Dear MPCSD Families,

If you have a second though eighth grader, you've probably heard by now that NASA Astronaut José Hernández visited every school last week with his message of big dreams, hard work, and perseverance. He shared about his childhood, his "grumpy" dad who could be quick to anger but also became his biggest champion, his "loving mom" who taught him to prioritize his studies, and his "first crush" second grade teacher who was the reason José developed roots and began his path to a successful education. He shared that it was watching astronaut Gene Cernan walk on the moon during José's fifth grade year that planted the seed of becoming an astronaut. And he shared that from that time on, every decision he made was with the space program in mind, so when we fulfilled his 37-year-old dream of orbiting the earth as an astronaut at age 47, despite eleven rejections to the NASA program, he was so proud and happy. During the presentation he played footage from his mission and narrated as if it were happening today - the excitement felt that real.

What impressed us most, was that after every presentation students (and staff) surrounded José to ask questions and get selfies and autographs. Kids loved speaking Spanish with him and some even shared that they were from the same home town in Mexico. As José told his story of growing up, kids were nodding along and even saying "mine too" about a favorite teacher or a tough parent. Relating in this way with our students and setting an example of following his passion and overcoming hurdles is just the empowerment we hoped to bring to MPCSD students. To read more about the visit, see this recent InMenlo article. See José's books and the movie based on his experience, too!

Thank you to all the donors at the MPAEF Spring 2024 auction who made this possible, and all the donors to the One Community Campaign who make inspirational guest speakers like this available throughout the year.

The One Community Campaign (OCC) has just a week and a half left to get to its $3.75 million goal. Thank you to every family that has already made a donation.

Our schools counts on OCC funds for activities like family picnics, science events, electives, assemblies, cultural festivals, afterschool sports, book fairs, musicals, home center, and so much more. At the district we count on the OCC to fund teachers at every school, the ability to offer things like music, art, and world language, tons of middle school electives, full-time counselors, and social-emotional learning education like RULER, Second Step, and Project Cornerstone. Because of the OCC we can offer excellent professional development and on-site teacher coaches which help us attract and retain the best educators.

If you haven't already, please consider a donation to the OCC to invest in your child and their classmates today and for the future.

The One Community Campaign supports MPCSD's Parent Education Speaker Series!

We kick off this year's events with a home-grown evening of tips on making reading at home fun while encouraging kids to expand perspective, improve literacy, and increase their own sense of belonging.

Please join MPCSD's Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (and author) Marissa McGee and Reading Specialist Jacqui Cebrian, plus authors Nicole Chen and Sana Rafi, to explore the wide world of children's literature and how reading at home can be a fun and effective part of your child's academic and independence journey. Tips and inspiration for you as a parent can enhance this beloved family experience. Examples of the authors' books pictured here.

This event will be October 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the Oak Knoll Library.

¡Celebremos el Mes de la Herencia Hispana!

Every year from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month to recognize and appreciate the incredible contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. MPCSD's connection to Hispanic and Latino language and culture is deep as 21% of students identify as Hispanic/Latino, and 31% of K-5 students choose to enroll in Spanish Immersion. Acknowledging and celebrating diversity speaks to our district's commitment to strengthening conditions for belonging. 

You can appreciate the contributions of the Latino community, share their histories and cultures, and celebrate our Latino and Hispanic students and families! Learn more about the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month and take a virtual tour of the Molina Family Latino Gallery.

Kristen Gracia, Superintendent | mpcsd.org

Governing Board

Francesca Segrè, President

Sherwin Chen, Vice President/Clerk

David Ackerman

Scott Saywell

Jed Scolnick