MPCSD District Newsletter - April 23, 2026 | | Educating and empowering students while embracing childhood and adolescence. | | |
As we move into the spring season, I am sharing information regarding the upcoming California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Our 3rd-8th grade students will test between April 27 and June 5. Please refer to your school calendar for each site’s dates.
These assessments provide us with a valuable "snapshot" of student learning. While testing can sometimes feel daunting, I want to share a few important perspectives to help keep this season stress-free for your child.
Why This Matters
The CAASPP is just one measure of student performance. It does not define a student’s worth or their full potential. However, the data we collect is incredibly useful for our teachers and district administrators. It helps us identify where our programs are succeeding and where we need to adjust our resources to ensure we are delivering the best possible education to every learner.
How You Can Help
The best way to support your child during testing week is to keep things simple. In fact, the most effective preparation happens at home through:
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Restful Sleep: A well-rested brain is more resilient and focused. Please prioritize consistent bedtimes so students can perform their best.
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Healthy Nutrition: A solid breakfast provides the sustained energy needed for concentration.
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Encouragement: Remind your child to simply do their best and that you are proud of their effort, regardless of the score.
Beyond providing a supportive environment and a good night's rest, there is nothing more you need to do to prepare your student.
Our Gratitude
Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to support your child’s learning journey. We are proud of the hard work our students put in every day, and we look forward to finishing the school year strong together.
Take care,
Kristen
| | Welcome New Encinal Principal | |
We are pleased to announce that Superintendent Gracia will recommend to the school board the appointment of Dr. Trisha Lee (pictured at right) as the new principal of Encinal School. This decision follows a competitive and comprehensive hiring process that included input from certificated and classified staff, Encinal parents, and district leadership. Sharon Burns, who has served MPCSD as Encinal’s principal for 14 years, is retiring at the end of this school year.
Dr. Lee comes to MPCSD with 15 years of school leadership experience, spanning PreK-12th grade. She recently obtained her doctoral degree in social justice from Santa Clara University, where she was part of the inaugural graduating cohort. Dr. Lee brings a strong background in science education and specialized training as an instructional leader.
Throughout the interview process, Dr. Lee’s commitment to data-informed decision-making stood out. She is recognized for leading with both heart and rigor, focusing on creating inclusive environments where high expectations are paired with strong social-emotional support. Dr. Lee is known for building community and strengthening academic achievement through strategic planning and consistent follow-through. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that students flourish when they feel seen, heard, and intellectually stretched.
Dr. Lee will begin her role for the 2026-2027 school year, working in partnership with Assistant Principal Watkins and the MPCSD leadership team. Join us in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Trisha Lee to Encinal and to MPCSD. The recommendation for her appointment will go before the board for approval at their meeting on May 7, 2026.
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Interested in Joining the School Board?
Seats Open for 2026 Election
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Three (3) MPCSD School Board seats will be open for the November 3, 2026 election. If you've thought about serving the community in this way, please learn more at MPCSD's upcoming
Board Candidate Information Session
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
In person at the TERC Buildling
181 Encinal Ave., Atherton
Board Members Scott Saywell and Francesca Segrè will present the roles and responsibilities of school board members, discuss district initiatives and challenges, provide details on filing as candidates with San Mateo County, and respond to questions from citizens who are considering their candidacy.
The filing period to become a candidate for the school board is July 13 through August 7, 2026, and may be achieved by submitting candidate filing documents to Registration and Elections Division, County of San Mateo, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402.
Candidates may also attend a candidate seminar at the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Office. For more information on the candidate seminar, election calendar or Candidate Guide, visit www.smcacre.org. For more information, please contact the Menlo Park City School District office at (650) 321-7140.
| Host Families Needed to Continue SI Intern Program | |
Following interest expressed at a recent school board meeting, we are exploring the possibility of continuing the Amity intern program that supports our Spanish Immersion classrooms, for the 2026-27 school year. Intern placements are not guaranteed, and we will only pursue the program if we have confirmed host families by June 1.
The plan is to have two interns for the 2026-27 school year, and you do not need to have a child in Spanish Immersion to be a host! You don’t even need to be a district family, so if you have neighbors, friends, or local relatives who have an extra bedroom, please share this information. The interns are Spanish-speaking recent college graduates who join us through the Amity Institute. We offer flexible hosting periods, ranging from 3–6 months up to a full year, so you can choose what works best for your family. Host families consistently develop close, long-lasting friendships through this unique and rewarding experience.
If you are interested in becoming a host family or would like to learn more, please contact one of the following people:
Thank you for your consideration as we aspire to continue this program.
| Purposeful Classroom Technology: Digital Tool Review and i-Ready Use | |
MPCSD’s philosophy about technology for learning is clear: skilled, face-to-face, teacher-led instruction is the primary driver of student growth, and technology must always supplement, not replace, high-quality teaching. We are committed to ensuring every minute of classroom time is purposeful. To honor this commitment and our district vision, we are reviewing all digital tools our students use. This internal review is also being guided by our financial sustainability exercise which promises to reduce expenses on classroom and school-based technology over the next two years.
For example, we have recently examined our use of i-Ready, a computer-adaptive diagnostic assessment administered twice a year, and personalized instructional lessons called MyPath that serve as a progress-monitoring tool to guide teaching, intervention, and student support. It is clear that i-Ready provides actionable, high-quality academic data in both reading and math that is very useful for our teachers when planning instruction and addressing student needs. As we launch next school year, we will be initiating specific grade-level recommendations regarding the use of and/or time spent on MyPath. Speaking of i-Ready, you may have read about a federal class-action lawsuit filed against Curriculum Associates, the makers of i-Ready. Curriculum Associates emphasizes that the claims in the litigation against them are “legally meritless.” They do not sell student data to third parties, use student data for advertising, or build commercial profiles on students. You can find more information regarding Curriculum Associate policies and litigation.
MPCSD takes data privacy very seriously. We use various tools, including ISTE's EdTech Index, to evaluate data privacy for student-facing apps or technology. At this time, we remain confident in i-Ready’s protection of student data.
Our goal is to steady the pendulum on technology in the classroom, balancing the significant opportunities it offers for education, learning, and innovation with the need to be intentional about our use. Our ongoing analysis and revision process reflect our commitment to ensuring that digital tools do not dominate the school day. We continue to support each child’s unique learning journey, and are committed to ensuring that every student’s time in the classroom is spent meaningfully engaging with their teachers and peers.
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On Friday, April 3, while students got an early start to spring break, MPCSD staff participated in professional development. The main theme of the day for all student-facing staff was behavior. We acknowledged the hard work of our staff, the strengths and weaknesses in our system, and the opportunities we have to make a positive impact. Staff participated in site-based and role-alike sessions to provide input that will inform stronger practices to build relationships, support students and teachers, and help all children thrive in the classroom and on the playground.
Our maintenance team also participated in professional development and began tackling spring break projects and getting a headstart for summer maintenance.
We are grateful for the support from the MPAEF Endowment for Excellence in Teaching that makes high quality professional development possible.
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This Year's Run is Sunday, May 17, 2025
Let’s come together to run, walk, jog, or stroll in support of Encinal, Laurel, Oak Knoll and Hillview! Join more than 1,500 classmates, teachers, friends and neighbors at this year’s Schoolhouse Rocks 5K, Fun Run & Festival. The event is open to everyone in the community and includes a post-race festival featuring bouncy houses, games, music, food trucks, and plenty of family fun. Register here for the 5K or Fun Run.
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Be A Course Monitor - Coffee & Snacks Included!
Course monitors play an important role in guiding runners and keeping the course safe. We're currently still in need of 15 course monitor volunteers on Sunday, May 17, from 7:45-10:00 a.m. at Hillview Middle School. You’ll be assigned to an intersection along the course to guide runners, offer encouragement, and assist with light tasks like moving cones or supporting a water station if needed. Coffee and snacks for volunteers will be provided.
The Menlo Park Police Department does not allow the event to happen if we don’t have enough course monitors in place. Filling these roles is key to ensuring a safe and successful event.
If you’re available, please consider helping out! Email volunteer@mpaef.org to sign up.
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Dine Out Week Spring Edition: April 27-May 1, 2026
Need a reason to sneak in a weekday lunch date, grab dinner while the kids are at practice, or enjoy a relaxed family dinner on Friday night? MPAEF can help! From Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1, participating restaurants will donate 10-25% of their proceeds to support our schools when you order from them. It’s a win-win for everyone! See all the participating restaurants, dates, and details.
VERY IMPORTANT: You must mention “MPAEF” to restaurant staff when placing/picking-up orders so that they know your purchase applies to our promotion.
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Kristen Gracia, Superintendent | mpcsd.org
Governing Board:
Jed Scolnick, President
Josh Spira, Vice President/Clerk
Sherwin Chen
Scott Saywell
Francesca Segrè
Board Meeting Calendar. Board meeting agendas and Zoom links may also be found at the district homepage 72 hours prior to every regular meeting.
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