Happy Labor Day!  Much gratitude to all our Mt. Diablo school employees for their heroic work keeping schools going through a pandemic.

It’s been really tough to navigate through the ever changing health guidance, employee shortages and financial strains to keep our schools open for students. We will continue to strive to provide competitive pay & benefits, professional development and safe environments for all staff.

Now is a stressful time to be serving the public through the challenges of COVID and climate change.  Please, when you face frustrating situations in our schools, remember to take a moment to express your gratitude to those who are working above and beyond to make it better. Our principals, custodians, maintenance and grounds staff, technology team, bus drivers, union leaders, office workers, food services staff, instructional assistants, after-school staff, Adult School employees, teachers, counselors, librarians, administrators, substitutes, parent group leaders, and Superintendent are working to both educate students and keep everyone safe. They keep going with the added load of COVID protocols, even when vacancies around them make the workload even harder. Each expression of kindness and patience really does matter. 

Read on for:

1. Superintendent’s Sept 3rd message

2. School Board meeting September 8th

3. Suicide Prevention & Mental Health

   • Suicide Prevention Forum Sept 9th

   • Mental Illness High School Trainings Sept 16 & 17th

4. High School Voter Education Weeks Sept 13-24th

5. Feria de Educación - 1 Y 2 De Octubre de 2021

Superintendent’s Message

Read Dr Clark’s September 3rd Friday message here, including:

• Updated COVID exposure/quarantine charts in English & Spanish

• Parent Volunteers are now welcome on campuses with proof of vaccine

• MDUSD is hiring substitute teachers

School Board Meeting September 8th

Our board meeting will be back in person again, located at Monte Gardens Elementary to provide adequate space for the public. Find the agenda and details here. 

You may send a public comment via email: emails to [email protected] are automatically distributed to each board member, and will be entered into the public record when received on meeting days only. Or come in person to make a Public Comment during the meeting.  

The agenda includes:

• Resolution to Recognize Hispanic Heritage Month
• Resolution on Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
• Resolution on Recognition of Deaf Awareness Month
• Growing Healthy Kids presentation
• Bond Oversight Committee Annual Reports
• Superintendent’s report, including an update on COVID safety protocols
• District 2020-21 UnAudited Actuals Presentation & Approval

Suicide Prevention & Mental Health

Suicide Prevention Forum Sept 9th

Join CCHS (Contra Costa Health Services) for a virtual conversation on youth & suicide, Sept 9th, 4-7pm. Learn how to support yourself or a loved one. 

Register here

If you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call 211, 1-800-833-2900 or text HOPE to 20121

Mental Illness High School Trainings Sept 16 & 17th

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California and the CDE will be hosting several virtual trainings for NAMI On Campus High School in the Fall semester, so don't miss out!

Also check out this Toolkit for “Demystifying the Mind” 

High School Voter Education Weeks Sept 13-24

It is never too early to motivate our students to get involved and become engaged participants in our democracy. We encourage schools to participate in High School Voter Education Weeks from September 13 to September 24, to put students on the path to a lifetime of civic engagement and voting. Share the news that 16 & 17 year old students can visit www.RegisterToVote.ca.gov and click Pre-Register to Vote!

Read more: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr21ltr0826.asp

California Secretary of State's High School and Youth Initiatives portal: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/high-school-programs

Feria de Educación - 1 Y 2 De Octubre de 2021 

The ninth annual Feria de Educación will be held virtually on Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2! Feria de Educación is hosted in partnership with Univision 19, Sacramento State, and the California State University. The event aims to empower thousands of Spanish-speaking parents and students with information and resources to help them succeed in California’s educational system and pursue higher education.

Website: www.csus.edu/feria

Español: www.csus.edu/feria-es/

Read more: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr21ltr0817.asp

Don’t forget to follow MDUSD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (new profile), and LinkedIn.