The district would like to share and make you aware of a public health warning (English / Spanish/ Chinese / Vietnamese ) that we recently received on behalf of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office regarding fatal overdoses due to the ingestion of fake pills laced with Fentanyl.
Law enforcement agencies recently seized a large quantity of these fake Fentanyl-containing pills that look like real prescription medication. However, they fear some of these pills may have already been put in circulation.
Fentanyl is a powerful Synthetic opioid that can be 80-100 times more powerful than morphine­ and exposure to even small amounts can result in illness, overdose and/or death.
Fortunately, we have had NO reported incidents at our schools regarding Fentanyl use. However, it is critical you are made aware of this information so you can have a discussion with your child to ensure his/her well-being. Talking points should include:

• Medication should only be taken if prescribed by family doctor under supervision by parent or guardian;
• Do not buy or share medication with others; and
• Any exposure (touching or inhaling) of these fake pills can be dangerous.

For more information, please click here for a message from Dr. Sara Cody, Public Health Director of Santa Clara County (Spanish / Vietnamese)
We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Charles Snead, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being a semifinalist acknowledges my preparedness for college.


What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
Myself and my parents are always encouraging me to do the best I can.


What is your favorite subject in school, and why?  
My favorite subject is foreign language because I like learning new vocabulary and grammar and being able to communicate with a larger population of people.


What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I would like to go to one of the top UC campuses.


Tran Le, age 16 
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Having the honor of being a National Merit Semifinalist is a celebration of my academic achievements in the past few years of high school at MHS. 


What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My family, teachers, and community are my biggest supporters and motivators. 


What is your favorite subject in school, and why?  
My interest lies within STEM subjects, and I especially love chemistry and math. 


What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I am currently considering a broad range of colleges from UCs to CSUs to private colleges in and out of state as I know that I will receive a great education and experience at many of the amazing schools. 


Alden Lau, age 17
 What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist feels great since I've made my family proud. It really makes me feel like my efforts in school and studying are helping me succeed. 
 
What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I am motivated by my family and my own drive to do the best I can in school. 
 
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?  
My favorite subject is math because I enjoy manipulating numbers and figuring out how to solve difficult problems. I also enjoy learning about the many applications of math in life.
 
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I want to attend U.C. Berkeley, since it is a great school and my dad went there. Also, it is nearby, so I can easily visit friends and family.
 

Dania Kirmani, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
There were plenty of moments throughout high school when I felt like I wasn't really getting much out of my late nights studying, so it feels nice to have something to show for all of that time and effort. 

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My parents have always made an effort to drop me off for my early morning tests and classes and to stay and watch my late night performances. Anytime I feel like giving up, I remind myself of all of the time and effort they spent to ensure my success in the future. 

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?  
I find most life sciences very fascinating, but I really love environmental science and marine biology. Learning about the way nature has perfected interactions between different organisms through billions of years of evolution is something that never gets old to me. 

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I'm honestly fine with attending any college after graduating. I feel like it shouldn't be the college that defines a student, it should be their own hard work and achievements. 

 
Vanessa Cho, age 17 
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist is honestly kind of amazing. I mean I definitely hoped that I would get to be a semifinalist, but I never really expected it to happen. When I was an underclassman, I felt like all the people who were named semifinalists all seemed so cool and accomplished, and now I'm the one being recognized.
 
What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I always thought that I was pushing myself to be as accomplished as my overachieving older brother, but then I realized that I want to do well for myself. I want to see what I am capable of and to find my limits, so I always try to push myself past my comfort zones.
 
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?  
My favorite class in school is band. Band is love, band is life. Honestly though, I like band because it's a break from all of my other academic classes where we can just sit and play music without having to worry about tests or homework.
 
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I try not to get too emotionally attached to any one college because if I get rejected, it'll hurt less. However, there is a college that I have become interested in, which is UCLA. Besides it being a top college, UCLA is located just far away enough from Milpitas but still close enough that I can come home if I want to. I also just want to experience living in a large city like LA.

 
Melanie Lin, 17 
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
To be completely honest, being named National Merit Scholar Semifinalist doesn’t mean much to me. It hasn’t influenced or impacted me in any way. Since I don’t see SAT as a genuine test of academic ability, being recognized for doing well on the PSAT really doesn’t mean much to me other than recognize the fact that I have become fully familiar with how to take the standardized test. 
 
What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I personally love academics (especially STEM) and being able to do well in it is a blessing because it’s definitely motivated me to continue to excel in those subjects. However, I do owe an awful lot to my family, especially my parents since they have gone above and beyond to make sure that I can have and lead an amazing life and they continue to motivate me to do well and succeed.
 
What is your favorite subject in school, and why? 
My favorite subject in school so far has been chemistry because I do actually find the classes fun. The connection between what physically happens and the concepts and calculations that explain/correspond to them is really amazing and interesting to me. 
 
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
My dream college has always been UCLA because I wanted to stay in California and SoCal is perfect for being JUST the right amount of distance from home. UCLA is also very well-known for their pre-medical program (which I plan to apply for).

 
Neval Mulaomerovic, age 17
 What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
To me, being a National Merit Semifinalist means that I represent the top of high school test takers in the country. Though, it is important to acknowledge that the SAT and PSAT are not the only measures of academic success that play a role. 
 
What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My parents motivate me to succeed at a higher level because their commitment to promoting my education in high school and beyond means a lot to me.
 
What is your favorite subject in school, and why? 
My favorite subject in school is English because it allows room for interpretation and nuanced analysis, rather than just providing a simple correct or incorrect answer.
 
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I would like to attend Georgetown University. Being interested in political science, I would like to study in the center of our nation's government and be taught by leading experts in that field. 
 
 
Ayushi Malhotra,  age 16 
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?  
To me, being a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist means more than just being entered into the scholarship competition. It is an achievement that I am very proud of because it is a testament of how hard I’ve worked over the past few years.  
 
What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My family emigrated to the U.S. when I was 2 years old and my parents have been through a lot to get us where we are now. I’m very proud of them and hope to make them proud as well. I have high expectations for myself and many goals I’d like to achieve: going to college, getting an MBA, living in NYC, and being truly happy. The yearning I have to achieve these goals amalgamate with my hopes to make my family proud and drive me to succeed in each endeavor. 
 
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?  
My favorite subject usually switches between history and math. For this school year, my favorite classes are AP Statistics and AP Calculus AB. I enjoy these classes because the subject itself is fun and I am fortunate enough to have amazing, passionate teachers.   
 
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I would like to attend a college that is a great fit for me. My top choices are UCs, Boston University, Purdue, UIUC, and USC. The academic culture, rich history, and overall environment at these schools speak to me and I would be honored to attend these institutions.

Carl Stice has started his sixth year as Principal at Calaveras Hills High School. 

His affinity for alternative education has kept him in the field for the past 20 years. Prior to Cal Hills, he was an alternative education Principal in Kern County. 

“I’m excited to be in this field, and to be working with at-promise students who are finding their voice in their lives…and also helping them identify themselves as successful students. Even if they haven’t been in the past, they can still be successful,” said Carl. 

Already several weeks into the school year, things have been busy over at Cal Hills. 

This year, the Cal Hills team is putting a lot of attention toward increasing academic rigor. They’re currently implementing some new AVID strategies centered around presentation skills, where students are getting up in front of the class and presenting their research. A series of vocabulary exercises have also been added to develop academic vocabulary. And finally, they’ve been using what’s called Philosophical Chairs, which is based in inquiry and answering critical thinking questions. Students are able to debate on topics, and share their opinions, research, and ideas. Throughout the debate, students physically move to different sides of the room to show where they stand on certain issues; and they’re able to keep changing their minds and moving throughout. 

"We also have an Engineering program here, which is not common in continuation schools. We just added a third section this year,” said Carl. “We have Intro to Engineering, Computer Aided Design (CAD), and also Environmental Sustainability, which looks at how engineers can impact the environment in positive ways and make things more sustainable in the future.”

Cal Hills has welcomed in a new counselor, who is already making a huge impact on students. “He has an ability to relate to students really well,” said Carl. "He also really follows up and checks up on them consistently, to make sure they’re taking advantantage of all opportunities.” 

There’s also a new math teacher, who is bilingual in Spanish and English. “He’s doing a great job of relating to the students also, and really working on relationships,” said Carl. (Relationships are a key focus of what the Cal Hills culture is all about!) 

Throughout the year, Cal Hills has between 120-140 students. At the beginning of the year, that number is toward the lower end. And as the year moves forward, it goes to the higher end, sometimes increasing to 150 students. 

Building partnerships with businesses has recently been a big focus for Cal Hills. This past summer, one of their students, Daniel Hoady, did a paid internship at View, and had an amazing experience. Carl hopes to continue supporting students with experiences like these, so that they’re better prepared for the future. 
​
"This district has been very supportive of the alternative education program. Which is not true in all districts. But in this district, we’ve been able to really close the achievement gap. Because these kids are getting what they need. It’s a very powerful thing, because you don’t see that everywhere,” said Carl. "A lot of times, these kids are the afterthought, or may not be the priority...But not here. It’s almost the opposite here. It’s great to work in a district that’s so supportive of this program. It’s not a sink or swim mentality here. We’re all in this together. We’re a team and will do whatever we can to help students on that path toward graduation, and career and college readiness.”

​

Schools and school nutrition programs remain unaffected by recent changes to a federal regulation, known as the “Public Charge” rule, regarding an individual’s immigration status, according to a September 16, 2019 announcement from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
The National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, Afterschool Meal Supplement, Special Milk Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program are not considered public benefits that could impact an individual’s immigration status.
The “Public Charge” rule, which goes into effect in mid-October, penalizes immigrants who receive certain public benefits, according to the CDE press release. Public education is not a public benefit covered by the rule.
Resources are available at the California Immigrant Guide web page at https://immigrantguide.ca.gov/en/publiccharge/. Additional resources and information that you may use to communicate with families in your district are available on the California Department of Education’s Safe Havens Initiative web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/safehavens.asp.

​

Spangler Elementary Principal Luis Lopez is nothing short of ecstatic about the 2019-2020 school year. 

On the first day of school, last Thursday, things at Spangler just seemed to flow. “There were no complaints. I saw a lot of smiling faces,” said Luis. “We had a backup plan for our overflow students who were not in classrooms. They were in the Learning Center. One of our longstanding substitutes had lesson plans for all the students and assured the parents they’d be getting a quality education.” 

Some new things happening this year at Spangler: 

An extra TK class has been added to the schedule. Now there will be two TK classes happening, and they’re both on the same schedule. “The first TK teacher now has somebody to collaborate with,” said Luis. 
They’ve also added an extra first grade class. “We added it due to all of the growth in population in our community,” said Luis. 

Luis is looking forward to working with Assistant Principal Stephanie Park, who has just come onboard, along with a new Health Clerk and a couple of new teachers. 

During the Spangler team’s Professional Development day last Tuesday, a representative from the Leader in Me came and did an introduction to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. "Some of the teachers were saying this was one of the best PDs they ever had,” said Luis. “People were engaged, taking notes, and sharing. And I’m just super excited and will just continue to ride that wave. I’m going to refer to it often. I’m just really happy and looking forward to using the Seven Habits.” 
​
One of the things that drives Luis is his passion for serving others. And this is something that he hopes to continue and build upon during this new school year. "I like to think of myself as a humble servant,” said Luis. "If I can make the journeys of students in the educational system a little bit smoother, I want to be a part of that. And I want to assure them that they'll get high-quality education. I think this is going to be an awesome school year.”

There’s excitement in the air over at Milpitas High School (MHS). 

The start of the 2019-2020 school year has brought forth the promise of many new things. And Francis Rojas is intent upon seeing all of it to fruition, as he begins his third year as Principal of MHS. 

One of the biggest things he’s looking forward to is aligning staff, students, and families to focus on implementing AVID school-wide. 

"AVID is an instructional program that’s nationally known and research-based with a lot of proven results to get students college and career ready,” said Francis. "The strategies ensure rigor. The way we define rigor is the level at which students are experiencing the learning. When it’s more student-centered, they’re invested in the learning as opposed to more teacher-centered…” 

At MHS, they did visits and observations to classrooms last year, and noticed that teachers were already using certain instructional strategies in class. However, there wasn’t a common language to discuss these strategies and get on the same page with the entire school. Going AVID school-wide will provide them with the form and language to talk and collaborate. 

This year, MHS has welcomed 17 new teachers onto campus. 

"The teachers we’ve brought in this year are top quality. We’re really excited to have them onboard,” said Francis. "We’ve established a new teacher academy for all new teachers, as well as veteran teachers who are new to the site…That will help us delve into teacher culture and ensure the teachers we’ve hired this year don’t fall through the cracks. This will happen monthly throughout the year.” 

Beyond that, Francis hopes that MHS can continue to be a place that provides career pathways to students and prepares them for future success. 
​
“The Milpitas community is alive. It's bursting with industry and innovation,” said Francis. "I’ve gone twice to Manufacturing Day, which was organized by the City’s Economic Development Department...and to have 50 of our students able to visit corporations here in our own community, and see things I haven't seen before, in my entire life, it’s amazing. We will continue building partnerships with those companies like KLA-Tencor and NextFlex. The Culture of We expands beyond the school district. We’re providing partnerships to allow students to experience the real world and practice what they’re learning, before they leave high school.”