May 6 Board Meeting
The San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees invites you to attend a Board Meeting on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The Board meeting includes a presentation on the following topics of community interest:

  • 2021-2022 Instructional Planning
  • Special Education Update
  • Presentation of Induction Program


  • Webinar ID: 965 0797 5501
  • Passcode: 575362

Or One tap mobile:
  • US: +16699009128,,96507975501#,,,,*575362#

If the Zoom webinar reaches maximum capacity, the meeting may also be viewed on our Board Meeting YouTube channel.

Public Comments
If you wish to make a comment about an agenda item or during the public comments section at the beginning of the agenda, please send an email to comments@smuhsd.org with your name, email address, and your zoom name (if different) and the item under which you would like to comment. The Board president will call on you. Please note that comments are limited to three minutes. The Board President may increase or decrease the time allowed for public presentation, depending upon the topic and number of persons wishing to be heard.   
Climate Emergency Declaration

After months of writing and perfecting a Climate Emergency Declaration, SMUHSD students presented the resolution to the Board of Trustees on April 1. It was approved unanimously. 

What does this mean? As per the resolution, the District will create a climate action plan tackling areas including:
  • Green Buildings
  • Transportation, and
  • Clean Energy

This creates a myriad of opportunities to drive sustainable change and keep SMUHSD accountable for its actions. Our District will serve as an example for others across the county and state!
Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Baseline Assessments
The San Mateo Union High School District is working with the San Mateo County Office of Education to conduct a comprehensive Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Baseline Assessment. This process provides a shared understanding of the current status, builds a common language, and lays the foundation for the next steps. This includes strategic planning and implementation of new sustainability initiatives and goals.
 
The District has also invested in a leadership model that brings student, school, and District leaders together monthly to discuss important sustainability issues. Students from this group were successful in advocating that the Board pass a Climate Emergency Declaration this month (see above).
Capuchino High's Environmental Club hosted its second beach clean up of the school year at Coyote Point Recreation area in mid April.

Follow the Club on Instagram to stay up-to-date on activities.
After learning about the power of compost to reverse Climate Change, the San Mateo Adult School Green Team visited ESL classrooms with a student-created presentation about compost: What is it? Why is it important? How to do it!

Hillsdale High Hosts City of San Mateo's Arbor Day
After applying to the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA Program last year, Hillsdale High School was selected as the site in 2021 to host Arbor Day for the City of San Mateo.

Hillsdale High School Facility Manager Billy DeKom worked with HHS Assistant Principal Brett Stevenson, the HHS Environmental Club and the City of San Mateo's arborist Matthew Fried to host the event on April 14.

Through the Tree City USA program, Hillsdale High received the following trees:
  • Six Deodar Cedars
  • Two Trident Maples
  • Five Monterey Cypresses

Thanks to the students and staff who helped dig holes and plant the trees! Thank you to the City of San Mateo for their support.
Instagram logo with a drawing of the Earth in the center
Sustainability on Social Media

Follow these student and staff-driven social media accounts to stay up-to-date on sustainability efforts from the school sites:

District and Community Events
Run/Walk Challenge to Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month

The San Mateo PAL and Stride for Awareness is pleased to invite you to participate in their FREE Run/Walk Challenge during the month of May, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month!

Participants can Run/Walk Anywhere, Anytime, and go Any Distance! FREE! And they get a FREE T-Shirt!

Join the community in helping efforts to encourage and promote the importance of Healthy Mind, Body and Community.

ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety

  • Tuesday, May 4, 6 - 8 p.m.
  • Register
  • This event is free.
  • Spanish film subtitles and simultaneous interpretation for the panel and Q&A will be provided.
  • ANGST is appropriate for viewers age 10 and older.

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) and Safe and Supportive Schools programs present a FREE community screening of ANGST.
ANGST is an IndieFlix Original documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes expert advice from mental health professionals, along with interviews from elementary and high school students who discuss how anxiety has impacted their lives.

The event includes a screening of the 43-minute film, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with local mental health/substance abuse prevention experts.

This special event is sponsored by San Mateo County Office of Education, Peninsula Health Care District, and Sequoia Healthcare District, in partnership with The Parent Venture.
Madeleine Pizey smiling in a field
Reducing COVID Stress and Anxiety for Parents: Part 2

  • Friday, May 7, 2021, 12 – 1 p.m.
  • Presenter: Madeleine Pizey, Mindful Educator, Mission Be
  • Register 
  • Free admission.
  • Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available.

Teens are already faced with a myriad of challenges, both academically and socially. Helping our teens manage these challenges can be stressful for parents.

Join Madeleine Pizey, Mindful Educator for Mission Be, for Part 2 of our "Mindful Parent" series. In this one-hour, self-care break, you will learn how to reduce stress and increase positivity through the power of mindfulness.

This presentation is sponsored by Woodside PTSA, SHSEF, Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, and The Parent Venture.
Parent Cafe: Typical Teenagers... Health Risk Behaviors, Perception, and Why it Matters

  • Wednesday, May 19, 12 - 1 p.m.
  • Presenter: Becky Beacom, former Health Education Manager, Sutter Health/PAMF
  • Register
  • Free admission
  • Spanish interpretation will be available.

Parents and community members welcome. This webinar is presented by Peninsula Health Care District.
Free Webinar for Families to Learn about the Dangers of Vaping

San Mateo-Foster City School District and SMUHSD present a free virtual webinar on Tuesday, May 4 - Family Talk: Vaping.

The webinar is being offered at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Live Spanish interpretation will be available.

Upcoming School Performances and Recordings

Aragon High School

Burlingame High School

Capuchino High School

Hillsdale High School

Visit www.smuhsd.org/virtual-vapa for more information.
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
Burlingame High Student Nabs Honorable Mention in NY Times STEM Writing Contest

Congratulations to Burlingame High School junior Athena Yeung - she received an Honorable Mention for her essay, "CRISPR: The Future in the Fight Against Cancer" in the 2nd Annual New York Times STEM Writing Contest.

Students were asked to choose any STEM-related question, concept or issue that interested them and, in 500 words or fewer, explain it to a general audience in a clear and engaging way,

Read the New York Times article to learn more about the contest and winning entries.
American Legion Auxiliary Logo
American Legion Announces California Girls State Delegates

The American Legion Auxiliary's (ALA) District 26 (San Mateo County) recently announced its 2021 California Girls State (CAGS) Delegates.

Congratulations to the following Delegates from the San Mateo Union High School District:

Aragon High: Grace Xia
Burlingame High: Annika Gauthier
Design Tech High: Kasvi Singh
Hillsdale High: Allison Inouye
Mills High: Chiara Bettucchi
San Mateo High: Shermaine San Miguel

Girls State is a nationally-renown leadership program designed to increase awareness and knowledge of government processes while learning about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Only one rising senior is selected from each participating high school. During ordinary years, 540 young ladies from throughout the state meet in SoCal for six days of meetings, election campaigns, social events, and camaraderie. This year, Girls State will be held via Zoom.
Stack of books
Capuchino Hosts Book Drive for San Bruno Park Elementary Schools

Capuchino High School Leadership and PTSO worked together to collect book donations for San Bruno Park School District elementary schools!

They collected nearly 700 books over a two-week period.
Two students stand in front of cars that have boxes of hygiene products in the trunks
Sophomores Raise More than $6K to Combat 'Period Poverty' in Oakland Schools

Via KTVU Fox 2: "Several weeks ago, friends Taylor Davis and Isabella Bartlewski were talking about how expensive feminine hygiene products are and how great the need for them is for many girls at local schools, particularly during the pandemic when many families were, and are still, struggling.

The two sophomore students -- Taylor attends Saint Francis High School and Isabella goes to Aragon High School -- decided to start raising money."

SMHS Student Create Get Well Cards for Medical Center Patients

Shout out to San Mateo High School students who participated in a volunteer effort to cheer up San Mateo Medical Center patients with more than 125 get well and birthday cards! Cards were created in English and Spanish! 
WE ARE HIRING
Door sign that reads: We're Hiring
The San Mateo Union High School District is Hiring!

Learn more about the following notice of vacancy:






San Mateo Union High School District | www.smuhsd.org