Superintendent Community Update

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Dear JUHSD Community,

In the shadow of heartbreaking global conflict, our schools will continue to serve as safe and supportive havens for our students. As intense violence rocks our world and images of war saturates the news and social media, cultural and community tension increases. We will make space for our students, families, and staff members who may be impacted, and will continue to ensure that our schools remain safe and welcoming environments for all students and staff members.

To best support students in troubled times, reflective activities will elevate school and district values, promote the importance of caring for one another, and take extra steps to promote a safe and supportive climate that respects and honors our students’ many and varied backgrounds.

We encourage parents and caregivers to check in with their children about what they are seeing and hearing around them, including information posted to their social media. Students are more resilient when surrounded by caring adults who are attuned to the tension of the outside world and who can help mitigate those impacts.

Finally, the San Mateo County Office of Education and many partners have assembled a set of resources for teachers, parents, and students to help young people process the many emotions and impacts amid violence and tragedy. Please explore these resources by following the link below.

With care,

Toni Presta

Superintendent

@superintendent_tonipresta

As October 8-14 is School Administrator Week, JUHSD would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for our school administrators.

Our school administrators play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our district. They lead with passion, integrity, and a deep understanding of the needs of our students and staff. Their innovative ideas, tireless efforts, and exceptional leadership have created a positive and nurturing learning environment for everyone in the JUHSD community.

To our school administrators, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your contributions are immeasurable, and we are truly fortunate to have you leading our educational community. Please take a moment to say thank you to your school's administrative team!

Yesterday, October 12, the JUHSD CTE (Career and Technical Education) Program held its annual College and Career Fair at the Serramote Mall in Daly City. During this two hour event, dozens of representatives from colleges, local trade programs, community service groups, and businesses surrounded the mall's beautiful center fountain sharing helpful information about their organizations and giving away lots of fun swag.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to scan a registration QR code with the chance to win amazing prizes including gift cars, AirPods, and an iPad. JUHSD's CTE Program sends a special thank you to everyone in attendance and gives a special shout-out to the District students, staff, and Maintenance Department for helping work this event! To learn more about the District's CTE Program, click here.

In collaboration with the San Mateo County Office of Education, JUHSD is excited to be the first high school district in the county to launch a new anonymous reporting system called STOPit this coming Monday, October 16. STOPit is a schoolwide reporting system designed to empower students to anonymously share safety concerns, misconduct, or other issues.

In the coming days, students will notice signage and banners displayed prominently at their school sites. These signs will feature two QR codes that will enable students to access the STOPit system conveniently:

1. QR Code for App Download: By scanning this QR code, students can easily download the STOPit app onto their smartphones. This app will serve as a user-friendly platform for reporting concerns.

2. QR Code for Real-Time Reporting: The second QR code will allow students to report concerns in real-time. This feature will ensure that feedback reaches us promptly, enabling a swift response to issues.

We believe that STOPit will provide an additional layer of safety and support within our district. Please take some time to explore this reporting system further by checking out this YouTube video. As always, all are encouraged to share student safety concerns with the school's site administration team.

This past Friday, The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) performed for the students and staff Oceana High in the school's gym. Throughout this powerful and uplifting performance, members from the chorus shared deeply personal and inspiring stories, while connecting those to song.

At the culmination of the performance, select OHS students and staff joined the SFGMC where they collectively sang an inspiring cover of Love Can Build a Bridge. OHS and JUHSD wholeheartedly thanks the SFGMC for taking time out to share their message of acceptance, inclusion, and hope with us. To Learn more about the SFGMC, click here. To see this event featured in the October 10 online edition of the Half Moon Bay Review, click here.

Photo credit: Stefan Cohen, SFGMC, and Catherine Saet, OHS ASB.

Congratulations to Oceana High School 12th grader Sagar Rajan for being named as The City of Brisbane's Youth Volunteer of the Year at this past Saturday's Day in the Park!

For only the second time in the City's history, Sagar was selected by the Brisbane City Councilmembers and Parks & Recreation Commissioners to receive this distinguished title. This award is presented to an outstanding young person who has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping others and who serves as an example to their peers. As quoted in a speech found on the City of Brisbane's Facebook page, Sagar, "continuously gives his time and energy without expectation or recognition of reward. In countless ways, this young person exemplifies the title of Youth Volunteer of the Year." Way to go, Sagar! OHS and JUHSD couldn't be more proud!

Photo: Superintendent Toni Presta stands with Oceana High 12th grader Sagar Rajan after he was announced as Brisbane's Youth Volunteer of the Year during their annual Day in the Park event on October 7, 2023.

The Daly City Public Library Associates (DCPLA) is proud to announce the launch of the 2024-2025 Daly City Youth Poet Laureate program. In partnership with the National Youth Poet Laureate Program by Urban Word and Daly City Public Library, this program celebrates teen poets who live or attend school in Daly City, and exhibit a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement, leadership, and social justice. Past JUHSD titleholders include Madeleine Hur, 2021-2022 (OHS Alum), Chole Chou, 2022-2023 (Current WHS student). To apply for this year's program, click here or contact DCPLA Executive Director Victoria Magbilang, (415) 596-8194, info@dcpla.org.

Photo: 2022-2023 Youth Poet Laureate Chole Chou stands with JUHSD Superintendent Toni Presta after being part of the District's Centennial Celebration, May 2022.

Congratulations to Terra Nova's Dane Potter (12), Anna Zavodnic (12), and Ava Litz (10), as they have been selected to be a part of The San Mateo County Youth Climate Ambassador (YCA) Leadership Program. The YCA Leadership Program brings 9-12th grade students from across San Mateo County together to empower youth to take climate action into their own hands.

YCA students engage in biweekly environmental and sustainability-focused workshops which provide ongoing opportunities for learning, community building, leadership, and public-speaking skills development. Students also participate in three in-person retreats and monthly mentorship calls with YCA staff to cultivate their professional networks. To learn more about the YCA, click here.

Photo credit: Marlene Gutierrez, TNHS Science Department Chair

During the October 3 Board of Trustees meeting, sixteen exceptional students from across the District were officially sworn in as members of the 2023-2024 JUHSD Student Advisory Council. This dedicated group of students plays a pivotal role in our educational community, actively participating in their bimonthly Monday evening meetings where they passionately discuss issues close to their hearts, offer valuable insights on board agenda topics, and advocate for their peers. Students! If you have questions or concerns about your school site, share these with your Student Trustees:

Raise your hand if your students could use help after-hours! JUHSD teachers and students have free access to PAPER’s professional tutors, 24/7! Log in by clicking HERE or check out paper.co for more information.

If you're looking for something fall and festive to do this weekend, head down the peninsula to Half Moon Bay's annual Pumpkin Festival, October 14-15. This weekend-long event is a host to community entertainment, vendor and food booths, costume contests, and of course, visiting a local pumpkin farm to pick out a gourd ripe for the carving! For additional information on this historic gathering, click here.

Feeling a little spooky this weekend? If so, head over to the Italian Cemetery in Colma for Cinema at the Cemetery, a free outdoor movie event screening of Ghostbusters, tomorrow, October 14! Bring your blankets and pack a picnic for the family! Doors open at 6:00 pm and the movie will begin playing at sundown. For more information, please call the Colma Community Center at (650) 985-5678. Please note this is a pet-free event and the use of glass containers are prohibited. All youth attending must be accompanied by an Adult.

On Tuesday, October 17, join author Dr. Bettina L. Love for a thought-provoking and transformative conversation about the powerful themes of education, equity, and liberation while diving into her book, "Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal." Dr. Love confronts the pressing issue of how current school reform practices disproportionately impact Black children, perpetuating systemic inequities and stifling their dreams. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with Dr. Love as she discusses her groundbreaking book, offering insights into the profound consequences of punitive educational approaches and suggesting pathways towards healing and empowerment. To learn more about this event held at the University of San Francisco, click here.

Students! Interested in learning more about storytelling and narrative audio production? Check out SNAP! (Storytelling and Narrative Audio Production), a program through the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC). The BAVC team currently has 4 students enrolled for their upcoming program and still has space for a few more to join!

In this introductory level course, students will develop foundational skills in audio production by creating podcasts. Students will explore introductory techniques for creating sound mixes and original podcast content. Through hands-on labs, students will use microphones, mic technique, multitrack mixdowns, and basic composition of soundtrack music. Students will apply these skills to the creation of original sound designs both to accompany film/video and as standalone podcast-format pieces.

Though classes started on September 26, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 20. Learn more at bavc.org/programs/youth.

Throughout the month of October, many groups and causes are acknowledged, including:

National Hispanic Heritage & Latino Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

LGBTQ+ History Month

Filipino American History Month

National Principals Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Emotional Wellness Month

German-American Heritage Month

Italian-American Heritage Month

As a district, we applaud the uniqueness and diversity of our students and staff. It is through their contributions that make JUHSD so special. Please click on the above links to learn more!

As a district, we embrace inclusion, value diversity, and educate ourselves in order to confront and dismantle systemic inequities to bring about a more just society. JUHSD commits to engaging, educating, and empowering ALL students, with an intentional focus on those under-served, inadequately served, or disenfranchised by educational institutions and systems, eliminating disparities in educational outcomes.

Follow us on Instagram @juhsd1 and use the hashtag #juhsdproud

Email: communication@jeffersonunion.net
Website: www.juhsd.net
Location: 699 Serramonte Boulevard, Daly City, CA, Suite 100
Phone: (650) 550-7900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JUHSD1