CONNECTIONS

Dear MDUSD Friends and Families,

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of our school year! I marvel at how much

our students have learned, grown and excelled over the year, uncovering and building on

new interests and talents, developing new friendships and social and life skills, and

embarking firmly on a path to future success and personal growth and reward.

Academically, socially, emotionally, and physically – they have made great strides!!

For those families who’ll be returning to us for the 2017-2018 school year, we hope the

summer break is one filled with lots of family time and warm memories. For those of you whose children are

moving on to their next adventure, we wish the very best success. Please stay in touch and let us know how our

MDUSD grads are doing as their new paths unfold. And to all MDUSD families, we thank you for the privilege of

serving you and your children.

As a former teacher and high school principal, I want to pass along a column I found to be very on-target for

graduating seniors and their families on the 10 Things Every High School Senior Should Know Now. A key

takeaway for me? Work hard, take chances, be adventurous, and be open to discovery. The most precious thing

you’ll discover….is yourself.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nellie E. Meyer

Superintendent

DISTRICT NEWS

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH CLASSROOM CHAMPIONS OLYMPIC MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHED

Mt. Diablo Unified is launching an eight-school partnership

with Classroom Champions, a program founded by Olympic

Gold Medalist Steve Mesler, pairs teachers with American

Olympians and Paralympians as mentors who use video lessons,

live video chats, and social media to engage students and

encourage them to recognize their potential, set goals, and

dream big. Olympian Kara Kohler kicks off MDUSD's new Classroom Champions partnership with the Bel Air Bears!

Classroom Champions is the first program of its kind to partner with teachers to bring these elite athletes

training for their next Olympics or Paralympics into schools to provide ongoing mentorship. Local Olympic

bronze medalist Kara Kohler, an alum of MDUSD and Walnut Creek native,

helped surprise eight MDUSD schools on the morning of May 30, welcoming 20

new teachers to the Classroom Champions community of 225 teachers for the

2017/2018 school year. The school partners are:

Bel Air Elementary School

Riverview Middle School

Shore Acres Elementary School

Oak Grove Middle School

El Dorado Middle School

El Monte Elementary School

Highlands Elementary School

Fair Oaks Elementary

BUDGET UPDATE

We continue with budget development for the 2017-18 school year. The State released its latest budget this month. Funding has increased slightly from the second interim report, but we still await federal budget information. While we await these figures, we will make the most well-informed budget decisions possible in alignment with the goals of our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), which were developed and continue to be reviewed and revised as needed with significant input from our parent advisory committees and other important stakeholder groups. Recently, we held a special LCAP budget study session to update the public on the funding sources and known amounts going into the 2017-18 school year, and what each type of funding can cover, and to solicit feedback. You can review the presentation at http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/d5bcded9-32c2-4757-a90a-06b00b2d8b9f.pdf. We appreciated the attendance and participation of our families and community members. At our June 12 and June 27 Board meetings, we will be conducting our required public hearings on the proposed budget. Your attendance is welcome and encouraged; public testimony is very important at these sessions.

EXTENDED SCHOOL CHOICE TRANSFER DEADLINE IS JUNE 30 FOR NEW REGIONAL MAGNET SCHOOLS

The Extended School Choice transfer option for our three new regional magnet schools

opening next year (Holbrook Language and Culture Academy, Sun Terrace STEM

(Science, Technology, engineering and Mathematics) and Wren Ave. Arts magnets)

remains open through June 30, 2017. The School Choice form can be found at online

at http://holbrook.mdusd.org/ or contacting Student Services at 925-682-8000

x4167. You can also contract Student Services or regionalmagnet@mdusd.org with

questions. Information can also be found online at each school’s website at

www.mdusd.org.

Olympic rower and bronze medalist Kara Kohler is a proud alumnus of MDUSD, having attended Mt. Diablo Elementary, Diablo View Middle School, and Clayton Valley High School. #MDUSDProud

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

OUTSTANDING TEACHERS, CLASSIFIED STAFF, AND PARENT AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS HONORED

AT ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

Approximately 350 people were in attendance for the

5th Annual Academy Awards, a recognition event

sponsored by the Mt. Diablo Education Association (MDEA)

and the Mt. Diablo Unified School District which honors

educators, administrators, classified employees, parent

volunteers and student volunteer organizations for their

significant contributions to schools and the district.

The event featured musical performances from students at Foothill Middle School and

Walnut Acres Elementary School from their school musicals, “Mary Poppins” and

“Thoroughly Modern Millie.” The Honorable Delaine Eastin, former California

Superintendent of Public Instruction, provided the keynote address.

There were nearly 140 nominations in several categories. (View Program) The 2016 – 2017

Academy Award Winners are as follows:

Category Recipient Site

Leadership & Courage (Teacher) Charles Litten Foothill Middle

Creative Curriculum (Teacher) Dianna Delamain Hidden Valley Elementary

Most Inspirational (Teacher) Maria Filipinia Ygnacio Valley High School

Community Involvement (Teacher) Megan Zeitler Walnut Acres Elementary

Lifetime Achievement (Teacher) Skip Weinstock Olympic High School

Outstanding Classified Employee – School Site

Martha Gonzalez El Dorado Middle

Outstanding Classified Employee – District/Central Office

Anne Byrne District Behaviorist

Outstanding Administrator James Wogan School Linked Services

Outstanding Parent Volunteer Katy Robinson Silverwood Elementary

Outstanding Student Volunteer Organization

Girls Optimal Academic Achievement Society (G.O.A.L.S.)

Northgate High School – Oak Grove Middle School

MDUSD Teacher of the Year Meg Honey Northgate High School

MDUSD Teacher of the Year Tom Trowbridge Concord High School

Videos of the finalists are available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLi82zvNHTE&feature=youtu.be.

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) AND REGIONAL OCCUPATIONAL

PROGRAM (ROP) STUDENTS HONORED

Each year, the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s ROP/CTE

program celebrates the successes of local students in numerous career

pathways and industry sectors. This year, several MDUSD students were honored among the 42 county high

school students recognized as ROP/CTE Honors Students of Excellence. They include:

Student Industry Sector Subject School Instructor

Celia Bateman Arts, Media & Entertainment Advanced

Photography

College Park Jennifer Kennedy

Ivan Isquerra Education, Child Development,

and Family Services

Careers in

Teaching

Ygnacio Valley Thatcher Palmer

Dante Maurino Health Science & Medical

Technology

Advanced

Sports Medicine

Northgate Glen Barker

Kelly Seto Health Science & Medical

Technology

Advanced

Sports Medicine

Northgate Al Douex

Miranda Murphree Information & Communication

Technology

Computer

Applications

Concord Laurie Harris

Valeria Martinez Business & Finance Computerized

Accounting

Concord Laurie Harris

All students were awarded a certificate of merit and a

$250.00 scholarship award. Congratulations to all these

very deserving MDUSD student honorees and their

teachers!

Learn more!

CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE HONORS MDUSD CULINARY STUDENTS, INDUSTRY PARTNERS, AND MENTORS

Mt. Diablo High School in Concord will host its 22rd annual Celebration of Excellence in Education, honoring

student chefs and bakers in the MDHS Serendipity Restaurant & Bakery program, part of the school’s venerable

International Hospitality and Tourism Academy, emphasizing culinary arts, hospitality arts, and sustainable

hospitality coursework. Industry partners, including the Crowne Plaza Concord; community partners, including

Marilyn Fowler, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from the Concord Chamber of Commerce, and

the Rotary Club of Concord were also recognized.

The students have earned numerous scholarships and awards this year,

competing with fellow culinary students from across the state. At the

recent Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State

Leadership Conference in Riverside, four Mt. Diablo High School students

walked away with the top prizes and more than $69,000 in scholarships

and prizes.

Students also prepared and served a wonderful dinner: a house salad with baby greens, gorgonzola cheese, and

candied pecans with an herb vinaigrette; grilled pork loin with chipotle mashed potato and mixed seasonal

vegetables; and a dessert medley.

MDUSD TEACHER CINDY GERSHEN: FINALIST FOR NBC SPORTS BAY

AREA “2017 ALL-STAR TEACHER” AWARD

NBC Sports Bay Area (@NBCSAuthentic) has named Cindy Gershen,

Chef/Instructor at Mt. Diablo High school’s acclaimed International

Hospitality and Tourism Academy, as one of five finalists for the 2017

All-Star Teacher Award, which comes with a $20,000 donation to the

winner’s school. In its tenth year, the All-Star Teacher Award

recognizes middle and high school teachers in Northern and Central

California for their extraordinary dedication to their students in school and

in the community.

The All-Star Teacher Award winner will be announced on Wednesday, June

28 during an on-field ceremony prior to the San Francisco Giants/Rockies

game at AT&T Park and live during NBC Sports Bay Area’s telecast of Giants

Pregame Live. Check out this video NBC produced about Cindy’s work at

MDHS! Go Chef Cindy!

SCHOOL NEWS

MEET & GREET WITH NEW PRINCIPAL AT HOLBROOK LANGUAGE & CULTURE ACADEMY

Holbrook Elementary, which is reopening for the 2017-2018 school year as a Language

and Culture Academy magnet, is inviting parents and surrounding community to "Meet &

Greet" with the new principal Marga Marshall and to hear the upcoming vision of the

school. Join us June 2nd at 8:15 am at the Holbrook Heights Community Association located at 3207 Esperanza

Dr., Concord. (Get directions)

HORIZONS CENTER STUDENTS SERVE AS STUDENT EXPERTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDIES FOR BAY

AREA CONFERENCES

Students from Horizons Center for Independent Study in Pleasant Hill

served as presenters at two recent environmental conference events,

sharing the results of water quality monitoring of Grayson Creek

throughout the school year. They discussed what they have learned,

detailed their experiences working in creeks and how this project will

impact them in the future.

At the Green Careers Conference Bay Area in Berkeley on May 16, the

students, serving as the “Watershed Project Interns,” provide their “Wild

Oysters” presentation to a full house. The very next day, the students

repeated their presentation at the Contra Costa Watershed Forum, an

open committee of some 50 organizations, including state and local

agencies, local non-profit environmental and educational organizations, and numerous volunteers and private

citizens.

Congratulations to these environmentally-conscious students and teacher Monica Fliehmann for helping to

show the Bay/East Bay Area community how conscientious our students are about the future stewardship of our

environmental resources!

Learn more!

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT FOR NORTHGATE AP HISTORY STUDENTS RESULTS IN UNIQUE HISTORY

EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH MEADOW HOMES ELEMENTARY

Students from Northgate High School’s Advanced Placement (AP)

United States History classes recently spent a day at Meadow Homes

Elementary school, facilitating 14 learning stations to introduce

5th grade students to various time periods and themes in U.S.

History. The Northgate students, dressed in historical costumes,

engaged their younger peers in historical thinking activities, artifact

analysis, and group discussion. The day was intended to serve as a

powerful service learning opportunity for the Northgate students, and

initiate a strong partnership between students and schools in the

Monument Corridor area. (Do a Ctrl+Click on each picture to see a

larger version!)

Learn more!

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Mt. Diablo Unified is always looking for potential team

members, Please check our personnel website and also our

LinkedIn page for updated classroom positions and other

positions we’re looking to fill, such as Elementary School

Secretary, School Office Manager, Special Education teachers

and staff, teacher-librarians, and teachers for vocal and

instrumental music, technology and yearbook.

We are also actively recruiting for several coaching positions – basketball, football, softball, lacrosse, volleyball –

if you love these sports and working with young people then we want to hear from you! We are currently

looking for a new Director of Purchasing and Warehouse and an Assistant Building and Grounds Manager.

Additionally, we look for and hire bus driver trainees, and clerical and food assistant subsitutes year-round.

Please come join Team MDUSD! #MDUSDPROUD

SCENES FROM SCHOOLS

Look out below! It's the traditional Third Grade Egg Drop at Pleasant Hill Elementary! Some serious science here – go Dinos!

Check out these awesome student robotics projects from the robo fans at Valley View Middle!

Spring Instrumental Concert done the Wren Way! Wren Ave. Elementary will be starting a new arts magnet program for the 2017-18 school year.

The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) from Mt. Diablo High School recently visited Riverview Middle School, providing demonstrations (including marching and an intimidating push-up performance) and information about the JROTC experience.

Aaand they're off! Geometry students in Mr. Tucker Farrar's class at Northgate High School take off to stroke, paddle, or flounder in the qualifying rounds of the annual Geometry Milk Carton Boat Race. Mr. Farrar says it was a categorical success!

As part of STEAM week at Walnut Acres Elementary, students were treated to a robotics presentation by the Walnut Creek Police Department's Bomb Squad. Talk about real-life applications for science and engineering! Go Jaguars!

Be sure to follow us at Twitter at @MtDiabloUSD and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MDUSDnews.

DATEBOOK

Date Event Location Time

May 25-

June 9

Graduation Ceremonies Various Locations Various Times

June 9 Last day of school for students

June 12 Regular Meeting Board of Education District Office 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

7 p.m. (Open Session)

June 26 Regular Meeting Board of Education District Office 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

7 p.m. (Open Session)

Several annual assessments are still in progress:

Program Timeframe Content Area/Subjects

Tested

Age/Grade

CAASPP – Smarter

Balanced Summative

Assessments

March 20 – June 9 California Science Test –

Pilot Test

5,8, and sample of 10, 11

and 12

April 24 – June 9 English Language Arts &

Mathematics

3-8, 11

CAASPP: California

Alternate Assessment

March 20 – June 9 California Alternate

Assessment for Science –

Pilot Test

5,8, and sample of 10, 11

and 12

April 24 – June 9 English Language Arts &

Mathematics

3-8, 11

Scholastic Aptitude Test

(SAT)

May 6, June 3 Critical Reading, Writing

& Mathematics plus 20

subject tests

11 & 12