Dublin High School Winter Percussion

The music departments at Dublin High School, Fallon Middle School and Wells Middle School teamed up Friday night to put on a “Family Night” show featuring Drumline and Color Guard teams from all three schools. The first ever Family Night event featuring all three schools provided an opportunity for students to practice their routines in front their friends and families before taking the routines to competitions around the Bay Area. Drumline and Color Guard is a major extracurricular commitment for students and their teachers involving up to 15 hours per week in practices and competitions. Dublin High School students play a significant role in the middle school programs, volunteering weekly at both Fallon and Wells. Sean Kenney attended on behalf of the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees and observed, “The Arts provides kids with the opportunity to grow outside standard academics. The Arts really drives students, the other side of their brain, and helps educate the whole person.”

Paul Everts, Director of Music at Dublin High School, said, “Tonight we saw the two color guards from Fallon and from Dublin High. A color guard is a team of girls and boys performing a routine with equipment such as flags, sabres or rifles, usually to recorded music. We also saw the three drumlines from Dublin High, Fallon and Wells – all three schools now have drumlines. Drumlines march and perform maneuvers while playing their instruments. We saw excellent performances from all three schools tonight.”

OneDublin.org was on hand to capture sights and sounds from the event. Enjoy!

Fallon Middle School Winter Percussion Waiting to Perform

Dublin High School Winter Guard Performance

Wells Middle School Winter Percussion Strikes a Beat

Dublin High School Volunteers for Wells and Fallon Winter Percussion

The Dublin High School Engineering Academy Open House will feature a moderated panel session with MythBusters hosts Adam Savage and Kari Byron, who will field questions submitted by Dublin students. Following the panel session there will be demonstrations and interactive displays from local school robotics clubs and Engineering Academy students. Engineering Academy sponsor organizations and local colleges are also participating in the event. The event is appropriate for all ages and will be held in Dublin High School’s Sports Complex.

“If you teach people to foster and harness their curiosity about how the world works, they will find that learning about science and technology is fun – and kids find it most exciting of all”, said Savage, host of “MythBusters”.

In October 2010, “MythBusters” and President Obama teamed up to engage U.S. students in science education, featuring President Obama’s participation in the “Archimedes Solar Ray” episode.

“Dublin High School’s Engineering Academy and the Gateway to Technology program rolling out in our middle schools are just two of the ways our district is engaging Dublin students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. We are thrilled to have ‘MythBusters’ participate in our Engineering Academy Open House and help generate awareness of our STEM initiatives”, said Dr. Stephen Hanke, Superintendent – Dublin Unified School District.

The event is free and open to the public. Free advance tickets that guarantee entrance and seating at the event are available to Dublin public school students and their families and friends. Tickets are available for pick-up at the Dublin High School, Fallon Middle School and Wells Middle School front offices during school hours. Each family is permitted up to 6 tickets to the event. Picking up advance tickets is recommended as the event is expected to be very popular.

As an added benefit, advance ticket holders will receive 20% off their order at Vito’s Pizza Express in Dublin. Just show your ticket to receive the discount.

Related articles:

• Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Series
• Kari Byron – Host of Head Rush, MythBusters – Speaks with OneDublin.org
• Engineering Academy Opens at Dublin High School
• Dublin High Engineering Academy Awarded California Partnership Academies Grant
• Dublin High Engineering Academy Students Win Robotics Contest
• Dublin High School Engineering Academy Set to Expand in 2011-12
• Dublin High School Hosts FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition Sun Nov 13
• UC Berkeley to Host Interactive Science + Math Program for Middle School Girls

About the Dublin High School Engineering Academy

Dublin High School’s Engineering Academy is based on the Project Lead the Way curriculum and is supported by over $80,000 in donations and grants from corporations, foundations and government. The goal of Dublin High’s Engineering Academy is to introduce high school students to engineering disciplines using a hands-on, project-based approach. Dublin High’s Engineering Academy courses include “Principles of Engineering” and “Introduction to Engineering Design”. In 2011, Dublin High was awarded a California Partnership Academies (CPA) grant to expand the program. More information on Dublin High School’s Engineering Academy is available here.

Event summary:

• WHAT: Dublin High School Engineering Academy Open House Starring MythBusters
• WHEN: Wednesday February 22, 2012, 7:00pm – 8:30pm (doors open 6:30pm)
• WHERE: Dublin High School Sports Complex
• WHO: The event is open to the public and admission is free. Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) students and their families have priority admission. A limited number of guaranteed seating tickets will be available on a first come / first serve basis for DUSD students and their families via the Dublin High School, Fallon Middle School and Wells Middle School offices during school hours.

About Dublin High School

Dublin High School is a 9-12 comprehensive public high school in the Dublin Unified School District, Dublin, California. Dublin High School serves approximately 1,600 students and achieved an API of 879 in 2011. 98.7% of Dublin High School Class of 2011 graduates reported plans to attend a 2 or 4-year college. Dublin High School offers 23 Advanced Placement (AP), Advanced and Honors courses for college preparation, 22 athletic teams and 50+ extracurricular clubs. Dublin High also offers Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) for career readiness in partnership with the Tri-Valley ROP. Dublin High School was named to the CollegeBoard’s AP® Honor Roll in 2011 for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning 3 or higher on AP® exams.

Joy Sherratt

For many Fallon Middle School parents and students, Joy Sherratt is best known as a popular physical education teacher. What you may not know is that Joy is an accomplished singer and actress. Fortunately, Tri-Valley residents have an opportunity to see Joy’s talent on stage this month in the Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre‘s production of “The Last 5 Years” at Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center. Joy earned a degree in Drama from the University of California – Irvine and later added a Masters Degree in Education.

Joy Sherratt: “‘The Last Five Years’ is a story of a relationship between a young couple as they fall in love, get married, and settle into a life together. It is a journey that we can all relate to and is told through spell-bounding music. It is one of my favorite pieces of musical theatre and we hope you too will come experience what we are so excited about. We have an amazing 2012-2013 season lined up-to be announced soon! 

In the meantime, see you at the show!

”

The critically acclaimed professional actors from the recent Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre production of ‘Chicago’ Joy Sherratt (Roxie) and David Judson (Billy Flynn) are supported by an experienced orchestra led by Pat Parr (Bay Area Critics Award) for a thought-provoking night of musical theatre in Jason Robert Brown’s sizzling ‘The Last Five Years’. The production opened Friday January 20 and continues Jan. 21, 27 and 28 at 8pm and Jan 22 and 29 at 2pm. Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center is located in downtown Pleasanton at 4444 Railroad Ave.

Aslan Brown - UC Berkeley Freshman

Dublin High School Class of 2011 graduate, City of Dublin 2011 Young Citizen of the Year and University of California – Berkeley freshman Aslan Brown took a few minutes to share the experience of his first year at UC Berkeley with OneDublin.org.

OneDublin.org: Why did you choose UC Berkeley?

Aslan Brown: “I selected UC Berkeley because it’s one of the top public universities in the whole world. Its science program is amazing. I’m doing a biology major – molecular environmental biology – so I looked at schools based on where they rank in the sciences and Cal was in the top five.

“In addition, Cal is close to home – it’s only a 35-minute drive away so I can just pop home whenever I want to. If I crave some home cooking, or have some laundry [laughs] … mainly it’s just an amazing, prestigious school.”

OneDublin.org: What were the other schools you considered before selecting UC Berkeley?

Brown: “Others schools I considered were USC, a great private institution that is also good in the sciences, UC-San Diego and University of Chicago where I was wait-listed. I ultimately decided to stay closer to home and attend Cal.”

OneDublin.org: What has been the biggest transition from Dublin High School to UC Berkeley?

Brown: “There’s nobody telling you to do your homework, there’s nobody telling you to study, nobody telling you to do anything or making sure you are doing your stuff. It’s all on you, it’s all your own responsibility – if you slack off you are going to pay the consequences. You are not going to do well on the test or get that extra grade bump. A lot of the grade point differential between a B and an A is determined by the professor: they look at your test scores and see if there is an improvement. An individual’s drive is very important – the main difference is you have to be able to do it on your own.”

Aslan (back left) with roomates

OneDublin.org: Even though you are near home, you are living in dorms. Describe the difference.

Brown: “It’s fun – you have a lot of free time, but there are also a lot of distractions. You need to have the responsibility to determine if there is time to go out and play basketball for three hours, see a movie or study. The main difference is you make the choices about what you do with your free time.”

OneDublin.org: How did Dublin High School prepare you for the challenges of UC Berkeley?

Brown: “I have to give credit to all of my AP teachers, they definitely prepared us amazingly well. Thanks to the rigor of Dublin High School’s AP courses, I was able to enter UC Berkeley as a sophomore, I had 24 credits from my AP courses. The teachers give you enough work to make you really push yourself, that’s what’s awesome about the teachers over at Dublin High. The teachers care and they make you strive to be successful.”

OneDublin.org: What advice do you have for Dublin High students considering AP courses?

Brown: “AP courses are reflections of college courses and if a student wants to see if college is for them, because some people say ‘college is not for me’, AP courses give you an opportunity to try college while in high school. You’ll never know if you don’t try. If you try an AP class, do your best, stick it through to the end. You’ll feel more confident - you’re that much more prepared going into college – ‘I can do this’.

“The thing about college is that you take much fewer classes. The average schedule has three or four classes – that’s it. You may be going to class three hours a day – it’s nothing compared to high school. But taking AP gives you the ability to handle those classes, because although there are fewer classes, they are really hard. College classes take so much more extra work than what is assigned. I learned this the hard way – many of the students at UC Berkeley were able to get through high school fairly easily, who didn’t have to study very hard, who didn’t have to get that extra help like tutoring or one on one with the teachers. In college you definitely need to get that extra help and that’s what helps you get that A. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is seek help.”

UC Berkeley Winterfest

OneDublin.org: You were very involved at Dublin High school, what advice do you have for seniors heading to college soon?

Brown: “There are tons of different things to do, different clubs, different organizations. I was involved with the Rally Committee, but I didn’t want to do so much in my first semester, because I wanted to ease myself into college life. A senior heading off to their freshman year of college should check out all of the options. At Berkeley we have Calapalooza which is the first week of school and it’s where all of the clubs and organizations come out and are trying to get you to join. There are several clubs I’m interested in joining next semester. It’s important to remain involved because that’s what got you there.”

OneDublin.org: Describe what it is like to attend UC Berkeley in a couple of sentences.

Brown: “You can say anything – no one will judge you. You can do anything – no one will judge you. It is completely open to new ideas and everyone cares. The friends that you make, the relationships that you make are amazing. It’s awesome.”

At the Dublin High School 2011 Senior Awards Night Aslan was awarded a UC Berkeley Scholarship, Dave Burton Scholarship, a Dublin Lions Club Scholarship, a US Bowlers Scholarship, was named a California Scholarship Federation Life Member, received a Dublin High School Advanced Scholar Diploma and was awarded a President’s Gold Award for Educational Achievement.

Other articles in the Life in College series:

• Life at Carroll College – From Dublin Green to Montana Big Sky Country
• Life at Harvard University: Michelle Lee on Choosing Crimson for College Colors
• Becoming a University of Arizona Wildcat – From Dublin to Tucson
• Life as a Cadet at West Point: From Dublin High School to the US Military Academy
• Life as a UCLA Bruin: Deanna Hong on Combining Art, Athletics and Academics
• Life at Sonoma State University – Fulfilling a Love of Music
• Life at UC San Diego – From Dublin High AP to Nanoengineering
• Life as a Piper at Hamline University
• Life as a Vaquero at Santa Barbara City College
• Life at Stanford University: Ravali Reddy on Choosing Cardinal for College Colors
• Life at Columbia University and JTS – from Dublin High to the Ivy League
• Life at UC Davis: From The Hills of Dublin to the Flats of Davis
• Life at Penn State – Going from a Gael to a Nittany Lion

My name is Veronica Rubio and I am currently a freshman at a small, private, liberal arts college called Carroll College. It is located in Helena, Montana and is a very small school, with about 1,500 students. Carroll College has about the same number of students as the high school I graduated from, Dublin High School. I had a great experience at Dublin High. My teachers were terrific and the curriculum prepared me very well for Carroll. I made some great friends and was involved in the school through leadership, sports, and clubs. I had grown very comfortable at Dublin High and while I was excited to start college, I was also nervous about going to a school so far from home with a bunch of people I did not know. All of the Carroll’s brochures told me how nice the campus was, the challenge of the classes, and the community feeling of the school. I went and visited the school and really liked it, but I was still nervous. There was really no way of knowing what it would be like until I experienced it.

In August, my parents and I made the trip to Helena. I got my room all sorted out and before I knew it, I was by myself in Helena, Montana at a very small school with people I knew nothing about. However, after a short while I made friends and started classes. The brochures were right-the campus is very beautiful, the classes are challenging, and there is a true sense of community on campus. Anywhere I walk on campus I see someone I know or someone says hi. The scenery is beautiful, with snow-covered mountains and grass-covered hills everywhere. I am an elementary education major, and the classes for that major do challenge me and have already had me in a classroom observing a teacher and interacting with children.

Dublin High School Graduation

Carroll makes a significant effort to make you feel connected to the school and to meet people. All freshman (with the exception of a few students in certain situations) live in Guadalupe Hall at the bottom of a hill, about a five-minute walk from the football stadium and school gym. Guadalupe has an open door policy, meaning if you are in your room, your door needs to be open (unless, of course, you need some quiet time, are doing homework, or have another good reason). It creates a very close feeling throughout the hall and it helps people feel more comfortable to go into someone’s room and get to know them and visit with them.

Carroll also has many resources to get you involved on campus and they truly want their students to have a great experience at Carroll. All of my teachers knew my name and wanted me to do the best that I could. They went out of their way to help me in my classes. My counselor, whom I have met a few times, knew my name before I met her and has sent all of her students emails and letters to meet with her just to see how their semester is going. It is at a small school like Carroll where this could occur. At larger schools I have visited, there seems to be more distance between professors and counselors and their students. While that works perfectly fine for some students, I prefer to have a relationship with my teachers and counselors, and know I have people to turn to if I need help in classes or with anything else. At a small school like Carroll, teachers do know who you are and they want to help you do your best in school.

Carroll is a private Catholic school, so there is a religious emphasis at the school. The priest, Father Mark, lives in the freshman hall on the third floor boys. He is right in the middle of the students, and he is very well-respected and liked. There are also theology classes all students have to take. Every sports event begins with prayer and there are crucifixes in the buildings. There is Mass every Sunday night for anyone who wants to come. There is also a spiritual student leader called a Kirchen who lives on every floor of the hall in Guadalupe and the other dorms to be there for the girls or boys on their floor. At some religious schools, the religion is emphasized and is a very big part of the school. While Catholicism is a part of Carroll, there are many students who attend that are not Catholic. However, Carroll makes a significant effort to make all students feel welcome at mass or any spiritual event on campus. It is a great place to grown in your faith, begin your faith, or not be involved in any way spiritually, but be respectful of those who are.

Life at Carroll College

A lot of people asked me why I chose to go to a school in Helena, Montana. It is a very small city and it is freezing there-literally. However, the people in Helena (or anywhere in Montana) could not be more friendly and it is a beautiful place to live. The downtown of Helena is awesome. There are many food places and cool little shops to walk around. Helena’s city also has “regular” stores and restaurants like Target, Applebees, Safeway, Macaroni Grill, and Taco Bell. However, it also has some restaurants just related to Montana that are delicious and fun to go to. Shops do close down a bit earlier, but you still find things to do like just hanging out in the dorms or sledding down Guad Hill or going to the movies. Montana is a great place to live.

I am very glad I chose to go to school at Carroll College. I have made some great friends and I have been challenged in my classes. Dublin High School really prepared me well for the rigor of college and what would be expected of me. Dublin’s teachers make sure that their students know their information and want them to do well in their classes. All of the AP classes at Dublin also helped me because I was able to experience college level courses in high school that would help me understand the information and rigor at the college level. Dublin High gave me the foundation and experience that I needed to be successful at Carroll College. Dublin is also a great place to be, just like Helena, Montana.

At the Dublin High School 2011 Senior Awards Night Veronica was awarded a Dublin High School Alumni Scholarship, the Tri-Valley Retired Educators Scholarship, a Dublin High School PFSO Scholarship, a Carroll College Scholarship, a Dublin High School Counseling Department Scholarship, an AVID Scholarship and a President’s Silver Award for Educational Achievement.

Other articles in the Life in College series:

• Life at Harvard University: Michelle Lee on Choosing Crimson for College Colors
• Becoming a University of Arizona Wildcat – From Dublin to Tucson
• Life as a Cadet at West Point: From Dublin High School to the US Military Academy
• Life as a UCLA Bruin: Deanna Hong on Combining Art, Athletics and Academics
• Life at Sonoma State University – Fulfilling a Love of Music
• Life at UC San Diego – From Dublin High AP to Nanoengineering
• Life as a Piper at Hamline University
• Life as a Vaquero at Santa Barbara City College
• Life at Stanford University: Ravali Reddy on Choosing Cardinal for College Colors
• Life at Columbia University and JTS – from Dublin High to the Ivy League
• Life at UC Davis: From The Hills of Dublin to the Flats of Davis
• Life at Penn State – Going from a Gael to a Nittany Lion

Montana - Big Sky Country

Is your middle school daughter interested in science, technology, engineering or math? If so, there is a terrific local opportunity to further that interest being held on the UC Berkeley campus in early March. “Expanding Your Horizons” (EYH) is a national non-profit program created to motivate women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Over 26,000 young women participate in Expanding Your Horizons events every year, with UC Berkeley hosting an event for the first time this year.

“I speak on behalf of the whole Expanding Your Horizons – Berkeley team in saying how excited we are about hosting girls at U.C. Berkeley this year!! There are so many women who have been working very hard the last few months to make this event come together, and I have no doubt it will be an amazing day. Don’t miss out, sign up before February 20th!” – Madeline Girard, PhD student – Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management – UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley’s Expanding Your Horizons event will be held on Saturday March 3, 2012 (8:30am – 3:00pm). The registration fee is only $15 and registering early is recommended. More information and online registration is available here.

Expanding Your Horizons events are interactive and encourage participation with multiple hands-on workshops. UC Berkeley’s Expanding Your Horizons  schedule:

• 8:30 AM  Registration
• 9:00 AM  Keynote Speaker
• 9:45 AM  Hands-on Workshop 1
• 11:00 AM  Break/Snack
• 11:15 AM  Hands-on Workshop 2
• 12:30 PM  Lunch
• 1:15 PM  Hands-on Workshop 3
• 2:30 PM  Closing Session & Raffle

During the day long event, participants will hear from UC Berkeley professors, graduate students and industry professionals covering biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and other STEM-related fields. The event includes fun, hands-on activities. Parents are recommended to register their child early as this event is expected to be very popular. The conference is actively seeking students, professors and professionals to volunteer at the conference and lead workshops. To volunteer please email berkeleyEYH2012@gmail.com. Online registration is available here.

Below is a video produced by the Expanding Your Horizons organization (which is headquartered locally at Mills College) about the program:

Related articles:

• Dublin High Engineering Academy Students Win Robotics Contest
• Becoming a Google Product Manager – Interview with Google’s Johanna Wright
• Heather Knight and Social Robotics: The Intersection of Storytelling and Technology
• Kari Byron – Host of Head Rush, MythBusters – speaks with OneDublin.org
• Dublin High Grad Hannah Sievers to Intern with U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Dublin High School Teacher Kim Baumann Inspires a Love of Science
• Dublin High School’s Barbara Hall Brings Industry Experience to Teaching Math
• Meet Dublin High School Student Scientist and Varsity Athlete Kirsten Mengell
• Life at Stanford University: Ravali Reddy on Choosing Cardinal for College Colors
• Life at Harvard University: Michelle Lee on Choosing Crimson for College Colors

Michelle Lee

I remember when I first found out that I had been accepted via Early Action to Stanford University.  I was in the car when the email popped up in my inbox letting me know I had gotten into my dream school, and I burst into tears of pure joy.  I spent the next few months imagining myself as a Cardinal, loading up on Stanford gear, and preparing myself to accept their invitation.

However, when the remaining admissions decisions came out, words can’t begin to describe the elation and consternation I felt when I learned that I was also accepted to Harvard University.  Thus, I faced one of the toughest decisions in choosing between Stanford and Harvard.

I decided to visit both campuses before making my final decision, and to my surprise, fell in love with Harvard.  I had been so set on becoming a Cardinal that I hadn’t given serious thought to the possibility of going somewhere else.  As soon as I set foot in Harvard, everything felt right.  The campus, the classes, the people, all made me realize there was no place else I wanted to spend the next four years.

After I enrolled at Harvard, I was eager to start the next phase of my life, but anxious at the thought of being across the country so far from home.  Saying my goodbyes to my family and friends made me fully aware of my newfound independence.  I had no idea what to expect, and I feared that I would be lost at such a prestigious institution.

One semester later, I have to say that I had made the best decision of my life.  I have found my home, and I have become part of the Harvard community in so many different ways.

In a few short months, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that college is far from easy.  Academics are harder than ever, but I have the freedom to study whatever concentration interests me.  I applied as a pre-med student but this semester has shown me that there are virtually limitless options to explore before declaring my major next year.

Dublin High School Senior Homecoming 2010

I have found the AP track at Dublin High School prepared me for the challenges of Harvard’s coursework.  In my first semester, I took courses in calculus, life sciences, expository writing, and Korean.  Classes often consist of lectures by professors together with smaller sections taught by graduate students, and supplemental student study groups.  Collaboration in study groups is a huge part of surviving Harvard’s tough academic load.  If I ever felt over-loaded, I only had to walk down the stairs to see my proctor, or set up a meeting with my academic adviser or PAF (Peer Advising Fellow).

This past December brought long, comprehensive exams that make up finals period, but Harvard’s reading period, a dead week with no classes, was certainly a nice change from high school.  There was even a Primal Scream to kick off finals week, with hundreds of stark-naked Harvard students running around the Yard at midnight in a time-old tradition .  Mind you, the weather in Cambridge is nothing like California’s gorgeous weather, a change I’ve adjusted to with about four more layers of clothing!

Harvard University Crimson Dance Team

Outside class, I’m part of Harvard’s Crimson Dance Team (CDT).  CDT has the perfect blend of dance and spirit.  Having danced competitively in the past, I was looking to renew my passion and was thrilled to discover that CDT would compete at nationals in Disney World this January.  Three of the many highlights were performing at the Harvard-Brown home football game (in the rain no less), the Harvard-MIT home basketball game, and the Harvard-Yale pep rally in preparation for our biggest football game of the season (which we won 45-7 ).

I was reminded of our Dublin High School Varsity Cheerleading halftime performances, and cannot wait for the rest of basketball season next semester.  I look forward to CDT practices every week as releases from my busy academic life, and I dance alongside girls who share the same passion and dedication.  I’ve gained another family with the fifteen other girls that make up this team, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

Harvard University First-Year Social Committee

As Senior Class President at Dublin High School, I was infamous for being the mass texter, emailer, and Facebooker.  Funnily enough, that experience continues in my publicity activities on the First Year Social Committee (FYSC) at Harvard.  I loved being a part of the leadership team at Dublin High, and wanted to find an avenue to continue leadership in college.  The FYSC was exactly what I was looking for, as a fourteen-member committee that plans large-scale social events for the freshman class to come together and enjoy.  Our first event, Fright Fest, was a Halloween costume catwalk and dance.  It was a huge success, with over 1,000 members of our class attending! We’ve put on a Thanksgiving celebratory Fall Feast, a winter wonderland themed Frost Fest, and next up is our Freshman Formal in downtown Boston.  Planning this event as a co-chair has felt strangely similar to last year’s preparations for Senior Ball, and we’re setting it up to be the largest freshman event of the year!

I am also a member of the Freshman Class Council (FCC), which is a different aspect of leadership on campus, with the financial ability to make considerable changes for the class of 2015.  We are given large funds that are allocated to various dorm common room improvements because they often serve as social spaces for the students.  The funds are also used to put on small-scale social events in a manner similar to the FYSC.  My involvement with both the FYSC and FCC have been extremely rewarding, and I hope to remain active through social leadership.

One of the best things Harvard has to offer is its diversity.  I’ve already met so many incredible people from all over the world, and many of my closest friends are international from places like Macedonia, Switzerland, Germany, and Greece.  Listening to them makes me keen to study abroad in the future.  Every single person here has the drive to learn and succeed, and I need only look across my classroom to find inspiration.

Harvard University Wigglesworth Hall Dorm

This year, I live in a suite with four other girls from all over the country and abroad.  We live in the Wigglesworth Hall dorm, which is at the edge of Harvard Yard, where all the freshmen live.  Luckily, we’re closest to the Lamont and Widener libraries, where you’ll find students at all hours studying for the next exam or passed out on a desk!  Our window overlooks Massachusetts Avenue, in the heart of Harvard Square.  There you can find the Starbucks frequented by yours truly, the Chinese and pizza places open for late-night munchies, and the Coop, where we buy all of our books and school supplies.  Cambridge is truly a college town, and you’re bound to pass by classmates on the street whenever you go out!  I’ve learned to take the T, which is Boston’s version of BART, to get to places like MIT and the mall at CambridgeSide Galleria.  What’s great about Harvard and its surrounding area is that everything is so accessible. Annenberg, our beautiful Hogwarts-like dining hall, is only a few minutes away from the Yard and the majority of my classes are held within the Yard and the Science Center right outside so I can walk everywhere.

Every morning I wake up at Harvard, I think to myself how blessed I am to be there.  Being at Harvard can be overwhelming, but there is no other place I’d rather be.

At the Dublin High School 2011 Senior Awards Night Michelle Lee was named Jostens Senior of the Year (along with Ben Young) and Dublin Rotary Student of the Year, was awarded a Dublin Lions Club Scholarship, a Dublin High PFSO Scholarship, a Comcast Leaders & Achievers award, the Korean American Music Youth Orchestra Award,  the Livermore-Amador Symphony Award, the CFWC award, a Gael Achievement award in social science, was named a California Scholarship Federation Life Member, a President’s Gold Award for Educational Excellence, was named a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, and earned Dublin High School’s Advanced Scholar Diploma. In her senior year, Michelle was elected Senior Class President and was named Valedictorian (her graduation speech is included at the bottom of this article).

Other articles in the Life in College series:

• Becoming a University of Arizona Wildcat – From Dublin to Tucson
• Life as a Cadet at West Point: From Dublin High School to the US Military Academy
• Life as a UCLA Bruin: Deanna Hong on Combining Art, Athletics and Academics
• Life at Sonoma State University – Fulfilling a Love of Music
• Life at UC San Diego – From Dublin High AP to Nanoengineering
• Life as a Piper at Hamline University
• Life as a Vaquero at Santa Barbara City College
• Life at Stanford University: Ravali Reddy on Choosing Cardinal for College Colors
• Life at Columbia University and JTS – from Dublin High to the Ivy League
• Life at UC Davis: From The Hills of Dublin to the Flats of Davis
• Life at Penn State – Going from a Gael to a Nittany Lion

Research has demonstrated the critical role parents play in the successful education of their children (read more…). With mathematics achievement scores (according to STAR testing data, details available here) “flatlined” at Wells Middle School over the past three years, it was clear more acute attention was needed for this subject group for every student. Thanks to some foresight and a bit of small luck, things are moving in the right direction at Wells.

Looking at the data more closely, there was a growing trend of students that were not achieving in the subject of mathematics according to statewide testing data. Furthermore, there were some demographic subgroups that were falling further behind. In July, 2011, Wells Middle School welcomed their new Principal, Dr. Kevin Grier. Kevin joined the Dublin Unified School District after nine successful years as Principal at El Roble Intermediate School. Dr. Grier recognized that immediate action was necessary to reverse these recent trends. In the process, a legacy mathematics grant from the Oracle Corporation was uncovered and Wells Middle School’s Parent Math Nights program was launched.

OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to visit with the architects of this program and to discuss its long-term goals. Principal Kevin Grier and Mathematics Department Chairwoman Andrea Theisen contributed to this article.

OneDublin.org: What was the genesis of this program for Wells?

Wells Middle School Principal Kevin Grier

Kevin Grier: “I had been thinking about ways that Wells could help the students in the area of math since that was an area in which the recent STAR reports showed some issues. I thought what could we do to get kids help when they were at home and not at school? The parent math nights are designed to be given just before the start of each new chapter so that the parents get the necessary information.”

OneDublin.org: Prior to moving into administration, you were a classroom teacher. Please describe your passion for mathematics.

Grier: “I was a math teacher when I began my teaching career. I also struggled with trying to get parents to stop say that “they didn’t do math”. It was frustrating because it always seemed to give their child an excuse not to try. I enjoy going into the Wells Math Center to help out and watching other the other volunteers work until the light bulb clicks on in each kid’s head.”

OneDublin.org: What feedback have you received from families/students that have participated in the math nights?

Grier: “The parents have been appreciative of these nights as it has helped to jog some of those repressed learnings so that they feel they can help when asked. One concept that I might explore is having the parents bring their child to sit with them and to work together on the material. I think that the kids will feel more confident being able to help mom or dad with the material. I also think that the students will benefit from hearing the material again.”

To complete this story, we visited with the Wells Mathematics Department Chairwoman, Andrea Theisen. Andrea achieved a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University and then obtained a single-subject credential in Mathematics from California State University, Hayward (now CSU East Bay). She became an instructor at DUSD in 1995 and has been the Mathematics Department Chairperson at Wells Middle School for over a decade.

Wells Middle School Math Dept Chairperson Andrea Theisen

OneDublin.org: Describe your role at Wells.

Andrea Theisen: “I represent our group of our six members of staff to the administration and the District. We do collaborate with other colleagues within and outside of our staff.”

OneDublin.org: Tell us about the articulation of the Parent Math Nights at Wells.

Theisen: “The idea clearly came from Dr. Grier. As a group, we had some concerns with the progress of some of our students and discussed strategies on how we could improve their performance.”

OneDublin.org: How did you help design the program and how were you directed?

Theisen: “We discussed it one-on-one and then as a staff. Essentially, we were able to develop the program as a group. My colleagues and I were able to design an after-hours program that would aim to deliver an experience that would benefit most families. Thus far, the feedback from our staff has been very positive. They have enjoyed the experience. If I could change anything, it would be to increase the level of parental participation.”

OneDublin.org: Would you like to communicate anything else to families that have not taken the opportunity to participate?

Theisen: “Math can be scary. We want to provide some tools to aid your child through this process. These nights are really for the parents – especially if you may not be comfortable with the concepts. However, we’re doing all of this to help your child succeed. Our staff is here to fully support your child to make math a subject that they can embrace!”

The subject of mathematics will continue to be a priority at Wells Middle School. We would encourage all families to take advantage of this sustaining program. Contact your child’s counselor or the school should you wish to discuss further.

Wells Middle School Teacher Jaimie Dewitt Leads Math Tutorial for Parents

Looking for a fun way to support Dublin public education? Tickets are on sale now for the 24th annual Wells Middle School Crab Feed, which will be held on February 25th at St. Raymond’s Moran Hall in Dublin. Tickets are $50 per person and are available through the Wells Middle School office during normal business hours; get your tickets early because this event regularly sells out. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, but are unable to make it over to Wells during the day, email the Wells Middle School PFC at wellsmiddleschoolpfc@wellspfc.com, and they’ll make arrangements to get the tickets to you.

Wells Middle School’s Crab Feed in Depth

If you are new to Dublin, or have been here for a while but never made it to the Wells Crab Feed, you may not be sure what to expect. We’d like to shed a little light on what the Crab Feed is all about. You can also learn more about last year’s successful event on Dublin Patch (read more…).

The Crab Feed has been a Wells Middle School tradition for 24 years.  It’s Wells Middle School’s biggest fundraiser of the year and is first and foremost a big party. Tables are for 10 people: you can purchase a table and select your “crab-mates” or you can be assigned to a table and meet new people.  If you are with a group but have less than 10 people, you’ll be paired up with other guests. If you have more than 10 people, your tables will be grouped together. Either way, you’ll sit with your pals and maybe make some new ones.  Dinner is a lot more than just crab, with all-you-can eat pasta, salad and bread as well.  So even if you don’t like crab, you won’t go home hungry.

The evening starts with a cocktail hour, and our bar sells beer, wine, and a surprise specialty drink. Greeters at the door will show you to your table and collect a $10 corkage fee for any bottles of wine you choose to bring in. (Please remember that bringing in outside alcohol other than wine is against our alcohol policy.) After about an hour of socializing, our 8th-grade student volunteers will serve you dinner.

After dinner there is a live auction with a few really special items, followed by a dessert auction. No dessert is served with dinner – if you want dessert, you need to bid on it by table. There will be about 17 desserts in the auction, and there will be approximately 30 tables of guests – as a result the dessert auction gets very competitive!

From the beginning of the night, a silent auction is set-up in the side room. Be sure to check often on the items you want – you don’t want to get out-bid at the last-minute!

At approximately 8:30, when dinner is over, our 8th-grader volunteers are sent home and the DJ kicks in with dance music. That’s about the time we will draw the raffle ticket for the iPad – so don’t leave early. Dancing continues right up until the evening closes at 11pm.

New This Year at the Crab Feed

We have a couple of exciting new things going on at the Crab Feed this year. The first is our Champagne and Diamonds Raffle. We will be raffling off jewelry from Barons Jewelers in Stoneridge Mall. Not just any jewelry – we will be raffling off a diamond necklace valued at between $2,000 and $3,000 (yes, you read that right). You buy a glass of champagne and it comes with a raffle ticket. Cross your fingers!

Also new this year is the Wine Wheel. We have some really nice wines that were donated to us by various wineries around California. Each $10 spin wins one of these nice bottles of wine to go with your dinner or to take home. Of course, there will be no corkage fee for these bottles!

Crab Feed Donations and Sponsorships

In difficult economic times, gathering donations for our silent, live and dessert auctions is challenging.  This is where the community can really make a difference. We are reaching out to you, seeking ideas and opportunities:

• If you own a business and are able to donate products or services…
• If you own a vacation home or a timeshare….
• If you have season tickets for a local sports team or access to a luxury box…
• If you have an exciting and interesting job and would like to offer a tour or demonstration…
• If you work for a business that might be willing to serve as a Crab Feed sponsor to offset our expenses…

Finally, if you own or manage a business, you can advertise in our evening’s program.  Ads range from business card sized to full-page and can be purchased by contacting us through our email address at wellsmiddleschoolpfc@wellspfc.com.

Dublin High One Acts Dress Rehearsal

While much of Dublin spent Monday relaxing in front the TV catching the Rose Bowl game, clearing away holiday decorations or enjoying the last few hours of a vacation, Dublin High School’s Drama Club students were bustling in preparation for opening night this Thursday (January 5).

Dublin High School Drama Club’s annual One Acts production is a popular event where students get the unique opportunity to take on the role of director. This year, seven students took on the responsibilty of  selecting, casting and directing musical excerpts and short plays. For those new to live theatre, the One Acts provides an opportunity to experience comedies, dramas and musical numbers all in one evening.

The One Acts open this Thursday Jan. 5 at 7pm for a four-performance run that continues Jan. 6-7 at 7pm and closes with a matinée on Sunday Jan. 8 at 2pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students.

OneDublin.org stopped by Dublin High’s Little Theatre to ask each student director about their selected piece:

Each student director also shared their thoughts on what it has been like stepping off the stage and into the role of leading fellow students:

Almost, Maine; Directed by Nicole Hamre

“I’ve learned so much from my cast – they’ve taught me how to respect theatre and the people who aren’t on stage who work so hard to make it all happen.”

A Whole House Full of Babies; Directed by Kristyn Lue

“Out of everything I’ve done in the theatre, I think directing has made me the least stressed because I’ve really worked with my cast and learned how to be more of a team player than a crazy tyrant. It’s been great learning from the actors, being able to watch them and learn from them.”

Night Visits; Directed by Nate Bennett

“Directing poses its own stresses. Directing is nice because you don’t need to learn lines, but directing is so much more stressful: getting people together and planning. I loved acting but I love directing too. It will be really hard in the future picking between the two.”

The Man Who Couldn’t Dance; Directed by Ryan McRee

“What I’ve learned as a director is how to pay attention to the details, which is something that will help me as an actor, and of course directing has helped me with leadership skills and it’s taught me what you need to do in order to make certain things work in a play. Being a director has been an awesome experience.”

The Office; Directed by Emily Morehead

“The most eye-opening thing about being a director is getting to see acting from a different perspective. I’ve always been an actor and as a director I’ve noticed how close and personal a play becomes to a director and now I understand why Mr. Hoex is so passionate about how well we do in plays.”

Variations of the Death of Trotsky; Directed by Sarah Finn

“I’ve learned a lot about responsibility – you have a whole cast riding on your decisions – you have to put out your best to make their experience the best. You learn a lot about how to take care of things and take care of other people.”

[Title of Show] - 2 musical numbers; Directed by Chris Harral

“Being a director let’s you look at things from a different perspective, you pick up on things you normally wouldn’t pick up on if you were the actor. It’s really cool to see something that you’ve been in charge of come together. You become a family with your cast – it’s cool to be able to learn something from them as you teach them.”

Full cast listings are available here. Dublin High School’s Drama Club is led by Drama Director Bryant Hoex. Mr. Hoex also teaches Drama at Wells Middle School.

Related articles:

• Student-Directed One Acts Receive Standing Ovations (Dublin High One Acts 2011)
• Opening Night Review: Dublin High Drama Club One Acts a Crowd Pleaser (Dublin High One Acts 2010)
• Acquiring Leadership Skills from the Stage
• Meet Teacher Bryant Hoex On and Off the Stage
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival – Dublin High Drama Club Road Trip to Ashland, Oregon