Ingenuity, compassion drive our community of learners

Education is about what's possible in the increments of time between now and the future. Learning builds on knowledge and skills we have acquired through prior discovery, discussion, and practice. Learning with purpose is what guides us towards our future pathways. 

In MUSD there are students who have discovered how to advocate for themselves and others such as 8th grader Nia who has firmly established herself as a leader in environmental science with CliMatters. High school students Annabelle and Jaina collaborated with their teachers on the Milpitas Elementary Science Olympiad to assure our students are exposed to the joy of innovation through scientific practice. Aditi, a 4th grade student, published her book for younger students about life lessons, Dino Morals. Charu, a student in our MUSD Middle College High School, presented her project to the teachers at Weller where she shared with them how much more meaningful learning is when students feel represented in what they study. 

Charmaine seized the opportunity of attending an in person learning lab last year where her teachers wove a tapestry of community with she and her peers at the center. From there Charmaine forged a new pathway which will lead her to a career in sports psychology where she will do the same for her patients. Jubilation in education is when our learners see themselves as capable individuals who matter in our world.

There are times when learning is easy, and others when it comes through productive struggle. All of us are learners, and we have braved through tremendous change and at times, heartache. As a community of learners in MUSD, we value diverse thought, cultures, and experiences. We've learned that we make things possible through ingenuity and compassion for one another. 

As we cheer on our graduates towards making extraordinary possibilities a part of their futures, let's also remember that it is both our own purpose and theirs that brings our Culture of We to life.

We thrived through this year together MUSD!

Finding new ways to survive and thrive

What are you going to do with your life today? You've survived what appears to be the brunt of the COVID19 Pandemic. You've survived becoming a healthcare professional at school and in your home. You've survived working from home under challenging circumstances to working at a school site under even more challenging circumstances. You've survived disagreements and struggles with colleagues and family members. 

I believe life will always include "surviving something" and to counteract survival mode only, we must commit to finding new ways of thriving at the same time. 

You've thrived in new ways to effectively communicate with each other, families, friends and students. You've thrived in becoming more resourceful in your day to day lives. You've thrived in recognizing the value of your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.  

What are you going to do with your life today? What about tomorrow? 

As you prepare for summer, I hope a part of your life includes peaceful rest. I hope it includes the opportunity to dance like nobody's watching. I hope it includes time with the most important people. Congratulations MUSD for a stellar year of surviving and thriving. 

#ForeverGrateful

 #CultureOfWe

#MUSD4Life

In community,



Chris Norwood

MUSD wins 2022 California Pivotal

Practice Award for EducatEveryWhere

Milpitas Unified School District was one of only nine districts in Santa Clara County and among only 121 of 1,000 districts in the state named as a winner of the 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award Program, which highlights school and district practices that supported students during the 2020-21 academic year when distance learning was in effect.

The MUSD EducatEveryWhere online learning initiative was implemented almost immediately following the shift to 100% distance learning in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. MUSD EducatEveryWhere, which used a phased-in, hybrid approach, was the culmination of more than 11,050 planning minutes among 62 meetings along with input from 6,000+ survey responses and 2,495 parent Q&A sessions. 

“We formed 14 different subcommittees involving hundreds of district and community stakeholders and created a 260-member COVID-19 Advisory Task Force composed of student, parent, staff, and community representatives from elementary, middle, high school, and district operations teams,” recalled MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. “We are very proud of the work that was done in shaping our distance learning initiative.”

Click to read more about Pivotal Practice Award

Burnett's early academic language acquisition instruction

introduces kindergartners to different biomes

Kindergartners in Ms. Dixon, Ms. Gong and Ms. Dawson’s classes at Burnett Elementary School were having an absolute blast learning about biomes and the creatures that live within each distinct habitat and ecosystem.

On this particular Tuesday morning, students were selecting their favorite animal, mammal, insect, bird, reptile, or arachnid; then identifying the corresponding biome; drawing a picture of their selection; and finally pasting them into their Habitat Lapbook.

Popping from desk to desk, “The _____ lives in the _____,” is what teachers asked their students. Responses included meerkat, scorpion, arctic fox, jellyfish, toucan, penguin, jaguar, rattlesnake, sea turtle, lobster, octopus, and beluga whale. Then, they named one of the five major types of biomes (aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra).

“The SEAL, or early academic language acquisition, strategies that our teachers use are so engaging and fun to be a part of,” said Principal Hanna Asrat. “I love walking into classrooms when students are learning new academic vocabulary or singing one of their chants; the “buzz” of learning in those moments is palpable."

Click to read more about SEAL

Burnett's transitional kindergartners grow sunflowers from seedlings

In Ms. Huynh’s Transitional Kindergarten class at Burnett, young learners scurry outside to locate their sunflower seedlings that have been growing for about a month.

Each student brings their CD case of seedlings inside along with a small pot filled with soil. This is part of TK’s early academic language acquisition lesson in learning the different parts of a plant.

“We are going to move the seeds into the pot today,” Ms. Huynh instructs her class. “The roots are very fragile so be extra gentle when you move them to the pot.”

Students, who will take home their sprouting sunflower at the end of the school year, have been taking notes in their Observation Log Book while learning about the lifecycle of a sunflower and plant parts in different ways such as a fun song they sing together as a class.

“The roots they hold the plant in place. And soak up water and food,” the lyrics read. “The leaves soak up the rays of sun. And help the plant make food.”

MUSD Alumni Profile: Maria Guardado, MHS Class of 2010

As the San Francisco Giants beat writer for MLB.com, Milpitas High School Class of 2010 alumna Maria Guardado has conversed with the likes of Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey.

“I write breaking news, game recaps, features, trend pieces and more on the Giants, providing daily coverage throughout the regular season, offseason and Spring Training,” said the 29-year-old professional journalist. 

Guardado’s journey to landing a gig with Major League Baseball started in Milpitas at Weller Elementary School, Thomas Russell Middle School and MHS. Guardado then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University.

“I feel fortunate to have spent my most formative years in MUSD schools, which not only provided the foundation of my education, but also exposed me to a multicultural environment that valued diversity and placed no limitations on my ambitions,” Guardado said.

Some of her fondest memories were competing on the MHS track and field team, as well as attending science camp in Santa Cruz during elementary school. 

Click to read more about MHS alumna Maria Guardado

Students collaborate on science projects as part of inaugural April Academy over Spring Break

Nearly 150 first, third and fifth grade students explored science through Project-based Learning as part of Milpitas Unified School District’s inaugural April Academy, which was held during Spring Break April 11-15 at Spangler Elementary School.

“All week the students were collaborating, planning, writing, researching, problem solving, and working with each other on a focused science unit,” said April Academy Principal Andrew Dinh.

Goals of the April Academy were to provide student access to rigorous and engaging instructional content; promote collaborative teamwork in researching and designing a product that is accessible to the community; and building self-efficacy in student motivation to be proactive in their learning.

“As a program, it went great,” said Dinh, noting that nearly 90 percent of parent survey respondents said they would return next year. “I can imagine this program growing and expanding.”

The Academy consisted of three first-grade teachers, two third-grade teachers, one fifth-grade teacher, and a specialty teacher who concentrated on Social Emotional Learning (SEL), physical education and art. Students went through a slightly modified school day from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch were provided at no cost to families.

Click to read more about April Academy

Sinnott, Curtner embrace Girls On the Run program

Sinnott and Curtner Elementary School's Girls on the Run (GOTR) student members completed a practice 5K Run earlier this month, in preparation for the official GOTR 5K Run at Vasona Park, which was held on May 21.

This is the seventh year Sinnott has participated in the afterschool program, which is celebrating its 20th year. Girls on the Run has trained volunteer coaches who lead girls through lessons about standing up for yourself and others, managing emotions, setting goals, stopping gossip and bullying, and so much more.

Curtner School's GOTR club members grew to 14 students this school year and trained for six weeks to run the 5K.

"We are incredibly proud of these students who have been practicing for six weeks, pushing themselves a little more each practice to complete their goal," said Curtner GOTR coach Vidhya Balasubramanian. "We had strong support from parents who helped arrange and encourage the team. We also had support from [Curtner teacher] Ms. Phung who also ran with the girls."

Student Perspectives: Benefits of ACE Mentor Program

Quartet of MUSD Administrators recognized as

2022 ACSA Region 8 Administrators of the Year

Burnett Elementary School Principal Hanna Asrat, Milpitas High School Assistant Principal Skyler Draeger, Calaveras Hills High School Principal Carl Stice and Assistant Superintendent of Human Relations Jonathon Brunson were selected as 2022 Administrators of the Year by the Region 8 Association of California School Administrators.

Asrat was named the 2022 Elementary Principal of the Year; Draeger was selected as the Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year; Stice was chosen for Continuation/Ed Options Administrator of the Year; and Brunson was honored with the Marcus Foster Memorial Award.

“Congratulations to our administrators who are well-deserving of this exceptional honor,” said MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. “These leaders have been integral in supporting our MUSD learners, team members and school communities. Particularly as they demonstrated resilience and innovative thinking throughout these last two years.”

Click to read more about 2022 Administrators of Year

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College Destinations

MUSD COVID-19 Testing Clinics for All