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.

Inspiration leads to Learning, and Learning is Inspiration

Inspire - a multidimensional word meaning to ignite, excite, or motivate. Learning and inspiration are like an infinity loop, one fuels the other. The incredible aspect of school is that the educator can inspire the learner and the learner can inspire the educator.  

When we are inspired, we delve deeper into learning. Calaveras Hills High School has shifted to project based learning resulting in a feeling of purpose evident amongst our students. This semester in Ms. Mendoza’s class the students investigated how to address hunger in the community, revealing harsh data that correlates the impact of poverty and access to wholesome food to a child’s health and well-being. In low-income areas, grocery stores are sparse conversely a multitude of fast food restaurants can be found. Our learners introduced insightful solutions such as a mobile grocery store specializing in fresh foods, and community gardens where children and adults cultivate connection to one another while growing healthy food for the neighborhood. (read more about CHHS PBL in CEA article)

Ms. Lam, Ms. Calvello, and Ms. Goode, have designed a multi-grade level project based learning program in which our Sinnott learners regularly explore interrelated concepts. Last month they examined culture and society within the historical context of their grade level standards. They enthusiastically shared what they learned through games that they created to demonstrate the elements of societies they studied. 

Learners in Mr. Castillo’s science class at Russell Middle School implemented design thinking to engineer shoes that might best support animals in different environments. With great enthusiasm one learner described to Principal Mia Ramzan how shoes with triangular shapes could support an animal’s adaptation to life in the rainforest.

At our MUSD Middle College High School, our learners invest two years of inquiry, analysis, and solutions trials in developing their Community Impact Projects. They incorporate collaboration, oral and written communication, as well as agile thinking to prepare for their current and future endeavors. In Ms. Manluco’s class they recently completed research on institutes of higher learning and applied their  rhetorical skills to gain the support of their families for their top three selections. Mr. Macatangay’s learners engaged in Supreme Court mock trials this semester, and are now emerging orators with a complex understanding of our constitutional rights.  

From the very start of our existence we are learners who thrive on the joy of discovery. Education provides us with opportunities to develop our skills using a variety of resources. In MUSD we are focused on strategies that ignite the thrill of learning and the experience of accomplishment. We are creating a world class education for All in partnership with our families and community. 

Building a Culture of We,

MUSD is on the right path for future successes

To end 2023, I decided to reflect on the current state of the Milpitas Unified School District. These are my views based on my experiences, research, board meeting participation, parent communication, student interaction, community member inquiry, and feedback from city, county, state and federal officials:

About MUSD 

MUSD is an award-winning school district (the only public district within our city limits), serving more than 10,000 students (bringing 52+ languages spoken) and employing more than 1,000 educators (both certificated and classified), with an active 5-member governing board, dedicated leadership and staff members, parent volunteers, community-based organizations and leaders. As a unified district, we have 19 schools educating students from early childhood through adult education. Accolades include 8 California Distinguished Schools, 6 State Honor Roll Schools, 1 World Language School (Spanish/Mandarin), 1 State Model Continuation School, and 1 National Middle Schools To Watch. See how MUSD rates on California Department of Education Dashboard.

Our MUSD students are at the heart of everything. The majority of them show up everyday willing to try and eager to learn. Some of them come to school with barriers to their learning experiences due to life circumstances, neurodiversities, physical limitations, and other reasons. Our staff recognizes these challenges and strives to make a positive impact.

Our MUSD parents are extremely diverse in culture, demographics, socioeconomic status, vocations, professions and education backgrounds. The majority of parents have moderate levels of volunteerism and participation (the highest level at our elementary schools). 

Show Me The Money (Summary)

District budget of $155+ million covers employees salary and benefits, building/land maintenance, student nutrition, software/hardware, insurance, product licenses, transportation, and much much more. Funding sources include federal and state budgets, local parcel taxes and bonds (MUSD has Aa1 and AA credit ratings per Moody’s Investors and S&P Global Ratings), fundraisers and donations, and a wide variety of one-time grants.

Federal and state funding (it can be annual, multi-year, or one-time funds and restricted or unrestricted funds) comes from our enrollment and attendance, along with categorical sources such as special education. When the federal or state budgets face deficits, we get less money to run our district.

Opportunities, Challenges and Technologies

Opportunities include: increasing enrollment and cultivating attendance; providing comprehensive employee pathway development; expanding STEAM, computer science, digital literacy, multilingualism, artificial intelligence, and inclusive services; strengthening Parent Teacher Associations and Organizations (PTA/PTO); growing strategic partnerships with community-based organizations and parents working in regional businesses and City of Milpitas. The District must advocate for public education funding, workforce housing, and solving the educator shortage through our locally elected officials (Congress, Senate, County, Assembly, Mayor, City Council). 

Challenges include combatting federal and state budget deficits, declining enrollment, decreasing attendance, negative effects of social media, and expanding private schools and home school networks. Staffing issues occur due to Silicon Valley housing and rental market, cost of living expenses (i.e. gas, food), career pathway mobility, commute time, and state-wide market competition.

Over the last decade, MUSD has been an education technology leader as an early adopter of Google Classroom, Gmail, GChat, Facebook @ Work, iReady, Khan Academy, Summit Learning Platform and other top tier education technologies. We were among the first to adopt Google Chromebooks and offer a 1:1 device-to-student ratio. We utilize ChatGPT and other forms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our classrooms so teachers and students learn to safely use AI platforms, including Khanmigo by Khan Academy. Our Director of IT organized an AI education working group to develop curriculum; MUSD has representation on the California School Boards Association AI Task Force; and our Superintendent is developing an MUSD AI Task Force of all stakeholders.

State of The District

The state of MUSD is strong with aspirations of providing a world class TK - Adult learner education system with the MUSD Innovation Campus, MHS, Calaveras Hills, Milpitas Middle College High School and Adult Ed as its core pillars to career pathway growth opportunities for our learners and staff. The MUSD North Star is to “Build A Culture of We” and the cornerstone of its 5 Strategic Goals. 

MUSD continues to deliver on its bond and parcel tax promises with the completion of Mabel Mattos elementary school, implementation of safety and security perimeters at school sites, expansion of Randall World Languages School, and breaking ground on the MHS Performing Art Center. The District has mature leadership from top to bottom sprinkled across the district with fresh ideas from new leaders, continues to invest in professional development, and out of the box fundraising opportunities. 

Everyday MUSD faces challenges of safety and security (thank you Milpitas PD for your partnership); of the mental health of students and staff; and of the academic and attendance struggles of underserved, homeless, foster and Special Education students. These challenges are caused by changing times, ongoing education industry staffing shortages, bias, economic uncertainty, global turmoil and post-COVID conditions.  

Our future lies in the resilient local hands of MUSD staff, Milpitas residents, parents, taxpayers, voters, volunteers, businesses, community members, elected officials and more. Happiest of holidays to all! 

In Service,

Chris Norwood

State Board Member of Year Blog

Milpitas High School Wellness Center makes

immediate impact on student mental health

“If you build it, they will come,” was the famous phrase from the 1989 film, Field of Dreams, that Milpitas Unified School District Executive Director Mary Jude Doerpinghaus referenced as she addressed a distinguished crowd of regional and local stakeholders at the Nov. 16 grand opening of Milpitas High School Wellness Center.

In the first two months, the center has accounted for 554 student visits, with 130 repeat visitors and 16 students in crisis, “and that’s why we’re here,” added Executive Director Doerpinghaus from inside the newly renovated wellness center.

Click to continue to read this feature about MHS Wellness Center

Click to read SCCOE-MUSD joint press release

MUSD leader Cheryl Jordan receives

ACSA State Superintendent of the Year award

At the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Leadership Summit on Nov. 2-4 in Sacramento, Milpitas Unified School District leader Cheryl Jordan was formally honored as the 2023 State Superintendent of the Year, a special moment she shared with her family, the members of the MUSD Board of Education, and Santa Clara County and MUSD leaders.

“I was stunned when I learned of this incredible honor as there are so many who lead their districts in amazing ways both in Santa Clara County and throughout California. I learn from my SCC superintendent colleagues who share their insights and ideas about leading from this seat. My mentors in MUSD and throughout my life along with ACSA have been an integral part of my leadership development,” Superintendent Jordan shared.

Click to read more about State Superintendent of the Year

Student Board Rep Satvika Iyer joins panel discussion

at CSBA Annual Education Conference

By SATVIKA IYER

MHS Student Board Representative

Serving on the MUSD Board of Education as a student member has taught me so much about what goes into running a school. From weighing in on budgeting decisions to advocating for student concerns throughout the district, the California state law and I consider student input essential to the success of a school and governance by the school board.

At the California School Board Association’s Annual Education Conference, I realized that most school boards didn’t know how to utilize or didn’t even have a student board member. I witnessed thousands of district educators, staff, and students banding together to define the role of student members in effective governance, hopeful for the new age of student advocacy.

As part of the only student board member panel of the conference, two other student board members and I weighed in on the challenges and opportunities for improvement we have faced and addressed on the job.

Click to read more about Student Board Rep Iyer at CSBA

MHS hosts visitors from sister city Dagupan, Phillippines

Milpitas High School hosted high school students, education officials and the Mayor from our sister city, Dagupan, in the Philippines earlier this month.

The MHS PUSO club, along with leadership students, teamed up to serve as ambassadors for the students and their chaperones. The visiting students were each assigned a PUSO host, and they shadowed them around for two days.

Additionally, MHS Associated Student Body (ASB) and PUSO sponsored a lunch for our visitors, played games, shared food and culture, and learned more about each other.

Milpitas High School's AI Club explores

limitless possibilities of Artificial Intelligence

By AMANDA LAI

MHS AI Club President

Milpitas High School’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Club found its roots in August of 2023 when a group of passionate students, inspired by the potential of AI, decided to channel their interest into a small community to hone this interest.

Established to explore the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence, this club delves deeply into the more intricate sides of AI — machine learning, data exploration, and many other concepts that are lesser known but as important. With its continued relevancy towards education today, students at MHS created this club out of a shared enthusiasm to harness the impactful power of AI and a desire to explore its applications in various fields. 

Click to read more about MHS Artificial Intelligence Club

Jack Emery Drive unites our MUSD comm-UNITY

By Nhuhao Nguyen

Jack Emery District Coordinator / MHS ASB President

"In comm-UNITY for Jack Emery" — a rhyme that served as the vision for this year's annual Jack Emery Drive. Taking on the role of Jack Emery district coordinator, I wanted to maintain the immense community focus of the food drive. Hosting the brunch was certainly a stepping stone in bringing together schools in our Milpitas community to kick-off the season; however, as much of an honor as it was to lead it, I believe this year's Jack Emery efforts truly belonged to community contributions.

While some schools are still continuing to input their final numbers, we have already achieved over 100,000 cans, and it would not have been possible without everyone coming together to make a difference. Whether it was a couple coins donated to events for the drive, some cans found in the pantry, or extra cash found in wallets, every contribution—big or small—had its impact in the food drive.

Click to read more about Jack Emery 2023

Sinnott students test skills in multiple subjects

Sinnott Elementary School fourth graders Adhya Dangaria and Tara Karadi won regional championships in the first set of International Academic Competition (IAC) geography, history and science regional bees.

Dangaria won the fourth grade science bee, while Karadi bested the field in geography. Both have qualified for the national and international bees in all three categories.

Fellow fourth grader Maya Mathis placed second in science; fifth grader Advik Kulkarni was a history bee finalist; and sixth graders Shreya Ram and Aditi Sharma were science bee finalists. They all qualified for the nationals.

Additionally, third grader Dev Mocherla placed second in geography and was a finalist in science, qualifying for nationals and internationals in both categories.



Student competitors qualify for nationals by finishing in the top 50% of their competing division at their regional final. Students qualify for internationals by finishing in the top 25% of their competing division at their regional final or by finishing in the top 50% of their competing division at their national competition.

Buy A Brick - Leave A Legacy at MUSD Innovation Campus

Become a permanent part of Milpitas Unified School District history by purchasing a personalized, engraved paver brick for the MUSD Innovation Campus. Individuals, as well as groups and organizations, may purchase a brick that will be engraved with a personalized message. These commemorative bricks will be installed on campus and be a permanent part of the Innovation Campus. All proceeds go directly to the development of the MUSD Innovation Campus! Click to order.