Superintendent's Message
Dear JUHSD Community,
Though we are expected to have a sunny and warm Bay Area weekend, a feeling of fall is definitely in the air as we move into the month of September!
This past week was an exciting one for JUHSD! Along with my getting to visit with the Terra Nova community during their September 1 Back to School Night, a few JUHSD staff members had the honor of proudly showing off 705 Serramonte, the home of our Educational Housing, during a very special news clip which aired yesterday, nationwide, during CBS's Nightly News with Norah O'Donnell's Eye on America segment.
Teachers Jonathan Krupp (TNHS), Erick Willemse (TNHS), and Michaela Ott (JHS), along with Terra Nova Principal Megan Carey, were given the chance to share the District's story of providing affordable staff housing during the midst of a nationwide teacher shortage. JUHSD thanks CBS for showcasing 705 Serramonte and the amazing things taking place within this district. To watch the full CBS segment, please click HERE.
In observance of this coming Monday's Labor Day holiday, all district sites will be closed for the day with school resuming on Tuesday, September 6. Please have a restful three-day weekend and I look forward to seeing you at upcoming Back to School Nights on the WHS, JHS, and OHS campuses!
Warmly,
Toni Presta
Superintendent
#juhsdproud
A Sweet Event
We're All In
Along For The Ride
Welcome, Parents!
Labor Day Holiday
For a brief history of Labor Day, click here.
Source: history.com
WHS Student Earns AP Honors
Upon receiving word of her winning these honors, she stated that she "felt honored to have been chosen by the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program and that the honor to represent the Latinx community, along with Westmoor High School, is deeply rewarding." After taking three AP courses this school year, Emmanuelle plans to purse a doctorate's degree in chemical engineering or applied mathematics and thanks her teachers for their continued support.
Emmanuelle had this advice to share with students interested in taking AP courses. "Go for it! Though challenging, it is worth it by the end of the year, along with not being penalized for taking the exams; it's a great learning opportunity!"
Way to go, Emmanuelle! #juhsdproud
Dual Enrollment With Skyline College
Earn College Credit while in High School - OPEN TO ALL JUHSD STUDENTS!
Gateway to Health Online Course:
Introduction of skills, attributes and basic knowledge required for entry into various health care professions. Includes basic assessment, CPR, and math calculations used in health care. Emphasis on providing a foundation for future health career classes. Transfer credit: CSU. Click here to learn more information and register.
Living Schoolyards at OHS & WHS
For this grant program, a “Living Schoolyard” is defined as a feature or element that supports student learning, diversifies play opportunities, and enhances the ecological benefits of a school grounds. This grant program recognizes that developing living schoolyards is an equitable way to provide regular access to high-quality green spaces for every child at that school.
Research has demonstrated that living schoolyards increase educational and health equity for all students. Additionally, living schoolyard elements can increase local biodiversity, benefit natural habitats, and integrate natural systems into the built environment.
To learn more about Westmoor High's Living Schoolyard plan, named after esteemed JUHSD retiree Mr. Don Delbon, please click here.
Oceana High Student Garden Club plans to use this grant to implement lessons for biology and environmental science programs to utilize the combination of both their current garden space, and the adjacent Milagra Ridge, as an outdoor classroom. This outdoor classroom design will also include the planting of additional trees as a wind break and space demarcation for this region. See a rendering of this expansion plan below.
JUHSD's College & Career Monthly Newsletter
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Source: CDE Today, September 2, 2022
Upcoming Presentation from SMCOE
The San Mateo County Office of Education will host a virtual presentation, Prevention Solutions, for parents/caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and community members on September 6, 5:30-6:30 pm, (English with Spanish Interpretation). Join Eduardo Torres, Senior Prevention Specialist, Prevention Solutions, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, to understand the risks of intentional and unintentional fentanyl use among adolescents. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is an international leader in prevention science and education practices. Learn more. (Spanish)
Upcoming Community Events
*Design for Belonging: How to Build Inclusion and Collaboration in Your Communities (TK-12 Students, Families, Classrooms) September 8, 5:30-6:30 pm: Belonging brings out the best in everyone. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or community organizer, your group is unlikely to thrive if the individuals don’t feel welcomed, included, and valued for who they are. In her new book, Design for Belonging, Susie Wise, PhD, Stanford d.school, outlines how you can use design to create feelings of inclusion. Learn more.
*Coastal Cleanup Day 2022 (TK-12 Students, Families, Classrooms) September 17, 2022:
Looking to make an impact on the environment? San Mateo County Health is hosting neighborhood, classroom, and countywide cleanup days to celebrate Coastal Cleanup Day 2022. Join your community and volunteer to keep our waterways clean! Learn more.
*MPX (Monkeypox) Vaccine Notification (Community): San Mateo County Health is offering residents who meet eligibility guidelines for highest risk for MPX the opportunity to sign up for notification of vaccination opportunities. Complete the Monkeypox Vaccination Interest Form, and if you meet the eligibility guidelines you will be notified when opportunities become available. Vaccine supply is limited and the risk criteria are being used to prioritize eligibility.
*Pacifica's Fog Fest (Community), September 24-25, 2022: After two long years, The City of Pacifica's Fog Fest returns to this costal community, home to Oceana and Terra Nova High Schools! This two-day event will reunite family and friends through tons of fun. Click HERE for event info and make sure to swing by the JUHSD booth!
JUHSD's Equity Statement
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.