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District News

Teachers Pitch Ideas for Enhancing Student Learning

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

Compassion for students and passion for teaching and learning were on display at the district’s first Teacher Innovation Team Grant Pitchfest, Tuesday, October 26th. Eight teams of CUSD educators vied for funding to implement innovative ideas in Shark Tank-style presentations before a panel of judges. The teams championed their ideas for addressing a critical challenge aligned to their specific school goals aimed at closing learning gaps for students.

The result: all teams were awarded grants.

“It was a tough decision for the judges,” said District Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “They were so impressed with the plans, how they connected to our Profile of a Graduate competencies, identified what students missed during distance learning, and aimed to create connections for students and for faculty.”

Funds for the grants are part of the district’s Expanded Learning Opportunity Plan (ELOP), Criteria #2, which calls for “accelerating progress to close learning gaps through implementation, expansion, or enhancement of learning supports.”

The superintendent praised the teams for the investment they already give to students every day and their willingness to do something new and different despite the challenges of educating students during a pandemic.

“I look forward to seeing what you are able to accomplish this year for our students.”

The Innovation Team Grant projects are:

“Comprehensive ELD to Support Writing - Castlemont Elementary 4 - 5” - Educators: Jennifer Bell, Michelle Biggs, Monique Balcazar, Andrea Chinbong, Jisung Chong, Marilyn Silva
“Passion and Leadership Clubs - Lynhaven Elementary TK - 5” - Megan Delaye, Melissa Schonig, Oanh Pineda, Anupama Gupta
“Espanol en Movimiento - Sherman Oaks 4 - 8” - Spanish Language Arts - Educators: Laura McAllister, Vanessa Zepeda, Lino Gutierrez
“Creating an Audio-Assisted Reading Library - Sherman Oaks K - 4” - SLA, Reading Interventions, RSP, and Library - Educators: Kristina Festa, Jeni Marty, and Rocio Valdovinos
“We can succeed here! - Rosemary Elementary 3, 4” - STEAM - Educators: Kelly Rambarran, Yolanda Chang, Sarita Sundaram
“Music Magic Makes People, People - Rolling Hills Middle School 6 - 8” - Music (Band/ Choir/ Ukulele) - Educators: Patrick Aguayo, Mike Rawlinson
“Middle School Innovation Hour - Campbell School of Innovation 5, 6, 7” - Innovation Hour / Electives - Educators: Steve Viegas, Lily Alberts, Erin Woll, Nicole Wallworth, Angela Duke, Cheryl Lee
“Stepping Up STEAM and Centennial Celebration Creation - Capri Elementary TK - 5” - STEAM - Educators: Gloria McGriff, Adam Tavakol, Janet Berliner

Each team was awarded up to $10,000 to implement their innovative ideas. Data will be collected throughout the process to determine those strategies or programs that should be expanded to other grades and schools. We are pleased to be applying our Profile of a Graduate competency of Innovation in such a deliberate way.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Moves Closer to Approval

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

young girl wearing mask. hand pushes away germs

This week, the decision about approving COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12 years old came closer to reality. Public health officials anticipate a decision from the CDC in early November.

To support families, our district is working with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to schedule mobile vaccine clinics specifically for children 5 -11 years old. Once the details are set, we will send notices to our families about when and where the clinics will be available.

The child-specific vaccine doses will also be available through many pediatricians and health care providers.

District Changes to ParentSquare for School-to-Home Notices

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

hands holding cell phone with message from school

Dear Families,

We heard you. You want a simpler way to manage the many messages you receive from our schools and district programs.

We are excited to announce that we are switching to a new school-to-home communication program, called ParentSquare. ParentSquare is designed to keep parents informed in an easier, more manageable way.

You will be able to choose how to receive the information we send to you: on your computer or phone, email, text, or by downloading the free App.

If you have students in more than one of our schools, you’ll be able to consolidate the messages into one central account. If you have a child in one of Campbell Union High School District’s schools, those messages can also be consolidated for you.

parentsquare on cell phone Please check out the Parents – Getting Started video for an overview.

We will begin using ParentSquare for school and grade-level messages on November 8-12

Please watch a message from your child’s school inviting you to register with ParentSquare for the best way to stay informed and to have more control over how you receive school messages.

Estimadas familias,

Los escuchamos. Ustedes quieren una forma más sencilla de administrar los numerosos mensajes que reciben de nuestras escuelas y programas del distrito.

Nos complace anunciar que estamos cambiando a un nuevo programa de comunicación entre la escuela y el hogar, llamado ParentSquare. ParentSquare está diseñado para mantener a los padres informados de una manera más fácil y manejable.

Podrá elegir cómo recibir la información que le enviamos: en su computadora o teléfono, correo electrónico, mensaje de texto o descargando la aplicación gratuita.

Si tiene alumnos en más de una de nuestras escuelas, podrá consolidar los mensajes en una cuenta central. Si tiene un hijo en una de las escuelas del distrito de escuelas preparatorias de Campbell Union, esos mensajes también se pueden consolidar para usted.

Consulte el video Padres: Introducción para obtener una descripción general.

Comenzaremos a usar ParentSquare para mensajes escolares y de nivel de grado del 8 al 12 de noviembre.

Mire un mensaje de la escuela de su hijo que lo invita a registrarse en ParentSquare para conocer la mejor manera de mantenerse informado y tener más control sobre cómo recibe los mensajes de la escuela.

The Flu Vaccine Can Prevent Serious Illness

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

Flu season is here, and the County Public Health Department, CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend an annual flu vaccine for all children 6 months and older. Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options. They are a safe, effective way to reduce the risks of getting the flu and of a possible severe case requiring hospitalization. It is especially important this year, as the COVID virus is still circulating in our county.*

What are the benefits of getting a flu vaccine?

A flu vaccine can keep you and your child from getting sick.
Flu vaccines can keep your child from being hospitalized or dying from the flu.
Flu vaccination also may make your illness milder if you do get sick.
Getting yourself and your child vaccinated also can protect others

Where can people get the flu vaccine?

Flu shots are available from your regular doctor, pharmacies, and for free at multiple locations listed on Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s 2021-2022 Flu Clinic Schedule. For free clinic information, call (408) 885-5000.

* People aged 12 and up can safely get both a flu shot and a covid-19 vaccine in the same visit.

What’s Your Family's Digital Diet?

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

two boys smiling while looking at a laptop

The world of media and technology is more accessible and complex every day. Digital Wellness: Parenting in the age of online distractions, is a virtual meeting for parents and guardians being held Tuesday, October 26. (Same link for English and Spanish sessions.

Log in and join host Jaimie Nuñez, Regional Manager at Common Sense Education, for insights about the latest trends in digital media and ways to shift your family's online behaviors.

CUSD Students Accept the [Design] Challenge

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

This year, Campbell Union School District is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and our students will play an integral part.

Through the annual Design Challenge, teams of students will design an exhibit for the Campbell Historical Museum that will celebrate the past, present, and future of our students and schools. Using the engineering and design thinking process, students will create exhibits that explore and amplify the stories of teaching and learning in this community. Some will even create a vision for what education may be like for Campbell Union School District’s students in the next 100 years.

“Our design challenge brings students, educators, and the community together to design real-world solutions and ideas for our community,” said Julie Goo, the district’s Coordinator of Innovation, Teaching and Learning.

Throughout the year, teachers will be incorporating centennial themes into their lessons through reading, art, music, math, science, and more.

SAVE THE DATE! APRIL 30, 2022

There will be a community wide celebration on Saturday, April 30th, from 1 until 7 p.m. The afternoon will feature a museum exhibit opening reception at the Ainsley House Garden. Then, at 4 p.m., there will be a community concert on the Campbell City Green, featuring the band Clean Slate, with food, refreshments and more provided in partnership with the Campbell Chamber of Commerce.

Update on COVID-19 Testing by Grapefruit

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

Friends and Families of Campbell Union School District,

It has now been more than a month since we began testing in CUSD, and our 10,000th test came and went this week. Positivity rates remain low, and classes in nearly every school have been able to remain safe and in-class. due to the "Modified Quarantine" process. "MQ" has been a phenomenal success, with its implementation being well-demonstrated to increase classroom attendance without allowing COVID to rip its way through schools, and has been featured recently in multiple major news outlets. Following California's lead, more and more states are now implementing MQ as a way to keep kids safe and in school.

We've heard some great feedback from all of you, and continue to welcome any and all comments to Admin [at] grapefruittesting.com. Through your feedback, we know that some results from the Community Testing POD located at Monroe Middle School are currently delayed about 72 hours, particularly around weekends and holidays. To get you results faster, we're implementing a dedicated weekend courier to get samples to the laboratory right away.

There are some exciting innovations on the way, too: an easier-to-access results portal, enhanced contact tracing to keep everyone highly informed, and more.

As always, don't hesitate to contact us directly with any questions, concerns, comments, or recommendations.

Sincerely,
Dr. Richard Pescatore II, DO, FAAEM, FACEP
Chief Medical Officer, Grapefruit Testing

District Plan Aims to Identify and Address Inequities

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

In the wake of heightened racial tensions across the nation, Campbell Union School District leaders responded with efforts to sharpen their focus on building and nurturing an inclusive and equitable school system.

“We are committed to promoting a positive learning experience for all students,” said District Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “Our Anti-bias/Anti-racism Plan, developed by a diverse employee committee, outlines the work ahead of us to continuously improve. It will help us be intentional about providing instruction that is inclusive and engaging for all students, especially those historically marginalized.”

The plan was presented to the Governing Board last summer and includes an anti-racism statement that begins with the following definition:

“Racism is systemic oppression that is conscious or unconscious, intentional or unintentional grounded in racial prejudices designed to reinforce the superiority of one race over another by an individual or group. In Campbell, we realize that racism is dehumanizing to everyone it touches.”

“The District has done some work in the past with different consultants,” said Whitney Holton, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. “The problem with that work was that it wasn’t systematized. So we set out with some clear goals in mind as we engaged in year one of this important work.” The goals are:

Increase the racial literacy among the district’s leadership and instructional service team;
Normalize conversations about race, bias and racism; and
Understand how the system may be contributing to inequity and injustice for groups of people.

The plan marks a significant step forward in identifying and disrupting institutional racism.

In year two of this work, the district will continue with the same goals above, and expand them beyond the district leadership and instructional team to include teachers and other staff. Through surveys, focus groups and empathy interviews with targeted students, the district also will engage the untapped voices of students, staff and families in order to learn how to better meet the needs of all students.

“Each school will be engaging in a pathway of learning to increase racial literacy and deepen our understanding of the students we serve,” Holton said.

More information about the district’s work to promote anti-racism in its system will be provided in future news articles. Click here to see the district’s full Anti-racism statement.

District Budget Shows Alignment to Accountability Plan

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

There is an adage in business: “Don’t plan the budget; Budget the plan.”

Campbell Union School District’s 2021-22 budget was developed with a close eye on the goals in its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP):

Provide high quality academic first instruction for all students.
Provide high quality social emotional learning for all students.
Fully engage parents/guardians, and the community in support of student well-being.

The LCAP is the document that the district uses to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet the goals of improving student outcomes. The goals and actions are developed through input from stakeholders: parents, students, staff, community members and civic leaders.

Approximately 13 percent of the District’s $103.8 million budget is set aside for activities and services in the LCAP. Eighty-five percent covers salary and benefits, and about 2 percent pays for miscellaneous expenses, such as capital outlay. For more details about our budget and LCAP, visit our budget web page.

“Our community expects us to be prudent with public funding,” said Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Nelly Yang. “We take that seriously. It has earned us added support from regional and local partners who provide grants and donations that boost student programs and stretch our public dollars even further.”

Teaching Safe Cyber Habits at School and at Home

Updated Sat, Jun 29th

happy father and son together with digital tablet

How to safely navigate our digital world is an important conversation for families and educators to have with children. Opportunities for teaching those skills are coming this month.

Lessons at school. During Digital Citizenship Week and throughout the school year, many of our CUSD teachers will be using digital citizenship lessons fromCommon Sense Media. Digital citizenship is about confident, safe and positive engagement with digital technologies. It helps students to empathize with one another and to think critically about the choices they make online.

While the negative impacts of social media on children and society have been the topic of news reports and dinner conversations lately, it is important to remember that technology also has many benefits. It provides students with more equity in accessing learning, can be a tool for creating rather than passively consuming, and can build skills they will need to succeed in the Information Age.

“Technology is how our children are going to interact with the world," said Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. "We would be doing them a disservice if we didn’t engage them in using technology effectively as a tool and not a distraction. We are aware of the research linking social-emotional wellbeing and media use, and we are committed to partnering with you to support our students engaging effectively and safely through social media."

Support for home. We encourage you to attend a virtual meeting for parents, October 26, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., called Digital Wellness: Parenting in the age of online distractions. Host Jaimie Nuñez, Regional Manager at Common Sense Education, offers parents insight about the latest trends in digital media and ways to shift their family's online behaviors.

Common Sense Media also offers Digital Citizenship Family Engagement Conversation Starters to help parents talk to their children about technology use and healthy boundaries.

These links may be of particular interest:

K–2 SEL Family Conversations in: English | Spanish

3–5 SEL Family Conversations in: English | Spanish

6–8 SEL Family Conversations in: English | Spanish

Common Sense Media's parent website offers information in English and Spanish: Common Sense Media or Common Sense Latino. Families may also find discussing and committing to the Common Sense Media Family Media Agreement valuable.

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