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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
Scott Forstner
.
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Start with "Hello" to Build Community
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How often do we say “hello” to those we encounter along our paths each day? On my walks, about half of the people I greet respond with a smile, nod, or “hello.” It could be that the other half don’t hear me because they are deep in thought, or perhaps I take them by surprise because it’s not expected that we connect in this way. Whatever the reason I am not deterred and will always make a point to say “hello” because every individual needs to be recognized; every one of us matters. In fact, our youth need to know they are treasured, and acknowledging them assures them that they are a part of our community.
Last spring a safety expert from
IMReady
assessed all of our campuses, and one of the primary recommendations is that we approach all visitors without a badge and invite them to come to the office to check-in. While the safety expert referred to this as “challenging unknown persons” in our Culture of We, it means inviting every person to be acknowledged on campus. Too often people pass by others as if they don’t exist; this detracts from our ability to build community. Regretfully, this strange phenomenon of self-enclosure that many of us experience can become a habitual way of life amongst our teens. Eliminating isolationism builds connection, which increases security and safety at school.
This week, at MHS, our students are taking charge of building a Culture of We, starting with “hello.” Our leadership students, along with MHS Activities Director Jerell Maneja and Principal Francis Rojas, have pledged to follow the
Sandy Hook Promise
. Each day they will practice new habits of connection that will instill the mindset that all students belong, and no one is alone. Practicing safety at school is more than drills and greater than fences; it’s about ensuring that every person on campus is valued. How do we do that? Start with “hello,” listen to one another, and walk together in community.
In community,
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Cell Phone Pouch Program has positive impact on Calaveras Hills High School Students
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In teacher Megan Bence’s credit recovery class September 3, her students are hard at work on their Chromebooks. On their desks right next to the laptops, each student has a gray Yondr pocket sleeve. Magnetically locked inside are their cell phones.
This is just one piece of the Calaveras Hills Cell Phone Pouch Program, which allows students to earn extra productivity points to help speed up their credit recovery by volunteering to lock up their devices during class time.
“They stay focused on their work and communicate with each other more,” said Bence of the immediate impacts the cell phone program has on her students.
Bence is a Government and Economics teacher for Calaveras Hills and also teaches credit recovery courses for Alternative Education students.
“There’s a noted difference between the kids who choose to lock up their phones and those who choose not to do it,” Bence added.
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Back-to-school with MUSD principals: Part 2
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We wanted to connect with principals across MUSD to find out about what their visions were for the 2019-2020 school year; we also wanted to check in and see if there were any new happenings on their campuses.
In August's edition of Campus Connections, we featured our first series of principals, and now, we bring you the second series.
You can click on the principal's name below to read more!
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E-sports club draws nearly 200 Milpitas High students
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Milpitas High School e-Sports
Club President Kyle Fang, Club Vice President Ryan Teoh, and
Club Treasurer Ronie Chen hosted nearly 200 classmates at the first club meeting September 17.
"The meeting went smoothly and we were able to organize almost 200 people into teams or groups based on the games they want to be involved in," explained Club President Kyle Fang.
"This club is for students at MHS to enjoy what they are passionate about and for them to make new friends in a comfortable environment," Fang continued.
MHS teacher Martha Chen is the club adviser.
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Chinese Club brings a crowd of MHS students
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The first meeting of Milpitas High School's Chinese club, with teacher adviser Martha Chen, was a big hit among the student body on September 19.
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Schools safe from new federal immigration regulation
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Schools and school nutrition programs remain unaffected by recent changes to a federal regulation, known as the “Public Charge” rule, regarding an individual’s immigration status, according to a September 16, 2019 announcement from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
The National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, Afterschool Meal Supplement, Special Milk Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program are not considered public benefits that could impact an individual’s immigration status.
The “Public Charge” rule, which goes into effect in mid-October, penalizes immigrants who receive certain public benefits, according to the CDE press release. Public education is not a public benefit covered by the rule.
Resources are available here:
Additional resources and information that you may use to communicate with families in your district are also available here:
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Check out our District Calendar
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Have a look at our District Calendar for information on upcoming events, meetings and more. Here's the
link.
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MUSD | Phone: (408) 635-2600
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