Mark Highlights March 2018 issue 2

MARK Highlights

Manteca Unified School Board

the

March 2018, Issue 2

Why?

Making a positive difference to each and every student daily.

Kindness:

Students reach out to Stoneman Douglas.

See page 14

Contents

M A RCH 2018, ISSUE 2

At Our Schools

MUSD School Board

Brock Elliott Tech Club

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Staff & Students Play for a Cause

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In the Local News

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MHS Safe Driving Campaign

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Eric Duncan, Area 1

STEM Student Rocket Launch

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Kathy Howe, Area 2

#17ActsofKindness

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be.tech’s Spirit Shines Through

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In Kahoot!s in Weston Ranch

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President Stephen J. Schluer, Area 6 Vice President Bob Wallace, Area 7 Board Clerk Evelyn Moore, Area 5

Michael Seelye, Area 3 Nancy Teicheira, Area 4

MUSD Superintendents Superintendent Jason Messer

Community Outreach Shasta Shares a Cup of Kindness

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Triumph from Tragedy

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LHS Choir Earns Superior Ratings

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SHS Principal Named NSHSS Educator of Distinction

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Department News Literacy Workshop

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MUSD Advantage Future Teachers

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Community Corner Electronic Piano Class

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Deputy Superintendents Dr. Clark Burke Roger Goatcher

Vision Manteca Unified School District will ensure every school day is relevant, rigorous, and leads students to become productive and engaged members of a global society while residing in the central valley.

Mission Manteca Unified School District is committed to providing a safe environment where all students will thrive with the tools, resources and support needed to achieve their academic and personal potentials.

On the cover: Shasta student Sofia Rodriguez holds up one of her affirmation bookmarks to be sent to the students at Stoneman Douglas High School.

Photo by Peter Gale.

The Mark Highlights is published twice per month, on average. It is a publication of the MUSD Superintendent’s Office: Superintendent’s Office Community Outreach Manteca Unified School District Community Outreach team. Highlights content is contributed on a rotating basis by every school site in the district.

Highlights is intended to be a reflection of the MUSD Vision and Mission, because above all,

we value making a positive difference to each and every student daily.

Peter Gale Design, Reporting, and Editing

The Mark Highlights Team are:

Erica McCullough: Design & Photography Contributor

Victoria Brunn Director and Executive Editor vbrunn@musd.net Lindsay Stayner Content Coordination and Editor lstayner@musd.net

Wendy King: Photography Contributor Community Outreach Interns Note to school site contributors: send photography at the highest resolution possible. Use “actual size” when sending from a phone.

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Brock Elliott Tech Club

A t O u r Scho o l s

Painting Lesson

by Debbie Ruger Brock Elliott Principal The Tech Club at Brock Elliott Elementary meets monthly to explore technology challenges after school.

During March’s meeting session, they worked together to build solar powered boats, puppies, windmills, or planes.

A Primary level class participated in a painting lesson.

This club focuses on STEAM activities and is very successful. This session had twenty students in attendance.

Students produced a beautiful March theme painting.

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A t O u r S ch ools

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In the Local News Widmer students gather treats for troops http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/38/article/150349

Staff & Students Play for a Cause

by Candace Espinola

MUSD’s be.tech seeks community help with program http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/1/article/150367 ATTENDANCE AREAS CHANGING http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/1/article/150385

Stella Brockman Principal Stella Brockman School had their annual Staff vs. Student Basketball game on March 9th.

All proceeds from the game benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Members from both the boys and girls student basketball teams alongside teachers, school site assistants, and custodians participated in this exciting annual event!

Manteca High College Prep Club promoting safe driving campaign http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/1/article/150426 Textbook adoption costs $2.5M http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/38/article/150493 MHS thespians raising curtain on ‘Little Women’ http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/1/article/150518 League of Women voters seek to register high school seniors http://www.mantecabulletin.com/ section/1/article/150517

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A t O u r Scho o l s

MHS Safe Driving Campaign

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by Nina Norton Manteca High Teacher

Students who crossed safely were given a sticker that reads, “Honor the Code.”

Today was Peer Day for the Manteca High School Safe Driving Campaign.

Giselle Ramirez, Kevin Lin, Navina Mann, and Maminder Kaur all went to Joshua Cowell Elementary School.

They held up signs reminding parent drivers to slow down at the crosswalks to keep students safe.

Students who crossed safely were given a sticker that reads “Honor the Code.” Amy Guzman, Ashley Perez and Elijah Rodriguez went to Sequoia

Elementary and Tristan Hofstad, Nikolas Heinen, Fernanda Alamaguer, Surayya Sakhi, and Katherine Nguyen went to Woodward Elementary. All held up posters and gave out stickers.

The elementary schools appreciated our support!

The MUSD School Board had issued a proclamation recognizing April as Distracted Driver Awareness Month at their March meeting.

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A t O u r S ch ools

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STEM Student Rocket Launch

On Sunday March 11th, junior high and high school STEM students had the opportunity to launch their CanSats (Satellites in a Can) into space with the assistance of the LUNAR Rocket Club.

Over 100 MUSD students came to Snow Ranch in Farmington to watch their projects launch.

A highlight of the day was a piĂąata rocket launched by one of the rocketeers.

Students had a great day out in the country looking at wildlife, plants and vegetation in addition to conducting their science experiments.

Now back in class, students will work with the data collected from their launches to further their science knowledge.

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A t O u r Scho o l s

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Stella Brockman School’s STEM elective students, along with their teacher Mr. Kimball, launched their rockets at Snow Ranch!

March 11th was a perfect day for MUSD’s Annual STEM Rocket Launch.

Komure’s STEM Science Teacher-Kim Merrill took twentysix of her students.

This was an experience that our students won’t soon forget. They are so engaged in the activities that they hardly realize how

much they’re applying what they have learned. They are learning math, science, engineering, and technology at the same time!

The students would like to thank Mrs. Merrill and Manteca Unified for this opportunity and experience.

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A t O u r S ch ools

#17ActsofKindness Manteca Unified initiated a #17ActsofKindness campaign on March 14, 2018 in memory of the victims and survivors of the Parkland, Florida school shooting.

This day allowed us an opportunity to provide guidance on how students can be civically engaged and politically aware.

Manteca High School

High schools and elementary schools alike offered various pre-planned events and activities to provide students a safe space to express themselves.

Our elementary schools focused on the character counts pillar of Caring. Our high schools provided various ways for students to express themselves and their feelings about school safety.

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Student voice matters; we want to support that voice.

Our focus on March 14th was to remember those lives lost by seeking 17 ways to encourage bringing more kindness into the lives of each and every student every day.

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A t O u r Scho o l s

East Union High School

George Komure Elementary

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Sierra High School

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Weston Ranch High School

Great Valley Elementary

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A t O u r S ch ools

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be.tech’s Spirit Shines Through

by Kristen Messer be.tech Teacher During the week of March 19, be.tech students and staff participated in their first ever Spirit Week.

Monday kicked off with Mathletes vs Athletes with Mathball for a lunchtime competition. Students and staff were challenged to complete a math problem before being allowed to shoot for a free throw.

On Tuesday, Tacky Tourists were found all over campus who participated in a Tug-of-War during lunch.

On Wednesday, students dressed as their favorite characters, including: Ace Ventura, Harley Quinn, Spiderman and more.

A walk across be.tech on Throwback Thursday was like taking a step back in time with poodle skirts of the 1950s, tie dye from the 60s, neon and lace from the 80s and more.

And on Friday, students and staff were twinning. We look forward to having more weeks like this in the future.

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A t O u r Scho o l s

In Kahoot!s in Weston Ranch

by Kristen Messer Technology Coordinator - TOSA Last Tuesday, representatives from Kahoot! visited our four Weston Ranch schools and enjoyed seeing Kahoot! used in different ways.

It was used in U.S. History to review a final, in an SDC junior high class in preparation for spelling and vocabulary tests, and as a review of basic math facts in a sixth grade class.

One class even had a fifth grade student share the Kahoot! he made with his classmates. He also acted as the emcee for that round.

But one thing they all had in common was the level of enthusiasm students exhibited as soon as they heard the Kahoot! music.

In the afternoon, the Kahoot! team provided a look at new features and sought feedback from K-8 Program Coordinators and K-12 teachers.

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Shasta Shares a Cup of Kindness

by Peter Gale Community Outreach

Top: Ms. Bowen’s class holding up their affirmation bookmarks while she holds the Cup of Kindness.

Right: The Instagram post that started it all from @fivefootoneteacher Brittany Sinitch of Stoneman Douglas High School encouraging oneword affirmations.

The tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School has prompted an outpouring of love and sympathy for the victims and survivors of the February 14th shooting, but fifth grade Shasta teacher Leandra Bowen had a connection with them prior to that.

One of their teachers, Brittany Sinitch, shares classroom ideas on her Instagram feed @ fivefootoneteacher,

which is how the inspiring connection was made.

“I started following Brittany in December,” said Bowen. “She showed up in my Instagram popular feed. She has inspired us and some of our work we have done in our classroom.”

Although Sinitch teaches ninth grade, many of her creative ideas for student engagement and classroom morale are transferrable to many grade levels.

“We made one-word affirmations that we hung up in our classroom,” said Bowen.

Fifth grade student Perla Santana said, “We made those for every time we are not paying attention, she would tell us to see our affirmation card to see if we were being our best.”

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Far Left: Standing beneath the class’s one-word affirmations, Leandra Bowen scans the room to see who needs help.

Above: Students excitedly share some of the affirmations they found and what it means to them.

Left and below: Two samples of blackout poems Bowen’s students produced from pages of a novel.

This technique of helping students own their own aspirations—which helps direct their behavior—isn’t the only idea inspired from this social media following.

“She inspired our blackout poetry in the back of the room,” said Bowen.

“Her students focused on Romeo and Juliet, and we focused on poetry; in a fun way.”

Bowen explained that over the course of a week, students were given a page torn out of a novel, chose which side of that page to use, then black out most of the words on the page until they were left with a poem.

where the poetry is displayed, Bowen read one by a student named Stefani Darby, whose blackout poem reads: “We smile and fear but with help take chance to conquer the world. I’m going to discover me.”

“They found anchor words that stood out to them,” said Bowen.

“They were able to come up with whatever poem and designs they wanted,” said Bowen. “The only rule was that it had to make sense, just like a textbook would have supporting illustrations in a fictional text.”

Walking over to her classroom wall

After receiving these classroom

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C o m mu n i ty Ou tr e a ch

Above: Students look for more affirmations online and use colored pencils to make their affirmation bookmarks come alive.

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ideas and then discovering that Sinitch was one of those teachers from Stoneman Douglas High School, Bowen knew that she wanted to do something to help lift the spirits of this inspiring teacher and her students.

“Her classroom is a crime scene right now, she can’t even teach there,” said Bowen. “She must use a cart and go from room to room.”

Below: Many students loved the project so much that they made multiple affirmation bookmarks.

“Because I was inspired to use some of her work ideas in my classroom, we want to give back,” said Bowen. “We are sending her this cup that we have made that says, Cup of Kindness with

their mascot and their hashtag on the back.”

Bowen asked her students to get involved in the cause by researching affirmations, or positive quotes that help provide hope and uplift the reader.

“We are going to fill the cup with the affirmations that my students have made. I wrote her and said that my students would love to do something to put a smile on her student’s faces. I promised that it would not be a banner or letters, but something easy,” said Bowen. “She cannot wait to see it. We just want to send them something to show them that we are thinking of them.”

Bowen shared that she had cut up enough small strips of card-stock to give her students the opportunity to make a combined 400 affirmation messages. If students found one online, they were to give credit to the source, or they could make up their own thought.

A few students shared what they had written on their bookmark.

“Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Let the challenges make you strong,” wrote Juan Villa.

“There are so many beautiful reasons

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to be happy,” wrote Madison Baker.

“Be the person who can smile on the worst day,” wrote Sofia Rodriguez, who said the quote was originally said by someone named Cate.

“When I read these, some of them made me tear up,” said Bowen.

This activity works well with other kindness oriented projects Bowen has done. She shared how their class read the novel Wonder out loud and some of her students joined her to watch the film in the theater.

“We have also talked about social media and how neat it is that here in California, across the country, we can follow someone in Florida and send them something kind,” said Bowen.

“We have talked about how their affirmations might change a student’s life. What if one student is having a hard day and that student kept an affirmation in their wallet or as a bookmark?”

Regardless of how this Cup of

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Kindness filled with affirmation bookmarks is received, it is certain that these Shasta students will try a little harder to be kind and thoughtful to those around them.

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Above: These students decided to look through the book Wonder again to see if they could find an affirmation that they really liked.

Below: The Cup of Kindness and the affirmations ready to be sent to Stoneman Douglas.

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Triumph from Tragedy

by Yasmin Ballew Community Outreach Intern

Sometimes a simple but sincere compliment makes a world of difference.

Wednesday March 14—the onemonth anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting—was the national school walkout day. Thousands of students, teachers, and their allies were encouraged to leave class at 10:00 am and stay out for seventeen minutes in honor of the seventeen students and faculty members who lost their lives on that dreadful day.

All over the United States, young men and women left class, fighting for stricter gun laws, determined to prevent another massacre of innocent lives.

Sierra High School’s administration organized pre-planned events and activities by extending the brunch period from 10 to 10:17 a.m., allowing students and faculty to participate freely and spend this time honoring those lives lost in a safe and uplifting way.

As announced by principal Clark that morning, four tables were set up in the quad with photos of the victims and cards to be signed and sent to Marjory Stoneman High.

To spread positivity, yellow slips were handed out to students listing seventeen random acts of kindness they could do to make a positive difference in someone’s day. The list included things like “introduce yourself to someone you don’t know” and “give someone a positive compliment about their personality.”

All day, students walked around campus with these yellow slips, spreading kindness one person at time.

Associated Student Body President Jenna Rosendin said, “I am glad that Sierra has taken the initiative by spreading kindness and awareness about this issue. I hope we can continue to spread hope even after today.”

Students from ASB, CLA, HYLC, KIWIN’s, BSU, FCCLA, FFA, and the Punjabi Club also spent the day (and the majority of the week) preparing cards with uplifting messages for every

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student on campus to be sent to second period classes the following week.

The gesture is small but sometimes a simple but sincere compliment—based on one’s personality or talent—makes a world of difference.

As a touching end to the planned

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activity, balloons in Stoneman Douglas High school’s colors of red and silver were released into the sky while students could be seen with tears in their eyes.

Activities director Melissa Harbison explained that, “I think we need to focus on being positive and kind to one another; I think that is the crux of the problem in society today. We don’t show enough kindness to one another.”

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This is still a work in progress, however, in an impactful statement from Freshman Isabella Velasquez we are reminded that while we are powerful, there is still much to overcome.

Velazquez said, “When kids are scared to go to school, we have hit an issue.

We need to protect our generation and our future before we defend anything else. This horrible tragedy has only brought that to light. How Sierra is demonstrating that this will not be tolerated shows the power we have.

We can fight this together.”

The event was viewed in a positive light by many who took the message home with them.

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LHS Choir Earns Superior Ratings

by Jessika McCuaig Community Outreach Intern

For the first time ever, Advanced Choir scored an all superior rating!

Lathrop High School’s four choirs, directed by Ms. Elizabeth VanEerde, made history by scoring superior on all levels.

At the San Joaquin Delta College Choral Fest on February 27th, the Men’s Ensemble, Women’s Choir, Advanced Choir, and the Lathrop Area Music Program (LAMP) Choir performed against many other schools—and beating the odds.

Men’s Ensemble consisted of 11 men, one being a seventh grader named Javen Ceralde who had enough courage to take on the challenge of performing with the high school level choir. The judges said the men had “a lovely tone and interpretation.”

“It was such a relief to score so well on our performances,” said Curtis Kimbro, a member of the Men’s Ensemble. “We had worked so hard for

so long, and I’m just glad it paid off.”

The Women’s Choir performed Fences, which was “appropriate with the current political topics.” They had been practicing this piece since the beginning of the school year, and the judges could tell. The judges had commented on their “warm lovely tone” and “good range of part dynamics.”

For the first time, Advanced Choir scored a superior rating in all criteria.

Judges said they had a “clear and warm beautiful sound, good rhythmic drive, superb articulation, and wonderful rhythmic energy.”

At the end, Dr. Bruce Southard from Delta College thanked them for doing music pieces that were so challenging, even commenting “your hard work comes right through.”

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SHS Principal Steve Clark Named NSHSS Educator of Distinction

by Peter Gale Community Outreach The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) recently sent a flattering letter to Steve Clark, Principal of Sierra High School.

In part, it read, “Congratulations on your selection as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction, a special program of the National Society of High School Scholars that honors educators worldwide. NSHSS encourages young people around the globe to strive for excellence and to embrace their responsibility as our future world leaders. As an educator, you play a critical role in their success.

“Your nomination as an Educator of Distinction by Amber Zarevich is a testament to the lasting impact you are making on today’s youth. This honor is presented to you because of your dedication to teaching and learning and the difference you are making as a role model, source of inspiration and leader in your profession.”

“He will go the extra mile to make certain that you can do these things and he even praises you for doing it, said Zarevich.

To nominate Mr. Clark, Amber had to login to her account at the NSHSS

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website, and then write a summary of why she chose to nominate him.

“He has never told anybody no,” said Amber Zarevich, FFA Secretary.

“For the past three years of my life, each time we would come to Mr. Clark for help, he would always find a way if he knew it was an opportunity that was available.”

Zarevich explained that most students have no idea how much effort behind the scenes administrators take to support student programs and opportunities.

Citing an example, Zarevich said, “This past February I was invited to the Sacramento Leadership Experience, and only 75 seniors in the state are accepted. I had no transportation. My club advisor needed a substitute paid for.

Assistant Principal Anthony Chapman said, “The most meaningful recognitions we can receive are from students—which is why we do what we do. It is a privilege to work alongside Mr. Clark and see him in action each and every day.”

“She talked to Mr. Clark, and he immediately made certain that we could go to this conference. I acted as a senator and met so many amazing people. It would not have been possible without Mr. Clark.”

“Mr. Clark sets a perfect example of student centered leadership, and I am very lucky to work with and learn from him,” added Vice Principal Anne Marie Shaw.

Zarevich knows that this was not an exception, but that Mr. Clark always works hard to help every student group on campus have meaningful educational experiences.

“He will go the extra mile to make certain that you can do these things and he even praises you for doing it,” said Zarevich.

Not one to seek attention, Mr. Clark said, “Thank you all for the very kind words. I am sincerely grateful. There are so many more deserving people.”

Congratulations to Mr. Clark on his award and for being the kind of leader others eagerly follow.

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D e p a r t m e n t N ew s

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Literacy Workshop

by Department of Professional Learning On March 13, Kathy Bumgardner, a literacy expert and contributing author with McGraw-Hill, worked with 7-12 ELA/ELD teachers to teach reading and writing in any content area.

Her innovative tools help scaffold student learning and make content accessible to all.

Following the training, Kathy visited six school sites over two days with demo lessons using the strategies that she featured in the training.

Students were engaged through collaboration, which created an exciting, student-centered learning environment.

Several teachers were able to attend a demo lesson and all who attended found the experience invaluable.

MUSD Advantage Future Teachers

by CTE / STEM Department

Eight of our Advantage Future Teachers attended a presentation at Teachers College of San Joaquin.

Dr. Kenall Zoller’s presentation was on The First Five Minutes. The presentation focused on nine strategies that can be used in the first five minutes of class to produce a positive learning environment.

More specifically, he presented how to manage groups with verbal and nonverbal skills, engage your audience, and create a sense of community in the classroom.

Our Future Teachers enjoyed the presentation and found Dr. Zoller to be very knowledgeable and engaging.

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Electronic Piano Class MELS Garage hosted a Make Your Own Electronic Piano class. Students and parents made their own electronic piano while learning basic electronics and soldering.

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C o m mu n i ty C or n e r

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Attendance Area Workshops

Please attend one of our 2018 workshops to learn more about proposed changes: •

March 22, 6 pm

Woodward Multi Purpose Room

•

April 11, 6 pm

Veritas Multi Purpose Room

To register for the workshops, read the FAQ, and to learn more, please visit:

mantecausd.net/boundary

Click the flyer above to see the proposed area map, read the FAQ, or ask a question using the Internet form.