• HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Board of Education >
      • Meet the Board / Board Policies
      • State Board Member of the Year >
        • State Board Member of the Year Blog
      • District Committees
      • Board Resolutions
      • Meetings and Agendas >
        • Written Public Comments
      • Board Meeting Videos
      • Board Highlights
      • City and MUSD Communications Subcommittee
    • Superintendent >
      • Superintendent Blog
    • District Calendar
    • District News >
      • Press
      • School LIFE E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us >
      • Public Records Request
    • Bond + Construction >
      • Bond Measure AA Construction Updates
      • Bond Measure E
      • Measure B 1996 GO Bond
      • Current Bids
      • Developer Fees
      • New Elementary School
      • State Matching Funds
      • CBOC Meetings & Agendas
    • Measure E Parcel Tax >
      • Parcel Tax Renewal
    • Measure C Parcel Tax Oversight Committee
    • MUSD Video Series'
    • MUSD Priorities and Mission
    • Policies + Procedures >
      • Bullying
      • Handbooks
      • Formal Complaint
      • Title IX and Gender Equity
      • Website Accessibility
    • ACADEMICS >
      • Programs >
        • Independent Study Program
        • Math Program
        • Music Program
        • Pathway to Career
        • Personalized Learning
        • Summer Program
        • Title I
      • AB 104
      • Assessments
      • CalSCHLS Survey
      • Common Core Standards
      • LCAP
      • MUSD & SJECCD Joint Use Program
      • Transitioning Grades
    • Federal Programs
  • ENROLLMENT
    • District Boundary Map
    • District Transfers
    • Dual Immersion
    • Find Your School
    • Handbooks
    • New Student Enrollment
    • Yearly Registration
  • DISTRICT TEAMS
    • Human Relations >
      • Human Relations- Join Our Team
      • Careers / Housing Opportunities
      • Certificated Employees
      • Classified Employees
      • Management Employees
      • Mental Health Resources (Staff)
      • New Teacher Induction
      • Workers Comp
    • Business Services >
      • Meet Our Team
      • Payroll and Benefits
      • Facility Rental
    • Learning & Development
    • Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation
    • Student Nutritional Services
    • Technology
    • Organization Charts
    • Staff Resources
  • SCHOOLS
    • Child Dev. Center
    • Elementary >
      • Burnett
      • Curtner
      • Mattos
      • Pomeroy
      • Randall
      • Rose
      • Sinnott
      • Spangler
      • Weller
      • Zanker
    • Middle >
      • Rancho
      • Russell
    • High >
      • Calaveras Hills
      • Milpitas
      • Milpitas Middle College High School
    • Adult Education
    • EducatEveryWhere Virtual Pathways Program
    • MetroED
    • SARC Reports
  • GET INVOLVED
    • AASC
    • Attendance
    • MUSD Innovation Campus Campaign
    • CBAC
    • DELAC
    • Digital Citizenship
    • Immigration Support
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Milpitas Elementary Olympics
    • MUSD Alliance Partners
    • MUSD Culture of WE Equity Team
    • Project Cornerstone
    • PTA | Milpitas Council
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • COVID-19
    • Resources (COVID-19)
    • Teacher and Student Highlights (COVID-19) >
      • Gradspiration
    • Other Emergencies
  • Let's Chat
MILPITAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Board of Education >
      • Meet the Board / Board Policies
      • State Board Member of the Year >
        • State Board Member of the Year Blog
      • District Committees
      • Board Resolutions
      • Meetings and Agendas >
        • Written Public Comments
      • Board Meeting Videos
      • Board Highlights
      • City and MUSD Communications Subcommittee
    • Superintendent >
      • Superintendent Blog
    • District Calendar
    • District News >
      • Press
      • School LIFE E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us >
      • Public Records Request
    • Bond + Construction >
      • Bond Measure AA Construction Updates
      • Bond Measure E
      • Measure B 1996 GO Bond
      • Current Bids
      • Developer Fees
      • New Elementary School
      • State Matching Funds
      • CBOC Meetings & Agendas
    • Measure E Parcel Tax >
      • Parcel Tax Renewal
    • Measure C Parcel Tax Oversight Committee
    • MUSD Video Series'
    • MUSD Priorities and Mission
    • Policies + Procedures >
      • Bullying
      • Handbooks
      • Formal Complaint
      • Title IX and Gender Equity
      • Website Accessibility
    • ACADEMICS >
      • Programs >
        • Independent Study Program
        • Math Program
        • Music Program
        • Pathway to Career
        • Personalized Learning
        • Summer Program
        • Title I
      • AB 104
      • Assessments
      • CalSCHLS Survey
      • Common Core Standards
      • LCAP
      • MUSD & SJECCD Joint Use Program
      • Transitioning Grades
    • Federal Programs
  • ENROLLMENT
    • District Boundary Map
    • District Transfers
    • Dual Immersion
    • Find Your School
    • Handbooks
    • New Student Enrollment
    • Yearly Registration
  • DISTRICT TEAMS
    • Human Relations >
      • Human Relations- Join Our Team
      • Careers / Housing Opportunities
      • Certificated Employees
      • Classified Employees
      • Management Employees
      • Mental Health Resources (Staff)
      • New Teacher Induction
      • Workers Comp
    • Business Services >
      • Meet Our Team
      • Payroll and Benefits
      • Facility Rental
    • Learning & Development
    • Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation
    • Student Nutritional Services
    • Technology
    • Organization Charts
    • Staff Resources
  • SCHOOLS
    • Child Dev. Center
    • Elementary >
      • Burnett
      • Curtner
      • Mattos
      • Pomeroy
      • Randall
      • Rose
      • Sinnott
      • Spangler
      • Weller
      • Zanker
    • Middle >
      • Rancho
      • Russell
    • High >
      • Calaveras Hills
      • Milpitas
      • Milpitas Middle College High School
    • Adult Education
    • EducatEveryWhere Virtual Pathways Program
    • MetroED
    • SARC Reports
  • GET INVOLVED
    • AASC
    • Attendance
    • MUSD Innovation Campus Campaign
    • CBAC
    • DELAC
    • Digital Citizenship
    • Immigration Support
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Milpitas Elementary Olympics
    • MUSD Alliance Partners
    • MUSD Culture of WE Equity Team
    • Project Cornerstone
    • PTA | Milpitas Council
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • COVID-19
    • Resources (COVID-19)
    • Teacher and Student Highlights (COVID-19) >
      • Gradspiration
    • Other Emergencies
  • Let's Chat

Nurturing community while communing with nature

3/1/2018

 
​by Joyce Tang
 
On Feb. 12, over 170 Russell Middle School’s Team Determination students and staff spent the day in Alum Rock Park of San Jose for their first annual “Nature-Loving, Outdoor-Learning, Community-Serving Field Trip.”
 
San Jose Park Ranger Sergeant Huy Mac spent long hours coordinating with the city of San Jose and the California Native Plants Society, Santa Clara Chapter, to provide them with enough tools and supervising staff. There were hundreds of gloves and neon-yellow vests, along with wheelbarrows, action hoes, weeding hoes, pitchforks, and rakes for the students to use. The two choices of service projects included spreading 60 cubic yard of mulch for the playground and weeding out invasive plants such as milk thistle, Silybum marianum, and poison hemlock, Conium maculatum, at the summit of Todd Quick Trail.
 
Team Determination consists of a mix of both 7th and 8th graders, among which are students who have recently arrived to the United States and students who have mild to severe disabilities. Despite our differences, every single student—regardless of ethnicity or ability—helped make the park a better place for both its natural inhabitants and its human visitors. The great outdoor truly unified us toward a common goal.
 
In addition to the sense of unity, another unique experience this field trip offered was how students were allowed to design their own itinerary for the day by deciding when and in which activities to take part. For example, some students decided to rake and mulch the playground in the morning before heading out to the creek for the afternoon, while others were determined to hike three miles round trip to see Eagle Rock before pulling weeds on the trail. There were also many unplanned surprises: the chance to pet a gopher snake brought out by the Youth Science Institute was a hit, and a few students actually got the opportunity to restore the natural habitat by spreading California native poppy seeds (Eschscholzia californica) over the hilltop. Turkey vultures soaring at eye level, deer chilling under an enormous oak tree, minnows swimming in the creek, ladybugs squirming around for a better resting spot, and a bobcat devouring a squirrel were only some examples of how impactful outdoor learning can be to students.
 
Most of these students have never volunteered in a park. Their community service opportunities are limited to helping teachers on campus. Many students have never used a hoe, balanced a full wheelbarrow, pulled weeds or talked to a park ranger, even though in the classrooms we teach them the science of invasive species and host career day.  While these skills may not be prized as academically rigorous, the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment was evident on the students’ faces as the day drew to a close.
 
Digital literacy is often earmarked as the most important 21st century skill worthy of funding. But in this era of growing climate change, we must also teach environmental literacy and encourage community stewardship. That’s what we’re doing at Russell. As we partner with local businesses in Silicon Valley that provide high-tech career paths to our students, we acknowledge our duty to protect and preserve the ecosystems, not only for ourselves but also for future generations.


Comments are closed.
    NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
    The governing board of Milpitas Unified School District will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. 

    Media Resources

    Press
    ​Campus Connections

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Event
    Media & News
    News
    Public Hearing

    RSS Feed

Picture

Milpitas Unified School District
1331 E. Calaveras Blvd. 
Milpitas, CA 95035
408.635.2600

​Staff Resources 
Join Us 
Contact Us 
​​Feedback?
​Non-Discrimination Policy
Title IX    
Accessibility 
​Copyright © 2020 Milpitas Unified School District
​Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
Photo used under Creative Commons from Jeffrey
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Board of Education >
      • Meet the Board / Board Policies
      • State Board Member of the Year >
        • State Board Member of the Year Blog
      • District Committees
      • Board Resolutions
      • Meetings and Agendas >
        • Written Public Comments
      • Board Meeting Videos
      • Board Highlights
      • City and MUSD Communications Subcommittee
    • Superintendent >
      • Superintendent Blog
    • District Calendar
    • District News >
      • Press
      • School LIFE E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us >
      • Public Records Request
    • Bond + Construction >
      • Bond Measure AA Construction Updates
      • Bond Measure E
      • Measure B 1996 GO Bond
      • Current Bids
      • Developer Fees
      • New Elementary School
      • State Matching Funds
      • CBOC Meetings & Agendas
    • Measure E Parcel Tax >
      • Parcel Tax Renewal
    • Measure C Parcel Tax Oversight Committee
    • MUSD Video Series'
    • MUSD Priorities and Mission
    • Policies + Procedures >
      • Bullying
      • Handbooks
      • Formal Complaint
      • Title IX and Gender Equity
      • Website Accessibility
    • ACADEMICS >
      • Programs >
        • Independent Study Program
        • Math Program
        • Music Program
        • Pathway to Career
        • Personalized Learning
        • Summer Program
        • Title I
      • AB 104
      • Assessments
      • CalSCHLS Survey
      • Common Core Standards
      • LCAP
      • MUSD & SJECCD Joint Use Program
      • Transitioning Grades
    • Federal Programs
  • ENROLLMENT
    • District Boundary Map
    • District Transfers
    • Dual Immersion
    • Find Your School
    • Handbooks
    • New Student Enrollment
    • Yearly Registration
  • DISTRICT TEAMS
    • Human Relations >
      • Human Relations- Join Our Team
      • Careers / Housing Opportunities
      • Certificated Employees
      • Classified Employees
      • Management Employees
      • Mental Health Resources (Staff)
      • New Teacher Induction
      • Workers Comp
    • Business Services >
      • Meet Our Team
      • Payroll and Benefits
      • Facility Rental
    • Learning & Development
    • Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation
    • Student Nutritional Services
    • Technology
    • Organization Charts
    • Staff Resources
  • SCHOOLS
    • Child Dev. Center
    • Elementary >
      • Burnett
      • Curtner
      • Mattos
      • Pomeroy
      • Randall
      • Rose
      • Sinnott
      • Spangler
      • Weller
      • Zanker
    • Middle >
      • Rancho
      • Russell
    • High >
      • Calaveras Hills
      • Milpitas
      • Milpitas Middle College High School
    • Adult Education
    • EducatEveryWhere Virtual Pathways Program
    • MetroED
    • SARC Reports
  • GET INVOLVED
    • AASC
    • Attendance
    • MUSD Innovation Campus Campaign
    • CBAC
    • DELAC
    • Digital Citizenship
    • Immigration Support
    • Mental Health Resources
    • Milpitas Elementary Olympics
    • MUSD Alliance Partners
    • MUSD Culture of WE Equity Team
    • Project Cornerstone
    • PTA | Milpitas Council
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • COVID-19
    • Resources (COVID-19)
    • Teacher and Student Highlights (COVID-19) >
      • Gradspiration
    • Other Emergencies
  • Let's Chat