Friday Letter - May 20, 2022

MAY 20, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 38 In this issue:  Habitat for Humanity hosts high school construction students; District news including MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids workshop is Saturday at El Monte Elementary ; School spotlight on Special Education Mother's Day Tea at YVHS; District Staff Spotlight on CBO Walks; important dates, and more! HS construction students get hands on experience with Habitat for Humanity MDHS teachers and students join Habitat for Humanity workers and volunteers, along with MDUSD administrators and MDUSD Board Member Cherise Khaund, as well as Nichol Carranza of Marathon Petroleum, to work on a Walnut Creek project (above).  MDHS students Marjely Castro and Elvira Rezendiz help take down a chain link fence (below, left), MDHS student Erika Trinidad prepares to tie rebar (below, center) and MDHS student Oscar Lopez uses a power metal chop saw to cut rebar (below, right).  Two construction classes from Mt. Diablo HS and Concord HS had the opportunity last week to get hands on experience working on a Habitat for Humanity project in Walnut Creek, through a partnership with Marathon Petroleum, which contributed $5,000 each to the school's construction programs. Students from Mt. Diablo High Schools Architecture, Construction, Manufacturing and Engineering Academy (ACME) worked at the site on Wednesday, while students from Concord High School's construction program worked at the site on Thursday. The volunteer work helped give students a better idea of what it's like to work in construction, while also offering them an opportunity to give back in their community. The project, called Esperanza Place, includes 42 townhomes that will give families with limited incomes the chance to own their own homes near the Pleasant Hill BART station. Students joined construction crews working on different parts of the site. Some helped to tear down a chain link fence that has been replaced by a wooden fence, some helped tie rebar in the foundation of a building, some dug holes to help secure the foundation and some cut rebar using power tools. Seniors Marjely Castro and Elvira Resendiz, who helped take down the chain link fence, said they were happy to participate in the project because it was helping people in need. Erika Trinidad, who was helping to tie rebar for the foundation of a building, said she wanted to help out others, and also wanted to get more construction experience because she plans to follow in the footsteps of her father, who is a retired carpenter. Similarly, senior Josue Jauregui, who was helping to dig holes for the foundation, said he has done construction work in the past and is considering a career as a carpenter. Oscar Lopez, a senior who was using a power metal chop saw to cut rebar, said he plans to pursue a degree in Construction Management at CSU East Bay Hayward. "I like this work environment," he said. Teacher Ray Hothan said the project was a great experience for his students, giving them first-hand exposure to a construction work site. On campus, he said some of his students have worked on a tiny house and have framed walls with electric circuits according to the building code. Students have also finished dry wall and moulding projects, and have created architectural models. He said carpentry is a good profession for students to consider, with a starting salary of about $32 per hour. "We're just pleased to be out here," he said. District News MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids workshop is Saturday, May 21st at El Monte Elementary The MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program will host a workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 21st at El Monte Elementary in Concord where participants can learn how to propagate plants, companion plant, compost, cook farm to table recipes or just build community in the beautiful El Monte community garden. Garden educators will teach practical gardening skills and lessons, as well as academic lessons that can be taught outside with or without a formal garden. There will be delicious, fresh food made with garden vegetables. Mini lessons will be held in stations, so participants can select what is most interesting to them. MDUSD staff, families and community members are invited to celebrate the end of the school year in the beautiful El Monte garden. Register here . Middle School Girls are invited to apply for a free one-week STEM camp in June The Boys STEM Camp is full. Marathon is sponsoring a free weeklong Summer Stem Camp for girls who are currently in middle school. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6-10 at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill.  The purpose is to: build a community of local girls and women interested in STEM provide role models and strengthen leadership skills develop programming/robotics/STEM thinking with 60 girls from the nine MDUSD middle schools, neighboring public schools, and private/home schools. Apply here . Send questions to Hawes at hawess@mdusd.org.  More information about robotics programs in MDUSD is here . Free Virtual Academy for Student Leaders accepting applications California students ages 13 and over are invited to apply to the free virtual online summer conference " Ed100 Academy for Student Leaders, " to be held June 20-22.  The theme is "Students and Civic Engagement." Students will learn from inspiring speakers, connect with peers and organizations, and earn a certificate for participating.  Faculty advisors are also invited. More information is here . A video of host Alvin Lee, the founder of GENup, talking about the conference is here .  The program guide is here . Speakers will include actor Hudson Yang, Khan Academy founder Sal Khan, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Zaila Avant-garde, California Student Board Member Zac Patterson, California Association of Student Councils President Ellie Lian, and other GENup student leaders. MDUSD hiring classified and certificated staff, teacher hiring fair is May 21st! MDUSD is hiring for many classified positions including Instructional Assistants for our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms! MDUSD offers flexible schedules, paid holidays, vacation time, health benefits and retirement benefits. We are also hiring for positions in Food Services, Custodial, Special Education Assistants, Transportation, and many more opportunities in 2022-23! Apply at https://rebrand.ly/MDClass . And MDUSD is hosting a teacher hiring event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21st in the District Office at 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord. It is open all candidates looking for a credentialed/teaching position. We ask that you apply before the event at   https://rebrand.ly/MDUSDHIRINGFAIR . We look forward to welcoming you to #TeamMDUSD! MDUSD Digital Art Showcase at Sunvalley Shopping Center through May 25th An MDUSD Art Showcase featuring art from students at College Park, Concord, Mt. Diablo and Northgate high schools will be on display at Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord through May 25th. The showcase includes four large screen monitors that display digital photos of art created at each of the high schools represented, including photography, animation and digital media. The monitors are placed at different locations throughout the mall and include Scavenger Hunt clues, which are also translated into Spanish. Northgate HS art and photography teacher Carolyn Moore said it was great to have the opportunity to display students’ art publicly and to hopefully connect with new business partners. More information is here . Mt. Diablo Adult Education's Surgical Technologist Program Blood Drive is May 25th Mt. Diablo Adult Education's Surgical Tech Program is hosting a Blood Drive by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 25th at the Loma Vista Adult Education Center, 1266 San Carlos Ave., in Concord. Interested community members are encouraged to make an appointment early by emailing Mdaeblooddrive22@gmail.com. The Blood Drive is being held in partnership with the American Red Cross. More information about donating blood is at https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or in the attached flyer. Spring into Action and Give Blood Today!  Ethnic Studies Podcast - End of the Year Showcase is Thursday, May 26th The UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Changemaker Team invites the community to the first annual End of the Year Showcase for the “Building the Collective “I”: Telling Youth Stories Through Podcasting” program! Students from Mt. Diablo and Ygnacio Valley high schools have been working all year to create podcasts that feature critical analyses and reflections about the issues they encounter in relation to migration, displacement, systemic racism, educational disparities, and state violence. With the guidance of UC Berkeley’s Changemaker Team, they have been trained in podcasting, script-writing, and conducting oral histories to create their own podcast series. We are excited to present their finished portfolios from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26th at the Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane in Concord.  Students will be speaking about their experiences and sharing their podcasts, which will be posted online after the event. MDUSD 1:1 Device Program - Summertime is Chromebook time for students!  During the 2021-22 school year, MDUSD rolled out our student-centered 1:1 device program to more than 25,000 students in grades 2-12. All students in grades 2-11 will take their assigned Chromebooks and power cords home for the summer, unless they do not plan to return to the District next school year. In some circumstances, students may make special arrangements with their school site to leave the Chromebook on campus during the summer. Students not returning to MDUSD in the fall are required to return their Chromebooks by the end of this school year. High school seniors are also required to return their Chromebooks, unless they plan to attend Summer School. Photos courtesy of Allison Shelley for  EDUimages by All4Ed 12th-graders enrolled in Summer School classes will return their Chromebooks on their last day of Summer School attendance. Students returning to MDUSD school sites in the fall will continue to use their same device, as the 1:1 device program continues to become an increasingly meaningful part of each student's experience as a 21st Century Learner in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. If you have any issues with your student’s device, please contact your school site. School News Special Education Mother's Day Tea at YVHS! Mothers, students and staff enjoy the annual Mother's Day Tea in the special education classrooms at YVHS.  (above). Ygnacio Valley HS is pleased to share some photos from its annual Mothers Day Tea in its special education classrooms. We look forward to seeing more photos next year! Staff Spotlight CBO Walks As the restrictions of COVID were lifted this year and staff became more comfortable with visiting school sites, CBO Walks resumed with non-school based staff in the MDUSD Business Services Department. These walks, hosted by Chief Business Officer Lisa Gonzales, are designed to strengthen the understanding of staff on how their work impacts students and staff. Laura Warner, MDUSD's Classified Employee of the Year and Lead Buyer from the Purchasing Department, commented, "I enjoyed discussing which improvements would be valuable to improve the image of specific schools and any functionality that needs attention." She can't wait to attend one at another school site. Fiscal Analyst Frank Monaghan finds the walks valuable for many reasons. Not only does he find it valuable to have the personal interactions on the walks, but "it humanizes the relationships on both sides." He finds the time on sites a good reminder that all staff are working toward the same goals: educating students. He added, "watching the principals and teachers interacting with students really drives home the importance of what I do in support of their efforts. Celebration of Life for Carolyn Plath Carolyn Plath served the MDUSD Community from 1991-2010. You are invited to join her family and friends for a Celebration of Life from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in the Multi-Use Room at Ygnacio Valley High School, 755 Oak Grove Road in Concord, Important dates May 24:  Olympic/Alliance HS Graduation at 2 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion; Budget Advisory Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; Mt. Diablo HS Graduation at 7 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion May 25: College Now graduation at 6 p.m. at Diablo Valley College (DVC) May 26 : College Park HS graduation at 7 p.m. at Concord Pavilion May 27:  Alternative high schools graduation at 5 p.m. at Concord Pavilion (Crossroads, Diablo Day, Prospect, Horizons Center for Independent Study) May 30: Memorial Day Holiday - no school May 31 : Bridge Program graduation at 5:30 p.m. at the Loma Vista Adult Education Center; Concord HS graduation at 7 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion June 2 : Last day of school; Mt. Diablo Adult Education End of Year Project Access Celebration 6:30 - 8:30 pm June 3: Northgate HS graduation at 11 a.m. at Concord Pavilion; Ygnacio Valley HS graduation at 7 p.m. at Concord Pavilion June 4: Mt. Diablo Adult Education High School Diploma Graduation and High School Equivalency Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the Multi-Use room Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Friday, May 20 2022

Friday Letter - May 13, 2022

MAY 13, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 37 In this issue:  MDUSD Art Showcase kicks off at Sunvalley Shopping Center, and Adult Education administrator and teacher earn state awards; District news including MDUSD School Board Recognizes Classified Employees of the Yea r ; School news including Multicultural Week at MDHS; School Staff Spotlight on YVHS Lunch Heroes; Student Spotlight on YVHS IB Spanish student award; important dates, and more! MDUSD Art Showcase kicks off at Sunvalley Shopping Center MDUSD Board President Debra Mason (above) joins MDUSD administrators, teachers and students, along with Sunvalley Shopping Center, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce and Concord officials, at a ribbon-cutting for the MDUSD Art Showcase. Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark speaks before ribbon-cutting (below, left), MDHS student Haidi De La Torre-Figueroa points to her inspirational quote poster (below, center) and Scavenger Hunt directions are displayed (below, right).  More than two dozen MDUSD students, staff, business and community members turned out to kick off the MDUSD Art Showcase at Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord on Tuesday evening, featuring Art & Digital Media Pathways student work from College Park, Concord, Mt. Diablo and Northgate high schools. Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark thanked the shopping center and Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce for its partnership with the school district to highlight student art in the community. “I think it’s very obvious that when you give our students an opportunity to express themselves and their experiences, you’re going to see some wonderful things,” he said, noting the “incredible" work on display. The showcase includes four large screen monitors that display digital photos of art created at each of the high schools represented, including photography, animation and digital media. The monitors will be placed at different locations throughout the mall through May 25th and include Scavenger Hunt clues, which are also translated into Spanish. Mt. Diablo High School Digital Safari Academy students Elaine Torres and Haidi De La Torre-Figueroa said they were excited to see their artwork on display. “It makes me feel proud of my work and my school,” said Elaine, a senior whose poster featuring food and drinks is in the showcase. Haidi de La Torre-Figueroa, a junior, pointed to a poster she designed showing rainbows and white, puffy clouds along with the inspirational quote: “Take one step at a time.” Haidi wants to be a professional artist after she graduates and said she appreciates the training she is receiving in high school, as well as the opportunity to show her work at the mall. Her mother, Anna Figueroa, said she was proud and happy to see Haidi's work at the mall. “I know that she will be successful,” she said. “Ever since she was a little girl, she always liked drawing.” Northgate HS art and photography   teacher Carolyn Moore said it was great to have the opportunity to display students’ art publicly and to hopefully connect with new business partners to show what MDUSD students can do. Northgate has about 260 pieces on display, giving every student the opportunity to participate in the showcase, she said. Mt. Diablo HS Graphic Design Teacher David Hevell said he appreciated the opportunity for students and teachers from different schools to see each other’s work, since each school’s program is slightly different. Northgate has the only animation program, while College Park and Concord High have strong photography programs and Mt. Diablo High emphasizes digital arts.   Art from Concord HS (above left), Northgate HS (above center), and College Park HS (above right) is displayed at showcase. Mt. Diablo Adult Education Director and Teacher win state awards! MDUSD Adult Education Director Vittoria Abbate (left) and Teacher Karen Lingenfelter-Carman (center) receive awards in Hollywood ceremony (right).    Mt. Diablo Unified is happy to announce that the California Council for Adult Education ( CCAE ) has selected MDUSD's Director of College & Career and Adult Education, Vittoria Abbate, to receive its prestigious Robert W. Rupert Award and has selected Special Education teacher Karen Lingenfelter-Carman to receive an "Excellence in Teaching" Award. They accepted their awards at the 2022 CCAE State Conference on Friday, May 6th. The Robert W. Rupert  was established to honor an individual whose impact on adult education has been widely acknowledged. The Excellence in Teaching award recognizes "master teachers" with five or more years of experience who truly understand that learning is lifelong and give their expertise to anyone with a thirst for knowledge. Vittoria Abbate Vittoria was chosen due to her exceptional leadership and contributions to adult education at local, state, and national levels. When she accepted the award, Vittoria recognized all those who had received the award before her, and sent out an urgent call to all adult educators to get involved and support legislative actions that protect adult education for the sake of those they serve. Vittoria was congratulated by adult educators from all over the state who had worked with her and those who recognized her contributions to adult education. "Vittoria Abbate is known for going above and beyond, dedicating herself to service to adult learners," the awards program said. "Her career trajectory started as an ESL instructor and included becoming Coordinator for the ESL/Citizenship Department, Vice Principal, Assistant Director and in 2015 she became the Director of Mt. Diablo Adult Education . At all levels, she has promoted the work of adult education and its importance in making communities stronger." The program also praised her ability to forge partnerships with organizations such as the Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board and Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, which led Mt. Diablo's Adult Education Center to host an America's Job Center of California site. It also highlighted her collaborative advocacy efforts as the Bay Section Legislative Chair and then the State Chair, saying she "will always be known for bringing statewide legislative work to a new level" focused on "the 'boots on the ground' perspective." Vittoria "took a leadership role" during the pandemic by helping to plan several Zoom webinars on legislative issues and using Zoom for local advocacy, the program continued, adding that "CCAE members know that they can turn to Vittoria for advice and support." It concluded: "Vittoria is a consummate professional with natural people skills and her intuitive leadership style has earned her tremendous respect and admiration amongst her staff, district and CCAE family." Karen Lingenfelter-Carman "Karen was nominated not only for excellence in teaching her own Adults With Disabilities students, but for all the excellent instruction students received statewide as a result of professional development presentations she has presented at many statewide conferences," said Tricia Ouellette, Assistant Director of College & Career and Adult Education, who attended the awards ceremony. "She was congratulated and thanked by other adult school administrators and teachers who benefited from her expertise over the years." She started teaching in the Mt. Diablo Adult Education program in 1990, working with Adults with Disabilities and developing curriculum and instruction for Adult Basic Education and Work Readiness. She expanded her instruction to include parent Drug and Alcohol and Anger Management classes in 1999 and became the Adults with Disabilities Coordinator in 2011. She continues to teach Workplace Essential Skills through an internship program at Embassy Suites, as well as Anger Management classes for parents. Karen has written curriculum and taught teachers best practices and instructional strategies for teaching life skills to adult students with disabilities, as well as working with students with Autism and Acquired Brain Injury. Her expertise in these areas is well-known, and she is often contacted by out-of-area Adults with Disabilities programs for her professional guidance. She created a partnership with the State Department of Developmental Services and the Regional Center of the East Bay in 2012 that continues to provide funding for these programs. She has also presented at conferences  and has served in every leadership role ion the CCAE Contra Costa Chapter. Her professionalism, caring, and dedication to improving the lives of adult learners with disabilities have made many adult learners more independent, confident and inspired, Ouellette said. And for many of Karen's Adult Education colleagues in Contra Costa County, she has become a "go-to" person because of her broad knowledge and years of experience teaching Adults with Disabilities, Ouellette added. District News MDUSD School Board Recognizes Classified Employees of the Year! The School Board recognized Classified Employees of the Year Ashleigh Kenny (left) and Laura Warner (right holding certificate, with Dr. Adam Clark, Trustees Erin McFerrin, Linda Mayo, Student Board Member Kaleena Fowler, Board President Debra Mason and Trustee Cherise Khaund) Wednesday.    During its May 11th meeting, the Mt. Diablo Unified School Board recognized the 2022 District Classified Employees of the Year , Special Education Assistant Ashleigh Kenny and District Lead Buyer Laura Warner, commending them for their strong focus on supporting students and staff. Both Laura and Ashleigh were selected based on nominations from District staff members for classified employees who have demonstrated excellence in work performance, school and community involvement, and leadership and commitment - and whose coworkers speak highly of their exemplary work. Nominations for both Ashleigh and Laura highlighted their warmth and enthusiasm, desire to give back to their communities, and willingness to go above and beyond expectations for students and staff. Ashleigh was not able to attend the meeting, so Concord High Principal Rianne Pfaltzgraff accepted the award on her behalf, commenting that Ashleigh is loved by her students and the teacher. Also at the meeting, the Board appointed Tiffany Jackson as the Vice Principal at Oak Grove Middle School, Elizabeth “Bess” Inzeo as the Vice Principal at Ygnacio Valley High School, Rebecca Schnee as the Vice Principal at Sequoia Middle School, Rachel Decker as the Vice Principal at Valley View Middle School, and Danielle Bouchard as the Vice Principal at Diablo View Middle School.   In addition, the Board approved a resolution declaring the week of May 15-21 as Classified School Employees Week and a resolution declaring June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a Tentative Agreement with the Clerical, Secretarial and Technical Unit, an updated CSEA salary schedule, an Expanded Learning Opportunity Program Plan, and other items. A summary of Board actions is here . Middle School Girls are invited to apply for a free one-week STEM camp in June The Boys STEM Camp is full. Marathon is sponsoring a free weeklong Summer Stem Camp for girls who are currently in middle school. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6-10 at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill.  The purpose is to: build a community of local girls and women interested in STEM provide role models and strengthen leadership skills develop programming/robotics/STEM thinking with 60 girls from the nine MDUSD middle schools, neighboring public schools, and private/home schools. Apply here . Send questions to Hawes at hawess@mdusd.org.  More information about robotics programs in MDUSD is here . MDUSD students in grades K-12 invited to enter the Clayton Pride Poster Contest CLAYTON PRIDE invites MDUSD students in grades K-12 to create a poster on the theme of “Pride and Community” to celebrate the city's inaugural 2022 Clayton Pride Parade on June 25.  The contest deadline is Sunday, May 15th. Contest categories are Kindergarten-5th grades and 6th-12th grades. More information is on the Clayton Pride website here . Free Virtual Academy for Student Leaders accepting applications through May 15 California students ages 13 and over are invited to apply to the free virtual online summer conference " Ed100 Academy for Student Leaders, " to be held June 20-22.  The theme is "Students and Civic Engagement." Students will learn from inspiring speakers, connect with peers and organizations, and earn a certificate for participating.  Faculty advisors are also invited. More information is here . A video of host Alvin Lee, the founder of GENup, talking about the conference is here .  The program guide is here . Speakers will include actor Hudson Yang, Khan Academy founder Sal Khan, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Zaila Avant-garde, California Student Board Member Zac Patterson, California Association of Student Councils President Ellie Lian, and other GENup student leaders. Parent Advisory Committee to discuss Universal PreKindergarten, A-G eligibility, 2022-23 MDUSD's Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17th at Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane in Concord.  Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark will report on the State of the District, and the group will also discuss Universal PreKindergarten, High School A-G course eligibility and District planning for 2022-23. The complete agenda is here . More information about the committee is here . The committee is comprised of parent representatives from each school. They meet with the Superintendent and other District staff on a monthly basis during the school year to help implement and monitor elements of the Local Control Accountability Plan ( LCAP ) and discuss other relevant issues. MDUSD hiring classified and certificated staff, teacher hiring fair is May 21st! MDUSD is hiring for many classified positions including Instructional Assistants for our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms! MDUSD offers flexible schedules, paid holidays, vacation time, health benefits and retirement benefits. We are also hiring for positions in Food Services, Custodial, Special Education Assistants, Transportation, and many more opportunities in 2022-23! Apply at https://rebrand.ly/MDClass . And MDUSD is hosting a teacher hiring event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21st in the District Office at 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord. It is open all candidates looking for a credentialed/teaching position. We ask that you apply before the event at   https://rebrand.ly/MDUSDHIRINGFAIR . We look forward to welcoming you to #TeamMDUSD! MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids workshop is Saturday, May 21st at El Monte Elementary The MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program will host a workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 21st at El Monte Elementary in Concord where participants can learn how to propagate plants, companion plant, compost, cook farm to table recipes or just build community in the beautiful El Monte community garden. Garden educators will teach practical gardening skills and lessons, as well as academic lessons that can be taught outside with or without a formal garden. There will be delicious, fresh food made with garden vegetables.  Mini lessons will be held in stations, so participants can select what is most interesting to them.  MDUSD staff, families and community members are invited to celebrate the end of the school year in the beautiful El Monte garden. Register here .  Mt. Diablo Adult Education's Surgical Technologist Program Blood Drive is May 25th Mt. Diablo Adult Education's Surgical Tech Program is hosting a Blood Drive by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 25th at the Loma Vista Adult Education Center, 1266 San Carlos Ave., in Concord. Interested community members are encouraged to make an appointment early by emailing Mdaeblooddrive22@gmail.com. The Blood Drive is being held in partnership with the American Red Cross. More information about donating blood is at https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or in the attached flyer. Spring into Action and Give Blood Today!  Ethnic Studies Podcast - End of the Year Showcase The UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Changemaker Team invites the community to the first annual End of the Year Showcase for the “Building the Collective “I”: Telling Youth Stories Through Podcasting” program! Students from Mt. Diablo and Ygnacio Valley high schools have been working all year to create podcasts that feature critical analyses and reflections about the issues they encounter in relation to migration, displacement, systemic racism, educational disparities, and state violence. With the guidance of UC Berkeley’s Changemaker Team, they have been trained in podcasting, script-writing, and conducting oral histories to create their own podcast series. We are excited to present their finished portfolios from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26th at the Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane in Concord.  Students will be speaking about their experiences and sharing their podcasts, which will be posted online after the event. MDUSD 1:1 Device Program - Summertime is Chromebook time for students!  During the 2021-22 school year, MDUSD rolled out our student-centered 1:1 device program to more than 25,000 students in grades 2-12. All students in grades 2-11 will take their assigned Chromebooks and power cords home for the summer, unless they do not plan to return to the District next school year. In some circumstances, students may make special arrangements with their school site to leave the Chromebook on campus during the summer. Students not returning to MDUSD in the fall are required to return their Chromebooks by the end of this school year. High school seniors are also required to return their Chromebooks, unless they plan to attend Summer School. Photos courtesy of Allison Shelley for  EDUimages by All4Ed 12th-graders enrolled in Summer School classes will return their Chromebooks on their last day of Summer School attendance. Students returning to MDUSD school sites in the fall will continue to use their same device, as the 1:1 device program continues to become an increasingly meaningful part of each student's experience as a 21st Century Learner in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. If you have any issues with your student’s device, please contact your school site. School News Multicultural Week at Mt. Diablo High School culminates with student rallies Members of the MDHS Polynesian Club dance during the multicultural rally (above). Members of the MDHS Latino Club perform a Folklorico dance during the multicultural rally (above). Members of the MDHS Filipino Club dance between long sticks moved by their classmates during the multicultural rally (above). Mt. Diablo High School students were excited to celebrate Multicultural Week at the school with a culminating rally that included performances from various school groups including JROTC, the flag squad, cheerleaders, Filipino club, Polynesian club, Asian culture club, K-Pop, the Black Student Union, and the Latin Club's Folklorico dance. Organizers included ASB President Sam Yuan and 2022-23 Vice President Ayana Platero, who both said the rally is a highlight of the year that students eagerly anticipate. "We have a lot of students from different cultural backgrounds," Sam said. "It's a staple in our school, where everyone feels represented and included." Due to the pandemic, last year's performance was recorded on video and distributed to students via YouTube, so it was very meaningful for some students to experience the exciting event in person this year, Ayana said.   As the rally got underway, the student announcer said the event showcases different cultures, honoring students' roots and values, embracing their heritages and traditions, while also learning about and respecting other cultures. Many students who didn't perform wore clothing representing their cultures or proudly displayed flags from the countries they or their families came from. Ninth-grader Lovette Anekwe, whose parents are from Nigeria, wore a traditional Nigerian dress with lace around her neck. She said she was happy her school hosted a the Multicultural Week, since the student population is so diverse. "I think it's really good," she said. "It helps people to appreciate their culture more and to take pride in it." Daniela Para, a senior who performed in the Folklorico dance, said she joined the group to get to know more about her own Mexican culture. Wearing a colorful Folklorico skirt, she said students enjoy expressing their cultures through their clothing. School Board Member Erin McFerrin, who attended the event, said: "This is Mount at it's best!" Staff Spotlight Ygnacio Valley High School PTSA honors School Lunch Heroes with Mint plants The Ygnacio Valley High School PTSA got creative last Friday on School Lunch Heroes Day! The group presented each member of the school's lunch team with a mint plant, along with a card that said: "Your commitment is amazing. You have 'mint' so much to us! Enjoy the mint." The card to Joyce Hsi, Sabrina Velez, Angelica Avila, Luis Ugaz, Masuda Sakhi, and Sofi (Ping) Zhao also thanked the lunch team for "keeping our kids healthy and fed." School Board member Cherise Khaund (far right), who is a member of the school's PTSA, helped present the mementos (or "memintos!") Student Spotlight Y gnacio Valley High School IB Programme Student wins state Spanish  award! Congratulations to YVHS International Baccalaureate Programme student William Roloson, whose essay written in Spanish about why he would like to visit Peru earned 3rd Place in a contest for non-native Spanish speakers sponsored by Spain's Ministry of Education and the California Department of Education! William was the only East Bay winner!  The YVHS IB Programme proudly announced William's award in a tweet (left). Teacher Salvador Martinez (right) congratulates William. William said he was honored to win the contest, after he worked hard on his essay by researching historical places in Peru such as Machu Picchu, as well as the natural beauty of the country. After writing his first draft, he worked to improve on it by adding more descriptive words and more specific places to visit. He said he plans to mention this award on his college applications and is hoping to graduate with the Seal of Biliteracy. He will also receive a Spanish International Baccalaureate Diploma, which is recognized internationally, said his teacher, Salvador Martinez, who is part of a Visiting Teachers program from Mexico and Spain. Martinez said he encouraged all of his students to enter the contest to help prepare them for college and get the most out of their education. William was one of two non-native Spanish speakers to enter. In addition, Martinez said seven of his Spanish fluent students also entered the contest. Important dates May 17 : Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 18: Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4 p.m. May 19: Measure J Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at  5:30 p.m.; Measure C Committee meeting at 7 p.m. May 24:  Olympic/Alliance HS Graduation at 3 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion; Budget Advisory Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; Mt. Diablo HS Graduation at 7 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion May 25: College Now graduation at 6 p.m. at Diablo Valley College (DVC) May 26 : College Park HS graduation at 7 p.m. at Concord Pavilion May 27:  Alternative high schools graduation at 5 p.m. at Concord Pavilion (Crossroads, Diablo Day, Prospect, Horizons Center for Independent Study) May 30: Memorial Day Holiday - no school May 31 : Bridge Program graduation at 5:30 p.m. at the Loma Vista Adult Education Center; Concord HS graduation at 7 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Friday, May 13 2022

Friday Letter - May 6, 2022

MAY 6, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 36 In this issue:   Mt. Diablo HS teacher is selected as a County Teacher of the Year finalist; Olympic HS Dream Team earns Continuation Education Association Awards ; District news including Digital Art Showcase at Sunvalley Shopping Center; School news including BMX assembly at Pine Hollow MS ; District and School Staff Social Media Shout-outs; Student Spotlights; important dates, and more! Mt. Diablo High teacher Natasha Paul named County Teacher of the Year Finalist! Mt. Diablo HS teacher Natasha Paul stands with her 9th Grade English students after learning she is a County Teacher of the Year finalist. Mt. Diablo High School teacher Natasha Paul got a big surprise on Tuesday - National Teacher Appreciation Day - when Contra Costa County Superintendent Lynn Mackey walked into her 9th Grade English class unexpectedly and announced that Paul has been selected as one of four County Teacher of the Year finalists! The county will select its two Teachers of the Year in September, who will go onto compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition. "It was quite the rigorous process," Mackey said, as she handed Paul a plaque recognizing her achievement. "She was selected by her peers, there were quite a few levels of screening, and speeches, and she was selected as one of the top educators in Contra Costa County." Paul said the announcement was "a huge surprise." She accepted flowers from her husband and two daughters, and was also congratulated by Principal Lorne Barbosa, School Board President Debra Mason and Board Members Cherise Khaund and Linda Mayo, along with Velma Wilson, the 32nd District PTA Vice President of Membership. Mason pointed out that Paul is now teaching in her alma mater. "It has to be very gratifying for you to be back where you started, enriching the lives of families where you went to school," Mason said. "We’re very proud of you and we stand behind you all the way." Paul said she is proud to be able to teach in her community. "It’s so important," she said. "When I go to the store, or I go to a restaurant with my family, and I run into my students, it’s a great source of pride for me." In an interview with KRON news, Paul said this has been her most challenging year of teaching due to the pandemic. "I’ve completely changed how I teach," she said. "I'm trying new ways of grading and new ways of delivering instruction. I think the only way to move forward is to do things differently because these kids are not the same kids as they were back in 7th grade." But Paul said teaching is definitely worth the effort. "I think it’s worth it because this is our future - and if you want to make a difference in how our world looks, then you need to be at the ground level, which is where I am." Mt. Diablo HS teacher Natasha Paul stands with MDUSD School Board Member Cherise Khaund, Board President Debra Mason, County Superintendent Lynn Mackey and MDUSD Board Member Linda Mayo (above, left); with MDHS Principal Lorne Barbosa (above, center); and with her husband and daughters (above, right), after learning she is a County Teacher of the Year finalist during a surprise classroom visit. Olympic High Dream Team sweeps Continuation Education Association Awards! Olympic HS teacher Danya Townsend (left), Principal Lynsie Castellano and Head Custodian Jorge Iniguez (above, right) are all California Continuation Education Association award-winners!    The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is very proud of the remarkable work being done by staff at Olympic Continuation HIgh School  in Concord, which is being recognized by the California Continuation Education Association this week! Principal Lynsie Castellano is being honored as the organization's State Administrator of the Year, leadership and P.E. teacher Danya Townsend  is receiving the Teacher of the Year award, and Head Custodian Jorge Iniguez  has been named the State Classified Employee of the Year by the organization, which will present the awards during a luncheon on Saturday, May 7th. All three award-winners said they were honored to be chosen to represent the District and their school, where they all work together with staff to support students in a caring, family-oriented environment. Lynsie Castellano Olympic High Principal Lynsie Castellano (second from right) stands with Olympic HS students. Castellano became principal of Olympic seven years ago, after prevoiusly working as a vice principal at Valley View Middle School in Pleasant Hill and as a Vice Principal and Student Services Coordinator at Riverview Middle School in Bay Point.  She started her career as a Social Worker, which has helped her focus on students' families and support systems, as well as their academic needs. "I love home visits," she said. "I love being out in the community. When kids come here, they feel special. They feel loved. And most of them succeed. And that really is awesome." She doesn’t know who nominated her for the award, but said she believes part of the reason she won may be her work guiding the school to win three-year “Model Continuation School” awards in 2018 and again in 2021. Previously, she said, the school had “kind of a stigma” attached to it, but she has worked to bring pride to the campus. “People recognize that this is an awesome place to go to school and to work,” she said. “It’s awesome that I’m being recognized for my leadership, but we’re a team. It’s really exciting.” Both Townsend and Iniguez credited Castellano with keeping everyone at campus focused on what’s best for students. Townsend, who had previously worked with Castellano at Riverview Middle School, said she wanted to work for her again because of her leadership style. “I’ve been through a lot of administrators and I’ve realized that having a quality administrator means more than almost anything else in terms of being an effective teacher,” Townsend said. “I like to do a lot of non-traditional things, so I appreciate having someone who’s going to support me and trust me to do what’s best because she knows where my heart is." Iniguez said as soon as Castellano arrived, she got involved in school activities, and started asking questions and making phone calls to fix the place up. “She saw that the campus was a little run down,” he said. “She got the district to paint classrooms, rip out the 30-year-old carpet in the main office and replace it, replace tiles, and she got new blinds for the classrooms. She goes around pulling weeds, cleaning up, picking up papers. She’s always on the go. She’s nonstop. She gets involved with the students and the teachers and always sees what needs to get done. I just love her. She’s not only a good administrator to me, but a good friend. I respect her a lot.”  Danya Townsend Olympic High Leadership Teacher Danya Townsend welcomes the community to a school event. Townsend has known Castellano the entire time she has been a teacher, for 13 years. “She hired me to my first teaching job at Riverview Middle School,” Townsend recalled. “She was the VP. Immediately, we connected on the basis that she always wants to do what’s best for kids. If it’s what’s best for kids, she’s 100% supportive in anything you want to try, any effort you want to make. And that’s why I became a teacher - to do anything I could for kids.”   Castellano, who nominated Townsend for the award, said she tried for several years to persuade Townsend to come to Olympic. “She’s a culture game-changer for any school,” Castellano said. “She has built our P.E. and Leadership programs from nothing. I nominated her because she’s able to have a vision, but not just be visionary. She’s also task-oriented to get stuff done. All the kids love her. They will meet her expectations. They perform for her because they know she cares, but she has really high expectations, so she should be recognized for her awesomeness!” Iniguez agreed that all the students love Townsend. “She’s an extremely good person,” he said. “She’s got a wonderful relationship with the kids and they love to be in her class. She’s got a great heart.” He was especially impressed, he said, when she showed up every Tuesday during the pandemic to hand out food to families from 4-6 p.m. And if they didn’t come to campus, she would deliver the food to them. “I know that’s not part of her job,” he said. “She’s always been on the go. She does so many things, it’s hard to name them all.”   Ernesto Ponce, a senior, has known Townsend since they were both at Riverview Middle School. Although he has only had one class with her at Olympic, he loves to hang out in her classroom and pepper her with questions during breaks and lunchtime. “She’s very understanding and if she sees that you‘re trying, she helps you,” he said. “That motivates me. She encourages you do get your work done. She knows what classes you have and she helps you to plan what you need to get done, almost like a counselor.” Jorge Iniguez Olympic High shows its appreciation for Head Custodian Jorge Iniguez. Iniguez has worked in the District for 31 years, including the past 13 years at Olympic High. He said he was surprised to be nominated for the award by teacher Yuri Buechler and counselor Keegan Pittman. “It was a big shock for me,” he said. “I’m really happy. It made me feel that people actually care for me. I’m not trying to do anything special, but I try to do what I can for the site. I am appreciative of the job.” Castellano said Iniguez takes pride in “the feel of the campus, the way it looks.” Although she credited her entire staff for helping to create a welcoming atmosphere, she said that Iniguez is “so good at what he does -he expects Olympic to be a really nice place for kids to be, and it shows.  He’s just been an amazing part of Olympic and I was really proud that he got recognized as well,” she said, adding that “a bunch of staff” nominated him. Townsend said she was also very happy that Iniguez won an award. “He deserves it,” she said. “He’s such a good person to have around. He’s really kind and patient with the kids. He’s very soft spoken, easy to get along with, very hard working, shows up early, stays late, and comes on days off. He’s just supportive in everything. It makes everyone else want to work hard for him because they know he’s going to do anything for you.” Iniguez said everyone takes pride in working at Olympic and they help to lighten his load amid custodial staff shortages. “We all work together,” he said. “I haven’t had a regular night custodian for over a year. We’ve been having subs. All the teachers help me. Sometimes, when I have to stay late, they pull the garbage out of their rooms, so I don’t have to go into all their rooms. We work together. Everybody pitches in for everything.” He also likes the fact that students call him by his first name. “That makes me feel welcome,” he said, “that they care for me." District News The Mt. Diablo Unified School Board has designated May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month . The resolutions encourage schools to honor and learn about the cultures with appropriate instructional materials, discussions, presentations and projects. Digital Art Showcase starts Monday, May 9 at Sunvalley Shopping Center Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord will host an MDUSD Art Showcase featuring Art & Digital Media Pathways student work from College Park, Concord, Mt. Diablo and Northgate high schools. The showcase will kick off with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 9th in the Grand Court including photography, animation and digital media.   After the reception, the artwork will be displayed at various locations throughout the center from May 11-25. The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce will help wrap up the showcase with a Business After-Hours Mixer on May 23.   School Board to recognize employees, appoint administrators on  Wednesday   The Mt. Diablo Unified School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 in the District Office Board Room at 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord to recognize the MDUSD Classified Employees of the Year ; appoint school administrators for 2022-23; and potentially approve a Tentative Agreement with the Clerical, Secretarial and Technical Unit, an updated CSEA salary schedule, an Expanded Learning Opportunity Program Plan, and other items. The agenda is here . Middle Schoolers are invited to apply for free one-week STEM camps in June! Marathon is sponsoring free weeklong Summer Stem Camps for boys or girls who currently in middle school. The Girls Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6-10 and the Boys Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 13-17, both at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill. Apply here for the Girls Camp or here for the Boys Camp. Send questions to Hawes at hawess@mdusd.org More info about robotics is here . MDUSD students in grades K-12 invited to enter the Clayton Pride Poster Contest CLAYTON PRIDE invites MDUSD students in grades K-12 to create a poster on the theme of “Pride and Community” to celebrate the city's inaugural 2022 Clayton Pride Parade on June 25. Contest deadline is May 15th. Contest categories are   Kindergarten-5th grades and 6th-12th grades. More information is on the Clayton Pride website here . Free Virtual Academy for Student Leaders accepting applications through May 15 California students age 13 and over are invited to apply to the free virtual online summer conference " Ed100 Academy for Student Leaders, " to be held June 20-22. The theme is "Students and Civic Engagement." Students will learn from inspiring speakers, connect with peers and organizations, and earn a certificate for participating. Faculty advisors are also invited. More information is here . MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids workshop is May 21st at El Monte Elementary  The MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program will host a workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 21st at El Monte Elementary in Concord where participants can learn how to propagate plants, companion plant, compost, cook farm to table recipes or just build community in the beautiful El Monte community garden. Garden educators will teach practical gardening skills and lessons, as well as academic lessons that can be taught outside. Many of these lessons can be done outside, with or without a formal garden. There will be delicious, fresh food made with garden vegetables. Mini lessons will be held in stations, so that you can participate in what is most interesting to you. MDUSD staff, families and community members are invited to celebrate the end of the school year in the beautiful El Monte garden.  Register here .  School News BMX Assembly at Pine Hollow MS in Concord wows students and staff! Pine Hollow Middle School in Concord was host to an amazing BMX show from BMX Big Air Assemblies brought to us by our PTSA, said Principal Laurie Clark. "Students were in awe of the skills the riders demonstrated and treated them like celebrities, getting autographs and pictures," she said. "The performers emphasized both anti-bullying and drug-free lifestyles, as well as staying in school throughout the assembly." As a special treat, teachers were included in one of the stunts. "This really brought down the house for the students," Clark said. She gave a big shout out to the PTSA and invited new parents to join the group, which she said "brings positive things to our campus for students." Ygnacio Valley High School students celebrate the end of Ramadan and Cinco de Mayo  The Muslim Student Union Club at Ygnacio Valley High school celebrated their First Eid on Campus on Wednesday, May 3rd (above). "It was a fun and a colorful celebration," said said Community School Coordinator Marcela Sosa. “Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, praying, and giving to charity, Muslims celebrate Eid by dressing up, eating lots of yummy treats, and spending time with family and friends.” Some students at the school also celebrated Cinco de Mayo on Thursday, May 5th (below). "Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza," Sosa said.  Valle Verde Elementary PTA brings special guests to campus for Cinco de Mayo celebration! Valle Verde Elementary School's PTA helped bring the musical group SoVoSó to the campus for the first all-school assembly in three years, said PTA President Natalie Ivankovich. The percussion group performed original compositions and other songs to present a global perspective, from Afro-Latin idioms to traditional jazz choral arrangements, she said, adding that they also sang one or two songs in Spanish for Cinco de Mayo. The group performed twice and Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark and Board Member Cherise Khaund also stopped by to enjoy the show.  Staff Social Media Shout-outs Schools celebrate principals, teachers and "lunch heroes" during Teacher Appreciation Week Student Spotlights   Two Mt. Diablo HS students  awarded President's Scholarships to Academy of Art in SF!  Mt. Diablo HS Digital Safari Academy students Jeffrey Luc and Erika Marroquin will both be accepting the Presidential Scholarship at the Art Academy of San Francisco! "This is a full tuition scholarship," said Graphic Design Teacher David Hevel. "I am so proud of both of them!"  "The scholarships cover a full tuition ride for about 5 years," Jeff said. "I want to attend the Academy of Art because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wouldn't want to give it up! Taking classes such as AP Calculus and AP 3D have pushed me far past my limits and prepared me for a new kind of workflow."  Erika said she chose the Academy of Arts because she wants to be "placed into a professional space by doing what I love the most, art. My goal is to acquire a job and be able to expand my skills to the next level." She said studying at MDHS has been "one of the best opportunities for me to keep following a creative path, especially being in DSA, where all my classmates, teachers are very supportive. They inspire us to keep doing what we love and what's best for us. Thanks to DSA, I was able to see all the opportunities that a computer can provide and how amazing the world of technology can be. Therefore, I gained a lot of knowledge with Creative Softwares such as Adobe products and Procreate, and also confidence in me wanting to pursue an art career. "  Both Jeff and Erika will have art pieces on display at the Sunvalley Shopping Center Showcase! Congrats! Important dates May 9: MDUSD Digital Art Showcase Opening Reception at Sunvalley Mall from 5-7 p.m. (See District News) May 11 : School Board meeting at 6 p.m.; California Day of the Teacher May 17 : Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 18: Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4 p.m. May 19: Measure J Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at  5:30 p.m.; Measure C Committee meeting at 7 p.m. May 24:  Olympic/Alliance HS Graduation at 3 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion; Budget Advisory Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; Mt. Diablo HS Graduation at 7 p.m. at the Concord Pavilion May 25: College Now graduation at 6 p.m. at Diablo Valley College (DVC) May 26 : College Park HS graduation at 7 p.m. at Concord Pavilion May 27:  Alternative high schools graduation at 5 p.m. at Concord Pavilion (Crossroads, Diablo Day, Prospect, Horizons Center for Independent Study) Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Saturday, May 07 2022

Friday Letter - April 29, 2022

APRIL 29, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 35 In this issue:   MDUSD's "Allied Health Fair" is a success; District news including the MDUSD School Board recognized Teacher of the Year finalists; MDUSD in the News; School news including Concord HS musicians take Disneyland by storm ; District and School Staff Spotlights; Student Spotlights; important dates, and more! MDUSD's "Allied Health Fair" shows High School students career options Students from Mt. Diablo High School's Medical Biotechology Academy pose in front of an ambulance during the District's first "Allied Health Fair" at the Loma Vista Adult Education Center, where adult students and professionals explained health careers.    More than 150 students in health career pathways at three District high schools got hands-on experience exploring a variety of health-related occupations during Mt. Diablo Unified’s first “Allied Health Fair” on Thursday at the Loma Vista Adult Education Center in Concord. Students from College Park High School’s Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences Pathway , Mt. Diablo High School’s Medical and Biotechology Academy (MBTA), and Ygnacio Valley High School’s Health Academy  visited four health-career programs offered at the Adult Education Center and also heard presentations regarding Public Health careers and Professionalism in Health Care, including the importance of internships. All students also spent time in an exhibit hall where they spoke to several professionals working in health-related fields including paramedics, veterinarians, pharmacists, helicopter medical transportation services providers, and a Mt. Diablo Unified School District Social Worker. Anna Ramos, the District’s Work Based Learning Coordinator who coordinated the event, said it was meant to introduce students to careers other than doctors or nurses. “Allied health is the umbrella” term for these careers, she said. Students and teachers were excited about the opportunity to learn about so many different career options in one place and were especially interested in trying out Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Surgical Technician and Medical Assistant equipment, as well as seeing how Dental Assistants make impressions of teeth and practice on life-sized mannequin heads in dental chairs. College Park High teacher Marcus Thomas said he was impressed by the adult school students who showed the high schoolers what they were learning and demonstrated how to use their equipment.  He also appreciated the one-on-one opportunities his students had to ask questions directly to professionals working in healthcare careers. “I’m really glad we came,” he said. “It’s been very interactive.” College Park High student Devin Kosmakos said he appreciated the opportunity to meet so many people pursing different careers and finding out “what they had to do to get where they are.” Read more here .       A student learns how to pass scissors during surgery (top left), a student gets his blood pressure taken (second from top left), Dental Assistant Adult Ed student Sadie Helberg shows how to make dental impressions (third from top left), student Devin Kosmakos checks out the exhibit hall (fourth from top left), students Ernesto Elias and Alejandro Sanchez try out the splints (above left), students Mariah Shah and Nilab Rezee try out the AED (above center) and MDUSD's Career Pathways program tweets its thanks for a wonderful event (above right).   District News MDUSD School Board Recognizes District Teachers of the Year and Finalists! MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark (left to right) stands with Board Member Cherise Khaund, Teacher of the Year Katalina Gallo, Teacher of the Year finalists Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan and Maria Sajjad, Student Board Member Kaleena Fowler, Board Members Debra Mason and Keisha Nzewi, Teacher of the Year Natasha Paul, Board Member Erin McFerrin and Teacher of the Year finalist Laima Haider and her dog Leia.  During its April 27th meeting, the Mt. Diablo Unified School Board recognized the 2022-23 District Teachers of the Year  Katalina Gallo and Natasha Paul  and finalists Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan, Laimer Haider and Maria Sajjad, commending them for their strong focus on building connections with students and paying close attention to their social and emotional well-being. The finalists were chosen from more than 100 nominees , who will all receive certificates recognizing their nominations. The Teachers of the Year received wooden plaques, while the three additional finalists received engraved glass mementos. Gallo and Paul will advance to the County Teacher of the Year competition, which will announce four finalists on May 3.  Also at the meeting, the Board appointed Mt. Diablo HS student Anahi Nava Flores as the 2022-23 Student Board member; Alejandro Ramos as the  Principal at Oak Grove Middle School in Concord, where he has served as Interim Principal since December; Christopher Chenault as  Principal at Woodside Elementary in Concord, where he has served as Interim Principal since February; Candace Ng , Joel Miner and Meghan Hines as a Special Education Districtwide Program Specialists; Patricia Hamachi as an Instructional Program Specialist in the District’s Equity Department; Amy Monaghan as an Operational Program Specialist in the District’s Equity Department; and Lamont Francies as the Family Involvement and Community Engagement Programs Coordinator in the District’s Equity Department.   In addition, the Board approved a re-opener agreement with the CSEA union and an updated Teamsters union salary schedule; reviewed the District's Expanded Learning Opportunity Program Plan, and approved an A-G Completion Improvement Grant and World Language materials, among other items. A summary of Board actions is here .  MDUSD's "Battle of the Bots" Robotics Showcase was a Success! Robotics Club students from Ygnacio Valley High (left to right), College Park High and Concord High showed off their robots at showcase. The "Battle of the Bots" Robotics Showcase held last Saturday at Diablo View MS in Clayton enjoyed a nice turnout of families with students interested in learning more about robotics programs in the District, said Valley View MS technology teacher and Robotics Club advisor Shauna Hawes. High schools represented were College Park, Concord, and Ygnacio Valley.  "Each brought their team robot and we enjoyed watching the students interact about their successes and challenges of the year," she said. "Middle schools represented were Diablo View, Foothill, Oak Grove, and Valley View. We all had students there to provide instruction and interactive opportunities for each other and our guests. Visitors ranged from young children to adults, who interested in all the different forms of robots being demonstrated. Scott Hanks, the new Facility Manager at the Marathon Facility in Martinez, visited with different groups and told students that he had been inspired by a wood shop teacher as a young man. "We teachers all agreed it was a wonderful day, and so good to be back together in person," she said. In addition, Marathon is sponsoring free weeklong Summer Stem Camps for boys or girls who are currently in middle school. "These camps are separated by gender, and are open to all middle school students throughout the District and neighboring communities," Hawes said. The Girls Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6-10 and the Boys Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 13-17, both at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill. Apply here for the Girls Camp or here for the Boys Camp. MDUSD in the News Recent news reports involving Mt. Diablo Unified included: a poignant Concord Clayton Pioneer story about a memorial bike ride to honor Jose Castillo, a Mt. Diablo High student who had recently immigrated from El Salvador and was struck and killed Feb. 25 while riding his bicycle home; a KTVU TV News report about the First-ever Pride Prom held at Concord High School; a Tech & Learning article featuring "5 Tips for IT Leadership From an Award-Winning Director of Technology" - MDUSD's Robert Sidford; and a San Francisco Chronicle article that highlights the Ygnacio Valley HS Robotics Team robot "scooping and throwing a ball, and doing pull-ups on a bar." School News Concord High musicians take Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm by storm! Concord High School musicians pose with their trophies at Disneyland. The Concord High School Instrumental Music Program went to Anaheim last week to perform in Disneyland and compete at Knott’s Berry Farm, said Principal Rianne Pfaltzgraff.  " The students participated in a recording studio session with a professional conductor where they got to create the soundtracks to iconic Disney films," she said. Last Friday, a choreographer and professional dancer led the auxiliaries, Winter Guard, and other students in a Disney-themed dance workshop. "Our marching band served as professional Disney entertainers as they marched down Main Street, playing some pep tunes complete with choreography," she added. "Finally, on Saturday, all four ensembles competed at the Music in the Parks Festival for Knott’s Berry Farm!" The Symphonic Band placed 1st overall, Jazz I placed 1st overall, Jazz II received 3rd place, String Orchestra placed 2nd, and student Alan Montano received an outstanding soloist award. "Not only did the program have a blast on the trip, but they performed and represented Concord High so well," Pfaltzgraff said. "Go minutemen!" Pine Hollow Walk and Roll Day focuses on bike and pedestrian safety Pine Hollow MS partnered with the city of Concord and Street Smarts Diablo to host "Walk and Roll day" on April 27th, said Principal Laurie Clark. "This event encouraged our students to walk or roll their way to school," she said. "The city installed a pop-up bike lane and provided police officers to engage with the students. Street Smarts Diablo hosted a table full of cycling related items, gave away free helmets, and had two stationary blender bikes that students rode to blend lemonade slushies."   The school community has been working with the city to change the traffic pattern on Pine Hollow Road to better accommodate cyclists and pedestrians walking to and from school, she said. "The road doesn't have adequate sidewalk or bike lanes along the entire route," she said. "Several feasibility studies, community meetings, and virtual Q&A sessions have been conducted." The next virtual community workshop will be at 6:60 p.m. May 4 to hear about the updates to the Complete Streets Feasibility Study. More information is here:  www.cityofconcord.org/943/Pine-Hollow-Road-Feasibility-Study . Sequoia Elementary 4th graders raise more than $2,700 for water wells in Sudan The combined 4th grade classes hold their Water for Sudan posters as part of fundraising effort (above). Below, students in Ms. Clack's class (left), Ms. Kerr's class (center) and Ms. Silva's class (right), hold posters. Fourth grade students at Sequoia Elementary  decided to participate in a "collective action" inspired by their "Sharing the Planet" unit, which centered on water consumption and conservation, said teacher Heidi Silva. "Students have been studying about water usage in their own home, in the United States, and around the world," she said. "After reading, A Long Walk to Water , they discovered the main character of the book started a charity called 'Water for South Sudan.' So, they decided to take action and started collecting coins and cash for this charity." From March 28 to April 22, each classroom at Sequoia had a collection bin and a student-drawn poster to advertise the fundraiser. Families and friends could also donate online using the 4th grade webpage:  https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/3775099 . Their grand total was $2,776, more than doubling their goal of $1,000. Mrs. Heidi Silva, Mrs. Lisa Kehr, and Mrs. Laura Clack couldn’t be prouder of their students! Below are some of the posters created by students for the project. Staff Spotlights Woodside Elementary Principal named a Junior Achievement Educator of Year! Congratulations to Westwood Elementary Principal Nancy Klinkner, who has been named a Junior Achievement of Northern CA 2022 Educator of the Year! She was honored along with other award-winners on Friday, April 29th. “I had a great experience working with Junior Achievement as a classroom teacher and jumped at the chance to partner with them in my role as a school administrator,” Klinnker said. “Their lessons in financial literacy support our vision of developing responsible and productive citizens, and JA's support of our annual College and Career Day has given our students access to diverse role models working in a wide variety of fields.” MDUSD staff highlights inter-departmental collaboration at Gardening Summit MDUSD's Chief of Educational Services Jennifer Sachs, (left to right) Growing Healthy Kids Coordinator Laney Cline King, Director of Food and Nutritional Services Dominic Machi, Director of Maintenance Melanie Koslow and Foothill MS Science Teacher Devin Jackson presented at the Growing School Gardens Summit  in Denver Colorado, which took place April 22-25, on “How MDUSD Built a Successful Interdepartmental Collaboration to Support School Gardens.” Other topics at the conference included Food Forests and Preparing Racial Justice Leaders in the Garden and Beyond. The summit was hosted by Life Lab and the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. "Over 400 school garden leaders and professionals attended and we brought back knowledge to enrich and expand our MDUSD school garden programming," Cline King said. School Bus Drivers recognized on Bus Driver's Day in California! April 26th was School Bus Driver's Day in CA, prompting social media "thank you's" in MDUSD from Sequoia MS, MDUSD and Board Member Linda Mayo thanking drivers including Cindy Gilmore , and James Wogan sending a " Woot woot " to East Bay school bus drivers! School and District Office Staff recognized on Administrative Professionals Day in MDUSD! Below are samples of all the great ways our schools and District Departments recognized their administrative professionals on April 27th. Click on the tweets to see the details! Student Spotlights Ygnacio HS STEM siblings highlighted at Oracle Park event! During the Bay Area Science Fair at Oracle Park featured in the San Francisco Chronicle story mentioned above under "MDUSD In the News," two Ygnacio Valley High students were interviewed on the Jumbotron - Louie and Glorianne Labata!  "I'm so proud of our kids here at Ygnacio Valley," said their teacher, Joseph Alvarico, who teaches engineering, coaches the robotics club and advises the Femineer STEM club for girls. "The siblings Louie and Glorianne are in my Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering program." Chevron supports the program by paying for Alvarico's training and curriculum materials. "They provide me with a yearly grant," he said. "So, in return, we display our school projects at the Bay Area Science Festival in the Chevron Partner Zone."   Ygnacio Valley High students have been doing this for the past 5 years, Alvarico said. "Last Sunday, Louie presented the robotic arm manufacturing work cell projects that he and his classmates made in my Computer Integrated Manufacturing class. Glorianne presented the projects that she did in our Femineer program. The siblings are both on my robotics team so they were interviewed and featured on the Jumbotron of Oracle park. They talked about their high school engineering experience and the robot the team made."  Important dates May 2-6:  Teacher Appreciation Week May 3: Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting at 7 p.m., National Day of the Teacher May 6 : School Lunch Hero Day May 9: MDUSD Digital Art Showcase at Sunvalley Mall from 5-7 p.m. May 11 : School Board meeting at 6 p.m.; California Day of the Teacher May 17 : Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 18: Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4 p.m. May 19: District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at  5:30 p.m.; Measure J Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; Measure C Committee meeting at 7 p.m. Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website. .  

Saturday, Apr 30 2022

Friday Letter - April 22, 2022

APRIL 22, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 34 In this issue:   MDUSD's "Battle of the Bots" Robotics Showcase is Saturday at Diablo View MS; District news including the MDUSD School Board will recognize Teacher of the Year finalists and nominees on Wednesday; School news including Earth Day lessons on three campuses ; Social Media Staff Shout-outs for three Olympic Continuation HS staff members; Social Media Student Shout-outs to Olympic HS grads and CPHS senior stunt team members; important dates, and more! MDUSD's "Battle of the Bots" Robotics Showcase is Saturday at Diablo View MS! If you'd like to find out more about opportunities for learning robotics in MDUSD, you won't want to miss the District's annual robotics showcase, "The Battle of the Bots," from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23rd at Diablo View MS, 300 Diablo View Lane in Clayton!  "MDUSD middle and high school clubs and teams will be competing or showing off their robots and robotic systems," said Valley View MS technology teacher and Robotics Club advisor Shauna Hawes, adding that the event provides District students and families with "an opportunity to see the different programs we have in middle and high schools." She suggests that families bring their students in upper elementary and other grades "to drive robots and participate in some hands-on robotics activities." Teams from Foothill, Diablo View, Oak Grove, and Valley View middle schools will be at the event, along with students from the robotics clubs at College Park High, Concord High, and Ygnacio Valley High.  This event is sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, as are the robotics clubs. Details are in the attached flyer. In addition, Marathon is sponsoring free weeklong Summer Stem Camps for boys or girls who are currently in middle school. "These camps are separated by gender, and are open to all middle school students throughout the District and neighboring communities," Hawes said. The Girls Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6-10 and the Boys Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 13-17, both at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill. Apply here for the Girls Camp or here for the Boys Camp. Boys or girls in high school can apply as assistant coaches. Men or women in college can apply for paid coach positions.UC Davis provides the curriculum and structure for the camp, which it developed. In fact, MDUSD's original Girls Camp started in 2015 was the first Girls Camp to take place off of the UC Davis campus, Hawes said. Additional details are in the attached flyers. More information about robotics programs in the District is here . Send questions to Hawes at hawess@mdusd.org District News MDUSD School Board to recognize District 2022-23 Teachers of the Year, finalists and nominees The Mt. Diablo Unified School District Governing Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 27th in the District Office Board Room at 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord to approve a Student Board member for 2022-23; recognize the 2022-23 District Teachers of the Year, finalists and nominees ; appoint principals at Oak Grove Middle School and Woodside Elementary, along with several districtwide administrators; approve a re-opener agreement with the CSEA union and an updated Teamsters union salary schedule; review the District's Expanded Learning Opportunity Program Plan, and approve an A-G Completion Improvement Grant and World Language materials, among other items. The agenda is here .  Bike Ride in memory of Mt. Diablo HS student who died in bike accident draws over 60 bicyclists More than 60 bicyclists rode the streets of downtown Concord last Saturday in a memorial bike ride for Jose Castillo, a Mt. Diablo HS student who died in a recent bike accident,  to remember Jose and to promote bike safety in Concord. "We rode from Bike Concord's bike shed to Mt. Diablo High School where Jose was a student," said Eric Robertson, an English Learner Support Teacher at Bancroft Elementary and Bel Air elementary who bicycles to work each day and participated in the ride. "His English Language teacher Dr. Mary Snyder spoke and presented a poster card from his classmates. Then we rode back through downtown around Ellis Lake and came back to the site on Clayton Road near Galindo Street where a memorial has been set up. We laid flowers next to the memorial bike and then returned to Bike Concord's bike shed on Olympic High's campus. Two school board members met us there as well as Principal Barbosa." Although Robertson didn't know Jose, he said he felt a connection to him as a bicyclist and a teacher who works with English learner students. "It's really a tragic loss for everyone, but this bike ride for Jose brought so many people together," Robertson said. "I was heartened by the turn out and meeting so many people passionate about biking like myself." Newsletters  From MDUSD's School Counselors Counseling Corner Our counseling team is pleased to share the April edition of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Counseling Corner Newsletter for the 2021-22 school year. The Counseling Corner Newsletter shares relevant tips and resources to support, engage, and connect students and families in grades TK-12. These newsletters and other resources can also be found at our  MDUSD Counseling page , which is under the Parent Portal tab on the District website. Counseling Newsletter  -  Englis h Counseling Newsletter -  Spanis h   Social Emotional Learning (SEL) In the Loop Our counseling team is also pleased to share the April Edition of the Mt. Diablo Unified Social Emotional Learning (SEL) In the Loop! The SEL In the Loop is shared via the Friday Letter. These newsletters also share relevant tips and resources to support, engage, and connect students and families in grades TK-12. These newsletter and other resources can also be found under the Parent Portal tab on the district website. SEL In the Loop - April 2022-English   SEL In the Loop - April 2022-Spanish Reminder that MDUSD has established a "Fraud Hotline" to report suspected fraudulent activities In the interest of preventing fraud, the District has established an online system for reporting incidents of fraud anonymously. It is intended to be used to report: - illegal or fraudulent acts - falsification of records - tampering of data - theft - misuse of assets - theft of trade secrets - violations of state/federal laws Those who use the system will be asked for specific information, but the system is NOT set to collect email addresses, so the report remains anonymous. Responses will be sent to the Internal Auditor, Superintendent, Chief Business Officer, and General Counsel (attorney). However, reports can also be sent by email to the Internal Auditor or General Counsel at: williamsi@mdusd.org (Internal Auditor) or alvaradocesar@mdusd.org (General Counsel). Pride Prom is Saturday, April 23rd at Concord High School Two community organizations, PFLAG Clayton/Concord and Rainbow Community Center are joining together to co-sponsor Contra Costa County’s first ever Pride Prom from 8-11 p.m. Saturday, April 23rd at Concord High School. It is open to 11th and 12th grade students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Martinez Unified School District, as well as to students who attend Carondelet High, De La Salle High and Clayton Valley Charter High. Tickets can be purchased via the event’s website. Donors can sponsor tables and tickets for under-resourced students. Details are here . A KTVU story about the event is here . Tuesday, April 26th is School Bus Driver's Day in California! If you ride a bus in Mt. Diablo Unified, or even if you see a bus passing by, please be sure to thank MDUSD school bus drivers for their service on Tuesday, April 26th - which is School Bus Driver's Day in California!  In 2009, the State Legislator designated the fourth Tuesday in April as School Bus Driver Day "in order to draw special public attention to school bus drivers for their continued and excellent services to pupils in California." The Legislature added: "School bus drivers exhibit patience and kindness toward pupils, parents, and school staff in the performance of their duties" and "are deserving of special public recognition and the highest commendations."  Deadline to apply for State Seal of Civic Engagement  is Wednesday, April 27 The State Seal of Civic Engagement is open to all 11th and 12th grade California students who are civically engaged in their communities and take action. The deadline to send in your final submission for the 2021-22 school year is Tuesday, April 27th. To earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, students must successfully complete the following FIVE activities/steps: 1. Be on track to graduate to earn a diploma or a Certificate of Completion. 2. Earn a passing grade or better in World History and U.S. History equivalent courses. 3. Participate in one or more informed civic engagement project(s) that address real-world problems and require students to identify and inquire into civic needs or problems, consider varied responses, take action, and reflect on efforts. 4. Participate in the required self-reflection process.   5. Submit a letter of recommendation, completed endorsement form or digital recommendation from an educator, mentor, co-worker/supervisor, student leader, or a civic partner or leader. Click here for more information and to apply.  Survey to improve MDUSD's support for students, staff and parents/guardians is due Wednesday MDUSD is seeking input for its strategic plan called the Local Control Accountability Plan ( LCAP ). This plan addresses how the District utilizes funds to support the academic and social emotional needs of all students. Additional actions are being added in the plan to address the new Extended Learning Opportunity Program, the Universal PreKindergarten program, and how the District plans to support African American, foster youth and students experiencing homelessness. The English survey is here and the Spanish survey is here . We are asking that all surveys be completed by Wednesday, April 27th.  Pine Hollow area families invited to Bike to School on Wednesday to try out pop-up bike lanes The Cities of Concord and Clayton are jointly conducting a Complete Streets Study of transportation challenges along Pine Hollow Road with the goal to develop improvements to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety, auto circulation, trail connectivity, and residential and school access. Families are invited to participate in a one-day demonstration event from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 that will highlight some identified improvements including a pop-up bike lane and crosswalk with temporary installations near Pine Hollow MS and Highlands Elementary. Those who participate are encouraged to share your feedback with the project team. COVID-19 PCR Testing at Willow Creek Center will move to District Office in May due to AP testing Please note that during the month of May, COVID PCR testing at the Willow Creek Center will move to the James W. Dent Center (District Office) to allow for AP testing at the Willow Creek Center.  The Willow Creek Center will continue to offer COVID-19 PCR testing for students and staff from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, April 25th and April 27th. The complete COVID-19 testing schedule is here . MDUSD students in grades K-12 are invited to enter the Clayton Pride Poster Contest CLAYTON PRIDE invites MDUSD students in grades K-12 to create a poster on the theme of “Pride and Community” to celebrate the city's inaugural 2022 Clayton Pride Parade on June 25. CONTEST CATEGORIES:  Kindergarten-5th grades and 6th-12th grades More information is in the attached flyer or on the Clayton Pride website here . Free Virtual Academy for Student Leaders June 20-22 accepting applications through May 15th California students age 13 and over are invited to apply now for admission to the virtual online summer conference of the " Ed100 Academy for Student Leaders, "  which will be held June 20-22. There is no cost. The theme of the conference is "Students and Civic Engagement." Students will learn from inspiring speakers, connect with peers and organizations, and earn a certificate for participating. Faculty advisors are also invited. More information and the application are here . School News Earth Day lessons from Gregory Gardens and Walnut Acres elementary schools, Diablo View MS In honor of Earth Day, 5th-graders at Gregory Gardens Elementary in Pleasant Hill created beautiful landscape art projects featuring snow-covered mountains, trees, fields and ocean waves and the school urged parents to go " Idle Free " while waiting for students in the drop-off line and parking lots. Over at Walnut Acres Elementary in Walnut Creek, teacher Amanda Graves' 2nd and 3rd grade students loved Earth Day  videos  from Unicef Kid Power featuring a bear being investigated for wasting resources and another urging students to " Be fantastic and ditch the plastic!" And at Diablo View MS in Clayton, 8th graders presented their Ocean Conservation projects!  Special Education students from schools throughout the District shine! Congratulations to all Special Education students who were honored at the District's Annual " Celebration of Success " on April 20th at Concord High, including Gerardo and Amador from Olympic High and Gian from Pleasant Hill Elementary, who were all congratulated by Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark! The event honors students, nominated by staff, who have shown exceptional strength, grit and growth. Kudos also to students from several schools who participated in the Unified Sports competition sponsored by Special Olympics, including students from Valley View MS, El Dorado MS, Holbrook Language Academy and Hope Academy, who joined forces and won the 400m MS Relay, making #MDUSDProud! Thank you for helping to make the Open School Gardens events last weekend a success! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Open School Gardens events at 11 campuses last weekend, facilitated by the MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids Program ! The El Monte Elementary CARES program tweeted before and after pics, Bancroft Elementary highlighted students gardening on the rainy Saturday, and the Fair Oaks Elementary CARES program tweeted its successful garden cleanup efforts! Spring has sprung in MDUSD's school gardens! Bancroft Elementary raises $3,092 in "Kids Heart Challenge" "Building on key learnings from 43 years in America’s schools, the Kids Heart Challenge focuses on whole body wellness, helping students improve their own health and better their character while raising life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help kids facing heart-health issues," said Bancroft Elementary Principal Cindy Dunn. The school's fundraiser for the American Heart Association ran from March 4-24th. Staff Spotlights 3 Olympic High staff members to receive CA Continuation Education Association Awards!   Olympic Continuation High School was proud to announce this week that Principal Lynsie Castellano has been selected to be honored as a CA Continuation Education Association (CCEA) Plus State Administrator of the Year, Olympic teacher Danya Townsend  was selected as the CCEA State Teacher of the Year, and Olympic Head Custodian Jorge Iniguez  will be honored with the CCEA State Classified Employee of the Year during a Professional Awards Luncheon on May 7th! Watch for more information about this Continuation School Dream Team in a future Friday Letter! Student Spotlights Olympic Continuation High and College Park High students strut their stuff! Congrats to Olympic Continuation High School students Jesse, Christian and Alex , who are celebrating April with earning their high school diploma - bringing the Concord school's total to 86 grads so far this year! "Whooooo's next?" #OlyPride! And over at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, the Stunt Team garnered extra support on Senior Night from Principal Kevin Honey, who was sporting a new "Stunt" T-shirt as he cheered on the squad! Go, Falcons!  Important dates April 23: Battle of the Bots from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Diablo View MS; Pride Prom from 8-11 p.m. at Concord High (see District News) April 27:  School Board meeting at 6 p.m. May 3:  Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting at 7 p.m. May 9:  MDUSD Digital Art Showcase at Sunvalley Mall from 5-7 p.m. May 11: School Board meeting at 6 p.m. May 17:  Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 18 : Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4 p.m. May 19:  District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at  5:30 p.m. Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Saturday, Apr 23 2022

Friday Letter - April 15, 2022

APRIL 15, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 33 In this issue:   Riverview MS students explore the Bay Point Regional Seashore, District news including Unified Sports at YVHS is a success; School news including Valhalla PFA DREAM committee highlights Diversity, Respect, Equity, Action and Multiculturalism ; Staff Spotlights on a former District and CA Teacher of the Year, MDUSD's Director of Technology & Innovation, and a stand-out history teacher ; Student Spotlights including athletes in the news and Social Media Shout-outs; important dates, and more! Riverview MS students explore "Wonder of the Wetlands" at Bay Point Regional Shoreline Riverview MS teachers and students join Sacramento State students, PG&E and Environmental Resources Management volunteers at Bay Point Regional Shoreline.  A group of 7th and 8th-graders from Riverview Middle School enjoyed a unique opportunity to learn about their local ecosystem at the Bay Point Regional Shoreline on Friday through a partnership with PG&E and Sacramento State University wetlands students and their professor, Dr. Michelle Stevens. The "Wonder of the Wetlands" event included a hike guided by Steven's students, who educated the middle schoolers about plant and animal life in the area, including birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. About 25 students from the school’s “Medical Detectives” and horticulture classes participated in the daylong lesson, which finished up with classroom presentations from the Sacramento State students diving more deeply into what the group saw outdoors. One of the goals of the program, said PG&E manager Monica Tell, is to interest students in future science careers and in wetlands protection. A group of three girls led by Sacramento State students Jacob Cosma and Georgie Richards learned that “Brackish water” is a mixture of salt water from the ocean and fresh water from local rivers or streams, which can support a variety of wildlife that learns to adapt to this habitat. Armed with notebooks and a reference guide, students compared plants they saw in the wetlands to photos and descriptions in their guidebook to identify foxtails, cattails, Telgraph Weed, pickleweed and hydrophytic plants that grow in or near water. They also learned the difference between “native” plants that grow naturally in an area and “invasive” plants that compete for sunlight, water, nutrients, soil and space in environments such as the wetlands. Aliyah Rios and other students took notes on their observations, soaking up the information they were gathering. “It was very interesting to hear about everything they showed us,” Aliyah said, after the hike. “I liked getting to know about the plants and would like to come out here more often to learn more about other interesting plants and birds.”  Teacher Julia Civitello said she appreciates the program because it gives students the opportunity to see the natural environment in their own backyard and learn about reasons to help conserve it. “They’ve been asking really good questions,” she said. “It’s really been good to see." When the group gathered to discuss what they learned after the hike, Aliyah impressed her Sacramento State mentor when she nailed the question: “How do plants in Brackish water adapt?” Remembering what she learned about pickleweed, she said: “It absorbs fresh water and excretes salt water.” “That’s right!” Cosma cheered, beaming. And when organizers asked students if they would like to come back to the wetlands for more exploration with their friends and families, their response was a resounding: “Yes!” More information about the Bay Point Regional Shoreline is here . District News Unified Sports is a "game-changer" at Ygnacio Valley High School! Ygnacio Valley High School is proud of its special education " Unified Sports " program, which is affiliated with Special Olympics and includes athletes with and without disabilities playing together and competing with students in unified sports programs from other schools. Ygnacio Valley HIgh launched its Unified Sports Team in the spring of 2019 - the First Unified Team in MDUSD, said YVHS Education Specialist Kelly Perkins. "We helped get Concord HIgh School's team started in fall of 2020," she added. "We play our matches against other high schools in the Bay Area that have Unified Sports Teams. We are hoping to get College Park, Northgate and Mt. Diablo started with their Unified teams. The students that have participated have said that it was one of the best things they were involved in during high school." YVHS recently participated in a unified sports basketball game against Acalanes High and has previously participated in unified sports events at Concord High. "This is a wonderful event," said YVHS Principal Jonathan Pike. "The students do not get recognized enough for the many challenges that they overcome in order to participate in such a program." Both Ygnacio Valley High and Concord High are " Unified Champion Schools " (an honor awarded by Special Olympics when a school has gone beyond Unified Sports with inclusion activities, such as a " Best Buddies Program " that builds friendships between students with and without disabilities. Concord High School's Unified Sports Coach Kami Rossi was also honored with the Special Olympics Teacher of the Season award (see the Feb. 11th Friday Letter under "School News."). Unified Sports are now in more than 4500 elementary, middle and high schools in the United States. More information is here . "In a nutshell," Perkins said, "Unified Sports is a game-changer for all who participate! School Board approves agreement with MDEA teachers' union, science mate rials, YVHS mascot At Wednesday's School Board meeting, trustees unanimously approved the District's Tentative Agreement with the MDEA teachers' union and a mascot change from the Warriors to the Wolves at Ygnacio Valley High School. In addition, the Board approved Next Generation Science Standards materials for elementary and high school students that drew enthusiastic endorsements from teachers, who mentioned squid dissection as a highlight of the elementary curriculum (see tweet , right). The Board also approved the appointment of Ivanna Huthman as the new Administrator of Dispute Resolution in the District's Special Education Department, as well as Summer School administrator appointments .  In addition, the Board recognized April as Arab American Heritage Month and approved a resolution In Recognition of Earth Day on April 22nd and a Call to Action on Climate Change. Also, Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark reported on efforts to improve outcomes for all students in the District, Business Services Department administrators reported on a plan to reorganize Maintenance, Operations and Facilities staffing, Dr. Heather Fontanilla reported on new proposed Career Pathways courses for Construction I and Animation III, and District administrators reported on a proposed grant to improve A-G course completion required for CSU and UC admissions by high school students. of A complete summary of the Board's actions is here . MDUSD Completes Bond Refinancing, Saving Taxpayers $49 Million Mt. Diablo Unified School District is pleased to announce that it recently completed the refinancing of $198 million in general obligation bonds begun last year, increasing savings to taxpayers from an estimated $48.7 million to nearly $49 million, which will save District property owners an additional $300,000 in taxes over the next 16 years above original expectations. The District took advantage of interest rates that were near all-time lows due to the COVID pandemic and economic uncertainty to refinance bonds originally sold in 2011 and 2012 when interest rates were higher. Read more here . Newest "Farm to Taste" healthy cooking show features oatmeal, "Naked Salad" and pasta! In "Farm to Taste" Program 6 recorded recorded March 23, 2022 features guest Dr. Alan Greene , a pediatrician focused on helping educate families about how to raise healthy children, along with college athlete Allen Stritzinger, discussing foods that are good for you as they whip up Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, "Naked Salad" and pasta with vegetables using recipes from Greene's Book, "Feeding Baby Green." Their tips included cooking the oatmeal in unsweetened almond milk and leaving the salad "naked" by replacing dressing or oils with tossed avocado over greens, red bell pepper, thinly sliced sweet red onion, cherry tomatoes, peas, chopped walnuts and grated parmesan cheese. This salad is packed with good fats and good fiber, they said.  Gershen cooked chickpea flour gluten free penne pasta with sautéed garlic, red onions, sliced portobello mushrooms, broccoli with the stems, sun dried tomatoes and olives, topped with feta cheese.   More information about the series is here and on Gershen's website at cindygershen.com .  Growing Healthy Kids to host an Open School Gardens event at 11 sites on Saturday, April 16 The MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program is hosting an Open School Gardens event on Saturday, April 16 where community members can tour or join in garden activities at several District sites and learn about garden features such as composting, weather stations, sensory plants, and water catchment.  The events will include fun garden activities for kids and adults. You can plant a sunflower house, enjoy some sun tea, make bead sun chimes, build an herb spiral, or just tour at your leisure. Many of our schools are Certified Wildlife Habitats with a range of sensory, pollinator and edible gardens for you to explore. If you are curious about MDUSD garden education, you will enjoy a close look at the unique features of our outdoor classroom spaces! "We are moving ahead even though there may be some rain," said Laney Cline King, the program director. Schools participating are: Bancroft Elementary, El Monte Elementary, Fair Oaks Elementary, Foothill MS, Gregory Gardens Elementary, Holbrook Language Academy, Mt. Diablo Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Rio Vista Elementary, Sun Terrace Elementary and Wren Avenue Elementary. Details are here or in the attached flyer. Bike ride at 10 a.m. Saturday in memory of a former MDHS student who lost his life in February Community organizers are hosting a community bike ride in memory of a former Mt. Diablo High School student who lost his life in February.   The "Ride for Jose Castillo" is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 16th starting in the Olympic High School parking lot at 2730 Salvio St, Concord, CA 94519.  More information is here .  Free Suicide Prevention 101 Webinar for Parents in English and Spanish on April 20th and 21st Parents of teens are encouraged to register for a free webinar and Facebook Live event, " Suicide Prevention 101 for Parents: Recognizing Signs and What to Do" in English at 5 p.m. April 20th and in Spanish at 5 p.m. April 21st. The webinar will provide information about suicide prevention for parents ,  including warning signs, how to have a conversation with your teen, actions to take if your teen is having a suicidal thoughts, and resources. The webinar is provided in partnership with the California Department of Education, the California Mental Health Services Authority, the Directing Change Program, and Teen Line. Register here for the English webinar and here for the Spanish webinar. High School students invited to enter the Congressional Art Competition by Friday, April 22nd! Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) is hosting the 2022 Congressional Art Competition. High school artists living in California’s 11th Congressional District may begin virtually submitting original artwork to Congressman DeSaulnier’s office until Friday, April 22, 2022. The winning piece will be selected by a panel of local judges and announced at an event in Contra Costa County following the submission deadline. This event is open to all high school students in California’s 11th Congressional District, and the winning piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. The winner will be invited to Washington, D.C. to attend a national reception honoring winners from around the country. All submissions must be emailed to ryan-thomas.brown@mail.house.gov no later than 5 p.m. on April 22nd. Complete contest guidelines and submission forms are available on Congressman DeSaulnier’s website at: https://desaulnier.house.gov/services/art-competition .  For more information or help submitting artwork, please call (925) 933-2660. "Battle of the Bots" on April 23rd to feature MS and HS Robotics Competition and Exhibition! MDUSD's annual robotics showcase, "The Battle of the Bots," will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23rd at Diablo View MS, 300 Diablo View Lane in Clayton. "MDUSD middle and high school clubs and teams will be competing or showing off their robots and robotic systems," said Valley View MS technology teacher and Robotics Club advisor Shauna Hawes. This event is sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, as are the robotics clubs. Details are in the attached flyer. In addition, Marathon is sponsoring free weeklong Summer Stem Camps for boys or girls who are currently in middle school. "These camps are separated by gender, and are open to all middle school students throughout the District and neighboring communities," Hawes said. The Girls Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6-10 at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill. The Boys Camp is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 13-17 at Valley View MS in Pleasant Hill. Details are in the attached flyers. Boys or girls in high school can apply as assistant coaches. Men or women in college can apply for paid coach positions. Apply here for the Girls Camp or here for the Boys Camp. Send questions to Hawes at hawess@mdusd.org. Pride Prom to be held April 23rd at Concord High School Two community organizations, PFLAG Clayton/Concord and Rainbow Community Center are joining together to co-sponsor Contra Costa County’s first ever Pride Prom from 8-11 p.m. Saturday, April 23rd at Concord High School. It is open to 11th and 12th grade students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Martinez Unified School District, as well as to students who attend Carondelet High, De La Salle High and Clayton Valley Charter High. Tickets can be purchased via the event’s website. Donors can sponsor tables and tickets for under-resourced students. Details are here . A KTVU story about the event is here . Deadline is April 27  for HS Juniors and Seniors to apply for State Seal of Civic Engagement! The State Seal of Civic Engagement is open to all 11th and 12th grade California students who are civically engaged in their communities and take action. The deadline to send in your final submission for the 2021-22 school year is April 27th. To earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, students must successfully complete the following FIVE activities/steps: 1. Be on track to graduate to earn a diploma or a Certificate of Completion. 2. Earn a passing grade or better in World History and U.S. History equivalent courses. 3. Participate in one or more informed civic engagement project(s) that address real-world problems and require students to identify and inquire into civic needs or problems, consider varied responses, take action, and reflect on efforts. 4. Participate in the required self-reflection process.   5. Submit a letter of recommendation, completed endorsement form or digital recommendation from an educator, mentor, co-worker/supervisor, student leader, or a civic partner or leader. Click here for more information and to apply. Free Virtual Academy for Student Leaders June 20-22 accepting applications through May 15th! California students age 13 and over are invited to apply now for admission to the virtual online summer conference of the " Ed100 Academy for Student Leaders, "  which will be held June 20-22. There is no cost. The theme of the conference is "Students and Civic Engagement." Students will learn from inspiring speakers, connect with peers and organizations, and earn a certificate for participating. Faculty advisors are also invited. More information and the application are here . School News Valhalla PFA DREAM committee highlights Diversity, Respect, Equity, Action and Multiculturalism Valhalla Elementary is one of several schools throughout the District that includes a special bulletin board on its campus featuring people or issues that are important to its families and community. At Valhalla, the Parent Faculty Association's DREAM Committee has taken on the responsibility for creating a new bulletin board each month during the school year focused on its themes of D iversity, Respect, Equity, Action and Multiculturalism. The committee is especially proud of this month's bulletin board, which celebrates Arab American Heritage Month, Earth Day (April 22nd) and National Deaf History Month .   "We have received positive feedback and appreciation so far and members of our community have expressed excitement about sharing the board with their children," said parent Cri Campbell Schine, who is a member of the DREAM Committee. "We seek to highlight all cultures regardless if they are represented on our campus or not. We feel that everyone benefits from learning about cultures outside of their own." More School Spotlights At Monte Gardens Elementary, students created "Sunflowers for Ukraine" as "a wish for peace," tweeted teacher Heather Asselin. "Two of our own families are affected by these current events," Asselin wrote. "Our 5th graders wanted to show them support.     #peace ." And the Contra Costa County Office of Education  announced  that Mt. Diablo Elementary and Walnut Acres Elementary were among seven schools in the county to win at the state championship! You can find out more about the teams in the  April 1st Friday Letter , under "School News." Over at Bancroft Elementary, 2nd-5th graders are enjoying their new Chromebooks, while students in grades K-1 have received classroom sets. All elementary schools in the District are now 1:1! Staff Spotlights Former MDUSD and CA Teacher of the Year discusses teacher recruitment and retention with State Superintendent and other top CA teachers    Rosie Reid - who was selected as MDUSD's Teacher of the Year in 2019 and then named a California Teacher of the Year - is joining other top teachers in the state to brainstorm about how to recruit and retain teachers. The group is working with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on fine-tuning ideas they hope to present to the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), the State Board of Education , the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association ( CCSESA ), the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing ( CTC ), and possibly even Governor Gavin Newsom.  In a tweet about the effort, Reid said: " Excited to be working in partnership with  Tony Thurmond   and fellow CA Teachers of the Year on teacher recruitment and retention. It is important work and this team is ready for it!" Besides boosting pay, their ideas so far include: focusing on teacher's mental health, reinstating a state student loan forgiveness program for teachers, a social media campaign highlighting the positive role teachers play in students' lives, making it easier to transfer a teaching credential from out of state, providing more years of service credits for teachers who transfer between districts, improving teacher induction programs and making it easier for retired teachers to return to teaching part-time. MDUSD's Director of Technology & Innovation receives Tech & Learning Innovative Leader Award C ongratulations to Robert Sidford, MDUSD's Director of Technology & Innovation, who recently received an award for "Best Overall Implementation of Technology" at the Tech & Learning Leadership Summit in California! Interviews with winners will be published in an upcoming issue of Tech & Learning . After taking on his role in July of 2020, Sidford chaired a task force to develop a long-range strategic technology plan at MDUSD. During the past 17 months, he also oversaw a district-wide 1-to-1 Chromebook program to serve 29,000 students, led a team to prioritize equitable IT service management through a revamped work order system, initiated streamlined purchasing practices, established responsible partnerships and minimum standards, and identified vulnerabilities to mitigate risks. He also clarified departmental responsibilities and improved student data privacy by collaborating to develop a clear approval process for digital tools. "He hit the ground running and never looked back,” said Dr. Lisa Gonzalez, MDUSD's Chief Business Officer. Sidford said he credits his whole Department for the work that has been done and he shares this recognition with his staff.   College Now history teachers awarded The James Madison Graduate Fellowship focused on teaching the U.S. Constitution Congratulations to College Now social studies and AVID teacher Erica Shaw, who has been awarded The James Madison Graduate Fellowship , which will enable her to earn a Master's Degree in American History with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution! This is the second honor Shaw has received this school year. The October 15, 2021 Friday Letter highlighted Shaw's selection by the National Humanities Center as one of 20 "exceptional educators" from throughout the country to serve on its Teacher Advisory Council to work with the Center’s education program staff in piloting, evaluating, and promoting materials and professional development offerings. Shaw said Friday that she is excited to be the only teacher from California selected for the Madison Fellowship this year. "It's such a great opportunity," she said. "I do have a Masters' Degree in Education. But I really just love history and would love to have better historical knowledge, especially about the Constitution." Shaw said students are interested in knowing why things are the way they are and how we got to this point. She wants to help them better understand the intent versus the letter of the law. Shaw also wants her students to understand their rights, as well as the opportunities they have to make the world a better place "based on the ideals of our nation." The James Madison Fellowship was created to help teachers "gain a deeper understanding of the principles of constitutional government, which they in turn transmit to their students," according to its website . "In this way, the James Madison Fellowships ensure that the spirit and practical wisdom of the Constitution will guide the actions of future generations of American citizens." Student Spotlights Student Athletes in the News Congrats to Northgate HS student Andrew LaVay , who was highlighted in a Pioneer Athlete Spotlight for his efforts in cross country, golf and track. And kudos to Northgate HS Boys Basketball Players Thayne Merrill and Brady Cook, who were named in the " All Bay Area News Group Boys Basketball Team " coverage. Congrats also to Concord HS Girls Soccer player Bianca Avila and Boys Soccer Player Alex Hockenbery, along with College Park HS Boys Soccer Player Benjamin Lucha and Mt. Diablo HS Girls Basketball Player Yasmine Garrett -  four MDUSD star athletes among 7 local Winter Sports League MVPs ! Social Media Student Shout-outs! Congrats also to Concord HS student Amelia Porter , whose Create CA "Student Voices" campaign entry earned 2nd Place! And kudos to Olympic HS students Kyler, Jimmy and Kevin , who are among the school's 82 graduates so far this year! Finally, a "rockstar" shout-out to Foothill MS Leadership students who are teaching all of the school's students about the hazards of tobacco, nicotine and vaping as part of the "Take Down Tobacco" campaign! Important dates April 16:  Growing Healthy Kids Open School Gardens events at various times on 11 campuses; Ride for Jose Castillo at 10 a.m. April 19:  Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 20 : Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4:15 p.m.; Special Education Celebration of Success Awards at 7 p.m. April 21:  District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at  5:30 p.m. April 23: Battle of the Bots from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Diablo View MS; Pride Prom from 8-11 p.m. at Concord High (see District News) April 27:  School Board meeting at 6 p.m. May 3:  Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting at 7 p.m. May 11: School Board meeting at 6 p.m. Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Saturday, Apr 16 2022

Friday Letter - April 1, 2022

APRIL 1, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 32 NOTE: This week's Friday Letter is being sent out on Thursday, March 31, since Friday, April 1 is the Cesar Chavez Day holiday. There will be no Friday Letter next week, on April 8, due to Spring Break. The Friday Letter will resume on April 15. In this issue:   Congratulations to MDUSD's 2022 Classified Employees of the Year, MDUSD Superintendent and CBO win awards, three District students win Youth Hall of Fame awards, District news including school breaks; School news including Bridge Program fundraisers for Ukraine and Odyssey of the Mind team wins; Staff Spotlight on fac ilities manager and her retired Navy veteran Dad launching a District flag retirement process ; Social Media Oly grad Shout-outs; an Alumni Spotlight on NYT photo fellow Sarahbeth Maney, important dates, and more! Congratulations to MDUSD's 2022 Classified Employees of the Year! Special Education Assistant Ashleigh Kenny and Lead Buyer Laura Warner advance to the County Awards program Concord High School Special Education Assistant Ashleigh Kenny, left, and Lead Buyer Laura Warner, right, who works in the District's Purchasing and Warehouse Department, have been selected as MDUSD's 2022 Classified Employees of the Year! They will advance to the Contra Costa County competition. After announcing its 2022-23 Teachers of the Year and finalists in March, MDUSD now is proud to announce its two 2022 Classified Employees of the Year: Special Education Assistant Ashleigh Kenny and District Lead Buyer Laura Warner! Kenny works at Concord High with special education students and Warner works in the District's Purchasing and Warehouse Department, where she coordinates with outside vendors to purchase items for schools and District offices. Kenny and Warner were selected based on nominations from District staff members for classified employees in nine categories: Paraprofessional Services, Clerical and Administrative Services, Transportation Services, Food and Nutrition Services, Custodial and Maintenance Services, Security Services, Health and Student Services, Technical Services, and Skilled Trades Services. Kenny will represent the District in the Paraprofessional Services category and Warner will represent the District in the Clerical and Administrative Services category as they both move onto the Contra Costa County Office of Education awards competition. County winners will be selected by April 8 to move onto the state competition. The awards are based on demonstrated excellence in work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, and local support from coworkers who speak to their exemplary work. Nominations for both Kenny and Warner highlighted their warmth and enthusiasm, desire to give back to their communities, and willingness to go above and beyond expectations to support District students and staff. Ashleigh Kenny Kenny was nominated by special education teacher Kat Cruz, is whose classroom she works with students with autism. In fact, Cruz previously worked alongside Kenny as a special education assistant before pursuing her teaching credential, said Kenny, who worked as a special education assistant from 2009-2014 at El Monte Elementary and the Robert Shearer Preschool, before taking time off for maternity leave and to care for her young children. When Kenny returned to the District this year, she said Cruz suggested she apply for the position at Concord High. “I’m absolutely loving it,” Kenny said. “It’s a very rewarding job. You just feel like you’re really helping these kids. When you see the progress they’re making, you get a good feeling and you can see the transition in front of your eyes.” Cruz wrote in her nomination: “Ashleigh Kenny’s work performance is nothing less than exemplary. Each day, Ashleigh arrives on time with a positive attitude that the students adore and feed off. Ashleigh treats each student with respect and kindness. She will help all levels of students, including those not in her assigned classroom, to ensure their success in and outside of the special education setting .”   If a student comes to class in a bad mood or is having a rough day, Kenny said she and Cruz can “turn their whole day around” by listening to them and responding in a friendly and supportive way. “And now we have our (COVID) masks off and they can see our faces and our smiles, so I think that’s making a difference too,” Kenny added.  Laura Warner  Warner, who has worked in various positions in the District for more than two decades, was nominated by Chief Business Officer Dr. Lisa Gonzales, who oversees the Purchasing and Warehouse Department where Warner now works. Warner started her career in the District as an attendance secretary at Highlands Elementary, then worked her way up to an office manager, before moving onto District office positions. Along the way, she said she was mentored by many experienced administrators and office managers, so now she likes to help mentor newer District employees the way her predecessors helped her. “I like what I’m doing,” Warner said, explaining that she helps schools and District Departments get the biggest bang for their bucks when they need to purchase supplies or services. “I like helping people. I feel like it’s a good way for me to use my skills in helping the District.” Gonzales wrote in her nomination: “Laura Warner is known throughout Mt. Diablo Unified as an administrative super star! In her 23-year career in the District, she has worked at elementary and middle schools, staffed the Operations, Fiscal and Transportation Departments, and has returned to Purchasing, where supporting school sites and helping them make critical funding decisions to save money is her passion. Her work in multiple departments shows her vast knowledge of the District, making her an incredibly valuable asset to our teams.” Warner said she has found that many new office managers are unfamiliar with the Dent Center, so she likes to help explain how things work. “With all the different departments I’ve been through, I feel that now I can give back,” she said. “I feel like I’m a good source of information. Even if it’s not in my wheelhouse, I can point them in the right direction. So, if I can be any source of assistance, I want to do that.”  District Leadership Awards MDUSD Superintendent and Chief Business Officer selected as Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) award winners! Congratulations to MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark and Chief Business Officer Dr. Lisa Gonzales , who are both Association of California (ACSA) award winners! Dr. Clark has been named Superintendent of the Year and Dr. Gonzales has been named Business Services Administrator of the Year by Association of California School Administrators Region 6! They will receive the awards during a Region 6 Administrator of the Year Awards Celebration on April 28 at the San Ramon Marriott. They were also finalists in their categories for state ACSA Administrators of the Year and Dr. Gonzales was named the State Business Services Administrator of the Year on March 28th. " The winners are education leaders in Alameda and Contra Costa counties who have helped lead public schools during the many phases of the COVID-19 pandemic," the ACSA Region 6 announcement says. The complete list of ACSA Region 6 nominees and winners for 21 administrator awards is here . "ACSA serves educational leaders in the pursuit of equity and excellence to meet the diverse needs of all California students," according to its website . "Region 6 has local charters that meet regularly to support administrators in our region." Dr. Gonzales and other state award winners will be honored at a Leadership Summit Statewide Awards Ceremony on Nov. 4 in San Diego. "The awards honor administrators and community leaders who are doing extraordinary work to support California's students," the ACSA announcement says. County Youth Hall of Fame Award Winners Congrats to winners from Ygnacio Valley High, Northgate High and Sequoia Middle School! Mark Rainier Catapusan of Ygnacio Valley HS. Seena Farhadi of Northgate HS    Krish Veluthakkal of Sequoia MS.   The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors honored three Mt. Diablo Unified School District students with Youth Hall of Fame Awards during its Cesar Chavez Commemorative Celebration on March 29, along with award winners from other school districts.  The MDUSD award winners are:   Perseverance: Mark Rainier Catapusan, Ygnacio Valley High School Leadership and Civic Engagement: Seena Farhadi, Northgate High School Leadership and Civic Engagement Rising Star: Krish Veluthakkal, Sequoia Middle School The Perseverance Award is presented to a student who has worked hard to overcome obstacles and achieve success, while the Leadership and Civic Engagement Award is presented to students who are natural leaders who inspire others and work to make a difference in their school and community. Click on the photos above to see the students' acceptance speeches. The full awards ceremony can be viewed here . (Youth Hall of Fame Awards are from 44:08-1:20:45 in the program. District News Schools closed Friday, April 1st for Cesar Chavez Day Holiday MDUSD schools will be closed Friday, April 1st in recognition of the Cesar Chavez Day holiday. Tweets from the Holbrook Elementary PFC and Bel Air Elementary teacher Noelia Galvez (left) share the importance of Chavez' work to help farmworkers in California. No School: Spring Break is April 4th through 8th MDUSD schools will be closed April 4th-8th for Spring Break. District offices will be open April 4th-7th, but closed on Friday, April 8th for a Board Holiday. All schools and District offices will reopen on Monday, April 11th. District COVID-19 PCR test sites will be closed on Friday, April 1st and Friday, April 8th, but will be open during the rest of Spring Break. The complete testing schedule is here . At-home COVID-19 Rapid Test Schedule over Spring Break Reminder for students and staff members who requested at-home COVID-19 test kits from the District:  Each kit contains two tests to be used at home three days (Friday, April 8th) and one day (Sunday, April 10th) before school resumes on Monday, April 11th. Positive test results must be reported to the school office and students testing positive must isolate at home. Students must also stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, even if they test negative. The District's current COVID-19 protocols can be found here . Growing Healthy Kids to host an Open School Gardens event at several sites on April 16 The MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program is hosting an Open School Gardens event on Saturday, April 16 where community members can tour or join in garden activities at several District sites and learn about garden features such as composting, weather stations, sensory plants, and water catchment. The events will include fun garden activities for kids and adults. More information can be found here . Pride Prom to be held April 23rd at Concord High School Two community organizations, PFLAG Clayton/Concord and Rainbow Community Center are joining together to co-sponsor Contra Costa County’s first ever Pride Prom on April 23rd at Concord High School, which is open to 11th and 12th grade students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Martinez Unified School District, as well as to students who attend Carondelet High, De La Salle High and Clayton Valley Charter High. Tickets can be purchased via the event’s website. Donors can sponsor tables and tickets for under-resourced students. Details are here . A KTVU story about the event is here . School News Bridge Program raises nearly $300 for Ukraine relief The Leadership class from the Bridge Special Education transition program for students ages 18-22 held a fundraiser this week to support Ukraine relief. The students created gifts, bracelets and served root beer floats and raised over $100 during just one lunch period, said program teacher Gianna Thompson. "All proceeds are going to the American Red Cross," she said. "In addition, my own class offered to donate a day's work from their Thursday car wash proceeds to Ukraine relief funds!! Educating the students about caring for others and giving back is very important to my teaching philosophy!" The car wash raised $174, bringing the total to nearly $300! Thanks for sharing this meaningful project! Odyssey of the Mind teams from two District schools win state competition! Walnut Acres Elementary Odyssey of the Mind 5th grade team members celebrate their 1st place win (top left) after completing their challenge (center), while Mt. Diablo Elementary Odyssey of the Mind 4th and 5th grade team members also celebrate a 1st place finish in their competition (right). Congratulations to Odyssey of the Mind teams from Mt. Diablo and Walnut Acres elementary schools, who earned 1st place in their divisions in the Norcal state competition last weekend and will advance to the World Odyssey of the Mind competition at Iowa State University in May! "Odyssey of the Mind is a parent-run competition where creativity, imagination and ingenuity come together to allow one-of-a-kind solutions that can only be created by students at a given moment in time," said Walnut Acres Principal Lang Luong. "Students of all ages write original scripts, create costumes and props, and compete in engineering challenges." The winning 5th grade Walnut Acres team's challenge was to build a Matryoshka Structure out of balsa wood, perform a skit that included placing weights to test the structure, and compete in spontaneous challenges. Their structure held 185 pounds! Congratulations to team members Catherine Huang, Sarah Niederer, Matilda Rees, Savannah Shopp, Sofia Simon, Anna Yang, and Alicia Yao! And Luong also lauded "their wonderful coach Joe Huang!" Mt. Diablo Elementary School's "Team Smarties" won 1st place and have made it to the Odyssey World Finals for the second year in a row, said Laney Cline King. "The team is excited to perform in person after having to compete at World Finals virtually last year," she added. "These amazing students were challenged to create an original 8-minute performance using a limited budget of $125 and primarily recycled materials. This performance challenge was to transport a young person into a circus world with original animals, circus characters and tricks. Smarties wrote their own script and designed and built their own props and costumes." Congratulations to the 4th and 5th grade Mt Diablo Elementary team members Avica Bennett, Keira Caldwell, Emma Forrester, Carly Grover, Bailey McNeel-Caird, Charlotte King, and Hannah Laverick! Cline King added that they "are coached by the extraordinary Renee Culp, who has been coaching Odyssey of the Mind teams in Clayton for the past 8 years!"   "We hope more MDUSD schools will begin participating in Odyssey of the Mind, which fosters essential creativity, cooperation and "outside the box" thinking," she added.  Learn more at https://www.odysseyofthemind.com . Staff Spotlight Facilities manager and her retired Navy veteran Dad launch District flag retirement process MDUSD Area Facilities Manager Debbie Robertson and her father, retired U.S. Navy Veteran Walter Robertson, are carefully retiring worn out District flags according to military standards and Debbie is educating District staff about proper flag protocols to improve flag handling throughout the District.  Soon after Debbie Robertson started her position as an Area Facilities Manager in the District last July, she noticed that many flags flying over schools and District offices were torn, frayed or badly faded. As the proud daughter of a U.S. Navy Veteran, she immediately began collecting the old flags and ordering new flags to replace them. When she told her father Walter Robertson about the project, he decided to lend a helping hand. "He's always been super passionate about the military," Debbie said. "He always wears his Navy hat. I said I was collecting all the torn flags and he said, 'Bring 'em over and I'll show you how to properly fold them.'" So, she brought 26 American flags and 13 California flags to her parents' home, where her father carefully folded them according to military protocol into small triangles and neatly stacked them in a box. Then, he took them to the local Veterans Hall, where they were burned according to proper flag etiquette. Melanie Koslow, MDUSD's Director of Maintenance & Operations, is excited about the initiative Debbie has taken to create a flag retirement process in the District. Koslow is getting the word out to schools to turn in their worn out flags and request new ones.   "School Site Custodians are responsible for flying the American Flag each day and following Flag etiquette and US Flag Code ," Koslow said. "In order to support this process across the District, Debbie has created change and improvement in our flag care process."   Schools will receive new written procedures for school site flag replacement and custodial staff will receive ongoing refresher training regarding protocols, Koslow added. Debbie said she plans to add a cabinet to her office to collect old flags before heading to her parents' house to fold them, then continue the retirement process at the Veterans Hall. Debbie said she also wants to involve Mt. Diablo High School's JROTC students in the custodial training so they can talk about flag etiquette. Already, Debbie's influence is making a difference. When she recently visited a school on a rainy day and noticed there was no flag outside, Debbie asked where it was. She was told they don't fly flags in the rain. "I said, 'We hang our flags whether it's raining or not,'" Debbie recalled. "People don't know that." Social Media Oly Grad Shout-outs! Olympic Continuation High School has been graduating students at a quick pace in March! The sent out three tweets this week celebrating over 71 grads to date this school year! They include: Jair, Oswaldo and Consuelo - as well as Gabriela, Faith and Santiago - and Moises and Karyme ! Congrats to all these grads, who will enjoy their hard-earned Spring Break! Alumni Spotlight College Park HS alum in spotlight with viral photo of Ketanji Brown Jackson and daughter! You may have seen a lot of media coverage about the "iconic" New York Times photo that captured Ketanji Brown Jackson's daughter beaming with pride as she looked admiringly at her mother. But what you may not realize is that the NYT photography fellow who took the viral photo - Sarahbeth Maney - is a College Park HS grad from the Class of 2014! In fact, Sarahbeth was a student in teacher Jen Kennedy's photography classes. The College Park HS photography program is one of the District's many Career Pathways programs that help prepare students for college and careers. In a poignant essay for "Today," Sarahbeth wrote about the photo and her experiences as one of few Black female photojournalists. She said she hopes her photo will inspire more Black girls to follow in her footsteps. "I want my visibility to show that Black women are fully capable of being photojournalists and achieving highs in their own careers, despite how much we have to fight for representation and respect," she wrote. "I also want my picture to inspire other Black girls to turn their own lens onto the world. There are not enough Black women in photojournalism and I hope to forge a path for more to join our industry. When you’re the only one it feels difficult and I’ve experienced that — but I hope it will be different for those who come after me." Important dates April 1:  No School: Cesar Chavez Day Holiday April 4-8: No School: Spring Recess (District offices closed April 8 for Board Holiday) April 12: Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 13:  School Board meeting at 6 p.m. April 19:  Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 20 : Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4:15 p.m. April 21:  District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at  5:30 p.m. Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website. The Friday Letter is written and compiled by MDUSD's Public Information and Community Relations Officer Theresa Harrington. Reach her at harringtont@mdusd.org.

Friday, Apr 01 2022

Friday Letter - March 25, 2022

MARCH 25, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 31 NOTE: Next week's Friday Letter will be sent out on Thursday, March 31 since Friday, April 1 is the Cesar Chavez Day holiday. In this issue:   Students advocate for a mascot change and honorary diplomas for those interned during WWII at recent School Board meeting; the community mourns the loss of a YVHS student; District news including Riverview MS Tree Planting Day was a success and MDUSD is hiring for many different positions; School news including actor and comedian Zooms into Northgate Film Studies Class and County Superintendent of Schools visits healthy cooking show at Mt. Diablo HS; Staff Social Media Shout-outs; Student NCS Scholar Social Media Shout-outs, important dates, and more! Student voices take center stage at recent School Board meeting YVHS students advocate for school mascot change and MDHS students and teacher join school alum in seeking to retroactively grant diplomas to Japanese American students sent to internment during WWII Ygnacio Valley HS students (left to right) Natalie Flores, Erick Rosas, Kaia Morgan and Jennifer Bonifacio address the School Board on March 23 with Principal Jonathan Pike [above, left] regarding changing the school mascot from the Warriors to the Wolves (presentation above, center). Later, Mt. Diablo HS ethnic studies teacher Laura Valdez and students (left to right) Evelin Suarez and Arshpreet Garcha and MDHS Class of '58 alum Kimiyo Tahira Dowell urge the Board to retroactively grant diplomas to Japanese American students sent to internment during World War II. Students from Ygnacio Valley and Mt. Diablo high schools showed what a difference their advocacy can make in School Board decisions when they made powerful presentations at Wednesday’s Board meeting leading to important changes in the District. First, a group of Ygnacio Valley High students that has been working to change their school mascot from the Warriors to the Wolves presented their process for advocating for the change at their school, based on AB-30 The California Racial Mascots Act . Student Kaia Morgan , who was named Student Humanitarian of the Year by the County Board of Supervisors for her advocacy, She said the Warriors mascot violated the state's Racial Mascots Act because of its offensive depiction of Native Americans. Her classmates Natalie Flores, Erick Rosas, and Jennifer Bonifacio also helped to explain the reasoning behind the proposed change. Board members praised the students for their persistence in following through on their commitment to initiate a change that will help make all students and families feel welcome. The Board expects to vote on the mascot change at its April 13 meeting.   Next, Mt. Diablo High School students Arshpreet Garcha and Evelin Suarez joined their Ethnic Studies teacher Laura Valdez and Class of ’58 school alum Kimiyo Tahira Dowell in urging the Board to retroactively grant honorary diplomas to about 40 Japanese American Mt. Diablo High students sent to internment during World War II. Since many of the former students are deceased, the group plans to invite their descendants to the school’s graduation ceremony to be recognized and honored on the 80th anniversary of the evacuation order from President Roosevelt that forced Japanese Americans into internment camps during World War II. “Japanese Americans were  incarcerated  against their will,” Arshpreet said. “ They weren’t spies. They weren’t threats to national security.  They were students who walked the same halls as I do and had the same dreams and aspirations. They prioritized their education and now it’s our job to prioritize them.” Evelin said that after she found out about what happened to Japanese American students in 1942, “I couldn’t help but feel sick about the whole situation – being so close and yet so far from graduation.” She said the Class of 2022 would be honored to devote part of their graduation ceremony to giving honorary diplomas to those who were interned. Valdez called the students’ advocacy “a passion project” that has provided “a beautiful opportunity to get these kids civically engaged.” She also said the Board resolution gives the District a way to acknowledge that “people of color matter,” especially those who have endured forced oppression. Board members praised the students, Valdez and Dowell for their advocacy, which included an email-writing campaign. Student Board member Kaleena Fower said: “ I want to applaud the students for your activeness in this and for sending in those emails. Tonight, we’ve seen how influential student voices can be and how powerful they can be.” The Board unanimously approved the Board Policy to Retroactively Grant High School Diplomas due to Interment, which was made possible by AB 781 passed in 2003 and later added to the California Education Code, which  authorized school districts to retroactively grant high school diplomas to a former students who were interned in the United States by order of the federal government during World War I I. The revised Board policy also allows the District to award retroactive honorary diplomas to any veteran of World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War who was honorably discharged and had been enrolled in a District high school immediately preceding their military service, but did not receive a diploma because their education was interrupted due to their military service in those wars. You can watch the presentations here (YVHS presentation 28:25-47:15 and MDHS presentation 47:30-1:04:32). Community mourns the loss of Ygnacio Valley High School student Dear Mt. Diablo Unified School District Community, It is with the heaviest of hearts and deepest sadness, that I regret to inform you that on Saturday, March 19th, 2022, one of our Ygnacio Valley High students passed away after being involved in a car accident. Any young person's death is tragic, and a sudden loss like this can have a profound effect on surviving students and the Ygnacio Valley family community.   It is important that we recognize this loss and offer help. This is a sensitive issue for children, and we recommend that you talk with your children about their feelings. The school arranged to have grief counselors available to talk with students last Monday morning in the Wellness Center.  The school also set up a memorial table in honor of this student. Students who may need additional guidance and support in their grief process can be seen either individually or in small groups by our grief counselors. On behalf of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, we extend our sincerest condolences to the student's family and loved ones on this tragic loss. Sincerely, Adam Clark, Superintendent District News M DUSD reaches tentative agreement with MDEA teachers' union, Board approves mediated agreement with Teamsters' union The District and MDEA teachers' union announced early on March 19 that they had reached a tentative agreement that will include a 10.5% salary increase over the three-year term of the contract through June 30, 2024. This includes a 4% increase retroactive to July 1, 2021; 4% effective July 1, 2022; and 2.5% effective July 1, 2023. The agreement is subject to ratification by the union membership and School Board. Retroactive payments will be distributed within 60 days of Board approval. On Wednesday, the Board approved a mediated agreement with the Teamsters union. We're hiring! Mt. Diablo Unified School District is hiring for many different classified positions.  Openings include Food Services Assistants, Special Education Assistant, Custodial, Transportation, Trades and Clerical positions. MDUSD offers flexible schedules, paid holidays, vacation time, health benefits, great retirement and so much more!  Check out our job postings and come join our MDUSD team!  Details are here: https://rebrand.ly/MDClass MDUSD to host Historically Black College or University (HBCU) Follow-up Student/Parent Virtual Event on Tuesday, March 29th MDUSD will host the Historically Black College or University (HBCU) Follow-up Student/Parent Virtual Event on Tuesday, March 29th from 6:30-7:30 pm. This is the final component of a 3-part series that began with the HBCU Student College Caravan Fair on February 24th and the HBCU Parent Event on March 5th. This final event is designed to provide additional information, guidance, and answer questions about the HBCU Fair and next steps.  General information, opportunities to engage in breakout groups by school, and a checklist of what to do next will be covered. You can join via the Zoom Link at https://mdusd.zoom.us/j/8814323231 . The HBCU Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document provides helpful information. Students and parents can also submit questions. Please contact your school’s College and Career Advisor ( contact list here ) if you have questions or want more information. We look forward to seeing you all virtually on March 29! California Adult Education Week is March 27 - April 2, 2022 Mt. Diablo Adult Education graduates (top left), preschool students (top center) and  lifelong learning students (top right).  The Mt. Diablo Unified School Board has proclaimed March 27 - April 2, 2002 California Adult Education Week to recognize the educational programs and services of MDUSD Adult Education that serve the community of adults and families of the K-12 students in the District.   The  resolution  adopted March 23rd points out that adult education provides English as a Second Language instruction, adult literacy, high school diploma and equivalency courses, career training, citizenship and parenting classes. More information about the parenting and preschool programs is in the attached newsletter.   Here are some adult education benefits for prospective students: Brush up on and advance skills in basic math, reading, writing Earn a high school diploma or high school equivalency Develop and strengthen English reading, writing and speaking skills, Become more knowledgeable about effective parenting Earn a Certificate in a Career Training Program and get a job Improve computer skills Pursue a personal interest in the arts, crafts, personal finance, cooking, etc. Support physical health through exercise Turn "disabilities" into "capabilities"  More information is at https://mdae.mdusd.org/ . Rapid COVID-19 test kits available to students and staff to use before returning from Spring Break To ensure the safety of students and staff when they return from the Spring School Break, MDUSD has distributed rapid response COVID-19 test kits to each school in the District to be distributed to students and staff on a first-come, first served basis before the Spring Break begins. We have received enough test kits for every student and staff member, so we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to take a test kit home to be used before returning to school campuses on April 11th. Please watch for communication from your school with details about how to request kits. Upon request, the kits will be sent home with students or can be picked up by staff members. Each kit contains two tests to be used at home three days (Friday, April 8th) and one day (Sunday, April 10th) before school resumes on Monday, April 11th. Any positive test results must be reported to the school office as soon as possible and students testing positive must isolate themselves at home. Students must also stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, even if they test negative. The District's current COVID-19 protocols can be found here . We are also continuing to offer PCR COVID-19 testing at selected school sites. Please note that all regular PCR testing sites will be open Monday through Thursday and Saturday during Spring Break. However, all District PCR testing sites will be closed on Friday, April 1 due to the Cesar Chavez holiday and on Friday, April 8 due to the Districtwide Board holiday.  The complete testing schedule is here: https://mdusd.org/covidtesting . Thank you for helping to keep our schools safe. Schools are closed Friday, April 1 for Cesar Chavez Holiday and April 4-8 for Spring Break MDUSD schools will be closed Friday, April 1 for the Cesar Chavez Holiday and the entire week of April 4-8 for Spring Break.  District offices will be closed April 1 in honor of the Cesar Chavez holiday and on Friday, April 8 for the Board holiday. However, district offices will be open April 4-7. The 2021-22 District calendar is here .  Riverview MS Tree Planting Day was a success! A small group of Riverview MS and MDUSD staff members and community volunteers led by the MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program planted 25 trees on Sunday that will one day boast shade canopies from 30-70 feet wide. Thanks to all who helped beautify our school! Growing Healthy Kids to host an Open School Gardens event at several sites on April 16 The MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program is hosting an Open School Gardens event on Saturday, April 16 where all community members are invited to tour or join in garden activities at multiple sites throughout the District.  All ages are welcome to learn about different garden features such as composting, weather stations, sensory plants, and water catchment.  There will be many fun garden activities for adults and kids.  Families, community members and MDUSD staff can join at a school in their community or tour several gardens during the day.  See the attached flier for details about when sites will be open and what activities are taking place at each garden. More information can be found here . Alternative education students at Graduation Fair take photos, order caps and gowns and get ready for life after graduating! Horizons teacher Sol Henik assists a student taking an online career interest assessment (above, left), students pose for family photos before taking official Senior Portraits, and Horizons teachers Jeff Hagerstrand and Nicola James collect notes from students to their future selves to be mailed to them in 10 years. High School seniors throughout the District are counting the days until graduation, while also getting ready for the ceremony by ordering caps and gowns, taking Senior Portraits and figuring out what they will do next. For students in the Horizons, Prospect and Crossroads small necessary high school programs, all these details were made a bit easier by staff who hosted the Second Annual Graduation Fair on Thursday at the Pleasant Hill Education Center. The event included tables with information about DVC, Los Medanos College, MDUSD Adult Education as well as financial literacy, and 30-question and 60-question online assessments of students' career interests. About 24 students completed the online questionnaires, said teacher Sol Henik. Some of the career options that interested them included: graphic designer, disc jockey, aerospace tech, clinical nurse specialist, allergist, teacher, aircraft cargo handling supervisor and advertising promotion manager. Students were also invited to write "time capsule" messages to their future selves that will be mailed to them in 10 years. The messages include "a quote to live by" and "advice for my future self." Carlene Hunt, office manager for Prospect and Horizons, organized the fair, which also included "goodie bags" and raffle prizes. She said they launched it last year during the pandemic as an outdoor event where seniors could take care of all their pre-graduation needs in one place. It was so successful that they decided to continue it this year, she said.   Pride Prom to be held April 23rd at Concord High School Two community organizations, PFLAG Clayton/Concord and Rainbow Community Center are joining together to co-sponsor Contra Costa County’s first ever Pride Prom on April 23rd at Concord High School, which is open to 11th and 12th grade students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Martinez Unified School District, as well as to students who attend Carondelet High, De La Salle High and Clayton Valley Charter High. Tickets can be purchased via the event’s website. Donors can sponsor tables and tickets for under-resourced students. Details are here . A KTVU story about the event is here . School News Comedian and actor who voiced rat in " Ratatouille ” is a regular guest in Northgate High film class Actor Patton Oswalt, top left, with Northgate High film teacher Jeremy Nunes to the right, discusses films with students during one of three Zoom visits. Can you spot the Hollywood actor in the above photo? That's comedian and actor Patton Oswalt in the upper left hand corner, chatting with students in an "Introduction to Film Studies" class taught by Jeremy Nunes at Northgate High. How did Nunes snag the actor who voiced the rat in " Ratatouille " -   and who has appeared in many other movies  -  to join his class? It's an entertaining story, deftly chronicled by Northgate High "Sentinel" newspaper staff writer student Eva Trujillo in a recent article . It all started when Nunes obtained Oswalt's " Silver Screen Fiend " book through Donors Choose to use for his course and sent a photo of the class books to Oswalt’s Instagram DM.  “I was seeking a chuckle-worthy moment and didn’t expect anything to come out of this,” Nunes told Trujillo. "Ten minutes after clicking send, Nunes received a message from Oswalt. He was curious as to what Nunes was doing with his novel, and after a conversation on Instagram, Oswalt asked for Nunes’ email." "The weekend before Thanksgiving break, Oswalt reached out to Nunes. He said that he had a comedy show that weekend at the Fox Theater in Oakland and he wanted to meet Nunes. He offered Nunes two tickets – and a backstage pass." Click here to find out what happened next. County Superintendent of Schools visits healthy cooking show at Mt. Diablo High School Thanks to Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey for visiting culinary arts teachers Cindy Gershen and her daughter Rose Stein on the set of their "Farm to Taste" healthy cooking show in their Mt. Diablo HS classroom!  More information about their healthy cooking series is here . You can watch the programs on edTV (Xfinity Ch 32/AT&T U-verse Ch 99 throughout most of Contra Costa County) or on YouTube .  Program 6 recorded on March 23rd will be available soon. It includes a guest appearance by Dr. Alan Greene , a pediatrician focused on helping educate families about how to raise healthy children.  Social Media Staff Shout-outs Hat tip to Northgate HS teacher Dana Tarantino, who is inspiring her colleagues and helping her students overcome test anxiety with a Tik Tok teacher tip she tried in her class called "Test Talk" (left).  And kudos to these ELD teachers who are embracing professional development about how to teach students to " construct meaning " in their language lessons (center). Finally, a big District "Thank You" to James Wogan , Assistant Director of School & Community Services and his staff, for all their hard work helping immigrant families adjust to school in this country, make friends and connect with amazing teachers! Social Media Shout-outs to NCS Scholar Athletes College Park HS Principal Kevin Honey was proud to announce in a tweet that the school's Girls Basketball team earned the NCS Scholastic Championship Team Award for Winter 2022! The Concord HS Minutemen Boys Soccer Team tweeted a photo of their Scholar Athletes, touting a team GPA of 3.01! And Northgate HS Principal Kelly Cooper also praised her school's wrestling and spirit teams for their NCS Scholastic Championship Team Awards in a recent tweet ! Congrats to all! Important dates March 28:  ABAR Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 1:  No School: Cesar Chavez Day Holiday April 4-8: No School: Spring Recess (District offices closed April 8 for Board Holiday) April 12: Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 13:  School Board meeting at 6 p.m. April 19:  Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 20 : Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4:15 p.m. Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Saturday, Mar 26 2022

Friday Letter - March 18, 2022

MARCH 18, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 30 I n this issue:    A closer look at three Teacher of the Year finalists; District news including Riverview MS Tree Planting Day is Sunday and Teamsters Union reaches Tentative Agreement; Ygnacio Valley High's Robotics Team hosts "Robot Reveal" and Concord High students are in the news regarding the mask mandate lifting ;   Staff News and Social Media Shout-outs; Student Athlete spotlights, important dates, and more! Classroom Close-Ups with three Teacher of the Year Finalists College Park HS teacher Laima Haider (top left), Pine Hollow MS teacher Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan (top center), and Bancroft Elementary teacher Maria Sajjad were MDUS Teacher of the Year finalists. Last week, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District announced its five Teacher of the Year finalists, including two who were selected as the District's 2022-23 Teachers of the Year: Mt. Diablo High School teachers Katalina Gallo and Natasha Paul, who were profiled in the March 11 Friday Letter and the MDUSD News . This week, we are taking a closer look at the three other finalists: College Park HS teacher Laima Haider (above left), Pine Hollow Middle School teacher Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan (above center) and Bancroft Elementary teacher Maria Sajjad (above right). The finalists were selected from more than 100 outstanding educators from Transitional Kindergarten through grade 12 and adult education who were nominated and offered the opportunity to submit a brief questionnaire. Members of the MDUSD Teacher of the Year Selection Committee scored the questionnaires and interviewed the top scoring educators. The School Board plans to recognize the all of the nominees and finalists at its April 27, 2022 meeting. Haider, Ortega Dolan and Sajjad all said they were honored to be chosen as finalists. Like Gallo and Paul, they all place a high priority on building relationships with students, emphasizing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as well as rigorous academics. And like Gallo, they are all women of color whose family backgrounds have helped shaped them as teachers and have given them unique perspectives on the value of education and the needs of diverse students. Laima Haider College Park HS teacher Laima Haider (center) stands with students Blake Maxon and Eden Swint (left) and Kelly Valdez and Cody Firman (right). Haider has taught in the District almost 15 years, including eight years at College Park High, where she teaches AP U.S. History (known as APUSH), as well as English Language Development and Academic Language Development for newcomer refugee students who are not fluent in English, and APEX credit recovery for students who are behind in credits. She is also the advisor for the Model UN Club and California Scholastic Federation (CSF) and keeps her classroom open before school, during lunch and after-school for students who want to drop by to talk, for extra help, or for snacks. About 40 students nominated Haider, including some who submitted individual nominations and some who collaborated in a group chat to submit a nomination together. Many said she is their favorite teacher because they know she cares about them and she takes the time to make sure they understand the rigorous material, while also checking in with them personally to be sure they’re OK. “If a kid is having a bad day, you’d be very surprised how you can really turn things around by handing them a juice box and asking them what’s going on,” she said. And when they come to her with problems such as bullying, harassment or feeling uncomfortable due to racism, anti-Semitism or poverty, she speaks up on their behalf to address the issues head-on. “I will always do the right thing for the kids, whether it is the popular thing or not,” she said, explaining that she has had difficult conversations with some other staff members about the need to create a safe, respectful and welcoming environment for students on campus. “The kids know that if something happens, they can come to me and things will be dealt with right away and they will not be punished.” Haider’s family is from Afghanistan, but she was born in the U.S. Her family did not speak English when they came to this country and they encouraged her to become a teacher so she could give back to her community. “That shows me how significant education is,” Haider said. “If I were raised in Afghanistan, my sister and I would not be college-educated. We would be wives and mothers in arranged marriages trapped in a house.” As an Advanced Placement teacher, Haider said she works her students harder than some teachers because she has to prepare them for the AP tests. But she was happy that her students know that they really matter to her, after hearing what they said in their nominations. Read more here . Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan teaches 7th Grade English at Pine Hollow Middle School. Ortega Dolan is in her first year at Pine Hollow Middle School teaching 7th and 8th grade English and is the school’s AVID coordinator. With a Master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s College of California, she has previously worked for many years as an educational consultant specializing in equity and inclusion and has years of experience teaching high school in private independent schools. She is tapping into these skills as a member of Pine Hollow’s leadership team helping with professional development and has also started a dance program, Latino club, Black excellence program and a “Safe Place” club for LGBTQ students and allies. She was nominated by two students and Education Specialist Linda Lew VanBrocklin, a resource teacher who works collaboratively with her in the classroom. “I nominated her because she’s pretty much the only teacher who teaches me things,” said Colton Merrill, an 8th grader. “I feel like I’ve learned the most in her class more than any other class. My essays have gotten better this year. She helped get us back on track after online school last year.” Several other students said Dolan truly listens to them and cares about them and she is willing to go over material again if they don’t understand it. VanBrocklin said Dolan has “stepped up” the curriculum by introducing new literature and adding rigor, while also bringing enthusiasm and energy to her classroom and letting students know she wants them to succeed. “She really believes in the kids and has developed a level of trust,” VanBrocklin said, explaining that Dolan’s experience enables her to prepare students well for high school. “She says: ‘I know this is hard, but I think you can do this. I want you to learn this material.’” Dolan’s own educational experience informs her teaching. Her mother is from Costa Rica and her father is from Nicaragua, so she grew up speaking Spanish and attended a bilingual preschool and then was put into a resource class in Kindergarten because she couldn’t speak English. Her parents then enrolled her in Catholic schools and she didn’t learn English until she was 6 years old. Decades later when she went to UC Berkeley, she realized that there were gaps in her education - she had never learned about the Black Panthers or Angela Davis or Cesar Chavez. “That’s what inspired me to become a teacher,” she said. “I wanted to be the teacher who I never had. I’ve never been taught by a person of color.” She is the first person in her family to graduate from college and ended up working in private schools for many years before realizing in 2017 that she was “in the wrong place.” “But I couldn’t figure out what that meant,” she said, explaining that the pandemic slowed her transition to the next phase of her career. She had always wanted to teach in public schools and jumped at the opportunity when Principal Laurie Clark offered her the job over the summer. And now, she has hit her stride. Read more here . Maria Sajjad Bancroft Elementary teachers (left to right) Mary Anne Parker, Rakel Cromwell, Maria Sajjad and Stefanie Kay. Sajjad, who teaches 2nd grade at Bancroft Elementary School, says Social and Emotional Learning, or SEL, is her passion. “If they don’t walk in here happy or ready to learn, they’re not going to do academics,” she said, explaining that she has seen an improvement in students’ moods and enthusiasm for classwork since she has introduced SEL lessons that help them self-reflect and feel good about themselves and each other. “I give life skills a high priority. That’s why I do this job.” She has taught in the District for 11 years, the first two teaching 2nd and 5th grades at El Monte Elementary and the last nine at Bancroft teaching 1st and 2nd grades. When students returned to school this year after being home during the pandemic, Sajjad said the natural joy of children was missing and they seemed more fearful than before. “The amount of validation they needed this year was more so than in previous years,” Sajjad said. “If you are not internally validated, you are going to need it externally.” So, every morning she holds a class meeting with students sitting on the carpet discussing various SEL topics, such as gratitude. Sajjad said she wished she had been introduced to SEL activities when she was a child. Even as an adult, she said we all seek to fit in and be accepted. As a Pakistani woman of color, she said she was the only minority teacher at Bancroft Elementary until the Dual Language Immersion program came to the campus. She says her relationships with all children help them form their perceptions of women and people of color. Every morning she holds a class meeting with students sitting on the carpet discussing various SEL topics, such as gratitude and love. She uses a small handheld microphone to project her voice and said she never yells.   “I don’t lead them by coercion,” she said. “I lead them by connection.” During a recent classroom visit, Sajjad set up “stations” around the room that students would rotate through. Some wrote notes on paper hearts about their feelings. Others painted pictures describing the way they felt. When one boy said he was tired, Sajjad asked: “What color is tired to you?” At another table, students pasted pictures of their favorite part of themselves on paper, such as their eyes or their hair, then wrote sentences about why they liked those features. Another group studied their features in hand-held mirrors, while others played a card game in which they took turns answering questions such as: “I would like to get better at….”  The goal, Sajjad said, is to increase students’ self-love and self-esteem. Read more here . District News Growing Healthy Kids Riverview MS Tree Planting Day postponed to Sunday, March 20th Due to projected rain on Saturday, the MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program is postponing its planned Tree Planting Day at Riverview Middle School to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Through a grant from Cal Releaf, Riverview will receive 30 shade trees to help cool the campus and create shade and windbreaks.  Register here or see attached flyers. Counseling Corner Newsletters From MDUSD's School Counselors Our counseling team is pleased to share the March Edition of the MDUSD Counseling Corner Newsletter for the 2021-22 school year.  The Counseling Corner Newsletter shares relevant tips and resources to support, engage, and connect students and families TK-12. These newsletters and other resources can also be found at our  MDUSD Counseling page , which is under the Parent Portal tab on the district website. Counseling Newsletter - English Counseling Newsletter- Spanish FAFSA and California Dream Act application deadlines extended to April 1 MDUSD high school seniors have more time to submit their FAFSA or California Dream Act applications this month. The California deadline for priority consideration is typically March 2 each year, but due to an overwhelming number of appeals from high school districts and college systems from across the state, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has postponed the deadline to April 1 for all California students submitting their financial aid forms. The appeals noted a decline in submitted applications due to COVID-19 surges in the fall and winter. This extended deadline is good news for seniors who have not yet submitted their forms, and also means that students who file between March 3 and April 1 will be given the same priority consideration for grant aid as students who submitted the application by March 2, 2022. Next steps for seniors: Go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa   to start your FAFSA application and be sure to include a California college in order to be considered for a Cal Grant. DACA/undocumented students should go to https://dream.csac.ca.gov   to begin completing a CA Dream Act application. Students will need this information to get started on the 2022-2023 application: FSA ID (For FAFSA filers ONLY) Driver's License, if you have one Social Security Card, if you have one Alien Registration Card, if you have one ITIN, if you have one List of Colleges you are interested in Most current bank statements Any records of untaxed income Prior-prior year (2020) tax information - 1040s and W2s For questions or help on either of these applications, contact your College & Career Advisor or Counselor at your high school campus. New MDUSD/Teamsters 3-Year Tentative Salary Agreement Thanks to the collaborative work between the leadership of Teamsters and MDUSD, there is a new 3-year tentative agreement for 2020-2023 with a 3% on schedule plus a 1% on schedule salary increase (1% on schedule in place of a prior 3% off schedule offer) for this 2021-22 school year, and a 3% on schedule increase plus an additional 1% on schedule salary increase for 2022-2023 (due to a cost savings measure agreed to by Teamsters).  Each Teamsters member will also receive a $1,000 stipend/bonus check this summer in the beginning of the 2022-2023 contract year.  This tentative agreement is subject to member ratification and Board approval. "The District would like to thank the Teamsters’ leadership for working together to find a middle ground on multiple issues, agreeing to no strike and no sympathy strike language, a 'me too' only with MDEA, and for agreeing to cost savings measures that allowed the district to increase the salary offer," said  Dr. John Rubio, Chief of Human Resources. "This is a great example of a collaborative negotiations process where each side made some gains and made some concessions as part of a collaborative, productive and successful negotiations process." MDUSD School Board to meet Wednesday, March 23rd The Mt. Diablo Unified School District Governing Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 23rd at Monte Gardens Elementary to receive a presentation on a mascot change to the Wolves at Ygnacio Valley High School; review and potentially approve retroactive granting of high school diplomas due to Internment, the mediated agreement between Teamsters Local 856 and the District, Secondary AVID courses of study, a charter school facilities final offer to Clayton Valley Charter High School, and review the actuarial valuation report of retiree health liabilities as of June 30, 2021, among other items. Details are here . 2022-23 Student School Board Member applications due March 25th The MDUSD Governing Board is currently recruiting for the position of the 2022-23 Student Board Member. The application and more information are here . The application deadline is March 25th. Applicants will be interviewed by members of the Student Advisory Committee at their April 20th meeting with final approval by the Board anticipated at the April 27, 2022 Board Meeting. The duties of the Student Board Member include: Attendance at all scheduled Governing Board meetings, except closed sessions. Provide continuing input for Board deliberations Chair the Student Advisory Committee meetings MDUSD Education Foundation raises more than $20,000 to for STEAM programs! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the MDUSD Education Foundation's 2022 Annual "Give 10" campaign, helping the foundation to exceed its $18,000 fundraising goal to provide STEAM enrichment programs to our students! Ultimately, the campaign raised $20,834 for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math programs and supplies. Donations can still be made here . Pride Prom to be held April 23rd at Concord High School Two community organizations, PFLAG Clayton/Concord and Rainbow Community Center are joining together to co-sponsor Contra Costa County’s first ever Pride Prom on April 23rd at Concord High School, which is open to 11th and 12th grade students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Martinez Unified School District, as well as to students who attend Carondelet High, De La Salle High and Clayton Valley Charter High. Tickets can be purchased via the event’s website. Donors can sponsor tables and tickets for under-resourced students. Details are here . A KTVU story about the event is here . School News Ygnacio Valley High's Robotics Team reveals robot that can shoot hoops and do pull-ups! Team seeks funding for upcoming competitions The Ygnacio Valley HS Project 212 robotics team established in 2018 is led by highly-motivated students and engineering teacher Joseph Alvarico, and is supported by experienced mentors and sponsored by generous community partners. Last week, the team held a " robot reveal " event to showcase its 2022 robot called "Rockstar," which can shoot a ball into a hoop and can even pull itself up on a bar! Here is a video that shows the teamwork and fun the after-school robotics club shared this year. Senior Xochilth Salomon, a senior responsible for marketing the team's activities, took most of the photos in the video. She said it was fun being part of the team because it includes all different kinds of people who have come together to support each other, building friendships along the way. The team has established a Go Fund Me campaign to help pay for its upcoming competitions in Sacramento, San Jose and other parts of California. More information about the team is here . Concord High School in the News MDUSD has followed state and Contra Costa County guidance by lifting its mask mandate. At Concord High School, about 70% of students wore masks Monday, at least some of the time, said principal Rianne Pfaltzgraff in an EdSource news article . Most of the staff also chose to keep their mask on, but some were still elated that masks were no longer required. In at least one class, teachers held a “mask reveal” where students flung off their masks and looked at each other’s faces for the first time. Junior Kaila Murillo was amazed at how different her friends looked than she expected. The eyes and ears offer only a glimpse of a person – so much is expressed in the nose and mouth and smile, she said. Even if they kept everyone safe, masks were a major inconvenience, Murillo said. They fogged up your glasses, they were stifling if you had allergies, they made your skin break out, and they were intensely uncomfortable during those hot Concord afternoons, she said. "I threw all my masks out this morning,” she said. “It felt great. It felt like summer’s almost here. It feels like you can finally breathe.” Karen Jauregui, a junior, said she was ecstatic to breathe freely and see her friends’ faces, some for the first time. But she wore her mask during first period out of respect for her teacher, who has an underlying health condition. “At first it was a little scary to not wear a mask, but almost everyone I know has had Covid and gotten better, and I’m fully vaxxed,” she said. “So it feels low risk.” Jacqueline Tamayo, a junior, opted to keep her mask on, at least temporarily.   “I’m still a little worried about another outbreak,” she said. “I think we need to respect people’s health needs, so before class I’m asking the teachers if they’re comfortable with us wearing masks or not wearing masks. Staff Spotlights Mt. Diablo High's culinary arts teachers Cindy Gershen and her daughter in the news    Mt. Diablo High School teacher and long-time local restaurateur Cindy Gershen and her daughter Rose Stein were featured in a recent Pioneer article highlighting their healthy cooking show called “ Farm to Taste ” recorded weekly at Mt. Diablo High . The fifth episode was recorded last week with two special guests, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Robert Lustig from UCSF and Mt. Diablo Unified School District director of food services Dominic Machi . While Chef Cindy and the others prepared a luncheon menu including stuffed salmon, stuffed bell peppers, Romanesco, leeks and fresh seasonal fruit for dessert, the quartet discussed healthy eating habits and how sugar and sport drinks, in particular, have caused the rise in American’s obesity. You can watch it here . Staff Social Media Shout-outs Congratulations to MDUSD Chief Business Officer Dr. Lisa Gonzales , who has been named Business Services Administrator of the Year by Association of California School Administrators Region 6! She will receive the award next month. And at Valhalla Elementary in Pleasant Hill, #ProudPrincipalPappas tweeted a belated "Happy Birthday" to  Night Custodian Mr. Nate. "Thank you for keeping our school clean!" she added, with the tagline #KindnessWarriors.  Student Athletes in the News Congrats to Concord High baseball player LJ Majarucon , who was featured in a Pioneer Athlete Spotlight in which his coach Matt Harrod says, “LJ has been a four-year varsity starter at a multitude of positions. Quiet and unassuming, LJ is the embodiment of commitment and work ethic at practice. Never complaining, he attacks the task at hand and is always open to coaching.” And congrats also to Mt. Diablo High girls' basketball player Yasmine Garrett , who is the first female basketball player from MDHS to sign a letter of intent to play college basketball! She committed to Evergreen State College in Washington! #MDUSDProud! Important dates March 20:  Riverview MS Tree Planting Day , 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (See District News above) March 23:  School Board meeting at 6 p.m. March 28:  ABAR Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 30: Budget Advisory Committee meeting at 5 p.m. April 1:  No School: Cesar Chavez Day Holiday April 4-8: No School: Spring Recess (District offices closed April 8 for Board Holiday) April 12: Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting at 5:30 p.m. April 20 : Student Advisory Committee meeting at 4:15 p.m. Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Saturday, Mar 19 2022

Friday Letter - March 11, 2022

MARCH 11, 2022 FRIDAY LETTER VOLUME 4 NO. 29 I n this issue:    MDUSD selects Teacher of the Year finalists;  BEST Day is a professional development highlight; District news including masks no longer required and psychologists' union approves mediated agreement; Ygnacio Valley High hosts its first-ever Family Night Open House and Robotics Team launches fundraising campaign ;   Social Media Staff Shout-outs; Student Social Media spotlights, important dates, and more! Congrats to MDUSD's 2022-23 Teachers of the Year and Finalists!  Two MDHS District Teachers of the Year will advance to the county competition MDHS Multimedia teacher Katalina Gallo (above, left) and English/ELD teacher Natasha Paul (above, center) are MDUSD's 2022-23 Teachers of the Year! College Park HS teacher Laima Haider (above left with her dog Leia), Pine Hollow MS teacher Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan (above center) and Bancroft Elementary teacher Maria Sajjad (above right) are the three other District Teacher of the Year finalists. The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is pleased to announce that Mt. Diablo High School teachers Katalina Gallo and Natasha Paul have been selected as the two District Teachers of the Year for 2022-23 out of five finalists that also included College Park HS teacher Laima Haider (above left with her dog Leia), Pine Hollow MS teacher Dr. Lizette Ortega Dolan (above center) and Bancroft Elementary teacher Maria Sajjad (above right). The finalists were selected from the more than 100 outstanding educators from Transitional Kindergarten through grade 12 and adult education who were nominated and who were offered the opportunity to submit a brief questionnaire.   The questionnaires were scored by members of the MDUSD Teacher of the Year Selection Committee and the top scoring individuals were interviewed. The School Board plans to recognize the nominees and finalists at its April 13, 2022 meeting.   Both Gallo and Paul said they were honored to be chosen to represent the District and their school, which they both graduated from themselves (Gallo in 2007 and Paul in 1991). In fact, Gallo was Paul’s student in the Digital Safari Academy that she now leads teaching multimedia to students in grades 10-12. Paul is now teaching 9th grade English in the school’s Architecture, Construction, Manufacturing and Engineering (ACME) Academy, as well as English Language Development to students not yet fluent in English. Next week, the Friday Letter take a closer look at Haider, Ortega Dolan and Sajjad.   Katalina Gallo MDUSD Teacher of the Year Katalina Gallo (center) stands with students Samara McDonald and Deyvon Seals (left) and Noe Boyd and Elaine Torres (right).   Gallo has taken on leadership roles since she came to MDHS, including leading the WASC accreditation focus group on culture and at the school looking at things like equity, community and parent involvement so students feel supported. She also plans “Academy Night,” the school’s open house, which will be held on March 24th. She’s proud that attendance has risen from about 100 before she took the helm to 800 in 2018 and more than 1,000 in 2019. The event was canceled due to the pandemic in 2000 and held over Zoom last year, but she’s excited to bring it back to campus in two weeks. She said five different people nominated her as Teacher of the Year, including Paul and three other coworkers, and a student. Her approach to teaching is that she treats students as equals. “I’m not the center of the classroom,” she said. “We all are and it’s our interaction, which is what makes the instruction and the learning happen.” Having discussions with her students about their ideas and issues that are important to them is a key part of her role, she added. “Student voice is really important to me. I want students to feel that I listen to them and that what they say maters. Especially students at Mount, because they’re kind of used to having their voices silenced. A lot of them have unfortunate histories with teachers that didn’t listen or that wanted their students to sit down and be quiet, so I think it’s important to make sure that they have a voice, especially in an arts classroom.” Building trust with her students is also important, she said. “A lot of times in classrooms it is about the mind, but with this population of kids, it’s important to make them feel safe. If the classroom doesn’t feel safe, learning can’t happen. The foundation is trust. They know they can trust me. They tell me things. I want them to feel that they can talk to me about the things going on outside of the class because it does affect them, so how could I not want to know?” Read more here . Natasha Paul Paul, who started teaching at MDHS 19 years ago, said she doesn’t know who nominated her and she was surprised to be chosen as a Teacher of the Year because she admitted to the selection committee that she has been on emotional roller coaster during the pandemic. “This last year has been really, really hard,” she said, explaining that she struggled to juggle all of her responsibilities as a wife, mother, teacher, daughter, friend and a graduate student pursuing and administrative credential and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Something had to give, so she made the difficult decision to take a break from graduate school, she said, tearing up as she recalled the stress she felt at the time. But the stress didn’t stop when she returned to school and realized that many of her students were far behind in their learning and in their ability to trust her and to interact with each other. “I keep coming back every single day and I keep loving them,” she said. Like Gallo, she views building relationships with students as a key part of her job, but she concedes it was challenging last year during distance learning. Yet, she glows when she talks about the connections she has made despite obstacles. For example, she beamed as she recalled what a student told her in the last minute of the last period of the school year on Zoom last year.  “Everyone was leaving the Zoom and she said: ‘True confession time - your voice has been so comforting to me this year.’” Touched, Paul thanked her, explaining that sometimes it was hard to know if she was getting through. Yet, her students say she is. Read more here . 23rd Annual "BEST Day" for Teachers is a Professional Development Day Highlight While MDUSD students enjoyed their day off from school last Monday, some teachers took on the roles of students as they visited local companies, organizations or public agencies to learn more about the jobs they are preparing their students to tackle in the future. Dozens of teachers from District high schools participated in the 23rd Annual BEST Day (Business and Education Shadowing for Tomorrow), which started and ended at Mt. Diablo High School’s student-run Serendipity Restaurant with a breakfast made by International Hospitality and Tourism Academy students. About 15 local industry partners hosted the teachers, who work in Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways teaching a variety of subjects including hospitality, photography, art, engineering, math, construction, and sciences such as chemistry and biotech. Teachers got the opportunity to tour facilities including Sunvalley Shopping Center hosted by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce , Del Monte Foods in Walnut Creek, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Carpenters Training Committee of Northern California’s apprenticeship program in Fairfield to gain insights into career opportunities for their students.  When teachers returned for lunch, they shared their experiences along with what they planned to tell students about  their visits. Several teachers stressed the importance of “soft skills” such as being able to collaborate in teams, show up to work on time, be enthusiastic, communicate well and meet deadlines. The ability to think creatively and problem-solve was also a common theme among employers. The strong high school education they are providing is the foundation that students will build on after graduation, many said. Roland Marcello, who teaches math and engineering at Ygnacio Valley High, said his students often ask him: “What are we learning this for?” On his visit to the carpenter’s apprenticeship, he saw the Pythagorean Theorem being put to use to make sure the dimensions of buildings were accurate on drawings so they would stand strong after being constructed. “There it is,” he said, adding that he was also impressed by master welders who came back for additional training, viewing themselves as “lifelong learners.” The BEST Day also included a panel discussion about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) with Jorge Melgoza, the District’s Assistant Director of Equity and Disproportionality, as well as representatives from organizations such as California Life Sciences and John Muir Health. Melgoza said the District is working with principals develop their capacity as leaders so they can work with their school teams to design systems that will ensure equity by better serving all students. “Some students are succeeding and some are not,” Melgoza said. “As we know better, we do better.” Read more here . Other Professional Development Day activities Teachers and other District staff members who did not participate in the BEST Day took part in smaller professional development activities with school or Department colleagues. Those who work with English learners heard a presentation from Dr. Sedique Popal from the Noor Islamic Center to better familiarize themselves with the Afghani experience.  “It’s so important to understand where our students are coming from,” said Ygnacio Valley High ELD coordinator Carissa Stobing in a tweet thanking Carmen Garces, Director of English Learner and Dual Language Programs, for inviting Dr. Popal to speak. Valhalla Elementary staff spent the morning examining student data, then went on a hike in the afternoon led by 3rd grade teacher Kati Snitselaar. “Thank you Mrs. Snitselaar for leading us on our hike today!" tweeted #ProudPrincipalPappas. "We took care of our minds and bodies and had courageous conversations processing the data we examined in the morning.” Teachers and other staff members at El Monte Elementary , El Dorado Middle School and Concord High also discussed student data related to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), with Concord High teachers asking themselves: “How are we checking in with kids daily building relationships?” and noting that “one caring adult on campus can make all the difference.” In addition, school psychologists, behavioral health specialists, special education assistants, office managers and attendance secretaries, school nurses and social work specialists participated in training relevant to their work. (See the Weekly Organizational Update  for details.) District News Masks no longer required in school settings starting March 12th Students and staff in K-12 schools and childcare settings in Contra Costa County will no longer be required by the State to wear masks indoors starting Saturday, March 12th, although masking will continue to be strongly recommended. State health officials announced the upcoming shift in school masking policy on February 28th, as COVID case and hospitalization rates continued to rapidly decline. Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent reviewed the new guidance at the March 9th Board meeting, noting that school staff, students and visitors can choose to continue wearing masks if they feel safer doing so. MDSPA approves mediated agreement The Mt. Diablo School Psychologist Association (MDSPA) has approved the mediated agreement that the Governing Board approved on March 9, 2022. MDSPA members overwhelmingly supported the agreement with a vote of 92% in favor and 8% opposed. The agreement has a three-year term of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 and includes both on and off schedule salary increases of 3%, with the on schedule increases strategically spread throughout the salary schedule. Both increases are retroactive to July 1 for 2021-2022. The District also agreed to pay for the additional 2022 1.3% medical benefits increase that would have otherwise been paid by MDSPA members. This was a collaborative effort in which MDSPA leadership shared their members’ concerns about multiple issues. Both teams worked together in a give and take effort to address these concerns. MDUSD will begin printing and mailing checks for off schedule and on schedule retroactive payments to members, as well as adjust their current monthly paychecks, as soon as possible. March 9th Mt. Diablo School Board overview At its March 9th meeting, the Mt. Diablo Unified School Board proclaimed March as Arts Education Month and Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month . In addition, the Board approved the Second Interim Budget report, courses of study for AVID and High School History, and voted on reducing the number of certificated and classified positions in 2022-23 based on budget reductions approved last month, among other items. Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark reviewed recent student assessment data in his report to the Board. Details regarding the meeting are here . MDUSD seeks stakeholder input for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Plan update Every six months, MDUSD must revisit its "Safe Return to In Person Instruction Plan," which was approved at the October 13, 2021 board meeting. This four page plan was designed by the State of California providing the public information on how Mt. Diablo planned to support the areas of (a) health and safety for students and families and (b) academic/social emotional needs of students during the reopening of school Fall 2021. The State is now asking school districts to update their plan to address current student and family needs as we move into a different phase of the Pandemic. Those interested in providing input into the update are asked to complete the survey here by Wednesday, March 16th. New World Language textbooks available to view next week Next Monday through Friday, March 14-18, Secondary Spanish, German and French textbooks will be available for viewing by parents/guardians and staff from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room C-2.at Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane in Concord, CA 94519.. The materials are for the District's textbook adoption, planned for Board approval this Spring, with the new materials ready for students next fall for the 2022-23 school year. MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids Riverview MS Tree Planting Day is Saturday, March 19th! On Saturday, March 19 at 9 am, MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids will plant trees that will grow and thrive with the students of Riverview Middle School. Thanks to a generous grant from Cal Releaf, Riverview will receive 30 shade trees that will eventually cool the campus and create vital shade and windbreaks. "These new trees will sequester carbon to improve air quality and will provide beautiful views from the classrooms," said Laney Cline King, Co-Director of the garden program. "This is a great opportunity for students who need service hours and are looking to make a positive impact on their community. "Register here or see attached flyers.  Enrollment for Transitional Kindergarten Students in 2022-2023 continues next week MDUSD is offering centralized registration for students entering Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in 2022-23. TK will be available to students born between September 2, 2017 - February 2, 2018. Continued registration will be available by appointment from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, March 17th in Room 23 at the District Office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord. For more information is here:  https://www.mdusd.org/enrollnow . You can sign up for a 2022-23 TK Registration Appointment here . 2022-23 Student School Board Member applications due March 25th, info session is March 18th The MDUSD Governing Board is currently recruiting for the position of the 2022-23 Student Board Member. The application and more information are here . The application deadline is March 25th. Current Student Board Member Kaleena Fowler will host a Q&A Session via zoom for students interested in applying for the position from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2022: Zoom link Meeting ID: 840 5602 5902 Passcode: 058750 The Student Board member is the liaison between MDUSD students and the School Board. Student Board members are appointed annually to one-year terms. Duties include: attendance at Governing Board meetings, providing input for Board deliberations, and chairing Student Advisory Committee meetings. Pride Prom to be held April 23rd at Concord High School Two community organizations, PFLAG Clayton/Concord and Rainbow Community Center are joining together to co-sponsor Contra Costa County’s first ever Pride Prom on April 23rd at Concord High School, which is open to 11th and 12th grade students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Martinez Unified School District, as well as to students who attend Carondelet High, De La Salle High and Clayton Valley Charter High. Tickets can be purchased via the event’s website. Donors can sponsor tables and tickets for under-resourced students. Early Bird Pricing is has been extended to Thursday, March 17th!  Details are here . A KTVU story about the event is here . School News Ygnacio Valley High hosts its first-ever Family Night Open House Ygnacio Valley High School held its first ever Family Night & Open House on Thursday, March 10th. In its Facebook post , the school's PTSA wrote: "What a heartwarming Family Night open house for Ygnacio Valley High School! Parents came together with teachers, students and staff for a hearty meal, fun entertainment, and engaging presentations. Welcome, 8th grade families, we can’t wait to see you here next year! We hope you all enjoyed the lasagna and salads prepared by PTSA, the afghan rice & lentils cooked by our fabulous school chef, or the homemade lumpia and champurrado made by parents. And if you missed the Robot Reveal, follow Project 212 YVHS Robotics on Facebook or Instagram to see photos & video ! Thank you to all who presented the excellence of our school, including the International Baccalaureate program, Education Academy, Health Academy, Engineering Pathway, each of the academic departments, as well as Athletic & Music Boosters, student cheer & flag teams, band, student leadership, and student Muslim club. Thank you to community groups: Noor Islamic Cultural Center, Diablo Valley College, and Catholic Charities East Bay. We can’t wait to get together again soon. Ygnacio Valley High School Community The YVHS Project 212 (FIRST Team 7137) is a robotics team established in 2018 led by highly-motivated students, supported by experienced mentors and sponsored by generous community partners. The team has established a Go Fund Me campaign to help pay for its competitions. More information about the team is here .  Social Media Staff Shout-outs A big Valhalla Elementary shout-out to Ramon and Kevin for their hard work keeping facilities in top shape! And MDUSD appreciates the work being done by Social Work specialists and staff at Oak Grove Middle Schoo l and Riverview Middle School ! Student Social Media Spotlights Congrats to Olympic High grads Stacey and Zeph Papalii ! And a big shout-out to Emmy at Ygnacio Valley High for being. "peacemaker and changemaker!" Important dates March 15:  Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 16: Student Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting at 4:15 p.m. March 17 : District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 18: End of Third Quarter March 23:  School Board meeting at 6 p.m. March 30: Budget Advisory Committee meeting at 5 p.m. April 1:  No School: Cesar Chavez Day Holiday April 4-8: No School: Spring Recess (District offices closed April 8 for Board Holiday) Weekly Organizational Update Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark publishes detailed District operations reports in our weekly Organizational Update to the Board. Click here or on the image below to view this week’s update from department leaders, which is also archived for reference on the District's website.

Saturday, Mar 12 2022