by Sriya Sadhu, 8th grade, Fallon Middle School
DUBLIN, CA–I still vividly remember, worrying about how I was going to complete such a large project – all the while trying to keep my attention on other priorities as well. I remember contemplating the entire purpose of the Civic Action Project (CAP), for my American History class, wondering if it would really help us in the end.
Needless to say, I’ve come to enjoy every second of it.
The day dawned, and soon enough it was May 19th, the Fallon Middle School Civics Action Fair, where we all got to put our work on display boards. It was that day that I realized how much of an impact CAP had on us as students.
This project team poses with Frank Castro, Director of Food Services at Dublin Unified School District. They want to make sure students are able to have class parties with food of their choice and not be limited by overly-restrictive nutrition requirements. Pictured left from right: Darlena Tran, Lipi Buch, Sarah Bray, Elianna Flora, Aishwarya Moudgal, Frank Castro, Sriya Sadhu (author of this article).
Dublin High School Senior Koji Chan on Tuesday’s Emotional School Board Meeting (Opinion)
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter to the editor was received from Koji Chan, Dublin High School Class of 2017 and incoming UC Berkeley freshman. I was in the audience with my wife when Koji made a statement to the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees during Tuesday evening’s Board Meeting regarding the proposed Zeiss location for a second comprehensive high school. The behavior of some members of the audience, in particular several parents sitting directly in front of me, was disrespectful and disappointing. There have been valid criticisms of how some Board members behaved during the meeting; multiple members of the audience, when this student spoke, were guilty of equally bad behavior. If you have an opinion you’d like to share with the community using this forum please email me at editor@onedublin.org. James Morehead – Founder OneDublin.org.]
With a 3 – 2 vote on Tuesday night, the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to not approve a non-binding contract regarding the Zeiss property (to house a second comprehensive high school). The 120 day review period would have cost the district $100,000 to then decide if they wanted to fully commit to a purchase agreement. Voting down this proposal was both a huge success and a huge failure. The lobbying and opinions voiced truly had an impact on the decision that was made Tuesday night, but the behavior and the amount of disrespect shown was unbelievable.
I have never seen people disrespected and attacked as I did last night. The esteemed board members have dedicated their lives to improve education and were rewarded with verbal harassment and childish behavior. Not everyone acted this way, but a lot did. Imagine your child going up and presenting a project that they worked tirelessly on. He/she goes to present this project and is met with “boos” and “shouts”. I am not a parent, but I can only imagine that this would not be tolerated. Imagine your child consistently told by a teacher to not clap as they need to finish all the presentations in a set amount of time. When your child consistently continues to clap or disrupt the class, I would imagine that this would not be tolerated as a parent. I sat for six hours at this Board Meeting; however, there were consistent disruptions in the meeting and attacks against the Board Members personally.
We last spoke with Dublin High School Class of 2016 alum Madison Hildenbrand about her experiences in the Dublin High School Engineering and Design Academy. Fast forward to today and Madison has completed her first year of engineering at UC Berkeley, where she is pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Read more profiles of Dublin High School students, and other inspiring STEM professionals, in our Life in College and Women in STEM series of interviews.
OneDublin.org: What does it feel like to have survived your first year of Berkeley Engineering?
Madison Hildenbrand: “Right now it feels really rewarding and I finally get to relax! Looking back there were definitely times when I felt ‘I can’t do this!’, but in the end I passed all my classes and I learned a lot.”
OneDublin.org: What makes engineering hard, to the point you weren’t certain you’d make it through? Read more…
“Kaffir Boy” Author Mark Mathabane Delivers Inspiring Lecture to Dublin High School Students
DUBLIN, CA–Mark Mathabane, author of Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming Of Age in Apartheid South Africa, visited Dublin High School today during fifth period to deliver a truly inspiring, captivating, and thought-provoking lecture at the Center for Performing Arts and Education. Mr. Mathabane stopped by Dublin High School before flying to South Africa, where Kaffir Boy is being adapted into a feature film (There Lies Hope) scheduled to be released this fall.
In Kaffir Boy, Mr. Mathabane employs simple yet powerful narrative to describe his experiences growing up in Alexandra, a town outside Johannesburg, during the apartheid. The novel explores themes of segregation, xenophobia, and strength in the face of continued oppression. Since its publication in 1986, Kaffir Boy has been published in more than a dozen different languages and resounded with readers worldwide. A New York Times bestseller, it was the recipient of the prestigious Christopher Award, and is on the American Library Association’s List of Outstanding Books for the College-Bound and Lifelong Learners.
Read more…
DUBLIN, CA–It was a tumultuous scene in the Dublin High School Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. The room was packed with citizens that wanted their voices to be heard during a specially convened Board of Trustees meeting. The session was moved away from the Dublin Unified School District office to Dublin High School in anticipation of a large crowd. It ended up being a smart move with over 500 members of the community in attendance.
The primary agenda item was to determine if the District should move forward on the option to vest an interest in a business office complex located at the intersection of Hacienda Drive and Gleason Drive. Zeiss Carl Opthalmic Systems is the current tenant and they plan to vacate in 2020. But how did the District arrive at this decision point?
The subject of a second comprehensive high school site has floated throughout this town for many years. The concept was debated during the period of initial development in Dublin Ranch and beyond. In subsequent years, parcel taxes and bond measures have successfully passed. However, the wording of these measures was intentionally expansive in order to maintain the greatest level of latitude for expenditures. But the one constant was that the bond funds could only be used for technology and/or capital improvements – not for salaries or human capital.
Life as Biology Major at UC Irvine – Emily Bryant’s Journey from Dublin High School to Science in SoCal
Our next article in our Life in College and Women in STEM Series features Dublin High School Class of 2016 graduate and UC Irvine freshman Emily Bryant. Emily is currently pursuing a major in biological sciences at UC Irvine
Mary Morehead: Transitioning from high school to college, and moving away from home, can be a big deal for many students. What helped you transition to life at UC Irvine?
Emily Bryant: “My planner definitely helped me. Without my planner I would have forgotten some of the things I was supposed to do, a planner helped me stay organized. Taking AP classes at Dublin High School really helped prepare me for college-level classes. I especially recommend AP Bio, AP Chem and AP Calc if you are planning to pursue biology in college. My first year biology class was my AP class from high school in a nutshell, with perhaps a little more detail. When you’ve already seen the material once it really helps prepare you.”
Morehead: Have you decided on a major?
Bryant: “At UC Irvine, at least for biology, you can work towards a general biology major and then in your third year you can choose a more specific major. I’m interested in genetics, so I’m looking to specialize in genetics during my third year.”
Morehead: I understand you are part of a research program. Tell me more about that opportunity. Read more…
Dublin High School Video Production Program Influences Two Students on Their Future Paths
DUBLIN, CA–The theater lights dimmed and the final 10 second countdown began. In this case, it marched to the beginning of the 3rd Annual Dublin High School Film Festival. Though in its own relative infancy, Video Production has become one of the most wildly successful academic programs launched at Dublin High in recent memory. The program is helmed by Michael D’Ambrosio.
Due to overwhelming demand, the Film Festival was hosted for the first time on consecutive evenings in the Center for Performing Arts & Education. Tickets for entry were made available online and sold out almost immediately. What attendees gained was the viewing of eight pieces that were panel screened and judged from a total of 72 submissions – the highest number ever for this event. The two hour occasion showcased a myriad of cinematic themes and styles.
On Thursday and Friday, the audiences enthusiastically recognized all of the film makers. The added treat on Friday was that over a dozen Dublin High School alumni of the Video Production program were seated in the theater “pit” located at the front of the venue. As this is not a competition, the true winners were the clients of Culinary Angels. This organization provides healthy/organic meals to those that may not be capable of doing this on their own. And, frequently the clients are managing a health malady – including cancer. So, the entire event encompassed the arts and benevolence. This was the perfect recipe to highlight student driven arts.
I sent the following letter to the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees and leadership this morning after watching a compelling TED Talk on the risks of teen sleep deprivation and how the policies of many school districts, including the Dublin Unified School District, are impairing student wellness.
TO: DUSD Board of Trustees and Leadership
“Good morning – I hope everyone had a good night’s sleep, our kids are sleeping in – which is great.
- Zero period (7am) – 90 minutes earlier than the recommended school start time of 8:30am (there is currently a bill working through the California State legislature to ban school starting before 8:30am – it was recently approved by the Senate Education Committee).
- Gunn High School in Palo Alto, partially in response to suicide clusters, banned zero period and has a bell schedule starting at 8:25am. This school is ranked #150 by US by US News & World Report so the policy doesn’t appear to be hurting them (and the research is clear that later start times help students succeed).
- Athletic teams permitted to have practices before the start of school
DUBLIN, CA–The Dublin High School Art Department is showcasing student artwork through Friday May 26, during lunch, in Room N-104. The Art Gallery opened with an official community reception on Thursday May 18 in conjunction with the Evening of the Arts and the Dublin High School Film Festival.
The exhibit features the work of students in AP Studio Art, Intermediate Drawing, Intermediate Painting, Beginning 2D Design, Digital Animation, and Sculpture & Ceramics. It was fascinating to walk through the gallery, and see the broad range of art created by the remarkably talented students of Dublin High School. Read more…
DUBLIN, CA–Newer residents are often surprised to find out that the City of Dublin is only 35 years old. After rapid home development in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the town faced an increased need for formal infrastructure. However, many residents resisted its incorporation. Finally, the City of Dublin was established in 1982. Of course, the history of the Dublin area goes back numerous decades. In 1835, Jose Maria Amador was granted thousands of acres for his service as a Mexican soldier. 15 years later, a group of Irish settlers purchased a portion of the land who then founded the town of Dublin.
In 1867, the Murray Schoolhouse was constructed and put into operation. With the eventual expansion of I-580 it was necessary to move this historical building and it is currently available to view at the Dublin Heritage Center on Dublin Blvd.
As the city grew through the late 20th century, the management of Dublin schools was actually controlled by the city of Pleasanton which had incorporated many years earlier. Today, all district schools are performing at accelerated levels. And recently, Dublin High School, Fallon Middle School and Wells Middle School received the Gold Ribbon Award designation from the State of California. Read more…
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