and friends. Every effort counts.   Together, let’s protect the environment for everyone’s well-being, and for a sustainable future.    Earth Day Resolution:  At the meeting held on April 5, 2022, the Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education adopted a resolution in support of Earth Day, April 22, 2022. "As a community of educational partners (students, families, and educators alike), the Morgan Hill Unified School District understands and acknowledges our collective responsibility to protect the environment via environmentally responsible actions, advocacy, and awareness campaigns on our campuses, offices, and community. This resolution reaffirms MHUSD’s commitment to environmental stewardship and to the continued partnership with our students to address sustainability topics that enhance our collective environmental efforts."   Student Nutrition Goes Organic!  The MHUSD Student Nutrition Department is fully committed to sourcing and serving organic food.  Our Director of Student Nutrition, Michael Jochner, is currently sourcing local/organic produce from three farms: JSM, Live Earth Farms, Spinaca Farms. Our primary produce vendor, Daylight Foods, has worked with the district to provide a produce list for our school sites to order from completely sourced from organic farmers. This means all produce served by our Student Nutrition Department is now 100% organic.  We've also begun to purchase poultry products from Mary’s Chickens/Pittman Farms which are 100% organic/non-GMO. We are looking at organic milk from Strauss Family Farms for the next school year.  Eventually, our goal is to purchase organic food items for all entrees and snacks.     Ben Gonzales, 17 years with the district; Jose Rivera, 7 years; Francisco Alvarez,  27.5 years; Ruben Gonzales, 24 years; Serafin Castro,  15.5 years;  Rudy Perez, 1.5 years; Ryan Patereau; 6 years; Izzy Covita, 6 Years; Luis Reynoso, 2.5 years; Don Roberts,  12 years; Trinidad Segura, 2 years (Missing in photo) - MHUSD Grounds Team The district Grounds Team, led by Foreman Serafin Castro, is a mighty team of 11. This group does "an unbelievable job" of maintaining the lawns, grounds and sprinklers for 14 campuses plus the district office, says Facilities Director Ricky Carillo. This team was essential to the recent Ann Sobrato High School softball and baseball field updates. They worked six to 7 days a week on the project, from start to finish. Without their help, says Carillo, it would have never been completed on time. "They are unsung heroes who take pride in what they do and mostly go unseen."   SCHOOL SPOTLIGHTS PV Students Keep Campus Litter-Free  Recently, Dr. Richard Coleman visited with PVEA students via zoom to discuss the awesome career of Marine Biology from Hawaii!  Students were able to view videos, learn about research, ask questions, and learn about how we can make a difference in the conservation of our world.  When asked about what we can do; Dr. Coleman responded that if every person could ensure we throw every bit of trash in the garbage that would have a huge impact on marine life.  He quickly explained that litter in nature often ends up in our wildlife and can cause them to be sick or die.  He explained that small bits of plastic can enter waterways, fish eat them, and then we eat the fish which means we may also have plastic in our bodies!  His challenge was for the PVEA community to ensure we do not allow litter.  Principal Andrade has said "the campus has been impeccably clean even after lunch!" since Dr. Coleman's presentation.  Marine Biologist has quickly become a dream career for many students at PVEA! Los Paseos Elementary School Garden is Blooming   Los Paseos Spirit Squad Leaders, led by Ms. Cline, help the whole school welcome each month with a morning kickoff assembly. For April, we learned how to be Upstanders and show courage when we see something that isn’t right or fair.  Los Paseos students planted and are caring for their flower garden, filled with marigolds and daisies. Our kindergarteners are learning about plant parts and what plants need to survive. In April, they took their very first field trip to Deer Hollow Farm.  Our 3rd and 4th graders have been developing their persuasive writing skills. Mrs. Grgich’s class prepared speeches with their suggestions for improving our school and delivered their speeches to an audience that included MHUSD Board members, our principal, and other trusted adults on campus. Martin Murphy Middle School Demonstrates Resilience On March 31, Martin Murphy welcomed in parents for its first in-person Open House since 2019. The parents and students were buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement. The teachers were beaming, sharing classroom work, assignments and projects that their students have completed. On Thursday, April 7, sixth-grade students presented their Resiliency Projects to one another and to Board members and teachers.  It was absolutely amazing to see the incredible advocacy and projects to serve others that the students created.    Cyberbullying Presentation On Monday April 4, San Jose Police Officer Jorge Casillas, of the San Jose Police Department Crime Prevention Unit, delivered a cyberbullying presentation to all Martin Murphy 6th graders during their Physical Education classes.   Boys & Girls Club On Wednesday, April 6, the Boys & Girls Club began hosting activities for students at lunch  They will continue to provide fun, structured activities each Wednesday through the end of the year San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy DIME  WELLNESS CENTER ACTIVITIES Ann Sobrato High School At Sobrato, the Wellness team is proud to support our students in LGBTQ+ advocacy. Our Sobrato Wellness Center is growing with beautiful testimonies, from students being able to sit outside on a picnic blanket or under umbrellas to sing in harmony.  We have a variety of hands-on therapeutic activities. The picture above is where students have used recycled bottle caps and turned them into hanging decorations. Our Wellness Team has donated snacks to our students to make their day a little brighter. “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love”. - Mother Teresa Martin Murphy Middle School Wellness Center We continue to provide support for students and families in meeting the challenges of adolescence and beyond. Our center is a safe space where students are encouraged to practice self-care, build positive relationships, get support, and learn about mental health. We focus on crisis intervention and prevention, early intervention, and mental health education. Common concerns addressed at the Wellness Center are academic and social-emotional stress, parent/child communication, peer relationships, grief and loss, sexual orientation and gender questions, anxiety and depression, resiliency and self-advocacy, and offsite resources and referrals.   Wellness Counselor, Ms. Jutta, continues to offer SEL and Restorative Justice circles and groups. Students are also invited to join Wednesday meditation and mindfulness practices during lunchtime. Special art projects are available to students on certain days as a form of art therapy and healing. Recently, students created pins with motivational quotes for themselves and their peers.   Last week, together with Ms. Kelley, we welcomed the first Martin Murphy Student Voices group. We are looking forward to continuing the dialogue with students about how their visions and dreams can shape the Martin Murphy school experience in positive ways for all. Environmental wellness is one of the eight pillars of the multidimensional process of achieving a balanced lifestyle. At the Martin Murphy Wellness Center, we strive to create an awareness of the interdependent relationships between people and the natural environment.   We encourage students to be mindful of the effects of their daily habits on our natural world while maintaining a way of life that maximizes harmony with the earth and minimizes harm to the environment. Our center's decor intentionally includes many natural elements to support wellness and calm, and students have the opportunity to spend their lunches in our blooming garden area.   For Earth Day, we will encourage students to walk around campus and pick up trash as well as recycle and upcycle materials in their own homes. Students will also have the opportunity to design mini succulent flower pots during our Fun Friday art exploration lunch this month. Britton Wellness Center The Britton Wellness Center continues to provide a safe space where students are encouraged to practice emotional regulation, engage in healthy coping skills, and prioritize mental wellness. We continue to offer RestorativeJjustice circles, mindfulness through yoga and breathing techniques, and art therapy. We encourage our students to utilize the wellness center self-referral form to practice self-advocacy and prioritize their mental health needs. This month Youth Space facilitated our LGBTQA lunch group for our 6th and 7th-grade students. The Wellness Center will continue to collaborate with Youth Space to provide this amazing support for our LGBTQA students. Our Student Voices driven groups (Drama, Chess, Robotics) continue to be held for all grade levels. Our Wellness Counselor, Sara Andrade and Wellness Assistant, Emily Segovia continue weekly positive affirmations with our students during lunch and brunch. In preparation for the Spring break vacation, the Wellness team created Wellness Kits for our students. The kits included items to promote wellness during the break such as breathing exercises, grounding and anxiety-reducing activities, and community resources. These kits promote wellness and help encourage our students to practice mindfulness during the school break. HUMAN RESOURCES We're Hiring!  The Morgan Hill Unified School District is accepting applications for many openings If you or someone you know is interested in working for the district, please share our Edjoin profile where many other MHUSD employment vacancies are listed. At 800 employees strong we are currently the largest employer in Morgan Hill. MHUSD has immediate openings for roles beyond teachers and substitutes. Every bus driver, nutrition services assistant, custodian, groundskeeper, secretary and community liaison makes an impact on the lives of our students each and every day. Explore our opportunities today.   ENROLLMENT Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year is open. Visit our Enrollment page   on our website for important information. If you're new to MHUSD and unsure of which school your child would attend, click HERE to enter your address and find your school. Our school district serves 8100 ethnically diverse students across nearly 300 square miles in Morgan Hill, San Martin and a small portion of San Jose. We have six elementary schools, two K-8,  two middle and two comprehensive high schools. We also have one continuation high school and one adult school. Open Houses will be held throughout the district starting this month. We invite you to see what our schools have to offer! IMPORTANT DATES 04/11-04/18  Spring Break 04/20  Board Member Coffee Chat - 9:00 AM Starbucks 451 Vineyard Blvd. 04/25  Chats with Carmen - 5:30 PM 125 Bernal Rd. San Jose See a complete list of Parent Engagement activities and more on our website calendar. Questions or feedback? Email: communications@mhusd.org

    Monday, Apr 11 2022

  • March MHUSD District Digest

    March 2022 Message from our Superintendent, Dr. Carmen Garcia Hello Morgan Hill Community,  As we work together to ensure a learning environment that is inclusive and inspiring, I want to highlight Women’s History Month and the meaning of this national celebration for our district.   In March, a focus on the contributions and achievements of women throughout American history presents us the opportunity to recognize the role of women pioneers representing a variety of fields in improving society as a whole.   This is a powerful motivation for everyone, regardless of gender, to make sure that our school systems provide access and equity in our classrooms and campuses, preparing our students to be successful and productive members of society. As we learn about extraordinary women in history who have changed our lives, they offer remarkable lessons about resilience and commitment that match our values and goals.   At Morgan Hill Unified School District, we are dedicated to helping our students achieve excellence and an understanding of the impact they can have on the world.   Thank you for your support.      Paradise Valley Engineering Academy At Paradise, Principal Amber Andrade taught a lesson to 2nd graders about civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. The class discussed what they believe to be basic human rights: freedom, shelter, food, clean water, medicine, peace and people that love them. One student wrote about Huerta, "She fought for farmworkers to have more money because the farmers weren't paying them enough....the right to clean water and even bathroom breaks!...Her motivation was when she was teaching elementary school, she saw that the children had no shoes. That was what motivated her to fight for farmworkers."     Ann Sobrato High School  Sobrato Social Studies Teacher Nicole Barry displays a Women's History Month themed bulletin board in her classroom "...dedicated to awesome women in history and around the world, most of whom are women of color."   AP US History students recently learned about the women's suffrage movement in the United States, and will be learning about how the Great Depression impacted the lives of women, as well as other groups in society, next week. Civics classes have been learning about the judicial branch and the Supreme Court. One of the historic court cases they are learning about is Roe v. Wade, its impact on women and society, and the current challenges to its ruling across the US. In AP Psychology , students recently learned about Dorothea Dix, an advocate for people living with mental illness and psychological disorders in the 1800s. She lobbied Congress to help create the first generation of mental health hospitals in the US.     Nordstrom Elementary School Nordstrom students have been celebrating important women in history all month long. Creative 5th graders drew portraits of Frida Kahlo in their new art room using various mediums. The students enjoyed working with colored pencils, oils, pastels and paper twilling for fun and unique pieces. HUMAN RESOURCES We're Hiring!  The Morgan Hill Unified School District is accepting applications for Supervisor of Fiscal Services. If you or someone you know is interested in working for the district, please share our Edjoin profile where many other MHUSD employment vacancies are listed. At 800 employees strong we are currently the largest employer in Morgan Hill. MHUSD has immediate openings for roles beyond teachers and substitutes. Every bus driver, nutrition services assistant, custodian, groundskeeper, secretary and community liaison makes an impact on the lives of our students each and every day. Explore our opportunities today.   ENROLLMENT Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year is open. Visit our Enrollment page   on our website for important information. If you're new to MHUSD and unsure of which school your child would attend, click HERE to enter your address and find your school. Our school district serves 8100 ethnically diverse students across nearly 300 square miles in Morgan Hill, San Martin and a small portion of San Jose. We have six elementary schools, two K-8,  two middle and two comprehensive high schools. We also have one continuation high school and one adult school. Open Houses will be held throughout the district starting this month. We invite you to see what our schools have to offer! WELLNESS CENTER NEWS Live Oak High School Wellness Center   The Live Oak Wellness Center has been a great asset with creating a positive school climate and supportive environment for students. Students who use the Wellness Center know that this is a place where they can find support through their peers and caring adults. Throughout this past month, students have taken the initiative to spread positive vibes with chalk art in front of the Wellness Center walkway, which reads: “Treat People with Kindness!” Also, students have created a positive message board using post it notes, making it easy to write something positive or take a positive message.  More importantly, students have taken the initiative to co-facilitate small groups by encouraging their peers to sign up for our very first small group, “Making Social Connections,” which is available through the month of March on Mondays and Tuesdays . during tutorial). This helps students to build a sense of community, belonging, and social skills. Finally, the counselors are stepping out during the lunch period to provide mental health and counseling resources and using crafts to engage students in self-care, creativity, and positive conversation.   Martin Murphy Middle School Wellness Center   The Martin Murphy Wellness Center continues to provide support for students and families in meeting the challenges of adolescence and beyond. Our center is a safe space where students are encouraged to practice self-care, build positive relationships, get support, and learn about mental health.   We focus on crisis intervention and prevention, early intervention, and mental health education. Common concerns addressed at the wellness center are academic and social-emotional stress, parent/child communication, peer relationships, grief and loss, sexual orientation and gender questions, anxiety and depression, resiliency and self-advocacy, and offsite resources and referrals.   Wellness counselor, Ms. Jutta, continues to offer SEL and restorative justice circles and groups. Students are also invited to join Wednesday meditation and mindfulness practices during lunch time. Special art projects are available to students on certain days as a form of art therapy and healing. Recently, students created pins with motivational quotes for themselves and peers.   Last week, together with Ms. Kelley, we welcomed the first Martin Murphy Student Voices group. We are looking forward to continuing the dialogue with students about how their visions and dreams can shape the Martin Murphy school experience in positive ways for all.   Ms. Jutta's Book recommendation: Marc Brackett, Ph.D. "Permission to Feel"   SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS Central High School Central High School is proud to share that 19 students have completed the requirements to graduate in February.  Our Cal Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) counselor has been working with all fourth-year students in order to ensure that families have completed their Federal Application for Financial Aid. Thanks to Mr. Grant’s work, approximately forty-one percent of fourth-year students at Central have submitted their applications. Our English Teacher, Ms. Andrade volunteered to take senior pictures for our students free of charge which is a wonderful gift to our Central Families. Our Interact Club organized a Valentine Gram Fundraiser.  Students and staff purchased grams for their peers to show their appreciation for each other. Interact Club plans to use its profits to fund a project for the community. The Wellness Center at Central has also opened and is available for staff and students.   San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy DIME Exciting things are happening at SMG! Did you know that SMG is home to a quarter acre farm? From May 2021 through January 2022, over 3,000 pounds of vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers were harvested by students, teachers, and volunteers. Students at SMG experience the farm through a variety of programs: After School Garden Education & Nature Exploration Program, Middle School Garden Workshop Elective and Community Garden Workdays. We have recently added to our campus: an aquaponic garden, a Sensory Garden and a large refrigerator installed in the office to hold produce for the SMG Community Pantry.  SMG is working with Michael Jochner, Director of Student Nutrition, to set up the SMG Farm as a vendor so that our produce may be approved to use in school lunches throughout the district.   Over 150 SMG students are working on Language Ambassador Projects this year!   Seven after-school cultural events will be led by SMG teachers during March and April to help students complete their activity requirements.   SMG’s Language Ambassador program was featured at the 2022 NABE (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION).   After school activities are starting Up again at SMG!   Language Ambassador Cultural Activities are available for all grades .  We have  r eading, art and PE programs for grades 2-5 ,  m iddle school sports - boys’ basketball and girls’ soccer (COED cross country and volleyball coming soon) ,  Chess Club for all grades ,  Garden Exploration Program for all grades ,  and Folklorico Dance Program for all grades. Important Dates 03/18 Spring Resource Fair 03/24 Paradise Valley Engineering Academy Open House 03/29  Chats with Carmen - Starbucks 451 Vineyard Blvd. 03/31  Martin Murphy Middle School Open House See a complete list of Parent Engagement activities and more on our website calendar. Questions or feedback? Email: communications@mhusd.org

    Friday, Mar 18 2022

  • February MHUSD District Digest

    February 2022 Message from our Superintendent, Dr. Carmen Garcia Hello Morgan Hill Community.   As we celebrate Black History Month and Lunar New Year during the month of February, I am grateful for the amazing opportunity to work together as a district and community to advance our students’ education. Today I’m sharing the important role kindness plays in our efforts to maintain a positive learning environment at our schools.     Teaching and practicing care, compassion and kindness fosters support and confidence for students, staff and families. These practices are crucial to promoting academic achievement and social-emotional wellbeing.   In these often challenging times, a kind word or action can make a big difference in a person’s life. Let’s continue to unite efforts to help our students reach their full potential and thrive, as we count on each other’s kindness to improve our experiences inside and outside the classroom.     Let’s practice kindness every day!       Bring Home the Gold!  This week we are distributing at-home antigen test kits to our students during the school day between February 17-18.  We recommend these tests be administered to students on February 25th and February 27th. Our goal is to provide a free tool that can prove effective at protecting your family and our school community as we return to in-person learning together on February 28. See our website for more information.   WELLNESS CENTER NEWS Lewis H. Britton Wellness Center   The Britton Wellness Center participated in MHUSD Kindness Week by providing daily activities for our students. The students chose random acts of kindness to perform through the week as well as participate in the 'Take What you Need, Leave What you Can' activity. Students were encouraged to take and/or leave words of encouragement to fellow students. The Wellness Counselors worked with students to help create thank you notes for 'Thankful Thursday' and hand them to friends, staff, and/or teachers. To conclude Kindness Week, students played Friendship Bingo to build new connections with others. Our Wellness Counselors recognized our hard-working teachers and staff by providing Thank You notes as well. The Wellness Center is excited to announce our weekly lunchtime clubs that are offered for all three grade levels. Students can actively participate in weekly drama, chess/robotics, wellness activities, and LGBTQI clubs. Clubs are open to all students and are a great way to strengthen student's connection, social skills, and communication among each other. In addition, the Wellness Counselors are adding weekly wellness tips during the BTV (Britton TV) video shown to all students in homeroom.   Ann Sobrato Wellness Center   Students at the Ann Sobrato High School Wellness Center benefited from making bead bracelets and fidget rings while fighting the COVID anxiety. Thanks to our Wellness Counselor, Martina for donating the first couple sets of beads. There were so many acts of kindness during Kindness Week. The Wellness Center held a Kindness Week Challenge through the  Great Kindness Challenge . This involved completing a checklist of suggested kind acts, such as picking up trash, smiling at others, saying "thank you" and more.  A parent donated gift cards for the winners, which was also an act of kindness. Another activity involved writing encouragement cards, which were sent to staff and students and included small tokens and treats.  The first Art Expression Group launched this week. The group will be making colorful felt fortune cookies.  School Highlights Nordstrom Elementary School Nordstrom teachers strive to make learning fun! Between last month and this month, teachers have incorporated activities and meaningful lessons revolving around Kindness Week, Lunar New Year, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and continuing with Black History Month. Students continue to be challenged with cooperative, engaging and differentiated lessons planned by Nordstrom teachers. Students express themselves through theater and dance which are part of their weekly schedules.    Paradise Valley Engineering Academy During Kindness Week, Paradise had various theme days such as kindness toward the elderly, kindness toward the community and kindness toward the earth, and more. The students participated in such activities as creating and coloring heart cards and giving them to Meals on Wheels for the elderly to receive when their meals were delivered. The students also created a huge "Thank You" banner which they hung on their fence to show the community their appreciation for all their support.   The first graders also kicked off Lunar New Year by creating lanterns, which symbolize letting go of past selves and creating new ones, as well as good fortune.  Important Dates 02/15 Board of Education Meeting 02/17  Chats with Carmen - Starbucks 451 Vineyard Blvd.  02/17-18  At-home Antigen Test Distribution (during school) 02/17 Presidents Week Meal Distribution, Live Oak 3-6 pm 02/21-02/25  Presidents Week Break 03/01  Board of Education Meeting See a complete list of Parent Engagement activities and more on our website calendar. Questions or feedback? Email: communications@mhusd.org

    Wednesday, Feb 16 2022

  • MHUSD Summer Learning & Enrichment 2022

    Morgan Hill Unified Families, Our Summer Learning & Enrichment program for all K-8 students in our district will operate from June 13 to July 14 at Walsh STEAM Academy. Please see the attached flyer for details. Click HERE to sign up!

    Wednesday, Feb 02 2022