News

#TogetherWeGrow. . . #JuntosAprendemos…#TogetherWeLead. . .

#JuntosCrecemos…#TogetherWeLearn…#JuntosLideramos!

#LeadWithResilience…#LiderarConResiliencia

 

 

MDUSD Board Updates:

     
     On Monday, January 13, 2019, the Governing Board held its first meeting of 2020! At the meeting the Governing Board approved two resolutions. The Fist focused on supporting a resolution for, “Fund Education Now Week,” February 3-7-2020. Fund Education Now is a grassroots Contra Costa County initiative whose message is focused on sharing concerns, information, and raising awareness about the need to advocate for needs to increase funding for our schools as this is in the best interest of our communities. Individuals, school sites, business partners, and our entire community is asked to check out the information online, follow the activities of the Fund Education Now group on Twitter, and simply learn about the overall circumstances of how our public schools are funded, then work to make the situation better. Please see the links for the Board Resolution, and flyers in English and Spanish on the Fund Education Now activities during this special week to raise awareness.

     The Board also approved a resolution opposing the use and sale of E-cigarettes and Electronic Vaping Devices. It is staggering to hear that more than 40 people have died due to lung illness after vaping in 2019. It is troublesome that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 people each year. And, it is absolutely worrisome that one in eight California high school students currently use tobacco products, with many of them now using e-type systems to get nicotine into their bodies at incredibly high levels. While the resolution itself may not stop students from using tobacco, the conversations between students and parents, students and educators, students and students that come from discussing some of the significant data points on this resolution just might someone think a little more about what they are choosing to do to their own systems.

This Board resolution link can be found here.

 

LCAP Speaker Series:

   
     On Wednesday of next week, January 22, 2020, the District’s Third Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Speaker Series will be held at El Dorado Middle School, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. The focus of this presentation will be on Social Media Use and its Effects on School Communities. The information will focus on some of the concerns that occur when Social Media becomes such a strong influence or factor in a student’s life, and how Social Media can often be used to create additional distractions and negative impacts on students as well.  The concept of taking a “Digital Diet” will be shared, which just might be a bad idea for all of us from time to time.

We truly hope that our parents and families who have the opportunity to attend come to this event to learn a little, consider the impacts of Social Media on your children, and work with them to develop good habits for using Social Media in a positive manner.

Flyers for our Speaker Series are available in English and Spanish.

Valhalla STEM Night was AWESOME!

     
     On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, I was able to attend the STEM Night at Valhalla Elementary School. I was seriously enthralled with the activities they had for the students and family members to engage in. Ublix, Cheese Ball Building, Dancing Popcorn, Airplane Making and Flying, were but a few of the activities that kept hundreds of students and their families engaged through the evening. Many of our schools have similar events throughout the year, and truly I wish I could get to them all, as I know the learning that takes place at these events is often extremely memorable for our students. The Valhalla staff member who worked to put this event on are to be commended and the fun and excitement was absolutely palpable!

 

Administrative Council – All Committed to the Important Work Ahead!

     
     On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, I had the opportunity to meet with our entire Mt. Diablo Administrative Council. This group includes all of our Certificated and Classified Management Team Members, which is close to 200 people. We connected as individuals, discussed and focused on the collective work that we have in front of us, engaged and spoke to each other as team members, identified many strengths and positives that are occurring across the District, while also looking at many of the current challenges that we have as a large, expansive school district with many diverse levels of needs and supports that are present for our 30,000 plus students. We have an exceptional cadre of school administrators in Mt. Diablo Unified, and as we build systems of support and efficacy across our systems the collective work that we will accomplish for our students will move mountains!

 

Yes, that was Snow on the Mountain!

   
     I just had to include this wonderful picture from Diablo View Middle School, and yes, I grabbed it off of their twitter page, so I’m not sure who to give the photo credit to, yet it is inspiring!

 

DELAC Has New Leaders:

     
     On Thursday, January 16, 2020, the District English Language Advisory Committee (DELAC) completed elections for new leadership. Enrique Sanchez was re-elected as President, with Estella Nunez, elected as Vice-President, Yazmin Peraza to Secretary, and Veronica Martinez as Parliamentarian. We wish them well as they continue to lead efforts for this committee.

 

 

Diamante Scholars Program:

     
     Our friends at Diablo Valley College (DVC) have developed a program they call “Diamante Scholars.” The program is intended to support students who may be first in their families to consider going to college, and are considering attending DVC. The program is for current high school seniors who are committed to attending DVC full time, and are interested in obtaining a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Math STEAM). The program is intended to support the student through their attainment of obtaining an Associate Arts Degree, and transferring to a University or State College. All interested seniors should check out the flyers below, and contact with the advisors of the program at DVC. Rosa Armendariz – Dean of Student Engagement and Equity, Ada Ocampo – Program Manager, and Marina Arevalo – Program Coordinator, are at DVC wanting to share more about this great program supported by the Zaballos Family.

Diamante Scholars Flyer (English and Spanish)
Diamante Scholars Presentation