“Beyond Safe Havens” Conference Supports Students Who Could Be Harmed ByFederal Immigration Policies9/21/2017
Message from CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson:
Homecoming Weekend, September 22 & September 23, 2017.
Please contact the Mayor at [email protected] for more info.
The City of San Jose and partner organizations will be hosting a DACA Renewal Clinic (see flyer below) and it is imperative that any DACA recipient whose work permit will expire in March 2018, must apply for a 2-year renewal by Oct 5th. The cost to renew the application is $495, but there are scholarships available.
For immediate release Contact: Shannon Carr, Board Support & Communications Specialist (408) 635-2600, ext. 6031 When the Board of Education held its first meeting of the 2017-18 year, there was a new face at the dais to represent the approximately 10,340 students Milpitas Unified School District serves. Board President Daniel Bobay introduced Milpitas High School junior Priyanshi Nigam as the new Student Board Representative during the August 22 Board Meeting. That evening, Nigam shared her excitement in having a seat on the Board of Education where she is looking forward to making a positive impact by representing the interests and concerns of the school district’s students. Nigam graduated from Pomeroy Elementary School and Thomas Russell Middle School before joining Milpitas High School. She is taking over for Alan Pham, who graduated from MHS last year, until the one-year term ends next June. At that time, Nigam and the Board can choose to continue her term or elect another representative. “I am very excited and honored to join the MUSD school board with a whole team of committed members, many of whom I have had the chance to work with and meet in the past,” Nigam said. She knows Board Vice President Chris Norwood through a computer science course she attended with the Bay Area Tutoring Association he founded and Board Member Robert Jung by participating in a tutoring program with the Milpitas Community Educational Endowment (MCEE) he created. In addition, Nigam recently met with Norma Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Development, regarding improving students’ educational and learning experiences. As the Student Board Representative, Nigam will sit in on the school board’s meetings, reading up on the issues beforehand and participating in the discussions to provide a students perspective and thoughts on the issues raised. She will also be expected to work with representative(s) from Calaveras Hills High School and build relationships with Principals, Parent Teacher Associations, and other school organizations in order to report on all student activities to Board Members. In addition, she will report back to the MHS student body during the Student Council and Congress Meeting about what was discussed during recent Board Meetings. Bobay said he is looking forward to having Nigam play a more active role in the governance process of Board Meetings. For example, Nigam will be able to give preferential vote on Board agenda items, as is laid out in Board Bylaw 9150 “Student Board Members,” which he shared with her in preparation for the new role. According to the policy: “A student Board member may cast preferential votes on all matters except those subject to closed session discussion. Preferential votes shall be cast prior to the official Board vote and shall not affect the final numerical outcome of a vote. Preferential votes shall be recorded in the Board minutes.” Bobay acknowledged that while the vote may not affect the process, it will allow Board Members and Executive Cabinet to consider what the new face of MUSD students feels on topics that may impact them most. Nigam said she has a passion for science, coding, math, and, most of all, helping other students succeed academically by enjoying learning, including her 8-year-old brother, Pranav. “I love working with children, and I want them to be inspired by learning and see middle and high school as a way to further their passions and learning,” Nigam said. She has harnessed these interests by creating and teaching a summer math class to second through fourth grade students since June 2016 at Shirdi Sai Parivaar, where she attends temple; acting as a tutor at Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School since October 2016 through the MCEE; working as a summer camp counselor at the India Community Center in the summers of 2015 and 2016; and by being on the Red Cross Safekids Committee and teaching a disaster safety class to second graders at Pomeroy Elementary. Nigam is also a host on a weekly radio show about teenage perspectives on pressing issues, “Thank Gosh It’s Fresh,” by Media Mahima Creations, since June 2016. This summer, Nigam received a scholarship to participate in Kode with Klossy, an organization that empowers girls to learn coding and become leaders in technology, according to its website. As part of the program, she co-created the web application “Flavorful,” which shares quick and easy recipes that suit particular cravings. Nigam along with two other San Francisco scholars created the application in two days after learning to program in Ruby, HTML/CSS, and Sinatra, within just eight days. Nigam said she is looking forward to furthering her passion through her new role with the Board of Education. “Now, I have the chance to encourage and work with more students and I hope to make a meaningful impact to improve the experience of students' learning in a district that I have been a part of since kindergarten,” Nigam said. Notice is hereby given that the Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education has set the hour of 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the Board Room of the Milpitas Unified School District, 1331 E. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, Building 500 as the time and place of a Public Hearing for the 2016-17 GANN Appropriations Limit Calculations and the 2017-18 projected GANN Appropriations Limit Calculations.
Documentary "Job Centered Learning" highlights work of Silicon Valley Career Technical Education8/21/2017
Local filmmaker Bob Gliner produced a documentary titled “Job Centered Learning” that is airing nationwide on PBS stations, and features students and teachers at Silicon Valley Career Technical Education - SVCTE. The film takes a critical look at the wide range of CTE options some high schools in Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area are offering, engaging their students in life changing classroom experiences.
“Job Centered Learning” will air again on KRCB TV 22 - North Bay Public Media at 8 p.m. on August 24. For more information about the documentary, read the Press Release online now. For immediate release Contact: Shannon Carr,
Board Support & Communications Specialist (408) 635-2600, ext. 6031 More than 120 low-income students from throughout Milpitas Unified School District will kick off the school year on August 17 with a new wardrobe and back-to-school essentials thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Milpitas. From 6:30 to 9 a.m. Sunday, August 6, approximately 150 volunteer chaperones paired up with a student who they helped shop at Kohl’s, before the store opened, during the annual Cares for Kids program. Each student had a sheet with information about his or her needs and what sizes they wear which guided the shopping by the volunteers. They included members of the Milpitas Police Department; Milpitas, Spring Valley, and Cal fire departments; Board Members (past and present); City Council members (past and present); MUSD teachers; Rotary members; 90 Milpitas and Independence high schools key clubbers; and several more community volunteers. The event kicked off with a light breakfast to all those in attendance that morning. South Bay Kids provided musical entertainment for those parents and others waiting outside the store while the students shopped. Due to generous markdowns at the registers, shoppers were able to purchase $140 worth of clothing with the $100 Kohl’s gift cards Kiwanis supplied to each student, identified as in need by local principals. Nancy Mendizabal, who coordinated the event alongside husband Michael Mendizabal (both Kiwanis members), said the club instructs volunteers to lead shopping efforts that focus on school uniforms. “We try to get a kid three shirts and a couple of pants,” she said. “Almost every kid leaves with a pair of shoes.” From there, volunteer chaperones work to make the most of the money for the shoppers by filling in the gaps with items including socks and underwear, and at least one “fun thing” such as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sweatshirt. Nancy said the highlight of the event is watching how excited the children get about the items they receive. She recalls multiple years where she has witnessed children clutching to new clothes or shoes they could not otherwise afford saying, “I have never had new shoes of my own.” To many, it may seem run-of-the-mill to receive clothes before the start of every school year. However, for those children, she added it means something to attend their first day of school with new, clean clothes that fit and shoes without holes, just like their peers. The students will also have backpacks, filled with school supplies by the Family Giving Tree, waiting for them when they return to school on the first day. In addition to benefiting MUSD students, Kohl’s also awarded Kiwanis with more than $2,400 in “Kohl’s Cash” for the items that were purchased that day. The organization will donate that money to the Milpitas Food Pantry, which also houses a Clothes Closet, to further help those in need. Milpitas Kiwanis had 17 members and their spouses volunteer at the event. The club would like to publicly thank Kohl's and their employees who volunteered to make the event happen in addition to Hobee's, Christy's Donuts, and Starbucks for donating breakfast items; Kathy Duncan and Linda Sebree for running the shopper check-in table; and Michelle Boyd and Camile Jung for bringing in volunteer chaperones. Funding for the event comes from the MUSD/Kiwanis Crab Feed and Outback Steakhouse Dinners, which helped the organization raise more than $15,000. The 14th annual MUSD Crab Feed is scheduled for February 9, 2018 at the Milpitas Community Center. For immediate release Contact: Shannon Carr, Board Support & Communications Specialist (408) 635-2600, ext. 6031 Hanna Asrat will become Assistant Principal of Burnett Elementary School after an 11-year career in education. “I am thrilled to join the Burnett and MUSD communities and am anxious to begin serving the students in Milpitas!” she said. Asrat began her career teaching both second and third grades at Briarwood and Pomeroy, two kindergarten through fifth-grade schools in Santa Clara Unified School District. As she grew as an educator, Asrat “learned the art of teaching, the skills necessary to plan and deliver lessons and units intentionally developed to support the learning of all students, and the value of collaboration,” she said. “I’m thrilled that we have hired Hana Asrat as our Assistant Principal for Burnett,” Superintendent Cheryl Jordan said. “Even knowing the potential for budget reductions and savings through a return to the shared elementary AP model that we had, Hana still said, ‘YES!’ to our offer for employment.” Asrat served as a mentor teacher for three student teachers and served as a member of her school’s leadership, School Site Council, and PTA teams. “My work with student teachers is when I discovered that I truly enjoy facilitating adult learning,” she said. “That, coupled with a desire to contribute to systemic change for the students most in need, is why I began working at Partners in School Innovation in 2014.” Asrat has worked at San Jose-based Partners for three years, supporting teachers, instructional coaches, and principals to implement research-based practices that transform schools. She has also honed her skills as a facilitator of adult learning, coach, and leader, bettering her abilities in speaking about race, culture, and identity, and how these factors influence educational outcomes for students. Currently, in her instructional equity work with Partners in School Innovation, Asrat has been working with Santee Elementary in Franklin-McKinley School District where she coached the staff and principal in implementing professional learning communities and Results Oriented Cycles of Inquiry, and using SEAL strategies. “School leaders have the ability to impact dozens of adults and, consequently, hundreds of students,” she said. “They set the tone and can help develop a school culture and community that is supportive of and welcoming for all - teachers, students, and families.” After receiving her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Stanford University, Asrat went on to receive her teaching credential and Masters in Education from Stanford’s elementary teacher education program. The MUSD Board of Education is scheduled to ratify Superintendent Jordan’s recommendation for Asrat as the new Assistant Principal during its meeting on August 22. By Gregory Barnes
Director, Secondary Education Summer school 2017 continued to expand educational opportunities for Milpitas Unified School District students. In total, MUSD housed nine unique programs for a variety of students this summer. Programs ended this week. Traditional classes for high school students were offered to students in need of fulfilling graduation requirements. This six-week program was separated into two three-week semester classes, allowing students to take a full year of credit if desired. The middle school program supported the math and English needs of current seventh and eight graders. Both of these programs offered classes for second language learners as well as extended school year opportunities for students in special education. Both of these programs combined housed over 600 students. Over the last two summers, MUSD has offered the SEAL summer bridge enrichment and teacher professional development summer session. This two-week enrichment/professional development extended the learning of our adult teachers while providing a thematic enrichment opportunity for elementary students. The Elementary Reading Program, also in its second year, was designed to offer reading enrichment and skill development to incoming third grade students. This five-week intervention worked with our most at-risk readers from our school sites. New to summer offerings this year were the Elevate math program and Summit Extended Learning Opportunities. The Elevate math program was offered to incoming ninth grade students in an effort to increase their math proficiency in high school. The Summit Extended session provided students with an opportunity to complete focus areas by completing associated content assessments. Finally, MUSD once again offered an enrichment program for Elementary school children this summer. Graduation for high school students will be held on Wednesday, August 2 at 4:30 p.m. in Board Room 500 at the District Office, located at 1331 E. Calaveras Blvd. The summer school presentation to the Board will be held on Tuesday, August 22 in the same location. For immediate release Contact: Shannon Carr, Board Support & Communications Specialist (408) 635-2600, ext. 6031 Giuliana Brahim was promoted to Principal of Milpitas Adult Education (MAE) after more than 15 years of work focused on empowering adult learners and promoting restorative education to incarcerated adults. “I am truly honored to accept the nomination of Principal for Adult Education and Corrections Division,” Brahim said. “I am humbled by the trust that the Milpitas Board Members and Superintendent Cheryl Jordan have placed in me. Each of them understands and knows the importance of the Adult Education programs in the community and in the correctional facilities. I want to extend my commitment and support to all staff and to the community. Together I am confident that we will continue to move Adult Education forward. I am grateful and excited for this amazing opportunity!” In her role as MAE’s Assistant Principal the last two years, Brahim has worked diligently to ensure that the Adult Education vision, plans, and actions align with the core values of the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) vision to “prepare students to go out into the world and make a difference as responsible citizens who are passionate about life and learning.” “Giuliana has shown me since she first applied for the AP position in 2015 that she is one who can accept a challenge and live up to it,” Superintendent Jordan said. “Giuliana knows that education is hope, it is the key to equity, and has empowered many of our students in the Corrections and Ayer sites with the opportunity to better their lives. Giuliana demonstrates perseverance and grit, and I am proud to support her as she steps into this new leadership role.” Superintendent Jordan announced Brahim’s new position during a July 12 staff meeting at Elmwood Correctional Facility, one of two locations for the Milpitas program, also housed at the Ayer Adult School at the District Office. “Adult education is all about second chances and endless possibilities; it influences the future of families, predicts academic success of children, and broadens the chances of adequate placement in the workforce and the attainment of postsecondary education,” Brahim said. She has spent the majority of her career, 13 years, proudly immersed in MUSD. She has brought awareness to the importance of adult education and correctional programs by ensuring opportunities for learning and growth to both classified and certificated staff through resources and professional development. In addition, Brahim has supported students and their families to assure student retention and high school graduation completion. In the 2016-17 school year, there were close to 100 students total who completed secondary graduation requirements from MAE either by receiving their high school diploma through 190 credit hours of academic study in the independent study program or successfully passing the General Education Development (GED) test or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). “As our new MAE principal, Giuliana will continue the collaboration between our Pre-K through high school program leaders that has been established these past two years, and will seek ways to expand pathways to learning for adults and high school students through our membership in the South Bay Consortium for Adult Education, and our partnership with San Jose City College,” Jordan said. Brahim began as a Spanish teacher at the IES Language Foundation in Pleasanton. From there, she taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at Samuel Ayer High School in MUSD for five years before leaving Milpitas briefly to teach ESL at Strategy for the Workplace in Redwood City and East Side Union High School District, and becoming an Administrative Assistant at Berryessa Unified School District. Brahim returned to MUSD in 2007, where she has successfully served as a teacher at the Elmwood Correctional Facility for Women and Program Specialist, Evening Administrator, HiSET Chief Examiner, and in her current role as Assistant Principal at Milpitas Adult Education. Since 2014, through MUSD, Brahim has also been a member of the South Bay Consortium for Adult Education, a regional coalition of 2 community college districts and 5 school districts with adult education programs working together to seamlessly transition adults to postsecondary education and economic upward mobility. “Our district’s contributions are sharing the shared vision of the region’s adult education; there is ‘No Wrong Door,’” she explained. “The mission is to empower adult learners to achieve academic success and become financially independent to sustain their families and grow the local and state economies.” Brahim is known for tackling challenges proactively through an unwavering, calm demeanor founded in vast knowledge and experience, strong communication, and an earnest, methodical, objective approach. Her colleagues have shared she is an equity-minded leader, who fosters the potential of every student and staff member using her strengths as as an advocate with unreserved support and an innate ability to anticipate issues with a growth mindset. Brahim graduated from Anglo Americano Prescott School in Arequipa, Peru in 1979 and took select architecture and art history courses from the School of Architecture and Urbanism Lima in Peru in 1985 and Universidad de los Andes Bogota in Colombia in 1986, before earning her Adult Education credentials in ESL and Vocational Education from Metropolitan Education District in 2002 and 2007, respectively. In 2007, Brahim earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies and her Master’s Degree in Learning and Technology in 2009 from Western Governors University. The MUSD Board of Education is scheduled to ratify Superintendent Jordan’s recommendation for Brahim as the new Principal during its meeting on August 22. |
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
The governing board of Milpitas Unified School District will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Media ResourcesArchives
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