Blog Posts

Sinnott’s Gold Standard Project-Based Learning inspires students, garners state recognition

11/8/2024

Student developers in Jeannie Lam’s fourth grade class are anxiously setting up their projects in a communal space at Sinnott Elementary School, where soon two sixth-grade classes will join them to test out their interactive games and learn valuable lessons from their peers.

A trio of Sinnott teachers–Jeannie Lam, Kelsey Goode and Kiscelle Calvello–are all smiles as they field last-minute questions from their students. The educators are just as enthusiastic as their pupils are to share in the Project-Based Learning experience.

“The three of us, it’s so fantastic. Our personalities, and the way we have decided to structure our teaching time, has enabled us to teach in this way and do what we do with the kids,” said Calvello, who got her first taste of PBL when attending the same workshop as Lam more than a decade ago. Shortly after the two began working at Sinnott, they met up and started collaborating with Goode on PBLs.

This particular project is meant to reinforce Sinnott’s school-wide expectations, encapsulated by the word, “ROARS” (Respect, Ownership, Acceptance, Responsibility, Safety). These expectations produce behaviors such as “Be mindful of personal space” or “Inform an adult if worried about a friend.” These activities help students remember ROARS. Afterwards, the student creators reflect, and discuss the experiences they had and the feedback they received. They celebrate all the things that went well and talk about any challenges they faced, making sure to touch on what students did to collaboratively solve dilemmas that occurred. Teachers frame the discussion with the aim of improving future PBL experiences. This is one of the final steps among the eight elements in Sinnott’s Gold Standard PBL format.

“It is always really fun. I enjoy doing it because it’s not just between one class. I get to know other people in different classes,” shared Sofia Low, 11, a sixth grader in Mrs. Calvello’s class whose first exposure to PBL came in Lam’s third grade class. “I’ve done PBL in the past, like three years ago, and I have been looking forward to it for a long time.”

Earlier in the year, Low and other sixth-grade students performed the same “ROARS” assignment, but they have since moved on to their next PBL task, learning about ancient civilizations in a similar project-based fashion encompassing California State Standards, as well as the multiple elements of Sinnott’s now award-winning Project-Based Learning Practices, a recipient of the prestigious CA School Boards Association Golden Bell Award.

Along with the validation of all their hard work and collaboration, Goode sees the award as a vessel to share their PBL practices with other educators who can then integrate them into their lesson planning and reach more students outside of the Sinnott campus. “I would love for other teachers to feel like they could try PBL and find something they can really find joy in and pass that along to their students who can start working together on learning.”

“Our teachers' passion and enthusiasm about project-based learning is front and center which quickly gets the buy-in from the students,” said Sinnott Principal Laurie Armino. “The projects allow each child to find and/or show their different talents that might not necessarily be tapped in a traditional setting.”

Sixth-grader Pranit Champati, 11, agrees, “I do think I learn a lot of things from it. It did help me with teamwork, and it helped with researching. Those are the two biggest ones.” Champati used to feel bored at school in the afternoon hours, but it is now one of his favorite parts of the school day, “I was just waiting for school to finish, but with PBL it makes me want to do more and think harder and it’s just nice to hang out with other people outside of my class,” he continued.

Inside the school’s multi-use room, Champati and his classmates have their Chromebooks handy as they research the ancient civilization that his PBL group chose. This is one of the first steps in the PBL process, where students, once well-versed, must take an oral test confirming their knowledge of the subject matter to move onto the next step. “My group is doing Ancient Persia, and I’ve learned a lot of things that I didn’t know about,” Low noted.

“PBL, it definitely enforces the four C’s: collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication,” said Lam. “But, what I love to see is how these lessons cross over to other areas like solving a difficult math problem. Using PBL, students can draw out their ideas and solutions. This gives them different ways to show their knowledge, and that’s awesome.”

Gold Standard PBL’s eight elements are: a challenging problem or driving question; sustained inquiry; authenticity; student voice and choice; reflection; critique and revision; and a public product with learning goals of key knowledge, understanding and success skills. Student groups showcase how they creatively integrate skills such as writing, research, public speaking, critical thinking, and collaboration to produce an immersive and interactive learning experience.

“The reason Sinnott’s program is the best is because we really look at how all the elements are equally important and we make sure that they are present. If you take one away, the magic of PBL doesn’t exist,” said Calvello, noting that the secret sauce for them is repeated peer feedback throughout the process. “Hearing that constructive criticism from their peers and letting that happen over and over as the idea develops is key.”

“This is 11 years in the making,” added Lam, who uses a Google Slide Deck format that the 3 teachers have developed for all students to follow for each of their 3-to-5 PBL projects they participate in per school year. The slides provide essential information for students such as the driving question, goals, team members, project path, requirements, feedback, matrix and the all-important “teacher consult” slide where the student groups list what they need from their teacher to complete their project such as feedback, materials, or printing jobs.

“It is always wonderful to see the collaboration, problem solving, and the conflict resolution that comes with working in a team,” Principal Armino said. “We hope that these real-life challenges and the skills needed to meet them will transfer as students move into middle and high school.”

Roles organically develop and remain flexible throughout the life of the project. It is not unusual to see students move from one job to another as needs present themselves. Groups must pitch their ideas to their teachers and peers, then revise based on multiple rounds of peer, teacher, and subject matter expert feedback. “I like doing the PBL because it helps with your self-confidence,” Low shared.

“We want them to learn how to work with each other, work with different types of people and personalities. Sometimes you may be the group leader and sometimes you may not,” Goode explained. One particular PBL Goode fondly recalled was when she had the students create a television show based on Indigenous Peoples. She was able to bring in a good friend who works at Disney’s Lucas Films as a story/character and development producer.

“It’s been an amazing experience watching as our sixth graders work with our fourth graders on PBL, and they really get to step into that leadership role,” Goode said. “Our classes basically become one and the community gets stronger.”

Student Perspectives: Manufacturing Day 2024

10/21/2024

By Gargi Chaganti
Milpitas High School student

I had so much fun at Manufacturing Day (October 4, 2024)! It was a great experience touring two companies, BD Biosciences and Corsair Gaming, and seeing how they operate behind the scenes.

One of the highlights for me was learning about the latest product from BD Biosciences and how their teams collaborate to bring innovations to life. We got a firsthand look at different components of their work, which opened my eyes to the variety of career paths in manufacturing.

What surprised me most was how interconnected everything is. I used to think manufacturing was just about machines, but it’s so much more. We learned about internships for high school and college students, which I hadn’t considered before. It was exciting to see how different majors—engineering, business, and even design—play a role in this field.

We also got a glimpse of what a typical day looks like for employees. They were so passionate, and it was inspiring to see how teams work together from production to deployment. The activities showed how much strategy and teamwork go into making sure everything runs smoothly.

At the end of the day, Manufacturing Day got me thinking more seriously about careers in this field and how I could be part of something that blends technology, creativity, and collaboration.

About Manufacturing Day 2024
Milpitas Unified School District high school students from Calaveras Hills, MUSD Middle College HS, and Milpitas HS participated in Manufacturing (MFG) Day, a nationwide event that is held on a Friday in October. MUSD, in partnership with the City of Milpitas, secured two local advanced manufacturing agencies, BD BioSciences and Corsair Gaming, to host students for a day.

MUSD Innovation Campus continues to take shape with Phase 2 completion

10/7/2024

Student pathways to successful and sustainable careers continue to be front and center with the realization of each phase of the MUSD Innovation Campus, which recently celebrated the Phase 2 completion with a September 20th ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“It is thrilling to see the vision of our community becoming a model for the Global Silicon Valley,” Superintendent Cheryl Jordan said. “Through our conversations with the leaders of national manufacturing and engineering organizations such as SEMI Foundation and the Society of Women Engineers, we know that this campus will be a model for others to emulate in order to develop learners who will design and drive our future industries.”

A state-of-the-art E-sports lab, recording studio, art studio, and trio of science labs are among the Phase 2 highlights of this technologically-driven MUSD Innovation Campus, a multidisciplinary learning facility available to high school students through the Calaveras Hills High School alternative program and the Milpitas High School Extension at MUSD Innovation Campus program.

“This new space opens up a world of opportunities for the young adults of Milpitas to thrive and grow in an environment built for their success,” shared Jonathan Payne, CHHS admin in charge. “As staff, teachers and administrators, we’re committed to pushing forward, making sure we meet each student where they are and help them reach their full potential. This is a team effort, and together, Milpitas High and Calaveras Hills, we’re creating spaces where every student can shine.”

Milpitas High School Principal and Chief Innovator of New Programs Greg Wohlman concurs: “In a world asking for changes in public education you do not see Milpitas Unified answering with a cheap add-on or fad, or folding altogether under the pressure and saying it is too hard. Instead you see this. In Milpitas we choose to stay relevant as we continue to reimagine alongside our students and community.”

The second phase consists of two new, flexible-learning, L-shaped classroom buildings (the permanent home of Calaveras Hills HS), surrounding an expansive central courtyard with a full-length basketball court, shade structures and seating, a ‘Building A Culture of WE’ donors paver circle, and plenty of outdoor learning spaces. In addition, an existing building was modernized to provide Career Technical Education (CTE) lab space for robotics and advanced manufacturing courses.

“The MUSD Innovation Campus will be a hub of influence as we strive to provide creative student-focused strategies to ensure healthy learning environments, that is MUSD Strategic Goal #5,” said Board of Education President Minh Ngo. “We maximize every Measure AA dollar to achieve our Strategic Goal #3 in developing educational pathways that allow students to apply their passion in learning for their future careers.”

This newest phase adds to the educational cache of the sprawling innovative campus, which already includes the KLA STEAM Lab, Milpitas Adult Education, and the MUSD district offices within those four eco-friendly, modern buildings of the initial phase that opened in August 2023.

“This is an exceptional time for Adult Education and its learners. In August of 2023 we embarked on a new journey moving to the MUSD Innovation Campus, our new school site and Phase II is a reflection of our community’s investment for the present and future generations, while honoring those who paved the way,” shared MAE Principal Giuliana Brahim. “The word commitment rooted from Latin committere ‘to unite, connect, combine; to bring together’ says it all. I am extremely proud of ALL who bring together the passion and commitment to our learners and their families.”

Collectively, all seven buildings feature a variety of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) classrooms and labs, career development spaces, offices and conference rooms, independent study spaces and multiple indoor and outdoor collaboration areas. Through partnerships with educational institutions, businesses, and governance, MUSD Innovation Campus will provide training and education that support growing and emerging career fields and practical career simulation. Flexible classrooms, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) labs and a Learning Hub support spaces that accommodate a wide variety of programming for Milpitas students of all ages.

“The focus of secondary education must be concentrated on providing our children inspiring pathways, rigorous academics, and a school experience to the ‘why,’” added Senior Board Trustee Chris Norwood. “The opening of Phase 2 of the MUSD Innovation Campus will be part of that journey with our MUSD Middle College High School extension and partnership with San Jose Community College Evergreen District.”

A third and final phase will complete the overall vision of supporting Milpitas learners from early childhood through adulthood by adding a Workforce Development Center, Early Childhood Education Research Center, and a Board of Education governance board room.

“The future of the country starts in California. But I think the future of California starts right here in Milpitas,” said Assemblymember Lee, a proud product of MUSD’s Sinnott Elementary School, Rancho Milpitas Middle School and graduated from Milpitas High School (2009-2013).

Best in Class: Milpitas High School’s 9 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists for 2024-25

10/3/2024

Nine Milpitas High School students were recently selected as Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among more than 16,000 students nationwide in the 70th annual NMSP to earn the designation based on results from the Preliminary SAT exam. In February, these 9 students will be notified if they have advanced to Finalist standing, which then qualifies them for 6,870 scholarships worth nearly $26 million.

Let’s find out a little about each of them:
Jericho de Guzman, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist means that I'm not a complete failure! It proves to myself that I have the capacity to do and achieve great things in life, as long as I put in the necessary time and effort. It motivates me to pursue even greater endeavors in the future, through college and beyond.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My greatest motivation comes from the drive to constantly push myself to do my very best in whatever challenges I face. I also derive a lot of motivation from the support and encouragement (as well as competition) I receive from my family and friends.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject in school is calculus. Calculus is a complex yet intuitive subject, which—much like other STEM topics—has a certain degree of beauty to it once you truly understand it. Learning the fundamentals of calculus, its numerous applications, and how they all interact with each other in a cohesive fashion is incredibly rewarding.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I'd like to attend one of the UCs, since they are all very reputable schools and are pretty close by. My goal would be UC Irvine, since I've heard the campus is very nice (though of course the dream is UC Berkeley)

Leslie Dong, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
To me, being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist means I'm uncommonly good at answering questions on an easier version of the SAT. If only that was a career option.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
Given the amount of practice ACTs my mother made me do, it would be strange if I didn't succeed at such a high level.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
Art. It's my favorite thing to do and my one defining trait.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
CMU! It's super pretty and great for art and design!

Aditi Gupta, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
It's definitely rewarding, but I also recognize that this is just one test score that ultimately has little bearing on my potential or my character.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I just want to try everything I can before graduation and adult life hits.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
I like all sciences, especially environmental science and chemistry. That being said, my favorite period is my senior open.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
My dream school is UC Berkeley because of its proximity! Also, a lot of my friends go there.

Ananya Gupta, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being a National Merit semi-finalist means a few more possibilities have really opened up for me, and I’m honored to have that opportunity.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My graduated friends, parents, and twin sister motivate me to succeed and try my best.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
I really like physics! I like learning about why things work the way they do. I discovered my love for physics through competing in Science Olympiad.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I’d like to attend a UC/CSU because they all have good Electrical Engineering programs (and are in California). I’d also love to attend USC, because I can do a minor in music there.

Kyle Le, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
I didn't expect to be a semifinalist. I took the PSAT because my friends told me to, and I thought it'd be interesting. Being a semifinalist is a different thing, though. It's a bit stressful at the moment, but that's temporary, and I have something else to report to colleges.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I'd say two things motivate me the most. My parents, of course, are the biggest source of motivation. Without them, I probably would've given up a long time ago. The second thing is a healthy amount of competition.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
Math is my favorite. I'm not entirely sure why, either. I find it really easy most of the time (except Precalc Honors) and it's honestly just enjoyable.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I'm planning on going to a UC or CSU. Some of them offer the degrees that I want to pursue and they don't need full college essays.

Oliver Ma, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
For me, being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist represents a culmination of all the effort I have put into my academic journey throughout my life and the commitment to academic growth I have maintained, and I am truly grateful to everyone who has helped me reach this milestone.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My parents, who are first-generation immigrants and had to build a new life here from scratch, are my greatest inspirations to persevere in pursuing academic success. I also owe my academic passions that motivate my learning to the many teachers who sparked my interest in various subjects through their teaching.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject is physics, because of how it deals with the nature of the world in ways that we experience daily. By analyzing phenomena that we just accept as a fact of life, like how objects fall to the ground, we can discover the way the entire universe works.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
After graduating MHS, I hope to attend Cornell University because of its strong reputation for research and the diverse research opportunities it offers, as well as the ability to explore interdisciplinary collaborations, giving me the chance to apply the concepts I will learn throughout different classes and subjects.

Lakshya Mehta, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
It means that the hard work I put in these past 4 years have been recognized, and gave me new motivation to continue striving for achievement.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My biggest source of motivation is probably my inherent desire for self-improvement, and the dopamine hit I get when I’m seeing myself get better at something, which just makes me want to do it more. Well, that and support from my parents.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
It would have to be either math or physics. Math has always been pretty easy for me to understand, but physics, although much harder for me to grasp, fascinates me because we can use it to not just understand our world but create so many useful and revolutionary things.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I’d prefer to stay in California to make it easier to be with friends and family, so probably one of the UCs or CSUs, but I’d be willing to go out of state if I feel like the college is worth it.

William Mito, age 16
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
It's pretty cool I guess, since I can put it on my college application.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
My math teachers, my parents, and the spirit of competition.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
I like math because the teachers are chill. I also like solving things.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
Any UC or CSU, or whatever college accepts me. I don't really have any college aspirations.

Daniel Xu, age 17
What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist not only feels like a quantification of all my hard work over the last few years, but also motivates me to continue to work hard in the future, throughout the rest of high school and beyond.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
It's mainly my peers that motivate me to succeed at such a high level, as our senior class has no shortage of amazing, intelligent people that always push each other to do their best in things. The healthy competition among us encourages me to do as well as I can in all aspects of my schooling.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject has to be math. A little guy you may have heard of named Galileo Galilei once said "mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe." I wholeheartedly agree with this. Not only can mathematics be applied to many different fields and other subjects, it's also the subject that I believe is the most naturally elegant in the way that problems are done with it.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I'd like to stay in-state, if possible. Thankfully there is no shortage of great colleges in California, and I'd love to go to one of the UC's or some of the CSU's. Cal or UCSD would be great, but every single one of the UC's is good in my book.

Randall World Languages School grows interest in music program with MCEF grant

9/30/2024

Students at the Randall World Languages School huddled in the front office meeting space anxiously awaiting to hear their name matched with a musical instrument of their choosing.

Randall, a Title I school with a diverse population where 98% represent people of color and close to 50 percent come from socio-economically disadvantaged households, was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Milpitas Community Education Foundation to purchase 30 musical instruments and songbooks to build their music program.

Since receiving the grant in 2021, Randall’s music program has blossomed to 42 students, with 14 in orchestra and 28 in band. Superintendent Cheryl Jordan shared, “I am thrilled to see how our Randall World Languages school provides our learners with Spanish, Mandarin and the language of music”

“As one of my students expressed, ‘my mom asked me if I have to pay for the instrument, because if it is expensive, I can't do it. We don't have the money to pay for instruments," said Randall co-Principal Claudia Cadenas, who had another student share, “this is the best instrument ever, I never thought I could use one."

Cadenas credited parent and school advocate Chin Song, with applying for the grant on behalf of Randall in 2021. “The grant was for instruments, and we decided to use the money in purchasing them because we knew that our students wanted to do band or strings but due to the cost of the rental they could not access this program,” Cadenas explained.

Interest quickly expanded amongst the Randall student body after others saw classmates with their instruments, inspiring more students to join the music program; however, more instruments are needed.

“Music has been an integral part of my life, and while I had opportunity throughout my K-8 experience to learn how to play different instruments, I was no longer able to take lessons after junior high because the program was not offered in my high school, and was something my family couldn’t afford to pay for privately, which is why I am donating to the program and encouraging others to join me.”

To make a donation to the Randall World Languages School music program contact the Randall Office Team directly at (408) 635-2662.

Milpitas HS jump rope enthusiast Eunice Lee wins fifth U.S. National Championship

9/10/2024

Milpitas High School freshman Eunice Lee was recently crowned the U.S. Grand National Jump Rope Champion at the 2024 American Jump Rope National Championship (AMJRNC), which was held June 24-29 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Milpitas Jump Rope Club founder bested the all-ages field for the Single Rope Speed Endurance (SRSE-3 minutes speed) and also earned the title of U.S. Junior Individual All-Around Champion. In total, she received one Gold medal for SRSE and three Silver medals for Single Rope Individual Freestyle (SRIF), Single Rope Speed Sprint (SRSS-30 seconds speed) and Single Rope Double Under Relay(SRDR-pair with another team).

Lee, who discovered her jump rope prowess while competing in the Milpitas Elementary Olympics, is now a 5-time U.S. National Champion for 3-minute Speed Jump Rope (2021,2022, 2023, 2024) and Single Rope Individual Freestyle (2022).

“I would like to use my jump rope talent to teach recreational music jump rope because I want to make the MUSD teen community healthy. I am planning to make a student jump rope club at Milpitas High School next semester,” shared Lee, who hopes to expand her jump rope tutelage to the Milpitas Teen Center or other community facilities as well. “I am happy to teach jump rope for teens outside of school. I need your help and support to promote the sport of jump rope.”

Check out Lee in action on her instagram:

Trustee Norwood appointed to CSBA Delegate Assembly Governance Review Committee

7/22/2024

Milpitas Unified School District Senior Board Member Chris Norwood was recently appointed to the California School Boards Association’s (CSBA) Delegate Assembly Governance Review Committee.

Norwood, a Milpitas HS alumnus and the 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year, will serve a one-year term on the committee and, as a member, will evaluate how Delegate Assembly seats are allocated and review diversity of representation, engagement of Delegates and channels of communication. The intent is to improve communication, engagement, representation and diversity in leadership of CSBA. The findings of the committee’s evaluation will culminate in a report to the Board of Directors.

“CSBA is widely recognized across the state as the leading provider of essential support and resources to school boards to ensure effective governance and student success,” shares Trustee Norwood. “I look forward to bringing the voice of Milpitas Unified, Santa Clara County, and working with my colleagues across the state to ensure CSBA Delegate Assembly leadership engagement, representation, and communication align with CSBA’s advocacy for high-quality education for all students in California.”

MUSD receives $4.5k grant from AGILE, partnership into educational research & development think tank

7/12/2024

Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) was recently one of only 20 educational entities nationwide selected for membership in the American Group of Innovative Learning Environments (AGILE) Network, part of the international collaborative Global EdTech Testbed Network (GETN).

By doing so, MUSD attained an unrestricted $4,500 grant as well as training in transferable community-led innovation skills; recognition as an elite leader in education innovation; access to research-informed solutions to MUSD’s needs and priorities; and access to additional technical support for fundraising and teacher-level grants.

“MUSD’s partnership will AGILE will augment our Strategic Goal work, particularly SG #s 3 & 4 -- Develop Educational Pathways to Career, and Focus Services and Support Systems to ensure All Learners are Successful,” said Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. “MUSD thrives at the cutting edge of technology integration with learning tools designed to equip our graduates with the skills they'll need to create and lead in the future of work and life.”

AGILE is a vibrant network of diverse and innovative school systems across the United States, focused on partnering in inclusive research and development (R&D) initiatives. “These opportunities also come with additional grant opportunities that validate the investment made by MUSD leaders, teachers, support team, students, and parent/caregiver time in the R&D process. This past school year we received $30K for our Assessment for Good partnership,” shared Director of Learning and Innovation Priti Johari, who is spearheading MUSD’s involvement in this educational R&D think tank.

MUSD is now part of AGILE’s new initiative to engage learning communities in the co-design and co-development of emerging technologies by amplifying the voices of our students of African and Latinx ancestry in the design process. Partnering schools and educators influence the development and evaluation of emerging education solutions, including curriculum and technology--addressing a well-documented evidence shortage in the market. Studies in the 2024-2025 school year will cover topics including generative AI, literacy, assessment, and mathematical reasoning.

“By systematically elevating school community perspectives, we believe we will accelerate the pace of breakthroughs in the field of teaching and learning,” said research nonprofit Leanlab Education Founder Katie Boody Adorno of the new network in a June 25th announcement. Leanlab Education is a nonprofit organization that specializes in codesign research between education technology companies and K12 learning communities.

Summer School 2024 at Curtner Elementary School

7/8/2024

Our MUSD summer school program is in full swing, serving 482 TK-6th grade students. This year, MUSD is partnering with Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) and RAFT to deliver STEAM-focused, project-based learning that is engaging and exciting for students.

"Our goals are to create opportunities for students to collaborate on group inquiry projects, develop academic language, and enhance critical thinking," shared Summer School Principal Emily DeLora-Ellefson.

Curtner Elementary School is hosting this year's summer school, where "our classes are exploring answers to some of these (and other) questions: How can we as oceanographers create a model of an ocean habitat? What is bioluminescence? How can we design solutions to help the environment?," DeLora-Ellefson added. "Through inquiry we are building essential literacy and language skills for all students."

Rancho MS students excel in academic competitions

6/20/2024

By Tejus Karadi
Rancho Milpitas MS 7th Grader

My Rancho Quiz bowl team comprised of Kashvi Agarwal, Stavya Dangaria, Parth Baheti, and myself attended the NAQT MSNCT (Middle School National Champion Tournament) over the Mother’s Day weekend in Chicago, IL.

It was an amazing experience. 160 teams from all across the USA competed at the nationals. This was our first time at MSNCT and before this event, we did not know what to expect. We had studied all year for this and competed in many local and online tournaments. The last three months we played tournaments pretty much every weekend which kept us very busy. But participating in so many events had also given us a feel for how fierce the competition can be.

Overall we played very well and placed nationally in the top 20% of the teams with an overall ranking of 33. We were thrilled with the outcome. After the tournament, I felt great about how we did. I had done a lot of learning and significantly increased my knowledge.

Playing as a team is a lot of fun. Our coach (my mom), Padma Subbaraya, put a tremendous amount of effort into helping the team get ready.

2024 IAC Nationals

I just got back from the 2024 IAC Bees Nationals event in Orlando, Florida. It was a mindblowing and exciting experience. I participated in close to 20 events which included buzzer-based individual bee events, team events, and written exams. The schedule kept me on my toes the entire time.

Each day would be filled with various events and exams. My day would start at 8am and end around 9pm with back to back events. I made it to semifinals in Geography bee, History bee, and Academic bee (which is a mix of various subjects including Science, History, Geography, Current Events, Sports, Music, Fine arts, Literature, Mythology, Religion and much more).

My Academic Bowl team consisting of Stavya Dangaria, Parth Baheti, and myself placed third in the US. I also won 2nd place in the Asian Geography written exam. In addition, I competed in the IAC Model UN competition where I won the best delegate award. Model United Nations is a popular academic activity that encourages students to learn more about international relations, diplomacy as well as how the UN operates. At the competition, rainforest conservation was my assigned topic and I represented Germany. I had to study rainforest conservation, research Germany’s role in rainforest conservation and help draft a policy resolution. I had to gather support of other delegates and vote to get my resolution passed. For this, I won the best delegate award.

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