Happy Computer Science Education Week!

Congratulations to our MDUSD award winners from East Bay CUE: Principal Lisa Sullivan for the Administrator of the Year Award and Teacher Shauna Hawes for Affiliate Leader of the Year Award! CUE stands for Computer Using Educators and East Bay CUE has led a regional STEM symposium annually, including free professional development and tech prizes. 

Some MDUSD schools participate in Hour of Code or feature other tech opportunities. What's happening at your school?

This week:

• Are you a student, parent, administrator, or teacher wanting to expand computer science at your school? Visit https://code.org/yourschool
• There are also fantastic free resources here including lesson plans: https://www.csedweek.org/
• Teacher Karly Moura shared this calendar of Hour of Code live events this week

Read on for:

1. School Board meeting Dec 14th
2. Superintendent’s Friday letter
3. Stanford Young Women’s Leadership Summit - apply by Dec 12th
4. AAUW new STEM webinar for high school girls Dec 13th
5. Mindfulness for you - every Tuesday 5pm
6. HOPE seeking holiday donations for homeless students
7. Free suicide prevention training for students/educators

Next School Board Meeting Monday Dec 14th

Find the agenda here, along with information about the live broadcast and the opportunities for public comments.

**Dr Clark just announced his recommendation to the Board that reopening our MDUSD schools in hybrid should be postponed until the Board can re-evaluate at the next board meeting on January 13, 2021.  The board will discuss this on Dec 14th.**

Superintendent's Friday letter

Click here to read Dr Clark’s Dec 4th letter including: 

• Trustee Joanne Durkee reflects on public service
• Reopening Goals Shaped by Negotiations and Pandemic Restrictions
• Meet Keisha Nzewi, New Trustee for Area 3
• Organizational Update to the Board
• This Week In Our Community - including thank you donors to MDUSD Education Foundation’s #GivingTuesday campaign for middle & high school science! 

Young Women’s Leadership Summit 

I was thrilled to see this from Aava Farhadi, a recent MDUSD graduate who is now a student at Stanford University.  She’s organizing “The Young Women's Leadership Summit” (YWLS), which is Stanford Women in Business' FREE annual conference for female high school students in California.

They aim to introduce young women to a variety of business disciplines, and during the 2-day-long conference, attendees will listen to and learn from accomplished women leaders, gain hands-on experience through workshops, and interact with industry professionals, Stanford students, and motivated peers. It will run from January 23-24, 2021 from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM (PDT) each day.

They strongly encourage students from the following backgrounds to apply:

• Underrepresented in business, defined as being African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American
• Underserved, defined as coming from low socioeconomic means, which may be indicated by qualification for free/reduced lunch
• Potentially the first family member to attend college
• Coming from a high school with low admittance rates to top-tier colleges, or rural high schools

Please share this far and wide to MDUSD high school students!

Please apply here by Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 11:59 PM (PDT).

New AAUW free webinar STEM series for high school girls

AAUW-OML continues their free webinar series with the goal of encouraging high school girls to stay in STEM classes and pursue STEM related college degrees and careers.  Girls/Women still make up only 32% of those earning STEM related college degrees. Women in STEM careers will talk about their educational path, what they actually do in their job, and demonstrate how all girls can pursue STEM careers, while letting them know that the STEM career field is varied and there is a career in STEM for everyone.  Students, register now before it fills up at https://oml-ca.aauw.net/girls4stem-webinars/

WEBINAR #2  DECEMBER 13, 2020  4 PM PST

“My Career from the Lab to Launching New Consumer Products”, featuring Deborah Martin  MPH/CIH, Global Manager. Product Stewardship & Regulatory, Dupont Nutrition and Biosciences

Register in advance for this webinar: HERE

Mindfulness for YOU every Tuesday 5pm

Have you tried out the new weekly free family Mindfulness sessions on Tuesdays 5-5:30pm? (Sesiones virtuales de Atencion Plena).   Mindful Life Project are providing these free sessions to support your mental and emotional wellness. Sessions are easy to join and are open to MDUSD parents, students, caregivers, and staff. They are held through Zoom every Tuesday evening in English and in Spanish from 5:00PM-5:30PM. Click here to try the English mindfulness session or clic aqui para espanol 

**Please share these out far and wide so as many people can join as possible before they end.

HOPE Holiday Drive for Homeless Students

Mt. Diablo Unified School District is committed to making sure that all students arrive at school ready and able to learn. To supplement our services, our Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) is requesting donations for our holiday program to support our homeless students in the School District. We are asking for gift cards from the following types of places where kids can purchase something just for themselves:

• Target •Walmart •99 Cents/Dollar Tree
• Old Navy • GAP • Chuck E. Cheese
• Generic prepaid credit cards •Fast Food & Other Restaurants

We are requesting card denominations of $25 or $50, with the amounts clearly marked on the cards with a Sharpie so recipients know how much is available for them to spend. Gift cards can be mailed or delivered to:

Mt. Diablo HOPE 2730 Salvio Street, Room 24 Concord, CA 94519

You can also make a tax-deductible cash donation by sending a check to the above address, or by utilizing the phone app Venmo and sending funds to MDUSD HOPE.

Cash donations will be used to purchase holiday gift cards, and if there is cash remaining after gift cards have been provided for every HOPE student, then the money will be used to support HOPE students throughout the year (i.e. food, gas to get to school, senior activities/pictures, fines, clothing for interviews, prom, yearbooks, brief emergency shelter, and other needs as they may arise). We are asking that donations be made by December 4, 2020.

Please call or e-mail the HOPE program with questions at (925) 682-8000 x3054 and [email protected]. All donations we receive go to our homeless youth at MDUSD!

Thank you for sharing HOPE!

Free Suicide Prevention Training for Students/Educators

I mentioned this previously when the state held a live youth summit on the topic. Since then I signed up and took the training myself, and I found it extremely valuable. It includes scenarios and practicing out loud what you would say in various situations. I feel much more prepared to help anyone that might be considering suicide now that I was before. A few scenarios were between students texting - which many of our students may be running into right now.  Let me know if you take the training too - I'd love to connect and discuss.

CALIFORNIA STUDENTS!

To sign up for your LivingWorks Start suicide prevention training:

visit www.lwyouthsummit.com/access or text start to 888-707-0780.

You'll learn skills to help a friend or classmate, and you'll get 90 minutes of community service learning credit!

Once you sign up you have 60 days to complete the training.

Stay safe out there,

Cherise

It's been a stressful time, between COVID and the elections, full of uncertainty and division.  Today I am hopeful though, that together we can work to ensure the best public education possible within safety guidelines.  In this Friday's Superintendent letter you will see efforts to improve communication and input in the process to redesign public education in these uncharted waters.

We as the board have received many, many emails. I read every single one, but I have not been able to answer them each individually. My hope is that the Superintendent sessions and Board study sessions keep you informed as we continue to refine and adjust based on your feedback.  Please see the Friday letter for the latest draft hybrid schedules.

I'm thankful also to see the new weekly free family Mindfulness sessions on Tuesdays 5-5:30pm (Sesiones virtuales de Atencion Plena).  

Read on for specifics on:

1. Superintendent Friday Letter: including new Board members, draft hybrid schedule, mindfulness & more!
2. Transfer applications due Nov 15th
   • Holbrook Dual Language 6th grade info night Nov 10th
   • YVHS International Baccalaureate info night Nov 12th
3. School Board meeting Nov 9th
4. Board Study Session Tuesday Nov 17th 
5. AAUW new STEM webinar for high school girls
6. HOPE seeking holiday donations for homeless students

Superintendent Friday letter

Click here to read about

• Erin McFerrin and Keisha Nzewi Win MDUSD Board Seats
  
• Superintendent Floats Detailed Hybrid Schedule Drafts for Review (click to give your feedback)
  
• Superintendent Answers General Questions about Reopening - Written FAQ Available
• For Your Review: Our District Organizational Update
• “ParentSquare" to Serve as District-Wide Communications Tool
• Mindfulness - Free Virtual Sessions Available to You (Tuesday nights 5pm)
• Advisory: District-Wide Systems Improvement Outage Scheduled
• COVID-19 Testing and Free Flu Shots
  

I hope to see you at the new Mindfulness free workshop on Tuesday night!

Transfer applications due Nov 15th

Do you have a 6th - 11th grade student who might be considering transferring to a school other than your assigned neighborhood school?  We are fortunate here in Mt Diablo to have a variety of schools with specialized programs that your student might be interested in.  Ygnacio Valley High is the only school in our region with the International Baccalaureate program, and Holbrook Language Academy has expanded dual language learning into middle school.  Visit https://mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/transfers for the online transfer application & info.  And here are informational nights for parents/students to find out more:

• Holbrook Language Academy 6th grade info night - Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30 pm
  (Contact holbrook.mdusd.org for zoom link.)
  
  
  • All current 5th graders from our wonderful Dual Language Schools are welcome to apply:
    Bel Air, Bancroft, Cambridge, Meadow Homes, Shore Acres, and Ygnacio Valley Elementary.
    
    
  • Holbrook Language Academy desea invitarlos a las noches de información para padres para los estudiantes que ingresen a sexto grado Programa DUAL de IDIOMAs inglés/español para el año escolar 2021-2022.
    
    

• Ygnacio Valley High International Baccalaureate info night - Thursday, November 12th at 7pm
  • Register here for the zoom link.  Students welcome!
  • Come to our IB Info Night to learn what the International Baccalaureate Programme here at Ygnacio Valley High School is all about. There will be a student panel and time to ask teachers about the IB curriculum and what makes it so special.
    
    Some of the questions we'll be answering:
    What is IB?
    Why take IB classes?
    Does IB really make students College & Career Ready?
    How does IB increase a student's chance of being accepted to the college of their choice?
    What is the difference between IB and AP?
    How do students apply to be an IB student at YVHS?
    How do parents request an intradistrict transfer to YVHS? (Deadline is November 15th!)
    
    JUEVES 12 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2020
    7 a 8 pm
    
    Venga a nuestra Noche de Información IB para aprender de qué se trata el Programa de Bachillerato Internacional aquí en Ygnacio Valley High School. Habrá un panel de estudiantes y tiempo para preguntarles a los maestros sobre el plan de estudios del IB y qué lo hace tan especial.
    
    Algunas de las preguntas que estaremos respondiendo:
    ¿Qué es IB?
    ¿Por qué tomar clases de IB?
    ¿El IB realmente prepara a los estudiantes para la universidad y la carrera?
    ¿Cómo aumenta el IB las posibilidades de que un estudiante sea aceptado en la universidad de su elección?
    ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre IB y AP?
    ¿Cómo se postulan los alumnos para ser alumnos del IB en YVHS?
    ¿Cómo solicitan los padres una transferencia dentro del distrito a YVHS? (¡La fecha límite es el 15 de noviembre!)
    
    Si está interesado en obtener más información, complete el formulario de registro a continuación para recibir el enlace de Zoom.

Next School Board Meeting Monday Nov 9th

Find the agenda here, along with information about the live broadcast and the opportunities for public comments.  

Board Study Session Tuesday Nov 17th 

We continue to examine how best to reopen schools in person to students in our district. Superintendent Clark has scheduled a special study session on this topic, starting at 4pm on Tuesday Nov 17th.  The agenda will be posted here: https://www.mdusd.org/boardmeetings 

New AAUW free webinar STEM series for high school girls

AAUW-OML is launching a new free webinar series with the goal of encouraging high school girls to stay in STEM classes and pursue STEM related college degrees and careers.  This series is focusing on high school girls, but girls and boys can register for it.  Girls/Women still make up only 32% of those earning STEM related college degrees. Women in STEM careers will talk about their educational path, what they actually do in their job, and demonstrate how all girls can pursue STEM careers, while letting them know that the STEM career field is varied and there is a career in STEM for everyone.  Students, register now before it fills up at https://oml-ca.aauw.net/girls4stem-webinars/

WEBINAR # 1 Sunday, November 22, 2020   4:00 p.m. 

“Engineering with a Purpose”, with Adrienne Johnson

Register in advance for this webinar: HERE

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Topic: “Engineering with Purpose”, with Adrienne Johnson, B.S. Civil Engineer; M.S. Sustainable Design and Construction, 2016. How she built a Net Zero Energy School in S. Africa while still in College.

Adrienne Johnson (Sustainability and Project Engineer @Point Energy Innovation)

Adrienne Johnson, BA/BS Stanford University.  Sustainability and Project Engineer for Point Energy Innovation.  While getting her Master’s degree, Adrienne was project leader for a NET Zero Energy project designing the Parkwood Tech Center school in Cape Town, South Africa, in a community disadvantaged by the legacy of apartheid.  She and a co-lead won the prestigious Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2017.   Adrienne is considered one of the top “20 to Watch: Women in HVAC” for her achievements in designing sustainable buildings.  She is a member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), U.G. Green Building Council (USGBC) and many others.

HOPE Holiday Drive for Homeless Students

Mt. Diablo Unified School District is committed to making sure that all students arrive at school ready and able to learn. To supplement our services, our Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) is requesting donations for our holiday program to support homeless students in the School District. They are asking for gift cards from the following types of places where kids can purchase something just for themselves:

• Target • Walmart • 99 Cents/Dollar Tree
• Old Navy • GAP • Chuck E. Cheese
• Generic prepaid credit cards • Fast Food & Other Restaurants

We are requesting card denominations of $25 or $50, with the amounts clearly marked on the cards with a Sharpie so recipients know how much is available for them to spend. Gift cards can be mailed or delivered to:

Mt. Diablo HOPE 2730 Salvio Street, Room 24 Concord, CA 94519

You can also make a tax-deductible cash donation by sending a check to the above address, or by utilizing the phone app Venmo and sending funds to MDUSD HOPE.

Cash donations will be used to purchase holiday gift cards, and if there is cash remaining after gift cards have been provided for every HOPE student, then the money will be used to support HOPE students throughout the year (i.e. food, gas to get to school, senior activities/pictures, fines, clothing for interviews, prom, yearbooks, brief emergency shelter, and other needs as they may arise). We are asking that donations be made by December 4, 2020.

Please call or e-mail the HOPE program with questions at (925) 682-8000 x3054 and [email protected]. All donations we receive go to our homeless youth at MDUSD!

Thank you for sharing HOPE!

Sincerely, your friends at the HOPE Program

Did you receive your ballot yet?  I just did, and I plan to vote this week. 

We have excellent candidates for Mt Diablo School Board this year, and tonight is a candidate forum during the CAC Oct 6th meeting at 7pm.  Check out candidate profiles and more at https://votersedge.org/ca

Also our Mt Diablo School Board unanimously endorsed Prop 15: Schools and Communities First, which would bring desperately needed funding back to our schools, cities and county.

You might also be interested in this Latino Voter Guide / Guia Para Votantes Latinos.

My latest news is that I just graduated from Masters in Governance - a series of courses from California State School Board Association that equips board members and superintendents with the knowledge and skills to build and support an effective governance structure.

And as a parent I was happy to attend virtual back to school nights for both my kids, witnessing first hand the incredible caring & creativity each teacher puts into building relationships with students in this challenging time, as well as taking the time to connect with parents. I am so thankful.

Read on for specifics on:

1. Board Study Session Oct 7th on Reopening School 
2. School Board meeting Oct 12
3. Resources:
   • LivingWorks Youth Summit & free suicide prevention course
   • Speaking up against Racism Around the new Coronavirus
   • Trauma is Written into our Bodies, but Educators can Help - “Educators can deliver the daily doses of healing interactions that truly are the antidote to toxic stress.” by Dr Nadine Burke Harris, CA surgeon general 

Board Study Session Oct 7th on Reopening School 

We’ve received many questions about when/where/how we could reopen schools in person to students in our district. That is why Superintendent Clark wrote in his Friday letter about scheduling a special study session on this topic, starting at 3pm on Wednesday Oct 7th.

The agenda is posted here: https://mdusd.org/boardagendas and is focused on a conversation among board members and staff about reopening plans.  If you have questions or ideas to share on that topic, please email [email protected]. There will also be an option to join the meeting live to speak via zoom - how-to information will be posted here on that day.

There is one other topic on the agenda and that is the updating of board policies that relate to Charter schools. These are a simple update from the recent law changes in 2019.

Next School Board Meeting Monday Oct 12th 

Find the agenda here, along with information about the live broadcast and the opportunities for public comments.  

Oct 12th is also Indiginous People’s Day.  One current effort to improve the accuracy and inclusion of our teaching is the CA state Ethnic Studies draft model curriculum. This is geared towards teachers of Ethnic Studies classes (MDUSD currently has one at YVHS and one at CHS), but excerpts from it may be used by any teacher.

LivingWorks Youth Summit 

On September 15, TikTok star and comedian Caitlin Reilly emceed this online streaming event. Actress Lexi Underwood, International Slam Dunk Champion Kenny Dobbs, YouTube Vlogger Lavendaire, AGT winner Shin Lim and more spoke to California middle and high school students at the LivingWorks Youth Summit with one main message: together, we can save lives from suicide. They shared their own struggles of mental health, resilience and hope, intertwined with music, performances and interviews. Watch Here

The Summit was the official launch of the CDE’s online suicide prevention training for staff and students. LivingWorks Start is a 90-minute online suicide prevention skills training program available at no cost to CDE staff, teachers and students through the 58 county offices of education.

To sign up for your LivingWorks Start suicide prevention training: visit www.lwyouthsummit.com/access or text start to 888-707-0780.

You'll learn skills to help a friend or classmate, and you'll get 90 minutes of community service learning credit!​  Once you sign up you have 60 days to complete the training.

Are you ready to celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth? How about #HighSchoolVoterEducationWeeks?  Both begin today!

Read on for specifics on:

1. School Board meeting tonight
2. School District Friday letter
3. High School Voter Education Weeks starts today
4. Yes on Prop 15: Schools & Communities First
5. How to Get Involved / Resources for
   • Students - apply for student School Board position - due Sept 18! 
   • Parents - input meetings Sept 17, 22, 23
   • Teachers - Hispanic Heritage teaching tools, equitablemath.org 

School Board Meeting Tonight, Sept 14, 6pm

Tonight’s school board meeting includes Resolutions to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month as well as Suicide Prevention, appointments of two principals, and a public hearing on the renewal of Rocketship Futuro Charter School. 

Find the agenda here, and look at the agenda header for information about the live broadcast and the opportunities for public comments.

MDUSD Friday letter Sept 11

This MDUSD Friday letter is once again chock full of information for you: from the Organizational Update to the student board member application, from the upcoming college fair Sept 29th to Suicide Prevention resources and COVID testing.

High school Voter Education Weeks Starts Today

From CA Dept of Education: California Education Code designates the last two weeks in September as High School Voter Education Weeks. We encourage schools to designate students as voter outreach coordinators to lead the efforts to pre-register and register their peers.

Students, visit https://registertovote.ca.gov/ to register or pre-register to vote. 

It is now easier than ever to get sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds civically engaged through pre-registration. Once pre-registered, they will automatically become active voters on their eighteenth birthday.

Administrators, students, and parents: visit the Secretary of State’s High School and Youth Initiatives web page portal, which includes important information about voter registration and pre-registration, the Student Mock Election, the Student Poll Worker program, and High School Voter Education Weeks: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/high-school-programs/.

Yes on Prop 15: Schools & Communities First

Did you see that Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed Prop 15 Schools & Communities First? 

“Because it exempts small businesses and residential property owners, and funds essential services such as public schools…”

It has been estimated that MDUSD would receive $18 million more per year if Prop 15 passes. What a difference that would make!  That is why our MDUSD School Board voted unanimously on a resolution in support of this measure. Visit https://www.yes15.org/ for more details and to join the campaign. 

How to Get Involved / Resources for 

Students:

Click here to apply for the new MDUSD Student Board Position. Applications are due by September 18, 2020. 

 Note that a successful Student Board Member must:

*  Be currently enrolled as a senior (grade 12) in a MDUSD high school

*  Hold and maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average

*  Be enrolled in 20 credits

*  Be available to attend all scheduled Board meetings (typically two per month)

*  Provide one letter of recommendation from a teacher, administrator, or community member

Student Members will serve from October 2020 - June 30, 2021.   Applications will be reviewed by the MDUSD Executive Cabinet and a finalist will be interviewed by the MDUSD Board of Education.

Parents:

Our district has ongoing committee meetings that you are welcome to attend!

Find details at mdusd.org at Parents & Community / Get Involved.  Next meetings:

Sept 17th:

• Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) -  3:30-5pm
• District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) - 5:30pm
• Measure J Oversight - 5pm
• Measure C Oversight - 7pm

Sept 22nd: Stay tuned for a Board Study Session, likely to be scheduled Sept 22nd, including a Hearing on the Learning Continuity Attendance Plan (LCAP) - report that is due to the state by Sept 30. Our MDUSD board will vote to approve the final report draft at our Sept 28th school board mtg.

• Find report templates in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lc/learningcontattendplan.asp
• Provide your input on the LCAP via PAC or DELAC meetings this Thursday Sept 17, or at the Sept 22 hearing, or email to [email protected]

Sept 23:

• Budget Advisory Committee  (5pm)  

Need help getting school supplies, tech, internet? Remember to contact your school and ask for help. We want to make sure all students have what they need for successful distance learning.

Teachers: 

Thank you teachers for sharing your fantastic ideas on Twitter!

• I love seeing cultures represented in our classrooms like this Bitmoji one from Holbrook 

• Teaching Tolerance just posted how to bring Latinx voices into the classroom and uplift a diverse range of Hispanic & Latinx identities, experiences, cultures and histories.  Perfect for our #HispanicHistoryMonth resolution
• check out equitablemath.org - “A pathway to equitable math instruction” Resources and guidance to support Black, LatinX, and Multilingual students to thrive in grades 6-8
• And Dr Nadine Burke Harris - our wonderful CA surgeon general - authored Trauma is Written into our Bodies, but Educators can Help - “Educators can deliver the daily doses of healing interactions that truly are the antidote to toxic stress.  Giving children the tools to understand how to recognize what’s going on with them, then how to respond - especially to be able to calm their bodies down - truly is healing.”