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Josephine Guerrero Family Resource Center hosts celebration for Milpitas children and families5/25/2017
For immediate release Contact: Shannon Carr,
Board Support & Communications Specialist (408) 635-2600, ext. 6031 Yesterday, local leaders joined young children and their families at the Josephine Guerrero Family Resource Center for an open house celebration featuring food trucks, resource tables, Potter the Otter, and free games and activities. The resource center, which held its ribbon cutting in November 2016, provides free resources for children under age six and their families, including developmental screenings, parent and caregiver workshops, referrals to affordable children’s health insurance programs, and fun and educational family engagement activities. The Family Resource Center is a partnership between the Milpitas Unified School District, the Health Trust, and FIRST 5 Santa Clara County. “Young children and families are at the heart of the Josephine Guerrero Family Resource Center,” said Jolene Smith, Chief Executive Officer of FIRST 5 Santa Clara County. “FIRST 5 is dedicated to working with local families and the Milpitas Unified School District to strengthen and support the healthy development of our youngest children and support parents and caregivers in their role as their child’s first and most important teacher.” The resource center was dedicated in memory of Josephine Guerrero (November 18, 1919 - September 8, 2016), who was committed to serving her community and an advocate for families. Guerrero was the first woman to serve on the Milpitas Planning Commission in 1954, and was Woman of the Year for the City of Milpitas. She also served as an assistant postmaster and President of the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce. “Today, we dedicate the Family Resource Center in memory of a woman who lived her life to support her family and community in times of peace and in times of war,” Milpitas Unified School District Board President Daniel Bobay said. “It is a fitting way to honor this woman who was a diamond with so many facets.” The center joins a network of Family Resource Centers across the county, the second in Milpitas, as part of FIRST 5’s Family Resource Center Initiative. The initiative uses a place-based approach to increase access to services and provide opportunities for parents to become more engaged in their children’s healthy development, school readiness, and other collaborative efforts to improve their lives and the communities in which they live. "Partnering with FIRST 5 on the Family Resource Center Initiative allows us to ensure that children ages 0-5 acquire the skills needed to be ready to succeed in kindergarten, from literacy to proper nutrition and physical activity,” said Charles C. Bullock, Ph.D., Interim CEO of The Health Trust. “We believe that these skills also serve as the foundation for living a healthy and fruitful life." The Josephine Guerrero Family Resource Center is located on the campus of Randall Elementary School at 1300 Edsel Drive, Portable #1, Milpitas, CA 95035. For more information on hours and regularly scheduled classes, please call (408) 635-2662, extension 1638 or visit www.first5kids.org/frc. Francis Rojas of James Logan High School appointed Milpitas High School Principal, effective July 15/24/2017
![]() For immediate release Contact: Shannon Carr, Board Support & Communications Specialist (408) 635-2600, ext. 6031 Francis Rojas will become Principal of Milpitas High School (MHS) on July 1 after a 15-year career in education at James Logan High School, considered one of Northern California’s largest high schools with nearly 4,000 students and among the most diverse student populations in the Bay Area. In Closed Session on Tuesday (May 23), the Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education approved Superintendent Cheryl Jordan’s recommendation for Rojas, currently schoolwide Vice Principal at James Logan High School in Union City, as the new Principal. “In my conversations with Francis this week, he has already embraced MHS and Milpitas as his school and community,” Jordan said Wednesday. “He refers to them as ‘our school’ and ‘our community’; this speaks to his commitment to US. I'm thrilled for the students, parents, and staff at MHS. With Francis, we have an opportunity to collaborate in a way that will forge a renewed compact with one another grounded in a Culture of We.” During her report in Open Session, Jordan introduced and congratulated Rojas on the appointment. After being recognized, he came forward to thank the Superintendent and Board Members during a brief speech. “Aside from the similarities between the demographics and size of James Logan and Milpitas high schools, it is the ‘Culture of We’ that really attracted me to seek out this principalship as the next chapter in my vocation as an educator,” Rojas said. “On the evening of Friday, March 31, I experienced first hand the ‘Culture of We’ at Milpitas High School’s Trojan Olympics. I saw school spirit, unity, cooperation, collaboration and so much more from the students, staff, and parents who were participating. I have never seen that level of engagement and positivity at a student led event in my life. And that’s coming from an activities director.” He continued: “Moreover, in the interview process, the presence and participation of staff and parents in the stakeholder panels and their willingness to share their ideas with me about what makes them proud to be part of our learning community, our accomplishments, but also able to share their challenges and critiques of the past few years. That manifests the ‘Culture of We.’ In both celebration and challenge, we must be united.” Rojas began at James Logan as a science teacher and worked his way up to student activities director, five years as a House Principal, and the last two years as the school-wide Vice Principal directly supporting the work of the Principal. In Rojas’ current position, among many duties, he designs, programs, and implements the Master Schedule for teachers and 4,000 students including working with a team of school counselors, department heads, and administrators, as well as leading the Science Department in the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards, and Career Technical Education Departments as the liaison to the Mission Valley Regional Occupation Program and Ohlone Community College. With his background in music, Rojas was also the administrator in charge of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, including Logan’s nationally-acclaimed Forensic Speech and Debate, Marching Band and Colorguard, and Vocal Music programs. “In a few weeks it will be 20 years since my own graduation day from James Logan, and I feel I am again commencing on a new journey and chapter in my life,” Rojas said. “Through all my experience as a teacher, student activities director, and school administrator, I have held firm to my values and philosophy that public education, guided by common vision and strong, shared leadership, must provide ALL students with a safe environment and equitable opportunities to learn, whether it is in the classroom through rigorous, standards-based curriculum and personalized, research-based teaching and learning practices, or outside the classroom through a variety of experiences that allow students to make choices and practice what they have learned to build character, integrity, and contribute to our local and global community.” He is known for demonstrated outcomes as an instructional and organizational leader, from curriculum development to master scheduling, instructional coaching, community outreach, building positive school culture, facilities improvement, and budget and finance. Rojas’ colleagues have shared he is a balanced leader with a variety of strengths, including being a team player, sincere, compassionate, perceptive and very involved in student life. He has often been referred to as the “heart” of the school. Rojas graduated Summa Cum Laude from James Logan High School in 1997 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Biology from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001. Rojas earned his Biological Sciences Teaching Credential with Introductory Science Supplement from California State University at Hayward in partnership with the New Haven Unified School District Single Subject and Beginning Teacher Induction Programs. In 2009, he returned to UC Berkeley as a member of Cohort 10 of the Principal Leadership Institute of the Graduate School of Education and earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Preliminary Administrative Services Credential in 2010. Rojas earned his Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential in 2013 through the Leadership Support Program at UC Berkeley. Rojas has also been involved with a number of professional associations, including as an Area B Council Member representing Alameda County for the California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA), a group that honored him in 2012-13 as Advisor of the Year. He was a volunteer for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Member of Cohort 38 for the Human Systems Dynamics Institute (HSD), member of New Haven Pilipino-American Society for Education (NH PASE), and charter member for the James Logan High School Alumni Association. Rojas was also the former Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Anne Catholic Church in Union City from 2000-2007, and Liturgy Coordinator at St. Joseph-Old Mission San Jose in Fremont from 2007-2010. Watch the full video of Rojas’ speech during the May 23 Board Meeting online now.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Seamless Summer Feeding Option (SSFO) Meal Program can help feed your children healthy meals, at no charge, during the summer. This program will serve all children through age eighteen. No application or registration is required but all meals must be consumed on site. Children will receive a complete, wholesome meal, while parents receive help stretching their food dollars.
The District's Student Nutrition Services Department will operate three Seamless Summer sites during the following days and hours:
Eligible families in Santa Clara County can receive free summer meals through the summer food service programs located throughout the community from the California Department of Education (CDE), USDA Summer Food, and the Hunger Hotline.
Click on the link below to find out more from Santa Clara County of Education website. Free summer meals for eligible families in Santa Clara County Linda and Bob Gray, long-time kindergarten volunteers at Joseph Weller Elementary School, were announced as the 2017 Junior League of San Jose Volunteers of the Year during the 48th Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on April 28.They were nominated by Weller kindergarten teacher Susan Von Tersch for their dedication to Weller kindergartners for the past seven years. They volunteer every day in her class and in Ms. Hirano's class.
"They do not have children or grandchildren at Weller ... they just enjoy helping our students. They are truly making a difference in the lives of the students and WE are very thankful to have them," Principal Alicia Padilla said. For more photos and videos from the luncheon, visit www.jlsj.org Pearl Zanker Elementary School raised more than $8,000 during a fun-filled day of activities at its carnival on April 22.
The event featured student and teacher made sponsored carnival games, face painting, and a teacher dunk tank. All carnival game prizes were donated by Pilar Zatarain, a long time friend of MUSD and Zanker Elementary School, who was inducted into the Milpitas Hall of Fame a couple years ago. Also in attendance was a Milpitas Fire Department truck and engine, Sammy the Spartan from San Jose State University, and a live DJ. Food was featured from Jayden's Kettle Corn and a parent bake sale, in addition to cotton candy and snow cones. A raffle was held with prizes including tickets to Disneyland and a San Francisco Giants game, gift certificate to Burke Williams Spa, electric cars, a GoPro, and Beats by Dre ear buds. By Steve Caringella
Educational Technology Coach Teachers from throughout the district came together for a "Celebration of Learning" on Monday (May 8) to reflect on their professional learning and growth by participating in one or more of the district's initiatives while giving presentations about work they did with students during the 2016-17 school year. Peggy Bowen from Rose Elementary School, Brenda LeBeck from Pomeroy Elementary School, and David Carter from Milpitas High School spoke about the Milpitas Innovators Exchange (MIX). Lillian McCall from Pomeroy Elementary School presented about both the Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) model and Project Based Learning (PBL), which she utilizes together with her students. Martha Chen from Milpitas High School presented about technology and PBL that she employs with her students. Jennifer Baumgartner from Zanker Elementary School and Carla McNeil from Curtner Elementary School presented on Writers’ Workshop. Ashley Grilli and Michael Sommese from Rose Elementary School jointly presented on their work with Rose’ innovative Exploratory Program. Adelina Vargas, Leslie Singh, and Alexandra Santacruz jointly presented on Randall Elementary School’s dual immersion program.Guests attending the presentations included teachers, school and district administrators, and other staff from throughout Milpitas Unified. Both presenters and guests participated in a “World Cafe Protocol,” in which presentations were followed by a reflective question for discussion in small groups. The protocol lasted four rounds, with guests moving to different tables each time. This process allowed for a diverse range of reflection and discussion, ending with a call to action - to consider the impact of the presentations, reflection, and discussion on one’s own practice. Overall, the event was a great success. It was inspiring to see the impact that professional learning has had on Milpitas teachers, and how that learning greatly benefits students. By Letta Meyer
Milpitas High School Chemistry Teacher, Science Olympiad Coach The 2016-17 Science Olympiad season has been a busy and successful one. Science Olympiad is an Olympic style competition where a team of 15 students competes with partners in 23 different science oriented events. The top finishers in an event receive medals. Additionally, the placement in each event contributes to an overall team score. Medals are also given to the top teams as well. These events fit into two basic categories, building or knowledge, with some events being a blend of the two. In a building event, students are required to build a device to a detailed specification that accomplishes a task. For instance, in Electric Vehicle students design and build a car completely powered by electricity that must travel a specific distance revealed at the competition. Knowledge events have the students study a specific subject area at a higher level than their typical grade level and take a test to demonstrate their knowledge. For example, for the Invasive Species event students learn about different species that have invaded a natural environment and changed it. In order to prepare to compete and different competitions, students meet after school several days a week and several Saturday mornings each month. They spend hours of intense studying, building, and testing to be ready to compete. Currently in Santa Clara County there is a High School and a Middle School Division. MHS has been competing in our very competitive region for more than 10 years. The MHS students have been reaching out to Russell and Rancho middle schools over the past two years and this year we had teams from each of those schools also compete at the Regional Competition held on March 18 at San Jose City College. At that competition the MHS Blue Team (similar to a varsity team in sports) placed in the top five at the Regional Competition, earning a spot in the State Tournament. The Northern California State Science Olympiad Tournament was held on April 1 at California State University at Stanislaus in Turlock, California. The team of 15 students shown below competed beautifully in all their events. The team tied for 10th place overall. We also placed in the top five in these events:
Special thanks to the coaches and parents that make this happen for all the students!
By Raquel Kusunoki
Director of Elementary Education The MUSD elementary school band which has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years gave an astounding performance during its Spring Concert on Wednesday (May 10, 2017) at the Milpitas High School theater. Proud parents, grandparents, siblings, Board Members, teachers, and administrators filled the theater, as they came to show their support. The event was a beautiful tribute to Danny Lau, former Board of Education Vice President who advocated for music. Thank you Chris Kaldy, Joe Santomieri, Melanie Work, Emily Moore, Nicole Poultin, and Michael Vierya for instilling the love of music into our children. Because of your dedication, our budding musicians confidently shared the joy of music as they played "Danza Africana"; "Morpheus"; "Adventures in India"; "Declaration and Dance"; "When the Wind Whispers" and "Parade." |
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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