If this email is clipped—or photos are not displayed—click the "View entire message" link at the bottom of the email. 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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WE must keep moving forward together! |
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198 days and counting since March 16, 2020, the day that launched us into a duality of virtual working, learning, and living. At times it may feel stifling and exhausting, and we keep moving. Figuring out how to adapt and reshape what we do so that we are thriving might seem to be a monumental challenge, but together we are innovating. The reality is without a sense of optimism and an understanding of the strength within us, our momentum is restrained. How might we realize our joy within growing pains individually and collectively? Creativity.
Creativity relieves stress, allows for problem solving, ingenuity, and BEING present. Take time to CREATE. Our Milpitas High School student leaders designed an initiative titled “Embraced as Individuals, Together as Trojans.” Following their lead students have participated in this photo contest, produced this BLM video, and are striving for deepening inclusivity and interconnectedness. Rose teachers invented their own version of a monthly album featuring student art, wellness, and “The Adventures of Flat Rose Teacher.” Our high school learners continue to inspire with their service projects such as the Cal Hills Relay for Life next month at Great America, and STEMgirls Virtual Career Fair.
MUSD EducatEveryWhere includes our diverse experiences, cultures, and talents interwoven for learning together. Sharing those experiences through movement, art, song, and story develops our sense of self-actualization. We have more than potential, we have collective power to evolve together, our Culture of We is on the move!
#WeRMilpitas
Cheryl Jordan
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Zamudios find family harmony in distance learning |
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For the Zamudio family of four, each school day is like clockwork.
Jesus “Chuy” Zamudio, a Physical Education teacher at Milpitas High School, is the first to wake up at 6:10 a.m. He heads downstairs, has a quick breakfast, and sets up his equipment for a zero period class.
“It’s like my own studio,” explained Chuy, who claims the living room area as his teaching domain. “I have to set up my mats and weights. I also have my tripod for my camera and make sure my HDMI cord is plugged in, and I’m ready to go.”
Chuy, who is in his 19th year with Milpitas Unified School District, uses the P90X exercise program, with his own modifications, to give his students a good workout each class period. He instructs for four periods per day.
“Everyone is on. They are working. It’s phenomenal to see,” said Chuy, who averages about 45 students per class period. “Everyone is working out. The only time they are not working out is when they’re not there, and that rarely happens. The kids in Milpitas are just phenomenal.”
While Chuy is leading his zero period workout, his daughter Julia, a third grader at Pomeroy Elementary School, and son Lucas, a fifth grader also at Pomeroy, make their way into the kitchen for breakfast at around 7:45 a.m.
“They like to come down and see me at work,” said Chuy. “We make it work.”
Meanwhile, Katy Zamudio, a mathematics teacher at Thomas Russell Middle School, is in her home office preparing for her first period class in the MUSD Educate EveryWhere 2.0 distance learning model.
“It’s been going well. Like every family, we are making it work. I have to put on my mom hat at the same time as I put on my teacher hat,” said the 20th year educator, who has incorporated four workstations in their home for each family member. “(Chuy) is downstairs; I’m in my office; the kids are in their rooms; and we’re all doing our thing.”
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Community-Based Organizations make matches with MUSD schools during first of its kind virtual event |
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After hearing Thomas Russell Middle School Principal Sean Anglon’s wish to install four water-bottle filling stations for his students, Rotary Club of Milpitas President Hon Lien immediately relayed the information to her fellow Rotarians.
The very same week, the local Rotary Club agreed to donate $2,000 to TRMS to fund two water-bottle filling stations.
“If we did not have the CBO event, we would not know what the specific needs are for schools in the district,” said Lien, who doubles as the Board of Education President for the Milpitas Unified School District among other community-based titles.
Lien was one of a dozen representatives from different local and regional organizations to attend MUSD’s inaugural event, “A Perfect Partnership: Community-Based Organizations and MUSD,” which was held virtually on September 8, 2020. Participating CBOs included the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, the Nuñez Foundation, Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, Milpitas Community Education Endowment, Milpitas Lions Club, St. John the Baptist Ladies Guild, Milpitas Cares, Go Milpitas and more.
“Through the CBO with the principals sharing their needs, we were able to fund this small project,” added Lien. “Rotarians are always looking for projects to help support the community, especially with students.”
Principal Anglon, one of a dozen MUSD principals to help host the speed-match-style virtual Zoom event in which the CBOs rotated through breakout rooms learning about each school’s needs, was “ecstatic” when he heard the news. It had been a standing request from TRMS teachers for several years, according to Anglon.
“During a typical school day, even though we have water fountains on campus, very few students would use them to drink or fill their water bottles. Instead, they would either purchase plastic water bottles, which are not good for our environment, or simply wait until break or lunch to get milk or buy a smoothie,” Anglon noted. “Ensuring proper hydration of our student body throughout the school day emerged as the main ‘ask’ for improving our campus environment for students.”
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Student tips for success in distance learning |
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Kathleen Huynh
Distance learning is uncharted territory that none of us have much experience with. Since March, much of the student body has been plagued with a lack of motivation, technology induced migraines, and idleness. However, distance learning is not an unconquerable beast. With a little organization, effort, and commitment, you can fall in love with learning from home.
1) Time block
Sectioning off hours of your day to do work is an underrated tip. Put your plans into fruition; dedicate a chunk of your day to being productive. I highly recommend using Google Calendar to time block. We’ve all told ourselves that we’ll get around to working in 15 minutes, then 15 minutes becomes half an hour, and time gets away from us. Time blocking and physically scheduling your study sessions will help hold you accountable and boost productivity.
A few guidelines:
- Two hour blocks are a good place to start. It’s enough time to get a lot of work done.
- Assign tasks to blocks. Not having a plan defeats the purpose of time blocking. You should know exactly what you want to get done in your study session. You can do this with Google Keep.
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Rachel Wu
This quarantine, I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time online, searching for the perfect counsel to help me embark on a frightfully different school experience— one where I sit on my laptop for at least 6 hours a day and squint to see my smiling peers trapped in the little rectangles of our Zoom class meetings. Thankfully, I’ve combed through dozens of articles touting face masks and bath bombs to develop a practical guide to staying productive during distance learning. These suggestions will not only help you be a successful student, but a healthy one.
1) Let’s start with what is structured.
The overarching effect of quarantine has manifested itself in a less structured day; we have independent work on Wednesdays, we don’t feel pressured to eat breakfast and get dressed before running out the door, and we’ve been entrusted with managing larger chunks of time in between classes thanks to our new block schedule.
Start jotting down structured events such as classes, club meetings, and family events in a calendar or planner. In doing so, you’ll have a helpful visualization of where your unstructured time lies. I recommend using Google Calendar; it’s free, easy to navigate, and is compatible with school Gmail accounts. To further add structure to your day, make a note of your teachers’ office hours and do your best to come up with questions and insights to bring with you. By making a commitment to attending office hours, you’re holding yourself more accountable for your learning.
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Rajvee Patel
With the extended amount of time we spend at home due to distance learning, staying productive and not losing the motivation to do work has become one of the largest struggles many students face. In an effort to combat demotivation and stress, I have put together a list of 10 tips you can use to stay productive this socially-distanced school year!
1) Reach Out
During this time, many students can easily get lost during their classes and this leads to low motivation. If you don’t understand something, you are less likely to want to study that subject. The best way to solve this problem is to reach out to your peers or, even better, your teachers! Creating a study group with your friends or classmates is also a great way to get your questions answered.
An advantage that comes with online learning is that you don’t have to meet anyone in person because you can send them an email or text. Students tend to shy away from asking important questions that can help them learn because they are afraid of being judged or just embarrassed. I promise you, the question you have is not going to be seen as “weird” or “dumb” because there are probably 20 other students who have the same question. You’ll be helping yourself and those around you by being the first one to ask.
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Evelyn Fu
During this pandemic, students change from in-person classes to distance learning. Although students have different opinions on how our lifestyle changed, one thing many students struggle with is staying productive.
Staying productive varies from student to student, for example, some may feel more productive working at different times of day, or night. Others may like or dislike learning which, respectively, cause them to be motivated or unmotivated to do work. It may also be difficult for students to adjust to the new block schedule and to pay attention for two hours straight.
1) Take a break
Trying to finish all your work in one sitting may seem like the best way to be productive, but it actually makes you less productive. Time breaks to be around an hour and a half, then go back to work for another hour or two. If you sit at your table staring at your computer screen for, for example, five hours, you might become bored and take longer breaks.
Put down distractions. As many say, technology is both a blessing and a curse. Technology makes life better, however students become distracted by social media apps, spending hours talking to their friends to watching TikTok clips. Add apps on your phone that limits screen time or use apps like Flora to motivate you to not look at your phone. (Grow some flowers!)
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A Q&A w/ MHS National Merit Scholar Semifinalists |
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What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I motivate myself to succeed at a high level in anything I do, in part because of a competitive drive, but it would not be possible without the support of my family and friends.
What does the Culture of WE mean to you?
At MHS, my experience with a Culture of WE has been extensive. From the consistent stream of different study groups, collaborating to help each other learn, to the different events hosted by our ASB, I definitely believe that collaboration and inclusivity are a big part of my experience at MHS.
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BassimaFaith Chouman, 17, MHS |
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, to me, is a reflection of my hard hard, my mindset to put my best effort into everything that I do, and how far I've come in my academic career. I'm very proud of myself for achieving this title.
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
After graduating MHS, I would like to attend Harvard University because they have a great chemistry program, and in the future, I am looking to pursue a career as a cosmetic chemist.
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What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
I'm happy to see my best efforts being represented and as a semifinalist I hope to reflect MHS and its values in a positive way.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject all around is probably biology! It's important in so many fascinating fields like technology, psychology and neuroscience. I feel like I am always hovering from one bio-related field to another, because they're all just that interesting.
This year, I'm also particularly enjoying Music Theory and English.
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What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I believe my parents, especially my mother, motivate me to succeed. They always push me to achieve, even when I am unsure of my abilities.
What do you need from MUSD this year?
MUSD has given me all the support that I need to succeed, especially with their fast response to COVID-19. I would like to thank Mr. Rojas, my teachers at MHS, and my counselor, Mr. Hernandez.
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What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject has to be science. I love learning about how the world works on many different levels, from the universe down to the atoms and molecules that make us.
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I'd like to attend Stanford University because it has a vibrant history, top scholars in their fields that I can work with, and it's in the heart of Silicon Valley. I also want to go out there and change the world for the better, and Stanford is one of the best places to do that. Oh, and it's close to home.
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Robson Homes donates $200k to MUSD, offers unique housing opportunity to district employees |
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A September 25 groundbreaking for Finch Hollow Homes at the corner of N. Park Victoria Drive and Creed Street meant so much more to the MUSD community than turning dirt for another housing development.
As part of the ceremony, Mark Robson, President of Robson Homes, presented Superintendent Cheryl Jordan, Board President Hon Lien, Board Vice President Chris Norwood, and Board Clerk Kelly Yip-Chuan with a $200,000 check to support MUSD learners in MUSD EducatEveryWhere with digital devices and hotspots.
“When we first met Mark, he expressed a desire to support our learners in unique ways,” Jordan said. “Robson Homes is a company that cares about our school community. It stands out as a leader that other developers can follow for going above and beyond.”
Robson Homes plans to build 38 new homes, including four smaller Below-Market Rate units, along with 10 Accessory Dwelling Units, better known as granny units.
“For each of those homes with AUDs, Robson will connect new home buyers with MUSD team members in order to provide opportunities for renting the auxiliary units,” Jordan added.
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Enjoy the flight! Drone footage above Randall job site |
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Exercise practices under COVID-19 |
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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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