If this email is clipped—or photos are not displayed—click the "View entire message" link at the bottom of the email. School LIFE is the newsletter of the Milpitas Unified School District. If you have stories for our next issue, please send them to Scott Forstner.

Let's learn even more about each other in the New Year

I recently attended a celebration of life for a member of our MUSD family, Frances Paragon-Arias, and as I was leaving, someone asked me if "I enjoyed it." I replied that I learned more about Frances, and that I wished I had known her better. He reminded me that people experience different parts of what makes us who we are. Our multifaceted Milpitas community is similar.

The season of celebration in Milpitas is one that embraces our community with many cultural and faith based traditions. From September thru February we share in each other's experiences of holidays focused on renewal and relationship that incorporate the radiance of life. It is in these moments that we have the opportunity to learn more about each other. 

During this winter's festivities, let's be fully in the moment with each other, and take time to tell others how they have enriched our lives. I will tell you that being a part of our Milpitas community since 1989 has positively impacted my life. I look forward to the years ahead with you as we continue to develop world class educational experiences for all MUSD learners.

Happy Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and a joy filled New Year✨

A New Hope for a New Year together at MUSD

As 2022 comes to close, my eyes fill with tears for the children, parents, friends and families that will not see 2023 due to COVID19 and socioeconomic factors that drove them out of the region. 

The sorrow fuels my hope that the greatest good is service to others.  I search for answers on how to serve in my weakest moments. There are plenty of weak moments. 

Our news headlines have been filled with war, inflation, hate crimes, homelessness and divisive politics. Social media algorithms and Artificial Intelligence are working overtime feeding our fears with more fears. We are all hurting. We are all struggling. We search for the happiness we once knew. Will it ever end? Who will put an end to it? 

I am grateful for the outpouring of community support and re-election to the Milpitas School District Governing Board of Trustees for my 3rd term. I am grateful my mom saw her 81st birthday this past June and attended the MHS graduation of her only grandson. I am grateful that I was on stage at the MHS graduation when my son walked across and my family was just a few feet away. At that moment, I saw a 17 year old Chris Norwood walking across that stage many years ago. 

The new leaders of our associations have huge shoes to fill. Diana Orlando and Machelle Kessinger had 35+ years of experience in their MTA and CSEA leadership roles, respectively. They pushed me to learn about the policies, historical practices and people employed by MUSD. I am confident the doors of effective and transparent communication will remain open and continue to serve us all well. I will do my part to build stronger bridges. Teamwork makes the dream work. 

Every employee within MUSD matters. Each contributes something unique and needed for us to work, live, learn, thrive and serve. Grateful for everyone who chooses to call MUSD home and these next few weeks of rest. Take good care of yourselves and those around you. 2023 will be what we make it.....

Chris Norwood

MUSD Historic Event: 'Topping Off Ceremony'

for MUSD Innovation Campus

Milpitas school and city leaders, as well as staff, alumni, donors, and community members, gathered at 1331 E. Calaveras Blvd. on the southside of the city for the symbolic “Topping Off Ceremony” for the MUSD Innovation Campus on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.

One day prior and earlier the same day of the historic event, students and staff from Calaveras Hills High School, Milpitas Adult Education and the District Office, along with Board of Education trustees, City officials and other MUSD Innovation Campus donors, signed a construction beam before the Blach Construction crew raised it onto one of the building structures.

“Signing the steel beam is a commitment to being the foundation for innovation in MUSD,” said Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. “WE are the foundation that fortifies our commitment to designing intergenerational learning experiences that provide students with state of the art skills.”

The MUSD Innovation Campus is a first-of-its-kind high school through adult, early childhood education research and workforce development center. Located on the site of the former Samuel Ayer High School, the MUSD Innovation Campus will be a hub for future-ready learners of all ages to connect with local businesses and partners within classrooms and labs tailored to provide a real-world education.

Click to read more about MUSD Innovation Campus

Young female students explore STEM

with GirlStart afterschool program

While their parents are huddled outside the classroom, the excitement is building for about 30 fourth- and fifth- grade students at Weller Elementary School as the young female scientists make final preparations on their projects for their GirlStart Showcase.

It is a culmination of the semester-long, after-school program, which seeks to inspire elementary-school aged girls by exposing them to the wonders of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and potential career paths in fields that are disproportionately lacking for females.

“For me, it is just about making things fun for the girls. We are an after-school program that they come to after a day of classes and schoolwork,” said Elise Pham, GirlStart STEM crew member. “We want them to have fun with their projects. We want to teach them that STEM is something achievable for them.”

Julian Roque, a Science Specialist with Milpitas Unified School District, likes how GirlStart provides tons of materials that may not be available to them otherwise. “Because of that, the girls can do so many different STEM activities,” said Roque.

“I definitely think GirlStart is one of the best ways for girls to be involved in STEM. There is such a small percentage of girls going into STEM,” Roque added. “To have this opportunity so early on will hopefully inspire them later in life to pursue a career in STEM.”

Click to read more about GirlStart

Rancho Milpitas Middle School honored with sixth School

to Watch designation

Rancho Milpitas Middle School recently earned its sixth re-designation as a School To Watch, a statewide program implemented by the California League of Educators, CA Department of Education, CA Middle Grades Alliance, National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, and the CA Schools to Watch model schools.

“We truly have an incredible group of teachers at Rancho and this Schools To Watch re-designation is a validation of the great work happening in classrooms across our campus,” said Rancho Principal Casey McMurray.

Rancho was first designated a School to Watch in 2008 and then re-designated in five subsequent years. Rancho will be honored for its sixth redesignation at the CA League of Schools conference in Monterey in March 2023 and then at the National Forum of Schools To Watch in Washington D.C. in June 2023.

TRMS, Rancho MS battle for

8th grade girls basketeball title

In a December 9 down-to-the-wire, back-and-forth battle, the Thomas Russell Middle School 8th grade girls basketball team edged Rancho Milpitas Middle School for the East Side Athletic League championship.

Congratulations goes out to all MUSD student-athletes from both the TRMS and Rancho Milpitas girls basketball teams for putting on a show for those in attendance and adding another chapter to the friendly crosstown rivalry.

Science is Elementary engages MUSD students

with hands-on learning experiences

Third graders in Mrs. Anderson’s class are fully engaged as they learn about magnetic force, while first graders in Mrs. Dawson’s class are just as captivated as they learn about the reflection of light.

In both classrooms at Burnett Elementary School, the Science is Elementary program–which enlists science-savvy staff and volunteers—inspires younger students through interactive, hands-on activities. 

“I love the interactiveness of the lessons,” said Mrs. Anderson, who assists the Science is Elementary staff and volunteers as they divide the students up into smaller groups following a whole class lesson.

Science is Elementary comes into kindergarten through 3rd grade classrooms at Burnett, Rose and Sinnott, once a month, bringing along an array of materials and supplies for demonstrations, activities and scientific discovery. Each student has a Science is Elementary folder to record their findings.

“The kids have really enjoyed this program,” said Mrs. Dawson. “The way they set up the lessons is very kid appropriate and definitely connects with what we’ve been teaching.”

Click to read more about Science is Elementary

Students explore careers at Pipes Trades Training facility

Eighth through 12th grade students from Rancho Milpitas Middle School, Thomas Russell Middle School, Milpitas High School and Calaveras Hills High School were invited to a tour of the facilities at Pipes Trades Training Center this week. 

At the Pipe Trades Training Center, students learned about exciting career opportunities in Commercial Plumbing, Steam Fitting, and HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration).  Students received in-depth knowledge of the programs at the training center, a step-by-step walkthrough of the application process, and heard firsthand experiences from current apprentices. 

The visit ended with a tour of their 102,000 square foot facility featuring 45 classrooms and numerous hands-on labs. This was an exciting opportunity for our students as they learned of alternate career paths that could provide them with lucrative career opportunities. Apprentices shared that they were able to afford homes in San Jose due to the exceptional salary and benefits packages provided in their prospective fields. 

Burnett students receive new shoes from Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse

More than 80 students at Burnett Elementary School have a new pair of shoes thanks to Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse's Shoes That Fit charitable program, which distributed funds to the MUSD school for the second straight year for the purchase of new shoes for its students.

Volunteers and staff helped measure the shoe size for each student after they arrived and then assisted them in selecting a new pair of shoes!

Thank you Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse at the Milpitas Great Mall!

Watch Point Logistics donates books to Randall Elementary World Languages School

Last month, a dozen volunteers delivered and read books in English and Spanish to our Randall Elementary World Languages School students.

The books were donated by Watch Point Logistics & Books in Home USA, a non profit organization that provides partnership with local companies to provide books for students. Watch Point Logistics, based in Milpitas, delivered the books to Randall for the event.

"It was a great event, both students and volunteers had a blast," shared Randall co-Principal Claudia Cadenas.

Spangler Elementary students take lead roles in Zombies show

Spangler Elementary School students performed "Zombies," a musical theater show where the main character is a bully and in a dream learns what it’s like to be the outcast/bullied person. In the dream, everyone is a zombie and the main character is a human. The zombies treat the human poorly because she looks and acts differently. The zombies include the human and she learns a valuable lesson about friends and belonging.

Amber Garcia, a fourth-grade student, directed the show with Emely Young (4th grade teacher), Kevin Muhammad (5/6 teacher), and Jenny Hsieh (TK/K SDC) assisting at practices. Jonathan Amistoso helped record the show.