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MDUSD is offering seven dual enrollment classes this spring, which enable students to earn college credit while still in high school free through partnerships between MDUSD and its high schools and Diablo Valley College (DVC).

Why Dual Enrollment?

The benefits of dual enrollment are numerous:

• Students can get a head start on their college education and potentially save time/money by completing college credits early.
• Classes part of MDUSD’s dual enrollment program are intended to help meet either a certificate requirement or a degree requirement.
• Dual Enrollment also provides exposure to the rigor of college coursework and helps students transition more smoothly to higher education.

A typical college class will earn students one year of high school credit. Additionally, students earning a C or higher in a dual enrollment class will result in a GPA boost for that class – similar to an AP or honors class. Participating in this program demonstrates academic ambition, preparedness, and long term goal setting. Overall this program offers an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, reduce future college costs, and accelerate their educational journey. 

While MDUSD's spring dual enrollment courses are offered at Concord, Mt. Diablo and Ygnacio Valley high schools, they are open to students across the District. Please note that students are responsible for getting themselves to the classes as MDUSD does not provide transportation.

Spring classes include:

• Graphic Design at Concord HS;
• Technology & Society, Introduction to Public & Community Health, and Intro to Race and Ethnicity at Mt. Diablo HS; and
• Child Development and Psychology; College & Career Readiness; and Math for Technicians at Ygnacio Valley HS.

Take a look at our Dual Enrollment Flyer and Spring 2025 Dual Enrollment Schedule for locations, dates and times.

Applications are now open. For more information, please complete the form here.

Dual Enrollment Calendar

Dec 5th & 6th MDHS Dual Enrollment Application Workshop

Dec 12th & 13th CHS Dual Enrollment Application Workshop

Jan 6th - 26th Dual Enrollment Support

Contacts:

Jorge Salinas-Tognetti email:  salinastognettij@mdusd.org

Amanda Witczack
email:  witczaka@mdusd.org

Sarah Peterson
email:  sapeterson@dvc.edu

Additional information is here.

 

MDUSD's SOAR (Support Office for Access and Resources) team continues to work to raise awareness about student homelessness by participating in the California Department of Education's initiative to Wear Green on Fridays for the month of November. Seen below (right) are members of the Student Services team wearing green to show their support for 286 students experiencing homelessness, 56 foster youth, and 56 students living in other forms of extreme financial hardship in Mt. Diablo Unified School District. 

The SOAR team is also working hard to fundraise, gather goods, and sort donations. Seen below (left) is Linda Pete, Director of Strategic Supports and Interventions, volunteering with her daughter at a recent service event to create clothing bags to distribute to students. 

If you would like to volunteer, donate financially, or contribute new or very gently used coats, toys, shoes, books, or bikes, please contact soar@mdusd.org. Receipts for tax purposes can be provided by emailing soar@mdusd.org.

Additional donation information is in the flyers below.

 

 

 

MDUSD's next "Cafecito Con Las Consejeras" (Coffee with the Counselors): A Chat with Latina Counselors, will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14 at Holbrook Language Academy, Room 11, 3333 Ronald Way in Concord. Topics will include: Academic success, Colleges & universities, and Career exploration. RSVP here. For more information, contact: Ms. Angela Ordaz at ordaz@mdusd.org or (925) 682-8000 x85671, Ms. Marcie Torres at torresmm@mdusd.org or (925) 682-8000 x6418, Ms. Yaretzie Amaya at amayay@mdusd.org or (925) 682-4030 x3414, or Ms. Leidi Arias at ariasl@mdusd.org or (925) 682-4030 x3406.  Hablamos Español.

Mt. Diablo HS is proud to announce that 12 students in the school's Patient Care health career pathway recently completed in-depth Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training presented by the city of Concord, and participated in a graduation ceremony on Monday, Nov. 18, after learning life-saving skills that they will be able to share with their family and community, said teacher Dr. David Pintado. 

“Special thanks to Mrs. Trish Beirne, Emergency Services Volunteer Coordinator from the Concord Police Department and her team of instructors that came to our school for six weeks and prepared our students for catastrophic events,” Pintado said. “And thank you to our school administration for providing all the logistics to make this important event a success!”

The students participated in drills that required them to be sworn in as Disaster Service Workers and simulate how they would assist in emergency response if an earthquake damaged the school, Beirne said. "It was part of the actual drill," she said. "If they were to be called up to deploy with our team, the first step is to swear volunteers in as DSWs so they are covered by the state’s Workers’ Comp insurance."

The students rotated through the following stations:

• Incident Command System structure
• Fire Suppression
• Cribbing (a technique to lift a heavy object that is pinning a victim underneath
• Damage Assessment (to report to Command)
• Light Search and Rescue (of a damaged classroom to find and triage victims)
• Medical treatment (of victims’ injuries)
• Radio communications

Congratulations to the students, who have learned valuable skills as part of Mt. Diablo High School's Career Pathways program! More information about MDUSD's Career Pathways programs is here.

 

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

• Mt. Diablo HS Patient Care pathway students completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training,
• Students at Mt. Diablo Elementary and Diablo View Middle School recognized with Clayton "Do the Right Thing Awards,"
• Oak Grove MS hosts panel discussion about hate speech with members of the Ygnacio Valley HS Black Student Union,
• Walnut Acres Elementary hosts jog-a-thon,
• Sequoia Elementary holds African American Family Engagement Night,
• Video highlights El Dorado MS collaboration with Project Color Corps to create new mural,
• Ygnacio Valley HS "Project 212: Engineering the Future" robotics club video wins Gold Anthem Award,
• School social media highlights from Gregory Gardens, Meadow Homes, Mt. Diablo and Sequoia elementary schools; Diablo View, Pine Hollow, Riverview and Sequoia middle schools; and College Park, Mt. Diablo, Northgate and Olympic high schools;
• Riverview MS "secret" staff spirit days,
• Staff social media highlights from Meadow Homes Elementary, Foothill MS, Oak Grove MS and Holbrook Language Academy, and
• Reflecting on the loss of Horizons student James Unfried, who tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident.

You can read it here.

 

Northgate HS junior Angie Yao is getting a head start on career exploration in STEM, having recently completed a summer mentorship quantum physics research project at UC Santa Barbara. She has also founded a Women in STEM Club on campus that works to educate girls about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. And she has started up a nonprofit called Her STEM Space, which aims to increase access to STEM education for girls and currently has over 2,000 members internationally. "I am encouraging more girls to explore STEM because there are resources that I would have liked to have had when I was younger," said Angie, who is 16, adding that some girls at her school have talked about being the only female in computer science class. "Our club provides a safe space for girls to learn and feel really supported in the environment." Angie said Northgate HS math teacher Claire Weir and science teacher Corinne Starr are inspirational role models and mentors to her, who deepened her passion for math and science and are "amazing teachers." Angie plans to major in engineering in college. Her 6-week summer research mentorship project on the UC Santa Barbara campus gave her a taste of what it's like to work on a research team, studying quantum physics and inventing a two-cell sample holder that could be used to measure materials such as crystals or liquids using a paramagnetic resonance spectrometer.  "It was a very collaborative setting," she said, explaining that she worked with undergraduate interns and graduate students. "They were able to help me and guide me along the way." She designed the sample holder using 3D software, then created it using a 3D printer. She attached it to a large cylinder using a spool of copper wire and then inserted into a giant machine. At the end of the project, she wrote a four-page research paper, created a large poster, and gave a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation to her peers about the project. "It was definitely a life-changing experience to be able to stay in a dorm for six weeks and be independent, and also working on ground-breaking research and being introduced to a lot of interdisciplinary techniques and really diversifying my skills, because I got to try something that was completely new to me, which was physics," she said. "It really deepened my passion for engineering and science." Angie's interest in STEM was sparked in 3rd grade at Walnut Acres Elementary, when she was asked to design a leprechaun trap. "I was introduced to things like levers and pulleys and that was the first time I ever designed something by myself," she said. "And from then on I really realized that I love being hands-on and designing and inventing things." Now, Angie is sharing her love of STEM with the 40 members of her Women in STEM Club. Next month, they have invited one of the female founders of Suncoast Ventures to speak to them. Northgate students can sign up for this guest speaker event on Thursday, December 5th using FlexTime on Minga. And they are planning to host an event to teach Valle Verde Elementary students about STEM. Angie's nonprofit is also offering free monthly coding classes at the Ygnacio Valley Library and in online workshops. The next coding class is on December 14th and the next workshop is December 15th. The link to sign up is: https://forms.gle/n4yNEVg2mp938UGg8. Her STEM Space is also looking for volunteers and interns. Watch this reel to see Angie in action and check out the detailed poster she created about her UC Santa Barbara research project below! Angie's poster explaining her UC Santa Barbara research mentorship project is below.

To help educate students about the courageous, historic, and nation-changing “walk” of Ruby Bridges in November of 1960 to integrate schools, Rio Vista Elementary 4th and 5th graders walked to MDUSD's Black/African American Family Engagement Center in Bay Point on Thursday, Nov. 14th, to learn more about Bridges and her role in ending segregation in public schools. As a symbolic gesture, the students re-enacted her walk, then watched a short video about Bridges, and participated fun outdoor activities including jumping rope, throwing softballs and creating Ruby Bridges-themed chalk art on the blacktop. 

Rio Vista was one of several District schools to participate in the national Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, which is held on Nov. 14th to commemorate the anniversary of the day 6-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to integrate the formerly whites-only William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana. Schoolchildren around the country celebrate her accomplishment by walking to their schools, reading books and watching videos about Ruby Bridges, and talking about both historic and ongoing efforts to fight racism and discrimination.

The Rio Vista event was hosted by MDUSD's Focal Scholars Team, in partnership with 4th and 5th grade teachers and Principal Janis Heden. A special thanks goes out to the Oak Grove MS and Riverview MS PE departments and principals for lending their jump ropes and softballs for the celebration. Rio Vista and other MDUSD schools received Ruby Bridges flags, bracelets, stickers, and hats through the American Automobile Association. A Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office Deputy helped to escort the Bay Point group on their 1-mile round-trip walk. 

Fifth-grade teacher Jonathan Moses said the event was the culmination of previous lessons he has taught his students about state and federal laws and the history of segregation in the South, which the Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional in 1954, but which persisted until U.S. federal marshals escorted Bridges to her school. Moses' students A.J. Eda and Aryiane Hill said they enjoyed learning about Ruby Bridges and participating in the walk and activities. A.J., who is Filipino, said he is happy that schools are integrated. "It's good so we can all be together with each other and we can get to know each other and find out about other races and cultures," he said. Aryiane (pictured above with flag) said she admires Ruby Bridges. "I think she was a brave, smart and awesome girl," Aryiane said.

The Focal Scholars Program consists of K-12 students from seven Focal Scholar schools within MDUSD, including Rio Vista Elementary. It is designed to monitor as well as assist students with their attendance, behavior, and academic endeavors to show growth in each area. Some of the students identified as Focal Scholars are unhoused youths, foster children, and more. Students receive free tutorial and counseling services as a benefit of being in this program.

Other MDUSD schools that participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School events included: Gregory Gardens, Highlands, Mt. Diablo, Monte Gardens, Silverwood, Strandwood, Valhalla and Valle Verde elementary schools, as well as Sequoia and Valley View middle schools. 

 

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

• Several schools participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, including Rio Vista Elementary,
• Northgate High School’s Angie Yao launched her school’s Women in STEM Club, founded the nonprofit Her STEM Space, and participated in a summer research mentorship at UC Santa Barbara,
• Pleasant Hill Middle School student Aleena Akbar won in the Pleasant Hill Lions Club Peace Poster Contest,
• Sequoia Elementary student artwork is on display at Pleasant Hill City Hall,
• Mountain View Elementary students attend Diablo Ballet performance with buses funded through the Mt. Diablo Education Foundation,
• School and Staff Social Media Highlights including on Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
• And more!

You can read it here.

 

MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to the MDUSD community on Nov. 12, 2024:

Special presentation to Measure J Bond Oversight Committee

Dear Mt. Diablo Unified School District Community:

The District is dedicated to transparency and accountability in managing Measure J funds, which support crucial infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving energy efficiency across the district, as well as other necessary facilities improvements and upgrades. Please refer to the Project Update I sent in August for more details on school modernization and other improvements underway.

As part of our Districtwide facilities improvements, MDUSD engaged in a competitive selection process in August 2021 to select an energy services company for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment replacement and the installation of cost-efficient LED lighting. The District subsequently entered into an agreement with Schneider Electric for this project.

Mt. Diablo Unified School District is spending Measure J funds wisely, in full compliance with all laws and regulations. However, last year, some members of the District’s Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) expressed concerns regarding the Schneider Electric contract, selection process and energy savings estimates. 

MDUSD recognizes the vital role of the CBOC in providing oversight for Measure J projects. The District consistently participates in CBOC meetings to provide explanations regarding projects that are underway.

Although the District’s legal counsel has clarified that the District has complied with all laws and regulations related to energy service contracts, Schneider Electric has agreed to provide a detailed presentation, including profit disclosures, subcontractor payments, and energy savings calculations, during the next committee meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, November 14 in the Dent Center Boardroom at 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed here.

In addition, I  am attaching a detailed memo to the community addressing concerns that have been raised in more detail. More information about Measure J projects, meeting records and financial audits is at: https://www.mdusd.org/departments/business-services/mo-home/facilities-bonds/measure-j/j-cboc.

Future Planning

Given the age and condition of MDUSD’s facilities, ongoing upgrades are necessary. We anticipate that Measure J funds will be fully expended by late 2025. Looking ahead, we are considering pursuing a new facilities bond to continue our efforts to enhance our schools. Before moving forward, we will update and prioritize our Facilities Master Plan, including a focus on athletics and visual and performing arts facilities.

Thank you for your ongoing support and investment in the 29,000 wonderful students of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. It is because of your trust and partnership that we can continue to make these vital improvements that will benefit our students and community for years to come.

Thank you,

Dr. Adam Clark
Superintendent 

 

Foothill MS in Walnut Creek was excited to send its FIRST LEGO League robotics team, called "The GOATed Griffins," to compete in a FIRST LEGO League Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Lowell HS in San Francisco. The team, which includes students in grades 6-8, has been working since August on designing, building and coding a Lego robot that can accomplish 15 tasks in the "Submerged" challenge, which deals with ocean exploration and conservation. Some students are on an "Innovation Team," which presented a solution to a real-world problem during the competition.

The event, open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., hosted 12 teams with a total of 81 students from seven cities. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global organization that inspires students to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs. FIRST programs foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, teamwork and leadership.

"We will always work together, practice together, and win together," said 7th-grader Oliver Dong. "But, even if we lose, we will do that together, too.” Their team name, GOATed Griffins, combines "Greatest Of All Time" with the school's griffin mascot.

Sixth-grade science teachers Devin Jackson and Adam Thompson coach the team after school. Besides the 10-person competition team, the school has three other recreational teams, with a total of about 60 students participating on one of the four teams. Foothill students have participated in the competitions for about 10 years, Jackson said. 

During the competition, the robotics team got three attempts to complete as many tasks as possible in 2-minutes and 30-seconds, presenting their robot design to the judges. The team has come up with three different designs in the past few months, learning through trial and error how to refine the design so it will work most efficiently to accomplish tasks such as pushing and pulling objects, picking them up and placing them in specific areas. The special Lego kits have motors that can move the robot, which the students control through a coding program using their Chromebooks. 

The Innovation Team designed a solar and battery-powered boat that could collect water contaminated with oil after an oil spill, filter it and put it into containers. They designed their prototype using Google drawings and created a display board to show their concept to the judges. They interviewed Marine Mammal Center Teacher Engagement Specialist Raquel Rojas via Zoom on Wednesday to get feedback on their idea. She commended them on their creativity and research and encouraged them to continue to spread the word about the dangers of oil spills in the ocean.

Students said they enjoy working together in teams, using their creativity and learning about engineering and STEM, which many of them are interested in pursuing as potential college majors and careers in the future.

Go, GOATED Griffins!