In this Issue...
Message from Superintendent
Branham High School Named 2021 California Distinguished School
Virtual Learning Academy Interest Form
ThoughtExchange for LCAP and Budget Priorities
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
CUHSD Stories Message from Superintendent
Dear CUHSD Community,
We are nearly through the first week of our Level 4 Phased Return to In-Person Instruction with nearly 2,000 students from all grade levels returning to our campuses. This marks a milestone in our phased approach to welcoming more students for face-to-face instruction and interaction with their peers.
With the rising COVID-19 cases in the Fall and Winter, seeing students on our campuses seemed like a distant reality. We are grateful that the roll-out of vaccines and the slowing of cases in our community made it possible for a portion of students to return to campus for the remaining weeks of the Spring semester. A huge thank you to our dedicated administrators, teachers and support staff whose hard work made this quick shift possible and seamless for our students. As we look to the future, we continue to plan for full-time, non-hybrid instruction as the default educational program for all CUHSD students next year with a separate, fully virtual option for some families. Although there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel, we know there is a lot of work to be done as a community to rebuild and reimagine how we are serving our students post-pandemic. We appreciate the feedback from our full community by means of emails, meetings, ThoughtExchanges and surveys. Your input helps us narrow our focus to create actionable goals that ensure we are addressing the educational and socio-emotional needs of our students, families and staff after a year of challenges.
Thank you for your support and patience as we continued to navigate the evolving challenges of this past year. We know it has been tough on students and families to adjust to the many changes. We appreciate you continuing to take this journey with us as we begin to recover, reimagine and rebuild for the future. Sincerely,
Robert Bravo, CUHSD Superintendent
Branham High School Named 2021 California Distinguished School State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced this week that Branham High School is one of only four high schools in Santa Clara County honored as part of the 2021 California Distinguished Schools Program.
Virtual Learning Academy Interest Form As you may know, we are exploring the potential of creating a flexible, personalized, high-quality virtual learning academy designed for students who would be successful in a full-time, permanent online instructional alternative for the remainder of their high school academic experience.
As part of the planning process, we are currently soliciting interest from families in the fully virtual option. If your student would be successful in a more personalized, nontraditional learning environment, with a flexible schedule and the ability to work at their own pace online, we are asking for you to fill out this interest form by clicking here. Please complete the interest form by May 4, 2021. For more information on the planning of the Virtual Learning Academy, click here. Upcoming Information Session
As we continue to develop the virtual learning academy, we will also be providing information to the community through an upcoming Live Info session. The live sessions will be via Zoom webinar and will be recorded for access later. For security reasons, a Zoom link will be shared with the community on the day of the event via email.
ThoughtExchange for LCAP and Budget Priorities Thank you to everyone who recently participated in the ThoughtExchange to gather input on planning and spending priorities for the 2020-2021 school year. The District is required to develop a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to provide an educational program that best fits the needs of our students next year by soliciting community-wide input on spending priorities. Additionally, to assist with the expansion of in-person learning and the acceleration of student learning, the District is expected to receive one-time funds from the state and federal government. Based on community input, we will report to the Board how the District plans to invest resources and these one-time funds during an upcoming Regular Board meeting. Some of the common priorities identified from the ThoughtExchange include:
Sun’s Out, Knock COVID-19 Out! County announces drop-in vaccine appointments this week To ensure end of the year events such as graduations are safe and possible, we are encouraging anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The State’s COVID-19 guidance for events and gatherings allows a greater number of individuals to participate in these events if they are vaccinated, because vaccination is such an important tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19. CUHSD is planning to host a vaccine clinic for the community in the month of May. More information on the clinic will be shared in the coming weeks. The County of Santa Clara officials announced this week that most County Health System vaccination sites are accepting drop-ins for COVID-19 vaccines through Sunday, May 2. Same-day appointments are also available across Santa Clara County, including at Levi’s Stadium and Eastridge Mall. Anyone age 16 and older who lives, works, or attends school in Santa Clara County is eligible for vaccination. Drop-in availability is subject to supply and capacity limitations.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Campbell Union High School District remains committed to ensuring our schools are a place where all students feel safe, supported and valued. Today and always CUHSD stands in solidarity with those who have experienced sexual violence. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is not just about raising awareness; it is also about prevention. As a District, we are identifying immediate and long-term steps to enhance school and district efforts and policies to address sexual assault and harassment. For more information on the District and school site efforts, click here.
CUHSD Stories CUHSD students continue to make a difference in our community. We want to spotlight several Leigh High School students for their recent efforts to raise awareness and fund towards fighting blood cancer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As part of the organization’s Student of the Year Program, students worked in teams over the course of seven weeks and raised approximately $80,000 in combined funds for the cause.
We want to give a shout out to Westmont High School’s theatre students for being one of eleven high school theatre groups featured in the American High School Theatre Festival’s first Virtual Festival titled “Center Screen.”
All featured pieces in this event are original or public domain works created during the pandemic. Westmont High School advanced theatre students worked to create a 25 minute piece titled “I Can’t… yet” based on information gathered on how their peers were coping with distance learning during the pandemic.
Del Mar High School’s Career Technical Education (CTE) teacher Cole Croghan is providing culinary students with a unique learning opportunity on “farm to table” practices by creating a new garden and hydroponic station on campus. The garden grows a variety of vegetables to be used in for the culinary class and is a huge hit on campus! Nice work, Cole!
Students at Leigh High School are nearing completion of two beautiful murals on campus! Supplies for the project were donated by Leigh’s Home and School club. The purpose of the new murals is to build a learning environment that students feel empowered and excited to be on campus. Great job to all of the students involved and a special shout out to Principal Kara Butler and teacher Kimberly Bartel for their support with the project!
Branham High School students began working on a mural that will be displayed in the World Language classroom wing on campus. The students are pulling from several inspirations for the mural to ensure it represents the diversity of the Branham High School community. The theme of the mural is "equity."
Great job to the students and art teacher Erica Marquez for your hard work in this inspiration project!
Congratulations to Leigh High School student Alex Ojeda, Prospect High School student Meenakshu Mittal and Westmont High School student Meriem Cherif for receiving the Silicon Valley Realtors Charitable foundation 2021 scholarship. The students received $1,500 towards the college of their choice upon confirmation of enrollment in an accredited four-year U.S. college or university. The students were selected for their exemplary academics and contributions to their school communities.
Congratulations to Del Mar High School student ReElle Snyder, Westmont High School student Ella Nghiem and Leigh High School students Deeba Khosravi and Noelle Villanueva for receiving the Commonwealth Central Credit Union Awards Scholarship worth a $1,000 for their contributions to the CUHSD community.
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