We are pleased to be able to provide our students, parents, staff and community with the latest information about our Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District community through this newsletter. Please join us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to connect with us daily!
|
|
Dear Mt. Pleasant Community,
We are proud to share an update about our community partnerships with local institutions and organizations. These partnerships offer valuable learning opportunities that help our students prepare for future success.
Our collaboration with San José State University promotes TK achievement and professional development for our educators.
The artistic talents of our students continue to develop with the programs provided by the San José Children’s Musical Theater, and we are planning to add another school to this successful partnership.
Our middle school mathematics instruction continues to benefit from initiatives created in association with the Gates Foundation.
Our educators are finalizing details to offer engaging summer programs, with opportunities to learn and have fun through a variety of activities, including engineering and robotics classes, where students will build robots!
We appreciate your support with our goals to advance academic and social-emotional experiences of our students. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dr. Elida MacArthur
Superintendent
|
|
Please watch a special message from the Superintendent: |
|
Advancing the Arts Through our Partnership with San José Children's Musical Theater
|
|
Our staff and students are excited to partner with San Jose Children's Musical Theater (CMT). This year students are performing "101 Dalmatians." Ms. Amanda will be consulting and will visit us a few times during rehearsals. We have enjoyed our collaboration with CMT, and value working with them to bring Drama Club to Valle Vista. Robert Sanders Elementary began their partnership this academic school year and a third school will be added to this partnership next school year.
Valle Vista Drama Club previously collaborated with San Jose Children's Musical Theater in September 2019 to perform the play "Aladdin." They helped us with planning, choreography, singing and production. Ms. Amanda and Ms. Claire supported students during rehearsals.
Due to the pandemic in 2020, we needed to pause. We are now continuing our second year with San José Children's Musical Theater. The arts and talent at MPESD keep thriving!
|
|
Working with San José State University to Support TK Academic Achievement |
|
Our district successfully applied for a Teacher Residency Capacity Building Grant to design and implement a teacher residency program, creating a TK-K credential pathway to serve districts in East San José with a high percentage of students with low household income, English Learners, and/or receiving Special Education services.
Together with San José State University (SJSU), Mount Pleasant Elementary School District will establish the East Side Districts Teacher Residency Consortium. The consortium will establish, strengthen and improve access to teacher residency credentialing programs to meet the staffing needs of local TK-8 schools. Capacity-building efforts will initially focus on credentialing programs in the areas of multiple subject elementary credentials for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes, with the intention of expanding in the future to include credentials in additional areas.
The grant will support efforts to recruit a diverse teacher workforce that reflects the East Side District’s student population. This capacity-building grant will be used to create a sustainable consortium structure, coordinated by Mount Pleasant Elementary School District, in partnership with San José State University.
This is a great opportunity to benefit our students, educators, and future generations of learners!
|
|
We invite you to enroll your student for 2022-2023 Transitional Kindergarten (TK) now, and join a district that empowers, inspires and unites. Nestled in the East Foothills, the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District is proud to serve San José families at five public schools: August Boeger Middle School, Ida Jew Academy, Mt. Pleasant STEAM Academy, Robert Sanders Elementary and Valle Vista Elementary.
Mt. Pleasant fosters a love of learning by providing a high-quality education in a safe and joyful environment. Students and families engage in a technology-enhanced curriculum led by an exceptional staff who validates the needs of the whole child.
For TK enrollment information, please contact Carlene Valenti at 408-223-3730 or email her. A child must be 5 years old between September 2, 2022 through April 2, 2023.
|
|
Women’s History Month and More Celebrations
|
|
In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month and the contributions women make through effort, dedication and innovation. As teachers share lessons on many of the women highlighted in the month, an emphasis will be on what obstacles the person faced, how the women persevered and how the world is a better place because of their impact.
Each lesson includes a read aloud, a famous quote and a video. Students are encouraged to have deeper discussions both in the classroom and at home.
Additional March lessons:
There are also additional highlights in March to recognize. The month begins with a focus on our character trait of perseverance, which includes discussions on motivation and working towards a goal. Students also learned about the celebrations of Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Purim, and the Holi Festival. There was also recognition for International Women's Day, Harriet Tubman Day, and Irish American Month. Finally, we shared a lesson about Cesar Chavez and the impact of his legacy.
|
|
Improving Mathematics with Help
from the Gates Foundation
|
|
Our district is partnering with the Gates Foundation, funding work with the “East Side Alliance,” and hiring partners in School Innovation, to collaborate with math teachers and administrators.
The goal is to help improve math instruction and student learning of middle school mathematics. This initiative started in August 2021, and includes an Instructional Coach for our educators. Currently, August Boeger and Ida Jew Academy are the focus of this very successful program at MPESD!
|
|
Learning doesn’t have to stop during Summer! At MPESD, we are offering different summer programs for a season filled with fun and instruction. Elevate Math has been designed for students for incoming 3rd grade to 8th grade. The Reading program will receive incoming 1st graders to 3rd graders. Both programs are free and will be available by invitation. There will be a waiting list for those who didn’t receive an invitation.
To learn more about Elevate Math and the Reading Program, please call Shannon Soza at (408) 223-3770. All summer programs will be in person.
Also, MPESD Summer Camp is open to all students attending any school, from ages 6 - 14. The program dates are June 15 - July 27, (no Summer Camp 7/4 & 7/5) and operates Monday through Friday, from 8:30am until 2:30pm. The cost is $750 due by May 28 (only $26 a day, for a 6-hour program that includes all materials plus breakfast and lunch!).
During this time students will learn to create their own website and participate in fun learning activities using the kahoot website and iReady. All students participate in physical activity and enrichment such as art, science, robotics, math, and serious play. The Summer camp takes place on campus and is in-person.
We give students an opportunity to learn in a safe environment with assistance from Summer Camp staff.
If you're interested in the program please register here.
You will be contacted on May 6, 2022 with additional information. Please don't hesitate to contact Danny Patton with any additional questions, call 408-314-6406 or send him an email.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
