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Milpitas Xtreme Robotics Team wins state championship, advances to world competition

3/7/2022

Help send the State Champion Milpitas Xtreme Robotics to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas. Donations will go towards equipment, fees, and travel costs.
Click here to donate today!

Over the weekend, the Milpitas Xtreme Robotics Team 1669X represented Milpitas High School at the 2022 Northern California VRC High School State Championship in Redding and won the state championship in 3 categories: 1. Tournament Champion; 2. Robot Skills Champion; and 3. Excellence Award.

Prior to this event, the team of Eugene Ng, Kathan Sheth, Chenghao Li and Eusern Ng won multiple regional tournaments to qualify for the state championship. With the latest victory, they officially advance to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas in May.

According to Eugene, this is the team's fourth VEX competition season, and the third consecutive year they have qualified for the state and world championships. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this is the very first year we are able to compete at the state and world level in-person.

"We appreciate the MHS and MUSD community for your continuous support and encouragement," Eugene said. "We look forward to representing Milpitas High School and competing against the world's best robotics teams."

Alumni Profile: Marvin Madrid, Milpitas HS Class of 2012

3/4/2022

As a student in Ken Chiu’s class at Rancho Milpitas Middle School, a young Marvin Madrid was already thinking about his future career. But the now 27-year-old Storyboard artist for Nickelodeon animation studios was looking into a career in the medical field at that time.

“[Mr. Chiu] is the one who really inspired me to take on my creative endeavors,” Madrid recalled. “Mr. Chiu saw something in me and graciously offered to take me, along with some other creative students, on a trip to Pixar Animation Studios to see the inner workings of how to make animated movies. From there, I was sold on my creative dream.”

It was a dream realized for Madrid, who was further inspired by Kaila Schwartz from Milpitas High School: “Through her theater classes and productions, I really learned how to hone my creative skills of acting and world building, which is pivotal in my storytelling job today.”

Madrid, who attended Robert Randall Elementary, John Sinnott Elementary, Rancho Middle School and Milpitas High School (Graduating Class of 2012), earned his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Animation/Illustration from San Jose State University.

Today, he works on TV shows in TV animation with a team of story artists who translate the script of each episode into drawings to dictate what the scenes for the show look like. “I choose, based on what the story entails, where the camera should be, where the characters are and what they're doing, and draw out story beats that will be animated by animators to make the show,” he explained.

Looking back on his adolescent years, Madrid fondly remembers MUSD schools rich in culture and diversity where he experienced different worldviews and learned to empathize with everyone's experiences.

“In doing so, this really helped develop my story telling abilities to be able to create different stories for my creative driven job,” he said. “It's also helped me become a very collaborative individual and accustomed to working in group settings, often with people of different backgrounds.”

Now living out his dream in Los Angeles but “missing the Bay Area constantly,” Madrid still cherishes growing up in a small town like Milpitas where everyone knew each other, attended the same schools, and offered genuine support throughout high school.

“Our specific high school, I think, has a specific camaraderie that many high schools outside our town lack, and many people that I know from Milpitas High School are still friends to this day,” Madrid said.

As for the future generations, Madrid added: “Enjoy the journey as much as you can. Your years in MUSD schools are your most formative years, so be sure you live it as authentically as you can and surround yourself with people who motivate and support you, and keep them around as long as you can. You can really find lifelong friends in this district."

Alumni Profile: Ryane McAuliffe Straus, Milpitas HS Class of 1991

1/31/2022

A Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Rose (Albany, NY), Milpitas High School Class of 1991 alumna Ryane McAuliffe Straus teaches courses in American Politics, with a focus on Racial/Ethnic Politics and Public Policy.

McAuliffe Straus, who attended Pomeroy Elementary School and Rancho Middle School, cherishes her upbringing in such a richly diverse community. Her daily interactions helped shape her chosen career path.

“The most important part of my pre-college education wasn't in the classroom, though that was certainly foundational,” said the now 48-year-old mother of a 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. “Instead, what was most important was the sheer diversity that I grew up with.”

Following high school graduation, McAuliffe Straus earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara, and Masters in Social Science and PhD in Political Science from UC Irvine.

Her educational foundation is rooted in Milpitas. McAuliffe Straus vividly recalled a 4th grade lesson about poverty, where her teacher, Mrs. Handy, taught the class about what it really meant to be hungry.

“We understood ‘hunger’ to be what we felt before dinner,” she recollected. “Her response was legendary. ‘Not one of you has ever been hungry,’ she said. That was when I realized that there were people who were seriously ‘hungry,’ not just waiting for their next meal.”

Later on at MHS, McAuliffe Straus encountered “incredible mentors” such as Mr. Robinson in U.S. History, Mr. Davis in Honors English, Mr. Ribovich in AP English, and “finally, Mr. Weinstein's ‘Facing History’ course challenged my assumptions about power. This course remains part of my basic intellectual repertoire.”

A member of the MHS swim team, McAuliffe Straus keeps those memories dear to her heart like the 100-lap swimathon and jumping into the diving pool for morning swim practice “because it was so much warmer than the lap pool.”

For future generations of MUSD learners, McAuliffe Straus advised: “Follow your heart. Find something that you love and work at it. Anything is difficult the first time you try it, but it will get a little bit better every time if you keep at it.”

Milpitas HS coaches bring holiday cheer to MUSD families

1/12/2022

At the Jan. 11, 2022 meeting, Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education and District Leadership honored Milpitas High School Coaches Kelly King, Adam Perez, Mike Matthews, Reynard Elzey, Pono Aiona, Victor Parrette, Alfredo Martinez, Ralph Meredith, Victor Rodriguez, Trevor Dimich and Vito Cangemi for bringing joy to so many needy MUSD families by providing Christmas gifts to their children.

Coach King coordinated with the other coaches to provide toys to families who were in need of some support this holiday season. Coach King reached out to all MUSD elementary schools. At Weller Elementary, with their help and generosity, 50 students received two or more toys each. Their parents were able to come by the school, select gifts, and bring them home to surprise their kids with on Christmas morning.

Alumni Profile: Angela Gibson, Milpitas High School Class of 1991

12/7/2021

Director of the publications program at the Modern Language Association (MLA), a membership organization for language and literature educators that advocates for the teaching and study of world languages, Milpitas High School Class of 1991 alumna Angela Gibson is a self-made literary professional passionate about her life’s work.

“I’ve had the opportunity to take on new roles and grow professionally supporting an organization that does work I care deeply about,” said the 48-year-old NYC resident with a Phd and Masters in English from the University of Rochester as well as a BA in Liberal Arts from Hampshire College.

Hired as a copy editor at the MLA in 2001, Gibson wrote her dissertation while holding the full-time position in order to live in New York City. The MLA, founded in 1883, publishes books, journals, and digital resources for teachers, students, and writers at all levels, including the MLA Handbook.

Gibson is a true product of MUSD--attending Sinnott, Zanker, Rancho and MHS, where she encountered many inspirational educators that helped nurture her interests.

“The teachers were incredibly dedicated, creating learning environments that helped students grow intellectually and develop critical thinking skills,” said Gibson, vividly recalling Jack Weinstein’s class on the Holocaust. “It encouraged students to see how people’s day-to-day decisions contributed to the genocide and to use the study of history to better understand how we can make ethical decisions in the world.”

MUSD schools left a lasting impression on Gibson, who credited their influence in why she went into teaching and work supporting teachers and students.

One of her fondest memories includes retired MHS educator Henry Robinson, who, along with a neighboring high school, helped organize a two-week summer trip to France. “Being able to put the French language skills I learned at MHS to use in a real-world context was a challenging and memorable experience.”

Gibson reconnected with Robinson, whose wife, Anne Jensen, coincidentally serves on an MLA committee to support connections between K-12 and higher education leaders.

For the future generations of MUSD students, Gibson suggests that they broaden their college search outside of California to discover schools with various curricular models, programming strengths, and learning environments.

“Even before you engage in the college search, though, embrace and cultivate your interests and strengths--but also try new things,” Gibson said. “Your career trajectory is not set in high school (or even in college), but high school does provide a foundation you will build on.”

November 03rd, 2021

11/3/2021

Measure E Parcel Tax

So much to celebrate during Hispanic Heritage Month

10/27/2021

Happy Hispanic, Latino, Latinx Month!

So, who’s invited to celebrate? Well, Hispanic refers to anyone who traces their lineage to a Spanish language or cultural heritage, including those of us Mestizos of mixed blood (indigenous, Afro-Caribbean and Spanish). And Latino refers to anyone from a Latin-American country or a Latin-based language. That includes Americans of Latin ancestry, North-American Latins (Mexicans), Central and South-Americans, Iberian Peninsulars (Spanish and Portuguese), Italians, French, Brazilians and even Romanians. Sooo, a whole bunch of us! And Latinx refers to any gender in these groups; male, female, non-binary, LGBTQ+.

Need more of a definition? Hispanics tend to have the highest longevity in the US (due to our propensity to socialize, our pre-Colombian diet and our faith). We also tend to be the happiest of any ethnic group in the US. We are the least likely to place our elderly parents in senior homes and the most likely to have multigenerational households. If you are healthy, happy, family oriented, or enjoy your extended family then you qualify as a Hispanic.

Since our food defines us, if you enjoy a good mole, a thick, spicy, peanuty sauce with chicken (sort of like a good Indian masala, butter chicken or a Thai curry) or if you like a savory pork or beef, peppery, oniony, guisado (reminiscent of a Filipino adobo) or even a tasty torta (which is no different than a Vietnamese Banh Mi), then you qualify. If you have ever tasted tripas (chitlins) or carnitas (Chinese char siu), then you also qualify.
So Happy Hispanic Heritage Month. If you speak Spanish, or not, if you come from a Latin country or not, if you are happy, if you love your family, if you eat OUR food, if you want a long life, regardless of gender, then you are welcome to celebrate with us!

By Gerardo Lopez, MUSD Child Development Centers Coordinator / Historian of Hispanic Heritage

LGBTQ+ History Month helps raise awareness

10/26/2021

By Jazmine Finuliar
True Colors President 2021-2022

Happy LGBTQ+ History Month! This month is one where we all must come together to acknowledge the historical events and figures that were the foundation of where LGBTQ+ liberation currently stands. One of the very special days that our community shows our support through is National Coming Out Day (NCOD).

National Coming Out Day is celebrated every October 11th in order to raise awareness for coming out, and encourages people of the community to embrace who they are. The first National Coming Out Day was celebrated in 1988 by gay rights activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary to observe the 1 year anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for LGBTQ+ Rights. At the time, being closeted and holding heteronormative perspectives were normal occurrences in society. Because of that, they strived to destigmatize the LGBTQ+ community in order to provide a safer environment for young people of the community to express themselves freely.

Because the 11th is also Indigenous People's Day, we at True Colors chose to celebrate it on October 12th in order to bring everyone together at the same time. Established in 2018, True Colors is an organization that strives to promote allyship, education, and a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals on campus. Every NCOD, we distribute rainbow stickers to people all over campus. Each person is able to write whatever label they are proud to be, and it is also an option for the person to simply not write a label. Seeing everyone wear their sticker in support of NCOD was truly a sign of hope and progression towards completely deconstructing bias against the LGBTQ+ community. Though we think that there is still a lot of work left to do, taking it one step at a time through events like this greatly contributes to that objective.

MUSD Classified Team Member co-authors legislation to bring full funding for transitional kindergarten

10/25/2021

When MUSD Administrative Secretary Suzette Bromagem is not assisting families with students of exceptional needs, she dedicates time as a delegate for local Chapter 281 for the California School Employees Association.

Bromagem, along with Debbie Narvaes of Berryessa School District, co-authored a resolution at the 2019 CSEA Annual Conference for full Transitional Kindergarten funding for students regardless of age (4 or 5). That resolution then became Assembly Bill 22 and was sponsored by California State Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. It then recently became law when Governor Newsom signed the bill, allocating $3 billion for TK funding to be phased into the state budget.

"We will now get the funding to support these TK students whether they are 4 or 5 years old," said Bromagem, explaining that previously students only received funding at age 5.

CSEA Chapter 281 President Machelle Kessinger, a MUSD Administrative Secretary in Student Services and the CSEA Area C Director, spoke on the Senate Floor in favor of AB22.

"All children deserve an equal education," Kessinger said. "All students in the state of California will have the same opportunity at early education, and that's what is most important."

Science Specialists engage elementary students in scientific exploration, experimentation

10/23/2021

Snemer Anand bounces around her classroom laboratory at Pomeroy Elementary School with as much joy and enthusiasm as her students who are deeply engaged in the variety of hands-on projects she has at each station centered around Thermal Energy.

“She’s great,” said 11-year-old sixth grader Kevin Yovan. “She does super fun projects. Today, we learned how different types of objects can make sparks and fire.”

The excitement and energy around science discovery is just as engaging at Spangler Elementary School, where Sappho Chow has her students learning hands-on about the different functions and parts of the eye. Wearing a white scientist jacket as she instructs her students using a “Mystery Science” video, Chow has their full attention. The students follow steps to create a retina and cornea that they will experiment with the natural light coming in from the window.

“It was very cool to learn about the design of the eye,” said 8-year-old fourth-grader Navya Khadloya. “She asks lots of questions to make it interesting.”

Anand and Chow, who are two of nine science specialists employed at each of MUSD’s elementary schools, cover the Next Generation Science Standards for all fourth through sixth grade students whose classes rotate into their laboratories on a weekly basis.

In her 44th year of teaching science (24th at Pomeroy), Anand holds a Bachelor of Arts in Science and a Masters in Education and English Literature. She leads eight classes in inquiry-based science exploration. On this particular Wednesday, she has sixth graders experimenting with Solar Cookers, Energy Transfer, Kinetic Energy, Heat Energy, Electricity, and more.

“All of our stations are based on energy and how they are transferred,” said Anand as she demonstrates how different metals expand and contract at varying rates. “MUSD has always had science specialists, and that’s what makes us special in the Bay Area.”

Chow, in her 8th year at Spangler and 12th overall in science education, holds a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences and Masters in Education from UC Riverside. She has been teaching ever since and “it’s great exposing science to kids early on,” Chow shared.

Her classroom cabinets are stocked with microscopes, beakers, anatomy parts, and other scientific apparatus for her students. She teaches nine classes, including one Special Day Class.

“I enjoy the new projects,” said 9-year-old fourth grader Rick Berry, who shares what he learned about the eye. “Behind the pupil is the retina and that helps the light project images.”

Chow captivates her classes with student-centric, hands-on activities centered around lessons in Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Engineering. Her goal is to “build on their curiosity with exploration” and to show them “what scientists do in real life.”

MUSD’s nine science specialists meet regularly to exchange ideas and experiences in the classroom and support one another throughout the school year.

“I love my team,” Chow said. “We try to support each other in any way that we can.”

Anand is overwhelmed with the support she receives from her Pomeroy families who value science in education. She hopes the younger generation of science specialists will continue to be supported at each of MUSD’s elementary schools.

“Our community respects that we are able to dedicate funds to science,” Anand said. “It’s truly an awesome program that we have here.”

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