This is the 32nd and final edition of the Friday Brights until fall 2024. |
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Student Board Member, Anya Ayyappan, whose service came to a close at Tuesday night’s Board meeting, reflected on her experience and wanted to share these words with the community. Serving as SRVUSD’s student board member has been one of my most rewarding experiences, and I want to share some highlights from the past school year: -
Witnessing the development and refinement of lessons for the district’s new Ethnic Studies curriculum. Secondary students have been engaged in the process through panels and student steering committees and have shared their excitement for a tailored course that reflects the diversity of our community.
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Initiating Student Trustee office hours. Through this channel, I met with several secondary students, conveying their concerns to district staff, connecting them with steering committees, and supporting their projects to better our community.
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Providing input on the integration of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) into SRVUSD classrooms. At Deep Learning & Innovation Committee meetings, I discussed SRVUSD’s Guiding Principles for AI with fellow students before voting for its approval.
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Attending site visits. Seeking avenues to hear directly from elementary schoolers, I visited Montair Elementary, where I met with their Student Senate and observed classes.
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Reviewing grading policies of school districts across the country to identify best practices. I always had the most thought-provoking conversations at Grading Reform Committee meetings, where student perspective is highly valued.
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These are just a few of the many wonderful experiences I have had serving in this role. I am so grateful for all the relationships I have formed. This role has taught me that even in the most challenging situations, there is always a path forward. It is hard to believe that this two-year journey is coming to a close. I have discovered a deep passion for education reform, which I will continue to explore at Stanford University in the fall. I am truly humbled to have had the privilege of representing the district’s 30,000 students. I look forward to a smooth transition as the next SRVUSD student board member is onboarded over the summer.
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#SuccessReimagined: Out and About with Dr. Malloy |
Dr. Malloy spoke to parent and caregiver leaders, volunteers, school administrators and district staff at the PTA Annual Recognition Breakfast. Dr. Malloy emphasized how relationships matter and expressed, “My relationship to the Council of PTAs is something I will never forget.”
Reflecting on the collective work and partnership between SRVUSD and PTA, he emphasized the importance of broadening educational pathways, expanding foundational learning, and elevating student voice. “When our students find their voice, I have been challenged, inspired and humbled,” said Dr. Malloy. Despite the challenges of COVID, it is clear that SRVUSD has done incredible work, and so many of our efforts are amplified because of the role of PTA and the engagement of all parents and caregivers.
Not only was the Recognition Breakfast an opportunity for Dr. Malloy to say a formal goodbye to the PTA leaders from all 35 SRVUSD schools, it was also the perfect time for the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs to express their gratitude and appreciation for Dr. Malloy’s service as Superintendent and present him an award for his tireless dedication and integral role in the success of SRVUSD during his tenure. |
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It’s time to Focus on Funding! At SRVUSD, we want to ensure our community is informed and aware of information on funding and finance related to our schools and the district. We will Focus on Funding by answering Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on social media and in the Friday Brights. We will also soon launch an FAQ webpage. |
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| Q: I keep hearing that SRVUSD is one of the lowest-funded unified districts in the state. Why is this the case?
A: Many people think that because of our high property values, we have well-funded schools. But that isn’t the case. School district funding is predominantly determined by the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). This year, SRVUSD's LCFF funding per student is the fifth lowest of unified districts in the state. Even with additional generous local support from parents and the community, per-pupil funding in SRVUSD is significantly lower than in some of our neighboring districts. For an accessible explanation for how LCFF works and why it's important, see ed100.org/lessons/lcff.
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School Highlight: Deep Learning and Innovation in Action |
At Neil Armstrong, second graders are not just students - they’re also budding producers and savvy consumers, diving into the world of Economics. Guided by teachers, Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Baker, these young entrepreneurs embarked on a learning adventure to gain a foundation of consumer markets, advertising, money, and counting change.
Students chose a product to sell, crafted a catchy commercial using posters, Canva, videos or a Google slides presentation and set a price to attract eager buyers. The learning culminated in a Selling Day when they practiced their newly honed money skills by buying and selling with classmates and making change with confidence. This fun-filled project not only brought learning to life but also challenged our second graders to employ essential skills identified in our Learner Profile: becoming critical thinkers, creative communicators, intentional collaborators, adaptable learners, and effective communicators. Neil Armstrong, thank you for equipping these young entrepreneurs with knowledge and lifelong skills
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Steering for Success: Shared Leadership in SRVUSD |
This school year, the Deep Learning & Innovation Steering Committee had different focus areas for elementary and secondary.
For elementary, the research centered on the Science of Reading and the importance of students’ ability to build background knowledge in science, history, literature and the arts to support reading comprehension. Work is underway to create a strong educational sequence that incorporates current curriculum and aligns with a Science of Reading framework. We encourage you to learn more about the Science of Reading and other English Language Arts curriculum in SRVUSD.
For secondary, the committee’s goal was to address this essential question: how will we reimagine our secondary schools to accomplish the vision for our Learner Profile? Committee members explored innovative practices from outside our district and partnered with organizations to broaden their understanding of what deep learning and innovation can be. Using this knowledge, they formulated a vision aligned with the following principles: collaborative culture, personalized pathways for students, a student-centered approach to instructional design, equity, and purposeful environments.
The Grade Reform Sub-Committee spent extensive time examining the policies of other districts to inform their work. They have begun drafting proposed updates of our grading and assessment policies to more clearly reflect the district’s Strategic Directions, values, and goals. In the fall, the committee will solicit extensive input on these updated policies from all partners including staff, parents/caregivers and students.
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Open House events are always an exciting time to showcase student’s work efforts, meet teachers, learn about curriculum, and build community. Many schools’ Open House events have already taken place, with some still yet to come. Recently, Gale Ranch Middle held their Open House where some amazing student work and projects were on display in classrooms and Gryphon pride was in full swing! The GRMS Ed Fund had a Kona Ice truck as a fundraiser and each staff member got a free cone for teacher appreciation week. It was a great event and was very well attended this year!
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Bright Lights is an awards program established by San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s SELPA’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to recognize employees and volunteers who go above and beyond in support of our students with special needs. We were thrilled to celebrate these outstanding 2023-24 Bright Light Award winners this week at a reception and the Board meeting: Stephanie Huff- School Psychologist, Counseling Enriched Program at Monte Vista High Stephanie Berman- Behavior Analyst, multiple sites Kelly Crotti- Teacher, Walt Disney Elementary Jenna Tooliatos- Resource Specialist, Los Cerros Middle School Sushma Rathi- Teacher, Montair Elementary Sarah Sanchez- Teacher, Infant Program at Hidden Hills Elementary Simran Badwal- Teacher, San Ramon Valley High School Angie Kojreka- Administrator Ollie Frieson- Student Volunteer
Neil Chandran- Student and Community Partner |
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Talk with a Trustee: Upcoming Opportunities |
SRVUSD IMPORTANT INFORMATION -
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
Every five years SRVUSD partners with Contra Costa County to submit a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The draft of our current plan is now available and is open for public comment until May 31st. Please see this flyer about local hazards for additional details about the plan, how to provide public comment, and how to learn more about our local hazards. You can also go online to review information about hazards and learn about emergency preparedness in SRVUSD.
- This year’s Annual Update will open in mid-July. All families must complete this important document prior to the start of school to:
- Ensure your student’s safety in emergency situations
- Decide how your student's information can be shared
- Understand your Rights and Responsibilities
- Review newtechnology use and fees
- Qualify for educational benefits
Watch for an email next week with details and important information!
EVENTS -
Child Nutrition Hiring Event
June 11, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm.
Many positions are available including Cooks, Kitchen Assistants, Rovers, and more. Competitive wages and benefits are offered. Apply yourself or share with a friend. Filling these critical positions would help SRVUSD provide high quality, scratch meals for all students.
PARENT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP
Reminder: We encourage our families to register for The Parent Venture newsletter to keep updated on all of the free upcoming workshops and events. Other resources include The Parent Venture website and Parent Education Series Video Library.
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