From AP to ROP – Dublin High School Academic Choice
As Dublin High’s enrollment increases so does academic choice for Dublin students. Dublin High School currently has 1,500 students which is less than high schools in neighboring school districts (including Pleasanton Unified and San Ramon Unified). The Dublin High $120M renewal project, largely complete this year, adds capacity for 2,500 students (neighboring high schools average 2,000+ students). In addition to 22 Advanced Placement (AP), Advanced and Honors classes for college prep, Dublin High also offers a 24 of ROP (Regional Occupational Program) courses in partnership with Tri-Valley Regional Occupational Program (ROP).
Dublin High’s new Advanced Scholar Diploma (one of three diploma options offered by Dublin High) was designed based on the rigorous expectations of the University of California (UC) system and top private colleges. To help navigate students to the college of their choice, Dublin High’s Counseling Dept. starts in 9th grade, helping parents and students build individualized 4-year plans. Parents and students, working with a counselor, map out a 4-year plan based on post-secondary goals. In 2009, 49 Dublin High students earned College Board AP Scholar awards, 95% reported attending college and in 2010 Newsweek included Dublin High in its list of America’s Top Public High Schools.
With increasing enrollment comes additional choice. For the 2010-11 class Dublin High is adding the following courses:
- Principles of Engineering: the first step towards in building the Dublin High Engineering Academy, complementing smaller learning community career pathways focused on areas including Biotechnology, Computer Technology, Visual Communications / Graphic Design and more.
- ROP Video Game Art & Design
- ROP Animation & Motion Graphics II
- ROP Visual Communications (Print Graphics) II
Newcomers to Dublin – as we were 10 years ago – quickly discover that Dublin has several terrific annual traditions. Arguably the most popular is Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival including the Lion’s Club Parade. On a perfect sunny Dublin day, led by Dublin High students, OneDublin.org showcased the choice and diversity offered by Dublin High School in its “Unite for Dublin High” parade entry. Dublin High students, powered by early morning donuts, spread out into the crowd lining the streets of Dublin to hand out candy to kids and Dublin High information to adults.
Over the top special thanks goes to Dublin High senior Nicole Hans and her family for pulling an all-nighter (Nicole – that’s good prep for college) to augment the OneDublin.org parade entry with a terrific new float.
The Dublin Unified School District (DUSD), in preparation for the March 9 school board meeting, has made available its detailed analysis (findings of fact) and recommendation regarding the Tri-Valley Learning Corp. Tassajara Prep charter high school petition. DUSD reviewed the charter petition based on a specific set of criteria laid out by California’s Education Code.
Based on its findings of fact the Dublin Unified School District has made a recommendation regarding the Tri-Valley Learning Corp (as reported by local media). Tassajara Prep charter high school petition that will be considered and voted on by the Board of Trustees at the March 9, 2010 board meeting. Highlights of the findings of fact and DUSD’s recommendation are summarized below. A detailed presentation from DUSD is available here. Update: at the March 9 Dublin Unified School District Board Meeting the Tassajara Prep charter petition was denied. Livermore-based Tri-Valley Learning Corp. now has the option to appeal the ruling to the Alameda County Office of Education.
by Michael Utsumi – Dublin resident and parent
If you are reading this post, it demonstrates that you are curious about the proposed charter high school. Perhaps you are still trying to make up your mind on this issue. Or, perhaps, you already know how you feel about it. As citizens of Dublin, it is imperative to at least become educated on this proposal. My goal in this piece is to help provide a bridge between where we were as a community and to where we are in 2010. Whether you have sent children through Dublin High School or if you’ve never stepped foot on campus, the success of the school can have a direct impact upon our community.
This April will mark my 20-year anniversary of when I chose to move to Dublin from the peninsula. Dublin was a very different town at that time. There was a Pak-N-Save market where the new Tralee housing development sits. Dougherty Road was a “country road” and served as a backdoor way of getting to Blackhawk. There was not a single ethnic market in town and certainly no movie theater. The closest BART station was in Castro Valley. Well, needless to say, Dublin has blossomed into a vibrant community and is nestled in the center of the Tri-Valley corridor – one of the most desirable places to live in the Bay Area.
Livermore Valley Charter School (K-8)
OneDublin.org recently met with a former Vice President of Livermore Charter Learning Corp. (now Tri-Valley Learning Corp. – TVLC) and parent of two children attending Livermore Valley Charter School (LVCS). Tri-Valley Learning Corp. (TVLC) is the corporation behind the Tassajara Prep charter petition being debated in Dublin.
What became clear during the discussion is that the charter school debate in Dublin bears little resemblance to the charter school debate that took place in Livermore. Based on the experience in Livermore, and OneDublin.org’s extensive research into charter schools, a key component of a successful charter school initiative is strong parent involvement and support, from the beginning of the initiative and starting at the top. In our tale of two charter initiatives, Livermore started with strong parent support and leadership in stark contrast to the Tassajara Prep initiative.
Meet Justin Minor – Young Citizen of the Year
Justin Minor and Dublin High Varsity Soccer
OneDublin.org had the privilege to interview Justin Minor for OneDublin.org’s YouTube Channel (two part interview available below). Mr. Minor learned earlier this week of being named the City of Dublin’s Young Citizen of the Year. Mr. Minor is a Dublin High student and Wells Middle School graduate who is enjoying an exceptional senior year. He was recently notified of early acceptance into the University of California (UC) – Riverside for Bioengineering. Mr. Minor called out Dublin High science teacher Julianne Sundstrom for sparking his interest in bioengineering and helping him achieve his dream.
Justin Minor as Borachio in "Much Ado About Nothing"
In addition to academic excellence, Mr. Minor has a passion for athletics and is a member of Dublin High’s Varsity Soccer team. Dublin High Varsity Soccer won the DFAL league title for the first time in Dublin High history and is heading to the NCS championship game. During his senior year, Mr. Minor also participated in two Dublin High Drama Club productions, including playing the role of Borachio in Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Mr. Minor was recognized as Dublin’s Young Citizen of the Year in part for his volunteer work. Mr. Minor has been involved in Scouting since the 2nd grade and his Eagle Scout project involves working in an all-autistic classroom at Dublin Elementary. Mr. Minor also coordinates community building activities with Dublin teens through the City of Dublin.
Dublin High Alumni Endorse OneDublin.org
OneDublin.org thanks the Dublin High School Alumni Association for its endorsement and support of OneDublin.org’s Unite for Dublin High campaign. Dublin High School has a long history in the Dublin community and around the world through Dublin High alumni. The Dublin High School Alumni Association provides a vehicle for Dublin High graduates to stay connected with the Dublin High community and give back to Dublin public education.
Dublin High is currently caught in the middle of Tri-Valley Learning Corp.’s controversial bid to open a charter high school in Dublin in 2012. Tri-Valley Learning Corp. has submitted a charter petition that is currently being reviewed by the Dublin Unified School District. If the charter petition is approved, over $5M/year in ADA funding could be diverted from Dublin High School (source: Tassajara Prep Fiscal Plan). More information on the charter petition is available here. Recommendations on how Dublin High Alumni can take action is available here. A replay of the charter petition public hearing is available on the Dublin Unified School District YouTube Channel.
Dublin High Senior Keynotes Fallon Honors Night
Dublin High senior, Wells Middle School and Frederiksen Elementary School grad, Sarah Wolfish recently keynoted the Fallon Middle School Honors Night. Middle school Honors Night programs recognize students for outstanding academic achievement. In her remarks, Ms. Wolfish congratulated Fallon Middle School students for their hard work and success, and talked about her experiences at Dublin High School, including being notified of early acceptance into Columbia University (Ms. Wolfish is waiting on several other college applications before finalizing her post-secondary decision). A video replay of her remarks have been made available on the DUSD YouTube Channel.
John Green Elementary Students Showcase Positive Action
Parents and school board trustees were treated to an inspiring presentation by John Green Elementary students at the February 9, 2010 Dublin Unified School District board meeting. Teacher of the Month Mrs. Carley Kennedy led John Green Elementary students in a presentation from Positive Action, a program being piloted by John Green Elementary for the Dublin Unified School District. The students, who have presented to multiple assemblies at John Green Elementary, present a skit about the Golden Rule.
Ananth Reddy on Guiding your Children to College
Dublin High Homecoming 2009
OneDublin.org sat down to talk to Ananth Reddy, father of Dublin High’s accomplished senior Ravali Reddy (Class President, Homecoming Queen, Varsity Lacrosse, Drama Club and M.I.T.-bound). In a two-part OneDublin.org YouTube interview, Mr. Reddy talked about his daughter Ravali’s experiences in Dublin public schools – from elementary and middle schools, through Dublin High, to learning of his daughter’s early acceptance into M.I.T. Mr. Reddy discusses the important supporting role parents play in high school, and shares his advice regarding the process of preparing for and applying to college. Ananth and his family are on the verge of going through the high school experience a second time – as his son graduates from Fallon Middle School and heads to Dublin High this Fall.
OneDublin.org 