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The 12th Annual MDUSD College Fair will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Ygnacio Valley HS, 755 Oak Grove Road in Concord.

It is open only to students and parents/guardians from MDUSD high schools or Adult programs.

Students must show a student ID or proof of attending a MDUSD Adult program to enter the fair.

Highlights:
● Meet more than 90 representatives from colleges and universities.
● Learn about other post-secondary options and gather resources.
● Get answers to questions and make an informed decision about the right fit.
● Ideal for HS juniors and seniors!

This event is run entirely by volunteers. To volunteer or ask questions, email mdusdcollegefair@gmail.com.

On Oct. 10th, MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to District parents and staff members:

Dear MDUSD Families,

I hope this letter finds you well during our first Fall Break. This letter contains important information about the results from the state testing our students participated in last spring under the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Each spring, California public school students in grades 3-8 and 11 take state standardized tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and math to assess their progress in meeting grade-level standards.

This year, there are a few changes to how the results are categorized. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium has updated the descriptions of performance levels:

• "Exceeding standards" is now referred to as “Advanced grade level knowledge and skills.”

• "Meeting standards" is now labeled as “Proficient in grade level knowledge and skills.”

• "Standard nearly met" is now called “Foundational grade level knowledge and skills.”

• "Standard not met" is now described as “Inconsistent grade level knowledge and skills.”

Despite these new descriptions, the state still groups “Advanced” and “Proficient” results as "meeting or exceeding standards" in their overall reports. Additionally, levels 2, 3, and 4 are referred to as "Grade level performance with increased levels of accuracy and complexity."

When looking at MDUSD's overall results, our students scored slightly below the statewide average in ELA but above the statewide average in math. However, the district did not show the same rate of improvement as the statewide averages in either subject area. Here are some highlights:

• ELA: Statewide, students meeting or exceeding standards increased from 46.6% to 47.0% (+0.4), while MDUSD saw a slight decline from 45.99% to 45.52% (-0.47).

• Math: Statewide, students meeting or exceeding standards rose from 34.6% to 35.6% (+1.0), while MDUSD increased from 36.38% to 37.34% (+0.96).

We have also broken down the data for key student groups:

• White students in MDUSD scored slightly higher than those statewide in both ELA and math. Both state and district students saw slight declines in ELA but improvements in math.

  • ELA: CA white students declined from 60.72% to 60.24% (-0.48), while MDUSD white students declined from 62.23% to 61.72% (-0.51).

  • Math: CA white students improved from 49.02% to 49.57% (+0.55), and MDUSD white students rose from 52.93% to 54.55% (+1.62).

• Black/African American students in MDUSD scored slightly below the statewide average in ELA but slightly above the state average in math. MDUSD students saw more improvement in ELA than the state average but slightly less improvement in math.

  • ELA: CA students rose from 29.9% to 30.3% (+0.5), while MDUSD students increased from 27.71% to 28.75% (+1.04).

  • Math: CA students increased from 14.2% to 15.0% (+0.8), and MDUSD students rose from 18.16% to 18.47% (+0.31).

• Hispanic/Latino students in MDUSD performed below statewide averages in both ELA and math, with lower improvement rates in both subjects.

  • ELA: CA students increased from 36.1% to 36.8% (+0.7), while MDUSD students declined from 29.42% to 28.04% (-1.38).

  • Math: CA students increased from 18.9% to 19.6% (+0.7), while MDUSD students rose slightly from 18.82% to 19.05% (+0.27).

• Socioeconomically disadvantaged students in MDUSD scored below statewide averages in both subjects, and the rate of improvement was slower than state averages.

  • ELA: CA students increased from 35.3% to 36.8% (+1.5), while MDUSD students rose from 25.89% to 26.93% (+1.04).

  • Math: CA students increased from 22.9% to 25% (+2.1), while MDUSD students rose from 16.44% to 17.89% (+1.45).

• Foster youth in MDUSD saw a significant decline in both ELA and math performance, in contrast to slight improvements statewide.

  • ELA: CA students rose from 19.43% to 19.92% (+0.49), while MDUSD students dropped from 41.67% to 7.14% (-34.53).

  • Math: CA students increased from 10.47% to 11.15% (+0.68), while MDUSD students declined from 15.38% to 0% (-15.38).

We recognize the importance of addressing these disparities and are committed to providing additional resources and support to help all students succeed. We will continue working diligently to close achievement gaps and ensure that every student in our district has the opportunity to thrive.

For more detailed information on MDUSD’s CAASPP results, please visit the following links: MDUSD Standardized Test Scores 2024 and MDUSD State Test Results 

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting our students. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s principal and teacher.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Clark
Superintendent

To help bring attention to "Farm-to-School Month" in October, MDUSD has teamed up with the Center for Ecoliteracy to highlight the fresh fruits and vegetables that are now being served in local schools. Concord High senior Kevin O'Connor, who works in the school cafeteria, was featured on Oct. 4 as part of this promotion on KTVU's "Mornings on 2" program with Alexa Norstad, Executive Director of the Center for Ecoliteracy. 

Kevin showed how to make panzanella salad with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, fresh-made croutons and parmesan cheese. He also talked about yogurt parfaits served for breakfast, made with homemade granola, locally-sourced yogurt and fresh fruit. You can watch Kevin's interview here.

On Wednesday, MDUSD's Food and Nutrition Services Director Alexandra Emmott appeared on KRON TV to discuss the District's commitment to locally-sourced, nutritious foods. You can see her interview here.

"Serving fresh produce supports student health and the local economy," Emmott says. "We pride ourselves on supporting a variety of small organic farmers and producers. Yogurt parfaits, made with Sierra Nevada Creamery Greek yogurt, is a fixture on our menus and panzanella salad is a seasonal treat that features fresh Durst Farm tomatoes."

Concord HS student Kevin O'Connor appears on KTVU (above). MDUSD Food and Nutrition Services Director Alexandra Emmott appears on KRON (below).

MDUSD TK-12 schools are closed this week, October 7-11, for our Fall Recess.

However, District Offices and the Mt. Diablo Adult Education Center are open during this time.

The complete TK-12 2024-25 Academic Calendar is here. 

There will be no Friday Letter on Oct. 11. The Friday Letter will resume on Oct. 18.

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

• The Young Athletes Program at Gregory Gardens Elementary and Robert Shearer Preschool;
• Concord High School student Kevin O'Connor highlights fresh fruits and vegetables in school lunches on KTVU;
• Cambridge Elementary students participate in student council elections and get a surprise visit from Dr. Clark;
• Concord High School's Link Crew held a field day at Mountain View Elementary;
• Northgate High School students Caroline Donahoe and Sylvana Vuong were selected to join the Contra Costa Youth Journalism program;
• Ygnacio Valley High School's football team continues to make headlines with three consecutive wins;
• Pleasant Hill Elementary’s Bike PHE program receives Best Bike Advocacy award;
• Northgate High School is named to the College Board AP Honor Roll for the second year and receives the AP Access award;
• Curriculum Specialist Megan Gerdts receives a national Girl Scout award; and
• School and staff social media highlights, including special recognition for our custodians and Technology Integration Leaders

You can read it here. 

In light of the current Bay Area heat wave, we are posting a link to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Health Guidance for Schools on Sports and Strenuous Activities During Extreme Heat.

The guidance originally released June 30, 2023 was updated July 1, 2024, and is subject to change. 

For California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) member schools: As per California State Law Assembly Bill (AB) 1653 and CIF Bylaw 503.K. Heat Illness and 503.L. Air Quality Index Protocols, all CIF member schools must adhere to the CIF Heat Illness Prevention and Heat Acclimatization Policies as outlined in the CIF Extreme Heat and Air Quality Policy (PDF).

Key updates as of July 1, 2​024:​

• Added information on heat illness prevention and heat acclimatization polic​ies that apply to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) member schools​​. 
• Added links to the Spanish version of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) HeatRisk forecast tool (en español) and the CDPH Heat Risk Grid (en esp​añol, PDF)
• Added information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’ (CDC) HeatRisk Dashboard and the CDC’s heat and health guidance for healthcare professionals.

Key Sections:

• What Is the Risk of Exercising During Extreme Heat?
• What Can Be Done to Protect Students from Extreme Heat?
• What Is the “HeatRisk” Forecast and How Do I Use It?
• What Are the Signs of Exertional Heat-Related Illness?
• What Factors Increase the Risk of Heat-Related Illness?
• What Other Proactive Steps Can Be Taken?
• Where Can I Learn More?

​

As MDUSD continues our Deaf Awareness Month recognition in September, we are also highlighting the International Week of Deaf People (Sept. 23-29) and the International Day of Sign Languages, which was Monday, Sept. 23.

Concord HS is the only high school in the District that offers American Sign Language (ASL) as a World Language, with three years so students can move from beginner to advanced levels, meeting graduation and A-G requirements. Teacher Matt Moyers, who is deaf, communicates with students using sign language, with interpreters who vocalize his words. He teaches about 185 students, including roughly 75 who are in the first level course. This is his sixth year of teaching and his third year teaching ASL at Concord HS. "I'm really enjoying it," Moyers said, adding: "I feel like they are my kids."

In his 5th period Level 1 course on Tuesday, the 37 students in his class were learning to sign questions such as: "Who, where, what, why, how many, and which?" Moyers stressed that facial expressions are very important to help communicate meaning, similar to voice inflections when speaking.

"The only way to learn ASL is by watching carefully and really copying and emulating the teacher," he said, adding that muscle memory will eventually kick in. "The more you use sign language, the better you become, just like with other languages." Students said they chose ASL instead of Spanish because it is less well-known and offers a unique way for them to express themselves, as well as to communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students at the school. "I wanted to take this class because I don't think many people know how to do sign language and I wanted to learn it," said freshman Alexis Von Raesfelt, whose older brother is in his third year of ASL as a junior. Alexis said she also appreciates having a deaf teacher, which gives her a new perspective. "He's really sweet," she said, adding that she can have conversations with him even when the interpreter isn't there, using the sign language she has already learned.

Freshman Rachel Fischer said she took American Sign Language because "it just kind of spoke to me more than other languages" and she likes using facial expressions to communicate. "It's really a lot about using your eyes and your eyebrows," she said, noting that her classmate Alexis scrunched her eyebrows when she signed, "what?" Rachel said learning from Moyers is "really cool because you get more insights into what it's like to be deaf and he's a really good teacher. You can tell he loves to teach."

Freshman Xavier Niemeier said he took ASL because he was inspired by a friend of his who learned it on her own. "It's a lot of fun," he said. "At first, it was kind of challenging to move my fingers around, but after a while, I got used to it." Junior Cody Hickok said he likes communicating in sign language. "It allows me to vividly express my feelings," he said. "When I'm confused or happy, I can easily communicate with my facial expressions, when normally you wouldn't pay attention to that." For example, he smiled when he signed "happy" and frowned to express confusion as he signed "what?"

Interpreter Marina Renfrow began taking ASL classes when she attended Berean Christian School, then she transferred to Concord HS to continue taking Level 3, graduated from CHS in 2002, went onto become an interpreter and has worked at CHS since 2008. "I fell in love with the language," she said. "I had taken Spanish, but it wasn't a good fit. I knew I wanted to become an interpreter." She works with Moyers in his 1st and 5th period Level 1 classes, and works with the school's Deaf and Hard of Hearing students the rest of the day. Freshman Alicia Paredes, who is Hard of Hearing, is a student in Moyers' 6th period Level 2 class, since she already knew sign language from attending Westwood Elementary and El Dorado MS, which are part of the District's DHH continuum. 

Visual Arts teacher David Hevel, who previously taught at Northgate and Mt. Diablo high schools, said having DHH classmates and seeing interpreters in their classes is "normalized" for all students at Concord HS. Deaf students are just like everyone else, and their interpreters "are actually a voice for the teacher or the student," he said.

Moyers said he appreciates Deaf Awareness Month and the DHH and ASL programs at Concord HS. "It’s really nice to see more and more people signing," he said. "It makes the world a little better place for the deaf community in general. These students are our future and they’ll become company managers, and when a deaf person comes in, they will have already been exposed to a deaf person, and they’ll have some basic fundamentals." The only thing deaf people can't do, he said, is hear.

Click on this reel to see Moyers and some of his students signing.