 A half dozen Milpitas High School students were recently selected as Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among about 16,000 students nationwide in the 67th annual NMSP to earn the designation based on results from the Preliminary SAT exam. In February, these six students will be notified if they have advanced to Finalist standing, which then qualifies them for about 7,500 scholarships worth nearly $30 million.
Let’s find out a little about each of them: Brian Dinh What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you? Being named as a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist represents the hours I spent studying and working on myself coming to fruition. In addition, I am elated to possibly get financial relief for my college education through this title. What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level? My brother motivates me to succeed at a high level, as he taught me how to have a healthy work ethic while encouraging me to explore outside of my parents' interests. What is your favorite subject in school, and why? My favorite subject is social science, because I enjoy learning the stories of the past as a means to represent marginalized groups and figuring out how to prevent these sorts of oppression from occurring again in present society. What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? Currently, I would like to attend Northwestern University after graduating MHS, because I believe they have a healthy campus culture that will let me thrive. Also, I think that Northwestern heavily promotes exploration, which would allow me to experiment with other topics I am interested in. Aaryaman Jain What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you? I’m proud of myself for being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level? I try to motivate myself to succeed at a high level. I’m not satisfied with something until I do it properly. What is your favorite subject in school, and why? I’ve enjoyed history classes because I like learning about the past and how it shaped the future. What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? I’d think I’d like to go to college outside of California. Looking forward to experiencing new things. Hirva Shah What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you? Being a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist feels great since my hard work paid off. What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level? My parents have always motivated me to do well in school. I know they have worked hard to be able to come here, which inspires me to do the same. What is your favorite subject in school, and why? My favorite subject is psychology because I loved learning about the different factors that influence human behavior and thinking. What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? I’m not sure exactly which school I want to go to, but I am interested in some of the UCs for their neuroscience major. Ryan Teoh What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you? Well, it means that I did well, and that's good for me I guess. However, I still have to wait to see if I become a Finalist, and that’s what I’m really looking for. What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level? Definitely my dad, he sacrificed a lot to come to America and give my brother and I more opportunities than we would have had in Malaysia, and I don’t want that to go to waste, so I’m really working hard to not waste my opportunities for success. What is your favorite subject in school, and why? Definitely social studies, first because I love politics, and second because I love history. History is basically all about politics, and I love learning about historical events and what caused them, because who knows, maybe there’s something I could learn about in order to deal with present issues. What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? I want to go to the University of Pennsylvania because of all the talent there, and the great location. I could meet so many different people who are at the top of their fields in whatever major they’re studying, and have already changed the world in some tangible way. Philadelphia is also a great city, and it's located in the tri-state area, meaning there are so many different places I could go from there. I’ve also always wanted to stay on the east coast, and get away from California weather. They’ve also got some sick mountain biking trails over there in the city outskirts, which I’m looking forward to bombing. Chloe Yeap What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you? Being a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist is a huge relief to me. I worked really hard to get here, but I still wasn't sure if I was smart enough to achieve my goals. So getting to see all my hard work pay off is really rewarding. What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level? My parents work hard to give me the opportunities I have, so I work hard so they know I appreciate their love. I also work hard for my grandparents, who've always been so supportive, even though I visit them every few years and they don't always understand what I'm doing. What is your favorite subject in school, and why? My favorite subject is either English or Social Studies because I love reading and thinking about what’s happening. Biology gets honorable mentions because it’s the only science subject I like. What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? I’m still figuring out how far I’m going, but my top contenders are: UC Davis for their neurobiology-physiology-behavior major, UC San Diego for their biology program, Carleton College for their liberal arts education style, University of Chicago for their biology and neuroscience majors, and Columbia for their biophysics department. Rachel Yen What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you? To me, being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist means recognition for all the hard work I put in and allows others to see the potential I have. It honestly feels great to know that I’m receiving this award due to all the effort I put in. What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level? My motivation started when my mom began to push me to succeed in school. Over time, I adopted that mindset and began to strive to be the best I can be in all areas of my life. At high levels of academics, my classmates also play a role in my motivation to succeed due to my friendly competitive spirit. What is your favorite subject in school, and why? My favorite subjects in school are the STEM related subjects, more specifically calculus or chemistry. I particularly enjoy the definitive answers and the logic it takes to reason my way through each problem. Moreover, I find that I take interest in applying calculus or chemistry concepts in real life situations, which is why these classes truly appeal to me. What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? Since there are a few months before college decisions have to be made, I can’t say there’s a college I would definitely want to attend. However, the preferred schools I’d like to attend include the top UC schools. Not only do these two colleges have amazing engineering programs, they’re also close to home!  An inaugural group of high school juniors has set out on a career pathway to open the 2021-22 school year, with support from a highly-dedicated and passionate faculty at the new Milpitas Middle College High School.
“It’s just amazing what they’re doing already,” said MMCHS Principal Karisa Scott, who exudes positive energy and a can-do attitude amongst the student body and staff members. “The course work is pretty intense, but they’re doing great so far.” Milpitas Unified School District’s newest college and career readiness program, housed at the San Jose City College-Milpitas Extension, offers three pathways: Education-Social Work, Health Sciences, and Business-Entrepreneurship. Students were selected from a rigorous application process that included submitting a written essay and video as well as participating in a panel interview. “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they did all that,” said Scott, adding that they target students who would be the first in their families to attend college but also those with an inner drive for success. “These kids were highly motivated to join this school.” Jazmynn Moore, 16, who chose the Health Science pathway with plans of becoming a psychologist or psychiatrist, learned about the program through Principal Scott and immediately took advantage of the opportunity. “The teachers are absolutely amazing,” Moore said. “All the staff are hands-on and outgoing. They make sure everyone feels supported and welcome.” Classmate Karen Lopes, 16, came to Milpitas from Brazil when she was 9 years old. She applied for the MMCHS program to give her an insight into the college experience while still in high school. “I wanted to get a step ahead and this has been a very good opportunity for me to learn more about how colleges are here because they are very different in Brazil,” said Lopez, who originally signed up for Education-Social Work Pathway but switched her focus to Business. “We’ve had a lot of guest speakers and the staff has been very helpful.” As part of the program, Principal Scott lined up a number of guest speakers from different professional realms to share about particular careers and the many opportunities within those pathways. Additionally, students meet with SJCC counselors to get a headstart for college. Instructor Mandy Lau, who teaches Honors English and Advisory classes, was intrigued by the possibilities of MMCHS when she applied for the job and is appreciative to be an integral part of it from Year One. “It’s really a dream come true. The curriculum is tailored more toward students. There’s a lot of student choice,” said Lau, who is especially jazzed about the community impact project requirement that has students identify an issue within the community and environment, develop an action plan, create solutions, and implement them. Junior Madison Gamble, 16, had been in Independent Study since 9th grade when her teacher suggested looking into MMCHS. After learning what the program was all about, Gamble decided to give it a shot. “It is a great opportunity to make connections to the community and people with shared goals,” said Gamble, who chose the Education-Social Work pathway hoping to gain a broader perspective of the field. “I think this is really preparing us for our future.” Principal Scott hopes to grow the program by next school year for a total of 100. The application window opens October 1 for current high school juniors who would like to join the school this Spring. A parent information night via Zoom is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21st at 6 p.m.  A former lead prosecutor with the Tulare and Madera County District Attorney’s Office who now runs his own private law practice, Milpitas High School Class of 1981 alumnus Edmund (Ed) Gil fondly remembers a close-knit circle of childhood friends that motivated one another to reach their fullest potential.
“The person I am today has a lot to do with my values that I got from my parents, but also from my friends. We were all involved in sports and music, while taking advanced classes since we all were trying to goto college,” said Gil, 58, who attended Martin Murphy grade school, Rancho Junior High, Samuel Ayer High School for three years, and then was part of the first graduating class of the new Milpitas High School. “I still keep in touch with my friends, especially those from Murphy,” said the UC Berkeley graduate (a Political Science major) who went on to earn his law degree from the University of Arizona. “I just found that all of us were a product of our environment back then. It was just a lot of fun growing up in Milpitas.” These days, Gil resides in Fresno where his law office focuses on criminal defense, family law, and representing children and parents in Juvenile Child Dependency Court. He recently returned to Milpitas for the Class of 1981 High School Reunion, which includes MHS state champion football coach Kelly King. “Everybody does it differently. There’s just so many ways to accomplish things in life. But, for me, it was to never be satisfied at any level,” Gil explained. “Every level you are at, always seek excellence. That’s the only way to do it for me. I have a strong work ethic. I wasn’t always the smartest in the room, but I always am the most prepared person in the courtroom.” After passing the California Bar Exam to earn his law license, Gil clerked at the courts in San Jose before being hired by the Tulare County DA in 1994. He worked as a prosecutor for 20 years, handling high profile cases including those involving death penalty, murder and gang violence. “I went in with a class of prosecutors who were all very hungry, and I ended up being one of the top prosecutors in the DA’s office,” Gil shared. “I didn’t lose very many cases.” Looking back at his high school years, Gil credited one teacher in particular for having a strong influence on him: English teacher Ms. Taggert who challenged him with a stringent grading system. “She made the biggest impression on me. She made it very clear that the next steps in our life were going to be much harder than her class,” Gil recalled. “She taught us literary terms and got us to think analytically.”  Less than 24 hours following her announcement that rental assistance funds were immediately available to eligible families, School-Linked Services Coordinator Nicole Steward forwarded four applications, impacting 12 MUSD students, to the Silicon Valley Independent Learning Center (SVILC) for review.
Serving students experiencing homelessness is part of Steward's multi-faceted role as MUSD’s SLS Coordinator. In collaboration with SVILC and the City of Milpitas Housing Department, she has facilitated over $130,000 in rent relief to 28 families, serving 70 students. “It’s the job of the educators, the teachers, principals, and assistant principals to make sure students get educated and they graduate,” Steward explained. “It’s my job to see if there are any barriers to that education and then I work with our community groups, parents and schools to remove those barriers so students can focus on their learning and be successful. It’s really a beautiful partnership." In total, 406 MUSD students have been identified under the Federal McKinney-Vento Act, which provides stability and ensures access to a free and adequate education for all children, including preschool-aged children, regardless of their housing status. As part of her team’s efforts, Steward, who received a Certificate of Commendation from the County Board of Supervisors, has made 57 home visits and issued countless family support referrals that assist families in areas of academics, behavioral/mental health, food, health care, housing, student pro-social/community and Tier II behavioral/mental health. During the 2020-21 school year, MUSD Staff has donated over $10,000 for gift cards and family needs, while the Milpitas community has donated an additional $11,000 to help serve local families. Steward has garnered support from groups such as Hope for the Unhoused, which has led a food pickup and delivery initiative; Milpitas Community Educational Endowment, which contributed over $50,000 worth of computer charging stations; Voices of Milpitas, which collected school supplies and winter bags for students; and MUSD’s Travel and Tourism Academy, which organized self-care bags and a GoFundMe for vulnerable families.
New track and field facilities at Rancho and Russell Middle Schools, as well as Phase 2 of the Mattos Elementary School Construction, are among more than a dozen Summer 2021 bond projects underway at multiple Milpitas Unified School District sites. “Our bond program is doing well financially. We have made prudent decisions to create savings so that we are able to do more projects,” said Assistant Superintendent Wendy Zhang of Business Services. “I can assure that all of our bond funds are designated and expended only on District projects.” Measure AA is the $284 million bond measure approved by local voters in November 2018. While construction work has begun on the Rancho track with completion scheduled for late summer, the modernization of the Russell fields is expected to be finished by Fall 2021. Meanwhile, over at Mattos, the summer expansion includes three new classroom buildings and a multipurpose building, with a completion date of Spring 2022. Interim portable classrooms have been set in place for the start of the 2021-22 school year. Additionally, the road widening will be completed by the end of August. A ribbon cutting is planned prior to the start of school at the modernized Randall World Languages School, where bond dollars were allocated for a new, state-of-the-art multi-purpose building with a warming kitchen, a new administration building, a new modular kinder classroom, the relocation of several portable classrooms, a new dropoff/pickup loop, and associated site work. Other summer projects include:
Additionally, projects in the planning stages include:
At an August 4, 2021 Milpitas HS-Calaveras Hills HS summer graduation ceremony, 27 students received their high school diplomas, after making up sufficient course credits in Milpitas Unified School District’s Summer School Credit Recovery Program. In Summer 2021, MUSD had 439 students participate in the first session and 273 in the second session to make up credits so they are on track to graduate with their classmates. Summer School Principal Jonathan Ho headed up the 2021 summer program, which staffed 19 teachers and four counselors (Jonathan Payne, Jennifer Evarkiou, Adrian Hernandez and Valerie Lamb), as well as support from the Learning & Development and Tech Services teams. “I am blessed with an amazing team,” said Ho, a mathematics teacher at Milpitas High School who recently earned his administrative credential. “We are housed here at Cal Hills, and all of our summer school staff are already MUSD employees so they are familiar with what we’re all about here and our Culture of We.” Summer School adopted a Hybrid format, with students participating either online or in-person using a computer-based platform called Odysseyware to recover course credits and get back on track toward graduation. Each student takes an initial assessment and, based on those results, the program assigns individualized classwork with a credentialed teacher supporting them along the way. “It’s nice that these kids get this opportunity to complete the work they weren’t able to do during the school year and move onto the next level,” said Ivy Nguyen, a MHS mathematics teacher who is teaching Math 3 over the summer for 67 students. A Cal Hills/Milpitas HS Summer School Graduation Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, August 4 at 5 p.m. for those senior students who complete their graduation requirements this summer. Summer School has also provided community service hours for a trio of Student TA’s who have helped out in various capacities with assisting teachers, office staff, custodians, Student Nutrition and Tech Services. Community service is needed to meet MUSD high school graduation requirements. “It’s been great to have a couple of kids helping out while earning those community service hours,” said Ho, who was particularly appreciative to MUSD leaders for allowing him to gain valuable experience as an administrator this summer. He added: “As a teacher, my influence is confined to my classroom. As an administrator, I have the opportunity to really move things forward for an entire school or program, and help spread best practices.”
 With administrator Luis Lopez shifting back to middle school leadership to partner with Principal Casey McMurray at Rancho Milpitas Middle School, Parwinder Johal was named new principal at Spangler Elementary School, after serving as MUSD’s Coordinator of Literacy/Intervention/EL for the last five years.
Johal’s educational path with 25 years in MUSD includes teaching positions at Spangler and Rose Elementary Schools before serving as assistant principal at Joseph Weller Elementary School and eventually moving to the district office. “My greatest joy has been partnering with staff to create affirming and inclusive learning environments for students to learn and families to be engaged in,” said Johal. “Our students’ tapestry of languages, cultures, and experiences are assets that I deeply value and build upon to create culturally responsive and equitable learning pathways for all our learners.” Julianna Flores, who has performed in various teacher leadership roles over her career, makes up the other half of the Spangler admin team as assistant principal. Flores joins MUSD after serving as the First and Second Grade Inclusion Teacher for Los Arboles Literacy and Technology Academy in San Jose. Flores said she “strives to lead with equity, inclusivity, and collaboration with all stakeholders (and) believes in meeting students where they are, listening to student voices, and working with school personnel to enhance the learning experiences and learning environment for students.” Priti Johari was selected as MUSD’s Executive Director, Learning & Innovation, a new position that will co-lead the L&D department along with recently promoted Executive Director of Inclusive Services for All, Mary Jude Doerpinghaus. Johari, a Bay Area native, comes to Milpitas via Massachusetts, where she served in roles at multiple districts as Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Superintendent, Principal, and Teacher spanning 15+ years in public education. Johari said she is “passionate about cultivating systems that see, nurture, and affirm the whole child. This means building integrated systems that promote the development of mastery, identity, and creativity across grade levels and subjects in a trauma informed environment.” Michele Sherer, who has two decades of educational experience as a special educator, mentor, principal, and credential instructor, was chosen as the new assistant principal at Rose Elementary School, where she joins seasoned principal Nanci Pass. Sherer comes to Milpitas after serving as Educator Coach and Preparation Specialist with the Santa Clara County Office of Education-Education Preparation for Inclusive Classrooms (EPIC). “It is a great honor to have the opportunity to work with a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Sherer said. “My passion and purpose: equitable access/achievement for all students, retention of educators, and fostering positive school climates.”
The MUSD Board of Education approved five more hires to the leadership team for the 2021-22 school year, including three promotions from within the MUSD family, at the June 22 meeting.
Joining our MUSD Team in leadership positions for the 2021-22 school year are: 1) Aven Magana was named to the new position of Coordinator I, Virtual Pathways K-12, after serving as the district's COVID-19 Designee and an assistant principal with Milpitas Adult Ed; 2) Mary Jude Doerpinghaus was selected to the new position of Executive Director of Inclusive Services for All Learners, after serving as MUSD's Director of Student Services and Special Education this past school year; 3) Karisa Scott was chosen to the new position of Middle College High School Principal, after working as a Cal Hills HS assistant principal and other admin positions within MUSD; 4) Jesus Chagolla joins the MUSD Team as the next Supervisor, Maintenance, Operations and Transportation (MOT), Custodial, after 21 years of custodial experience in various capacities; and 5) Sarah Davis comes to MUSD as the next Program Manager, Inclusion, after working in a myriad of roles in the special education realm, most recently as special education teacher/education specialist with Cupertino USD. Magana, Doerpinghaus and Scott's current positions will not be filled and the changes are part of restructuring Learning and Development to better serve students and staff as we move forward beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education welcomed five new hires to the #MUSDfamily, after unanimously approving recommendations for a supervisor, co-principal, and three assistant principals at the June 8 meeting. Joining our MUSD Team in leadership positions for the 2021-22 school year are:
1) MOT Transportation Supervisor Jared Acosta, who is an MUSD and Mission College alumnus with a wealth of experience in grounds/bus, custodial arts, and more; 2) Randall Elementary Co-Principal Claudia Cadenas, who brings 30 years as a bilingual teacher, including 13 years of multilingual instruction in Chile, to our World Languages Academy; 3) Burnett Elementary Assistant Principal Brandi McMillian, who is an MUSD alumna and Milpitas resident with 15 years in the district as a teacher at both Randall and Burnett; 4) Pomeroy Elementary Assistant Principal Anastasia Hrissafinas, who comes to Milpitas via New Jersey where she was a teaching lead for 5 years and a Teacher of the Year; and 5) Zanker Elementary Assistant Principal Hetal Patel, who has 15 years of teaching and admin experience at multiple grade levels, including the last three as AP at WillowGlen HS.  Providing community access to the Aquatics Center at Milpitas High School was secured with a new one-year lease agreement with Milpitas Aquatic Club. The Board of Education unanimously approved the pact at the May 25 meeting.
With Business Services Manager Kelly Ng leading the district's efforts, Milpitas Aquatic Club agreed to provide community access to the pool during the summer, as well as lifeguards during athletic practices, home games, and swim PE classes. Summer recreational swim is scheduled for Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. "It's our goal to help grow and improve aquatics in the Milpitas area by offering a fun, safe and competitive program in swimming, diving, and water polo," said Kyler Van Swol, head coach of Milpitas Aquatic Club. The district solicited community input through a multilingual survey, which garnered nearly 600 responses. Eighty-eight percent of respondents said they would use the pool for a nominal fee. The new one-year lease agreement will run from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Review the full board presentation here. |
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