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Campus Connections
is the newsletter of the Milpitas Unified School District. If you have stories for our next issue, please send them to
Shannon Carr
.
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Milpitas Unified School District developing opportunities for students to be 'co-pilots in their learning'
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“Empower, Strengthen, Grow!” These words welcome and inspire those entering our Milpitas Adult Education building; they are reminders of WHY we are MUSD. Our mission is to provide every learner with multiple opportunities and pathways for success.
Developing educational pathways that allow students to apply their passion in learning for their future careers
is one of our
2018-21 Strategic Plan Goals;
this is where innovation thrives. We want our students excited about coming to school every day, and the way we do that is through their imagination and natural desire for curiosity. As we shift from the traditional school model that most of us experienced as children and teens, we are learning to capitalize on the advantages of data, apps, and instantaneous information. Along with our use of personalized learning platforms that allow students to learn at their own pace and teachers to identify learning needs in real time, we are building partnerships with community, businesses, and non-profit organizations so that our students can experience applied learning. We want our students to explore concepts and skills that ignite their desire to learn more about something that may lead them in discovering their career paths.
While the design and function of future employment is in flux, there are some elements that are evident; technology including artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, as well as the need for curious minds and collaboration skills. That is why we are developing opportunities to incorporate teleconferencing, computer science, collaboration platforms, and virtual learning within a student’s learning experience. We want our students to be co-pilots in their learning, and with programs such as
Naviance
, our middle and high school students will be able to explore what it is that motivates and excites them so that they can own how and what they learn.
As we think about the opportunities ahead, building design and the possibilities for a second high school campus can propel us towards reaching our goal of personalized pathways to career for all students. You are invited to attend our special Board Study Session on April 26 at 3 p.m. in the Board Room to hear about re-design possibilities for our Ayer site which will include a new high school program. Imagine a campus where students can explore science and technology through career education. At MUSD we empower our students through innovation and creativity!
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Milpitas Elementary Olympics seeking volunteers
Milpitas Unified School District has teamed up with the City of Milpitas to bring back the Milpitas Elementary Olympics. The event will take place Saturday, May 5 at the Milpitas High School field, and coordinators are looking for volunteers.
Volunteer hours are from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (lunch will be provided. Volunteers don’t need to work the whole shift, but can help out during the time that works best for their schedule. If you are interested, contact Brenda Arroyo at
[email protected]
or (408) 635-2600, extension 6046.
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Stay up to date: Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook
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We would like to take a moment to invite you to the District’s
Facebook
and
Twitter
platforms to help us better connect with you.
Our goal with these social media platforms is to provide parents and community members with important information about the District, our schools and the exciting educational initiatives that are helping to improve learning and academic performance for all students. We also hope to highlight some of our outstanding students and their achievements, as well as teachers, specialists, classified staff, and administrators who are working to prepare our students for lifelong academic and career success.
We believe that social media will provide a valuable, free exchange of ideas that will help strengthen our services to students and their families, build a stronger school-family connection, and move our District forward to continued success.
Please take a moment to LIKE and follow us:
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Superintendent Cheryl Jordan
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MUSD supports and celebrates Adult Education
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by Giuliana Brahim
Adult Education Week is celebrated throughout the State of California the week of April 9 through the 13. The purpose of Adult Education Week is to draw the attention of the public, legislators, and education decisionmakers about the importance of Adult Education as an engine that supports the economic growth of the state, the region and our communities.
Adult Education in the 21st century is shaped by needs of the industry, access to career, and post-secondary education pathways. Our responsibility is to provide access to these opportunities for the adult learner in an inclusive way.
Milpitas Adult Education is proud to be part of the MUSD Culture of WE and an active member of the South Bay Consortium of Adult Education (SBCAE). As a member of the SBCAE, we are working hard to provide seamless transitions of upper level ESL students to our local community colleges. In our pursuit to always do better and give our best, WE are
thrilled to announce that our school has obtained its first Initial Accrediting Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This distinction recognizes schools that operate effectively to impact student learning. We are committed to make our community stronger and our practices more accountable as we redefine the future of adult learners in our community.
This school year has been very important for MAE. We started the first Early Childhood Education pathway opened to all adult learners in Milpitas and its neighboring communities. The ECE classes were taught at both the Adult School and San Jose City College Milpitas Extension by SJCC staff. This collaboration was possible through the consortium's vision of co-enrollment and collocation, to advance students to a career pathway that leads to post-secondary education, placement in the workforce and higher and sustainable paying jobs.
Milpitas’ PreK-12 Adult Education also opens the doors to earn high school diplomas and or equivalent, learn English as a Second Language, enroll in the Citizenship preparation class, and gain the skills needed to move forward. This year, 40 of our
ESL students accessed Burlington English, a Personalized Learning Project. The purpose of this project is to provide additional resources to low level students that need it the most. This intervention includes additional learning and face to face time with our instructors.
In order to support our ESL adult learners and set them for success, we are offering a Bridge to College Writing class. An individual’s ability to write well is a measure of mastery and competence in language proficiency. The goal is to improve English writing skills and place higher on community college placement tests.
As the demand for Adult Education increases, the most important effort will be to continue advocating for state and federal funding, and to prevent the cut of student services. Those we serve are the immigrants, the financially disadvantaged, the homeless and the inmate learners getting ready to reintegrate into society. Support and celebrate Adult Education in California; it will take ALL of us to build awareness of its importance for California.
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Cal Hills' students fighting cancer one dollar at a time
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by Shannon Carr
When Calaveras Hills High School Principal Carl Stice takes to the track for Relay for Life on April 28 at Townsend Field in Santa Clara, he will be joined in solidarity with more than 30 students (nearly a third of the school’s population) and staff members, cheering him on. The first lap of Relay is called the Survivor Lap, when survivors and people currently affected by cancer walk the track to be cheered and supported by everyone in attendance.
“I actually cried in front of the students when explaining how much it will mean to me to have them there during the Survivor Lap,” Stice said.
Stice found out he had squamous cell carcinoma in his throat and mouth in 2003, at the age of 33.
“I had a sore throat that would not go away, and upon finally going to the doctor, he said, ‘This looks like a tumor,” Stice recalls. “I was sent to get an immediate biopsy and it came back that it was cancer the next day.”
Because it was an aggressive cancer, Stice had to undergo both chemo and radiation simultaneously. He was in treatment for five months. He has been cancer free since treatments ended in 2004.
“It is like a full circle for me - something that caused so much pain in my life has given me a new appreciation for life, and to have students and staff be there will be incredible,” Stice said. “I am also walking in honor of my sister, who died of cancer a few years ago at 49 years old.”
Not only will the students be standing by Stice’s side during the event, but they are currently fighting cancer one dollar at a time by
fundraising for Relay
, being held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28 through 10 a.m. Sunday, April 29. The “Cal-Hills Mustangs” group has raised $4,002.73 to date - with a goal of $4,000 - for the 24-hour walking event that raises money and awareness about cancer prevention, research, and services through the American Cancer Society.
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Inspire Higher tour highlights successful Latinas/Latinos
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by Shannon Carr
Sixty-three AVID students from Thomas Russell Middle School and 40 Milpitas High School students listened to stories of success from Latinas and Latinos at the San Jose Community College extension March 29 during the Inspire Higher Tour from Silicon Valley Latino. Panelist José Benitez Cong talked about how his dad instilled in him the value of hard work and education. Cong, recognized as a Silicon Valley industry thought leader in the field of talent management, spent the 2000s organizing the growth behind the iPod, iPhone, and iOS cameras at Apple.
Other panelists included Sonia Muñoz, VP of Marketing and Demand Generation for
Bill.com
; Rich Garcia, founder of
Blyve.com
; and Martiza Vallejo, staff accountant at STG Partners LLC.
Silicon Valley Latino is centered around the theme "Creo En Ti," which translates to "I believe in you." This message was carried throughout the panel, which focused on the importance of having a mentor and finding your calling by being true to yourself in order to develop your talents.
After the panelists each introduced themselves, attendees had the chance to ask their own questions such as, "What was your favorite part of college." For Garcia, it was flunking out. This forced him to work harder in order to earn back a scholarship and find himself as a successful software engineer.
Russell Principal Damon James said the event was important for a number of reasons.
"Students need to know that are multiple opportunities for success," he said. "They also need to be exposed to the trials and tribulations that adults have trying to reach their dreams. It is through trial and error that success emerges. Some of our students feel success is solely based on 'making a lot of money.' This experience allowed them to re-examine their beliefs about success. It inspired them to think higher about what they want to do be and how they want to give back to the community."
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Scholarship available for incoming college freshmen
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The California School Employees Association Chapter 281 is seeking applications for scholarships. To be eligible, you must be the son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter, stepchild, or legal dependent of a CSEA Chapter 281 member; a Class of 2018 graduating high school student; maintain a GPA of 2.75 or above; include an official transcript; be an outstanding member of his/her school and community; be accepted to a post-secondary institution; complete the attached CSEA Chapter 281 scholarship application and attach all additional requested information. A copy of the application and other requirements are available
HERE.
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Entries sought for educational art contest
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The California Department of Education and the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento is seeking entries for the 2018 Children's Drawing Contest, “Éste es mi México,” with the topic: “History, Traditions, Gastronomy, Beaches, Music.” The contest is open to children of all nationalities between the ages of six and 14. The contest motivates children to draw and learn about Mexico, its history, traditions,
food, beaches, and music. Drawings must be mailed or hand-delivered to a Mexican Consulate by May 31, 2018. For more information, view the
flier now.
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California earned income tax credit opportunity for parents and teachers
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson shared his excitement about a statewide campaign he is sponsoring with other state leaders to help 800,000 California families.
"CalEITC4Me is a campaign to spread awareness of the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to benefit eligible families, increase use of the federal EITC, increase the availability of free tax preparation services, and ensure that the credit winds up in the hands of those who worked hard to earn it," a
March 12 letter, he issued to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Principals, states. "CalEITC is a cash-back tax credit that puts money into the pockets of California’s
working families and individuals. Last year CalEITC boosted the income of about 382,000 families who shared over $200 million combined."
He continues: "Many families across the state struggle to earn enough to support the rising costs of
housing, transportation, health care, and child care. This in turn affects each child’s
opportunity for success inside and outside the classroom. Our support of this campaign
can directly help our neediest families thrive and assist the millions of school children
who live in poverty."
If you have any questions, contact Irene Garcia, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent, at
[email protected]
or (916) 319-0617.
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Having fun never gets old with Milpitas Recreation and Community Services
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by Ruby General
Having fun never gets old with Milpitas Recreation and Community Services! Our Department has been providing the City of Milpitas with fun events, activities and a variety of recreation opportunities for 54 years!
This Summer we’re bringing you over 20
NEW
classes, including the Sensational Summertime Sports Camp, Cooking Camp, Guitar and Piano Lessons, Coding with Robots, Slime Squad Camp, Youth Cricket and so much more! A Milpitas Summer isn’t Summer without our favorite camps, Camp Golden Arrow and Camp Winnemucca! This Summer is filled with enough classes and camps in this Summer Activity Guide to keep children of all ages busy throughout the season. Sign-up early and don’t miss out on the extremely popular swimming lessons available for ages 6 months to 80+.
And don’t miss out on the great Summer events we have planned for the Milpitas community! The Summer Concert Series is a summer favorite with free live music at Murphy Park. There will be four Movie Night Out events throughout the summer showing Beauty & The Beast, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Despicable Me 3, and Thor: Ragnarok. Be sure to buy your tickets early and skip the lines for the biggest event in Milpitas, the 4th of July Celebration!
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Rose Elementary holds McTeacher Night fundraiser
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Tiger students and families had the chance to see Principals and teachers in a different role, when Rose Elementary School staff took over the McDonald's on Landess 5-7 p.m. April 3 for a fundraiser.
That evening, they took orders, worked the counters and drive thru, made fries, and served the students.
It was a fun and lively event that included the school's Rosie the Tiger mascot, dance music, and raffles to keep the event going. The children and families had fun, dancing and singing along with Rosie and our teachers. It was a very successful Rose PTO event that made us almost $800 total for just a two-hour event. That included our raffles, food sales, cookie sales, and tips for teachers. We now look forward to doing this every year, and encourage other MUSD schools to do so too. It was definitely one of our favorite events. We received many positive comments from our teachers, the McDonald's staff, our students, and their families.
--
Submitted by Valerie Negrito
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Zanker Elementary hosts Canvas and Cookies Night
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Zanker Elementary's Parent Teacher Association hosted a Canvas and Cookies Night for approximately 215 students and their parents March 28 in the school's multipurpose room. Canvases were purchased from Michael's and easels were created by Milpitas High School students from Stuft Pizza pizza boxes.
Sixth grade teacher Rebeca Rios - who has previously provided art enrichment - led the instruction, with her work of a giraffe being displayed via Chromecast through a projector.
Cookies were donated and gathered by the school's PTA, who also donated canvas aprons to the art enrichment program in conjunction with the night. All the paint and brushes were donated to the art program as well.
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Academy of Travel and Tourism hosts showcase
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On March 27, approximately 140 students in Milpitas High School's Academy of Travel and Tourism participated in the First Annual Showcase Event. 10th graders presented a travel itinerary centered around a historical event or figure. 11th graders presented a mock-up for an Attraction in the Bay Area. 12th graders presented a business proposal that demonstrated social, economic, and environmental responsibility. In the morning, students presented in the learning center, where 35 industry and community volunteers served as judges for the projects. Afterward, students moved their projects outside where they were visited by three 6th grade classes from Pomeroy before lunch. There was an open house during lunch where MHS students were invited to visit and evaluate projects.
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11th grade students Ixzell Jungmann and Maria Garcia presented an attraction proposal for a Teen's Playhouse. City Councilman
Bob Nuñez
was so impressed by their idea, he has decided to take many elements from it to implement a Teen Center in Milpitas. The girls were recognized with a commendation during the April 3 City Council meeting.
--Submitted by Tricia Brownstein
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Seniors earn First Place during the Trojan Olympics
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Milpitas High School hosted the Trojan Olympics March 23. During the event, classes battled it out by performing their prepared dance, pyramid, and competing in several games! In the end, the Senior Class of 2018 came out victorious as they took home the Trojan Olympics trophy. Juniors came in second followed by Sophomores in third place and Freshmen in fourth. Videos of the event can be found on Milpitas High ASB's Youtube channel at
www.tinyurl.com/milpitasyt
--Submitted by Angelie Hoang
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Sold-out crowds for Milpitas High School's 'Hairspray'
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The Milpitas High School Theater Program was proud to share "Hairspray" to sold out crowds March 15-17. This amazing production was directed by Kaila Schwartz, choreographed by Mandy Cottengim, and the musical director was Emily Moore. The cast and crew were phenomenal and audiences were not only entertained but wowed by the talents of all!
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MHS debaters headed to Tournament of Champions
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MHS now has two teams of Public Forum Debaters headed to the Tournament of Champions held every year in Kentucky. This tournament will have 120 of the best teams in the nation descending on the University of Kentucky campus April 28 through the 30.
--Submitted by
Charles Schletzbaum
From left to right: Juniors Oishika Barat, Josephine Tai, and Nisha Porchezhiyan, and sophomore Neval Mulaomerovic.
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MHS class working with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
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Milpitas High School teacher Kaila Schwartz's Theatre Workshop class has been working with guest artists from TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, creating a 60-90 minute devised theatre performance. Her students have been writing to various prompts given by Meghan Hakes, the associate director of education outreach, and they have been working with other local theatre artists (Rebecca Longworth, a local director; and Kimberly Braun, a theater professional) with the integration of movement and music. Right now, the working title for their piece is My Own.... The performances are scheduled to coincide with the MHS Art Show on May 25 and 26. The project is fully funded by DonorsChoose and ArtsEd.
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Volunteers needed for Comcast Cares Day
From 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. April 21, Comcast California will be partnering with Anthony Spangler Elementary School for a campus clean-up and beautification day, and you’re invited to join and pitch in for a couple hours or the whole time! It’s all part of Comcast Cares Day, the company’s annual day of service, when Comcast employees, families, and friends partner with local schools and local organizations nationwide on projects that benefit the communities where they live and work.
Some of the projects volunteers will be working on are:
- Filling in holes, adding more sand, and sanding and painting the dugout benches on the baseball field
- Painting picnic tables
- Adding new bark to planter areas throughout campus, and adding plants where needed
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Title I Parent Meeting
You are cordially invited to MUSD's Title I Parent Meeting 6-7 p.m. April 24 in Building 200, Room 206 at the District Office, located at 1331 E. Calaveras Blvd. Childcare will be provided. As partners in learning, the district seeks parent input in the review of existing Title I policies and programs as well as design and implementation of future programs that will best support student learning. For more information, call (408) 635-2600, extension 6006.
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Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Tour
Do you want to prepare your child for a global future? Are you interested in an enriched learning environment that blends academics and cultural proficiency? Come join us at Randall Elementary School to learn about and see our Two-Way Bilingual Immersion/Dual language program in action from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m. on the following Thursdays: April 26 and May 3 and 10. For more information, call (408) 635-2662.
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Tip-a-Cop May 3 will benefit Special Olympics of Northern California
The Milpitas Police Department in conjunction with the Special Olympics of Northern California is hosting a Tip-a-Cop event 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3 at Black Bear Diner, 174 West Calaveras Boulevard in Milpitas. Proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics of Northern California.
Tip-a-Cop is a fundraising event where police officers serve customers at a restaurant. Donations help provide local athletes with free year-round training and competitions. There are 22,780 athletes who compete in 299 competitions throughout the region in 14 sports. Special Olympics require the extraordinary support and time of 21,710 volunteers and volunteer coaches. Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations.
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Russell Middle School Spring Concert
Thomas Russell Middle School will hold its Spring Concert 6-8 p.m. May 4 in the multi-use room. The performance will have two string orchestras and three bands.
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Milpitas Business and Community Monthly Breakfast will highlight one of the district's 2018-21 Strategic Plan Goals
Superintendent Cheryl Jordan with Milpitas High School Principal Francis Rojas, Calaveras Hills High School Principal Carl Stice, and Milpitas Adult Education Principal Giuliana Brahim will share how the team is working to d
evelop educational pathways that allow Milpitas Unified School District's high school and adult learners to apply their passion in learning for their future careers during the Milpitas Business and Community Monthly Breakfast 7:30-9 a.m. Tuesday, May 8 at the Milpitas Senior Center, located at 40 N. Milpitas Blvd. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door (if available). Purchase tickets
online now
or at Milpitas Chamber, located at 828 N. Hillview Drive in Milpitas.
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Fireside Chat with two agents of social change
San Jose City College and Silicon Valley Latino will present a very special Fireside Chat featuring Dr. David Lopez and Council member
Bob Nuñez 4-6 p.m. May 12 at the San Jose City College Milpitas Extension, located at 1450 Escuela Parkway.
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Adult Ed offers Summer Enrichment, ESL, ECE classes
Milpitas Unified School District, in partnership with Milpitas Adult Education, announces “Summer Enrichment 2018,” open to all Bay Area students entering grades 1-8. Registration, which began Thursday, Mar. 1 is now open at
adulted.musd.org.
The program will offer multiple sessions, with the first starting June 18, to be held at Rose Elementary School, 250 Roswell Drive, Milpitas.
See the flier
on MUSD’s Google Drive for more info.
Free ESL Classes
Also, for those who do not speak English fluently... Do you need a better job? Want more education? Want to help your kids with school work? Want to become an American citizen?
We offer six levels of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, serving adults who wish to make a successful transition into American society and develop the skills needed to reach their professional and personal goals. For more information, call (408) 635-2692, Ext. 4555.
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Early Childhood Education career pathway
Are you interested in opening your own daycare? Is it your dream to work as a teacher, assistant teacher, or special needs teacher? Milpitas Adult Education has joined with San Jose City College to offer an Early Childhood Education (ECE) career pathway. MAE students have the option to also co-enroll in ECE classes held on the MAE school site or enroll in core ECE classes at the SJCC Extension site on Escuela Parkway. This semester, two ECE elective classes are available at MAE and two core classes are available at the extension. For more information, view the
flier
or contact Patti Gairaud at [email protected] or (408) 635-2692.
The photo above depicts ECE 104 "Art and Creativity for Children," with instructor Ranjana Bhatnagar.
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Senior Awards Night
Milpitas High School will hold its Senior Awards Night 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23 in the Large Gym. That evening, 3
43 students will receive either a maroon cord, gold cord, or both. The list will grow in the next month as students will be receiving notices of scholarship awards and additional students will be added for maroon cord (150+ hours of community service). This event is open to the public, and no ticket is required.
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MUSD | Phone: (408) 635-2600
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