Fall District Celebration

The MUSD Board of Trustees held their biannual District Celebration in recognition of student and staff achievement, at Sierra High School on October 29th.

Over 300 students were honored for their academic, athletic, artistic, career technical education, and other successes.

Board President Schluer opened the evening, “It is our GREAT pleasure to welcome you to our District Celebration. This day allows us to formally acknowledge the efforts of our staff, the excellence of our students and allows us to thank the community for coming together.”

MUSD Superintendent Dr. Clark Burke took to the podium, “I would like to personally welcome every principal, teacher, and coach in the audience tonight. These accomplishments begin in the classroom and on the field, and tonight’s recognitions are an indication of your mentorship and dedication in the lives of our students.”

The East Union JROTC presented the flag while the San Joaquin County Honor Choir members from East Union sang the National Anthem.

Student board representative from Sierra High School, Rupina Sandhu, took the podium next, “Good evening. My name is Rupina Sandhu, and I represent Sierra High School as the Student Board Member. Tonight, myself alongside my fellow student board members, have the great privilege of serving as Master of Ceremonies.”

The remaining student board representatives are MaryAnn Bueno, Brooklyn Johnson, Julia Odom, and Alejandra Arevalo Mercado, who could not be in attendance that evening.

Rupina continued, “Most of all, we wish to welcome our District honorees who are gathered here tonight with their family members. We know that without the support of family, it would not be possible to accomplish the many things that we do.”

The Sierra High School Advanced Band, under the leadership of Band Director Mr. Rick Hammarstrom, was introduced to the audience and performed a peppy piece called Bandology.

The recognitions began honoring academic achievements. Among the first were California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, high scale scores. This exam is given to students in grades 3rd -8th and 11th, in the subjects of Math and English Language Arts.

The CAASPP allows the District to evaluate student individual needs and measures progress toward grade level standards; In many ways, it measures years put into learning by the student.

“The CAASPP honorees have achieved the highest scale score possible per grade level in English, Math, or both! This is truly impressive,” described Steve Moretto, Manteca Unified Coordinator of Testing and Evaluation.

Manteca Unified honored 120 students with a top scale score on the Spring 2019 exam.

MaryAnn Bueno, student board representative from Manteca High School, prefaced the next recognitions. “Another kind of assessment, one that can earn a student college credit, is the advanced placement – or AP Exam. The District Celebration honored students who have earned the highest score on an Advanced Placement Exam administered through College Board.”

Clara Schmiedt, Senior Director of Secondary Education, announced, “This exam is an equivalent to a college level course and is usually taken by juniors or seniors who have excelled in a high school AP course. When a qualifying score is earned, this score grants students college credits. While the average score on these Exams is a “3”, tonight’s honorees earned a “5” which is the highest possible score and is earned by less than 10% of those who take the test.”

She continued, “Students, your achievement is a direct reflection of the countless hours committed to your academics. On behalf of your teachers and all of MUSD, Congratulations!”

Manteca Unified honored 80 students who earned a “5” on the AP Exam witha few students earning a “5” on more than one exam.

Concluding the academic achievement category, the Board of Trustees recognized one student from each elementary school who has exhibited the most growth, among their entire school, in their Scholastic Reading Inventory score.

Lisa Goodwin, Vice Principal of Great Valley Elementary, announced, “Scholastic Reading Inventory is a computer-adaptive reading assessment program, designed to measure how well students read literature and descriptive texts of increasing difficulties.

“Students work all year to improve their score. The students honored tonight in this category have demonstrated the most growth in SRI score from their school, in the 18/19 school year. What an incredible achievement!”

Brooklyn Johnson, student board representative from East Union High School, introduced the athletic category. “For their commitment to themselves, their teams, and their schools, this next category honors students who have received honors—at the county level or higher—for their outstanding Athletic Achievements.”

Students in this category were congratulated for being named VOL most valuable player, and invitees to compete in the CIF state championships. The track and field team from Lathrop High School was recognized as CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Champions in the 4x 100 Meter.

Other recognitions included students who have received various honors and awards in CTE, or Career Technical Education. CTE classrooms specialize in skilled trades, applied sciences, modern technologies, and career preparation.

This category honored STEM Teacher of the Year, Kenneth Scott Myers, and STEM Student of the Year, Makayla Ruiz. As well as several FFA and FCCLA state and national winning awards.

Student board representative Julia Odom from Lathrop High School announced the arts category. “In the world of performing arts, representing Manteca Unified in the San Joaquin County Honor Choir, 17 students in Manteca Unified have auditioned and have been selected to perform among the top 100 high school singers in the county. Congratulations, students!”

She continued, “In visual arts, Manteca Unified hosts an annual District Art Show which showcases selected student artworks from the year. It is the Best of the Best student artwork from all comprehensive high schools; Winning artworks in Ceramics, Advanced Art, Digital Photography, and Graphic Design to name a few. Students spend nearly the entire semester creating their masterpieces.

“At the district art show, student works are chosen by an outside expert in a specific art field. Students announced tonight represent the Best of the Best Art Show in select categories, and an overall winner as collectively decided by the Art Show judges.”

The Best of Category in Advanced Digital Photography and the Best of the Best Overall winner was Sergio Tapis from Lathrop High School.

To conclude the evening’s recognitions, a citizenship category honored just a few unique staff and students.

Julia described, “The kind of recognition where there are no do’s or don’ts, no scores to attain, and no one having asked you to go the extra mile. These honorees are bighearted people, who have stepped up in one way or another. The kind of people who build strong communities and truly make you PROUD TO BE MUSD!”

Kristen Ashley, MUSD graduate, was honored for her significant contributions made to Manteca Unified and its AED research.

Michele Silveira, 1st grade teacher from Lathrop Elementary, was nominated by her peers as an exemplary educator for ABC10’s Teacher of the Month. Her colleagues say she goes beyond the call of duty. She makes great effort to build positive rapport with students, parents and colleagues, and is the first to share ideas, volunteer, and support any way she can.

Derrick Burnett, Taylor Millin and Ernie Williams are Lincoln Elementary teachers recognized for being awarded by the State Adapted Physical Education Council this year’s exemplary program and APE team of the year.

Ryan Tarr, teacher from East Union High School, awarded for an act of heroism by saving the life of a student during class time.

Last but not least, Daria Perkins, student of Weston Ranch High School, who participated by invitation in the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. She received an award of excellence for her outstanding academic performance and leadership potential and dedication to serving humanity through the profession of medicine.

Julia closed the evening ceremony, “Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes our ceremonies tonight! I want to take a moment to thank everyone who made this event possible, especially our teachers and administrators who recommend students and staff.”

300 Students and Staff Recognized

120 Students Earned a Top Score on CAASPP Test

80 Students Earned a “5” on an AP Exam

4 Sac-Joaquin Section Champions