Principal Claire Mognaga

Students across Dublin return to classes today as the Dublin Unified School District kicks off the remainder of the 2014-15 school calendar. Today also brings a changing of the guard at Frederiksen Elementary School as Claire Mognaga will official serve as its new principal. She will be succeeding Holly Scroggins, who will be the founding principal at Amador Elementary School – near the Positano community in 2015. In 1940, the epic tome “You Can’t Go Home Again” was published based upon the writings of Thomas Wolfe. However, in our discussion with Ms. Mognaga, we discovered that you can indeed come home again.

While born in California, Claire spent most of her formative years in Sparks, NV. After spending one year at the University of Nevada, Reno, she transferred to the University of California, Davis. This was an opportunity to enroll in the UC system and to solidify her professional arc. While initially undeclared, she gravitated towards the discipline of Human Development. Her previous interests in gymnastics and a course in Autism Development cemented her desire to move into the teaching profession. Subsequently, she attained a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Hayward. Ms. Mognaga began her teaching career in 1994 in the Newark Unified School District and then came to Dublin in 2001 at Fred.

Frederiksen Elementary School

In 2003, she then had the unique career opportunity to join a burgeoning teaching mentoring program. As it still exists today, Claire became a member of the Tri-Valley Teacher Induction Project (TVTIP). This is a consortium of educations from Pleasanton, Livermore, Castro Valley, Sunol and Dublin that was assembled to further the professional development of classroom teachers. She served as the DUSD Coordinator. The role was to assist certificated staff via in-class observations/evaluations in order to assist teachers in completing their credentials vs. returning to school for another year outside of the classroom. It was the perfect fit. While she didn’t necessary intend to stay in this program beyond its initial requirements, it became a “mission” and Claire contributed to the program for nine years. The classroom teaching “itch” was calling and she moved to Kolb Elementary School in 2012. She later returned to Frederiksen to assist Ms. Scroggins as enrollment was now approaching 800 students.

OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to sit down with Claire Mognaga to discuss some of her philosophies and her hopes for Frederiksen as we move into 2015. Personally, she is married and is a mother to two sons – enrolled in the 4th and 6th grades, respectively. Their home is also filled with many pets.

OneDublin.org: Based upon your professional career, what best practices/principles would you like to inject into the Frederiksen site?

Claire Mognaga: “I look to sound research-based practices and principles to guide my decisions as both a managerial and an instructional leader: being a visible part of the site, observing and providing feedback to teachers and students, and modeling the behaviors I expect from others. Providing new experiences for teachers to grow in their career, supporting staff to focus on our priority of student learning, and building strong relationships and clear communication are my top three goals.”

OneDublin.org: Across the District and in the last several years, diminished parent/guardian volunteerism has become an issue.  What are your thoughts on how to rekindle this effort?

Mognaga: “Parent/guardian involvement is an integral part of the social and academic success of any school. I understand the time limits placed on families with full-time working adults, as I am part of that demographic. I believe that families do what they can and desire to be a part of the school as much as is possible. With that said, increasing the volunteerism at Frederiksen is one of my priorities. Thinking outside of the box in terms of the support our families can offer is a place to start. For example, what opportunities can we give to an interested adult who can only give 30 minutes prior to the start of school? Some possibilities include facilitating a book club with interested students, demonstrating a science experiment, or merely helping with copying and clerical tasks for our teachers. Finding what interests parents and when they can give of their time is the first step.”

OneDublin.org: Frederiksen exists as one of the most diverse school sites in the entire District – relative to demographics and socio-economic strata.  What strategies would you like to employ to “level out” the experience for all students? 

Mognaga: “This is a tough question to answer as I believe that the diversity we have the opportunity to be a part of here at Frederiksen is what makes us such a strong community. Being able to experience the different cultures and perspectives on a continual basis in our classrooms, on our play areas, and during our PFC and community sponsored events, is of great value. Students are being provided with experiences that enhance their character daily. Just like in the real world, I understand that the backgrounds of all our students are not equal. For this, we do what we can to provide for experiences that may “level out” the playing field so to speak.

“For example, we have a full-time intervention specialist and a full-time counselor at our site to provide academic and social support for as many students as possible. We schedule in time to analyze student assessment data and create needs-based groups for specialized services. We recently began a reading lending library in the entryway of our school. Through teacher donations and a large supply from the local Half-Price Books store in Dublin, students who desire more books at home can take one and leave one as they want. This strategy of providing services that any student at our school can access reenergizes me. With the focus on Common Core assessment, STEM, and purely the necessary preparation of our students for the 21st century, I’d like to look into more technology support for the future.”

OneDublin.org: Common Core is here.  And the initial SBAC assessments will occur in the spring of 2015.  Kindly share with how the school site is preparing for this radical change in school-wide testing. 

Mognaga: “I was lucky enough to lead the SBAC field testing last spring at Frederiksen and therefore, I have a strong understanding of what the tests entail and how to best prepare the students for the upcoming tests this year. At Frederiksen, we have seven COWS (Computers on Wheels) that house over 30 laptops each. Teachers are strategically utilizing these devices with students on a regular basis in order to build stamina, keyboarding, and functionality skills. The types of questions and responses that the Common Core standards inherently propose are built into the daily lessons of our teachers. Providing the means and time for the students to practice in a deep and meaningful way is the key. The observations by the teachers and the computer-based feedback from the student work and dialogue will continue to build the necessary skills for the students and is our most promising strategy for success in the spring.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add? 

Mognaga: “I don’t believe it is possible to express how deeply I am honored to take over the leadership at Frederiksen. The staff is cohesive, collaborative, and committed to ensuring the social, emotional, and academic growth of every child. We are going to make a great team and I am certain we will make great strides in the coming years!”

So, it is entirely possible to go home again – and successfully. In this case, a very familiar and capable face is returning to the Frederiksen family. OneDublin.org would like to thank Ms. Mognaga for sharing her thoughts upon her return to Fred and we wish her well in guiding this site in future years.

Frederiksen Elementary School

A group of junior and senior level students at Valley High School are currently embarking on a journey – before they even graduate. Thanks to a collaboration between the Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE) and Valley High School, these students are being exposed to a myriad of career opportunities. Two times a week – after school, these students have committed themselves to attending a GearUP session in the school library. The hour-long sessions explores a wide variety of career options post-high school graduation. The Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) has maintained a “mantra” of delivering students that are both college or career ready. The GearUP program clearly represents the opportunity to educate some of its students about career possibilities.

Thanks to the invitation by Valley High School Counselor, Liz Buckley, we were able to observe a recent session on Thursday. The subject for this day was a career in the hospitality/food service industry. The guest speaker was the current General Manager at the Hyatt House property in Pleasanton, Ms. Marlene Fahrenkrog.

Marlene candidly shared her personal story. By her own admission, she was not a superlative high school student and had to work into the summer to complete her high school diploma. She attended college, but did not ultimately finish her degree. In the meantime, she moved to Northern California and started a family. While she had not fully formulated her career desires, she attained employment with the Marriott hotel chain and worked at the front desk. She immediately knew that this role would meet her passion of helping people. This led to many other opportunities within the hospitality industry – including roles in the sales segment. Ultimately, this has led into her current role as the General Manager of the Hyatt House property in the Hacienda Business Park in Pleasanton. It is a career that has spanned 23 years.

Campbell, Fahrenkrog, Buckley

Ms. Fahrenkrog’s message clearly resonated with the students. There were many questions centered on the career advancement opportunities within the hospitality industry. Marlene made two points very clearly. Because the hospitality industry tends to promote from within, it is critical to work very hard and to demonstrate both flexibility and versatility. Secondly, employees that share the willingness to relocate may have added opportunities to expand their careers both domestically and abroad. Of course, this career path many not be for everyone. She went on to emphasize that the key traits for success in this space were a passion for customer service and the love of interacting with people.

At the end of the day, her message was clear. There is a future for people interested in the hospitality sector and the ability to cultivate a long-term career continues to be evident. We asked Marlene to share some of her career insights.

OneDublin.org: Please explain how you were invited to participate in the GearUP program and why do you feel that it is important. 

Marlene Fahrenkrog: “Liz knew of my history and my journey in getting to my position/level in the hotel industry and thought that I might be able to relate well to the students at Valley High School.  I think that GearUp is a fantastic program for these kids and will open up their world to so many career options that they may have never even thought of before.  I also think it’s important to show these kids that people care about them and support them in their growth and development in the local community.”

OneDublin.org: As a younger person, you may not have targeted the hospitality industry – however, it has now become your career. Please articulate why this may be a positive option for those that may hold great potential in this space.

Fahrenkrog: “I feel that the hospitality industry has so many avenues for young people to explore – from sales to operations – there is something for everyone.  There is opportunity to travel the world and relocate anywhere as there are hotels all over the world.”

OneDublin.org: During the session, you had mentioned that one’s ability and willingness to relocate might benefit those in hospitality. Kindly share what some of those benefits may represent.

Fahrenkrog: “The ability to relocate in the hospitality industry in order to promote into other positions makes a person more marketable and increases the speed to moving into upper management positions.”

The GearUP program was launched in January of this year. The intent was to sustain an ongoing series throughout the first quarter of 2015. Throughout the next two months, it will feature speakers on the varied topics of work ethics, networking, banking, health care, resume writing and mock interviews. This robust program would not be possible without community partners. In this case, the primary sponsors of GearUP are grants from Braddock and Logan, Chevron and DPIE. On Thursday, DPIE Executive Director, Susan Campbell was present. She graciously offered her thoughts on the program.

OneDublin.org: Please describe the process upon why/how DPIE became a sponsor of GearUP – a pilot program with the steady input of the students.

Susan Campbell: “After three years of fairly comprehensive work with Valley students, it became apparent from listening to student stories that the students most in need of a career path, yet the least prepared to work right out of high school were Valley students. Stories about helping to support struggling families and trying to move other relatives to the Tri-Valley, away from the gangs, was quite compelling. These students needed the support a program like GearUP, a Workforce Boot Camp, can offer.

“How to make it happen came from viewing a video of a program in New York City designed for college age students with the same need.  Our concept grew from their success. We changed our age group to reflect our current need, and established contacts within the business community to help fund it and teach it. GearUP was designed to assist students still in high school to consider work other than Taco Bell and KFC upon graduation. Inspiring them to want more and training them how to achieve represents the mission and values of this program. While we are currently in pilot stage with a small group from Valley, the goal is to be able to offer this program at both DHS and Valley.  Many of our students have the ability to accomplish and they just need to find the right path.”

OneDublin.org: Why is it important for DPIE to partner with Valley High School? DPIE and Valley High School appear to have a great relationship.

Campbell: “DPIE finds funding to support Valley High Challenge Day and has been instrumental in the process of putting together the GearUP program. DPIE has been involved in the program for several reasons. First it fits into one of our Pillars of Care: Career Exploration. Secondly, it is very important to the DPIE Board of Directors to have a strong presence in the Dublin Unified School District and this program will expand to at Valley High and Dublin High in the future. Thirdly, we want to make a difference and support all of the students in the District. For me, the importance lies in the relationships. It is essential for the students to get to know the wonderful and supportive community they live in and for the community it is significant for them to be introduced to a fantastic and motivated group of students at Valley High.”

OneDublin.org: Explain how you and your colleagues have pooled your resources to help ensure the success of this program.

Campbell: “DPIE is fortunate to have an excellent Board of Directors. Within the Board we have a dedicated Programs Committee. Two of these members have stepped up and have not only contributed time and talent in obtaining various members of the community to share the wealth of their experiences, but they have also contributed their own talents as speakers for the group. Case in point – Board Member Chris Bennett shared her expertise by having the students explore and assess their skills and achievements. Each student listed what they thought were their accomplishments in life to date, and matched them to what they perceived to be their levels of mastery and what they love to do the most.

“Another Board Member, Amy Miller has been a dedicated person for our outreach into the community for partners to share their experiences. She connected with Greg Clark, an ex- 49er, Dublin resident and motivational speaker to do our kick-off on January 6, 2015. He mesmerized our group with his stories of fumbles and name calling from the press. Then forged ahead with his “Effort Knocks Down Barriers” and finished with a video of him catching many Steve Young passes for touchdowns.

“Amy Miller is our guest speaker on Career and Educational Goals and has obtained speakers for our Construction Trades and Utilities. Both Chris and Amy along with Liz have been instrumental in all phases of planning and implementation. Liz Buckley is the glue of this program. She knows the students and she knows how to inspire them. She has forged ahead to make this program a reality. DPIE and Valley are now in the process of getting more funding and finding internships for this great group of students. The program will culminate with the students formulated their resumes, doing mock interviews and finally interview for an internship.”

So, in the next dozen weeks, the GearUP program will continue to flourish as Valley High School. OneDublin.org would like to commend all of those associated with this program, in particular the primary sponsors: Chevron, Braddock & Logan and DPIE. And, in the words of the General Manager of the Hyatt House, Marlene Fahrenkrog “Whatever you choose to do, you’ll need to work hard to advance. But, you can have so much fun along the way.”

Valley High School Counselor Liz Buckley

In every January, the Tri-Valley YMCA convenes to commemorate individuals and groups that have made meaningful contributions to our community. It is not a coincidence that this ceremony occurs close to the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This civil rights leader was known for many things, not the least of which was his march on Washington D.C. and his subsequent “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on the National Mall. While the stirring words from this message are easily recounted in our minds, Dr. King had thoughts on other subjects.

“Not everyone can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” These words by Dr. King serve as an appropriate backdrop to the event. For 15 years, the Tri-Valley YMCA has celebrated the contributions of many community volunteers. They have hosted a Fellowship Breakfast and this year it occurred at the Doubletree Hotel in Pleasanton on Monday.

Local dignitaries including former Mayor of Dublin Tim Sbranti, Lars Ho-Tseung, TV YMCA Board Chair and former Oakland Raider Napoleon Kaufman offered words of wisdom. Additional honorees included Dale Eldridge Kaye, CEO of the Tri-Valley Leadership Group and members of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department/ACFD for their work in the Toys for Tots program. However, this day belongs with Ms. Buckley.

Liz attained her B.S. in Finance and Business and Administration from Illinois State University. Subsequently, she completed a PPS credential from University of La Verne. While she began her career as a commodities trader in Chicago, she turned her attention to working with young people. In the course of her educational career, she has been graced with many honors – including a District Golden Apple in 2012 and an Employee of the Month award in 2014. OneDublin.org had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Buckley to further explore impact of her recent accolade.

OneDublin.org: What were your initial professional ambitions?

Liz Buckley: “I really thought I was going to become an accountant. My Uncle talked me out of it. Living in Chicago made it pretty easy to follow a financial career. We had the heart of the commodity industry right in our own backyard. I did work at the title company for two years before I was brought into the wild and crazy industry of trading stocks and commodities.”

OneDublin.org: When/where did you start in the education industry?

Buckley: “At the old age of 39 I had a daughter – Jacquelyn! I knew I had to get out of the trading business. I had her late in life and I knew I wanted to spend every moment with her. So, the journey began. I had a five year plan. I wrote down goals or ideas of a new future career.

“Once I crossed off my list working with babies (because I had my own) and I crossed off senior citizens I was left with teenagers or middle age adults. I chose teenagers! But not what would I do with them. I soon found a program at the University of La Verne – in school counseling. I traveled from Incline Village to Oakland every other weekend. I worked at Skyline High School for my internship under an amazing counselor. I had an interview with Bryce Custodio and was hired in 2004.”

OneDublin.org: Highlight your work prior to joining the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD).

Buckley: “I worked as a Stockbroker and Commodity broker – in Chicago. In 1988 I was transferred to open an office in Beverly Hills, Ca. Once I got to California (I was only supposed to stay for 6 months) I began a five minute segment on FNN. Wish I that I had stayed with the TV show. I soon began to learn the systems and trading became my life. But, I knew I would need to find another career because it was hard on me. I realized that I needed to find a place where I could work through my heart and not so much my brain.”

OneDublin.org: Where/when did you join DUSD? Explain in what capacity then vs. now.

Buckley: “I began my DUSD career as a counselor in 2004. I worked between both high schools. I would travel to Dublin High and Valley daily. I did this for two years. I had the choice of which school I would like to be full-time at. Without hesitation, I knew my heart belonged to Valley High School. I felt I could make a difference at Valley High.”

OneDublin.org: Explain your association with the Tri-Valley YMCA.

Buckley: “I have worked with the YMCA majority of my career in Dublin. They have always been supportive of our school. For example, I had a few students coming late to school and the YMCA donated bikes for our students. They are here for our kids and we love to support them back.”

So, as Dr. King aptly described, service represents itself in many different forms. In this case, Liz Buckley truly demonstrates a willingness to serve all of the students at Valley High School in collaboration with community partners. OneDublin.org would like to commend Ms. Buckley on this special honor. We also thank her for the guidance that she will provide to future VHS students.

Dublin High Lady Gaels Coach Trisha Campbell

“If you get caught up in things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect those things over which you have control.” – John Wooden. These words were spoken by the legendary collegiate basketball coach at UCLA over four decades ago. However, as one of the most revered coaches and teachers in the 20th century, these words continue to resonate with truth today. They seem to serve as a great lesson for not only current students, but for all of us.

The 2014-15 Dublin High School Lady Gaels Varsity basketball team has been enjoying an unprecedentedly successful season. At the time of publication, they have compiled an eye-popping 20-2 season record. In some ways, it is even more impressive than what their profession counterparts, the Golden State Warriors, have achieved this year.

Dublin High Lady Gaels Varsity Basketball

What makes the story even more endearing is that the teams head coach Trisha Campbell is a Dublin High School Class of 2006 Alumnus. She lettered in Varsity basketball in all four years during her tenure. Upon graduation, she completed a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. While it wasn’t her preordained path, she embraced the subject of Psychology and felt that this might create a pathway for her to support younger people. She decided to pursue a Teaching Credential from Brandman University and completed it in 2012. Thereupon, she began employment with DUSD and has been teaching freshman and junior level English at Dublin High. Ms. Campbell is also a continuing student on a path to complete a M.S. in Sport Psychology from Capella University which she expects to conclude in 2017.

The path of returning to work at ones alma mater is not completely unprecedented. There are several examples present on the campus today. However, what makes this story unique has been Trisha’s opportunity to share her wisdom and passion for the game of basketball with a new generation of student athletes. OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to sit down with Trisha Campbell. We hoped to capture both her experiences as a DHS student and what it means to return as a teacher and coach.

OneDublin.org:  As college application season recently concluded, please share your thought process and ultimate decision to attend U.C. Davis.  Any regrets about not continuing your athletic career?

Trisha Campbell: “I felt honored being accepted to one of the University of California campuses and could not turn it down. I was focused on receiving a good education and put aside my desire to play college basketball. It will always be one of my biggest regrets not playing in college. It is a privilege and a once in a lifetime experience and I will always wish that I’d played.”

OneDublin.org: You were fortunate to be coached as a junior and senior by a local legend in Mark Wainwright.  As you further you coaching career, what are some of his lessons/philosophies that you embrace and share with your current players?

Campbell: “Learning under Mark Wainwright gave me a great foundation of what it takes to coach high school basketball. Mark always pushed his players to play hard, no matter what the score, and I always tell my players the same; leave it all out on the floor. He always believed that one practice rolled over to the next and how you finish a game rolls over the next and I see that every day. I encourage them to practice hard and play hard in every game.”

OneDublin.org: Your professional and educational aspirations are on a dual track as you pursue a M.S. in Sport Psychology.  You had mentioned the importance of the mental aspect of the game.  Please be specific and discuss what this really means.

Campbell: “You can prepare physically to play in a game. You can work on your skills and condition for an unlimited amount of hours, and I believe the same holds true for building your mental toughness in a game. What you tell yourself in a game and how you respond to situations indicates a player’s toughness. If you get down on yourself for a turnover or a missed shot, you are working against yourself. Instead, acknowledge what you did and get it back in a positive way on the next position. This could be playing tough, hard defense or supporting and encouraging your teammates. Ultimately, how you respond is a mental decision. I tell me players to control what you can control and that is yourself. You can’t control the mistakes in the past, you can’t control the refs or the fans, but you can control the way you play and what you tell yourself. Mental toughness takes time and practice.”

OneDublin.org: As you are currently teaching English to both 9th and 11th graders, how are you trying to share your passion for the subject with your students?  And, how are you and your colleagues helping these students to adapt to the more rigorous SBAC testing that will occur in the spring?

Campbell: “I hope that my love for literature and writing can rub off on my students, even if it just a little bit. Writing is a form of expression and I hope that my students can find their voice through their writing and I encourage them to read a different book each quarter that they want to read. It doesn’t matter what they read, but that they find something they enjoy reading.

“My colleagues and I work very hard to collaborate and prepare our students for the SBAC exam. It is the complete opposite of the usual standard STAR testing. We create lessons and exams to imitate the SBAC exam to prepare them to attack the test. We also try to incorporate current issues for them to argue and form their opinion. I think it is going to take time to prepare them and as we gain more information about the exam the preparation is going to have to start at the freshman level and beyond.”

OneDublin.org: A question about your overall philosophy on basketball and how the game should be played:  You had mentioned the concepts of discipline and chemistry. Describe how these tenets should be important to your athletes now and beyond high school. 

Campbell: “There are so many aspects of the game that it would be impossible to touch on them all. I want to continue to build my knowledge of the game and continue to get better as a coach. I think my philosophy will continue to evolve throughout my coaching career. Along with the mental toughness of the game, discipline and chemistry are important. The game and being part of a team teaches these young ladies some very vital skills for them to be successful in their futures and I hope they can take something away from this season.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add?

Campbell: “I love coaching and I would do anything for these girls. I am so proud of them and grateful for each and every one of them.”  

Of course, the discussion about a team sport would not be complete without shedding light on at least one of its players. When we gave Ms. Campbell this opportunity, she readily identified Senior Julyana Amante. Like the rest of her siblings, Ms. Amante matriculated up to DHS from Fallon Middle School. Oldest sister, Tiana graduated in 2012 and is now attending Las Positas College. Alyssa is a sophomore and Isabella is a freshman. Though Julyana suffered a torn ACL before her sophomore year, she has lettered in all four years with the varsity squad. She previously played under Coach Mark Wainwright until Coach Campbell elevated in her junior year. We had the opportunity to gain Julyana’s insight as she completes her most successful year – both on and off the court.

OneDublin.org: Being a student/athlete is not easy.  It requires a lot of discipline.  What have you learned about time management and how do you manage your academic priorities?

Julyana Amante

Julyana Amante: “I was always taught to put my studies first. I make time after school/ practice focus on schoolwork and try to use my time productively during class and at home. Sometimes I go to the library during lunch to catch up on my work or to get ahead to lessen the stress with homework.”

OneDublin.org: The Lady Gaels are experiencing a wildly successful season.  Help us to understand how you and the team prevent yourselves from looking too far ahead. 

Amante: “As a team we try to take the season game by game. We definitely have goals for the playoffs, but we make sure to focus on the present and not to get carried away with how many wins or losses we have or another team has. We try to get one job done and then move on to the next.”

OneDublin.org: At DHS, there are several options for extra-curricular activities including clubs and the band program.  Share how competing in athletics has enhanced your experience at Dublin High over the past four years.

Amante: “Being not only in athletics, but in clubs such as leadership and CSF, has really helped enhance my high school career. Being a part of these organizations has made me live through a true high school experience. I have made many of friends and have learned a lot.”

OneDublin.org: It is somewhat ironic that Coach Campbell is a former Gael.  But your relationship with her probably extends beyond simply x’s and o’s.  How has Trisha influenced you as a person? 

Amante: “Trisha being a former student and player at Dublin is helpful and rewarding. We as players and relate to her a a certain level that many other coaches cannot. She gives us a lot of freedom on the court to play and she understands mostly about the knowledge we have about the game of basketball.”

So, it can become very easy for the fervent or casual fan to conjecture how far this season can go for the Lady Gaels. Perhaps it will travel to the North Coast Championships (NCS) and beyond. But, the backdrop of Coach Wooden’s words, there is a Head Coach and one senior player that will help their team to enjoy the journey. OneDublin.org would like to thank Trisha Campbell and Julyana Amante for their contributions to this profile and we wish you success through the remainder of this remarkable season.

Amador Elementary School

OneDublin.org last visited the construction site of Amador Elementary in the fall of 2014. At the time, many of the buildings were beginning to take shape, but it required a bit of imagination to understand how they may ultimately look. The library was but an empty shell and the Multi-purpose room had just been framed. And, concrete was still being poured to fill out the walkways. While we continue to live in drought-like conditions, the silver lining for the Amador project was the lack of interruptions due to weather in the construction cycle.

OneDublin.org was granted an exclusive tour on Monday that was led by Project Manager John Hansen and Amador Principal Holly Scroggins. The maturation of the school site was rather jaw dropping. The color palate is clearly in place, floor coverings and furniture have now been placed on order. The library now has shelving in place and the MP has been sheet rocked and one can clearly make out the shape of the stage. On the opposite side of the room sits the kitchen. The refrigeration systems have been installed and it is clear where the industrial sized stove hoods will reside. Externally, play structures have been installed and the irrigation system has been successfully installed to utilize non-potable water for landscaping.

We asked Project Manager John Hansen to partially summarize some of the highlights of this massive project and he gladly shared his thoughts.

John Hansen – Holly Scroggins – Lori Godwin

John Hansen: “The J.M. Amador elementary school campus is nearing final steps for completion. This project is a standout for DUSD as new thinking and design has been incorporated into this new elementary school campus.  With the vision to build two story classroom buildings, thus allowing for larger playground areas and a more central feel when entering the campus.

“Incorporated into the new design are out door learning areas throughout the interior courtyard streetscape for a spin off traditional learning. This streetscape if you will, as intended will become a safe gathering area for students as they enter the campus and start their day.

“The district staff has been working diligently on final steps to select classroom and campus furnishings along with needed equipment. We anticipate these steps to come to a close by the end of February. Scheduling for delivery and set up will follow. The campus is on schedule to open for the 2015-2016 school year, additionally the project budget is being met. Everyone involved with this new campus has been doing great work.  Pride of workmanship is apparent throughout the site.

“As a fun fact….there has been approximately 7,024 cubic yards of concrete placed on this campus, that’s 780 truck loads!”

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Hansen intimated to us that it was his personal goal to “hand over the keys” to Principal Scroggins on June 1st. He also went out of his way to compliment the performance of the contractors and their various sub-contractors. As he referenced in his statement, the project scope is moving in a timely fashion and all budgetary landmarks have been achieved. Of course, this is a testament to not only John, but the entire Facilities Department.

Finally, last month, Ms. Scroggins hosted an “open house” for the families that will enroll in the fall at Amador Elementary at the DUSD boardroom. It was a wildly successful event with many parents and students on hand. A large segment of these families will be shifting from Kolb Elementary over to Amador. Additionally, there were interested parties that have recently moved into the new Positano community development. Seizing this opportunity, Holly invited this burgeoning community to contribute to the naming of its mascot and to determine school colors. This was accomplished by reaching out to young student leadership at Kolb and through an online survey. As a result, the clear-cut winner for mascot was the Amador Elementary “Owls.” And, the school colors shall be maroon and gold. Perhaps the owl will be named Hedwig?

OneDublin.org would like to thank both John Hansen and Holly Scroggins for this unique opportunity to view the progress on the site. We are also pleased to share that the key role of Principal’s Secretary will be fulfilled by Ms. Lori Godwin. Lori has served in the same capacity at Murray Elementary School for many years. No doubt, she travels to Amador with a wealth of experience and wisdom. All signs point towards a successful opening in August 2015.

One of the enduring traditions in Dublin carried on tonight in the form of the annual Volunteer Recognition Event. This program seeks to recognize a Young Citizen, an Organization and Citizen of the Year. On Wednesday, a crowd gathered at the Shannon Center to applaud all of the nominees for 2014. In order to be under consideration, a candidate must have a written nomination submitted by others to City Hall in a timely fashion.

The nomination letter must spell out why the individual/group is worthy under the required characteristics of the Dublin Pride – Integrity in Action motto. These qualities include: Responsibility, Respectfulness, Caring, Giving, Positive Attitude, Trustworthiness, Cooperation, Doing One’s Best, Honesty and Self-Discipline. As in years past, the judging of these nominations is conducted outside of Dublin to provide complete transparency.

The scene at Shannon was simple, yet elegant. The Hors d’oeuvres and social mixer was conducted in the first hour. After opening comments from Mayor David Haubert, the audience listened to a welcoming from Eric Swalwell, U.S. Representative from the 15^th Congressional District.

Three very worthy candidates were announced in the category of Young Citizen of the Year. They included: Sophia Bafaiz, Armaan Sengupta and Alexandara Torrez. In the end, Sophia was awarded with this honor.

Similarly, the candidates in the Citizen of the Year segment included Erik Bertelson, Brad & Shari Jackman and Luanne Wilson. The result of this competition yielded Wells Middle School Music Director Erik Bertelson. Erik has been the leader of the band program at WMS for decades. During his tenure, the band program has grown both musically and in scope. In March, he will lead 162 students to their annual pilgrimage to Disneyland and their march down Main Street. He has been recognized as being a leader of young students and musicians – many of whom return to Wells to offer their support of the program. We congratulate Erik and his wife Mary on this remarkable honor. The only remaining challenge will be to determine who will lead the Wells Middle School Roadrunners down Village Parkway while Mr. Bertelson rides in an honorary car during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

In the final category of the Mayor’s Award, Brad & Shari Jackman were recognized for their numerous and tireless years in supporting DUSD and specifically, the Dublin High School Athletics Program. OneDublin.org would like to congratulate all of this year’s nominees. Your service to the community is gratefully appreciated.

Dublin High School Teacher Michael D’Ambrosio

Last fall, the Dublin High School Center for the Performing Arts and Education opened to much fanfare. And, it was well deserved. It is a state of art performance venue that can seat just over 500 patrons. It also includes a very sophisticated HVAC system, an advanced fly-rigging mechanism and countless other technological amenities.

What should not be lost is that the CPAE is part of an educational complex which also houses dressing rooms for the drama program, practice rooms for the band and choral program and a high end video production classroom. OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to explore the Video Production program at Dublin High School. This new classroom offering resides in the steady hands of Michael D’Ambrosio. Michael is conducting his seventh year in education and this is his first year at DHS. Prior to this, he served as an Associate Producer at the sports media giant ESPN in Bristol, CT for four years. While this was a very satisfying and challenging opportunity, he somehow felt that he might ultimately share his wisdom with young people. And, he has now come full circle as an educator within DUSD. We will share his thoughts on the topic and the views from some of his students.

OneDublin.org: The opening of the entire Center for Performing Arts & Education complex has created many more opportunities for students at Dublin High.  Specifically, what has the Video Production program provided to your students?

Michael D’Ambrosio: “The Video Production Program has allowed the students to learn about Visual Arts. The students get to work hands on with professional equipment that is used in the television and film industry. The students get the chance to learn about filming, editing, producing, directing, and stage production. The students are working with equipment that many television studios in our area don’t even have. The students are very excited about the program and where we are going.”

OneDublin.org: What advice do you share with students that may want to emulate your earlier career?

D’Ambrosio: “Working in television is very challenging. While working at ESPN there were people waiting to take your job. It’s a lot of hard work, but it is so beneficial to see your produced work. The journey is long, but if it’s what you truly want to do then you should follow your dream. There are deadlines that always have to be met and it can be lots of pressure. It truly is something that is so hard to explain unless you are in it. Our class does a decent job of simulating what it’s like in the television or film industry.”

OneDublin.org:  After working in video production, what inspired you to then work with students?

D’Ambrosio: “I’ve always known I wanted to work with students, and one day I woke up at my job and I knew it was time to take my experience and give back to the students so they could have the experience to work in the industry.  The students make the job so much fun, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

OneDublin.org: How do you see your program expanding in future years?  Might this include increased collaboration with the Drama department?

D’Ambrosio: “To be honest the sky’s the limit with this program. We hope to use the studio more as the program builds. We are currently working on streaming live events from our school by using the equipment we have in this state of the art studio. This will include sporting events, graduation, plays, music concerts, or other events that the school puts on.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would to add?

D’Ambrosio: “I am looking forward to seeing where this program will be not only in the next couple years but also the next five. I don’t think people could imagine the possibilities we can do with our new building. I am very excited to be part of this journey and am glad I was lucky enough to be part of the process in its’ first year. Dublin High has provided so many more opportunities for the students with the new building, and the best is yet to come.”

In order to comprehend the impact of this new classroom offering, OneDublin.org asked Mr. D’Ambrosio to solicit the feedback from some of his students. The responses were both enlightening and candid.

OneDublin.org: Video production is a rather large subject.  Thus far, what has the class taught you – particularly about the amount of work that occurs behind the scenes?

Kyle Reed: “Going into this class, I already had a pretty competent ability with the mechanics of video production, such as editing and cinematography. However, what I was lacking in before and what this class has given me plenty of now is experience. Knowing how to make a quality video is one thing, but actually going out and working with people you don’t know and on topics you know little about beforehand is something completely else. The ability to work effectively with others is essential to video production, and the only way to master that ability is through lots of experience, which this class has granted me much of.”

OneDublin.org: As we enter into spring semester, what concepts or skills are you looking forward to learn about?

Veronica La: “I would like to learn a lot more about new ways to film and creating content. I’m interested in learning new techniques in cinemaphotography. Also I’d like to learn how to use the cool gadgets and tools we haven’t touched yet.”

OneDublin.org: The video production studio includes some very sophisticated equipment.  Please describe/explain how you are able to employ this technology.

Sophie Butler: “We are lucky to have a complete room that is called our “studio room” where we film our anchors and also we have enough computers so everyone can be editing their stories at once. We use the cameras to film either in the green room or around the school. We also have different types of microphones that we can use in any scenario we need them in. The technology gives us more opportunities to bring our stories to life and make them look more professional.”

OneDublin.org: Explain why some of your fellow classmates should consider taking this course.

Reed: “If video production is a topic you’re even mildly interested in pursuing later in life or is something you just wish you could do, I highly suggest this course. Getting the software and equipment to learn video production on your own is expensive and can be overwhelming, while joining this class places as much equipment and editing power in your grasp as you’d hope to use in several years. This class has something for everyone; whether you’ve been making films with your friends for years or if you’ve never edited a video, your knowledge and experience will only grow. Video production is not only a great skill to have, but one that is an enormous amount of fun to make use of as well.”

La: “You should take video production because it gives you a creative outlet to express yourself and share your ideas with the school. The stigma of this class is that it’s an easy A. Not to me, it isn’t. It’s a class that’s preparing students for a real world experience in careers in entertainment media, communications and videography. Also, the facilities are amazing! I am always grateful every time I enter the Center of Performing Arts and Education knowing that not many students are as blessed as I am to experience this wonderful opportunity to learn in such a beautiful place.”

Butler: “This class had the reputation of being an easy class but Mr. D. makes sure to challenge us and makes sure we are putting out the best stories we can. The class is challenging but in a fun way. We can all share our ideas without feeling like we will be judged by the others in the class and it brings out our creative side. The people in the class are genuinely close and always willing to help each other out. It’s by far my favorite class I’ve taken thus far in high school.”

So, while the Center for Performing Arts and Education continues to host significant and splashy events, the adjoining classrooms host daily learning. OneDublin.org would like to thank Michael D’Ambrosio for a peek inside of his Video Production classroom. And, we would like to thank his students for sharing their feedback on the program. Thanks to Michael, some Dublin Gaels are beginning to understand the ESPN experience without having to trudge through the snow.

Local high school students are being given a unique opportunity to simultaneously earn high school and college credit in an innovative Middle College Program launching at Las Positas College in Livermore. In collaboration with the Tri-Valley Regional Occupation Program (TVROP), Students enrolled in the program will take classes on the Las Positas campus in Livermore.

The Middle College program was pioneered in the 1970’s in New York. The initiative sought to create a pathway for current high school students to pursue advanced rigor at community colleges and to collect college credits. All the while, students would be fulfilling their existing responsibilities at their respective high schools. The program is not for everyone: the profile for success includes a student that is an independent thinker, one that is seeking out a different learning environment and one that can cope with the challenges of a college landscape.

In order for this vision to come to fruition in the Tri-Valley, Middle College required the full cooperation of LPC and the neighboring school districts – specifically, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore. For the initial year, 30 students will be accepted from across the Tri-Valley with the hope that enrollment can be doubled in subsequent years. In order to qualify, students needed to attend an Information Night, submit an application, solicit recommendations, complete a placement test and have a personal interview. Further, eligible students must not be credit deficient at their current high schools.

Dr. Barry Russell and Kathleen Frazer

With the assistance of a former OneDublin.org subject and current Las Positas student, Matthew Dierking, we were connected to two key individuals in the Middle College program. We begin our discussion with the President of Las Positas College, Dr. Barry Russell. Barry came to the Tri-Valley in 2013 after a lengthy and distinguished career in the academic field. Most recently, he arrived in Livermore after serving as the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office where he served as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs since 2009.

OneDublin.org: Have you witnessed the Middle College concept at any other institutions?

Barry Russell: “I have worked with this program for many years and have interacted with most of the programs in the state.”

OneDublin.org: Among all of the other academic offerings available at LPC, please describe why it is important to provide the Middle College opportunity to Tri-Valley students.

Russell: “In our effort to reach out to the community in a variety of methods and programs, the Middle College provides yet another avenue for the college to respond to the needs of the community. It is not a strategy that had its start from the administration at LPC, it is a response to the needs brought to us by the education community (via Tri-Valley Educational Collaborative).”

OneDublin.org: As a sort of “State of the Union”, kindly share how LPC is trending – with regard to the diversity of programs, enrollment and growth.

Russell: “LPC is a strong institution that is building its capacity to grow. Over the past five years, the state and the region have lost a great deal of its capacity to grow due to the downturn in the economy. As the economy gets better, the college is moving towards a sustainable growth pattern. The major activities taking place in 2015 are: hiring over 15 new faculty members, breaking ground on a new building that will house at least 12 new classrooms for campus expansion; completing an educational master plan for the future growth of educational programs and services; and initiating a resource development strategy to help fund these future activities.”

To further expand our profile, we reached out to the Tri-Valley ROP Administrative Director, Kathleen Frazer to share her thoughts. Ms. Frazer previous worked as a classroom teacher in primary education. Further, she later served as a high school Principal in Fairfield. She joined TVROP last year to specifically lead the Middle College program and to work on CTE development in support of all schools in the Tri-Valley.

OneDublin.org: Participating in the Middle College program is a process. It is one that includes an informational night, an online application and an interview. In general, how did the applicants perform with respect to all of the steps? Might you expand or refine the process in succeeding years?

Kathleen Frazer: “The application process closed on 02/28/15 for the 2015-16 school year. We have had considerable interest in the program thus far. We will continue to evaluate the program and process to ensure that we provide the best opportunities for our students.”

OneDublin.org: We’re surmising that this program is appropriate for a certain segment of students. In your own words, please describe the type of student that would succeed/benefit in this offering.

Frazer: “Successful students will be self motivated, eager to learn and ready to tackle the challenges of college curriculum. There are a variety of students interested in this program and success is really dependent on their efforts and academic goals.”

OneDublin.org: Since the Middle College students will be expected to complete their existing high school coursework, what types of support services can you provide to them while on campus at LPC?

Frazer: “Students will have high school teachers that teach the high school courses as well as an academic support/AVID type class and with the small cohort teachers will be able to offer more individualized support. Further, they have access to all the resources a typical Las Positas student would have.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add?

Frazer: “Middle College is a fantastic opportunity for students seeking other alternatives than a traditional high school setting. This program offers students an opportunity to receive up to 44 college credits by the time they graduate, at no cost to them.”

So, there you have it. It’s a burgeoning program that will benefit up to 30 Tri-Valley students in its first year. Without a doubt, the enrollment will increase in the coming years. But the pioneering students should be commended for taking on this unique challenge. It is an opportunity that will facilitate their matriculation throughout the entire college experience. OneDublin.org would like to thank Dr. Barry Russell and Kathleen Frazer for their contributions to this profile.

Valley High School Family BBQ 2015

A lot can happen in a single week. We see it at each and every school site within the Dublin Unified School District. It was no different at Valley High School as the staff managed to make it a very memorable seven days for their students.

Working in reverse order, the national movement of Women of Aviation Week occurred from March 2 – 8. OneDublin.org was invited to attend an event at the Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) on Wednesday. The event was part of the 6th Annual “Fly It Forward” campaign. Worldwide, there are over one million pilots. However, there are only 50,000 female pilots – according to a 2013 report from the FAA Aeronautical Center. Further, the increase of female commercial pilots has truly stagnated. The number in 2005 was 6.06%. And, it modified to 6.39 in 2013.

Women of Aviation Week 2015

The event at LVK was an opportunity for students/community to consider the possibilities that exist in this industry. There were options to speak with women that are currently working in this craft – whether in the air or on the ground. Tours were presented on the field and to the control tower. A highlight was the opportunity to take flight in a four-seat Cirrus SR 225 Turbo craft. And, many took advantage. Six students from VHS took this journey to Livermore and it undoubtedly had a lasting impression.

On the previous Friday, Valley High hosted their annual Family BBQ. The event capped their Spirit Week and offered an invitation for current and past students/staff to join in the festivities. The lunch featured hamburgers, hot dogs and several other offerings. It was also a valuable chance for students and staff to mingle in a relaxed environment. Of course, the campus/enrollment size of VHS makes this to be a very viable option.

Valley High Challenge Day 2015

Finally, earlier in the week, many Valley High School students participated in Challenge Day. This exercise is an all-day event and is one of the high points of the entire school year. Challenge Day is a professionally conducted event that includes students, staff, facilitators and community members. The purpose is to step away from the classroom for a day and to engage with each other in an honest, positive and sometimes very emotional way. One of the most powerful moments is when the group conducts “Cross the Line.” This is a segment when all participants publicly discuss choices that they have previously made – whether right or wrong. The individuals are then granted the opportunity to speak about how they will individually make personal changes for positive outcomes. It is one thing to do this in front of a mirror. It is very different to make these statements before others. Dublin Partners in Education and other corporate sponsors should be recognized for their support of this program.

In all, it was a memorable week at Valley High School. It was one that challenged the students to look inwards, to celebrate and to ponder future possibilities. OneDublin.org would like to thank the staff and students of VHS for inviting us to be a part of this week.

For parents and educators rapid growth in Dublin schools has been a double-edged sword, complicated by the State of California’s stance on school construction funding. By now, most Dublin Unified School District families have read the statement issued by Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke relative to the projected development of two new school sites in East Dublin – E-5 and E-6. The press release was issued on Thursday through direct email communications, social media and other channels. Without question, this is a dramatic and positive shift towards achieving site construction goals.

As recently as August 2014, it became clear that Governor Jerry Brown and some of his colleagues in Sacramento would prevent school construction measures to be placed on a statewide ballot in order to prevent assuming more long term debt for the state of California – even for a high growth/performing district like Dublin. With continued housing construction and increased enrollment, this would be a significant problem. While Amador Elementary School will open later this year, this new school will only temporarily mitigate the overcrowding problems that this district will face over the next ten years.

DUSD has receiving ongoing consultation on enrollment projections for years. And the projections clearly point to higher student populations for several years to come. The E-5 Project at Jordan Ranch and E-6 at Dublin Crossing within Camp Parks have been on the planning board for years. However, the pronouncement from Sacramento prompted some “out of the box” thinking for all interested parties. Historically, the funding formula for school construction in California resembled a three-legged stool. It was a combination of dollars supplied by the state, developer fees and local funding. With the first and most significant leg removed, the burden was then moved to the local municipality.

In an example of effective collaboration, Dublin City Manager Chris Foss and DUSD Facilities Director Kim McNeely began to have discussions about potential solutions. They found one. While the school site for E-5 had already been earmarked, it would still require the purchase of the land by the district at approximately $3 million per acre. This is a sunk cost. Alternatively, the City of Dublin was in possession of a similarly sized plot to the south of Central Parkway that was targeted to become a community park. The City Council and DUSD staff went to work to figure out how this could potentially become a win-win for all parties. The result was a land swap that would allow the district to construct and manage a school site and to provide a park space to the public at a nominal cost – a savings that could represent up to $30 million dollars.

OneDublin.org was granted an opportunity to explore this subject more deeply and we had a recent discussion with Superintendent Hanke and DUSD Board President Amy Miller.

OneDublin.org: Given the rising enrollment projections and the stark need to build more schools, how did all of the parties move towards hammering out this agreement?

Dr. Steve Hanke: “The board has been a key player in this relationship. We have been trying to build the relationship between the city council and board for a number of years. We have had joint meetings and we have a liason committee that has met on a regular basis.”

Amy Miller: “Once we started looking at projections, it became very clear that we needed to build more facilities. We started to have this laser focus on what was occurring in the city. But, now it was looking at the impact.”

OneDublin.org: What was the benefit to converting E-5 into a combination school site and community park?

Hanke: “There was an adjacent site relatively close to the original site near Jordan Ranch. We did preliminary studies to see if this was “doable.’ Upon consulting with the Facilities Department, we came to understand that this was a viable site. The question remained that could the city do a ‘switch” to create the opening to form a school and park site. That was the “what if” and can we do this?”

Miller: “I think that there was something for everyone in the deal. The school is district gets the land for free. And the city gets to help the district at large. And they get to say that they are truly collaborating with the district to get things done.”

OneDublin.org: How does all of this relate to the development of E-6 in Camp Parks?

Hanke: “E-6 is somewhere between somewhere around 2021-23. It’s further out because the development is slower. So, it’s all processed and ready along with great communication between board president and City council members. I believe that we took out any doubt that we were able to build that this school at a viable school site.”

OneDublin.org: While this creative program between DUSD and the City of Dublin diminishes the upfront cost of land to build new schools, it does not address the added funding necessary to construct new school sites. Where does the district reside on this subject?

Hanke: “What it means is that we have to look for alternative funding sources. Another example is taking local funds and deferring other projects and using them to divert to build a school until the air is clear. Another example is to issue debt ourselves. The question is how to commit this “mortgage payment” – the board has yet to make this decision. This result may be an issuance of debt, the utilization of Measure E monies or the deferment of improvements, or a combination from all of the above.”

Miller: “One of the unique things that we have done is negotiating with the developers and discussing the mitigation of such fees. Asking what more can you do? We are working directly with the developers. One of the positive things that have come out of this process is the closer union between the city and the school district and understanding how important development is. The city has really stepped up to help us. We have formed a very healthy and genuine partnership.”

So, many of the significant details in order to construct E-5 remain in place. However, the major item of land acquisition and its relative cost have been resolved – subject to approval by the DUSD Board of Trustees next Tuesday. Given the dynamics of exponential enrollment growth in this district and its inherent challenges to site construction, this event represented a very large movement towards the resolution of these goals. Many other factors will still need to be resolved. There also remains the potential that E-5 may convert into a K-8 site – much in the way that Fallon was initially utilized before it was restored to a middle school. This is not a factual statement from DUSD. However, it is an editorial comment that may bear future consideration.

Hopefully, we were able to distill what these agreements mean to all parties. OneDublin.org would like to thank Superintendent Hanke and Board President Miller for their willingness to sit down and to discuss these issues. The full body of the message from Dr. Hanke is included below:

OneDublin.org Difference Maker Chan Fonseka

The adult volunteers that tirelessly offer their energy and time at all 10 Dublin public school sites are as diverse as our community. There are many that fulfill key roles in Parent Faculty Clubs (PFC) or School Site Councils (SSC). Even more parents/guardians help out in individual or multiple classrooms. Others simply read to students or re-stack books in the library. And some are leading new initiatives that never existed until this year.

On April 28th, the Dublin Unified School District will host their District Recognition Awards at the District Boardroom. For those that may be unfamiliar, this is an annual event that honors Certificated, Classified and District staff members. Additionally, adult volunteers are recognized. The honorees are there by virtue of nomination letters that may be submitted by anyone. That said, there are countless others that deserve equal praise. OneDublin.org has initiated the process of approaching each site Principal to solicit the names of volunteers that are truly making a positive impact at their respective school sites. This ongoing series will run up through the actual District Recognition Awards. We are taking this opportunity to salute some of the many unsung heroes that are making their schools an even better place, and our proud to introduce our first OneDublin.org Difference Maker, parent Chan Fonseka, and how he championed bringing the Math Olympiads program to Fallon Middle School.

Chan and his family have lived in the Bay Area for several years – including stops in Fremont and Los Altos. He attained a Bachelor’s in Engineering and Computer Science from Dartmouth College and then a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. Mr. Fonseka is employed as a software engineer with Oracle. In 2012, the family decided to move from Los Altos. They took a very analytical approach and created a spreadsheet that demarcated the benefits of each and every community. In the end, they elected to relocate to Dublin. Daughter Maya is a 4th grader at Dougherty Elementary and son Rohan is a 7th grader at Fallon Middle School. Chan is being featured largely due to his initiation of the Math Olympiad program at Fallon. For two years, Rohan greatly benefitted from this elementary school program in Los Altos. When he realized that this opportunity did not yet exist in Dublin, Chan championed the cause with Fallon Principal Sheri Sweeney.

OneDublin.org:  One of your primary volunteer highlights has been the establishment of the Math Olympiad team at Fallon.  Please articulate why you were so passionate about this program and how it might benefit not only your son/daughter, but for other students.

Chan Fonseka: “My son took the Math Olympiads (conducted by MOEMS) while in Grades 4 and 5 at elementary school in Los Altos. He went from being not that proficient (nor interested) in Math at the start of Grade 4 to the complete opposite by Grade 5. I give much of the credit for this to his Math Olympiad coach at the time, who in fact recognized my son’s turnaround by presenting him with the ‘Coach’s 180 Award’ at the end of Grade 4. When I looked at the nature of the Math Olympiad questions I found them to be both challenging and engaging: a lot like the puzzles and brainteasers I enjoyed solving as a kid and do so to this day.

Fallon Middle School

“When we moved to Dublin and Rohan enrolled at Fallon in the Fall of 2013 (after completing his transition year via homeschooling), my wife and I were keen for Rohan – by now two years ahead of his grade level in Math – to continue to participate in the Math Olympiads program. We found, however, that Fallon did not have a Math Olympiads team nor any opportunities to get coached for these contests. I decided to volunteer my services to coach Fallon sixth graders for the Division E (lower division) Olympiads, as the primary focus of the new Fallon Math Club (FMC) – which Rohan helped form (and served as its first President). I felt that not just my son, but all Fallon sixth graders would benefit from the exposure to the non-traditional type of math that this program promotes. I felt that the emphasis on problem solving and logical thinking would complement the existing math curriculum well. The program delves into not only many interesting topics in math such as Motion Problems, Prime Numbers, Cryptarithms, and Sequences, but also focuses on mastering general tools and techniques that can then be applied to many different types of problems.”

OneDublin.org:  In the second year, the response to this program was overwhelming.  However, you couldn’t possibly manage this effort alone.  Explain how you were successful in encouraging/recruiting additional coaches to join in.

Fonseca: “The first year we managed to sign up 25 students in October – well after Fall classes had already begun – of which only 17 elected to actually take the Olympiads. The others were still part of FMC, and joined in the problem-solving, games and fun challenges that quickly became an integral part of their Wednesday afternoons after school. The official FMC Math Olympiads team not only took part in all five Olympiads, but brought honor to Fallon by securing the Highest Achievement plaque, which is the top award given by MOEMS and goes out to those teams (out of about 4000) finishing in the top 10% nationally. The year culminated in a grand Awards Ceremony in the Fallon MPR combined with the 1st Annual Fallon Math Games; an exciting combination of mathematics and athleticism which brought the curtain down on a wonderful first year. The Euclid Yellows ended up being the inaugural winners of the Games, while the Mathlete of the Year award went to sixth grader Manav Kant, the Olympiad team’s high scorer with 22 out of a possible 25. He presented the team’s Highest Achievement plaque to the school where it sits today in the trophy cabinet.

“Given the success of the program and my son’s keenness for me to continue with it, we manned a table at fall registration in 2014 and were shocked to get about 250 signups. Quickly determining that I had neither the bandwidth nor the physical capability to properly coach that many students, I announced that there would be a placement test to pick 25 students for the club (with mandatory participation in the Math Olympiads). We had about 200 students show up at the MPR to take this test, which comprised some Olympiad-type questions, a few brainteasers, an interest survey and a series of hands-on math games. The whole thing took over two hours; several prior-year mathletes and their parents volunteered their time to help make it run smoothly.

Principal Sheri Sweeney

“Students selected! Or so we thought. Once the names were announced we were inundated with requests from the remaining parents to accept their children also. With the able administrative assistance of Samanthi – my wife – and Lindy Chia – parent to two of my students – I turned to other parents for help, and within a week had lined up two more parent-coaches, opening up club membership and coaching to fifty more students. Some parents whose kids were still not picked, however, brought their concerns to the principal Sheri Sweeney. Sheri had been a pillar of support in our formative year, providing all the logistical assistance we needed from the school and even serving as Teacher Advisor since the math department did not have any bandwidth at that late stage. She gently inquired as to whether there was any way we could accommodate the remaining hundred plus students. I decided to mass mail all the remaining parents soliciting even more volunteers in the form of coaches and coaching assistants. More parents did step forward, and about two weeks later we had four more coaches and six assistants in total, at which point we had enough manpower to offer a spot to every single student who took the placement test! The final roll came to 192 students, or about 18% of the student body.”

OneDublin.org:  You have the benefit of working close by in Pleasanton and perhaps some latitude in your schedule.  How would you encourage other parents to become more involved in their school sites – in any capacity?

Fonseca: “The first step is to find the time. A working parent with a long commute has neither the time nor the energy to volunteer at school. Such parents, if they can take advantage of a work-from-home policy, could discuss their volunteer plans with their employer and seek their support for a mutually acceptable window to be involved with their child’s school. I have the good fortune to have a manager at my day job that not only understands my desire to help these students, but actively supports it by allowing me the flexibility to structure my work hours around my coaching window. Parents who work locally or stay-at-home parents may find it easier to set up volunteering time. In my opinion, if every parent could donate just one or two hours per week it would enrich the lives of all the kids immeasurably – not to mention provide immense satisfaction for themselves as they get to impart their knowledge to the next generation and receive immediate and rewarding feedback.

“The second step is to think about what you are good at, and what you love doing, and see if those passions or skills have a fit within the school environment. Volunteering is much more fun if you enjoy what you are doing during your donated time. When I was a kid I loved playing games and solving puzzles. Now I enjoy reliving those days through the lives and minds of excited youngsters making the same discoveries that I once did.

“Once you have the time and the focus, reach out to your school site; to the PFC, relevant department head or principal if necessary, and let them know how you would like to help. You may be surprised at how much goodwill you will generate! By helping establish this program at Fallon I feel I’ve created a win-win situation where the students receive an enrichment opportunity in an area of high value; the school’s reputation is enhanced; and I am able to provide a service to the community and receive the satisfaction that goes along with it.”

OneDublin.org:  Please comment on how the weekly activities in the Math Olympiad may potentially benefit students as they approach the new Common Core Standards and SBAC evaluations. 

Fonseca: “We currently have seven different coaches, each one responsible for a different team of up to 30 students. We have monthly grading parties at my house where the coaches and assistants get together for brunch, grade the Math Olympiad papers, submit the results to MOEMS, and discuss teaching strategies and the program in general. We have decentralized the coaching to allow each coach to use their own curriculum and coaching style. Some coaches focus on doing a lot of practice papers individually in class. Others have the students work in groups and demonstrate answers on the board. Still others use various math aids, props and games.

“My own style combines individual and collaborative problem-solving with active, hands-on games that are not always related to math but do draw upon the natural creativity and competitive nature of middle school students. I use games and competitions to get the students warmed up, engaged and excited before foisting a difficult math problem or two upon them. My coaching style is old-school, with no calculators, computers or online activities. All I require from my charges are pencil, paper and a fertile mind. I encourage creative and out-of-the-box thinking, and multiple approaches to solving the same problem. This provides a natural way of checking their work. It also dovetails perfectly with the MOEMS principles as well as the Common Core approach which is more focused on a deeper understanding as opposed to rote knowledge or memorization.

“Math Olympiad problems are often very wordy and require a substantial exercise in comprehension and internalization in order to merely understand what is being asked. A reliance on simple first principles and logical thinking are often all that is necessary to develop a solution path; and the program attempts to supplement this approach by gradually exposing students to different structured methods, as well as tricks and shortcuts, that can be easily learned and then reused in new situations. The experienced Olympiad-taker eventually builds up a useful arsenal of problem-solving tools that will serve them well in many future aspects of their academic as well as day-to-day lives.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add?

Fonseca: “The Math Olympiads were done by March 4th. Many of the FMC students are now being coached for the Purple Comet (www.purplecomet.org), which is a much more challenging math competition involving collaborative problem solving in teams of up to six students. Parents coaching for the Purple Comet have extended their volunteer time to be 90 minutes every Wednesday until the April 22nd competition.

“FMC students have also been divided into four “Houses”, and will cap their year of math enrichment at the 2nd Annual Math Games by taking part in a series of unique “mathletic” events in front of their parents and peers in the Fallon gym on Friday, May 29th at 6pm. The Games winners will be announced at the concluding Awards Ceremony where all Olympiad participants will also be recognized; the top performers will receive their Awards; Fallon will receive any Achievement Awards it qualifies for; and “Mathlete of the Year” will be crowned: all in one fun-filled evening!”

So, we have an example of a parent that lived through the positive experience of an after-school enrichment program, brought it to the Principal’s attention and then started it. Today, with the help of many other coaches, the Math Olympiad concept is thriving at Fallon Middle School. OneDublin.org would like to thank Chan Fonseka for his willingness to be profiled and for sharing this wonderful story. Because of this, numerous Fallon students and their families will gain from the efforts of a parent that transported his love of mathematics to the benefit of an entire school site. Thank you, Chan.

Difference Maker Albert Lee

In our continuing series highlighting Dublin Unified School District adult volunteers, OneDublin.org reached out to Green Elementary School Principal Joe Romagna. He quickly offered up Mr. Albert Lee as a worthy individual to profile. Albert is a true transplant to California. He was born in Texas, lived in Pittsburgh and for a period of time in CT before coming to the Bay Area in 2008. Along the way, he attained an undergraduate degree from Caltech and an M.S. from University of California Berkeley. While Albert, his wife Jina and three children reside in Dublin, Mr. Lee operates a tutoring service in the Lamorinda area.

His clients are generally middle and high school students so he meets with them Sunday through Thursday between 3:00 – 10:30 PM. He provides this large window as some of the older students participate in sports and other activities. In addition to ACT and SAT preparation, Albert has subject matter expertise in the areas of physics, mathematics and chemistry. He notes that it is difficult to succeed in this industry without a solid foundation in math skills.

As a parent, he takes great pride in the fact that his children often look forward to the rigor offered in school. He is the father of three children from the ages of eight to two. His current role at Green is to run the School Site Council (SSC). His profession has provided Albert with a unique perspective to help all students gain the best possible outcomes. Further, he can appreciate the concept of differentiation of curriculum – balanced against what is probable in a classroom setting. While the optimal setting would represent 1-1 teaching, one must consider the wide range of skills – even with three students. We found Mr. Lee’s outlook on education and life to be fascinating. OneDublin.org recently sat down with Albert and it was a wonderful opportunity to understand his academic philosophy balanced with what he considered the value of volunteering.

OneDublin.org: Please describe how your involvement/volunteerism at Green has enhanced your overall experience at Green.

Albert Lee: “Even coming from a background in education, I discovered there were many things that parents experience as they participate in a school community.  There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of different interests at work in any school environment, and things that I took for granted were not trivial.  I think my role as a parent volunteer is to assist the teachers and staff.  After just my first experience volunteering in kindergarten centers, my respect for the teachers and their ability to control a class for four hours, as opposed to my 30 minutes with a small fraction of the class, was immense.

“My key lessons were to understand the wide range of students in any classroom and the demands on teacher time.  I don’t think school work is always perfectly suited to every student, but I attribute that to the requirements placed upon teachers.  In an ideal world, school would be perfectly differentiated so that every student is being challenged.  But, in reality, asking teachers to develop individual or differentiated lesson plans for a small group of students is challenging.  But, I have found that my children’s teachers are open to enrichment, but I try to make it as easy as possible for them to implement.  I don’t ask the teachers to develop the material because I realize it takes a lot of their own time, and the times are at the teachers’ discretion.  I think that being able to work with a small group while the teacher works with the rest of the class benefits everyone.  This has been the most valuable experience for me; I get to see the best of my kids, struggling with problems that are supposed to be too hard for them, but working to overcome them and I also get time in the classroom to see the amazing dynamics and the skill that the teachers have of engaging with students.

“These experiences have encouraged me to get involved with the larger school community, so this year I have joined the School Site Council and am organizing Math Kangaroo at John Green.  Through Site Council, I’ve been a more active participant in larger school issues and with Math Kangaroo, we were able to hold a great event that enriches and challenges students, giving them a chance to see math in a different context.

“One of the best aspects of the experience is the insight I’ve gained into the community.  From Principal Romagna to the teachers and the staff, I’ve been able to gain more of a personal connection to them than I would have as an observer.  I respect the work that the teachers and staff do, and I’ve gotten good feedback from them on the work that I do.  I feel much more positive about the school after seeing how much activity there really is.  There is truth to the saying that you get out what you put into it.”

OneDublin.org: You mentioned that some of the parent population has been unaware of the Site Council’s existence/activities.  In your own words, please describe what the SSC does.

Lee: “For two years, I actually didn’t even know there was a SSC at John Green.  I never saw it mentioned anywhere, and when they asked for parent volunteers, it really appealed to me that it is composed of 5 parents and 5 staff members.  The issues we focus on are the overall site plan, learning outcomes, learning environment including safety, and character education.

We encourage all parents to attend our meetings, and each month, we’ve had an educational series presented by a member of the community.  The series has included information about the Special Day Class at John Green, OARS data and assessments, theSPSA (site plan) drafting process, and the work of the District Optimization Committee.

“At our last meeting, I got the chance to present the results of our parent survey.  One of the issues that I’ve had an issue with at Green is the sense that parts of the community exist in “bubbles” where they get to hear a lot of feedback from their friends, but maybe not a lot of outside views.  I wanted to get a larger view of the community, and we asked about happiness, and their experiences with different aspects.  We also gave the opportunity to provide open ended responses about the learning environment and programs.  We had very positive feedback… 95% of the responses said that their children were happy at John Green.  One of the more interesting results was that there was a distinct split when we asked if homework should be more difficult.  For every person who strongly agreed that homework should be more difficult, there was one who strongly disagreed; for every person who agreed, there was one who disagreed.  My realization is that we don’t often realize this spectrum, and some of the things we ask of teachers is only from one perspective.”

OneDublin.org: Many parents/guardians have returned to the workforce which may negate an opportunity to assist at the school during the day.  Please share your thoughts on how they may still contribute their time to the school site.

Lee: “I think there a number of barriers that keep parents from participating in school events or organizations, and I am thankful to have the flexibility and background to participate.  I think there’s nothing that sends a stronger message of how important a parent considers education than the sacrifices that help provide a solid foundation.  From what I have seen, if you really want to make a contribution, then you can make it work.  If you are not willing to contribute, then you probably don’t have a lot of ground to stand on if you have something to complain about.

“I’m not one who believes there should be 100% participation when it comes to parent volunteers in the classroom.  But, I do think parents have an obligation to familiarize themselves with the school and the opportunities it provides.  If classroom time is not appealing, you could always donate more money to the PFC, work on evening/weekend events, go to PFC and/or SSC meetings, work on communications.  Some teachers will even outsource projects that parents can put together in the evenings.  There was a call for the District Optimization Committee that only meets in the evenings.  I would love to have some community organizing so that important issues are brought to the neighborhoods in a balanced fashion.

“Aside from that wish list, I do think that all parents should take the time to look at communications from the teachers and the schools.  It’s frustrating to the staff if something has been explained over and over again is continually ignored.  I’d also like to dispel the myth that parent volunteerism is strictly the realm of stay-at-home parents.  I know programmers, investment bankers, doctors, and project managers who all find a way to make time to be present in the classroom, even if it’s just once every few months.  There’s hundreds of vacation hours that are left unused every year.  For Math Kangaroo, I shift my schedule so that I am available, and as someone who gets paid hourly, I don’t get to take vacation time and get paid for it.

“For example, we’ve made it a point to talk about traffic safety every month, and yet, every morning, there are people double parking, crossing illegally, and every once in a while, there’s someone who decides to show off their aggressive driving skills.  I think the things that are asked of parents on this level are minor and if we really had 100% participation on these things, it would really make the experience better.”

OneDublin.org: Your family has clearly made a positive difference at Green Elementary.  What message would you like to convey to others that may be hesitant or perhaps do not know other parents or staff members?

Lee: “I think there is nothing wrong with being a bit selfish in your volunteerism.  I specifically do math enrichment and school site council because those are the things that I felt are the most important.  From that perspective, I feel like I’ve succeeded, as they both enjoy and do well in math and they can see the importance of participating in a community.  I’ve never volunteered for certain programs because I know I would not enjoy them.  There is a large range of ways to participate in the community, and I am certain that everyone could find something worth their time.

“There are a finite number of years that children get truly excited to see their parents on school campus.  We might as well enjoy them a bit more.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add?

Lee: “The most interesting thing about elementary school is how the children are so happy and enjoy learning.  It’s a stark contrast to the attitudes we see as they reach the teenage years.  It’s one of my strongest impressions of having children in kindergarten, and I think it reaches all aspects of life in a school.  If there are ways to make the people at the school happier, starting with the teachers, but reaching the administration, staff, and parents, then we owe it to ourselves to pursue them.

“This is a time when many new things are being tried in education, and I would encourage parents to follow education blogs to find out some cutting edge ideas.  Many of the teachers already implement some of them, but if we educate ourselves and are willing to take some chances, our schools and our children will benefit.”

So, yet another parent has chimed in with his unique perspective on how and why adults should contribute time and efforts to their respective schools. Granted, Albert approaches this subject as someone who routinely works with middle and high school students. Yet, he is also recognizing how quickly the years are passing by – and the opportunity to make a significant at one’s school site. OneDublin.org would like to thank Albert Lee for sharing his impressions and we hope that this has shed greater light upon the activities of School Site Councils.

Difference Maker Jennifer Frietas

As we have learned throughout this series, adult volunteers can come in many shapes and sizes. Further, some folks are capable of assisting solely after school or in the evenings. And, others can become completely embedded within a school site.

OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to visit with Jennifer Freitas. Jennifer attained a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from California State University Fresno and a Master of Physical Therapy from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland. With a rapidly growing family, she decided to devote her energies in supporting her children and to their school. Ms. Fretias grew up in Dublin and attended Murray Elementary School, Wells Middle School and Dublin High School. She has also captured the rare trifecta of enrolling all three of her children concurrently at Dublin Elementary. Bradley is a fifth grader, Ashley is in third and young Andrew is in first grade.

She invited us during a Friday lunch period so that we could witness the Run Club. This activity occurs bi-monthly and involves a large portion of the enrollment. We gathered her thoughts on this program and on other fundraising efforts.

OneDublin.org: The Run Club is a fully formed program at Dublin Elementary. Please explain how this came to be. As an organizer, how did you assemble your army of volunteers?

Jennifer Freitas: “I am a runner and I love running. I had been looking for a track/ running program to enroll my kids in and couldn’t find anything that fit what I was looking for. I had been talking with a fellow mom and runner about a run club that she did at her son’s school in Pleasanton and it sparked a fire. Strangely enough, it was about the same time that Lauren approached me and asked if I had any interest in helping with a lunchtime run club. We had a meeting to brainstorm how we would run it and thus Run Club, as we know it at Dublin Elementary, was born. The first year was 2013. We had a few run clubs at the end of the year. It was such a hit that the following year, we decided to hold run club twice a month throughout the year. We are now in our second full year of run club! Every other month I check in with Lauren and her secretary Nancy, to put the dates for the next few months on the calendar. Lauren orders the special charms that we hand out to the kids. I write occasional announcements for our weekly newsletter and an email blast to inform parents of the dates for each month and the details. Some include the benefits of running, wearing proper shoes, bringing and drinking water, etc. These newsletters are also the place where I ask for any volunteers. I currently have +nine volunteers that help me on various weeks and it is helpful to have at least two or three other helpers each week. I have a sign-up genius link that I send to them as the dates are set-up. Most of the original volunteers are my friends and we have children in the same grades.”

OneDublin.org: Historically, Dublin Elementary has been very effective at fundraising. Share your thoughts on the Jaws-a-Thon and how do the funds raised impact the classrooms?

Freitas: “My co-chair, Andrea Reak, and I have been doing the jog-a-thon for three years together. It used to be held in November with the prize of a frozen turkey for the top fundraiser or runner. We were asked by the PFC to revamp\revitalize it and raise some serious money. We decided to offer prizes to top fundraisers. These are donated from local businesses for fun activities like Rockin Jump, Chuck E Cheese, Zone Laser Tag and many more. We start soliciting local businesses in July and August for prizes. Two years ago we also added in a business sponsor component and this year we raised $2,250+ just from corporate sponsors! We use this money to purchase t-shirts that you can only get through being a top achiever in the Jaws-a-thon. We have our “Totally JAWsome” logo on the front and then the names and logos of our sponsors on the back. Kids earn these shirts by raising $100 or more. Kids are also entered in a raffle for $50 or more. We ask each child to raise $32 and if all 700+ did this we would raise $22,000! But we have so many families who donate above and beyond that our top fundraiser this year brought in over $600.00! And, over 100 kids got shirts! I think our prizes motivate the kids and our event motivates the parents. It is an amazing community building event.

“It takes the entire school day, we start with an opening ceremony, where classes get to show their costumes and school spirit, then each grade level runs during an assigned time. We have music blasting, we invite family and friends to come cheer on the runners and we have over 120 volunteers throughout the day, helping to count and tally laps, pass out water and otter pops. It is a fun event that starts off our year with a bang and each year we have grown in school spirit, in community involvement, and in the amount of money we raise. The money we raise goes towards the technology and field trip budgets that PFC funds. The extra amount we raise goes into our general fund and it gets used as the PFC community needs it, generally when teachers or grade levels come to us with requests for supplies or programs.”

OneDublin.org: When you stop to think about it, how does it feel to know that your children will eventually promote up through the same middle and high schools that you attended?

Freitas: “I love that my kids are going through the same school district as both my husband, Jeff and I did. Our community is special in that people may leave for a bit, but they often come back. Dublin is still home to many of our classmates and friends. It is a great community and I love that I am so connected, even with Wells and Dublin High. Some teachers I had are still there and some classmates of mine are now teachers and staff. I am confident that they are getting a good education and being involved means that I have a part in that.”

OneDublin.org: What advice would you offer to any parent that may be interested in volunteering, but doesn’t know how to get started? 

Freitas: “My advice is to come to a PFC meeting or a School Site Council meeting. We go over a lot of information that you may not otherwise know. I have been attending PFC meetings since my youngest was in Kindergarten and it has helped me to meet other parents, keeps me up to date with what going on at the schools and it lets me know (and be a part of the decision making) how the PFC spends the money we raise. The other suggestion is to read the newsletter and eblasts – these are often the methods in which volunteer jobs are posted. Volunteering is fun and rewarding. It is often a lot of work, but it’s worth it. I love that the kids know me and I know them. It gives me a glimpse into my kids school lives and helps me be connected to them. I have met many wonderful parents through volunteering and have developed relationships with the teachers and staff at Dublin Elementary.”

So, here is an example of a volunteer that is graced with the gift of time and is taking full advantage of it and is making a very positive impact. Further, Jennifer has been able to share her passion for running and fitness with an entire school population. OneDublin.org would like to commend Ms. Freitas and her army of volunteers for all of their efforts. It’s “JAWsome.”

Murray Elementary School

The focus of the OneDublin.org Difference Maker series now turns to Murray Elementary School. Principal Carrie Nerheim quickly volunteered two individuals to spotlight for this feature. They are two of simply numerous individuals that are making a positive and significant difference in the lives of students and families at this school site. Several years ago, Murray might have been characterized as the smallest and most unique elementary site in the Dublin Unified School District and it housed the unique Pathways program. In 2015, it possesses many of the same characteristics, but it is also experiencing the same enrollment gains that are occurring across the district. And, with that, is managing the challenges of growth. Murray Elementary has benefitted from the infrastructure development opportunities due to Measure C. A new kindergarten complex has been constructing in the rear of the campus. Additionally, a new ingress/egress pathway has been opened which has added an immense improvement to facilitating movement at drop-off and release on a daily basis – in addition to providing much needed parking for staff and visitors.

Our profile focuses on two key parent volunteers. Their contributions to Murray share a commonality, yet are different at the same time. OneDublin.org appreciated the opportunity to recently visit with both. It is no wonder that this site is referred to as “Magical Murray.”

Our first visit is with volunteer Jennifer May. She has a daughter (Sydney) at Wells Middle School and 3rd grader Ashley attends Murray. Jennifer attained her BA and MA in Anthropology from California State University Hayward. Upon graduation, she worked in Human Resources at Ameriprise Financial Services until 2010. Subsequently, she has completed all requirements necessary to become a Substitute teacher in DUSD. In the interim, Jennifer has assumed multiple volunteer roles at Murray Elementary School. We explore them now.

OneDublin.org:  Like the other school sites, Murray is growing.  What mechanisms do you employ to ensure that all families are receiving PFC communications?

Difference Maker Jennifer May

Jennifer May: “We have made it a priority to distribute flyers and information electronically to our families instead of using paper. We encourage all parents to sign up to receive PFC emails at registration, we have an advertisement posted on the marquis, and we use constant contact to send out our weekly newsletters and any additional emails. Constant contact allows people to forward them and then the new subscriber can add themselves to our list with a simple click. We make sure that our teachers and all staff are on the distribution of weekly newsletters so that they are informed of all upcoming events and can be involved or relay information home.”

OneDublin.org: You also recently joined the School Site Council.  For those that may be unfamiliar, please describe the activities/responsibilities of the Murray SSC.

May: “The school site council is a group of parents and faculty that work together to put together a strategic plan to meet the needs of our students for the upcoming school year. This plan includes what the main academic goals or focus will be for the entire school and what steps will be taken to ensure that the goals are achieved. We strive to create a plan that has specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound goals. The plan also addresses what resources will be used to achieve these goals.”

OneDublin.org:  As an active volunteer, how has this enriched your experience at Murray?

May: “Being able to volunteer at school the past five years has been a very rewarding experience for me. I feel so blessed to have the time to give back to Murray. I’ve been a room mom for several years for both girls and it’s so much fun to plan fun events for the kids. They really appreciate it and it makes me happy when they are having fun.

“I treasure the moments when I can help a student understand something, for example if I’m helping in math and I get a high five because they get it. I’ve volunteered in the library at Murray for four years and it’s very rewarding to help out Mrs. Pryor because she does so many extra things for the entire school that I enjoy giving her my time to take care of the mundane tasks so she can focus on bigger things.

“Last year, in Ashley’s second grade class, I helped out on Friday afternoons. During that time, the class did a gratitude circle. It was such a blessing to me when a student would say they were grateful for me or they would invite me into the gratitude circle. I love when a student runs up to me and says, ‘Hi, Mrs. May!’ and she gives me a big hug.”

Our second Murray profile centers on Mr. Mark Pelham. Mark is somewhat unique in that he and his wife are both employed by the San Ramon Unified School District. For 17 years, Mark has been working as a Science coach in the elementary school level in the vicinity of the Greenbrook area. His third grader and kinder are both enrolled at Murray Elementary. Mr. Pelham offers a rather unique perspective as a teacher and parent and we are thrilled to share both to our readers.

OneDublin.org: You were one of the few select parents at Murray to participate in Professional Learning Community training.  Please share your experiences and what you took out of this training as it pertains to understanding PLC concepts and they might be applied.

Difference Maker Mark Pelham

Mark Pelham: “At first I was hesitant to take two days off to attend the workshop due to less than ideal experiences when my own district initial attempts to use the same model. It did give me the opportunity to see the staff working together across grade levels with their focus solely on student achievement. It wasn’t a concern about test scores and API but an attempt to determine the best manner in which to identify where students were at in their educational journey and the best ways to move them forward.

“At the same time my daughter’s kindergarten teacher was working on unwrapping Common Core standards and saw them not as a burden or more work but as an opportunity to improve her effectiveness in the classroom. So often in education I see people wearing down under the onslaught of new programs, something which I have occasionally been guilty of doing. I often thought of Murray as a little school with less staff resources than other schools but was able to view the district as a single organism that was working together to improve student success. Rather than the large district with many isolated schools I saw Dublin as a small but cohesive and flexible district. This feeling has been reinforced over time in my experiences with Carrie and the amount of work she does with her fellow elementary principals.”

OneDublin.org: You have taken an active role in PFC events, including the Daddy Daughter dance and organizing a movie night.  This led to assuming a role as PFC Co-President.  As an officer, how has this changed your perception of now serving as one of many “caretakers” of the organization?

Pelham: “I was amazed how many school events have their genesis in the PFC, even activities that are not PFC related, are run by PFC members. The amount of work that occurs in the background is staggering, I just assumed things were in place from the previous year and you essentially showed up. We are actively trying to create resources that can be easily shared between different activities and from year to year. Each role on the board pretty much has a co-chair which seems to make the job more attractive

“I assumed that I would not be able to do much for the PFC since my school/work hours parallel those of Murray which is something we are trying to dispel. There are many opportunities for people to contribute but think that they have to be at every meeting and work every event. Our Halloween fun night worked because several dads came in and built a great haunted house which was a huge contribution to the event.

“Finding volunteers is difficult at every school but we do have a smaller pool of volunteers due to our size and a large number of students in DKA are coming from other school attendance areas. It is 10% doing 90% of the work as with most places but we are looking for new ways to get people involved, I am hoping we might even find another male to be on PFC. It is a fun group to work with and are very supportive of teachers that never say no to an idea that will benefit students.

“The best thing about this group is the number of no cost events that happen each year. We have our fund raisers throughout the year but the dances and movie nights are free. These are community building events that bring out families and are the best thing that we do.”

OneDublin.org: You’re one of the fortunate ones to be onsite and in the classrooms on a semi-regular basis.  As a parent, please articulate how it makes you feel to have your children know that their father is an active and vital part of campus life?

Pelham: “It is a good example for my kids to see me active and involved and that I am part of their education. Julia is always very excited on the days that I come in and spreads the word among her classmates. I see both 3rd grade classes and not just hers and I know all the kids and enjoy working with them. On the days I drop Julia off I have to tell kid after kid that today is not a science day but I will be there soon.”

OneDublin.org: Upon her arrival, Principal Nerheim has pronounced the site as “Magical Murray.”  For those that are unattached to the school, help us to understand why Murray Elementary is indeed magical.

Pelham: “I have never asked her about the Magical part but it has always been Magical Murray since we have been there. Part of it might go back to talk of closing the school and the fact that Murray is small and 50 years old next year. The amount of upgrades and beautification is pretty magical. The PFC started to raise money to beautify the front of the school with some new landscaping to match the new kindergarten buildings and “to make the outside as beautiful as the inside” in Ms. Nerheim’s words.

“The project was started by a parent whose mother is a landscape architect and was fairly simple; remove some older plants and add some drought resistant plants with some color. People donated money to pay for specific plants that would have their name on them and local businesses gave us deals on plants and soil. All was going well until things were put on hold temporarily. The district worried that the new plants would not survive with drought restrictions in effect. True to Magical Murray form, after several meetings the district steeped up to improve the project. Dublin Unified pulled out the old crabgrass in front, replaced it with new grass, and extended the recycled water lines to cover the front of the school, put in new cement borders around the plants and the cement for the Murray paw logo out front. A weekend of volunteer work planting was done in a day due to the number of volunteers and now the outside of the school matches what happens inside the school. That is Magical Murray. Ms. Nerheim could also sell refrigerators in the Antarctic.”

So, there you have it. Two separate parent volunteers from the same school site that share a similar philosophy. OneDublin.org would like to like to praise the contributions by both Jennifer May and Mark Pelham for making a positive contribution to the daily operations at Murray Elementary School. No doubt, there are many others that are making a positive difference to this school. However, Jennifer and Mark are making it a “magical” experience for every student and family.

Dublin High School Lady Gaels Basketball

Spring sports are presently in full flight at Dublin High School. Some of these endeavors include baseball, softball, tennis, swimming, track and lacrosse. But, before we turn the page on fall sports, we wanted to recognize a DHS team that just completed an epic season – and of historic proportions.

In early February, OneDublin.org posted a story featuring the successful season that the Lady Gaels basketball team was enjoying. When published, their record was 20 wins versus only two losses. At this point, the team was beginning to approach the end of their regular season. However, what loomed on the horizon was an opportunity to compete in the North Coast Section (NCS) tournament. Would this team, that started its season just before Thanksgiving, allow itself to dream even bigger than before? Might an opportunity to compete in the CA state tournament even be possible? The team and their supporters were about to find out.

In the NCS Championships, teams are seeded into different brackets based largely upon the size of school enrollment. While one of the larger schools competing, the DHS Lady Gaels were slotted into Division 2. They were fortunate to host their first two post-season games against Del Oro and Saint Francis, respectively. These victories set up a showdown with athletic powerhouse Carondelet on a neutral court at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. The tone and the stakes were clearly higher.

This venue had hosted playoff games all day and it was time for the Lady Gaels to take the court for the evening’s featured game. The bleachers were packed with supporters for each team and with other basketball junkies. The environment at McKeon Pavilion was electric as some fans can literally sit right above the east end of the court. The game was taut. It featured 22 lead changes, 10 ties and no lead that exceeded four points by either team. In the closing moments and with a two point lead, the game was clinched when DHS denied Carondelet an opportunity to either tie or to win the game in a last second scramble. The result was a heart –stopping 57-55 victory. What followed was bedlam as the team and supporters flooded the court. Perhaps, it was only fitting that the athletic mascot of Saint Mary’s College is – the Gaels.

So, the business of a possible state championship was next on the agenda. The team was able to dispatch both Del Oro and Saint Francis in two very competitive games that were hosted at Dublin High School. This earned them the right to compete for the Northern California Division 2 championship to be played at Arco Arena in Sacramento – home of the NBA Sacramento Kings. A victory in this game would have allowed them to finally play for a CA state championship title. However, perennial juggernaut Archbishop Mitty of San Jose was able to shake off a lethargic first half and ultimately capture the win. A week later, Mitty won the CA state championship in Berkeley.

In order to honor this very special team, OneDublin.org reached out to Coach Trisha Campbell again to gather her thoughts on this whirlwind season. Further, we elected to invite the five senior players to chime in on what will undoubtedly be their most memorable experience during their tenure at DHS.

OneDublin.org: Subsequent to Saturday’s game, you were quoted as saying “I love these girls.  They came out strong from game one, and they’ve only gotten stronger as they have gone on through the season.”  Now that you’ve had some time to reflect, kindly expand upon those post-game quotes.  Help our readers to understand the 2014-15 journey.”

Coach Trisha Campbell with Lady Gaels

Trisha Campbell: “I still stand by that quote. I remember our very first game and the intensity the girls played with- it set the tone for the rest of the season. They kept fighting and working hard and with every win I think their confidence grew and grew. Dublin has always been a good team, but has never been given the recognition they deserve and it was about time we stop settling. I knew this team could accomplish greatness and I knew once they believed it, we would be playing for a championship. I think every team and every season has its ups and downs, we definitely had ours, but I think one of the great things about this season and this team was their tenacity and desire.

“Once we started winning, game after game after game, they expected nothing less; they wanted to win and anything else was not acceptable. By the end of the season they had the tools to respond to pressure and various defenses and when things weren’t going our way or we weren’t working on defense they got on each other and encouraged each other. It can’t just be me telling them what to do because before long I know I must sound like a broken record to them. So, I try my best to reach out to players who may need extra encouraging that week or extra support and your leaders emerge and starting pushing one another. I encouraged all of them to be leaders and they all stepped up when the team needed one. By the time we reached NCS, everyone knew it was “do or die” and I think none of us wanted the season to end.”

OneDublin.org: The NCS title game against Carondelet was remarkable.  They employed a 15 minute full court press to open the first half.  Please share how you prepared your team for this onslaught – both prior to and during the game.

Campbell: “Press offense is something I have always emphasized since my first year coaching; you have to be able to beat pressure. The first year was a struggle because it is natural for players to want to dribble through a press because it seems so wide open, but in reality the ball gets up the floor a lot faster by passing. Once that clicked for everyone, I never had to worry about us being pressed. In the NCS title game, I kept telling them I want them to press us, I hope they press us and I know they felt the same. It meant layups and quick passing for us- so that’s what we worked on: outlet passes, layups, hitting the middle, etc. They handled the pressure like champions. The bigger preparation was the mental preparation. Again, I know they probably got sick of hearing me repeat myself, but if they hear it enough, then they believe it too- I kept saying they deserved to be there and they were the better team. We are just playing our game in another gym and we are the #1 seed! Walk with confidence and play with confidence.”

OneDublin.org:   This recently completed season probably captured every possible emotion.  Explain what you would want all of your players to take away from this odyssey.

Campbell: “I hope all my players take something away from this season. I think it is probably different for everyone because everyone has a different role. If I had to pick one thing it would be the time and energy it takes to make a team work. You have 12 girls with 12 personalities and they are going to have to be able to work on different teams throughout their lives. It takes work. They were able to come together with the will to achieve a goal and they accomplished it and the reward in the end, knowing how hard you worked for it, is indescribable.”

OneDublin.org: Unless they are in your classroom, you’ll see a bit less of your players in the remaining three months of school.  How do you and your team plan to celebrate the season?

Campbell: “We celebrated our season on April 9th in the Student Union. We had our end of the year banquet to reflect and enjoy our accomplishments together. It’s strange not being together for practices and games- but it was nice to all be together one last time.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add?

Campbell: “I want to wish the five seniors much success in their futures. They are going to go on to do great things and they will be missed next year- they have left their legacy at Dublin High.”

Perhaps, it was kismet. The nature of high school sports is often dictated by the blend of athletes that are willing to devote to the team and to themselves. The 2014-15 Lady Gaels team was laden with five seniors and several other supporting players. The sense of urgency was clear and Coach Campbell recognized it. OneDublin.org had a further opportunity to speak with some of these student athletes. Their responses were clear and very candid.

OneDublin.org: Try to describe the feeling of playing at Sleep Train Arena – home to the NBA Sacramento Kings.

Jojuan Carrington (PF/C): “It was nerve wracking, it’s different and it’s a big adjustment. It’s a little different than playing in our gym.”

OneDublin.org: At what point in this year did you realize that this could be a special season?

Julyana Amante (PF/C): “Obviously, I knew that playing with these girls before that I felt that this could be a successful season.”

OneDublin.org: With all of the time spent on/off the court and travel, what makes you feel that this is a true “sisterhood?”

Maia Peay (PG/SG): “We bonded as a family. I love my team and I love my squad.”

OneDublin.org: Carondelet employed a full-court press for the first 15 minutes of the first half in the NCS Championship game. How did Coach help you to cope with this strategy both before and during the game?

Milan Moses (PG): “We prepared for this because we knew that they were going to jump out on us. We kept our poise and ran our press offense. We broke the press by passing and moving.”

OneDublin.org: You’re all seniors. What type of team do you think that the Lady Gaels will be next season?

Carrington: “I think that everyone has big shoes to fill. It will take a lot of work to build the chemistry that we had this year. It will take a lot of work to come together.”

OneDublin.org: In addition to scholastics, you were an athlete. How will this change the way that you remember your high school years at DHS?

Amante: “Overall, high school will always be memorable – this is like the cherry on top. I’ll remember this forever because it’s so big in my mind and I’ll never forget it.”

OneDublin.org: As the season was coming to a peak, how were you receiving some love from your fellow students?

Peay: “They were cheering us off and on the court. And they were very supportive.”

OneDublin.org: As you removed your jersey for the last time, what went through your mind?

Moses: “That I would never be playing basketball again for Dublin High, but the memories were awesome. I’m glad that we went as far as we did, but it’s kind of sad to think about it. We all have a great future and we’re all going to be great.”

OneDublin.org: As a senior, what will be your favorite memory from this season?

Carrington: “It would probably be the Fresno tournament. I think that it was a shock to us as we started off the season and were getting to know each other. It kind of set the tone for the whole season.”

Amante: “I would have to say it was the final moment when we won NCS. We were all pumped for each other and we all ran to each other when the final buzzer went off. That’s a feeling that I’ll never forget.”

Moses: “Also NCS. When we got a steal and the buzzer went off, I just ran into one of my teammate’s arms. It was just the best moment ever.”

Peay: “Winning that title and having everyone run onto the court. And taking that final team picture on the court was simply amazing.”

So, the best season in program history has concluded for the Dublin High School Lady Gaels Varsity basketball team. It was an amazing accomplishment to witness and it left an indelible mark on the DHS sports landscape. In the end, it required the skill and devotion of a motivated group of student/athletes and the leadership a 2006 Dublin High alumnus and former player to guide them through the maze. OneDublin.org would like to congratulate this year’s team along with Head Coach Trisha Campbell and Assistant Coach Mark Molinar. It will be a season that will be remembered forever.

Editors Note: On April 2, 2015, the Bay Area News Group (BANG) published their East Bay Spotlight on the 2014-15 Basketball season. Guard Milan Moses was named to the First team in recognition for her overall accomplishments this season. Ms. Moses will matriculate through San Diego State University as a scholarship athlete in their soccer program. Trisha Campbell was also named Coach of the Year after completing a 22-3 regular season and a subsequent deep run through the CA State Championship series.

Marcos Castro

The magical preparation of a delicious meal happens out of sight, behind the swinging doors of a bustling kitchen. Our next Life in College profile catches up with Dublin High School graduate Marcos Castro, who started his journey to becoming a chef in Dublin High’s Culinary Arts program and has continued for the past two years at the famed Culinary Institute of America in New York City.

Mr. Castro and his mother relocated from the San Diego area to the Bay Area at the time when he was becoming a middle school student. He attended Wells Middle School and then matriculated through Dublin High. In a moment that changed everything, Marcos wanted to surprise his mother by baking a cake for her birthday. Knowing that by doing this at home would ruin the surprise, he innocently approached Culinary Arts instructor Jackie Lawson and inquired if he could utilize the school’s facilities. Ms. Lawson agreed and the surprise remained intact. Subsequently, Jackie reached out to Marcos and invited him to become a full-fledged member of the newly burgeoning culinary arts program at Dublin High. After contemplating, he agreed and the result was a life-changing moment. Mr. Castro immediately thrived during this experience as he quickly gained mastery as both a student and as a leader among his peers.

While his potential was evident to Ms. Lawson, the question remained: What might he pursue upon graduation? There are numerous culinary programs available locally, including well-respected programs at both Diablo Valley College and City College of San Francisco, among others. But, why not shoot for the moon? One the most prominent culinary learning destinations in the United States resides at the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York. Without a hint of trepidation or a “fear of failure”, he applied. Armed with a resume that was filled with real world experiences and a strong recommendation letter from Ms. Lawson, Marcos was accepted to Culinary Institute of America.

Marcos Preparing a Meal

Over the last two years, we have followed his exploits and experiences. Enrolled students have the option of completing a two-year program in order to become a Certified Chef. Students may then elect to sustain enrollment for the purpose of completing a Bachelor’s degree. Marcos is taking this path.

We initiated this interview process earlier this spring and recently concluded it. He was in the midst of completing classes in the kitchen that would teach techniques centered on cuisines from around the world. Further, he was required to learn about wine and to become a “mini” sommelier. Studies then moved into a section known as “restaurant row” where the students must select to work at two different restaurants for a six week period – functioning in both the back and front of the house for three weeks each. This would ultimately come to a crescendo in the exercises of the costing and cooking “practicals.” During this time, the candidates would be required to pick out a menu randomly, effectively prepare them within two hours and then to have them judged. This would be the ultimate pass-fail exam. While it may resemble something that we may watch on the Food Network, this challenge becomes as real as it gets for these students.

OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to engage with Mr. Marcos to discuss his experiences, and to discuss his future goals. It was fascinating and we could not help but notice his maturation process.

OneDublin.org: When we initially met, you had just received your acceptance to the Culinary Institute.  With the passage of time – living and studying away from home, what have you learned about yourself?  Be specific.

Marcos Castro: “Being away from home has been nice but also really rough. Being in a new town, a new state, there is so much to do. There are many places that I can explore and try that I have never tried before, as well as meet people that are either from here or away from home as well. Yet, being away from home is a little harder because dinner isn’t just waiting for you at home, gas doesn’t just magically fill your car and when something is needed from the store it’s a half hour drive so I have to make it count. There has always been a level of freedom that I was given at home, I was able to make certain decisions on my own and that also prepared me for living out in New York for school. Things in life don’t just appear, are paid for or done for you, you have to work for them and do it yourself if you want it done.”

OneDublin.org: After attending middle and high school in Dublin, we will assume that it was a very different experience living in/near Hyde Park, NY.  Describe what this area is like.

Culinary Institute of America

Castro: “Moving from San Diego to Dublin was already a big change and took some time to getting used to, but this is now my home. Dublin itself is not very big but there are many stores, amenities and forms of entertainment that are nearby. When I first arrived to New York by plane and saw the major sights that must be seen, I knew I finally made it. An hour and a half drive later, I wondered what a one horse town I’ve ended up in for schooling. Being in upstate New York has definitely made me appreciate Dublin but also California a lot more than I did before. The town that the Culinary Institute is located in, is the also the home for Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and Frederick William Vanderbilt. The town is proud of its history but also seems to be stuck in time. There are many really old homes that date back to the town’s original settlement and it seems that not much has changed since. The weather is either hot or cold, there is no in between for New York. The snow that falls looks like something out of a picture, hills and mountains coated with snow, trees dusted in the winter wonderland. Yet if you step into that picture, it’s about three degrees or lower and you’re up to your waist in snow. Getting from one place to another isn’t extremely difficult but it is a drive whether going up north or south of Route 9 to wherever you need to go. Once I finish school here, I am definitely moving back to the west coast.”

OneDublin.org: You had mentioned going through three week rotations to demonstrate mastery of different culinary skills.  How did you adapt to this pace of study or what is it relatively easy?  Please explain.

Castro: “When you first start at the Culinary Institute of America, you are put into a 15-week fundamentals class, two days a week. The next two days are academic classes and the last day of the week is an off day. At the time that schedule seemed like forever and we were all so tired from each day that we had that kitchen fundamentals class. Only to find out that after fundamentals, class is five days a week. That’s morning academic classes and night kitchen classes, depending on the schedule that you were given. I look back now being towards the end and wish I could back to the starting schedule. Each class is three weeks long, Monday through Friday. Each kitchen class being something different that covers skills in that cuisine or technique. It is all very fast paced and there’s no one to hold your hand along the way, you must have read and achieve an understanding of what you are doing that day or let your grades suffer. The chefs that teach us the skills we need have different styles of teaching and require more or less preparation that the next. It’s easier to go above and do more preparation or studying, than to be doing the bare minimum, because you could be on the ball or end up failing.”

OneDublin.org:  Help us to understand some of the relationships that you have developed with your fellow students and instructors.  How and why will you continue to keep in contact?

Marcos Castro and Friends

Castro: “The Culinary Institute is a very large network of chefs, managers, executives, sommeliers and more that are all connected by the school. My fellow students in my start date are more like my family than acquaintances. We are the group that impresses every chef, dean and professor we’ve had because we are one. We look out for one another in class, try to help with tasks and stick together no matter what comes our way. We don’t let someone drown or finish last in this competitive school, we help push each other and make each other stronger. In the kitchen we get thing done but outside we are friends and are there if anyone needs us. Besides that people that are in my start date, there are others that I have met through dining, the student rec center, volunteering and work. Everyone has their own dream and path that they are taking. It’s nice to know and have other people that share similar aspirations. There are some chefs that I’ve had that I can go to and ask for help or guidance. And, there are others that I’d probably never speak to again because they don’t care to make a bond. The people that I meet at the Culinary are not only valuable to have and know for the future but are also friends that I can rely on. We are linked by the Culinary Alumni Network and also have contact information that we can use to keep up with each other.”

OneDublin.org: Given your career interests, why was the Culinary Institute the best fit for you?  Also, share an experience or two that might have caught you off guard or was something that you were not anticipating from this experience.

Castro: “When I first arrived I wanted to become a chef. There was no other plan or change about it. But as I went through the schooling I found out there is more than just being a chef. I actually ended up wanting to do catering but my ultimate goal is to work in the front of the house or food and beverage management. The whole aspect of hospitality and personal contact with a guest or customer was something I enjoy even more. Being in the front of the house, working with the people that make the restaurant or hotel work in front of a guest’s eyes is something that interested me. My Bachelor’s degree will be in Advanced Wine, Beverage and Hospitality but that doesn’t mean that I never want to be in the kitchen. I will now have the knowledge about what goes on in the kitchen and what it takes to run the operation, I can step in and help when needed and can even pursue a higher position in the kitchen.

“As I went through the program there have been chefs that had high expectations but none as close to the chef I had for the Cuisines of the Mediterranean. The chef I had was very particular on how things ran and she would not allow a person to be out of place. She pushed us to go faster, to think quicker and become better chefs. The chef was the Commanding Officer and ran her kitchen as if we were in the military. The school is already based off of militaristic ideology and this chef was really turning the heat up in the kitchen.

“She demanded that you know what you were doing each day, the origins of the items, the history and other uses. Products must be weighed and that the kitchen be spotless at all times. This class seemed ridiculous and was torture. Yet as the days went on, these practices were followed and they didn’t seem absurd or unnecessary anymore. They were practices that should be followed by every chef out in the world. If your kitchen is a mess, if the supplier is shorting products, the food safety practices aren’t being followed then it’s not a kitchen that should be worked in, or eaten from. The things that the chef taught us were important practices to be followed. If you know what is happening in your kitchen to the “T” then you’ll be successful. Though it seemed to be a class from the fiery world down under, in the end I appreciate and admire the chef and the valuable lessons she taught.”

OneDublin.org:  While you have been guided by some of the leading figures in the culinary arts, think back to Dublin High School.  What did you learn from Culinary Arts instructor Jackie Lawson that continues to be relevant to you today?

Castro: “Looking back to the culinary class at Dublin High School, I know that some of the very simple things have stuck with me. Everything from knife cuts, cleaning produce, purchasing food items, etc. have been part of my everyday at the Culinary Institute. The experiences and the tricks that I learned from Jackie have been put to use in the kitchen classes, as well as the management of my colleagues.”

OneDublin.org: Once you complete your degree, what are your career ambitions?  What space do you plan to work in and where might you like to be?

Castro: “After completing school with my Bachelors degree, I want to go into formal front of the house management or become a food and beverage director for a large hotel or business. My dream would to be to work as a food and beverage operations manager for Disney. I think I would want to start smaller, beginning with the Disneyland Resort; then branch off to the companies cruise lines, parks and resorts that are located everywhere.”

So, there you have it. It was a story that we followed for two years and the results were spectacular. For Marcos, he has accomplished a feat equal to those that have been achieved by others at some of the finest learning institutions. To Ms. Lawson, we want to thank you for inviting an inquisitive student and future Culinary Institute of America graduate into your kitchen to bake a surprise birthday cake. We simply have no idea where our next generation of movers and shakers will emerge.

Photo credits: Marcos Castro and Jackie Lawson

Congressman Eric Swalwell

Recently, OneDublin.org was granted some rare “face time” with 15th Congressional District Congressman Eric Swalwell during his visit at Chabot College in Hayward. The purpose of his presence was to continue a series of public forums to address the important subject of rapidly growing student loan debt and college affordability. For Mr. Swalwell, this subject is very real. As the oldest of four boys, he was the first in his family to attend and to complete college. While attending as a Division I Soccer athlete, he attained both an undergraduate and Law degree from the University of Maryland.

As a member of a working-class family in Dublin, California, this journey would not be easy – specifically related to financing his education. His family decided to make many sacrifices in order to help Mr. Swalwell achieve his dreams. While in college, he interned in Representative Ellen Tauscher’s office. Upon returning to California, he served as a Prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. He also served in local capacities and then successfully ran for a seat on Dublin’s City Council. In January 2015, he was sworn into his second term in the U.S House of Representatives.

One of the major factors facing students at high school age and their parents is the subject of financing their post-secondary education. Looking back merely 20 years ago, the landscape of paying for tuition/housing in the UC/CSU system was vastly different. Adjusted for inflation, the overall costs were relatively reasonable. Today, many families are petrified by the potential costs for furthering the education of what this cost for their children may represent. Public programs in California have been heavily impacted to the degree that a four-year college completion will not be possible – based upon the availability of classes. This has led some local area families to contemplate having their children enroll in private programs or those that are located out of state. This has been done largely due to the fact that some of these institutions cannot guarantee graduation within four years.

Future Forum on Student Debt

What remains is the larger question of education financing. On Monday, Congressman Swalwell was joined by two of his colleagues – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-Phoenix) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-Tacoma) at a presentation at Chabot College. They are members who represent a larger group of young Democratic Members of the House of Representatives that are focusing on issues and opportunities for Millennial Americans. Rep. Gallego spoke to the potential of a “double taxation” on two generations of families – affecting both the actual student that is saddled with overwhelming debt and his/her family that is dipping into their own retirement funds to support pursuing a college degree. Rep. Kilmer delivered a salient point about the dichotomy of being able to refinance the mortgage on one’s home and the inability to do the same for college debt.

A crowd of at least 50 participants filled the Events Center Room at Chabot College. A moderated discussion was held to discuss these and many other topics. It was indeed a rare opportunity to be in the presence of three member of Congress in one locale and to have an open dialogue.

What follows is our private conversation with Congressman Eric Swalwell. We wanted to touch upon the Future Forum concept, which he is chairing. Additionally, since he is a native of Dublin we wanted to share that perspective as well.

OneDublin.org: As the Chairperson of this Committee, why are you so passionate about this subject?

Congressman Eric Swalwell: “As a Millennial myself, I have about $100,000 in student loan debt. I know that it impacts everything for young people for buying a house and to starting a family. Future Forum allows to give them a voice from everything including from providing them opportunities that are introduced to Congress and to crowdsourcing their ideas to voice their opinions.”

OneDublin.org: Given the condition of the California state financial situation and with the threat of tuition increases both at the UC and CSU levels, how vital will the Community College system remain as a realistic alternative for many of our high school graduates?

Congressman Swalwell: “Community College will remain a critical part of the educational system. It is a way for people to receive a high quality education. But even Community Colleges are experiencing cuts and it’s taking longer and longer to receive your two-year degree. The other half of that challenge is tuition increases. It seems that every time the Federal Government increase its’ grant loan amount, like the Pell amount, in parallel, universities are increasing their tuition amounts. The student loans are not going as far enough and tuition continues to rise.”

OneDublin.org: Outside of your colleagues in Alaska and Hawaii, you’re probably logging in more air time than most anyone in Congress. When you return to the Bay Area, how do you reach out to your constituents?

Congressman Swalwell: “I try to do the best that I can and I return every weekend. I’ve logged in over 600,000 miles during my tenure since I was first elected. I do my best to reach into our communities through the ‘Work a Day in Your Shoes’ program. I try to see people in the workplace or even in the grocery story. I am also very active via social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Being online is important, but I also know that people want to be connected in different ways.”

OneDublin.org: Given your travel schedule, how easy or difficult is it to see your family when you return to the Bay Area?

Congressman Swalwell: “I just saw my family l last night and I have a second nephew on the way. My family knows that the work is important, but I always aspire to find time to see them more.”

OneDublin.org: As a graduate of Dublin High School, what message would you like to convey to these current students – whether they are incoming Freshmen or those that are about to graduate in two months?

Congressman Swalwell: “I just think that in the last 20 years, Dublin High School has graduated so many amazing graduates. They want to stay connected to the school and those that are matriculating through. So even if you’re unsure of what you want to pursue, chances are that there is a DHS graduate that has already gone through what you experienced or considered. Find a mentor and grasp up to that. Tim Sbranti was my mentor and he was my high school Civics teacher. Tim was at the center of every important decision in my life. It has taught me that there is no need to reinvent the wheel and there are many others that are willing to give back.”

So, here is evidence that dreams can come true. A first generation Dublin resident has matriculated through Dublin High School, through law school and became a Prosecutor in Alameda County. He rose to a position on the Dublin City Council and is now a U.S Congressional Representative. Further, he is leading the charge to address one of the largest issues facing Millennial Americans – the subject of rising student loan debt. OneDubin.org would like to thank Congressman Swalwell and his staff for making this visit possible. We have every reason to believe that his office will produce even more productive outcomes that will benefit the constituents of the 15th Congressional District.

Dougherty Elementary School STEM

As we have learned through our popular Difference Makers series, adult volunteers at all of our school sites come from varied backgrounds and offer many wonderful attributes. OneDublin.org recently approached Dougherty Elementary School Principal Brett Nelson to guide us on a profile of his site. He gladly shared the names of two volunteers that are making significant contributions – particularly in the area of STEM. We are pleased to share the story of these individuals and to let them express why they appreciate the opportunity to make a difference at Dougherty.

We will start with the fascinating journey of Francis Anaya. She moved to the Bay Area from Mexico in 2000. She attained a B.S in Electronics Engineering from Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana – Mexico City and a subsequent specialization certificate in Fundamentals of Computing from Rice University. Her family initially landed in Newark, but they ultimately moved to Dublin in search of better schools. Both Francis and her husband are Software Engineers and possess a love of all things mathematical and scientific. Her two sons, Daniel and Alejandro are in the fifth and first grades, respectively. This has been a year of increased activity for Ms. Anaya as she has she supported the Family Math Night, has been active in running Science Labs and also became an officer in the PFC. Francis shared some of thoughts on the past year and what she looks forward to in the future.

OneDublin.org: You had mentioned that your family moved from Newark to Dublin. Why did you make this move?

Francis Anaya

Francis Anaya: “We knew a few friends who lived in the Tri-Valley area, they seemed very happy here, so in 2003 we moved to an apartment in Dublin and a few years after that we decided to buy our home in 2008. We really like living here as Dublin is a nice family-oriented community.”

OneDublin.org: You have presently assumed the role of Co-Treasurer for the Dougherty PFC. Explain why this role is important to you.

Anaya: “As a parent I think it is important to speak up, share and discuss your ideas, concerns or experiences so changes can be made that can help to improve your child’s experience at school. Being part of the PFC board as a co-Treasurer has allowed me to do that and witness positive changes by offering different programs and social events that benefit our students and their families.”

OneDublin.org: Currently, you are supporting the ongoing ventures of the Science labs and their activities. Please be specific in describing how you are helping this effort.

Anaya: “Principal Nelson wanted to have a “hands-on” lab experience for our 3rd – 5th grade students, so I volunteered to chair the program. As a chair, I’ve been working with Ms. Jawed, one of our 5th grade teachers who has a background in science. She chooses the labs the students will be doing according to the new NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards, which are considered the Common Core Standards for Science). Once the labs have been chosen I work with Ms. Cildir our Vice-Principal who coordinates with the teachers to set the dates for the labs and the training of both teachers and volunteers. Once we have the dates, I start recruiting parents to help present the labs to the students. Ms Jawed and I create PowerPoint presentations to allow the students to visualize the theory behind the labs. I purchase the supplies and organize them so that they can be distributed in all the 3rd to 5th grade classrooms with help from other volunteers. Ms Jawed presents the labs to both teachers and volunteer parents. We record these presentations, so teachers and parents who could not make it to the training sessions can be prepared by watching those videos. Once the labs are finished, Ms Cildir and I collect all the supplies that can be re-used and store them for the following school year.”

OneDublin.org: We discussed being a new parent at Dougherty Elementary. We also talked about the environment as being a parent volunteer. Please describe your venture into this space. Was it easy or difficult?

Anaya: “My oldest son started in Dougherty Elementary in kindergarten. I started volunteering when he was in 2nd grade by helping my son’s teacher with small tasks. I didn’t know how to help in the beginning and coming from another country where things are done in a completely different fashion, it took me some time to learn that if I wanted to help I had to ask. I saw other moms (usually the same faces) helping in different events and I started to attend the PFC meetings where you really learn what happens at school. It was one of the board members who invited me to be a Co-Treasurer for this school year. It was an easy process once you start, I felt the volunteers were a very close group, but I learned that it was just my perception as they all were very nice to me once I started helping and getting more involved.”

OneDublin.org: Please describe why it has meant so much to you to assist in the science labs. You talked about “always teaching someone” and cited the process of turning liquids into gases. What does this mean to you?

Anaya: “I’ve always liked science and math. When I was in high school, I ended up always teaching someone – a classmate or my sister, usually helping them with math. I enjoy teaching other people, so when I see my kids or others having the “a-ha” moment when they get something or feeling proud because their experiment or project went the way they wanted, it makes me feel happy. For this year, one of the fifth grade labs was about designing and building a dam, and as I was showing the students the pictures of some of the dams built in California. It was nice to see some students had visited some of those colossal structures, and were able to recognize the design and why they were built the way they were. And other students were very excited to design/build their own dam and make it strong enough to hold water without leaking.”

This now brings us to our second Dougherty Elementary Difference Maker. Michele Canapp and her family relocated from Maryland last July to Dublin. Her sons – a third grader and seventh grader are enrolled at Dougherty and Fallon Middle School, respectively. While making this transition to CA, she currently supports her husband’s staffing business in HR and Payroll. Michele attained a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. While she has some latitude in her daily life, Ms. Canapp has figured out how to best support volunteer efforts at Dougherty. We now share our conversation.

OneDublin.org: Your family recently relocated from MD to Dublin, CA. Once your boys became enrolled at Dougherty and Fallon, respectively, how did you approach becoming a parent volunteer? How important was this activity to you?

Michele Canapp

Michele Canapp: “As soon as the first week of school, I was filing the volunteer paperwork. I spoke to Henry’s teacher, Mrs. Neuschwander about helping in the classroom, and when the first sign-up genius went out for Copy Team support, I signed up on a regular basis. I attended the first PFC meeting, to get an idea of what kinds of activities the PFC supported, and to determine where I could best be of service. As soon as I found out about the science lab programs, I knew that I would be involved however I could.”

OneDublin.org: Principal Nelson mentioned that you help out with the STEM labs at Dougherty Elementary. Please be specific and articulate your hands on approach with the students.

Canapp: “I have run the labs for the 3rd graders. For the first lab, I only ran the lab for my son’s class. Mrs. Neuschwander’s asked me if I would be willing to work with more classrooms in future labs, and so I did.
When I come into the classroom to do these activities, it is my goal, to allow the teacher a chance to let someone else lead the class in discovery and learning. I always begin by facilitating a discussion with the class to get them to start thinking about the principals of science and/or engineering our lab that day will demonstrate. Learning science and experiencing engineering is about discovery. Whenever possible, I try to get the students to work individually as well as with partners. We all learn more by contemplating on our own first, then comparing and collaborating, and then it is important to share and reflect and expand at the end.

“Of the labs we’ve done so far, by far the most successful was the engineering lab. Our goal was to design a structure that would keep a piece of tissue paper dry in a flood. Seeing the variety of structures and solutions that the kids came up with was so inspiring. Seeing the pride on their faces when they were successful and the determination to figure out a better solution when they weren’t, that was what it was all about for me. If I helped inspire just one child to consider growing up to be an engineer, then I did what I came to do that day.”

OneDublin.org: During our conversation, you stated that you are “not a leader” but that you find it difficult to say “no” when a need for support arises. In your own words, tell us the personal value in becoming an adult volunteer in any initiative.

Canapp: “Honestly, I can’t imagine life not volunteering in some capacity. I would say it is against my DNA to not be seen as a person who volunteers to help. It isn’t so much about personal value, as I see it as a part of life. If I wasn’t a parent, I would volunteer in museums or parks or in Senior Centers. My family instilled in me at a very early age the importance of volunteer work, and it is important to me to do the same for my boys. The best way to do that is to volunteer myself. Not to mention the good feeling I get doing it.”

OneDublin.org: By the time that this piece is published, the Dougherty Mardi Gras will have concluded. Please share that experience.

Canapp: “The Mardi Gras Gala was a huge success! The JDS community and the community at large really came together to have a great time and raise a lot of money for our art and science programs. I personally ran our Dessert Dash and we unofficially raised close to $2000 dollars. I am looking forward to the resources we will have available next year because of this event.”

OneDublin.org: Anything else that you would like to add?

Canapp: “I wish that I could figure out what to say that would get more parents, grandparents, and members of the community to volunteer in the schools. Every time I am there, I see another opportunity for volunteering – even if it is just a couple of hours in a school year. If you run across anyone who asks “why should I volunteer, or I can’t volunteer?” send them my way for a conversation.”

Here are two unique parents with two very unique approaches to the concept of volunteering at Dougherty Elementary. They have both found a way to find their niche within the school site and to help the students and their programs flourish. We now understand why Principal Nelson eagerly shared their names. And, we now understand why there is such a strong parental/guardian presence at Dougherty Elementary. Thank you Francis and Michele for what you do.

Children’s Day at Frederiksen Elementary School

As we turn the calendar to May, one of the first notable dates is Mother’s Day. Contrary to popular belief, this day was not created by a commercial enterprise. Rather, it became a nationally recognized holiday due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis of West Virginia. After Anna’s mother passed away in 1905, she sought a way to honor her and all mothers. Through her active campaigning, the second Sunday of each May would be known as Mother’s Day. It became official when President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation in 1914.

On the other hand, Children’s Day is celebrated all around the globe and at many different times throughout the year. Universal Children’s Day is not just a moment to celebrate young people. Rather, it is a movement to bring awareness to those that have succumbed to violence, abusive circumstances, exploitation and discrimination. It is hard not to think about children that have been displaced by either natural disasters or in areas of armed conflict.

For years, Frederiksen Elementary School teacher Lynette Butsuda has been a supporter of Puentes Unidos. She has actively sought to provide a bridge to Latino parents. By percentage, Frederiksen houses the highest number of Latino or mixed race students. So, the benefits of forming this organization have become obvious. However, in order to achieve maximum exposure, a weeknight event was needed. Recently, Lynette joined forces with Lupita Barattino of Cultura Y Bienestar. Cultura is a mental heal program dedicated to the Latino community in the Tri-Valley. Lupita volunteered to work with the parent group and to organize a gathering. On Thursday, April 30th – the same day that it is celebrated in Mexico, Frederiksen opened its doors to the lunch pavilion at 6:00 PM. The occasion was the first Dia del Nino or Children’s Day. Dozens of parents, children and their families filed in to enjoy an evening of games, snacks and fellowship. We sat down with Ms. Butsuda to discuss the significance of this celebration.

OneDublin.org: Please describe how this event came to fruition.  What were the driving forces behind making sure that Celebration Dia del Nino became a reality at Frederiksen Elementary School?

Lynette Bustuda: “Lupita Barattino, a counselor from Cultura Y Bienestar, starting working with our Frederiksen Latino Family Group, Puentes Unidos, in January. She is now leading our twice a month after-school parent group. At the beginning of March the parents decided they wanted to create a Dia del Niño celebration as they remembered when they were young. Everyone starting organizing and were eager to share this tradition and experience with their children. It was the first time for most in organizing a school event so we were fortunate to have Lupita. Lupita is used to organizing events for Cultura, so she was able to give guidance and suggestions. The whole group worked incredibly well in making this a success. My part? I watched their children while they planned!”

OneDublin.org: There appeared to be a high level of coordination to ensure that games were to be played and that snacks would be available.  Please point out specific parent volunteers that made everything run so smoothly tonight.

Butsuda: “The core group of volunteers who planned were, in alphabetical order: Laura Agredano, Silvia Cruz Vicente, Elisa Guerrero, Laura Gonzalez, Rosaura Hernandez, Maria Lopez, Matilde Munoz. Husbands also helped a lot and came to the organizational meetings.”

OneDublin.org: Frederiksen Elementary School probably has the highest concentration of Latino or mixed raced students in the District.  Please highlight the value of planning an event such as Celebration Dia del Nino for its constituents.

Butsuda: “As with all school events, it is a chance for families to have a relaxed time to reconnect with acquaintances and to meet new families. They already have something in common – their Frederiksen children. With the Puentes Unidos events, the commonality is even closer. These are families who either share a similar Latino culture or who would like to know more about it.

“Tonight I heard a number of parents say they wanted to share more of their culture with their children but sometimes children don’t want to feel ‘different’ outside the home. At events, such as this, children see many families just like theirs in a public school setting. It is OK to be speaking Spanish, and in fact, most adults are. One parent said she wished she could have recorded her son reading and singing the lyrics to some of the traditional Spanish folk songs!

“I also heard many children, including 4th and 5th graders, say they had never played lotería (a bingo-type game) and the 6-sided top game called Tomo Todo, but that they loved them and wanted to play it at home!”

OneDublin.org: Lynette, anything else that you would like to add?

Butsuda: “Puentes Unidos has had nothing but encouragement from our administration and staff here at Fred. This includes Holly Scroggins, our past principal, and our current principal, Claire Mognaga. Staff has supported Puentes Unidos from supplies to ideas.”

So, Puentes Unidos successfully brought out a segment of the community. It was an encouraging sight to observe families making new connections and to watch children gaining an even greater appreciation of their culture. It is also a reminder that schools are so much more than classrooms and textbooks.

One of the most hotly debated and yet most intriguing subjects that have been publicly discussed over the past four weeks came to a head at the regularly scheduled DUSD Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday night. This discussion spanned over two community town hall presentations, a special work study session by the Board and at this evening’s meeting.

At stake was the continuation and expansion of the College and Career Readiness Program (CCRP) at Dublin High. The initial implementation of the CCRP was evident in this current academic year. It resulted in a 55 minute daily lunch period. This expansion allowed the formation of the Freshmen Mentoring Program (FMP) which dedicated a 25-30 minute space of time for 9th graders to experience a variety of counseling/mentoring/enrichment programs.

For the proponents of the CCRP, the initiative would not be complete without ultimately incorporating a seventh period into the existing school day. The proposal including shortening the passing period from six to five minutes, maintaining the expanded lunch period, reducing instructional class time from 55 to 51 minutes and instituting a mandatory seventh period – also known as the “Gael Period.”

The agenda item started with a lengthy, but far more informative presentation by Dublin High School administration and staff. This section was filled with far more detail than had been previously provided during the two town hall meetings. The Trustees were given a period of time to ask their own clarifying questions. Trustee Greg Tomlinson expressed his reservations about the expansion of CCRP and his concerns were largely based upon the fiscal viability of sustaining this program not only next year, but into the future. The District itself projected a $1.2 million set-aside for the first year of operation. Some of these costs would be “one time only” and yet, it represents a continuing operational cost. Superintendent Hanke noted the challenges presented from Sacramento as funds will be coming from the State to support the District, but the specificity may be lacking until Governor Brown makes his final budgetary revision later this month. Further, the newly enacted Local Control Funding Formula creates a potential quandary as this system tends to punish high-performing school districts – such as DUSD.

Trustees Sean Kenney and Dan Cunningham were readily on board with approving the program. Mr. Kenney was passionate about his desire to assist DUSD students not only gain acceptance into college, but to also further succeed. He stated that any continued delay in expanding CCRP would remove any and all of the positive momentum that has been developed. Similarly, Mr. Cunningham commented on what Dublin High School looked like 10 years ago versus what we have today. While he expressed pride over those that are gaining entry to Top 10 universities and his concern over those attaining D’s and F’s – he made an expression in support of the “majority” of students that reside in the middle. He felt that the implementation of CCRP would truly assist these students.

Trustee Megan Rouse offered numerous questions to the DHS staff. Like Mr. Tomlinson, she had specific questions relative to the economic viability of supporting CCRP in 2015-16 and in the years beyond. One of the key factors that she mentioned was to install a “feedback loop” that came from both students and parents relative to the effectiveness of the program. Additionally, she cited the exception that student/athletes at Dublin High would gain for first access to a Gael Period in 7th so not to disrupt practice/competition travel time for their respective sports. Further, she mentioned the potential for oversight as it related to NCS-mandated rules connected with athletic sports practice time.

Trustee Board President Amy Miller concluded the debate with her thoughts. Some of her topics had been previously expressed and she opted to talk about student wellness and homework. The recently conducted Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) student survey revealed that 88% of our students feel either highly or moderately stressed. It is a staggering number. Ms. Miller wanted to ensure that this result would be a critical element if the program would indeed expand next year. Additionally, she asked pointed questions as to whether the Homework and Grading Policies adopted into Board Policy are being properly administered in the week to week business of running a high school.

The Trustee meeting was then opened up to public comments/questions that were limited to three minutes. For those that elected to submit a speaker slip, the tone/thesis of the comments resembled a split in terms of supporting or rejecting this proposal. Subsequently, each Trustee was provided an additional period to ask refining questions.

One consistent theme that came from each Trustee was the reaction to reducing daily instructional class time by up to five minutes. Using simple math, this would actually reduce the aggregate teaching time by up to 2.5 weeks. Each Trustee chimed in about “replacing this time by starting the school year much earlier in August – thus creating a scenario where final exams could actually be completed prior to the Winter break, and more instructional time would occur before AP and other standardized exams.

Once all debate concluded, the Board of Trustees elected to vote on this matter – with conditions established by Superintendent Hanke which, among others, would provide oversight to CCRP’s effectiveness and its fiscal viability. The CCRP was adopted by the Board of Trustees by a 4-1 vote, Mr. Tomlinson being the lone dissenting vote.

Dublin High School will look and feel a bit different in 2015/16. We sincerely hope that this new program will benefit all students. That it will unsaddle the relative high number of students that are attaining either a D or an F. That it will adequately prepare freshmen to adapt to their new high school environment. That these measures will be executed to improve the overall mental/emotional health of all of its students. And, that a survey taken a year from now will yield a significant reduction in the stress levels of our students at Dublin High.

Press Release issued by the Dublin Unified School District:

• The addition of a 7^th-period to the instructional day, providing students a “GAEL Period”, an academic flex period that students can tailor to fit their individual academic needs.
• The addition of a Freshman Seminar for all incoming 9^th-graders – a class that will use an established curriculum to assist students in developing skills that help them adapt to the rigors of high school and beyond.
• Expanded tutorial, academic support and wellness services through “The Hub”.
• Modifications to the Freshman Mentoring Program, which was rolled out this school year.

• A clearly refined action plan prepared by staff.
• The securing of on-going funding to support the program.
• Clearly defined mechanisms for feedback, including advisory committees, outside review, parent and student surveys and focus groups.
• Approval by the Dublin Teachers Association.