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San Mateo Union High School District
A Commitment to Qualify Education for a Better Future
650 N. Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
650-558-2299 | www.smuhsd.org
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Study Session and Board Meeting | |
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Get Help Filling Out Financial Aid Applications: March 18 and March 25
Districtwide In-Person Financial Aid Application Workshop
- Monday, March 18, 6-8 p.m.
- San Mateo High School Library
- NO RSVP necessary
- This workshop is open to any student in the District
- A bilingual staff member will be on hand to help Spanish speaking families with the application process.
Bring your school-issued Chromebook or a personal laptop. You might also need to bring tax returns, net worth of investments/businesses and current balances of cash and bank accounts.
Cash for College Workshop - Virtual
Join a free virtual Cash for College workshop for help with completing a FAFSA or CADAA. Financial aid experts can answer all of your questions and can help you finish and submit your application on the same day. Learn more.
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March 26: Help Advise SMUHSD on Services for Multilingual Learners
SMUHSD's District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) is a district-wide committee that advises the board on programs and services for Multilingual Learners.
- Tuesday, March 26, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
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Location: SMUHSD Office, 650 N. Delaware Street, San Mateo
- Meetings are conducted in English with Spanish interpretation
Questions? Please contact District Family Engagement Coordinator Elsa Pulido at epulido@smuhsd.org or 650-558-2226 or visit www.smuhsd.org/delac
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Learn About Serving on the Black Parents Association's Board!
Parents, students, educators and community members who are interested in serving on the Black Parents Association Board and/or joining the organization AND individuals interested in attending BPA events and assisting with BPA fundraising are encouraged to attend our Monday, April 22 virtual meeting from 6-7 p.m.
View the Zoom login information.
The BPA is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led association that supports equitable and inclusive learning environments for our students. The group is dedicated to cooperatively promoting quality education for students of African, African American, or multiracial descent while offering the best level of support and information to both students and parents. Through collaboration, participation and support, they help to enrich our students’ high school journey preparing them to reach their fullest potential.
In order to continue to be operational, the group needs a Board of Directors, including a president, treasurer, and secretary. These individuals need to be at least 18 years of age, so the opportunity could be extended to recent high school graduates who have an interest in learning more about non-profit management.
Learn more about the Black Parents Association: www.smuhsd.org/bpa
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Upcoming Student Performances Across the District
Save the dates for these upcoming performances. Learn more at www.smuhsd.org/vapa
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March is Arts Education Month!
A high-quality arts education is an essential part of a student's journey. Engaging in art fosters creativity and innovation, promotes critical thinking, enhances communication skills, builds cultural awareness, boosts academic performance, and nurtures students' social and emotional well-being – in essence, arts education helps students achieve personal and academic success.
California has come a long way to ensure all students have equitable access to the arts with the passage of Proposition 28, which will bring approximately $11.6 million annually to San Mateo County. Thank you to all of our teachers who help bring the arts into our students’ daily lives!
Learn more about arts education in SMUHSD schools.
San Mateo High Student Artwork on Display at Central Park March 2-23
Celebrate Arts Education this month - Check out “Coral” an exhibit presented by the Zoetic Tapestry Project featuring artwork by students at San Mateo High School. The artwork can be viewed on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. until March 23 at the San Mateo Arboretum Society Kohl Pump House in San Mateo Central Park.
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March 3-9 was National School Social Worker Week | |
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Our District social workers bring unique knowledge and skills to the school system and the student services team. School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic, attendance and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents/guardians, and administrators as well as student and family connection to community resources.
School social workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools - which is to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence. School social workers are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving student success.
Thank you to SMUHSD social workers for everything you do for our students and their families: Chelsi Cheng, LCSW; Teresa Deanda, ASW; Melina Diaz, ASW; Dagoberto Espinoza, ASW; Daniel Tostado, PPS and Lisa Mejia Sandoval, MSW.
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National Women's History Month
March is National Women’s History Month and two student board members - Bianca Mei Santos from Mills High School and Kaya Jimenez from San Mateo High School - helped author our National Women’s History Month Proclamation and read it at the February 22 Board Meeting.
Read the proclamation: English | Spanish
Watch Kaya and Bianca Mei read the proclamation.
Photo: Bianca Mei Santos, Kaya Jimenez and Superintendent Booker
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National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness (NDDA) Month, and at our February 22 Board meeting we shared a very special video that featured three of our Bay University students - Amanda Kim, Ian Hwang and Aidan Lee - who read the NDDA Month proclamation.
Thank you to Dr. Holly Wade, Director of Special Education for her guidance on the proclamation and working with our students who are featured in the video. Thanks also to Mills High student Zurine Cheng, one of our Student Board Council Members who contributed to the proclamation.
Read the proclamation: English | Spanish
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Capuchino Students Place in Poetry Out Loud Competition
Congratulations to Capuchino students Addison Huntington and Nicolas Marinos who took second and third place respectively in the San Mateo County Poetry Out Loud Competition.
Poetry Out Loud (POL) gives high school students the confidence to make themselves heard, using one of the most powerful tools at their disposal—poetry. It encourages teens to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program in partnership with the NEA, the Poetry Foundation, and each state’s arts agency.
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Robotics Across the District
The Mills High Boba Bots and Burlingame High Iron Panthers competed at the FRC Silicon Valley Regional February 29 - March 3 where the Iron Panthers competed in the semi-finals and the Boba Bots won the Creativity Award!
You can catch more SMUHSD teams in FIRST Robotics over the next few weeks:
Additionally, the Boba Bots are hosting a Robot Reveal and 25th anniversary celebration at Mills High School Library this Friday, March 15 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Learn more and RSVP.
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Aragon Student Wins SamTrans Art Contest
Aragon 10th grader Maria Gevorgyan was recently announced as one of the winners of SamTrans Art Takes a Bus Ride art contest. The 16th Annual Contest gives 1st - 12th graders a chance to have their artwork displayed on the side of a SamTrans bus for a year as well as on ad cards inside SamTrans buses. This contest is in partnership with the San Mateo County Office of Education and San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture.
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Mills Musicians Place 1st at Folsom Jazz Festival
MHS Music Director Dave Gregoric recently shared that the Mills Jazz Band participated in the 2024 Folsom Jazz Festival where they placed 1st in Division B and the Jazz Combo placed 2nd in Division A. Additionally, the following musicians were recognized with soloist awards:
- Lana Levison
- William Levison
- Kameron Fung
- Jackie Pan
- Jeremy Garcia
- Justin Garcia
- Jimmy Guan
- JP Zlatunich
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Aragon Students Recognized at Singing Competition | |
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On Saturday, March 2, AHS Director of Choirs and Orchestras John Chen accompanied Aragon students Mia Weinberger (12th), Alessandra Hernandez (11th), Saurab Gulati (9th), Katie Yue (11th), Owen Browne (12th) and Tatupu “Tupu” Vaili (12th) to the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) San Francisco Competition. The students competed alongside singers from Sacramento to the South Bay who train at conservatories and music schools!
Tupu placed 1st and Owen placed 2nd in the Upper High School boys category, Saurab placed third in the Lower High School boys Category.
Huge shout out to Tupu - he also advanced to the Finals and won at NATS Finals! This is the first time an AHS singer won at finals.
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Brothers from Mills Compete on NBC Singing Competition, "The Voice" | |
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Mills 12th Graders Justin and Jeremy Garcia received the coveted three-chair turn on NBC's The Voice Signing Competition on the February 27 episode.
Read more about the brothers and the competition in the March 4 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle.
| Pride Prom 2024 - 2nd Annual Event Draws Students and Volunteers From Across the County |  | |
More than 200 students attended the 2nd Annual Pride Prom that was held Friday, February 23, 2024 at the College of San Mateo. Pride Prom was an inclusive, safe, welcoming, night to remember for 9th-12th grade students who attend high school in San Mateo County. This FREE event celebrated and uplifted LGBTQ young people and advocates for the sustained and continued efforts in our County to build places where youth are seen and supported in environments free from hate and discrimination.
This event provided a variety of activities, including dancing and a DJ, lots of food, drinks, games, and much more.
Pride Prom was coordinated with the guidance of SMUHSD Director of Special Education Services Holly Wade because, “All students deserve an opportunity to experience a safe and accepting place to celebrate themselves. Our students in San Mateo County have made it very clear that having a place to gather and be joyful as their true selves is an essential part of belonging to their queer community. Additionally this event has garnered tremendous community support both as volunteers and donors as well. It is truly a healing experience for all.”
This year's event was organized by District Health Services and Employee Wellness Lead Ana Herold who used her incredible skills to manage volunteer sign ups, registration of students, and the scheduling and timeline of the event as well as a post-event survey to students who attended.
Burlingame High Instructional Assistant Steve Meyer was the DJ for the event - he had to manage more than 300 song requests before the dance even started!
Culinary students in the classes of Jefferson High School Teacher Scott Sachs and Menlo Atherton High School Teacher Craig Barnard baked all of the wonderful desserts.
Community Partners
We acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of our Community Partners in planning this event including the San Mateo County Office of Education, College of San Mateo, Coast Pride, LGBTQ Commission of San Mateo County, and San Mateo Pride Center.
Volunteers
Thank you to the more than 35 volunteers (see photo collage above) who helped with setting up, registering guests and cleaning up! Volunteers included SMUHSD staff and folks from Districts across the county, as well as from SMCOE, SMCCCD, as well as parents/guardians of students throughout the County! Community members also participated to celebrate the joy in the event and build connections. Check out this reel highlighting the volunteers that helped set up the event before students arrived!
Want to get involved next year?
More information about Pride Prom volunteer opportunities will be posted in the coming months.
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Youth Climate Ambassador Program Wins Award
The Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) Leadership Program, a joint effort between the County of San Mateo’s Sustainability Department and the County Office of Education is being honored with a Sustainable San Mateo County Sustainability Award that celebrates innovative efforts in environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic vitality.
The YCA Leadership Program, the first of its kind in California, engages 9th to 12th grade students across San Mateo County in a highly selective seven-month program that focuses on climate science, community action, and leadership development. YCA prompts students to deeply explore local and global climate issues and pursue opportunities for climate action in their communities. Through a combination of workshops, retreats, and projects, participants gain knowledge, skills, and experience to address the local and global climate crisis.
For the past five years, the Sustainability Department (formerly the Office of Sustainability) has partnered with the San Mateo County Office of Education, Peninsula Clean Energy, Citizens Environmental Council, and Acterra to create a dynamic program for nurturing emerging climate leaders across San Mateo County.
A total of 273 students have participated since its inception, including 13 SMUHSD students who are participating in the current cohort:
- Brandon Lin, 9th grade, Aragon High School
- Charlotte Graham, 10th grade, Aragon High School
- Marcus Finke, 11th grade, Aragon High School
- Spencer Coral, 11th grade, Aragon High School
- Arin Gurung, 11th grade, Burlingame High School
- Catherine Kwong, 10th grade, Burlingame High School
- Evelyn Du, 10th grade, Burlingame High School
- Kai Shah, 10th grade, Burlingame High School
- Kairah Maqsood, 10th grade, Burlingame High School
- Rowan Kelly, 10th grade, Burlingame High School
- Antonio Gorriceta, 9th grade, Mills High School
- Stephen Rong, 10th grade, Mills High School
- Trisha Sabadra, 11th grade, San Mateo High School
Carly Peters, a Burlingame High School student who participated in the 2023 YCA program, said that the program empowered her “to be a leader and advocate for the environment” and that “the young people in our community are so lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of this program. It really does empower youth to be a part of the sustainable future.”
Read the San Mateo County Office of Education press release.
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March 17 Deadline for Entries to Citizens Environmental Council Student Film Contest
The deadline to submit a video to the 7th Annual CEC Student Film Fest is approaching. Students who wish to enter should submit an original video, not more than five minutes in length, on the environmental topic of their choice by Sunday, March 17. They must live or attend school in grades 4 through 12 in San Mateo County in order to be eligible.
Please visit https://www.burlingamefilmfest.com for details, rules and to submit entries.
With support from Peninsula Clean Energy, CEC will provide $150 cash prizes in three categories: elementary grades 4-5, middle school grades 6-8 and high school. The overall Best in Fest winner will receive an additional $150. The final entries will be screened and winners will be announced at the CEC Student Film Fest on Tuesday, April 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Burlingame High School Theater.
San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine will be on hand to acknowledge involvement of all participants. The festival is open to the public and admission is free.
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Sustainable and Climate Ready Schools Challenge
Applications Due March 22
Are you helping your school community become more sustainable or climate ready? Apply for the Sustainable and Climate Ready Schools Challenge to receive recognition for your impact towards creating a sustainable future.
Learn more.
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Family Education Webinars | |
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Free Webinars for Parents and Guardians
Making it Less Awkward: Navigating the Tween and Teen Years
- Tuesday, March 12, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, best-selling authors of "This is so Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained"
- Register
- Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
Attend this webinar and get:
- Advice about how to talk to kids about almost anything: acne, body odor, growth spurts, eating disorders, mood swings, sexuality, and more
- Science-based explanations for all of puberty’s physical, emotional, and social changes
- What adults needs to know about today’s teen culture
- Invaluable commentary straight from young adults just out the other side of adolescence
Why a Sense of Control is Key to Mental Health: How to Foster it in Kids
- Thursday, March 14, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
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Dr. William Stixrud, clinical neuropsychologist and a faculty member at Children’s National Medical Center and George Washington University Medical School; Ned Johnson, founder of PrepMatters
- Register
- Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.
Kids at every achievement level are experiencing acute levels of stress, and many lack motivation. Students complain that they have no control over their lives. In their groundbreaking books, The Self-Driven Child and What Do You Say?, Stixrud and Johnson reveal how you can actively help your child to sculpt a brain that is resilient and ready to take on new challenges.
Teens and Cyberbullying: How to Protect Children and Champion Their Resilience
Learn:
- How to identify signs of cyberbullying
- Strategies to support teens facing cyberbullying
- Ways to build resilience in your students or children
En Español: Las redes sociales y el impacto en los jóvenes y familia
- martes, 19 de marzo, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Edwin Fernández, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center,
- Seminario en línea gratis
- Registro
Pasar tiempo en las redes sociales se ha convertido casi en una forma de vida para la mayoría de las personas. A muchos padres les preocupa cómo la exposición a la tecnología podría afectar a los niños pequeños desde el punto de vista del desarrollo. En esta charla Edwin Fernández, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center, hablará sobre el impacto de las redes sociales en los niños y la familia.
The Power of Quiet: Rescuing Solitude in a Distracted, Extroverted World
We live in a society filled with incessant noise - from expectations for constant online connectivity to booming sounds of traffic on our highways. Yet, societal norms about informational, sensory, and social stimuli favor the extroverted half of our population. What are the costs of ignoring the need for quiet in our lives? Why are introverts at a greater risk for burnout than extroverts?
Leadership educator Heidi Kasevich, PhD, will examine the benefits of solitude, for both introverts and extroverts alike, and explore concrete strategies to enhance our collective well-being with quiet times and spaces.
Mastering the Art of Constructive Feedback
- Friday, March 22, 12 - 1 p.m.
- Eran Magen, PhD
- Register
How can you offer feedback to your child or teen (without the eye roll)? We all want to help our kids, but even constructive suggestions can be perceived as criticism, especially by prickly teenagers. In this online discussion group, you will have the opportunity to interact with other parents/caregivers like yourself, as well as hear from parent-child communication expert Dr. Eran Magen.
Neurodiversity Speaker Series Event
Changing Perspectives: Understanding Inclusion, Ableism, and Neurodiversity
- Tuesday, March 26, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Sam Drazin, Executive Director, Changing Perspectives
- Register
Students who feel safe and supported by adults at home and school are better able to learn, and building positive relationships with students is critical to creating a healthy learning environment.
In addition, all children need equitable and inclusive learning environments to be successful. Home and school environments that promote inclusion, ableism, and neurodiversity help students develop into confident, productive, and empathetic individuals.
In this workshop, nationally-recognized educator Sam Drazin will offer strategies to help parents/caregivers and educators create more equitable, empathetic, and inclusive communities.
Safety First and Mental Health: Empowering Teens to Prevent and Reduce Drug Use
- Wednesday, March 27, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, Halpern-Felsher REACH Lab, Stanford Medicine
- Register
How does mental health impact substance use and abuse in youth? And how can we educate and empower our teenagers to make safe and healthy choices around drugs? Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, is the founder and director of the Halpern-Felsher REACH Lab, Stanford Medicine, a research lab that develops prevention and intervention Toolkits and curriculums aimed at preventing and reducing adolescent substance use.
In this webinar, Dr. Halpern-Felsher will help parents understand the signs and symptoms of substance use, misuse, and abuse, along with the risk and protective factors that contribute to drug use in adolescents. In addition, she will address the relationship between mental health and substance use, and suggest effective communication tactics for talking about cannabis, fentanyl/opioids, nicotine/vaping, and other substances often used/abused by teens.
The College Solution: Winning Strategies for Finding the Right School at the Right Price
- Thursday, March 28, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Lynn O'Shaughnessy, College Financial Expert
- Register
Lynn O'Shaughnessy is a nationally-recognized college expert, higher-education journalist, speaker, and educator. She specializes in helping families take the stress out of affording a college education, whether public or private.
Come hear expert information on these topics:
- Does it matter where you go to college?
- What you need to know about college pricing.
- How to find out what you'll pay at each school on your child’s list before applying.
- The best strategies for reducing college costs for low-, middle-, upper-middle and high-income families.
- What types of colleges give lots of scholarships to higher income students, and what types of schools give the best need-based aid.
- Why it's more important than ever to appeal need-based and merit-based aid.
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Youth Health & Wellness Fair for Students
Supervisor David Canepa's Office is hosting a Youth Mental Health and Wellness Fair on Thursday, March 14 from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew.
Students are encouraged to attend to learn about resources and opportunities to get involved with mental healthcare, nutrition, digital health, addiction services, and other local health organizations.
Learn more.
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OYE LatinX Conference is March 23
Registration is now open for the 12th Annual Oye Latinx Youth Conference on Saturday, March 23 at Cañada College in Redwood City.
This free, all-day conference (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) brings together hundreds of local teens and young adults and their families to explore questions of identity and purpose; and build community through a fun and interactive day that includes hands-on workshops, inspirational speakers, artistic expression, community resource sharing, and networking.
The conference will feature performances, interactive workshops, resource tables and free breakfast and lunch for all in-person participants.
Learn more and register for this free event: tinyurl.com/oye2024
Download the flyer: English | Spanish
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Millbrae Community Social Equity Public Workshop is March 23
Although Millbrae Community Social Equity Committee meetings are not open to the public, they have just scheduled the first of four in-person public workshops in the Millbrae social equity planning process.
The first public workshop will take place on Saturday, March 23, from 4 - 6:30 p.m. at the Millbrae Rec Center, located at 477 Lincoln Circle. Free childcare, food, and simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and Chinese will be provided.
The workshop will focus on mapping community assets and assessing community vulnerabilities and needs in Millbrae. Millbrae residents, students and workers are invited to attend.
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Friday, April 12: Youth Mental Health Concert
Save the date! The San Mateo Public Library and the County of San Mateo Office of Arts and Culture presents, Youth in Harmony: A Mental Health Concert
This concert will feature a program of musical performances curated by San Mateo County Youth Cultural Ambassadors Mikaela George and Keiya Wada (both students at Aragon High School).
Details
- Friday, April 12, 6-7 p.m.
- Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
- San Mateo Public Library, Oak Room, 55 W. Third Avenue, San Mateo
- Light refreshments will be served.
- Free and open to the public.
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Jewish Family and Children's Services Volunteer and Event Opportunities for Students
You do not have to be Jewish to participate!
JFCS Online Career Explorations Night 2024
- Thursday, March 14, 7:30-8:45pm
- On Zoom
- Register
Not sure how your interests turn into a career? This evening is for you! You’re invited to JFCS’ YouthFirst Career Night where teens get a chance to talk to successful professionals in a variety of fields, including the arts, science, tech, and law. Our panelists will share how their passions, interests, and skills led them to their current jobs, and provide a glimpse into their unique career journeys. Structured Q&A is included in the evening.
Questions? Email meravb@jfcs.org.
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Department of Health Launches New Mental Health Apps for Youth
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) launches two new apps to support youth mental health. These free online resources are available to all California children, youth, and families, regardless of insurance coverage or immigration status.
The platforms, which are a part of the CalHOPE program, offer free one-on-one support with live coaches, a library of multimedia resources, wellness exercises, and peer communities moderated by trained behavioral health professionals.
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BrightLife Kids, is for parents or caregivers and kids 0-12 years old and is available via iOS (on Android mid-2024).
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Soluna, is for teens and young adults ages 13-25, and is available via iOS and Android.
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We are Hiring
Check out the following notices of vacancies at our school sites, District Office and Transportation Department. Applicants need to register for an EdJoin account and apply online. View all current openings: www.smuhsd.org/careers
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Behavior Interventionist ParaEducator
Instructional Assistant I, Special Education
- A part-time, 30 hours per week position
- Location: Burlingame High School
- Apply by March 18
Student Success Coordinator
- A full-time, 37.5 hours per week position
- Location: Mills High School
- Apply by March 22
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Instructional Assistant II-Special Education
- A part-time, 30 hours per week position
- Location: Burlingame High School
- Apply by March 22
School Bus Driver Instructor / Transportation Coordinator
- A full-time, 37.5 hours per week position
- Location: District Office-Transportation
- Apply by April 1
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Student Nutrition Jobs
Contact Denis Vorrises at 650-558-2479 or dvorisses@smuhsd.org if you are interested in applying or want more information or apply on EdJoin today.
Highlights
- Work five hours a day, Monday-Friday
- Summers off and paid holidays
- Health benefit opportunities
- Starting pay is $24.17
- Employees with minimal experience in food services may be trained on all duties to be assigned.
Need more flexibility? We also have substitute student cafeteria opportunities.
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Transportation Jobs
Please also check out the following openings in our Transportation Department:
School Bus Driver
Special Education Van Driver
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Substitute Positions
Visit www.smuhsd.org/substitute for more information about substitute teaching.
Substitute Classified (Non Teaching) Positions
Need a Flexible Work Arrangement? Try Substituting with Us!
Learn more about the following substitute opportunities and apply online on Edjoin today!
To see a complete list of current vacancies - permanent and substitute, visit www.smuhsd.org/careers.
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