MPCSD District Newsletter - September 18, 2025 | | Educating and empowering students while embracing childhood and adolescence. | | |
This year, as part of our efforts to empower students and embrace childhood, we are helping our students build independence and resilience in age appropriate ways. The research tells us that children build skills and confidence through independence.
MPCSD encourages parents to not step in too quickly; or not at all! For example, when your child forgets to bring their lunch to school, take it as an opportunity for them to navigate an age-appropriate challenge with caring adults. For our middle school students this same opportunity can present itself when they forget their iPad or homework. Students develop resilience and grow confidence through experiences like this because they learn that they can count on themselves. This isn't without some discomfort or doubt. However, when we as adults jump in to rescue, the message we send is, "you can't handle this" and then the feelings of discomfort grow into anxiety and low self-esteem. So, don't respond to the call when it has to do with lunches, iPads, and other age appropriate mistakes. Know that they will be okay and when they ask for help, our staff will support your child to navigate getting what they need. If they come home and ask, "Why didn't you help?" You can say, "Because I knew you could handle it."
We will use our parent education speaker series to offer resources for families to help you encourage independence and resilience at home. How do we empower our children to make decisions, gain independence, and build confidence, thus fostering their ability to figure things out, unless we change how often we intervene and solve their problems? The truth is, we can’t. Let's learn together how to empower our children!
Here are some ways to support this work:
In partnership,
Kristen Gracia
Superintendent
| | MPCSD Budget 101 - First Session Tonight | | |
If you're interested in how we are funded and how you can give your input as the district and school board plan for fiscal sustainability, please attend one Superintendent Gracia's Budget 101 Sessions.
You will learn more about:
- What it means to be community funded
- Why property taxes are not enough (this graphic from the county controller's office shows the disbursement of our property taxes)
- OCC's impact on our programming
- How to get involved in the district-wide financial exercise for fiscal sustainability
The same content will be presented twice with morning/evening in-person/remote options.
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TONIGHT!
MPCSD Budget 101:
Funding our Priorities
Thursday, September 18, 2025
7-8 p.m.
This will be presented via Zoom
No RSVP/registration required
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MPCSD Budget 101:
Funding our Priorities
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
9-10 a.m.
This will be presented in person at the TERC Building at 181 Encinal Avenue
No RSVP/registration required
| | One Community Campaign Needs You | | |
The OCC ends Friday, September 26, and as of this week, the campaign has raised $2.2M of its $3.75M goal.
Without the One Community Campaign, our district would be short 40% of funding for three critical pillars of staff: specialist and elective teachers, mental and physical health professionals, and academic support staff.
If you haven't yet contributed, please learn more and donate here today - every dollar makes a difference: there are just nine days left in the campaign and $1M dollars yet to raise!
Thank you to the families that have made a contribution to the OCC - the MPCSD is so grateful for all the generous donors and dedicated volunteers whose enthusiasm is apparent with the One Community Campaign!
| | Measure U Update: Summer Quick Start Projects | | |
Your bond dollars are already at work! Over the summer we completed several projects:
- data wiring upgrades
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asphalt repairs and play structure resurfacing (pictured above left)
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tree planting (pictured above right)
- intrusion alarm pilot systems
- door access control installations
Significant progress has also been made on major initiatives like new construction and modernization at Laurel Lower, modernization at Hillview, and districtwide HVAC upgrades, with HVAC plans due for state review by year-end and installation by 2027.
So far, the district has spent $1.4M in Measure U finds, with plans to spend $8-10M over the 2025-26 school year. The largest projects, including significant new construction at Laurel Lower Campus and at Hillview, are well into the planning phases. The Bond Program Team provided a Measure U update at the most recent school board meeting on September 11. The Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee will meet on September 25, 5-7 p.m. at the TERC, to review finances and progress.
| | Speaker Series: Building Children's Independence and Resilience | | |
We are excited to offer parent education this year, continuing the theme of childhood independence that we began last year. The first event will be "The Forgotten Lunch: Building Independence and Resilience in Everyday Moments." A panel of MPCSD experts - counselors, school administrators, and teachers, facilitated by Superintendent Kristen Gracia, will share how we can encourage students to grow their self advocacy along their path to independence.
We all want to help our kids, but sometimes in our rush to fix problems, we inadvertently close off a learning opportunity that would have allowed developmentally appropriate independence to flourish. Come learn how we as parents and educators can work together to let children figure their own way through challenging moments. Our goal is to raise thriving, independent adults who can make their way confidently through the world. Moments along their journey that require them to think for themselves, reach out for help, and solve a problem equip them to navigate bigger challenges in the future. And knowing they have these skills helps us relax as parents, confident that our children will be okay.
The Forgotten Lunch: Building Independence and Resilience in Everyday Moments
October 29, 7:00 p.m.
Hillview PAC
| | Secure Campus and More: The Big Five | | |
The secure campus at Encinal and Laurel Lower Campus last week, in response to a threat at Menlo-Atherton High School, was an example of how schools in San Mateo County respond to various school emergencies. "Secure Campus" is part of The Big Five, "a common emergency plan adopted by all San Mateo County school districts and law enforcement agencies. Created by San Mateo County's Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities, it provides five immediate action responses in any given emergency: Shelter in Place; Drop, Cover, and Hold On; Secure Campus; Lockdown/Barricade; and Evacuation," according to the San Mateo County Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities website.
We are proud of how our staff quickly responded to the potential threat and how our students calmly and cooperatively followed staff guidance. We are also grateful to local police for their partnership with us and resolution of the potential threat. During Big Five emergencies, MPCSD will communicate with parents through ParentSquare and depending on the urgency and emergency status, will utilize text communications as needed.
MPCSD staff are trained in all the Big Five responses, and our schools perform drills on each Big Five response except Lockdown/Barricade - we do not do lockdown drills with students. The county provides more information about Big Five as well as resources about school safety for families. Each school has a comprehensive emergency plan. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your school site administrators or the district office.
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Kristen Gracia, Superintendent | mpcsd.org
Governing Board:
Sherwin Chen, President
Jed Scolnick, Vice President/Clerk
Scott Saywell
Francesca Segrè
Josh Spira
Board Meeting Calendar. Board meeting agendas and Zoom links may also be found at the district homepage 72 hours prior to every regular meeting.
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