Dublin High on the Carnegie Hall Playbill
For the students involved it was an unforgettable experience – performing before a live audience in New York City’s storied Carnegie Hall. For many musicians, the opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall is a lifelong dream. On Tuesday March 20, 77 Dublin High School student musicians took the stage to perform – one of just six high schools selected to perform in the New York International Music Festival. And while performance was the focus, not competition, Dublin High School’s band was further recognized with a silver award.
The New York trip and performance was the culmination of months of planning by Dublin High School Music Director Paul Everts, parent volunteers and the student musicians (read more in Dublin Patch…). The trip also included a concert in Central Park (the weather cooperated with 70 degrees and sunshine), a tour of New York (including the World Trade Center Ground Zero memorial, Trinity Church, Wall Street and a dinner cruise) and an evening on Broadway (to see “The Lion King”).
Music Director Paul Everts, “Carnegie Hall was inspiring and at the same time breath-taking. As I walked into the back stage area, I did recognize smells and colors from my experience 30 years ago when I was in high school performing with America’s Youth in Concert representing California. To see my students, including my children PJ & Katy, getting the same opportunity is one of the high points of my career and life! The students did a wonderful job in the concert. During the warm up we just sat for two minutes to embrace the achievement… which is still overwhelming.”
For the Dublin community that followed the trip from afar via Facebook, text messages and word-of-mouth updates, here are a few photographs from the trip:
Dublin High School Band Performs in New York's Carnegie Hall
The number of Dublin High School students taking AP (Advanced Placement) exams has increased by 187% since 2007 and the number of AP exams taken by students has increased even more (by 270%) as students are enrolling in more Dublin High AP classes. Dublin High has also expanded the course selection for college-bound students to include 23 AP, advanced and honors courses. As observed by Aslan Brown, UC Berkeley freshman, Dublin High Class of 2011 graduate and City of Dublin 2010 Young Citizen of the Year:
“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. 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 feel more confident – you’re that much more prepared going into college.” (read more…)
Dublin High School was recognized by the CollegeBoard in 2011 for expanding access for AP (Advanced Placement) classes to more students while also achieving improved performance. According to Trevor Packer, College Board’s senior vice president of Advanced Placement and College Readiness, “these school districts have achieved something very remarkable. They managed to open the doors of its AP classrooms to many more students, while also increasing the percentage of students earning high enough AP Exam grades to stand out in the competitive college admission process and qualify for college credit and placement.” (read more…)
Dublin High School AP Program Growth 2007-2012
OneDublin.org recently covered the powerful and thought-provoking program Every Fifteen Minutes which puts the dangers of impaired and distracted driving in the spotlight. There were two primary goals of the Every 15 Minutes program. The first goal was for the student bodies of both Dublin High School and Valley High School to have a visceral experience and witness the dangers of driving while impaired or texting. While the crash scene and activity by medical / safety personnel on March 8 was memorable, the mock funeral held on March 9 really cemented the reality that it is simply not just the crash victims that are affected.
The second goal was to help promote discussions within families on this highly important topic. For many, this is not an easy subject to introduce and some parents already assume that their children know that they should not drink alcohol until they are of legal age. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), “by 8th grade, 53% of American children have tried alcohol; by 10th grade, 70% report they have tried alcoholic beverages, and by 12th grade the figure is 81%.” (source available here).
As a mechanism to help families initiate the discussion, Dublin High School hosted a seminar by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The program was presented on March 22 in the Dublin High School Library. For years the San Francisco Bay Area regional office for MADD was located in downtown Oakland. Within the last year, that office has relocated to Dublin (7027 Dublin Blvd., Suite 110, 925-452-8752). On hand for the presentation from the local office was Jody Eaton Iorns, MADD Development Officer. Jody is very passionate about spreading the word of what MADD represents and does this work all throughout the entire Bay Area.
The evening began with the screening of the Every Fifteen Minutes compilation video that was filmed at Dublin High School (see below). The 25 minute video was professionally produced and captures the powerful event held at Dublin High School. Wes Morgan, the guest speaker for the MADD event, is a retired Livermore policeman and a current MADD volunteer. He invested 33 years into his law enforcement career with Livermore P.D. and for 22 of those years served as a Collision Investigator. Mr. Morgan expressed that this turned out to be a very good professional fit as he has a natural curiosity about “sleuthing” how events occur.
Science and Engineering students from Dublin High School and Wells Middle School received several awards at the Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair this week. Hundreds of students from schools across the Bay Area participated in the event. The science projects on display represented hours of work and experimentation by the students. Congratulations to all of the students that participated, sharing their passion for science.
Dublin High School Science Fair Results
- 2nd Place: “The immediate effects of short term nutrition on test results.” – Sophia Hui, Visesha Kakarla, and Alicia Tran.
- 2nd Place: “ Effects of motivational stimulus on visual perception with regard to age and gender.” – Angie Wang
- 3rd Place: “Epidemiology study on the correlation between meat consumption and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.” – Sraavya Kakarlapudi
- Honorable Mention: “The affect of light intensity on reading comprehension in teens grades 6-10.” – Kalina Lalova, Julian Wilkinson, Amanda Godwin.
- Honorable Mention: “Tensile strength of hair and the effect of hair strengtheners.” – Shelby Richmond, Daryn Lee
- Honorable Mention: “The barcode of life.” – Sunny Bai, Benson Kung, Frankie Lin.
- Honorable Mention: “The effect of methylcobalamin on the growth of plants.” – Kaushik Kasi
Wells Middle School Science Fair Results
Wells Middle School had 3 students participate in the middle school division. Alexandra Stassinopoulos, Anthony San Mateo, and Jessica Shipps worked with Brad Vereen and the science club to get their projects ready.
- 1st place: “Booby Trap: Fact Or Fiction?” – Alexandra Stassinopoulos
- 2nd place: “Which Stain Is Hardest To Remove?” – Jessica Shipps
Dublin parent and author Amita Roy Shah wrote the children’s book “It’s Time for Holi!” to help all children get a better understanding of the Indian culture, and in particular, to help children of Indian descent connect with their culture, while growing up in America. The book has been well received and was included on the 2011 KART Kids Books List in the early grade school K-3 category. The Kart Foundation reviewed over 1,000 books to create the selective list. Ms. Shah is promoting the book with readings in classrooms across the Bay Area, while working towards a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Curriculum and Teaching at Columbia University. Her doctoral research is focused on the experience of South Asian Americans who decide to pursue a career in teaching.
OneDublin.org recently met with Ms. Shah to learn more about the Hindu festival Holi, also known as the festival of colors, and how incorporating multicultural celebrations in the classroom can help break through stereotypes and promote cultural understanding. Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival and during Holi people throw perfumed and colored powder at each other in a celebration of color and inclusion.
OneDublin.org: What is the history of Holi?
Amita Roy Shah: “There are several stories that stem from Indian folklore. One story is about a blue god named Krishna who was being made fun of by his friends for being blue. Krishna went to his mother and she playfully said take these colors, we are all the same, and throw them on everyone else, and you won’t feel different anymore. So that’s what he did. Holi is about addressing discrimination in terms of race, class, religion, and eliminating that difference. There is an erasure of difference by having everyone covered with color.
OneDublin.org: What inspired you to write “It’s Time for Holi!”?
According to just-published Dublin High School Class of 1985 author Mary Kropf, the key to fulfilling a lifelong dream (and the hardest step) is getting started. Mary grew up in Dublin, attending Murray Elementary School, Frederiksen Middle School (before it was converted into an elementary school) and Dublin High School. After graduating with the Class of 1985, Mary earned a degree in Nursing at Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay), setting aside a childhood dream of publishing a book for sixteen years.
That dream was recently realized with the release of “Deadly Secrets”, the first book of the The Aurator series, now available on Amazon.com. The fictional series, which blends Greek mythology with medical history, follows Megan, “a nurse, wife and mother who learns that her lifelong heightened sensory perception puts her among an ancient elite group known as Aurators – those who can read people’s auras.” (www.TheAurator.com).
OneDublin.org recently spoke with Ms. Kropf to learn more about how she realized her dream of publishing a book.
OneDublin.org: Has writing and publishing a book been a lifelong dream?
Mary Kropf: “It’s been a bucket list item since elementary school, even though science has always been my best subject and English and math weren’t until I reached college. I always wanted to write a book, but didn’t feel I had an original idea – so I never had enough to write down. I always looked up to my uncle, Larry Lowery, who is well-published in the education field. I’d go over to his house and he’d have yet another book that he’d published. A 6th grade teacher of mine at Murray Elementary School really got me into poetry, which sparked my first interest in writing.”
“I loved Dublin High. When I graduated I thought those were the best years of my life. I was Student Body President and Band President, I played varsity soccer – I was very involved socially, politically – it was a great time for me. I grew up.
“Music was a big thing for me, I played with several local symphonies, including the Diablo Valley Youth Symphony, but I realized I wasn’t going to make a long-term living in music. I travelled for a couple of years and then at the age of 22, went to college at Cal State Hayward [now Cal State East Bay] and earned a degree in Nursing, where I was State President of the Student Nursing Association. I was really considering a political / nursing career until I discovered the emergency room and that was it. I loved the emergency room and worked there for quite a while, and had a family, which slows things down.”
OneDublin.org: What sparked the idea for “The Aurator” series?
The consequences of drinking alcohol or texting while driving do not only affect those who choose to do so. In reality, the impact can be far-reaching and may be life changing for our loved ones and strangers alike. With the goal of challenging students to make responsible/smart decisions when it comes to their own behavior and those around them, the Every 15 Minutes program was presented last Thursday and Friday at Dublin High School. Every 15 Minutes or E15M is a program that was originated in Canada in the 1990’s with the goal of educating students about the dangers of drinking and driving, in addition to making mature decisions. At the time, statistics demonstrated that one person perishes every 15 minutes as a result of an alcohol related accident.
As presented, the program takes place as an assembly for one period over two consecutive days. Keep in mind that the students have no idea of what they are about to experience. Starting at first period and at fifteen minute intervals, random students were removed from their respective classrooms. A “Grim Reaper” calls the student out and a police officer then reads their obituary to their class explaining the circumstances of their demise. For the 3rd period class on Thursday, the entire staff/student body of Dublin High School and Valley High School assembled in the area adjacent to the football field and seated themselves on temporary bleachers. In front of them were two vehicles covered with tarps.
The program starts. All can hear the audio of a 911 call, police and paramedic chatter. The tarps are removed and there has been a two car collision. Current Dublin High School and VHS students are portraying both victims and survivors of this event. In succession, police, fire personnel and paramedics arrive at the scene. There are fatalities and nothing can immediately be done for them. For the survivors in the vehicle that was struck, firefighters must literally cut the car open with power saws to remove the injured. It looks like controlled pandemonium.
In reality, it is a demonstration of public safety employees simply doing their jobs – very efficiently. The audience then hears the whir of a quickly approaching helicopter and it lands on the grassy area near the site. One of the victims may have paralysis and must be airlifted out to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. The survivors have been treated and removed by ambulance. The Alameda Coroner van arrives to remove the deceased. Finally, a field sobriety test is conducted on the driver of the offending vehicle. After failing the test, she is handcuffed and driven to Santa Rita Jail to be booked. The Day One assembly concludes and the students returned to their classrooms. Remaining behind and standing in a row are the “living dead” students who were pulled from their classrooms. For these students, their school day is over and all will be sequestered over that evening.
Dublin Partners in Education recently announced the creation of a Summer Enrichment Academy for high school students with the assistance of Las Virgenes Education Foundation (LVEF). Courses will be offered at Dublin High School starting in mid-June as outlined below.
Courses offered for Summer 2012 include: Speech and Debate, Spanish 1, World History, Geometry, U.S. History, Honors Chemistry/Lab, Health and Physical Education.
The announced program is fee-based and enables high school students to take additional courses over the summer to provide more flexibility in course scheduling during the school year. Dublin students are given priority registration and the program is open to students from outside the District.
Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke, “Through the DPIE Summer Enrichment Academy, Dublin High School students will be able to complete classes toward graduation during the summer break. They will then be able to expand their participation in academies, the arts, and other electives during the year. This will clearly enrich the educational experience of our students and help us expand opportunities for them to succeed.”
Below is information provided by Dublin Partners in Education on March 13, 2012:
Summer Enrichment Academy Online Registration Dates (http://www.dpie.org/)
[UPDATE 4-4-2012 – new dates provided by DPIE]
- April 16 – current 11th graders (juniors)
- April 17 – current 10th graders (sophomores)
- April 18 – current 9th graders (freshmen)
- April 19 – current 8th graders (incoming freshmen)
- April 20 – open enrolment (including students from outside the District)
Summer Enrichment Academy Calender
“The task of a leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.” Henry Kissinger – Diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize recipient 1973.
These words ring loud and true every third period in a classroom at Wells Middle School as directed by teacher Adair Spence. What initially started as an adjunct activity for a few students has developed into a full-fledged elective class. In its earliest form, the concept of leadership was an ad-hoc activities program. Adair and her colleague, Karey Ronnow, would frequently give up their preparation periods to work with students that had a desire to provide service to their school and community. Today, Ms. Spence has a classroom of students that meets daily to develop programs for the betterment of this school site. Adair attained her B.A. in Politics and Women’s Studies, a Masters in Teaching Leadership and her teaching credential from St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga. She began her teaching career at Wells Middle School in 2007.
Today, she provides instruction for two 8th grade CORE sections and the Leadership elective. OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to visit Ms. Spence’s classroom and to share in her students’ daily experience.
OneDublin.org: Is the Leadership class continuous throughout the entire year or is it limited to specific reporting periods?
Adair Spence
Adair Spence: “Leadership is a year-long course. While students are constantly working on projects, there are lessons on what a positive leader looks like and what leadership qualities represent in practice. As the year goes on, the students gain more leadership qualities, especially trust, and they are given more and more freedom.”
OneDublin.org: As their instructor, what are the goals / takeaways that you have in mind for your students?
The popular program MythBusters returns for its 10th season on Sunday March 25 at 9pm on the Discovery Channel. “The kickoff episode is called Duct Tape Island. We got stranded on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and we had to survive, thrive, and eventually escape using nothing but a pallet full of duct tape. In the end, we built and attempted to escape in a 21 foot outrigger canoe made of duct tape.” (Adam Savage speaking with Dublin students at the Dublin High School Engineering and Design Academy Open House last month). During National Engineers Week, MythBusters-inspired Dublin High School students built a duct tape suspension bridge out of 125 rolls of Duck brand duct tape donated by ShurTech Brands (known for their Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest).
MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron participated in a moderated panel session at the event, answering questions submitted by students from Dublin High School, Fallon Middle School and Wells Middle School. OneDublin.org founder James Morehead served as moderator for the event. Below is a transcript of the panel session which showcases the MythBusters’ passion for the art of science and experimentation, and what it is like to be a MythBuster. Over 1,000 people attended the sold out event. OneDublin.org was recently named the City of Dublin’s 2011 Organization of the Year. (all photos courtesy of Marc Davis)
James Morehead: Adam, Kari – Welcome to Dublin High School!
Adam Savage: So I just wanted to let you know right off the bat that we’re not setting anything on fire. I’m sorry.
Kari Byron: No explosives, nothing.
Wells Middle School question for the MythBusters
Morehead: I’m going to start with some of the questions that have been submitted by Dublin students. I couldn’t possibly have chosen all of them; there were a stack this thick on my kitchen table; it was very painful choosing a small subset. The first question is from a sixth grader at Wells Middle School. Marlene asks, “Dear MythBusters, what did you want to be when you grow up, and what inspired you to be scientists? P.S. I’m a big fan. Thank you for coming to my home town of Dublin, California.” Marlene describes you as scientists. Do you consider what you do science or just determined curiosity?
Byron: “Isn’t it the same thing?”
Savage: “A ballistics expert, Alexander Jason, told me this last week – ‘the only difference between science and screwing around is when you write it down’. I can tell you that I had two early dreams when I was a kid. The first job I ever wanted was to be a designer for LEGO. LEGO is the greatest toy ever invented, and I had cities of LEGO in my room, I had a LEGO spaceport – this was all in the 80s when they started to break out and do really cool stuff. I had LEGO until I discovered girls at like, 20.
“Then the other thing I wanted to do was work on Star Wars. Star Wars came out when I was eleven years old. It was a totally pivotal moment for me, and when I was 18, my best friend at that time was telling me why I was a screw up, and he was saying, ‘Your problem is that you have talent with no ambition’. He was totally right by the way, at that point. “Talent, but no ambition. If you had ambition, you wouldn’t be here in my bedroom talking to me about this stuff. You’d be saying, ‘I’m sorry Mr. Lucas, I can’t do that by Tuesday.’” So cut to 17 years later, I was working up at the Lucas Film ranch in the art department on Episode 2, and I got to actually say, ‘I’m sorry Mr. Lucas, I can’t do that by Tuesday.’ I called him right away.”
Byron: “So when the Star Wars LEGOs came out, was that the best day your life?”
OneDublin.org 