Menlo Park City School District

Superintendent Update
April 24, 2017

Dear MPCSD Parents and Community,

Let me start off by warmly inviting you to one of my personal favorites of the year: The MPAEF's Schoolhouse Rocks! 5K . Please join me on Sunday, May 21 for this year's big event.

Last May, over 3,000 Menlo Park and Atherton residents turned out early on a Sunday morning to walk, run and cheer in support of quality education. This year the event will begin and end at Hillview with an incredible festival at the end of the race. Check out the information and just do it --   register , Thank you MPAEF!

April 18 School Board Meeting Update
At last Tuesday night's Board meeting, we discussed Early Learning Education as part of our Strategic Direction, K-12 Vertical Experience a n d presented key components of a possible future program which could serve MPCSD children ages 3-5, along with a preliminary thoughts about facilities, financials, legal considerations, and a startup organizational structure. This Early Learning education program won't be launched until the fall of 2018 and on a small scale. Additionally, we are exploring fee structures that will not require additional expense to MPCSD.

The Board also had the chance to hear from eighth-grade Spanish Immersion students and World Language Coordinator, Tami Girsky, in honor of the first graduating cohort to go through six years of elementary Spanish Immersion and three years of middle school Spanish for Spanish Speakers. Students shared their insights on what they have learned throughout their bilingual experience in Menlo Park, and Ms. Girsky presented an update on the Spanish Immersion Program. Finally, as we had planned with the win of Measure X, we presented to the Board the planned reductions of $1.2 million reductions and reorganization. You can find more information about MPCSD's April 18 Board meeting on our website.

Hillview wins  2017 Kent Award for "Restorative Practice"
MPCSD is a recipient of the 2017 Kent Award on "Restorative Practice." This is an umbrella term for any activity or program that restores or creates an empathic and positive school culture. Hillview Middle School began this movement with an approach to student behavior management and discipline that has resulted in a dramatic decline in suspensions and more equitable outcomes. These practices include Restorative Justice, a suspension-diversion program that builds capacity for students to engage with other adults and peers about the suspendable incident and restore any harm or trust to their community through an individualized Restorative Justice plan. These coordinated efforts have created a school culture based in social-emotional wellness, and, moreover, these practices that are spreading into our elementary schools, gaining traction and making MPCSD school culture even more positive and welcoming.

Ginny Maiwald, MPCSD's Director of Students Services, wins California Special Education Administrator of the Year award
In a recent newsletter, I wrote about our Director of Student Services, Ginny Maiwald winning San Mateo and San Francisco County's Administrator of the year. Since then, Ms. Maiwald has been selected in this category for the entire STATE. Congratulations to Ginny and her team, as they've partnered together to provide a stellar experience for our students with needs.

In this record year of rain and snow, I look forward to watching our students play, for they have waited long enough!

Sincerely yours,

Maurice Ghysels
Superintendent

Every child achieves academic excellence
Every child becomes emotionally and physically stronger
Every child discovers and grows their talents
181 Encinal Avenue
Atherton, CA 94027

Superintendent
Maurice Ghysels, Ed.D.

Stacey Jones
Terry Thygesen
Joan Lambert
David Ackerman
Caroline Lucas

Vision Statement
Every  child achieves academic excellence. 
Every child becomes emotionally and physically stronger.  
Every child discovers and grows their talents.
MPCSD BOARD 
OF EDUCATION UPDATE

The following upcoming Board meetings will be held at the Menlo Park City School District Office TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton. Open Session begins at 6:00 p.m.

May 9, 2017
June 6, 2017
June 13, 2017

For Board information including meeting calendar, agendas, minutes, member contact information, or to join the Board's email distribution list click here.