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Snow-capped Mt. Diablo behind Diablo View MS

News & Announcements

BHM252-13-25flyer

Dear Concord High Families,

On Thursday February 13th, the MDUSD African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) will be hosting a Black History Month Program. Please come out to be informed and inspired through learning about the historical accomplishments of African Americans. We will hear speeches, poetry and narratives of prominent and unsung Black Americans. 
All are welcome!!

 

Event Location: 235 Pacifica Ave. Bay Point, CA

                          Thursday, February 13th, 2025 @ 6:00PM

Read More about MDUSD African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) hosting Black History Month Program on February 13th, 6:00pm
our-east-contra-costa-story-has-wings

Hello Community & Freedom Fighters,

The East County NAACP Is Proud to sponsor this year's Black History Month: Our East Contra Costa Story Has Wings play. Written & Co-Directed by Gavin Payton, NAACP East County Youth Council President & Trecinna Lankford-Abundis, Lively Stones Agency for Change President. Please see the Eventbrite link to RSVP & The Flyer for more information. 

When? Feb 22 @ 3:00 pm

Where? 340 E 10th St. Pittsburg, CA 94565

Contact: (925) 240-3539 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-history-month-our-east-contra-costa-story-has-wings-tickets-1139303921699?aff=oddtdtcreator

Read More about Black History Month: Our East Contra Costa County Story Has Wings
Message from Superintendent

Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to the MDUSD community on Feb. 9, 2025:

Dear MDUSD Community,

At MDUSD, our #1 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) goal is clear: All students will receive a high-quality education in a safe and welcoming environment with high expectations and rigorous instruction in the California State Standards that prepare them for college and career. This commitment is unwavering, and it applies to every student, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances.

We recognize that recent legal changes may have raised concerns for some students, families, and employees, particularly those in our LGBTQ+ and transgender communities. We want to assure you that MDUSD remains steadfast in upholding the rights and protections of all students and staff under California law and our Board policies.

California law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics. Our District policies reinforce these protections, ensuring that all students have equal access to educational programs, extracurricular activities, and school facilities in alignment with their gender identity. We also provide comprehensive and inclusive curriculum and support services that reflect the diversity of our student body.

Bullying, harassment, or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our schools. If any student or family has concerns, we encourage you to reach out to your school administration or the District office. Every student deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected in our schools.

We will continue to create learning environments where all students can thrive, knowing they are fully supported by their school community. Thank you for being our partners in this important work.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Clark

See attached: California Law and Board Policies regarding rights of LGBTQ+ students

Read More about Superintendent Message: Safe and Welcoming Environment
SEL journal program

When Northgate HS student Ava Scattergood was thinking about what kind of project she could complete to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, she remembered how much she enjoyed writing to express her feelings during the pandemic at the end of her 6th grade year and while she was in 7th grade at Foothill MS. "I realized that writing was a great way to express your emotions, instead of bottling them up inside and being aggressive or saying things you don't mean," she said. "It's a good way to clear your mind and put your feelings into words."

So, she interviewed a local psychologist and an expert in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to create lists of mental health journaling and art prompts for children in grades TK-5. Then, she worked with principals and teachers at a handful of MDUSD elementary schools including Valle Verde and Mt. Diablo elementary schools, to implement the program. She surveyed students at the end of the year, and then tweaked the questions and posted them online at myfeelingsjournal.com as an SEL resource for schools and families. She earned her Gold Award and is now trying to spread the word about the online resource as a way for young students to safely express themselves, explore their emotions and anxieties, and work through problems they may be facing. Already, the National PTA has posted a link to her website on its ArtsEd Resource Webpage (under "Support Creating Art at Home").

Valle Verde Elementary 1st grade teacher Jenn Philips said the journaling was "a very special project" and that her students LOVED writing and drawing in response to Ava's prompts, which covered a wide variety of topics. "The prompts were also great discussion points to talk about as a class and build community together so all students felt safe and comfortable," Philips said. "They were creative, thoughtful, and fun for the students to respond to in their Feeling Journal and share with their peers and teacher."

The prompts included: "Who is your hero? Why?" "If you could be an animal, what would be and why?" "Write about a time you cried. What happened? How did you fix it?" "Draw a worry monster." "What should you do to make it go away?"

Mt. Diablo Elementary Principal Sara Harris said her school's 1st through 3rd-graders participated in the program last year, with some students continuing this year. She said it helped students express their emotions, deal with stress, improve their focus and behavior, build empathy, and boosted their confidence. And it helped teachers better understand their students, manage their classrooms, reflect on their own emotional responses to students' feelings, and strengthen their teacher-student relationships. Harris said she would recommend the program to other elementary schools in the district, especially if teachers were trained on how to use it effectively. "Not only does it support students’ emotional development, but it also creates a more emotionally aware and supportive school culture," she said. "Teachers benefit too, with a clearer understanding of their students and a better approach to handling emotions within the classroom." 

The project also piqued Ava's interest in psychology and mental health, which prompted her to found a Mental Health and Wellness Club at Northgate that includes about 25 students who work with the AP psychology teacher and Social Work Specialist in the school's Wellness Center to help students deal with stress and other issues. Ava is considering expanding her prompts for middle or high school students and says her club meetings always start with journaling. She is also working with the American Heart Association's "Teen Impact" program to raise money and awareness for heart health through April 10. Now a junior, Ava said she hasn't yet decided what she will tackle for her senior project next year. She might expand her feelings journal, or try something completely new. 

SEL journal program

 

Read More about Northgate HS student earns Girl Scout Gold Award for "My Feelings" Journaling program used at some MDUSD elementary schools
Friday Letter

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights:

  • Northgate HS student Ava Scattergood's "My Feelings Journal" project helps young students in grades TK-5 develop Social Emotional Learning skills,
  • National School Counseling Week reflections,
  • Recap of the recent HBCU Fair at Mt. Diablo High School,
  • A guest column on the Northgate HS Black Student Union’s Black and African American History Month events,
  • The "Ashes for Beauty" club at Ygnacio Valley High School that helps students overcome challenges, T
  • The Pleasant Hill MS "Cake" Art Exhibit is on display at the Pleasant Hill Library,
  • Mt. Diablo High School Girls Basketball Coach Ronnie McGee, Northgate High School’s Cheer Team, and the Ygnacio Valley Boys Basketball team led by Antonio Kellogg Jr. making news headlines,
  • And more!

You can read it here

Friday Letter

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Read More about Friday Letter - February 7, 2025
Message from Superintendent

Today, a former Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) employee was arrested and criminally charged following an investigation into the misuse of District funds. The District first uncovered evidence indicating potential financial misconduct related to contracts with an afterschool care provider and took immediate action by filing a report with the Concord Police Department. Additionally, the District hired an independent forensic accountant to conduct a financial audit.

The District’s internal review found that public funds intended for student services were potentially misappropriated. Specifically, initial findings suggest that hundreds of electronic devices, including iPads, were purchased but never delivered to District sites or used for student programs. The District is working closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure a full and thorough investigation, and it will pursue all legal avenues to recover any misused funds.

“Educating our children is our most pressing priority,” said Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark. “Anyone who attempts to misuse funds intended for the education of our students will be held accountable. We are committed to full transparency and will continue to take decisive action to safeguard public resources and protect the integrity of our programs.”

As this matter involves ongoing litigation, the District cannot comment further on specific details at this time. However, we will continue to provide updates as appropriate. We encourage our community to review the Department of Justice’s Press Release for more information.

Rego Indictment Attachment

 

Read More about Statement regarding arrest of former MDUSD employee charged with defrauding the District in fake invoices scheme
Farsi Heritage language listening session

MDUSD's Multilingual Education Department held its second Farsi Heritage Language Listening Session on Thursday to get feedback on an idea to offer a Farsi Heritage Language program to the more than 500 District students whose families speak Farsi or Dari. The Department plans to host another Farsi Listening Session in the future and to distribute an online survey, said Chitra Bhardwaj, Assistant Director of Multilingual Education.

Bhardwaj and other members of the Department shared a PowerPoint presentation that showed Persian (including Iranian, Farsi and Afghan Dari), is spoken by 542 students, making it the second-most common language other than English spoken by District students, behind Spanish. The presentation also showed that 764 District students were born in Afghanistan, making it the top birth country of MDUSD students outside the U.S. out of 126 countries, as of October, 2024. 

A "Heritage Language Program" includes instruction in the language of an immigrant student's native country, Bhardwaj said. As an immigrant from India, she said that the loss of an person's native language in the U.S. can feel like "a loss of identity." She realized that "in order to learn a new language, we don't have a lose a language. We don't have to get rid of our roots." A Farsi Heritage Language program could help families to preserve students' culture and language, and enhance their sense of belonging, Bhardwaj said, adding that she has previously launched successful heritage language programs in Washington state. 

Parents and school staff members who attended the event were enthusiastic about the idea. Some parents said they have been speaking Farsi with their children at home so they won't forget it, while also helping them to learn English for their schoolwork. Bhardwaj said the District wants feedback as it "dreams" of its "vision" for the program, which could include Farsi instruction in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and other subject areas during the school day. 

Ideas suggested for further consideration included Farsi poetry, offering a high school level Farsi for Farsi speakers World Language course that would meet college A-G course requirements, and expanding the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) at Ygnacio Valley HS to include instruction in Farsi that would earn students IB bilingual recognition. Ygnacio Valley HS Vice Principal Carissa Weintraub and Community Services Assistant Azam Rasuli said their school has about 65 Afghan students they believe would benefit from a Farsi Heritage Language program. 

Bhardwaj said staff and administrators at Mt. Diablo HS and Oak Grove MS have also expressed interest in bringing a Farsi Heritage Language program to their schools. "We have received so much positive affirmation," she said. "I think it's so beautiful." 

Farsi Heritage language listening session

 

Read More about Farsi listening session explores expansion of community-based Heritage Language programs
Friday Letter

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights:

  • Farsi Heritage Language Listening Session,
  • MDUSD high school Diablo Athletic League (DAL) Fall sports standout athletes,
  • Foothill MS art students visit the Animation Career Pathway class at Northgate HS,
  • Pleasant Hill MS takes part in the Great Kindness Challenge,
  • School Social Media highlights including elementary school celebrations of the 100th day of school and Lunar New Year, a MS basketball event, and HS student achievements and activities;
  • And more!
Friday Letter

 

Read More about Friday Letter - January31, 2025
College Now flyer

College Now, MDUSD's "middle college," is recruiting 11th and 12th graders for the 2025-2026 school year. Through a partnership with Diablo Valley College (DVC), College Now allows students to start college while they are still in high school. College Now students attend both high school and college classes on DVC's campus, using those college classes to meet graduation and college entrance requirements. Students in the alternative high school program also have the opportunity to explore possible career interests. The goal is for all College Now graduates to finish high school with at least one year of college completed. This head start on college saves both time and money when students go on to complete college.  

Over the last several weeks, College Now presented to 10th graders at all of District high schools. College Now will host two parent information nights next month:

  • February 5 at MDUSD's Willow Creek Center and
  • February 11 at Mt. Diablo High School

The February 5 meeting will also have a virtual option. Please see the attached flyers for more information. Applications are due on February 13. 

Started in 2016-17, College Now is targeted toward students who are self-motivated, independent learners seeking more academic rigor in a supportive community of teachers, counselors and tutors. This includes students who may feel disconnected from their regular high school, who are able to do college-level work and are looking for something different. The program has received a $250,000 Middle College/Early College grant from the state to expand from its original 60 students (30 juniors and 30 seniors) up to 120 students This year, about 98 students are enrolled in the program, including juniors Nathan Torres and Zahra Almukter, who previously attended Mt. Diablo HS and Concord HS respectively. They both highly recommend the program and say it provided them with a "fresh start" on a college campus in a small community of students, teachers and counselors that feels like a family, where everyone treats each other with respect and cares about each other. "I view DVC as my second home," Nathan said. "I'm enjoying my time here." 

They both work outside of school and say they appreciate the program's focus on making connections between what they are learning in class to their lives, which makes classes relevant and engaging. Both said they have grown and matured since starting the program last semester, gaining confidence in their academic abilities, as well as in their social, emotional, public speaking and life skills. They were both seeking new challenges and are excited to be part of a diverse student population that includes teens as well as adults in their college classes. "There are a lot of different people and they all have their own stories and we all learn from each other," Zahra said. They said teachers, counselors and tutors give constructive feedback on assignments and in one-on-one meetings that helps them to think critically, overcome struggles and reflect on their short-term goals and their long-term goals after graduation. For example, Zahra said math teacher Ms. Higby encourages students to ask questions if they don't understand something. "I find that so helpful, because if you're able to pinpoint your confusion, you can work through it," she said. "Teachers here want the best for their students."

Social Studies teacher Erica Shaw, who often posts on social media about students' educational experiences, said, "I teach in College Now to empower all students to analyze the world around them so they can create the future they want for themselves and their community." Counselor Rima Boujaoude added: "I came to College Now because it provides a unique opportunity for students to be a part of a smaller learning community, and allows me to get to know each student as an individual, which is a challenge in a comprehensive high school setting. I firmly believe in the program's commitment to constantly striving to break down barriers to higher education, as well as to other postsecondary options, so all students can recognize their full potential."

Check out the College Now Social Media highlights below to see how students have started off this school year.

College Now flyer

 

College Now flyer
College Now students

College Now juniors Nathan Torres and Zahra Almukter stand in the Diablo Valley College quad on a break between high school and college classes on the campus.

College Now highlights

College Now students participate in a variety of fun and educational activities throughout the year. Recent social media highlights include: US History students used AI to generate Funko Pop industrialists and labor organizers as they learned about industrialization and the Gilded Age, Seniors participated an in “Econ Island” simulation that required them to determine economic goals and set up their own societies, in a community-building activity, students got to know each other better through “speed dating” style conversations, and Students finished the first week of the 2nd semester reviewing their “why we are here” statements, then participating in a paper airplane competition and trivia game including current events questions.

Read More about MDUSD's "College Now" program at DVC is accepting applications for 2025-26 through Feb. 13!
Friday Letter

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights:

  • The College Now program at Diablo Valley College (DVC) is currently recruiting juniors and seniors for the 2025-26 school year,
  • Highlights from this week’s Board of Education meeting, including Superintendent’s Report,
  • A recent KPIX news report focused on student safety,
  • A recent Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teacher training that focused on making literacy fun for our young learners,
  • Our Resource of the Week designed to support our immigrant families, offering a step-by-step guide on how to Create a Family Preparedness Plan,
  • College Park HS Biomedical Sciences students practice blood draws,
  • School and staff social media highlights, including peeks into the fun experiences students are enjoying in the College Now program;
  • And more!

You can read it here

Friday Letter

 

Read More about Friday Letter - January 24, 2025
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