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