Happy New Year everyone!
I hope you had some time off for rest & rejuvenation over the break, and are staying healthy. I know that I appreciated unplugging completely for a bit, spending time with my family on puzzles, hikes and cooking projects. This has been such a stressful year of what feels like a never-ending global pandemic, but I am back online now and ready to serve, hopeful for the year ahead.
First of all, at our December school board meeting I was honored to be nominated and voted in by my colleagues to be the next President of the Mt Diablo School Board. Trustee Debra Mason was elected as Vice President, and new trustees Keisha Nzewi and Erin McFerrin were sworn in as the newest members of our board. Trustee Linda Mayo and student Trustee Michelle Alas will continue to serve as board members as well. I know that this group will work collaboratively together in the best interest of Mt Diablo students, and I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's different perspectives that will help guide our decisions.
At the December meeting we voted to postpone the planned January reopening of schools due to the alarming rise in COVID cases, and so the topic of reopening will be covered this week at Wednesday night's board meeting during Superintendent's report. Things are very much in flux right now as high rates continue, the Governor's budget came out on Friday, and vaccination timelines are still being developed. We continue to watch and study how to safely provide education to students while supporting struggling families during this tragic global pandemic.
Read on for:
- School Board meeting Wednesday January 13th
- Superintendent’s Friday letter
- Sign up this week for County Science Fair, 7th-12th grade
- Education to End Hate Virtual Classroom Series
- Articles/resources on budget, vaccinations, "how to talk to children"
Next School Board Meeting Wednesday January 13th
Find the agenda here, along with information about how to watch the live broadcast as well as how to submit public comments. Click here to see summaries of board action from prior meetings.
Please note: this year our board meetings have been moved to Wednesdays instead of Mondays.
Two resolutions will be presented:
- Recognition of Dr Martin Luther King Jr Day
-
Recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month
- a representative from the District Attorney's office will share key information from the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition
- Today January 11th is #WearBlueDay. Wear blue today and post with the hash tags to show support for trafficking survivors. If you suspect trafficking in Contra Costa - call it in using the tip line 925-957-8658 #contracostawearsblue #WearBlueDay
There are two key business action items:
- School plans for student achievement Find your school site plan here.
-
Resolution Authorizing and Approving Temporary Transfer Agreement for Fiscal Year 2020-21 from the Contra Costa County Treasury to Address Anticipated Deferred State Funding
- this is necessary to explore due to state cash deferrals of funding to schools
Superintendent's Friday letter
Click here to read Dr Clark’s Dec 4th letter including:
- Courageous Captains (highlighting teachers leading through art and discussion)
-
Organizational Update to the Board including:
- College Now info night Feb 4, apply by Feb 21
- School Health Services website by MDUSD nurses
- Family Support Workshops & AAUW STEM webinars
- Newsletters from
- Phase 1A Vaccine arrives in Contra Costa
Sign up for County Science Fair - 7th-12th grade
MDUSD Students/Families, A chance to explore and develop your STEM passion is here! The Contra Costa County Science Fair (CCCSEF) (March 11, 12, & 13, 2021) is for students grades 7-12 who are interested in science, technology, or mathematics, and presents an opportunity to engage in independent research. Taking part in the CCCSEF is fun, educational, and rewarding—moreover, you won’t be taking this project alone. Mentors and teachers will help you create the best project possible.
Students can choose from six broad categories, including behavioral, biological, physical, environmental, engineering, math and computer sciences, where they can explore their passions and apply classroom knowledge to tangible experiments. If successful, Contra Costa Science Fair students are able to compete regionally and access the following larger competitions:
- California Science & Engineering Fair (Virtual): April 12-13, 2021
- Broadcom MASTERS Middle School National Science Fair (Virtual): October, 2021
- Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Virtual): May 16-21, 2021
Thank you,
The Office of the Superintendent, MDUSD
on behalf of Bay Area LEEDS
Education to End Hate Virtual Classroom Series
The CA Dept of Education this year has created a series of three virtual classroom sessions as part of the Education to End Hate Initiative.
Watch the third topic, Understanding and Countering Islamophobia, live on facebook this Tuesday January 12, at 4pm.
Videos of the first two topics are also available to watch - Understanding Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching about Native Americans.
Articles/Resources on Budget, Vaccines, "How to talk to children"
-
Governor's proposed budget
- Superintendents letter in response from 7 largest school districts in CA
- CA School Board Association blog re Governor's budget - this is a good summary of what's in the budget for schools, and the next steps with the legislature
- Today's article about the rollout of vaccines
- "How to Talk to Children about the Capitol Insurrection" - Rise Up Against Racism, a local volunteer nonprofit led by MDUSD parents, wrote this blog that is full of resources for how to talk to children about current national events with age appropriate questions, primary source analysis, media literacy, and exploration of biases, power and privilege.
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