DUBLIN, CA–The Dublin Unified School District moved a step closer to a second comprehensive high school location at last night’s Board of Trustees meeting with the selection of the Promenade location on the east side of Dublin. The 23.4 acre Promenade site, one of eleven sites reviewed by the Community Review Committee, was originally intended to be a retail center tucked inside residential units but was never developed and has been a vacant lot for almost 20 years.
The Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees voted 4-1 in favor of the Promenade location at last night’s board meeting with Board President Amy Miller along with Trustees Dan Cunningham, Joe Giannini, Megan Rouse voting in favor and Board Vice President Dan Cherrier opposing.
“The selection of the Promenade site moves us one critical step closer to the goal of having a second comprehensive high school in Dublin,” said Dr. Leslie Boozer, Superintendent, Dublin Unified School Districts. “With a specific site in mind, we can focus on acquiring the land and working with an architect to design a new campus. The Promenade site is geared towards an innovative urban high school design and will be unique among DUSD sites. From the ground up, Dublin has the opportunity to build a 21st century high school that will provide its students with incredible opportunities on academic, artistic and athletic levels. This is very exciting.”
According to a presentation by architectural consulting firm Lionakis, which analyzed converting Fallon Middle School into a high school and developing the Promenade location, both locations would support a school with up to 2,500 students, with the Promenade location providing more capacity for parking and two access roads (vs. only one at the Fallon location). Lionakis estimates a 49-month build schedule (assuming an initial phase supporting 1,000 students), including site acquisition / entitlements, design, DSA / bid and construction. Based on that estimate the earliest opening data would be the 2022-23 school year.
Dublin Second Comprehensive High School Conceptual Site Plan (Promenade location)
As per the agenda item,
DUBLIN, CA–Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15) hosted a reception Saturday in Dublin to honor six students from the 15th Congressional District whom he has nominated to the United States Service Academies. Earning a nomination to one of the prestigious U.S. military academies requires a combination of academic, athletic and public service achievements. With acceptance rates in the low teens only the best of the best have the opportunity to attend one of these all expenses paid institutions.
Congressman Eric Swalwell and Dublin High School Class of ’18 Alum Isabella Adamos
“This diverse group of young men and women represents the best of California’s 15th Congressional District: They are leaders in their schools and communities who are eager to apply their amazing talents and skills to the service of our nation,” Rep. Swalwell said after the reception. “Just as these students have earned reputations for their determination and success, the United States Service Academies have earned reputations for building character and academic excellence. I know Bianca, Amir, Rohit, Victor, Isabella and Matthew will give this challenge their all, and be great assets to our armed services.”
Isabella Adamos, 17, of Dublin – graduating from Dublin High School in Dublin – will attend the United States Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colo. Isabella has earned a varsity letter for soccer in all four years of high school; she also has earned a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Isabella has volunteered for more than 75 community service hours with the Catholic Community of Pleasanton. Through this organization, she served as Vacation Bible School Leader, Mass Greeter and Usher, and assisted with the Eucharistic preparation courses and church decoration. Isabella comes from a family of servicemen and women, and she looks forward to carrying on her family’s tradition.
TEDx EmeraldGlenPark Talks Now Available on YouTube
DUBLIN, CA–Dublin California’s first TEDx event was held just over a month ago for a sold out audience of residents and TEDx fans at the Shannon Community Center. Videos of each talk are now available to enjoy and share (video credit: Jenny Miller):
- “Karl Wente, fifth generation winemaker, will explore the intersection of old and new, technology and culture, past and present, tradition and innovation, mind and body, science and art, family and self, and business and society.” (read more….)
- “Eugene Chou will will discuss her journey to becoming a better teacher, one who is inspired to get up every morning to solve hard problems and build challenging devices that have not been built before.” (read more…)
- “Children’s author and illustrator Elisa Kleven will explore the power of magic for all – children and adults.” (read more…)
- “Ken Wolter, oncology chaplain, will focus on the importance of effective communication in critical or crisis situations.” (read more…)
- “Suzanne Henricksen, entrepreneur, will explore the power of true passion and what she calls ‘happy in my soul’ moments.” (read more…)
Dublin High School InvenTeam Seeking Community Support to Fund SpORT (Special Olympics Robotic Thrower)
DUBLIN, CA–The school year is over but the journey continues for the Dublin High School InvenTeam. Late last year a group of Dublin High School students, led by Engineering Teacher Eugene Chou, successfully pitched their SpORT (Special Olympics Robotic Thrower) machine for an Lemelson-MIT Grant.
The team is seeking additional funding to fulfill their ultimate goal of traveling to MIT this summer to demonstrate their Phase 5 SpORT prototype. Money raised via the GoFundMe campaign will go towards bringing the SpORT machine to hundreds of handicapped students all across the Tri-Valley and enable them to participate in modified basketball and soccer.
T
eacher Eugene Chou: “Our Dublin High School engineering students have been working hard this year to develop a comprehensive prototype for a machine that will help students participate in basketball and soccer events at the Special Olympics. We were awarded a grant through Lemelson MIT this fall to fund our invention process and now we are trying to raise additional money through GoFundMe to help finish our prototype casing and machined parts. We are traveling to MIT later this month to present our phase 5 prototype to MIT, so you can help us by donating and spreading the word about our need.”
What is SpORT? As described by some of the students who created the machine (source): Read more…
DUBLIN, CA–Reminiscent of last year, Dublin’s weather has been unable to decide if it is the tail end of winter or the beginning of summer. Despite chilly, breezy weather, Dublin High School’s Class of 2018 were able to enjoy the 48th DHS commencement ceremony in a brisk 90-minutes. This year’s ceremony used words of Malala Yousafzai for inspiration, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” Principal Maureen Byrne and Superintendent Dr. Leslie Boozer joined with students and teachers to share messages of hope and activism.
As was the case last year, Dublin High seniors were able to graduate at home, in Gaels Stadium. The growth in enrollment at DHS brings increased energy and excitement for each graduating class, with stands packed (on both sides this year) with grandparents, parents, siblings and friends. Each name read brings a burst of cheers from across the stadium building to the moment every student waits for – the turning of the tassels and flinging of mortar boards into a cloudless sky.
DUBLIN, CA–In four short years, the Video Production Program at DHS has risen to heights not foreseen. Under the direction of teacher Michael D’Ambrosio, this endeavor has risen from two daily sections to five. In 2018-19, Video Production 3 will be added that will include an enhanced/focused group of only 16 students that will prioritize on a singular film project that will be up to 45 minutes.
How did this happen? It was simply the synergy of a devoted instructor and the quick adoption by numerous students that saw the potential and challenge of a subject that is largely not offered at this level to high school students in the local area. With the full embrace from the DHS administration, this program has expanded beyond a video daily bulletin into live-streaming capabilities of sports events, the in-sourcing of filming “Every 15 Minutes” to a live /daily broadcast received on campus. The vision for next year is to provide a 24-hour radio broadcast which would the first of its kind in Northern California.
However, the relative centerpiece of Video Production at Dublin High School has been the presentation of the annual Film Festival. From somewhat modest beginnings, the event has morphed into a very large undertaking. Case in point: This year there were 77 separate submissions. From this group, 32 pieces were screened by a separate panel in order to whittle down the group to ten that would be screened on Thursday evening. Year over year, the quality of submission has increased as well as the diversity in content. Last week was no different. While this is not a competition, the honor of being screened last is reserved for the piece that is judged to be superior. The film “Educate” was created by Writer & Director Faith Rynda and Cinematographer Chris Thach. It was a successful collaboration by two students that shared a vision for a story that was sure to touch many nerves and to awaken a community on the topic of race relations. The subject is real and so very relevant. OneDublin.org sat down with both to gain greater insights into how they crafted this vision – one that would leave us to ask more questions.
OneDublin.org: How did you come up with the concept for “Educate”?
Dublin High School Senior Allison Loo
DUBLIN, CA–Dublin High School’s campus was buzzing Saturday morning with the NCS Tri-Valley Track & Field Championship taking over Gaels Stadium, the Tri-Valley Youth Expo Hackathon filling the old gym, and Dublin High School’s annual Senior Awards Night filling the Athletic Complex with students, parents, educators and members of the community. Over $4.8 million in scholarships and awards were presented to Dublin High School Class of 2018 students for their academic achievements, including over 14 athletic scholarships and 57 merit scholarships for colleges nationwide.
Included in the event was the traditional passing of the gavel ceremony where outgoing senior and student body president Liliana Ogden introduced incoming student body president Brittany Brunckhorst.
Students were recognized for academic achievements across a wide variety of subjects and interests (full list below) and two seniors received the Best Attendance Award for not missing a single day of school throughout all four years of high school (including one student who didn’t miss a single day from kindergarten through 12th grade!). The Dublin High School Class of 2018 also featured eleven National Merit Scholarship finalists and two National Merit Scholarship winner.
Outgoing Dublin High School Student Body President Liliana Ogden
OneDublin.org prepared the eighth annual edition of the popular “I am Dublin High” video (see below) featuring nearly 200 Dublin High School Class of 2018 seniors sharing their post-high school plans.
Photos and video: James Morehead and Michael Utsumi for OneDublin.org.
