The Dublin High School Gaels Robotics Team is off to a fast start for the 2012-13 season, qualifying for the 2013 VEX World Championship in Anaheim, California for the first time. The Dublin High Robotics Team qualified based on their performance at the Bay Area VEX Robotics Tournament, held recently at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, where DHS’ team 5327C won the Design Award, placed first in the Programming Skills challenge and placed 5th overall out of 52 teams. Two other Dublin High teams competed with team 5327A making it to the quarterfinal round. The Dublin High Robotics Team also donated over 100 volunteer hours building a machine for the DUSD Special Olympics event held recently at DHS (see below). Video of the Dublin High 5327C team in action is available here.
MythBusters Host Kari Byron and 2011 VEX World Championship emcee noted during the Dublin High School Engineering Academy Open House event held earlier this year: “I got to Emcee the VEX world championships in Disney World. It was amazing. Kids from all over the world filled this huge auditorium, and it was just seeing that many bright kids that were way smarter than I am running around making these robots that do such incredible things, I was impressed. In fact, I think there’s a team over here from VEX [points to audience] these are some of the bright kids that I’m talking about.”
The Dublin High Robotics Team needs your help and welcomes donations and corporate sponsors to defray the cost of attending the event. To offer your support, contact the Dublin High School Robotics Club advisor and teacher Eugene Chou via email at ms.eugenechou@gmail.com.
Rik Reddy, Dublin High Gael Force Robotics Club Vice President: “Robotics is great in that it unites mechanics and electronics, allowing us to apply the knowledge from our math, science, and engineering classes to participate in real-life projects. It’s also different from regular classroom topics since it truly emphasizes creativity and encourages us to find unique solutions to the challenging problems that we’re presented with.”
Kimberli Zhong, Dublin High Gael Force Robotics Club Secretary: “Robotics has not only helped me develop engineering skills—like how to extract stripped screws and optimize gear ratios—but has also taught me the power of collaboration and hard work, values I’ll definitely remember in the working world. Because of this wonderful program, my fellow club members and I have learned how to best approach seemingly insurmountable problems and conquer them with grace.”
Dublin High’s Robotics Team also donated their skills to the DUSD Special Olympics event held recently on the Dublin High campus. Tri-Valley Special Olympics Coordinator Eric Hamilton approached the Dublin High Robotics Club about a month before the Special Olympics event with a general idea to build a mechanism that would propel soccer balls for wheelchair-bound students using a button to actuate the motion.
by Chandler Bullock (Dublin High School Class of 2012 and Syracuse University freshman)
“HECK YEAH”
Just like that, all of the anxiousness was replaced with feelings of accomplishment and excitement. I immediately ran outside of the baseball locker room to let my parents know that my 4 years of hard work had paid off.
I had finally decided to open the e-mail that held the decision Syracuse University had made on my application. The email confirmed that I’d been accepted to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. I knew immediately that Syracuse was the University that I was going to attend. I had fallen in love with school after encountering the legendary school spirit while on a tour the previous summer. Two months into the school year, I’m certain that becoming an Orange was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
When school first started, I thought I would be a Broadcast or Print Journalism major, but I’ve found myself drawn to Advertising, having been exposed to the field in classes. I recently declared Advertising as my major, but that could change, possibly multiple times, as it is very easy to switch majors at Syracuse.
Moving all the way across the country has been a huge learning experience and change in my life. Now that I am 2,700 miles from my parents, I am totally independent when it comes to my day-to-day existence. Being self-reliant has allowed me to step outside my box and try new foods and activities, and to experiment with conducting my life in different ways. Time management is huge in college. Although hanging out in your friend’s dorm until 2am talking about how the Syracuse 2-3 defense seems like fun, studying for your Sociology mid-term is significantly more important.
Austin Ogden Reflects on the Dublin School Board Race, Looks Forward
On November 6, voters across the nation marched to the polls to cast their ballots that would determine who would occupy the White House for the next four years. In every state and in almost every municipality, there were a variety of propositions, bond measures and local elections to determine. It was no different in the city of Dublin. Two City Council seats were available. For the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD), three positions on the Board of Trustees were in play. These slots were occupied by incumbents Amy Miller, Dan Cunningham and Board President Greg Tomlinson. On the surface, this appeared to be a fairly innocuous matter – three candidates for three positions. All of this changed when a fourth candidate emerged. His name is Austin Ogden. Austin is a 2012 graduate of Dublin High School and is currently a student at Diablo Valley College. Though he did not ultimately succeed in his goal to capture a seat on the board, it was a fascinating odyssey and one that we wanted to explore. OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Ogden to discuss this journey.
Austin’s family had previously lived in San Leandro and Castro Valley. They eventually made their move to Dublin where he enrolled as a fifth grader. Ogden took full advantage of his career at DHS where he played football, wrestled, was the Rally Commissioner in his senior year and participated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). While he didn’t have pre-determined plans to jump into politics, Austin cited a singular moment that got his wheels turning. In January, he attended a fundraiser for (fellow Dublin High graduate) Congressional candidate Eric Swalwell. At the time, Swalwell was vying for the District 15 slot that had been occupied for decades by Pete Stark. Ogden was stimulated by the discussion on policy matters and was further invigorated when some in attendance encouraged him that he pursue a run for the school board.
Austin’s gradually forming position was that it was important to have a voting representative on the board that had actually matriculated through the Dublin schools. He allowed himself to fanaticize about this possibility everyday for the next two months – thinking that he would drop the idea if he had lost any enthusiasm for the effort. Conversely, his desire grew and he began to dedicate more time into this possibility. It started with having discussions with some of his teachers whom he relied upon as mentors. The discussion was open-ended and centered upon what would best benefit students and staff alike. The dialogue then evolved into the realities of actually running a political campaign. His parents eventually realized that Austin was very serious about this endeavor and they enthusiastically supported his mission.
To better understand the evolution of Austin’s campaign, OneDublin.org reached out to one of his early endorsers, Dublin High School ROP and Multimedia teacher Mitch Eason.
On this Veterans’ Day weekend, our nation reflects on the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. OneDublin.org would like to spotlight a fitting honorarium to these brave souls which was conducted at Frederiksen Elementary School last Friday. As decreed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, a November date would be established to honor all of those that have served our armed forces. For the sixth consecutive year, 1st grade teacher, Catherine Brown and Fine Arts Instructor, Jamie Perez, designed and executed a memorable assembly that would be meaningful for all in attendance.
The multi-purpose room filled shortly before 1:00PM with all first through fifth graders and their teachers taking their assigned places. Rows of chairs at the rear of the room were reserved for active service people, veterans and their families. Members of the Pleasanton-based Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6298 presented colors and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Principal Holly Scroggins. The ensuing program included musical performances by all grades, a slideshow and a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipe by Donna Willy. In all, it was a memorable and fitting tribute to all that have served our country.
Parents of teenagers know that adolescent years (between childhood and adulthood) can be tumultuous and stressful. Teenagers infuriate and amaze us – at times simultaneously. When parents congregate they share similar war stories – almost as though teenagers meet in secret, learning how to drive their parents crazy. Is teenage behavior a conspiracy of rebellion or something deeper?
Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who earned her undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and who is currently a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), researches the adolescent brain. Prof. Blakemore’s research shows that perplexing teenage behavior is increasingly explainable.
“Puberty represents a period of profound transition in terms of drives, emotions, motivations, psychology and social life … there is increasing evidence that adolescent changes in sensation-seeking may include some puberty-specific changes, and may provide new insights into adolescent risk taking. Sensation-seeking is one of the developmental contributors to risk behaviors and is more likely to emerge during adolescence than any other time period.” (Source: The Role of Puberty in the Developing Adolescent Brain, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Stephanie Burnett, and Ronald E. Dahl, 2009)
Prof. Blakemore’s work has gained a wider audience since her TEDGlobal 2012 presentation on “The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain”. As part of our Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Series, OneDublin.org had the privilege of speaking with Prof. Blakemore on what inspired her pursuit of science, and her research into adolescent behavior.
OneDublin.org: “What sparked your interest in becoming a scientist?”
Once long-shot candidate Eric Swalwell, a City of Dublin Councilman and Alameda County Prosecutor, staged a major upset Tuesday night by defeating 40-year incumbent Congressman Pete Stark to secure the newly drawn 15th Congressional District. Eric Swalwell, endorsed by OneDublin.org earlier this year, benefited from strong volunteer support despite a fundraising deficit. The campaign also benefited from a series of Pete Stark gaffes including bribery claims that Stark had to apologize for as unfounded. Stark cited a local Dublin blogger as one of the sources for the controversial claims.
At the election night event, Swalwell was introduced by former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher as the likelihood of Swalwell’s win was emerging. There were two updates, however, before Swalwell claimed victory late in the evening, with the final margin announced early Wednesday morning with 52.23% for Swalwell and 47.77% for Stark with all precincts reporting.
Swalwell will travel to Washington in January to be sworn into the next Congress, and in doing so will become the first Dublin High School graduate to serve in Congress. After graduating from Dublin High School, Eric ultimately earned a Law Degree from the University of Maryland.
Eric Swalwell’s speech on election night thanking supporters and announcing the win:
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Despite the election of three incumbents (Dan Cunningham, Amy Miller and Greg Tomlinson) for 4-year terms to the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees, change is coming to the school board due to Trustee David Haubert’s successful City Council victory. David Haubert, who was in the middle of a 4-year term on the school board, will vacate his seat when he joins the Dublin City Council. The vacant seat will be filled for a 2-year term with an interim appointment (Amy Miller joined the school board two years ago as an interim appointee).
Dublin High School Class of 2012 graduate and Diablo Valley College freshman Austin Ogden, while unsuccessful in his school board bid, secured an impressive 22.4% of the vote, and is likely a leading contender for the open seat.
OneDublin.org asked the winning school board candidates what they heard and learned during the election campaign:
Dan Cunningham – “Mostly what parents are talking about is making sure that we continue to improve the schools, such as increasing our SAT scores, increasing access for our students so they have more options to choose from so they are ready to go on to college. That’s the big thing – making sure all our students are ready for career or college at the end of the day.”
Amy Miller – “I heard concerns about students from Wells Middle School running off campus, and through the neighborhood, I heard a lot about that. I heard a lot about the Nielsen Elementary School closure. But mostly I heard that parents are happy about our school district – there were not a lot of complaints when I went to people’s doors.”
Greg Tomlinson – “People are really concerned about the quality of the education. Our focus is student learning and that’s why we couldn’t be more pleased at the results, that we are closing the achievement gap, and that all of our schools are continuing to improve. The sharing of best practices and Professional Learning Communities are really starting to pay dividends. The pride people have in the district has dramatically increased over the last four years.”
The Dublin Unified School District will kick off the First Annual DUSD Special Olympics Event on November 14 – 9:00 a.m. at the Dublin High School Gaels Stadium with a soccer event. The Special Olympics soccer event is the first of three different sporting events that will be offered during the school year to the special day class teachers and their students. This exciting opportunity is the result of a collaborative effort between of the Dublin Unified School District and Special Olympics Northern California. The program hopes to expand to Livermore and Pleasanton for basketball and track & field.
Peter Dragula – Special Day Class – Dublin High School, “It is a myth that people with disabilities can’t be included in activities. A common challenge in working with this population is the perception from others that disabled have no abilities. In reality, we find that even with the most severely disabled students have the ability to look at you, react to their environment, and even communicate preferences by the simple click of a button. It is a difficult paradigm to educate others about the differences between facilitating for people with disabilities and caring for them.”
Flooding in NYC
For Dublin residents, the night of Halloween will consist of trick or treating, costumes and parties. For millions of residents on the east coast, Halloween will be overwhelmed by the long, slow process of rebuilding neighborhoods and mourning those lost to the storms.
To get a first-hand perspective on the impact of Hurricane Sandy, OneDublin.org reached out to several Dublin High School graduates currently attending colleges on the east coast to hear their first-hand stories.
As you read their stories and view the images they’ve shared, please consider taking a moment to donate to the Red Cross or charity of your choice – our neighbors across the country need your help.
Sarah Wolfish – Columbia University / Jewish Theological Seminaryand Dublin High School Class of 2010:
Latino Family Night Tradition Continues at Wells Middle School Event
If one were to ask 20 educators on how to effectively evaluate student progress, there would likely by 20 different responses. This is probably due to a myriad of factors: varying school facilities, students that are English learners, shrinking funds for interventions and socio-economic factors, among others. Nonetheless, a mechanism to measure student performance is necessary – particularly when state or federal funding is provided. President George W. Bush proposed the controversial No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and this legislation was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate later in the spring and it was signed into law in 2002.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) required that government-run schools that receive federal funding be required to administer a state-wide standardized test annually to all students. Further, it required that ALL students achieve proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics by 2014. Further, all schools are required to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals or face the prospect of punitive measures including the reduction of funding under Title I or changes in staff. When the California Department of Education released statewide data on October 11th, it revealed two new school districts in Contra Costa County under Program Improvement – San Ramon Valley and Walnut Creek. The merits or flaws of NCLB will be debated for years to come. Even as the state of California has filed for a waiver from NCLB and will move towards implementing Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in 2014, all school districts must comply with the regulations currently in place – including the Dublin Unified School District.
This background on federal standards is where we now move our story to a specific school site, Wells Middle School. We enlisted the help of Cindy Leung, Community Liason at Wells to help us understand the history of the Latino Family Night event. According to Ms. Leung, this program was pioneered by former Principal, Kathy Rosselle. The demographics at Wells Middle School have been gradually changing since 2000 with a steady influx of Latino students. In the fall of 2006, a family night was initiated to reach out to all Hispanic families. The purpose was to provide not only information on academic standing, but to also present a platform for various community resources. These local assets included Dublin High School, Las Positas College, the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, the Dublin City Library and AXIS Health Services, among others.
OneDublin.org 