Volume 7, Issue 4 | February 21, 2022
If this email is clipped—or photos are not displayed—click the "View entire message" link at the bottom of the email. School LIFE is the newsletter of the Milpitas Unified School District. If you have stories for our next issue, please send them to Scott Forstner.
Superintendent's Message
Community connections through our Culture of We
F ebruary in Milpitas is a celebration of Black History and Lunar New Year, an opportunity to strive towards MUSD Strategic Goal #1—Build a Culture of We. Lunar New Year beckons families to celebrate with traditions that offer elders and children time to be present with one another. It is a time to recognize the contributions of our ancestors and to honor all with sentiments of good will and togetherness in the year ahead. 

MHS alum, Nyla Choates, debuted her children's book, "My Roots are Rich," this weekend. During the celebration family and friends expressed sentiments of pride, affirmation, and commitment for her continued success in pursuing her purpose. There was a rich feeling of connection to a greater sense of humanity. Nyla’s family assured she knew her roots, and that she too, like those who came before her, is a Flamekeeper. A person through whom we can learn about who we are together in this village.

Family. Heritage. Culture. Generations. These are the facets of our Milpitas community that intertwine and connect us. Parents, caregivers, teachers, paraeducators, principals, and all of our MUSD team create experiences where our learners can see that they matter. In partnership with our schools, Milpitas wraps itself around our youth, and it is this deep-rooted tradition of open hearts and minds that makes MUSD uniquely committed to its community.
State Board Member of Year's blog
One Last Ride?
A s this month ends, I have to be mindful that this may be my last Black History Month as a school board member. I am not promised today, tomorrow, next week or next year. I am even more mindful of the fact, I could not have been a part of Black History without all of the different ethnicities and races that live in Milpitas — a true “Culture of We” in spirit. Thank you ALL of MUSD for being a part of my Black History and the village that educated me to recognize it.
 
In 2014, I was elected to the MUSD Board of Trustees. When I informed my mom, she said to me, "You have made Black History." I paused for a moment, smiled at her and said, "And you made me."  
 
Shortly after the 2014 election, in January 2015, I asked the Superintendent to share with the teachers and principals I would be willing to support their efforts for Black History Month by reading, volunteering, participating in assemblies, etc. It would be one of my many ways of thanking the community that raised me, preserving its Black History, and embracing the evolving demographics. The several who took me up on the offer watched me tell a little bit about growing up in Milpitas. The feedback I received was that I was fun; interactive and inspiring to their students and, in return, I learned even more about the curiosity, concerns and hopes of kids from different age groups.
 
Lillian Katz, an international leader in early childhood education wrote, "Each of us must come to care about everyone else's children. We must recognize the well-being of our children and grandchildren is ultimately linked to the well-being of all other people's children. After all, when one of our children needs life-saving surgery, someone else's child will perform it. If one of our children is threatened or harmed by violence, someone else's child will be responsible for the violent act. A good life for our own children can be secured only if a good life is secured for all other people's children."
 
Growing up in the diversity of Milpitas, it is easy to believe the words of Lillian Katz. WE are ALL the keepers, protectors, encouragers, and role models for our own and others’ children in our community. 
 
Thank you MUSD staff of African descent, past and present including; Chuck Gary, Mr. Travelers, Mrs. Simpson, Henry Robinson, Annie Handy, Cheryl Rivera, Herman Wilson, Damon James, Sean Anglon, James Carter, Diallo Sims, Champ Wrencher, Deanna Sainten, Dr. Latisha Roberts, Hanna Asrat, Jonathan Payne, Stacy Lillard, and Kenneth Lewis. You are part of the Black History in Milpitas. Your presence and perspective has tremendous value.
 
Special thanks to The “Sunnyhills Soul Fathers”. These Black men helped raise me, supported my friends, and provided 30+ years of service and leadership to the African American community of Milpitas and beyond.
 
Mr. Kennon, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Eiland, Mr. McGee, Mr. Watts, Mr. Brown, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Tony Thompson, Mr. Henry, Mr. Gray, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Goode, Mr. Ward, Mr. Smith, Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Levine, Mr Peco, Mr. Norwood, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Scott, Mr. Levine, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Dunbar, Mr. Crane, Mr. Davis, Mr. Augustine, Mr. Goode, Mr. Davis, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Mcgee, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Nichols and their friends.

In community,


Chris Norwood
'54: The Story of Sunnyhills

Black History Month 2022
Rose students revel in Lunar New Year parade
Kindergartners at Rose Elementary celebrated Lunar New Year 2022 with a dragon parade through the campus accompanied by the school mascot in the Year of the Tiger.
Feature Stories
Sinnott students excel in Spelling Bee Competition
Fourth grader Kushagra Jha won the Sinnott Elementary School Senior Spelling Bee Competiton--besting a field of 42 student competitors in Grades 3-6 over three grueling rounds of 25-3 questions each--and will be representing Sinnott in the Regional Qualifiers later this month.

"It's my dream to represent our school at the National Scripps Spelling Bee someday and be a National Spelling Bee Champion," detaile Jha, whose favorite word is "justaucorps," which is a long, knee-length coat worn by men in the latter half of the 17th century and throughout the 18th century.

Second graders James Carlo Vergara and Teja Yelisetty were co-champions among 53 student competitors in the Junior Spelling Bee for Grades K-2.

The First Runner-Up in the Senior Bee was fourth grader Akshaya Kamalakannan and the four Second Runner Ups were Ananya Raja, Saumya Mishra, Kavana Ame and Suha Shah.

In the Junior Bee, second grader Adhya Dangaria finished as First Runner-Up and second grader Nakshatra Prabhakar was Second Runner-Up.

Share your input to help shape the Local Control Accountability Plan
MUSD needs your input on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) to assist us with the development of the new plan. To gather your feedback, we're using a tool called ThoughtExchange. All of our voices matter, so your participation is crucial and valued.
You'll be asked to respond to one open-ended question, consider and assign stars to some of the ideas shared by others (20 to 30 is ideal), and learn what's important to the group.

Alumni Profile: Ryane McAuliffe Straus, MHS Class of '91
A Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Rose (Albany, NY), Milpitas High School Class of 1991 alumna Ryane McAuliffe Straus teaches courses in American Politics, with a focus on Racial/Ethnic Politics and Public Policy.
 
McAuliffe Straus, who attended Pomeroy Elementary School and Rancho Middle School, cherishes her upbringing in such a richly diverse community. Her daily interactions helped shape her chosen career path.

“The most important part of my pre-college education wasn't in the classroom, though that was certainly foundational,” said the now 48-year-old mother of a 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. “Instead, what was most important was the sheer diversity that I grew up with.”

Following high school graduation, McAuliffe Straus earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara, and Masters in Social Science and PhD in Political Science from UC Irvine.

Her educational foundation is rooted in Milpitas. McAuliffe Straus vividly recalled a 4th grade lesson about poverty, where her teacher, Mrs. Handy, taught the class about what it really meant to be hungry.

Curtner, Randall students make tutu bracelets for 2-2-22
Students at Curtner and Randall Elementary Schools made tutu friendship bracelets as part of 2-2-22 (2 Accept and 2 Include in ‘22), symbolizing inclusion and acceptance among all learners.
A garden is growing on the Calaveras Hills High School campus, thanks to advisor Joyita Ghose who founded the CHHS Garden Club in September 2021.

Every other Friday, club members meet outside and tend to the garden. They sell bulbs, recently raising $300 with a pop-up plant sale, and have utilized donorschoose.org to raise additional funds for purchasing fruit trees and flowers to plant in their growing garden.

On a beautiful Friday, Feb. 4, a handful of students, along with Ghose and Principal Carl Stice, are outside bringing tender care to their garden with some watering, seeding and planting.
Zero Wastes Saves Wildlife by Reeve Canio, Maile Corpuz, Jenna Dacoco, Antra Gupta and Dominique Walker.
Having a Zero Waste Lifestyle Helps Prevent Plastic Pollution by Jazlyn Miranda, Jason Ng, Mandy Nguyen, Jayden Ortiz
How we can Save Marine Life with a Zero waste lifestyle by Baochau Nguyen, Vanesa Pacheco, Ariana Phan, Gavin Tran
Quest students from Barbara Knitter's Class at Thomas Russell Middle School produced Environmental Videos. They did research on how recycling is important for our environment and how going Zero-waste can help. The requirement was to make the videos educational as well as relevant and entertaining to persuade both students and staff to adopt some lifestyle changes to help us with a greener future.
Community Liaison Norma Morales honored with Key to the City
Milpitas Unified School District Community Liaison Specialist Norma Morales received a Key to the City from City of Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran for her dedicated work in supporting students and families within our community.
2021-22 MUSD New Employee Profiles
Name: Cenni Kim

Position: Computer Graphics & Print Publication Specialist

Site/Department: District Office

I am excited to work in MUSD because: I enjoy being part of a team that makes a difference in our community.

To make me feel more a part of the district family, you could: Let me draw your pets!

A fun fact about me: I play roller derby in Silicon Valley's league.

Welcome to the #MUSDfamily!
Name: Denise Coleman

Position: COVID Support Lead

Site/Department: District Office

I am excited to work in MUSD because: I have worked with Glen Ishiwata and Cheryl Jordan for well over a decade (almost two!). I frequently heard both of them brag about the amazing students, staff and families in MUSD. I'm excited to be part of the MUSD family!

To make me feel more a part of the district family, you could: share pictures of your pets with me. I'm a mom of two rambunctious rescue pups and love sharing stories of their wily ways!

A fun fact about me is: my mom was an athlete and she desperately wanted sons. She tried four times and got four girls. I'm the youngest of four girls in my family. I was my parents last try at a boy; before they gave up. I was supposed to be Dennis; not Denise.

Welcome to the #MUSDfamily!
COVID-19 Resources
Free COVID-19 Testing and N95 Mask Giveaway
Special video feature
2022 Black History Month Video Resolution
Upcoming Events
Latest community activities from our District Calendar
Have a look at our District Calendar for information on more upcoming events, meetings and more. Here's the link.
MUSD | Phone: (408) 635-2600