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.
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Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities |
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October 20th was Unity Day, a day to be united for a kinder, more accepting, and inclusive world. We wore orange throughout our district, a bold color reminder that schools are places where we strive to be an oasis for all to thrive in learning and working. How do we get there? What are our Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities?
Our strengths lie in our desire to teach, learn, and be curious--children and adults alike. Our desire to be a MUSD community for our learners is a strength.
The inability to be in person as freely as we were prior to this global disaster is a weakness. Inexperience in ciphering through social media and virtual communication applications are as well. Our students in transitional grades from middle to high school missed the opportunity to be physically present at school. They missed out on an aspect of discovering their voice in community.
While social media provides all of us the opportunity to build a sense of belonging, it also risks creating a social environment that is two dimensional--without physical presence we miss communication cues such as tone, facial expressions, and body language. While virtual communication through visual platforms does provide some of this, it misses the unspoken communication and connection to another person that our presence provides.
Communication through social media platforms can be a threat as it has a propensity for one to slip into a mindset of disregard for how our words impact another. It seems to embolden the use of accusatory language rather than seeking to understand another’s viewpoint or context. Ironically, while the internet allows us to discover friendship across the globe, it can also threaten our sense of security.
Connection is an essential factor in building resiliency as are purpose, flexibility, and hope. Re-centering on our MUSD vision, so that we might enable our learners to realize their own purpose moves us forward. Modeling flexibility allows us all to find ways to develop strategies that benefit us in our purpose. Hope nourishes us when our energies are depleted. We have the opportunity to support resiliency through inclusion and empathy for one another. We have the opportunity to move forward in ways that multiply ingenuity and creativity for all learners.
In community,
Cheryl Jordan
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State Board Member of Year's blog |
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In Milpitas Unified School District, we have two feeder Child Development Centers that feed into 10 elementary schools. We have 10 elementary schools that currently feed into two middle schools. We have two middle schools that feed into one comprehensive high school, one alternative high school, one middle college high school, one adult education school, and one community college. We also have one K-12 online school called the Virtual Pathways Program (VPP/Independent Study) that feeds into them all.
All of these places and spaces of education, higher learning and pathway development are under the umbrella of MUSD EducatEverywhere. Wherever there is a need, no matter the age, MUSD strives to serve one of the most socioeconomically and ethnically diverse communities in the United States. Yes, I said United States. And while adversarial conflict dominates the news cycles and social media chats, capitalism continues to push the bounds of machine learning, process automation and artificial intelligence. As times and seasons change, I enjoy looking over the horizon.....
Over the horizon, I see the city of Milpitas elected officials and operational staff continuing to build its working relationship with the school district, parents and workforce ready students that accelerate economic recovery, stability and prosperity. Over the horizon, I see our community-based organizations infusing new residents and goals into their organizations so the rich stories and traditions of events, scholarships, mentorship programs and financial donations to our diverse student populations grow.
Over the horizon, I see Milpitas High School with a Performing Arts Center, second gym, fitness center and student union. Over the horizon I see the MUSD Innovation Campus, which will house District Office personnel, Tech services, MHS campus extension, Calaveras Hills, Milpitas Adult Education and Workforce Readiness and Early Childhood Development Center. The MUSD Innovation campus will bring new buildings, excitement and opportunities to 1331 East Calaveras (Ayer Site/District Office) in preparation for the 4IR.
Over the horizon, I see our residents appreciating, continuing to challenge and supporting our district when we need them the most. Over the horizon, I see MUSD students free from racism, bigotry and the hate that divides so many. They will take their places in the world as producers in the fields of healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology, governance, biotech, finance, engineering (social, architectural, mechanical), computer science, industrial design, architecture, public service, community relations, legal and, of course, education.
In community,
Chris Norwood
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Science Specialists engage elementary students
in scientific exploration, experimentation
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Snemer Anand bounces around her classroom laboratory at Pomeroy Elementary School with as much joy and enthusiasm as her students who are deeply engaged in the variety of hands-on projects she has at each station centered around Thermal Energy.
“She’s great,” said 11-year-old sixth grader Kevin Yovan. “She does super fun projects. Today, we learned how different types of objects can make sparks and fire.”
The excitement and energy around science discovery is just as engaging at Spangler Elementary School, where Sappho Chow has her students learning hands-on about the different functions and parts of the eye. Wearing a white scientist jacket as she instructs her students using a “Mystery Science” video, Chow has their full attention. The students follow steps to create a retina and cornea that they will experiment with the natural light coming in from the window.
“It was very cool to learn about the design of the eye,” said 8-year-old fourth-grader Navya Khadloya. “She asks lots of questions to make it interesting.”
Anand and Chow, who are two of nine science specialists employed at each of MUSD’s elementary schools, cover the Next Generation Science Standards for all fourth through sixth grade students whose classes rotate into their laboratories on a weekly basis.
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Raising Awareness on Suicide Prevention is vital for all |
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Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is a time to come together to raise awareness, offer support, and reduce stigma around a difficult topic. During this time of dual health and social justice pandemics, the acute and residual effects continue to increase suicide rates and affect communities in disproportionate ways.
According to the CDC, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 10-34. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ students experience life events or stressors that other students do not, and are linked with greater risk. During the pandemic BIPOC, particularly Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black groups, experienced suicide ideation more than other groups in the 30 days before a survey. The Trevor Project reports that LGBTQ+ youth are 5 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, and 8.4 times more likely than their LGBTQ+ peers when they come from highly rejecting families.
These statistics are sobering, however, suicide is preventable! The most effective intervention for suicide is prevention. Acceptance, understanding, belonging, and connection saves lives. According to the Family Acceptance Project, having at least one supportive adult can reduce a LGBTQ+ youth’s risk of suicide. It is essential that as a community we seek to be the person our loved ones and students can talk to without judgment, and that we get help ourselves when we need it.
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Let's Shake Out Milpitas! |
MUSD participated in the 2021 Great American Shakeout on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 10:21 a.m. and throughout the week with earthquake drills and emergency preparedness education at each of our MUSD sites for the 2021 Great Shakeout.
Click on our flyer for resource links on how you can prepare your household in case of an emergency.
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Happy Hispanic, Latino, Latinx Month!
So, who’s invited to celebrate? Well, Hispanic refers to anyone who traces their lineage to a Spanish language or cultural heritage, including those of us Mestizos of mixed blood (indigenous, Afro-Caribbean and Spanish). And Latino refers to anyone from a Latin-American country or a Latin-based language. That includes Americans of Latin ancestry, North-American Latins (Mexicans), Central and South-Americans, Iberian Peninsulars (Spanish and Portuguese), Italians, French, Brazilians and even Romanians. Sooo, a whole bunch of us! And Latinx refers to any gender in these groups; male, female, non-binary, LGBTQ+. '
Need more of a definition? Hispanics tend to have the highest longevity in the US (due to our propensity to socialize, our pre-Colombian diet and our faith). We also tend to be the happiest of any ethnic group in the US. We are the least likely to place our elderly parents in senior homes and the most likely to have multigenerational households. If you are healthy, happy, family oriented, or enjoy your extended family then you qualify as a Hispanic.
Since our food defines us, if you enjoy a good mole, a thick, spicy, peanuty sauce with chicken (sort of like a good Indian masala, butter chicken or a Thai curry) or if you like a savory pork or beef, peppery, oniony, guisado (reminiscent of a Filipino adobo) or even a tasty torta (which is no different than a Vietnamese Banh Mi), then you qualify. If you have ever tasted tripas (chitlins) or carnitas (Chinese char siu), then you also qualify.
So Happy Hispanic Heritage Month. If you speak Spanish, or not, if you come from a Latin country or not, if you are happy, if you love your family, if you eat OUR food, if you want a long life, regardless of gender, then you are welcome to celebrate with us!
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By Jazmine Finuliar
True Colors President 2021-2022
Happy LGBTQ+ History Month! This month is one where we all must come together to acknowledge the historical events and figures that were the foundation of where LGBTQ+ liberation currently stands. One of the very special days that our community shows our support through is National Coming Out Day (NCOD).
National Coming Out Day is celebrated every October 11th in order to raise awareness for coming out, and encourages people of the community to embrace who they are. The first National Coming Out Day was celebrated in 1988 by gay rights activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary to observe the 1 year anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for LGBTQ+ Rights. At the time, being closeted and holding heteronormative perspectives were normal occurrences in society. Because of that, they strived to destigmatize the LGBTQ+ community in order to provide a safer environment for young people of the community to express themselves freely.
Because the 11th is also Indigenous People's Day, we at True Colors chose to celebrate it on October 12th in order to bring everyone together at the same time. Established in 2018, True Colors is an organization that strives to promote allyship, education, and a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals on campus. Every NCOD, we distribute rainbow stickers to people all over campus. Each person is able to write whatever label they are proud to be, and it is also an option for the person to simply not write a label. Seeing everyone wear their sticker in support of NCOD was truly a sign of hope and progression towards completely deconstructing bias against the LGBTQ+ community. Though we think that there is still a lot of work left to do, taking it one step at a time through events like this greatly contributes to that objective.
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Happy 246th birthday U.S. Navy! |
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When MUSD Administrative Secretary Suzette Bromagem is not assisting families with students of exceptional needs, she dedicates time as a delegate for local Chapter 281 for the California School Employees Association.
Bromagem, along with Debbie Narvaes of Berryessa School District, co-authored a resolution at the 2019 CSEA Annual Conference for full Transitional Kindergarten funding for students regardless of age (4 or 5). That resolution then became Assembly Bill 22 and was sponsored by California State Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. It then recently became law when Governor Newsom signed the bill, allocating $3 billion for TK funding to be phased into the state budget.
"We will now get the funding to support these TK students whether they are 4 or 5 years old," said Bromagem, explaining that previously students only received funding at age 5.
CSEA Chapter 281 President Machelle Kessinger, a MUSD Administrative Secretary in Student Services and the CSEA Area C Director, spoke on the Senate Floor in favor of AB22.
"All children deserve an equal education," Kessinger said. "All students in the state of California will have the same opportunity at early education, and that's what is most important."
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Six MHS students named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists |
A half dozen Milpitas High School students were recently selected as Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
They are among about 16,000 students nationwide in the 67th annual NMSP to earn the designation based on results from the Preliminary SAT exam. In February, these six students will be notified if they have advanced to Finalist standing, which then qualifies them for about 7,500 scholarships worth nearly $30 million.
Congratulations to students Brian Dinh, Aaryaman Jain, Hirva Shah, Ryan Teoh, Chloe Yeap, and Rachel Yen!
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Russell, Rancho among top Calif. Middle Schools |
Both MUSD Middle Schools were ranked among the top California Middle Schools in the latest U.S. News and Reports Middle School Ranking.
Thomas Russell Middle School was ranked 74th out of 2,319 California Middle Schools. TRMS was designated "Well Above Expectations" in both Reading and Math Performance. Rancho MS was ranked 247th, performing "Well Above Expectations" in Math Performance and "Somewhat Above Expectations" in Reading Performance.
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Celebrating Unity Day 2021 |
Milpitas Unified School District Staff and Students wore orange for Unity Day -- a time for communities nationwide to prevent bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
The Unity Day pledge calls for:
- support others who have been hurt
- treat others with kindness
- be more accepting of people’s differences
- help include those who are left out
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'My Name, My Identity' by Burnett students |
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Moving Forward Together: COVID19 Update 2021-22 |
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Special Board Session on Social Media Trends |
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MUSD Navigators!
Liza Gable-Ferguson
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Latest community activities from our District Calendar |
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Have a look at our District Calendar for information on more upcoming events, meetings and more. Here's the link.
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MUSD | Phone: (408) 635-2600 |
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