Print View
Counselor Describes the HERO Program

Counselor Describes the HERO Program

School Counselor Describes the HERO Program
 

Counselor Mr. Brandon Castro
Photo credit: KMPH Fox26 News


Check out our very own Brandon Castro, School Counselor at Fremont Elementary School, as he describes the HERO Program at Fremont Elementary School. School Principal Dawn Hubble said, "It means that we invest in teaching behavior expectations and pouring into students instead of formative old school kind of discipline."

https://kmph.com/news/crisis-in-the-classroom/crisis-in-the-classroom-teaching-appropriate-behavior 

 


MCSD Offers Summer Academy

MCSD Offers Summer Academy

MCSD Offers Summer Academy Enrollment Now Open
 
2022 Summer Academy GraphicWhile summer seems far away, Merced City School District staff is already planning for this year’s Summer Academy. This year, the District will be offering summer classes to all grades for five weeks. The summer program starts June 20 to July 22 offering opportunities for both academic and social-emotional learning. 
 
Open to current MCSD students from preschool to 7th grade, Summer Academy will focus on academics but also include opportunities for social and emotional enrichment, allowing students to engage in outdoor activities/play, reading, math, music, arts, and other learning opportunities, including field trips. “Last year’s summer academy was very successful and helped tremendously in bridging the gap and preparing our students to return full-time in-person instruction. We love offering this program because it allows our students to continue spending time with our staff and with their peers,” shares Doug Collins, Interim Superintendent for MCSD. “In addition to the academic component, this year, we’re incorporating social and emotional learning in the curriculum as well. Since we’ve returned to in-person learning this school year, we recognized that our students needed more support when it comes to regulating their emotions, learning to resolve conflict, and making responsible decisions. By providing tools and teaching them these skills, they can be successful in school, and at home,” Collins adds.
 
Last year, approximately 1,200 students benefited from extended learning opportunities through the District’s summer program. 
 
In addition to the summer program, another resource for families is MCSD’s Learning Hubs which will continue to be open throughout the summer. The Learning Hub located at Merced Mall will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The hub will be staffed by MCSD instructional aides and can help support students with homework help, reading, and other academic support. 
 
The summer program is free for MCSD students. Transportation and free breakfast and lunch will also be provided. Classes will be offered in the following schools: Peterson Elementary Alicia Reyes Elementary, Rivera Elementary, and Wright Elementary schools. Preschool will be offered at Clark and all four sites mentioned as well. Students will be in-person and will receive instruction for five hours a day, five days a week, except for preschoolers who will attend school for four hours a day, five days a week. Health and safety precautions currently in place will continue. 
 
In preparation for summer academy and to allow students and parents to get to know the team and the routines, there will be a “Meet the Teacher” event scheduled for June 17. More information will be shared. 
 
Registration is now open for Summer Academy and parents can call their child(ren)’s school to register. More information is also available on the District’s website: www.mcsd.k12.ca.us or on our Facebook page.

MCSD Teacher Wins $10,000 Grant

MCSD Teacher Wins $10,000 Grant

MCSD Teacher Wins $10,000 Grant as Teacher of the Year Awardee
 
January 12, 2022
 
Just in time for the holidays, staff and students at John Muir Elementary School received an unexpected but welcome gift. That’s because one of their own, 6th-grade teacher Mr. Sou Lee, was recognized as Rack Room Shoes Teacher of the Year. Mr. Lee was presented with a $10,000 technology grant for the school and a $500 gift card for him.
 
At the beginning of the school year, Rack Room Shoes launched a national competition calling for customers to nominate teachers who have made a positive impact in their lives and the lives of their children. On the last day of the nomination period, parent Ana Yanez saw the email calling for nominations. “I knew exactly who I wanted to nominate. Mr. Lee has inspired my 5th grader to excel. He goes above and beyond for his students and I have seen his influence on my child. He is motivated and interested in school like never before. Because of Mr. Lee, he has found a new love for science and he hopes to become an engineer someday. Mr. Lee will forever live in my son’s life for his love of teaching and compassion. He is very dedicated and makes every student feel special. He motivates students to not only do their best in school but also in life. He demonstrates concern and makes science and math fun. He's been a great mentor for my son and for many kids to follow. I’m so happy my son was able to have him as a teacher.”
 
Rack Room Shoes committed to awarding five $10,000 grants to the schools of the winning teachers and a $500 Rack Room Shoes gift card for each of the winning educators.
Hearing about Mr. Lee’s nomination, his fellow teachers at Muir and the District, rallied behind him and put out a call to the community via social media to vote during the online voting period.
In the end, Mr. Lee received the 2nd most number of votes, getting thousands of votes from all over the nation out of 399 nominations. Mr. Lee joins four other exceptional teachers and is the first one from California to have received the award.
 
“I’m overwhelmed and speechless. My students inspire me every day and this is all for them,” shares Mr. Lee. He says his favorite part about being a teacher is seeing his students grow in their academics. “I especially enjoy that ‘ah ha’ moment when the light bulb goes off. It takes a lot of work and patience to get to the ‘ah ha’ moment, but it is worth the time and effort. I learn from the students every day. It amazes me how my students think. I enjoy listening to how they approach math problems in different ways. They continue to amaze me every day,” he adds.
 
Mr. Lee credits his background and upbringing as his motivation as a teacher. His grandparents were refugees from Laos and they spoke no English. Because of that, they faced difficulties adjusting to their new life in the US, so he was raised to value education as a way to rise above his situation. “I go to work every day hoping to inspire my students to work hard and pursue their dreams. I want my students to realize how important education is and how it can change their lives. It changed my life. I bring the best of me every day to work to inspire and to remind my students that they have the power to turn things around.”
 
Principal Michelle Colburn says she is not surprised Lee was nominated. “Mr. Lee is an amazing teacher who inspires his students to excel. His belief in his students encourages them to believe in themselves and that goes a long way for their success. Because of this grant, we will be able to purchase much-needed devices to provide computer-assisted learning activities that will increase academic achievement and a more immersive learning experience.”
 
“Now more than ever, educators are facing mounting challenges in their classrooms. It is an honor to recognize exceptional teachers through our Teacher of the Year program and support them through donations to their schools,” President and CEO Mark Lardie said. “We hope this recognition will help exceptional teachers continue to inspire students and impact their communities in positive ways.”
 
Rack Room Shoes is headquartered in Charlotte. Rack Room Shoes operates more than 500 locations nationwide under the Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse brands. Through Rack Room Shoes Gives, the company's ongoing philanthropic program, the company provides ways in which customers and employees can seek support for charitable organizations, instilling trust and inspiration in the communities served.
 

Teacher of the Year Mr. Sou Lee

Teacher of the Year Mr. Sou Lee2

 


MCSD Welcomes New Board Member

MCSD Welcomes New Board Member

MCSD Welcomes New Board Member Allen Brooks
 
(September 24, 2021, MERCED, CA) -- Merced City School District’s newest Board of Education Trustee has always been active in the Merced community, but he says joining the MCSD Board of Education will hopefully allow him to serve even more citizens and make a lasting impact. 
 
Allen Brooks was officially sworn in as a trustee last week during the regularly scheduled board meeting. He said he is excited about the opportunity and excited to serve those who inspired him – the community he loves. 
 
Brooks said he has always been interested in joining the School Board but it wasn’t until recently that circumstances seemed to have presented the perfect time. “Being involved in the community, especially in education, has always been my passion because I believe that quality education helps nurture children to become productive citizens of society. I believe if we want change and to make an impact, education is where it’s at. It all starts here,” Brooks explained. 
 
Brooks was elected during a special election last month, representing Area 3 and completing the five-member Board that includes President Birdi-Olivarez-Kidwell, Dr. Shane Smith, Jessica Kazakos, and Jessee Espinosa.
 
In his new role, Brooks hopes to not just advocate for parents and students but also to inspire and speak for people who don’t have a voice but often need more help navigating the education system. “A lot of the kids that we talk about, the kids that need help in our education system, I used to be one of them. I'm talking about the kids that are struggling in school that may think there’s no hope for them. I’m hoping that they see me and think that if Allen Brooks can do it, they can do it,” he explains. 
 
As someone who grew up struggling in school, and not having examples to aspire to, Brooks says inspiring the younger generation and the underserved is so important. Growing up from a middle-class family in the not-so-good part of town in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brooks said he did not have an idea of what success could look like or what we could be, “Unlike most kids, I had never even seen a typical man, wearing a suit and going to work every day. I did not have those good examples growing up.”
 
So, he looked elsewhere. “I saw Eddie Murphy in ‘Boomerang.’ He worked for an advertising agency and went to work every day. He looked very nice, looked important and he looked just like me. I took that and ran with it. I told myself, I want to be that person someday. Now, this has become my life’s work because I want to give kids a real-life example of what they can become and tell them that there’s hope for them.” 
 
He went on to college attending Grambling State University in Louisiana and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Communications. There, he met his wife Sheilah who grew up in Merced. “We visited Merced, I fell in love and I’ve loved this community ever since. We raised our family here and that’s why I want to do my part to make it even better for future generations.” 
 
All three of his children are still in the school systems with his youngest being part of MCSD. He says his experience as a parent and being involved in the community inspired him to join the Board. “I’m looking forward to making a meaningful impact and producing measurable changes. I hope that after my term is done, we can see tangible results that we’ve moved the dial.”
 
The area he is most passionate about is equity and making sure all students across the district have the same access to facilities that are conducive to learning. “We know that the learning environment is a great part of communication and the overall experience. Some schools are a little outdated. If we can make their atmosphere a little bit better, then we know their results would be better because teachers will be excited about teaching and students will get excited about learning. Having access to things such as robots they can see and touch, it exposes students to ideas and inspires them. The possibilities of what we can do with upgraded technologies and access to updated facilities are endless. All our children should have the same access and experience.” 
 
Brooks says he hopes to bring his experience and skills as a communicator and connector to build trust. He expressed that schools should be partnering with parents to help them succeed and communicate with parents, “not just when things are not going well, but also when things are going well. How about we change it around and talk to them about their child’s progress, what other support can we provide? Maybe their child wants to be a lawyer, how can we start cultivating that interest now, and pave the way for their success? I believe every parent loves their child unconditionally. If we package it and communicate differently, those parents will show up for their children.” 
 
When he is not busy in his real-estate business, Brooks loves to spend time in nature, taking walks, spending time with the family at the park or by the lake. A communicator at heart, he also loves writing books and poetry and working on video projects to unwind.
 
“We are thrilled to have Mr. Brooks, and would like to extend him a warm welcome,” Interim Superintendent Doug Collins said. “Our Board of Education plays a vital role in serving our communities and helping us to create the best learning environment for our students. We are excited for Mr. Brooks’ contributions to the MCSD Board of Education and continuing to improve education for all those we serve.”
 

New Board Member 1

New Board Member 2

New Board Member 3

 


Students Shop with the Rotary

Students Shop with the Rotary

Students Shop with the Rotary

Rotary International-Merced helped Merced City School District (MCSD) students feel good about being back to school as they took over 30 students shopping at Merced Mall on Wednesday, September 8, helping children pick out shoes and socks during the two-hour event. 

 Through fundraising, the Rotary was able to provide each student $100 to spend on new shoes and socks. Rosemary Parga-Duran, Rotary president and former MCSD Superintendent, spearheaded the project, knowing how much relief it provides to students and their families. “Back to school is an exciting time for students and their families, but sometimes it can also be a hardship. Between backpacks, new clothes, and shoes, the expenses can add up, and sometimes, families have to make tough choices, especially when you have multiple children,” she explained. 

“It was important to us that students felt good about going back to school, especially after the challenging year they’ve had. Now they can go to school excited, prepared to learn, thrive and play,” she added. 

According to a survey by LendingTree, parents of school-age children expect back-to-school shopping will cost them an average of $498, and 29% say they're unable to afford their child's school supplies this year. According to the same survey, 1 in 3 parents of school-age children expects to go into debt when shopping for back-to-school. That percentage has consistently risen over the past three years, from 26% in 2019 to 30% in 2020 and now 33% in 2021.

Felicia, a mother of eight school-aged children, including fifth-grader Travys and Lei’Lani, knows the challenge all too well. She says she spends about $3,000 for back-to-school shopping every year, so the Rotary event was a nice surprise and a blessing. “When I got the call, I got excited. Every year we spend a lot on back-to-school shopping and we have to keep doing that throughout the year since they don’t last that long and the kids outgrow their shoes and clothes pretty quickly. This is definitely going to help and you can tell from their faces, they’re really excited to pick out their shoes today. We’re so grateful.” 

Rotary members and MCSD staff, including principals, and Board of Education President, Birdi Olivarez-Kidwell, were paired up with students, helping them pick out shoes and socks and, making sure they found the perfect fit. This is the first year that the Rotary has held the event and they hope to do it every year.

For Elijah, 3rd grade student from Sheehy, being able to shop for new shoes means he will have enough to last the whole year. Elijah’s grandmother, Leticia, who cares for him and his brother, being able to have what they need to start school often comes with sacrifices. “I’m their guardian and since I’m on a fixed income, being able to give them everything they need for school is hard. So, this is a true blessing for us. I often have to buy shoes that are too big for him so that they last a whole year. But that can be uncomfortable and make it hard for him to play and they still don’t last all year since they grow fast.”

District staff who knows the struggles families face in preparing for back to school says the event brought so much joy to everyone in attendance. “To see the excitement on our students’ faces as they picked out their new shoes and to know what that meant for them, it’s heartwarming. This will provide them a confidence boost and allow them to start the school year with dignity and joy. To their families, it’s one less thing to worry about. We are grateful for community partners like the Rotary of Merced. It means a lot for our students knowing that their community is behind them and supports their success in school,” concludes Doug Collins, Interim Superintendent for MCSD. 

 

Rotary Picture1

Rotary Picture2

Rotary Picture 3

Rotary Picture 4

 




Page: ◄ Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ... Next ► Last ►

For technical questions and comments regarding this website, please contact the Webmaster.

Success!