CONNECT
: SLUSD'S NEWSLETTER
|
|
Si quiere recibir este boletín mensual del Distrito Escolar Unificado de San Leandro en español, por favor de
clic aquí.
|
|
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear SLUSD Families,
In the upcoming election, you will be asked to vote on Measure I, which would restore a $39 per year school parcel tax that expired last year. This parcel tax helped fund the district’s
core academic programs in math, science, technology, skilled trades, and the arts.
If approved, Measure I funds will be used to help us
attract and retain quality teachers and maintain manageable class sizes. All funds will be used to benefit students of the San Leandro Unified School District.
We encourage you to vote in the upcoming election and to reach out to us if you have any questions. Please visit
www.slusd.us
to read the latest news from our district.
Sincerely,
Mike McLaughlin, Superintendent
San Leandro Unified School District
|
|
|
|
San Leandro Unified School District State of the District Breakfast and Bus Tour Success
In October, SLUSD came together to celebrate successes from the past year at the annual State of the District address. This year, the event was reorganized as a breakfast and bus tour, in hopes of allowing a more intimate look into the school district. “It’s one thing to talk about all of the transformative work happening in our schools,” said district superintendent Dr. Mike McLaughlin, “But seeing the innovations firsthand is far more informative.”
The morning started in the FTK gym at SLHS with a rousing performance from the marching band in full uniform, followed by special recognition for the district from Mayor Pauline Cutter for being named the College Board AP District of the Year for medium-sized districts. The prestigious award was earned for expanding access to and diversity in Advanced Placement courses while simultaneously improving AP exam performance. SLUSD was the only district recognized for this work in California.
After the breakfast, guests toured the high school, including the Arts Education Center and broadcasting studio, the career technical education classrooms, the refurbished cafeteria, and the athletic facilities. Then it was on to McKinley Elementary where the group toured the library and STEAM lab. The final stop of the tour was John Muir Middle School, where the renovation of all district libraries was celebrated with a ribbon cutting and keynote speech from retired District Librarian Roxanne Ansolabehere. “Since I’m retired now, I can speak the truth,” said Ansolabehere, “And the truth is this district is very fortunate to have a visionary leader like Dr. McLaughlin.”
Read more about our 2017-2020 Strategic Action Plan on our website
HERE.
You can also see the video and brochure from the event on our
State of the District page
of our website.
|
|
|
|
Part-Time Job Perfect for Parents
San Leandro Unified is looking for substitute paraeducators! The position offers rewarding classroom experience, flexible schedules, and hours that align with your students' schedule, making it a perfect fit for parents. No experience is required. Pay ranges from $17.50/hour to $19.81/hour depending upon position.
Apply on Edjoin today and become an important part of the SLUSD team.
Click here
to apply.
|
|
|
|
San Leandro High School Announces National Merit® Scholar Semi-Finalist
Meet SLHS Senior Lee Dason Lam. He is one of approximately 16,000 National Merit Semifinalists nationwide who will continue on in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Lam attended Wilson Elementary and John Muir Middle School. He hopes to go to Stanford and study Biology en route to becoming a cardiologist. He credits his mother with challenging him to succeed. Congratulations!
|
|
|
|
New Food Services Director
Welcome Clell Hoffman as the district’s Director of Food Services. Mr. Hoffman comes to SLUSD from the Albany Unified School District where he currently serves as the Food Services Director. He also currently serves as the chairman of the State Child Nutrition Advisory Council and is a credentialed teacher of Culinary Arts. With a career in food service spanning the past 38 years, p
erhaps his most intriguing experience is his time traveling and cooking for the Grateful Dead. Read more about our Food Services program
HERE.
|
|
PSAT is Free in SLUSD
October brought the 4th annual Free PSAT at SLHS. Almost 1,000 10th and 11th-grade students took the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) during the school day on the district’s dime. Besides offering SAT practice, students gain personalized
Khan Academy
online SAT prep and access to interested colleges while being entered into the National Merit Scholarship competition. Twenty hours of practice on Khan Academy is associated with an average 115-point score increase, nearly double the average gain without this support. The SAT exam is offered for free in the spring to all SLUSD juniors during the school day.
Access to critical college entrance exams is one important aspect of SLUSD’s initiatives for college and career readiness. “We are committed to removing barriers for our students,” said superintendent Dr. Mike McLaughlin, “which is why we offer the PSAT and SAT for free during the school day. We want to make sure all students have the same opportunities for success.”
|
|
SLHS Marching Band Regal in New Uniforms
Meet the SLHS Marching Band. “The students have been waiting for this moment for the last two years,” said director Jarrett Hansen, “We are so excited to share this proud moment with our community.” This night was special because of all of the hard work and collaboration that went into getting these uniforms. “We are deeply grateful to our district and school board leaders for allocating resources to our program,” said Hansen, “We have not only received a uniform budget, but we have gotten unwavering support on all levels for our shared vision of a fully outfitted school marching band, and the pride that can create for our school, and our city.” Read more about the marching band
HERE.
|
|
|
|
SLED is awarding over $38,000 directly to teachers for special projects!
The San Leandro Education Foundation is pleased to offer DIRECT SUPPORT to San Leandro USD teachers who are engaging their students with teaching units that may require additional materials or financial support. SLED has allocated funds to support materials or field trip needs for special projects including Project Based Learning. Visit the
SLED website
to find out how you can get involved.
|
|
|
|
Seniors Signed Up to Vote!
On October 12, over 400 seniors at San Leandro High School were registered to vote. This first-year effort came to fruition through the hard work of our own career pathways coordinator Lisa Jackson and
Marian Honda of the League of Women Voters, along with some generous donations from our community partners. Jackson and Honda hope to make this a yearly event in support of our strategic plan initiative around civic engagement.
|
|
|
|
United Against Hate
We invite you to join us in recognizing the week of November 11-17 as “Bay Area Unified Against Hate Week”. Your SLUSD school board will be passing a resolution next week to encourage every member of our community to speak out about prejudice and discrimination. Education, compassion, and cooperation are key to understanding and embracing differences between people. For information about ways you can embed these ideas in your workplaces and spaces, please visit the
NOT IN OUR TOWN
website.
|
|
Raise (and replace) the Roof!
Leaky roofs are a thing of the past at James Madison Elementary, John Muir Middle Schools and the Science Wing at SLUSD since new roofing was installed during the summer, along with minor roofing repairs at many other campuses. The J1 bond team was pleased to work with a local contractor on this project and will continue to seek out local contractors when possible in all future work. “We are so grateful to our community for the support that allows us to keep our buildings up-to-date,” said Madison Elementary Principal Garry Grotke, “A solid, strong roof is a central component to a safe, secure school.” Read more about J1 Bond projects on our website
HERE.
|
|
Congratulations to Bancroft Middle Schooler Isela Paz for her first place finish in the Look Good/Feel Good 5K in San Leandro.
|
|
Our STEAM labs at Garfield and McKinley Elementary Schools are now open, thanks to generous donations from SLED.
|
|
The Oakland Ballet performed Luna Mexicana at the Arts Education Center for McKinley, Jefferson, and Washington Elementary students, as well as the 6th grade classes at Bancroft Middle School. Thank you to the City of San Leandro for co-sponsoring the event.
|
|
Congratulations to Board Trustee Diana Prola for being named Education Champion of the Year by California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta! Trustee Prola was recognized for her illustrious career in education and her tireless work on behalf of students and families.
|
|
San Leandro Unified School District | communications@slusd.us | www.slusd.us
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
