MARK Highlights
Manteca Unified School Board
the
May 2019
Celebrating Student Success
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MUSD School Board President Stephen J. Schluer, Area 6 Vice President Eric Duncan, Area 1 Board Clerk Kathy Howe, Area 2 Karen Pearsall, Area 3 Marie Freitas, Area 4 Cathy Pope-Gotschall, Area 5 Bob Wallace, Area 7
MUSD Superintendents Superintendent Dr. Clark Burke Deputy Superintendent Roger Goatcher
Vision Every student works to achieve grade level standards, feels safe, and is supported to realize individual success.
Mission Through smart actions and decisions, MUSD will work together using meaningful, measurable and aligned data for all students to achieve mastery of grade level standards in all subjects based on their unique educational pathway in a safe environment inclusive of design, security and climate.
#proudtobeMUSD
Manteca Unified School District 2271 West Louise Ave Manteca, CA 95337 (209)825-3200 Submit stories:
communityoutreach@musd.net
The Mark Highlights is published by the MUSD Superintendent’s Office Community Outreach team. Highlights content is contributed by every school site. When highlight articles are submitted, they are edited for length and clarity. Feature writing is produced by the Community Outreach Team and student interns. Highlights is intended to be a reflection of the
MUSD Vision and Mission, because above all, we value supporting students realizing individual success. The Mark Highlights Team are: Victoria Brunn Director and Executive Editor vbrunn@musd.net Lindsay Stayner Content Coordination and Editor lstayner@musd.net
Peter Gale Reporting, Design, Photography, and Editing Erica McCullough Design and Photography Johanna Victor Photography and Reporting Community Outreach Interns Feature stories submitted by student interns, or an outside contributor, will include an author’s byline credit.
Contents
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Making the Mark
SBAC Superheroes at Lincoln
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Mossdale Celebrates Teachers Week
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Celebrating Honor Roll Students
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Shasta Shakes it Up
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Stella Brockman Shines
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Tree planted in Students’ Memory
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Brock Elliott Dedicates Outdoor Fitness Classroom
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Lathrop Elementary Visits Save Mart
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FFA State Leadership Conference
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Cougars Who Connect
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Lancers Who Lead
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Good Times for Timberwolves
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SHS FCCLA Shines at State
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CTE Interior Design Students Tour the Central Coast
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LHS Honors Nurses in Training
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Seal of Biliteracy
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Great Valley Ag Day
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BE.Tech Medals at State SkillsUSA
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Buffalo Stampede
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Features Years of Service Awards
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From Student To Teacher at EUHS
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Lathrop HS Senior Signing Day
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Tolman Swims at State Level
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No Challenge is Impossible
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Hazel Vera Heads to CSU Eastbay
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Developing Their Future
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Solei Marriott Inspires Weston Ranch
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School SROs Connect with the Community
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Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness
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STEM Teacher of the Year 2019
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MHS Library Learning Commons
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M.E.L.S. Garage
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SBAC Superheroes at Lincoln Students at Lincoln School gathered to recognize peers who had met or exceeded grade level standards, or that made growth on last year’s SBAC test. Students who made significant growth in ELA or Math were awarded a ribbon. Students who earned a score of 3 or 4 in ELA or Math were given pins and students who earned a score of 4 in ELA or Math earned a medal. All students who received awards were also given tickets for raffle prizes. Raffle prizes included sports equipment, Fuji Instax cameras, Amazon Fire Tablets, art sets, drones, wireless earbuds, and a K’nex set. Principal Randi Fowzer and Vice Principal Melissa Herrera, sported superhero masks and capes, explained how all students can be SBAC superheroes by working hard, being at school every day, getting plenty of rest at night, and having a positive mindset.
Mossdale Celebrates Teachers Week
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George McParland celebrated Honor Roll students from grades 4th through 8th who achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher for first and second trimester.
George McParland
190 students and their families were invited to enjoy a breakfast and an award ceremony.
Celebrating Honor Roll Students Neil Hafley
Neil Hafley School honored 43 honor roll recipients at the Red and Gold Honor Banquet. Students, parents, teachers and administrators celebrated student achievements over dessert and shared student memories.
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Shasta’s Third Grade Scholars Journey to Columbia Third grade scholars from Shasta Elementary journeyed to Columbia, California to learn more about state history. They experienced mining for gold, learned about the economy and natural resources of the time, and what was commonly worn and eaten for dinner. These scholars had a fulfilling day of learning through hands-on activities, which will benefit them as they move into fourth grade with its emphasis on California history.
My Special Person Dance Spring has sprung at Shasta with an event celebrating the special people in our lives on April 25th in the Hornet’s Nest. Students, alongside someone near and dear to them, danced the night away. They only gave their dancing feet a rest to make a special piece of art, take a commemorative photo, or enjoy pizza and nachos. Musical Chairs and Line Dancing were enjoyed by both the young— and the young at heart—guests in attendance.
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STEM Magic Shasta School was proud to present our Second Annual S.T.E.M. Night on April 11. Produced through the coordinated efforts of Shasta’s amazing Give Every Child A Chance after school program, our STEM night was a huge success. Over 200 students and their families attended.
Thank you GEGAC
What makes this STEM night so unique is how hard our students work to research and present various scientific phenomena. Student scientists demonstrated experiments that ignite curiosity and desire to learn more about the amazing world of science. We are truly grateful to our GECAC program manager, Shawndra Kuffel, and her magical team of students who really delivered very educational and entertaining event!
At Shasta, we appreciate our Give Every Child A Chance after school program. We are thrilled that our site earned the most in donations for GECAC’s annual BowlA-Thon last February for the second year in a row. To say thank you, GECAC gifted our students with a private presentation from Micke Grove Zoo of various critters including amphibians, arthropods, reptiles, fish and birds and their habitats. The zoo personnel brought Shasta a world of wonder for a unique hands-on presentation including hissing cockroaches from Madagascar, a gigantic bull frog, and sister tortoises. Shasta Hornets are now armed with knowledge about the differences between an alligator or a crocodile. Students saw a shark jaw with teeth, an eagle feather and an eagle claw. What a terrific and unique learning opportunity our Hornets had May 14, thanks to our GECAC Partners!
San Joaquin County Office of Education Associate Superintendent of Student Programs and Services Troy Brown visited the Shasta Hornets
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Math Olympiad
The 7th and 8th grade Math Olympaid Team of Stella Brockman competed at SJCOE. Jovan Singh and Sienna Gavino were highpoint recipients for the individual event.
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Cultural Celebration
Stella Brockman
Artist in Residence Moms and Muffins
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Tree planted in Students’ Memory Brock Elliott and SHS communities gathered at Brock Elliott to plant a tree in memory of Christy, Brooke, and their step mother Noelle. Sixth grade student Bailey Tolbert read a letter of dedication. “We chose a
tree because they loved the outdoors,” said Tolbert. “They were everyone’s friends. They had the biggest smiles and always had a hug for you.” She continued, “To keep their memory alive, We can be kind to one another.” Following Bailey, teacher Donna Goulart read the poem A Litany of Remembrance by Rabbi Silvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Rierner.
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Brock Elliott Dedicates Outdoor Fitness Classroom Because of some drainage problems, Brock Elliot had some failing asphalt. But instead of fixing the draining and just paving it over, Director of Facilities and Operations Aaron Bowers, had a better idea—create an outdoor classroom and fitness area.
Justin Geer, a draftsman who works on the Facilities team, was tasked with running the project. “I designed the playground with grass around it so that the water could still drain,” said Geer. “We worked with four contractors plus MUSD maintenance and grounds.”
After two years, the project came in on budget compared to what replacing the asphalt would have cost. “I designed the benches on CAD and Mark Duncan of maintenance built them,” said Geer.
Mark Duncans efforts on this project was one reason he was selected for Classified Employee of the Year.
“Brock Elliott was limited in Jr. High for PE activities and recess / lunch activities,” said principal Debbie Ruger. “The fitness area provides students with 12 strength and agility building stations. Additionally, teachers can bring their classes for outdoor
education across all subjects.” Both Ruger and Geer emphasized their gratitude for the smooth coordination on the project and making a tangible difference to benefit students. Geer once attended Brock Elliott and so do his niece and nephew presently. “It is awesome to take ownership of an area and know that they will be able to use it for a long time,” said Geer.
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Lathrop Elementary 3rd Graders Visit Save Mart
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Weston Ranch
FFA State Leadership Conference FFA Members from East Union, Lathrop, Manteca, Sierra and Weston Ranch High Schools attended the 91st Annual FFA State Leadership Conference in Anaheim, where
over 7,100 FFA members were in attendance.
The conference theme was “Believe� and students and advisors were
challenged to discover what they believed in. Through general sessions and leadership workshops, FFA members had the opportunity to grow and learn about FFA.
Sierra
Lathrop Manteca
East Union
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Cougars Who Connect
All City Softball Team Coach Wayman and the Weston Ranch Softball Team would like to recognize Julianna Lassiter for making the 2018-19 All City Softball Team by SportsStars Magazine and the Sacramento River Cats. On Sunday May 12th, at the River Cat Game, she was recognized for her outstanding performance on the Softball Diamond. Congratulations, Julianna for an Outstanding season!
FFA honored as a Gold Star Chapter for 2nd Year in a row.
This status is given to less than 10% of the 400 chapters in the state and is based on program of activities each year and how premiere leadership, personal growth, and career success was promoted.
“It is in special part because of this amazing staff and community support that we have achieved this honor,� said Christopher Livengood, Weston Ranch High School FFA Advisor.
The Chapter has now been invited to Indianapolis, Indiana in the fall where their program of activities will be ranked with FFA chapters across the nation.
Boys V-Ball Win Section VOL Championship
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WRHS JROTC Celebrates Banner Year Contributed by: The Prowl, the student news site of Weston Ranch High School
2018-2019 has proven to be a remarkable year for our JROTC program. From high marks in performance, victories in competitions, the rallying to support a tragic loss to a fellow cadet, their unparalleled commitment to their program is quite inspiring. In October, all schools in MUSD sent their cadets to the JROTC games at WRHS for an inspiring day of competition. Our student cadets represented the school and themselves with remarkable aplomb, taking home multiple victories. They displayed a deep level of commitment to JROTC and each other. They were organized and committed. They worked together to achieve a goal. They accepted setbacks, learned from mistakes, and improved their resolve hoping that next time they will be successful. As the school year progressed, JROTC hosted various events, participated in school functions, and displayed a strength in numbers approach. Cadets
raising the flag every morning, rain or shine. Cadets wear their uniforms and represent their program and their school with pride.
Georgen Dumpit (3rd place) helped complete the beautiful day for the Cougars with her performance in the Drill Down.
Perhaps the most significant achievement for this group came back in March when they competed against other schools in Ripon.
Overall, these trophies and individual awards are the most our cadets have won in Weston Ranch JROTC history.
The JROTC Cougar Battalion won seven trophies and three medals in the 3rd Annual Ripon High School JROTC Drill competition on March 2nd. Individual medals were awarded to Karman Basra who took 1st place in the Armed Color Guard, and Shamar Dacus for Unarmed Platoon Regulation. Lauren Malihan received a 2nd place medal for Armed Inspection, Ashly Portillo took a 2nd in Unarmed Color Guard, and Ventura Hernandez and Carolina Avalos were awarded 2nd place in the Drill Down. Dacus, who will attend US Army Academy at West Point in the fall, also captured 3rd for Unarmed Inspection. Brianna Kennedy took 3rd for Unarmed Exhibition, Zachary Smith (3rd place) for Armed Exhibition, and
This year, the cadets were faced with the loss of fellow cadet Jaishyne Lopez who passed away tragically after complications of undergoing heart surgery. In honor of their fallen friend, the cadets held a candlelight vigil and hosted a car wash fundraiser for the family—which raised over $7,000. The money cannot replace the loss, but shows in a tangible way their dedication to each other. In tribute to Sergeant Reyes and Colonel Cerezo, their cadets, and their program, The Prowl salutes the efforts of these great young women and men who answer the call to serve as cadets and who inspire others to do the same.
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FCCLA State Leadership Conference Fifteen EUHS students attended the FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Riverside, Ca. The students participated in a variety of workshops, industry tours, and competitive events. During the opening night session, six students were recognized for The Power of One Award. The next morning, 10 competitors showed off their hard work to evaluators in 5 different events. The Culinary Arts team, Food Innovations, and
Advanced Presentation Cake competitors all earned Silver. The team that presented our Chapter in Review Portfolio took 3rd and qualified to move on to Nationals, and this year one team earned 2nd place in a new event called Baking and Pastry. During the business session the following day, members were recognized for earning Chapter Degrees. Later at the evening General Session, Autumn Maestretti was recognized for earning her Region Degree.
The chapter received the Honor Chapter designation which was only given to three chapters in the state!
The Chapter also earned State Superior Chapter - Silver and Mrs. Wegner received the Outstanding Advisor Recognition - Silver. EU Chapter Members earned contest recognition for Most Trading Pins Collected, which is a state-wide challenge awarding recognition and $75 for youth to network with each other. This was won by Vannessa Moniz with help from Andy Cuneo. At the closing Region Meeting Elijah VillaseĂąor and Carmen Rodriguez were installed as part of the incoming Region 6 Officer Team. Students enjoyed time to visit, collaborate, and form lasting friendships.
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Boys V-Ball Win Section VOL Championship
Lancers Who Lead
ROTC Change of Command Ceremony
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Good Times for Timberwolves
SHS Varsity Baseball Wins 5th VOL Championship!
Eduardo Morales New Head Boys Basket Ball Coach Sierra High School is pleased to announce the hiring of Eduardo Morales as the new head coach of the Boys Basketball program.
most of it. Coach Thomason has established a winning tradition at Sierra and I want to continue to build on that.”
Coach Morales graduated from Sierra in 2008. During his time, he played three years of varsity under Coach Thomason. After graduating, Coach Morales was immediately recruited to assist in the Boys Basketball program, leading to the JV Head Coaching position for the 2018-2019 season.
Athletic Director Andrew Lee commented, “We’re thrilled with the selection of Coach Morales to lead our Boys Basketball program. Over the last few years, Coach Morales has developed a reputation for helping students grow as young adults on and off the court. He sets the standard high, and he is going to thrive at the helm of the Boys Basketball program.”
When asked about the selection, Coach Morales said, “I am very excited to start. I am thankful for the opportunity and appreciate all the support I have received from staff, students, and parents. This is something that I have been working towards for years and now that its here, I am going to make the
Coach Morales is now the 3rd Varsity Head Coach in Sierra history.
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SHS FCCLA Shines at State
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Amy Lee is one of only four selected in the nation. by Amy Lee FCCLA Advisor FCCLA chapters competed in the State Conference last month and walked away with many honors and awards. Daniel Ordinola and Lizbet Perez of MHS received 1st place for Baking and Pastry. They had to make rolls, ginger cookies, chocolate muffins, and cream puffs in front of the judges. Both students have qualified to compete in Nationals at the end of June. Justin Lacdao and Bianca Dungca of SHS placed 2nd in Chapter Service Project Display. They presented our chapter project on repainting city fire
hydrants around our campus and five that are on campus. They also qualify for Nationals. Other individual awards included: Payton Perez- Fashion ConstructionGold, Kailey Monday- Menu Planning-Bronze, Juan Ponce and Sophia Allen- Culinary Arts- Bronze, Raymond Mendoza(MHS)- Culinary Arts- bronze. Our chapter also received Gold for State Superior Chapter, 1st place for Honor Chapter- advances to Nationals and Sophia Allen was installed as Region 6 Vice President and Kailey Monday was installed as Region 6 Treasurer. They will serve as officers
for 2019-2020. Many students were recognized for the Power of One award and as chapter degree recipients. Our Advisors received awards as outstanding advisors with Valerie Flores winning Silver, and Liz Aschenbrenner and Amy Lee winning Gold. Amy also received the Star Region Advisor Award as the top advisor in Region 6 and she will be recognized at National Conference for receiving the National Educated Advisor Award. She is one of only four selected from the nation.
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CTE Interior Design Students Tour the Central Coast Interior Design high school students took a trip to see the unique world of design found on California’s Central Coast.
It has a multitude of quirky rooms, each uniquely themed and designed with brazen colors and furniture pieces.
They saw the eclectic yet elegant architectural brainchild of William Randolph Hearst and Julian Morgan— Hearst Castle. They also witnessed the funky themes and color schemes of the eccentric Madonna Inn.
Before settling in for the night, students were given the opportunity to assess each others’ rooms as a group.
The first stop on the tour was Hearst Castle—a historic landmark where students surveyed cottages, bedroom quarters, entertainment venues, gardens and Romanesque pools. They discussed the transformative collaborations of design and style over time between its wealthy patron and his principal architect. Next up was the Madonna Inn, a gem unto itself with its iconic restaurant with a pink interior transfixed in time.
They noted how each offbeat room could be appointed in novel fashion according to a singular concept, yet still serve as one cohesive point of view in a place of rest and gathering among strangers who have come together. Day two began at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. This offered students an up-close encounter with early California history and its characteristic design and period fashion. Students
enjoyed wandering its main chapel, museums, long corridors and central courtyard gardens. They drew connections with similar design elements of neighboring houses in downtown SLO, and even with parts of Hearst Castle. Afterward, the students arrived for a college campus tour of Cal Poly SLO led by a trio of Architecture Design students who imparted personalized experiences and advice on real-world applications. They observed the college’s design students in action collaboratively building projects within their studios. They examined the final renditions of landscape design models displayed as top in their field. Finally, they explored both the digital construction and materials fabrication labs.
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Here, apprentices engaged with stateof-the-art technology and raw materials, putting Cal Poly’s learn
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by doing philosophy into appreciable results. To conclude the experience, students extended their exploration into downtown SLO to see for themselves the diverse designs of sleek independent store fronts and
unconventional public art displays, such as Bubblegum Alley. All in all, the MUSD interior design students made the most of their time on the Central Coast and made these places their own as an extensive classroom learning from living design.
LHS Honors Nurses in Training
Lathrop High School Future Health Care professionals, pictured with Pamela Crowhurt, L.V.N. and CTE Instructor, shadow nurses at San
Joaquin General Hospital. Students assist in hands-on in basic patient care such as vital signs,
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passing food trays and bed making, and assisting nurses with direct patient care like bed baths and oral hygiene.
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Seal of Biliteracy Manteca Unified applauds 104 high school students who will graduate with a Seal of Biliteracy. MUSD offers world language courses in the study of Spanish, French, and Italian that extend to advanced placement levels. With the opportunities afforded by the block scheduling system, students can reach advanced proficiency in one or more world languages.
We prepare our students to engage in the global learning environment and thrive in the global marketplace. In 2012, California became the first state to award a Seal of Biliteracy to graduating seniors, and MUSD began participating in 2015. Research has shown that the best way to serve our English learners is through programs that honor their
List of 2019 Manteca Unified School District, Seal of Biliteracy Honorees: East Union High School: French - Brianna Caps and Deanna DeGuzman. Italian - Daisy Cruz and Stephanie Mata. Spanish - Valeria Amaya, Alan Barajas, Angie Bermudez, Bladimir Bermudez, Jennifer Cuevas, Jacqueline Garibay, Joseph Hardy, Luciana Hernandez, Oziel Jauregui, Jessica Juarez, Adriana Lemus, Erik Leon, Steffy Mathew, Angelica Mercado, Emmanuel Perez, Lezli Pineda, Christian Tapia, Cecilia Vega, and Julia Vezaldenos.
Lathrop High School: French - Mandeep Kaur Garcha, Elizabeth Marie Terra, and Ethan Victorine. Spanish - Paola Baltazar Salcedo, America
native languages and promote global competency. Earning the Seal of Biliteracy is no easy task. Students must pass state tests and earn a GPA of 2.0 or above in English. Secondary Education English Coordinator Samantha Danley explained, “Students must also demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages other than English by typically either a) pass a foreign language AP exam with a score of 3 or higher; or b) successfully complete a four-years in a foreign language with a GPA of 3.0 or above, and demonstrate comparable oral proficiency to passing an AP or IB examination.” Californians Together states in The California Campaign for Biliteracy, “California needs people with biliteracy skills and cross-cultural Cisneros, Adrian Corona, Ana Paula De La Garza, Julisa Espejo Jauregui, Wendy Griselda Fabian, Sophie Elizabeth Fernandez, Alondra Jacqueline Galvez Buenrostro, Kassandra Gonzalez, Luis Angel Gamez Hurtado, Karina Natalie Lopez, Alejandro Ochoa, Faviola Ochoa, Noel Ojeda Navarro, Jiselle Alejandra Padilla Toledo, Gabriel Omar Pineda, Yolanda Esmeralda Ramirez, Valeria Elizabeth Retana, Marta G Rodriguez, Emily Mariana Rubalcava, Nikolle Sanchis, Yelibeth Channel Ulloa, and Natalie Villasenor.
Manteca High School: French - Taylor Brim, Nayeli Medina, Brianna Rodriguez, and Samuel Roy. Spanish - Bianca Anaya, Erika Anaya, Solman Aniss, Imanol Fernandez, Kemi Flores, Katrina Garcia, Marisela Gonzalez, Regina Gonzalez, Skylar Kona, Stacy Le, Nicole Leon Loya, Maili
competencies to work in and fuel our economy, to strengthen our social cohesion, and to enrich the quality of life in our communities.” Congratulations to the 104 Manteca Unified students who were awarded the Seal of Biliteracy award by the San Joaquin County Office of Education this month. Magdaleno, Navina Mann, Jose Martinez Mora, Maritza Pineda Rodriguez, Heidi Rivera Lopez, Yazmin Soria Camargo, Julia Tang, Hazel Vera, and Natalie Zamora.
Sierra High School Spanish - Yairis Alvarez, Karina Berber, Ashley Castrejon, Citali Chavez, Dulce Cruz Pulido, Jessica Guzman, Diana Martinez, Ismael Monarrez Delgado, Joselin Montalvo Andrade, Julian Morales, Jose Munoz Moreno, Jocelyn Plascencia, Mayra Torres, Perla Valdovinos, Cesar Valencia, Moises Vazquez, Adrian Venegas, and Gaspar Vera.
Weston Ranch High School Spanish - Paola Aguila, Ashley Castaneda, Ezequiel Contreras, Valeria Diaz, Elmer Figueroa, Zazil Hernandez, Emily Herrera-Ortiz, Josh Ico, Marcos Luna, Talisa Moz, Judith Ramirez, Yamilesh Robles, and Jesus Salazar Trejo.
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Online
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First Day Packet See a video demo and learn more at: www.mantecausd.net/connect
Note: Use a full-size internet browser to complete this process. The Online First Day Packet CANNOT be completed using a mobile device or small tablet.
Based on family requests, the “First Day packet” or high school “Orientation” forms for the 2019-2020 school year will be available in an electronic format through QParentConnection from June 15 to August 15, 2019. Updating your child’s information using electronic signatures and simple check boxes are part of the 21st Century environment we provide our community. Paper copies are available upon request only.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is QParentConnection? An online platform available for all MUSD families to access student(s) attendance, class schedule, class progress, grades, and more! Do I have QParentConnection? You may already have an account because QParentConnection has been in place for six years. If you were not able to give an email address when you registered your child, you may not be able to access QParentConnection. If you believe you have provided an email address, you can have your login information emailed to you. Visit https://www.q.musd.net/parent and click the phrase “Need Your Login Information”. What do I need to do now to use the online fillable forms? If you do not have a QParentConnect account, the first step is to share your email with your school site and receive access during the month of May. What do I do once I have received access for my child(ren) to QParentConnection? You are ready to update your information for your returning student online from June 15 to August 15, 2019. The instructions will be available at www.mantecausd.net/connect later this month. Check the webpage for updates and current information. Do I need to do this right away? Yes. Right now, you need to supply your email address to your school site to be able to receive a password for QParentConnection. To receive their high school schedule, returning students will need to complete the online information prior to the orientation dates at the beginning of the next school year. More details will be available when high school orientation information is mailed home. Will all my forms be available? No. There will continue to be some forms specific to each school that are not available online. Therefore, you may still receive information packets mailed home during the summer, or in the first week of school, that are required as a paper copy. Do you have additional questions? Ask your school site administration or feel free to contact us through our webpage on www.mantecausd.net/connect
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Great Valley Ag Day
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BE.Tech Medals at State SkillsUSA Twenty BE.Tech students competed at the California SkillsUSA Competition held in Ontario, California after qualifying in March by earning 1st or 2nd place at the SkillsUSA Regional Competition. Students competed in welding, culinary, baking, firefighting, first aid and criminal justice. At the end of the event, BE.Tech brought home 2 medals: a gold in TIG Welding and a bronze in Culinary. Tyler Bell, a junior, placed first in the TIG welding competition where competitors needed to tac together a 4-inch metal box and then complete it using tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. “We had to sharpen our own tungsten, then weld the box. The directions required vertical, horizontal and overhead welds,” said Bell.
“I practiced all year so I had high hopes for the competition. I didn’t think I would win the gold though.” His advisor, Mike Patterson, said Tyler practiced everyday he was in the shop and was very dedicated to this challenge. Next year, Tyler hopes to compete in the combination welding competition with TIG, MIG, stick and FCAW welding as well as torch cutting. After high school, Tyler plans to work in the welding industry, but is not ruling out other possibilities. Maria Alcazar, bronze medal winner, explains that the culinary competition is a timed event and participants receive the recipes just a week or two prior to the event. This year, students
made Tuscan Bean Soup from homemade chicken stock, a simple salad and dressing, chicken cacciatore and polenta in just 2 hours. Maria practiced in the weeks leading up to the event, but said it was still stressful. Next year, she plans to compete again as a senior. After high school, Maria wants to become the first person in her family to attend a university and will possibly with a major in Psychology.
“We are very proud of all our students who earned a spot at SkillsUSA,” said BE.Tech Principal Carey Simoni. “They came back with great memories and a wonderful experience and we are very excited for our two medalists!”
Buffalo Stampede
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CIF Sac-Joaquin DIV Section Champs
National Honor Society Induction The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization that recognizes outstanding students. More than just an honor roll, NHS honors those students who have
demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. On May 8th, MHS held their 2nd Annual National Honor Society Induction Ceremony.
The ceremony was led by the club’s executive officers: President Mikayla Sarmento, Vice President Matthew Miramontes, Secretary McKenzie Ringwood and Treasurer Brianna Rodriguez
Multi Cultural Week Monday was Diversity Day, hosted by Link Crew and students dressed in red, white and blue. On Tuesday, the Indian Club provided entertainment and colors were saffron, white and
green. Wednesday, the Asian club hosted friendship games and a dance while colors were red, blue, and yellow. On Thursday, the Equality Club encouraged wearing bright colors or tie-dye. On Friday, the Hispanic Youth Leadership Council celebrated Cinco de Mayo.
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Former First Lady Michelle Obama, began encouraging schools to sponsor College Signing Day. This is a national celebration of all high school seniors and transfer students, especially those from lowincome, underrepresented, and firstgeneration college backgrounds who have committed to pursuing higher
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education. Inspired by this initiative, Manteca High celebrated its 3rd Annual Senior Signing Ceremony on May 13. The program was developed with Manteca High’s College Prep Club and was expanded on by the Leadership class to include music, a red-carpet walk, a picture taken
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with administration, signing their certificate of intent, and the signing of the class banner. Each student’s name and plan for after college is announced. After the ceremony, the senior takes a flower and gives it to a parent, friend, or staff member who has been instrumental in encouraging their education.
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Fe a t u re s
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Certificated 20 Years
Years of Service Awards The Human Resources Department celebrated certificated and classified employees for 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service for Manteca Unified at Lathrop High School on May 9th. They created a tribute slide show honoring these dedicated and loyal people which included their photo and a quote from a peer.
After coming to the stage to receive a gift, as a group they took a moment for a photo before returning to the ceremony to help celebrate their peers.
his prior students have now enrolled their own children with our District and are delighted to know that the famous Mr. D. is still teaching.”
We honor here some of the words expressed for those employees who have worked for MUSD for 35 years.
Deborah Noceti-Ward wrote of Kelli Gesler-Buck, “I am fortunate to have learned so much from her.”
Julie Jenkins wrote of Dan Bourcier, “His teaching experience and expertise has greatly benefitted our newest teachers.” Audrey Parker wrote of David Dadasovich, “Many of
David Silveira wrote of Norman Lum, “Norm has been a fixture in the Jr. High at Lathrop since he started with Manteca Unified. He holds our history!” Three of the teachers honored for 35 years of service work at New Haven. David O’Leary wrote of Bradley Pecchenino, “They call him Mr. P, but he should really be called Mr. New Haven!” David shared of Joni Summerfield, “Many students return to see her, indicating the impact she had on them.” Finally, in tribute to Mardy White, David wrote, “35 years and she is still learning and practicing new techniques!” On the classified side of the house,
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Greg Leland shared of Ray Hicks, “Ray is the epitome of service and he always thinks about how he can improve our school facility for students.” Rene Knapp wrote of Angelina Keigley, “She comes to work every day with a great attitude, a smile on her face, and is eager to help the kids. She has a very kind soul and strives to make the time with her students the absolute best part of their day.” Tracie Crawford wrote of Julie Tuck, “Every day she strives to make a difference in each of the students’ lives who she works with.”
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To see the remaining tributes found in the 160 slide PowerPoint, please visit the online presentation here. The staff who produce the Mark Highlights salute these educators who touch student lives and make meaningful contributions to their fellow educators.
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To conclude, we share the words of our outstanding Human Resources Department, who wrote, “MUSD Recognizes the dedicated and committed employees who support and inspire our future generations. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. We appreciate you!”
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Classified 20 Years
Certificated 25 Years
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Classified 25 Years
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Certificated 30 Years
Certificated 35 Years
The Human Resources Team
Classified 35 Years
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From Student To Teacher at EUHS
When we reminiscence on our time spent in school, we remember our friends, our participation in school clubs, the dances we attended and usually, our memories trace us to a teacher. As a student, we invested over 1,000 hours in the classroom during an average school year. That is enough time for a great teacher to have made a great impact. “As a student, I had nothing but awesome experiences with every teacher I had,” shared Jared Carden.
“Every one of them had a strong influence on me.”
Jared Carden was raised in Manteca Unified. He promoted from McParland Elementary and graduated with East Union High School’s Class of 2010. Today, Jared is referred to as Mr. Carden by East Union students enrolled in his Computer Applications class in room 11. We’ve known that a relationship with a teacher can be critically important to how well students learn. Moreover, teachers contribute to a student’s selfesteem, self-care and how students reach their individual success. Jared continued, “They were all so passionate and caring about all their students. It really influenced me to pursue a career in teaching and coaching; I wanted to be a part of this
awesome group.” These positive school relationships extend beyond the classroom hours and translate into ambition and a student’s lifetime love of learning. “One teacher and coach in particular was Daniel Taylor. He began his teaching and coaching career at East Union during my senior year,” Jared reflected. “He was always so compassionate, energetic and fun to be around in both the classroom and on the field.” For Jared, these positive relationships have now developed into mentorships. Most of his former teachers, including Daniel Taylor, are still on campus. “Now that I am a teacher on campus here, Daniel has been an incredible support system during the last two years, the beginning of my teaching journey,” shared Carden. Jared graduated from California State University Stanislaus. “Originally, I was a history major
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because of how much I enjoyed my U.S. History class with Eric Simoni, Government with Brenda Greenlee and Economics with Dan Triglia,” Jared explains. “I changed my major to Business Administration and decided this would be the route I would take before becoming a teacher.” Jared obtained his teaching credential through Teachers College of San Joaquin in Stockton, attending night classes twice a week. Through the Teachers College, Jared has a support supervisor who mentors him and visits his classroom monthly to provide feedback. “From the start, Jared and I clicked,” expressed Tom Galvin, Jared’s Support Supervisor. “I could tell he was passionate about teaching, which is so critical to being an effective teacher.” This month, Jared has been honored by the University of Pacific’s Phi Delta Kappa Chapter receiving the “Outstanding New Teacher” award at the Marc Jantzen Education Awards ceremony for exemplary educators in our community.
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Tom Galvin recommended him for this honor. “To put his award in perspective, this year, there was a total of nearly 700 interns in the Teachers College,” explained Tom.
“Geographically, there were interns from Chowchilla to north of Sacramento and just 4 teachers were given this award. Jared being one! “He sees the big picture which is rare for beginning educators. Almost all beginning teachers struggle to keep their head above water,” explained Tom. “Not Jared. He is a perceptive person. He has wide vision. He’s a team player and will do anything for his school to ensure students are successful.” Tom added, “Many times, I have seen students pop in and ask about make up work. He readily had the material
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available.” Through Jared’s early experiences as a teacher and observations as a student, he has learned that great teachers show they care about their students as people. “I love my job and I believe it shows through my positive attitude and care for my students. At the end of every semester, I have my students fill out surveys where they can rate me as a teacher; my strengths and areas for improvements along with a ‘grade’ they give me,” Jared shared. “I take every piece of feedback and do my best to improve and reach all students.” Embracing and supporting students during the 1,000 plus hours per year plays a large trajectory toward a student’s educational pathway, social success, and leads to long-lasting impact—as it did with Jared. We’re familiar with the quote, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In Manteca Unified, we are the village and as always, we are #proudtobemusd.
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Lathrop HS Senior Signing Day by Jeremy Brooks LHS Teacher
“Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something that makes me happy and help others,” said Kaysey Matela. Matela and many other seniors, like her, came one step closer to pursuing their post high school plans during Lathrop High School (LHS) Senior Signing Day, held on May 2nd, 2019. She plans to attend San Francisco State University in the Fall and to graduate with a B.A. in physical therapy.
“My mom and brother, Kayson, influenced my decision the most,” said Matela. “My mom always pushed me to do good in school, but my brother is an athletic trainer, and I shadowed him at the clinic he works at and it sealed the deal.” During Senior Signing Day, students are recognized for their post high school plans to enroll in colleges, universities, trade schools, and the military. A crowd of students, parents,
faculty, and staff cheered for seniors as they walked across the stage. This is the second year LHS has held Senior Signing Day and it has already seen an increase in student participation. To them, it is important to hold the event during regular school hours. Freshman, sophomores, and juniors gathered around the stage to witness the event. “We do this event during the school day as a way for the underclassmen to see the variety of paths that our seniors are taking,” said LHS’s Student Activities Director Allison Birakos. As students walked across the stage one by one, they were greeted by Principal Greg Leland and Assistant Principal Martha Dent. Some seniors were escorted across the stage with family, faculty and or staff members. Each student sat down at a table, one at a time and signed their name. Once finished signing their name, each senior posed for a photo. Students also had a second opportunity to take additional celebratory photos,
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afterwards, near the bottom of the stage in front of a LHS Spartan backdrop. Some students plan to stay close to home after high school, while others plan to travel a little further. One of the recognized seniors, Gerardo Chin, revealed his first-year plan after high school is to go to Medical School in Mexico to become a surgeon.
“I want to open up a hospital in my hometown and help the people,” stated Chin. Another student, Sukhdev Bhanda, has made plans to stay close by and to attend school as a Bio-Chem major at University of Pacific in Stockton, CA. Bhanda’s plans were influenced by classes she took at LHS. “When I entered high school and took biology, chemistry, and calculus, I learned I loved formulas and what I could make with them,” said Bhanda. “This led to pharmacy. I hope to finish the five-year pharmacist program at UOP and then continue on and earn a doctorate degree.” Another student who plans to stay close by after high school is Rudy
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Esquibel. He plans to attend San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, CA, and eventually transfer to a 4-year University. Through extracurricular activities at Lathrop High School, Esquibel was able to decide what his post high school plans would be. “I was going back and forth between business and political science, but after being in E-15 and meeting judges and attorneys I realized law isn’t what I wanted to do,” said Esquibel. “Being in human resources is something that interests me, and you have to do what makes you happy in life so that you enjoy doing what you do.” One student credits an LHS teacher for influencing her post high school plans—her choir teacher Elizabeth VanEerde. Savannah Torres O’Callaghan said, “She taught me so much and
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has really made me fall in love with music the past six years.” After attending and graduating from Saint Mary’s College, Torres O’ Callaghan plans to become a choir teacher herself. Making the big decision on what universities or careers to pursue can be challenging.
“I created a list of qualities I wanted in a college and checked off what college best met that want,” said Torres O’ Callaghan. “In the end, I chose the college with the most checks.” Another student who walked across the stage, on Senior Signing Day, was LHS’s Salutatorian Will Smith. After
high school, Smith plans to enlist in the United States Navy. Once in the Navy, Smith is going to attend basic training, then travel to the East Coast to attend school for 18-26 months. After completing service with the Navy, Smith plans to become an Aerospace Engineer or Technician. Overall, Senior Signing Day was a huge success with the recognition of all the seniors who came one step closer to reaching their post high school plans. “Our Leadership students, under the direction of Allison Birakos, did a wonderful job hosting our Senior Signing Day,” said Principal Leland. “I was pleased to see that we had over 80 students participating, and in many cases, our students were wearing their college shirts and invited their parents to attend. This event continues to get bigger and better every year!”
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Tolman Swims at State Level Aisha Saeed
Student Intern Junior Meghan Tolman represented Sierra High School at the California Interscholastic Federation Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday May 10, 2019. After swimming sectionals, Tolman qualified for the state championships. Tolman had been dreaming of receiving this honor since freshman year. An avid swimmer, Tolman has worked tirelessly for the honor of being recognized at CIF Swimming and Diving Championships. Her hard work ethic and her passion for swimming had finally shone through, and this time, at the state level.
“Seeing that I had finally accomplished it will be a memory I’ll never forget,” said Tolman. Tolman excitedly took the challenge by the reins and said, “The season went pretty fast.” Tolman received all the help she could get. She accredits her team for encouraging her to excel at her highest level. “If I didn’t have my teammates beside me every step of the way, I know I wouldn’t be able to accomplish what I have this season,” said Tolman. Tolman humbles herself in being a part of the Sierra High School swimming team and enjoyed being a part of a life changing experience.
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She hopes to apply what she learned this year to the challenges that she will face in the forthcoming year while becoming a better athlete and even better leader for her team.
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No Challenge is Impossible by Ashley Gaspar, Safah Nassimi, Sanah Nassimi, & Evelyn Moua LHS Students
The phrase “first-generation graduate” is commonly associated with students who are the first in their family to attend college, however this term also applies to students who are the first to graduate high school. Lathrop High School is proud to have an upcoming firstgeneration high school graduate on our campus—Fatema Rahimi, an eighteen-year-old with an exceptionally inspiring story. Although both her parents came from Afghanistan, Fatema was born in Shiraz, Iran. At the time, Afghans faced severe prejudice from Iranians because they held Afghans responsible for arising national problems. In this West Asian country, it was hard for Afghans to have access to higher education, especially females. “Iran didn’t let Afghan people go to college,” Rahimi stated. “I couldn’t even go to a high school. I couldn’t go major in anything I want.” With her mother getting married at the age of fourteen and her father having to support his family financially,
Fatema’s parents were unable to complete their education as well. Nonetheless, Fatema yearned for better education in order to obtain a brighter future. For these reasons, Fatema and her family decided to migrate to the United States when she was fifteen. Unfortunately, their travels were delayed for one year due to certain complications, so they had to stay in a Romanian refugee camp.
“We had to live in one room with two families,” Rahimi said. While most families got to leave the camp in a couple of months, Fatema’s family had to stay there for a full year. Finally in 2016, Fatema and her family arrived in the United States where she began attending Lathrop High School as a tenth grader. Full of excitement, she could now achieve what once seemed impossible back in her home country. However, her lack of English skills, made learning difficult. Fluent in
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her native language of Farsi, English was a completely different and a difficult language for her to grasp. She struggled to maintain her grades. There were no translators available to help guide her academics because none of them spoke Farsi. Nevertheless, she has persevered in overcoming this language barrier and is proud of how far she’s come. “The first day I came here, I had Mr. Birakos for Health, and I didn’t understand anything in that class,” Rahimi said. “It was so hard in the first year, but after that, it got much better. I wanted to cry every day.
“But today, I am so impressed that I can write notes while the teacher is talking and understand everything.” Regardless of all the challenges Fatema has faced, she never lost her ambition to create a bright and successful future for herself. Being the eldest of her four siblings, Fatema now faces the pressures of being the first and she
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wants to be the best role model for her siblings. She is uncertain of what to expect in the future and entering the American education system was not a smooth transition, but she overcame her difficulties in understanding English. She has transformed her poor grades into a 4.0 GPA and is now taking rigorous courses, such as A.P. Biology. After graduating from Lathrop High School, Fatema wishes to embark on another educational journey. She intends to pursue a higher education at Modesto Junior College and is aspiring to become a future nurse. Fatema strongly believes that people from any background—no matter their race, socioeconomic status, or religion—should receive the same educational opportunities as others. Despite her previous discouragements, Fatema is an incredible example of someone who has overcome these circumstances. She has consistently proven that no challenge is impossible and that no obstacle can keep someone from achieving her dreams.
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Hazel Vera Overcomes Stroke & She Will Head to CSU Eastbay
Kaylee MacDannald Student Intern
Hazel Vera is a hard-working 18-yearold at Manteca who will be attending Cal State University Eastbay, Hayward in the fall of 2019. In fact, she will be the first one in her family to continue her education at a four-year University.
This can cause bleeding in the brain but in her case, the AVM resulted in a stroke.
Throughout high school, Hazel struggled with determining what she was going to do after graduation. But it wasn’t until a lifesaving medical miracle that she decided to pursue her second chance.
Vera said, “I couldn’t really walk, I couldn’t really talk, I couldn’t really eat, and this flipped my life around because sports was a huge part of it at that time.”
Her sophomore year, Hazel Vera was diagnosed with an AVM, which is a condition in the brain where the blood vessels are not formed properly.
The stroke had caused Hazel to become paralyzed throughout the whole left side of her body. “What really helped me overcome this challenge was not only my family but my physical therapist,” Vera said. “My physical therapist helped me regain my ability to perform everyday tasks and put my life back on track.” When Hazel had finished recovery and adapted to her new life, she was determined to use her second chance
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to help others go through what she did. Her plan was to push through high school with everything she had so she could get into a good college and become a therapist. Her parents and sister helped her come to this conclusion and assisted in every way possible to make it happen. “With this obstacle that came into my life I became very depressed but with my family and friends support, I got through it,” Vera said. “Now, I can pursue the rest of my life.” She is beyond grateful for everything they have done to help her become so successful. Although her family rallied together for support, Hazel’s counselor Rachel Strmiska helped her in a way the family couldn’t—with the application process for college and scholarships. The process was a difficult because no one else could guide her in the right direction until her counselor stepped in.
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Hazel believes that if it weren’t for Strmiska, she would not have this amazing opportunity. She has now been given the opportunity to go to Cal State Eastbay with the help of many local scholarships. These included: the Central Valley Association of Realtors Scholarship and San Joaquin Valley Chapter of National Defense Transportation Association. Hazel Vera could not be this successful and wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her family, therapist, friends, and counselor. She will now go on to change many lives just as hers was changed.
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Developing Their Future Daniel Acevedo Student Intern
Oh, the thrill of graduation! On May 31st, thanks to the support of the English Language Development (ELD) program, these students will be graduating A-G college ready. The road to graduation is a sometimes very hard one, and for students who don’t know English as a first language it can make that journey even more difficult. The ELD’s goal is to equip them with the skills they need to graduate at their highest potential.
“Its nice to see them go to college and not just graduate,” said Principal Raul Mora. “It’s phenomenal!” For those who do not know what the ELD program is, it is a program catered towards students who do not know English as a first language. It has helped students in not only English, but Math, History, and the arts. However, English language development—and familiarity with academic language—is the focus and there are many courses and levels of ELD. “There was only one ELD class when I came here and I noticed my students wouldn’t come back,” said Tarsha
Taylor-Godfrey, who oversees the EUHS ELD program. “I learned they weren’t coming back because they had no hope and options.” Although most ELD teachers are not fluent in another language, they use specific strategies to mentor these students to succeed in all of their academic classes. “The district funded a program and since then we have grown to three ELD classes and have additional curriculum,” said Taylor-Godfrey. At EUHS, many students can now thank this program for helping them become more successful in all of their academic classes. On May 15th, the students had a special graduation program. “It was nice to hear them say where they were going to build their future based on the help of this program,” said Mora. “Everyone needs support to level the playing field.”
A supportive campus and a proud principal helped these students to both graduate and achieve a desire for success to build a future for themselves. Not only are the students left feeling with greater purpose, but the teachers gain it as well. “It makes me feel like my purpose is being fulfilled, because as a teacher it’s really not about me or what I do but about how I can best serve the students that I have contact with every day,” said Taylor-Godfrey. All in all, the EUHS ELD students will be attending many different colleges in the fall and East Union is proud that the ELD program on campus has really instilled a drive for success in the students lives.
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Solei Marriott Inspires Weston Ranch by Savannah Gapasin and Daniela Mejia WRHS Students Solei-Marie Marriott is a freshman at Weston Ranch High School. She’s a good student, she plays softball and is considered a typical high school student. However, Solei isn’t just any ordinary freshman. Solei was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS), a rare medical condition in which the strands of the amniotic sac separate and entangle around parts of the fetus body. In Solei’s case, the bands of her amniotic sac wrapped around her leg and leaving it undeveloped. At only a few months old, doctors decided to amputate her leg. Because of this, Solei must use a prosthetic leg. But that doesn’t stop her. Because Solei plays softball—a sport where one of the main features is running—she is truly a remarkable person.
“I don’t want people to look at me differently and think that my leg is something that stops me, or that my personality is different just because of how things are,” Solie said. When she first joined the team, her prosthetic leg didn’t fit properly and caused her pain. Even so, this barrier didn’t stop her from having fun and enjoying her sport. On the softball diamond, it’s also
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challenging to field ground balls because she can’t get low like some of her teammates can. Solei receives the benefit of having a runner once she reaches the initial base, but getting there in the first place makes this part of the game difficult for her. Her situation has not only impacted her physically but mentally as she feared that she wouldn’t fit in. She has largely overcome this by being sociable and determined on the field, just like everyone else. “Solie, is a wonderful student who excels as much in the classroom as she does on the field,” said her digital photography teacher Mary Ferguson. “She is creative, energetic, and shares her leadership skills with others in the classroom.” For the most part, people react positively to Solei. Some people instantly ask her questions when they notice her leg. Solie has met challenges before, and always demonstrates her abilities to show that she is more than her physical issue. “Solei-Marie is always positive, outgoing, exceptionally creative and artistic,” said her drama teacher Bonnie Stogner. “As part of the backstage crew, she’s taken on physical work without complaint and with pure self-motivation. She is always there to support her peers and me, and I’m so proud of all that she’s
accomplished at such a young age!” David Hager added, “Solie was a student in my Computers in Health class. She came to work every day, had a positive outlook and was always there for a classmate.” Because ABS claimed her leg at a young age, she is used to every type of reaction that comes her way. Even through all of this, Solei has not let her condition get in her way. With selfmotivation and the encouragement of her friends, Solei joined the school’s softball team and played first base for the Cougars. Solei has never let her situation get in her way, and her story is an inspiration for the rest of us to try our best to overcome our challenges as well.
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School SROs Serve and Protect the Community
Cheering alongside high school seniors at a rally and friending Manteca’s famous white buffalo isn’t typical police work. But, there isn’t anything School Resource Officer Jason Downs wouldn’t do to make positive connections with students at Manteca High School.
“I take great pride in being able to interact with the students here,” Downs said. “I make sure students see the human aspect of my job.” It was nearly twenty-five years ago when Manteca Unified got their first
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School Resource Officers at East Union, Manteca and Sierra High School. Today, we have six School Resource Officers (SRO) among our 32 campuses spanning from Manteca to Lathrop to Weston Ranch. An SRO is a sworn law enforcement officer, with the primary responsibility to save and protect our communities’ children. Although they have the ability to make arrests, respond to emergencies, and enforce state and local laws; SROs are primarily responsible for safety of students and crime prevention in and around schools. But like any job centered around kids, there is nothing simple about it. It is a role involving wearing many hats with
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one big responsibility—protecting our kids. Officer April Smith is the SRO at Sierra High School and surrounding elementary schools, and she explains her role on campus. “In addition to the safety measures and crime prevention, an SRO’s job is not singular in nature,” stated Smith.
“The spectrum of what we deal with is far greater. We take on the roles of counselors, neighbors, mentors, friends, parents, negotiators, etc. Not just with the kids, but also staff.” Smith is originally from Iowa. Both her parents were correctional officers who set forth a strong foundation. Now residing locally with her husband and better half, Blair, she is a mother of two to Olivie age six and Benjoin age five. She has committed eighteen years to
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Manteca Police Department. Downs has nineteen years’ experience as a police officer doing field training, patrol, and detective work. For the last three years, he has served as an SRO. He shared that mentoring, next to student safety, is the most important aspect of his job today. Yes, this position is an unusual hybrid of counselor, mentor, cop and multiple adult roles, and perhaps no other job better personifies the shift in school culture and safety. SROs wear gold badges of trusted authority, a sidearm, a bulletproof vest, and drive an official S.U.V., but that doesn’t deter students from freely dispensing smiles or high fives. “We meet with the youth, build relationships with them, and show them that coming into contact with law
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enforcement is not always a negative part of society,” explained Downs. Officer Kurt Eriksen, SRO at Weston Ranch High School, New Vision High School and area elementary schools, said, “My everyday goal is to make a positive impact. I want people to see the police differently and strive for healthy relationships. Just like teachers, we’re public servants. Anyone who goes into police work wants to make their community better and I think SROs have the platform to do that.” Eriksen spent a lot of time growing up in Stockton. His family lives there and he completed basic training at the Stockton Police Academy. He has worked in Sacramento and in the Bay Area before returning home to the valley. He majored in Psychology knowing that he has always wanted to work with and help people.
Smith agrees in that she experiences many positive connections with the students and the community that is rarely an opportunity while on patrol. “While I am an SRO, I have the opportunity to connect in a different way and humanize my position more.” Downs expressed, “One of the benefits of being at the schools is that it allows the school and police partnership to blossom. As we all know, it takes both of us to make this community what it is.” Though students most often see our SROs in a kind, caring, and ask you how your day is going, fashion; They very quickly must become a tactical law enforcement officer when danger is present, as they are the first line of defense. Officer Bryon Elness, East Union High School’s SRO shares that he carefully monitors cameras, watching for nonstudents who walk onto campus so that he can make contact with them. “In one instance, an adult male was escorted off campus and advised of trespass. A few days later the same subject was arrested in Stockton for auto theft and other charges.”
“I am 100% confident that the subject came onto campus to commit thefts and he was prevented from doing so because of watchful campus monitors and immediate police presence,” Elness reported. Elness has been a sworn police officer for twenty-six years and holds an A.S. degree in Administration of Justice. He has worked as a patrol and training officer, served on the SWAT team and has done detective work. He joined
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Manteca Police Department in 2007 serving as a K9 officer. Elness resides locally with his wife and has three adult children. Each of our SROs agreed that working with juveniles allows the ability to implement different options and provide them with as many resources as possible. When the SRO is needed to intervene in a harmful situation such as student fights or drugs on campus, they spend most of the time counseling the students and offering helpful resources versus entering them into the criminal justice system. “I’d much rather lecture a student, get him counseling and offer him other recourses, if possible, than citing him into probation,” stated Elness. “I talk to students on a daily basis and try to communicate that their actions today can affect their lives tomorrow. I try to get them to make better life decisions so that they do not become lifetime criminals.” Eriksen shared that after he has made contact with students by intervening on a situation, most of the time the relationship between the student and himself has improved. And in
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the future, students have been more forthcoming with information whether they are the perpetrator or the victim.
of the school community, it helps everyone feel a little less concerned about the school day.
The presence of an SRO on campus is prominent and subsequently, so is their position within the community.
There is one thing our SRO’s have in common, and that is their heart. They all care for their students tremendously, just like our teachers do. They put in countless hours building relationships, trying to break through barriers and forge emotional connections with our students. They hope these connections will matter someday.
Downs reports that many times he has received or relayed information of incidents to other departments that have either resulted in lawful apprehensions or prevention of crime.
“Our youth commit just a small portion of crime in the community, and having that direct relationship helps to keep it that way,” Downs stated. In Weston Ranch, Eriksen has found that having an SRO at the high school gives the community access to police services that they may not feel like they already have. “I think that it breaks down that barrier, having someone at the high school five days a week versus seeing an officer every once in a while,” Eriksen said. “When the community sees the SRO’s being an active member
Note: We appreciate our SROs taking time toward the making of this feature story. Unfortunately, Lathrop area SROs were not available. We look forward to producing a part 2 sometime next school year.
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Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness
Timothy Zhang (baby) with parents Richard and Grace, Rodney Dong, PWCF Board of Directors, Senator Wilk, Kiran Dong and Roger Goatcher, PWCF Board of Directors President Senator Scott Wilk, representing the 21st Senate District, announced that the Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 28 that declares May 2019 as Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Awareness Month in the state of California. MUSD Deputy Superintendent Roger Goatcher has been a member of the Prader-Willi California Foundation (PWCF) for 21 years, and for the last four years has been the president of the foundation and member of the board. “Working for a school district, I have understanding in what an IEP is, and how to navigate systems,” said Goatcher. “It is important to get that awareness out and let families know what avenues they have for support.” Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a congenital genetic disorder that affects growth, behavior, metabolism and appetite. PWS leads to weaker muscle
and sexual development and a chronic, insatiable feeling of hunger. This often leads to overeating and is the most common genetic cause of morbid obesity. “With any kind of disability, the sooner you are able to provide services, the sooner the child is able to grow into their developmental milestones,” said Goatcher. “There will also be better outcomes in older life.” Now there is more information for doctors, parents, and educators, but Goatcher explained that there still needs to be more awareness.
“It is not only the diagnosis, but it is also getting awareness to other agencies,” Goatcher said. “We are trying to get PWS listed as one
of the criteria for Regional Centers to accept children into their program.” Currently, the Lanterman act lists how to qualify individuals for Regional Center services. Autism, epilepsy, and intellectual disability are listed, but PWS is not. “We feel that Prader-Willi is such a significant disability that it should be included,” Goatcher said. “A lot of families are denied when we first go to Regional Center. Only through the appeal process do they fully understand, which in the minds of parents is a fight that does not need to be fought.” Goatcher explained that it is the same thing with school districts. There are 13 criteria for a child to qualify for special education, and he believes that PWS should be the 14th. Once or twice a year, Goatcher trains families on the IEP process and what
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On the PWCF blog, they invite participants for their 19th annual walk to be held June 1st at little marina Green in San Francisco. Learn more here. to expect from school districts. He explains why the law is set up the way it is, and how to navigate the process to have a positive relationship with the school district. Goatcher further explained that for teachers, the most important thing to do is not judge kids and parents. “Know that parents are dealing with grief from what their child cannot do,” Goatcher said. “As much as teachers can, have open communication with parents to support them in their journey and how special education can help support their child and their needs.”
For teachers who are unfamiliar with PraderWilli Syndrome, there are some red flags to watch for. “It is a spectrum disorder so there are mild to very severe cases,” Goatcher said. “You would typically see children with insatiable appetite where they will eat anything. They will go through the garbage or student’s backpacks, searching and wanting anything to eat.” Goatcher emphasized that they are always feeling hungry and that this is something they cannot change.
“If you ever feel hungry, like in the ‘Hangry’ Snickers commercial where you are a different person when you are hungry, that is what some of our kids feel with PWS,” Goatcher said. “At certain times they will present more behaviors because of the hunger. They cannot just control it.” Perseveration is another area of challenge for our kids. Goatcher recommends strategies to divert attention and get students oriented on something else. “You could say something like, ‘That is really interesting about that movie. I will give you two more questions and then we have to move on,’” Goatcher said. “Then you are giving them the chance to recognize there is going to be an end, but they will be able to ask at least those two more questions to satisfy their thought process.” Goatcher further emphasized that students with a disability can still learn. Behaviors can still be changed. Teachers can meet student needs and help them get to the standards being learned. “We can all be compassionate and recognize that we have different needs,” Goatcher said. “With our character counts program, we embrace these ideas and incorporate acceptance of others into our daily lives.”
See below for more information about Prader-Willi Syndrome.
What is Prader-Willi syndrome? PWS is a complex genetic disorder affecting appetite, growth, metabolism, cognitive function and behavior. It is typically characterized by low muscle tone, short stature (when not treated with growth hormone), incomplete sexual development, cognitive disabilities, behavioral problems, and the hallmark characteristics – chronic feelings of insatiable hunger and a slowed metabolism that can lead to excessive eating and lifethreatening obesity. Those who have PWS need intervention and strict external controls, sometimes including padlocking access to food, to maintain normal weight and to help save their lives.
Who do I contact for additional information? Contact the Prader-Willi California Foundation at 1-800-400-9994 or at info@pwcf.org
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North Central Valley STEM Teacher of the Year 2019
Congratulations to Kenneth “Scott” Myers, the North Central Valley STEM Center (NCVSC) Albert Brocchini Memorial STEM Teacher of the Year. A teacher at Manteca Unified School District’s Be.Tech Charter School and Lathrop High School, Myers received the news from district and school administrators and visitors from the SJCOE. “This award is important to me because it validates the hard work my students put in day to day in the classroom and workshop,” said Myers.
“I would not have won the award were it not for the hard work and dedication of my students—who program and fabricate all of the projects that come out of my labs.”
Myers teaches how to design video games. At the award event, his students showcased a Virtual Reality simulation game they created that teaches users how to use a fire extinguisher to stop fire from spreading. “Their success in the classroom reflects the lessons I am teaching, and to have educational leaders from the North Central Valley STEM Center recognize this is both humbling and a great honor,” Myers said. “Aside from continuously updating the software we are using to match the industry, I’ve also added a lot of non-computer technology to the program.” Myers explained that STEM and STEAM are not only about robots and coding, but more about creating things. “The people I look up to are those who can create anything they want,” Myers said. “I’ve drawn inspiration watching people like my grandfather or Jamie Hynemen of Mythbusters create something from sheer will, ingenuity,
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and a crazy wide range of skills.” In his student workshop, Myers explained that he augments the programming and computer video game design that students learn with art, fabrication, drawing, mold making, casting, 3D printing, cutting, sawing, soldering, sewing, measuring and more. “So my goal in the past five years has been to create a program that not only teaches creation of really great video games, but we’re also teaching students how to get some of the things they dream up out of their brains and into the real world through a wide range of fabrication techniques,” Myers said.
“My students can program a video game, model the character, and then build a physical costume— they are learning a myriad of skills to carry on into the workforce and life.” Ken Johnson, a fellow Lathrop High School Spartan faculty member, nominated Myers for the award. “Kenneth works closely with teachers in other disciplines to play projects that include elements from all areas
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of education,” said Johnson. “Each of his units of instruction is tied to a project that requires students to use a wide range of skills from technology to traditional product development.” Johnson also explained how Myers gives back through constant presentations at education conferences. He and his students have also participated in charitable causes like the Magic Wheelchair. Myers received a plaque and a check for $1,000 for winning the award. The NCVSC is a regional collaborative partnership of area leaders in education, industry, and business. The award was named after Albert Brocchini, a Manteca farm owner who used innovative technology to mechanically harvest canning tomatoes. Brocchini served as an MUSD Trustee during the early district unification years ending in 1968.
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MHS Library Learning Commons
The library is a constantly evolving space. They continue to change and respond to the ways we seek knowledge and comfort. “The concept of a library has not changed from the beginning,” shared Mary Buchanan, Library Media Technician at Manteca High School. “The library has always been a place where people who want to learn can gather together and discuss all kinds of things as well as learn from each other.” The library space at Manteca High School has been renovated by Angie Anaya’s CTE Interior Design class and Wednesday, May 21st was the big reveal day. Today, it is known as the Library Learning Commons. With vibrant colors, full
of natural light and creative spaces to promote a 21st century learning environment.
Buchanan describes the library as a dynamic hub. Students are seeking less formal, comforting spaces for groups or friends to come together and teachers are seeking a makerspace. “Once teachers and students see the new space i think they’ll really want to come in and enjoy it,” expressed Anaya. “I can envision these creative areas being used. Where a teacher can bring a class and divide them up into rotations. One group can work in the chalkboard area, one can work on the Lego wall, while another can be doing research. There are lots of possibilities in this space.”
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“All of the furniture is on wheels. So, in moment’s notice, we can reconfigure the space for any class,” add Buchanan. Buchanan has some ideas for the space, too. “Next year, I want to reach out to more departments to get them involved with the library program. I’d like to do band book week with the social science classes. I did a STEAM activity with a science teacher and I’d love to do a STEAM night with families; that’d be awesome!” School libraries also meet the needs of parents. Buchanan described how she invited ELAC parents to visit the library if they needed help with computers, and some did. A school library has always served as a haven for some students. Students will trickle in during their lunches or breaks, by themselves or in small groups. Buchanan makes them feel welcome.
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“I’ve never been a “shush” librarian,” affirmed Buchanan. “I have lots of conversations with students who just find that it’s a safe place to be. We talk about books and various literacy.” The new Library Learning Commons was carefully designed by students to interest and meet the needs of today’s students. This nearly forgotten space has now become a true part of the campus. “I’ve seen twice as many kids in the library just this morning,” Buchanan shared.
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M.E.L.S. Garage Paint Night On May 6th, MELS Garage hosted a staff Paint Night taught by Lathrop High School Art Teacher Erika Chapman. Forty MUSD teachers and staff brought out their creativity and had a great evening together.
Fun with Balloons Students from Lathrop High School’s Advantage Future Teachers club planned and led the Fun with Balloons K-2 class hosted by MELS Garage. Students learned how air from a balloon can be converted into kinetic energy, to move different mediums with a little bit of engineering. Students designed their own balloon rockets, hover crafts, and cars, and then competed in races to determine whose vehicle was the fastest.
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Cool Compass Creations MELS Garage hosted Cool Compass Creations for 2nd – 5th grade students, developed by Manteca High School’s Advantage Future Teachers Pathway Teacher Kim Merrill. Students learned about the history and properties of magnets, how they work, and what they are attracted to. Students then learned about the earths magnetic field and how compasses work. Using their knowledge, students built their own compasses using magnets.
Brush Bots 2-4 grade students built and decorated their own motorized robots in MELS Brush Bots class. They learned about electronic circuit flow and how vibrations can move an object.
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Years of Service Celebration Page 28