OneDublin.org

by Michelle Lee (Dublin High School Class of 2011 and Harvard University Freshman)

Michelle Lee

I remember when I first found out that I had been accepted via Early Action to Stanford University.  I was in the car when the email popped up in my inbox letting me know I had gotten into my dream school, and I burst into tears of pure joy.  I spent the next few months imagining myself as a Cardinal, loading up on Stanford gear, and preparing myself to accept their invitation.

However, when the remaining admissions decisions came out, words can’t begin to describe the elation and consternation I felt when I learned that I was also accepted to Harvard University.  Thus, I faced one of the toughest decisions in choosing between Stanford and Harvard.

I decided to visit both campuses before making my final decision, and to my surprise, fell in love with Harvard.  I had been so set on becoming a Cardinal that I hadn’t given serious thought to the possibility of going somewhere else.  As soon as I set foot in Harvard, everything felt right.  The campus, the classes, the people, all made me realize there was no place else I wanted to spend the next four years.

After I enrolled at Harvard, I was eager to start the next phase of my life, but anxious at the thought of being across the country so far from home.  Saying my goodbyes to my family and friends made me fully aware of my newfound independence.  I had no idea what to expect, and I feared that I would be lost at such a prestigious institution.

One semester later, I have to say that I had made the best decision of my life.  I have found my home, and I have become part of the Harvard community in so many different ways.

In a few short months, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that college is far from easy.  Academics are harder than ever, but I have the freedom to study whatever concentration interests me.  I applied as a pre-med student but this semester has shown me that there are virtually limitless options to explore before declaring my major next year.

Dublin High School Senior Homecoming 2010

I have found the AP track at Dublin High School prepared me for the challenges of Harvard’s coursework.  In my first semester, I took courses in calculus, life sciences, expository writing, and Korean.  Classes often consist of lectures by professors together with smaller sections taught by graduate students, and supplemental student study groups.  Collaboration in study groups is a huge part of surviving Harvard’s tough academic load.  If I ever felt over-loaded, I only had to walk down the stairs to see my proctor, or set up a meeting with my academic adviser or PAF (Peer Advising Fellow).

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Research has demonstrated the critical role parents play in the successful education of their children (read more…). With mathematics achievement scores (according to STAR testing data, details available here) “flatlined” at Wells Middle School over the past three years, it was clear more acute attention was needed for this subject group for every student. Thanks to some foresight and a bit of small luck, things are moving in the right direction at Wells.

Looking at the data more closely, there was a growing trend of students that were not achieving in the subject of mathematics according to statewide testing data. Furthermore, there were some demographic subgroups that were falling further behind. In July, 2011, Wells Middle School welcomed their new Principal, Dr. Kevin Grier. Kevin joined the Dublin Unified School District after nine successful years as Principal at El Roble Intermediate School. Dr. Grier recognized that immediate action was necessary to reverse these recent trends. In the process, a legacy mathematics grant from the Oracle Corporation was uncovered and Wells Middle School’s Parent Math Nights program was launched.

OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to visit with the architects of this program and to discuss its long-term goals. Principal Kevin Grier and Mathematics Department Chairwoman Andrea Theisen contributed to this article.

OneDublin.org: What was the genesis of this program for Wells?

Wells Middle School Principal Kevin Grier

Kevin Grier: “I had been thinking about ways that Wells could help the students in the area of math since that was an area in which the recent STAR reports showed some issues. I thought what could we do to get kids help when they were at home and not at school? The parent math nights are designed to be given just before the start of each new chapter so that the parents get the necessary information.”

OneDublin.org: Prior to moving into administration, you were a classroom teacher. Please describe your passion for mathematics.

Grier: “I was a math teacher when I began my teaching career. I also struggled with trying to get parents to stop say that “they didn’t do math”. It was frustrating because it always seemed to give their child an excuse not to try. I enjoy going into the Wells Math Center to help out and watching other the other volunteers work until the light bulb clicks on in each kid’s head.”

OneDublin.org: What feedback have you received from families/students that have participated in the math nights?

Grier: “The parents have been appreciative of these nights as it has helped to jog some of those repressed learnings so that they feel they can help when asked. One concept that I might explore is having the parents bring their child to sit with them and to work together on the material. I think that the kids will feel more confident being able to help mom or dad with the material. I also think that the students will benefit from hearing the material again.”

To complete this story, we visited with the Wells Mathematics Department Chairwoman, Andrea Theisen. Andrea achieved a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University and then obtained a single-subject credential in Mathematics from California State University, Hayward (now CSU East Bay). She became an instructor at DUSD in 1995 and has been the Mathematics Department Chairperson at Wells Middle School for over a decade.

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by Jean Josey (Wells Middle School PFC Co-President)

Looking for a fun way to support Dublin public education? Tickets are on sale now for the 24th annual Wells Middle School Crab Feed, which will be held on February 25th at St. Raymond’s Moran Hall in Dublin. Tickets are $50 per person and are available through the Wells Middle School office during normal business hours; get your tickets early because this event regularly sells out. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, but are unable to make it over to Wells during the day, email the Wells Middle School PFC at wellsmiddleschoolpfc@wellspfc.com, and they’ll make arrangements to get the tickets to you.

Wells Middle School’s Crab Feed in Depth

If you are new to Dublin, or have been here for a while but never made it to the Wells Crab Feed, you may not be sure what to expect. We’d like to shed a little light on what the Crab Feed is all about. You can also learn more about last year’s successful event on Dublin Patch (read more…).

The Crab Feed has been a Wells Middle School tradition for 24 years.  It’s Wells Middle School’s biggest fundraiser of the year and is first and foremost a big party. Tables are for 10 people: you can purchase a table and select your “crab-mates” or you can be assigned to a table and meet new people.  If you are with a group but have less than 10 people, you’ll be paired up with other guests. If you have more than 10 people, your tables will be grouped together. Either way, you’ll sit with your pals and maybe make some new ones.  Dinner is a lot more than just crab, with all-you-can eat pasta, salad and bread as well.  So even if you don’t like crab, you won’t go home hungry.

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Dublin High One Acts Dress Rehearsal

While much of Dublin spent Monday relaxing in front the TV catching the Rose Bowl game, clearing away holiday decorations or enjoying the last few hours of a vacation, Dublin High School’s Drama Club students were bustling in preparation for opening night this Thursday (January 5).

Dublin High School Drama Club’s annual One Acts production is a popular event where students get the unique opportunity to take on the role of director. This year, seven students took on the responsibilty of  selecting, casting and directing musical excerpts and short plays. For those new to live theatre, the One Acts provides an opportunity to experience comedies, dramas and musical numbers all in one evening.

The One Acts open this Thursday Jan. 5 at 7pm for a four-performance run that continues Jan. 6-7 at 7pm and closes with a matinée on Sunday Jan. 8 at 2pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students.

OneDublin.org stopped by Dublin High’s Little Theatre to ask each student director about their selected piece:

Each student director also shared their thoughts on what it has been like stepping off the stage and into the role of leading fellow students:

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What a year it’s been for Dublin students!

OneDublin.org’s mission is simple: “Inspiring students, parents and the community by showcasing education excellence.”

Two recent examples of education excellence were recently contributed by students – Dublin High Class of 2011 grad Emily Edlund added to the Life in College Series with an article on her experiences as a freshman at the University of Arizona (read more…) and Dublin High ASB President Tatum Wheeler wrote about the value of student leadership (read more…). Students, alumni, parents, educators and members of the community have all contributed to make OneDublin.org a reality including Michael Utsumi, who has written on many topics including Transitional Kindergarten coming to Dublin public schools (read more…).

This November OneDublin.org celebrated its second anniversary with the most readers we’ve ever had, and our YouTube Channel has been viewed over 50,000 times. For those who like top 10 lists, here are the top 10 most read articles for the past 12 months… drum roll please:

10. Dublin High School Academic Rankings (API, SAT, AP, ACT, College Admissions)
9.   Dublin High School College Acceptance Results: Class of 2011
8.   Life at UC San Diego – From Dublin High AP to Nanoengineering
7.   Meet Dublin High School Cheerleading Coach Kristine Cousins
6.   Volunteering in Ghana, Africa: Interview with Kelsey Finnegan (Dublin High ’07)
5.   Dublin Unified School District API Results
4.   What’s in a GPA? Weighted and Unweighted GPAs from ‘a’ to ‘g’
3.   Science Fair Project Primer – ‘Tis the Season for the Scientific Method
2.   Kari Byron – Host of Head Rush, MythBusters – Speaks with OneDublin.org

And the most popular article for the past year: Becoming a Google Product Manager – Interview with Google’s Johanna Wright, which is part of our Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Series.

We have a lot more in store for 2012, but until then: students, parents, educators and members of the community, have a wonderful holiday season. Your support means a lot to the volunteers that make OneDublin.org possible!

Sincerely,

The team of volunteers at OneDublin.org

by Emily Edlund (Dublin High School Class of 2011 and University of Arizona Freshman)

DHS Class of 2011 Graduation (with Daniel Heddy)

As the year comes to an end, I’ve found that my most exciting memory of 2011 was becoming a University of Arizona Wildcat. As exciting as graduating from Dublin High School was, I was anxious and nervous to begin my new chapter in Tucson at the University of Arizona. I wondered who would become my good friends, whether I would get along with my roommate, and what my classes would be like. I was able to arrive at the University almost a week before classes started because I signed up to be on Hi-Team (a U of A welcoming committee). As a member of Hi-Team, I learned some of the ins and outs of the University and was then able to share my knowledge with the rest of the incoming freshmen when they arrived a few days after me.

College was truly a fresh start for me, unlike some of my other Dublin High classmates, because no one I knew from Dublin or the Bay Area was going to UA. I would have to make all new friends in a completely new state. I soon discovered that is what college is all about. Everyone wanted to meet new people and make new friends so it was not hard at all! When the first day of classes came around, I was surprised to find that the classes were not much different from the high school classes that I took: just the number of students! One of my lectures had 800 people in it! I feel that the AP classes I took at Dublin High definitely prepared me for the classes I am taking now. I was excited to get a B on my first college essay because of the techniques I had learned through taking Honors English courses at DHS. Even more exciting, I was able to grow incredibly as a writer and get A’s on the rest of my essays for that class!

U of A RHA Block Party

Dublin High also taught me how important it is to be involved. Because of that I have volunteered at a foster family clinic helping to organize and distribute food for a holiday dinner that they hosted. I will also be volunteering in San Diego during my spring break in March with the Residence Hall Association helping feed the homeless. I am currently on our dorm’s hall council where we coordinate and plan events for our dorm to give people a break from the stressful school life. These programs have opened my eyes to new ways to be a leader and I feel that I have grown in that aspect in the matter of just one semester.

It’s hard to believe that the first semester of college is already over. It definitely flew by! Over these short four months I believe that I have really matured into an adult. My roommate found me on Facebook a few weeks early and we started to talk and really liked each other. We even went out to dinner with our families the day before we moved into the dorm. I knew we would be really close friends.

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by Tatum Wheeler (Dublin High School Class of 2012)

Dublin High School ASB Leadership 2011-12

My name is Tatum Wheeler and I am currently serving as Dublin High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB) President. Dublin High’s Leadership structure is made up of sub-committees that oversee different aspects of the high school experience: Community Service (encouraging students to give back), Outreach (ensuring the student body is integrated), Dance (planning not only dances but social events for students), Special Events (coordinating such school-specific events as Mr. Dublin and the talent show), Lunchtime Activities (planning lunchtime events for students), Rally (organizing school rallies to fire up DHS spirit), Gael Force (encouraging student attendance to sports and theater events), and Fundraising (raising the money that makes this all possible).

This year, we have a total of approximately one hundred students in our leadership class, each committee is overseen by three commissioners and each ASB officer also has two committees to follow-up with. This is just the physical structure of the DHS Leadership class – what we actually do is far greater than these components. Dublin High School’s Leadership class oversees more activities and events than other schools in the area. Dublin High’s Homecoming Week is the largest high school event in the Tri Valley and includes a parade, carnival, spirit rally, football game, and dance along with daily events. This is truly the gem of Leadership’s efforts – every student, regardless of committee, is involved in some aspect of making Homecoming run smoothly.

The most interesting aspect of Dublin High School Leadership is that Dublin High is able to surpass the events of other larger schools, even though we only meet for one hour a week. Most of the Tri Valley’s high schools have an entire period devoted to Leadership while Dublin High gets everything done in 1/5 of the time. The looser nature of the DHS Leadership class allows for more student involvement than a rigid class structure would permit; students are able to voice their opinions and adjust events and activities as they see fit, not merely follow a checklist of things to get done. Leadership students are able to truly develop into leaders, because they have a direct impact on the organization of campus events.  As ASB officers, our role is to simply ensure that the rest of the class runs itself.

Becoming Dublin High’s ASB President has truly made the entire Dublin High experience come full circle for me. I entered Dublin High knowing only one person, a family friend, and through the support and friends I made at Dublin High, I was pushed to thrive. My involvement with sports helped me build connections, and through those connections I met Lauren Koa, our current ASB Secretary, who also served with me as sophomore co-president. This inspired my passion for Dublin High Leadership. After serving as class president, I served as Lunchtime Activities commissioner in my junior year. I am now able to use this experience to look at Dublin High from a variety of perspectives: from the new kid to class officer to Leadership commissioner and now, ASB President. I was also able to do this while receiving an outstanding education.

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[UPDATE: 2-29-2012]

DUSD School Board Debates Transitional Kindergarten

Since our initial posting on this subject last December (see below), the uncertainty of the State of California budget has become more complex.  While the collection of tax revenues statewide has remained relatively flat, state legislators and Governor Jerry Brown are examining possible cuts/adjustments that will impact most every service program in California. It is no different for the Department of Education.

While educators were enthused about the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1381 in 2010 and its implementation, the fiscal condition of California represents a threat to its existence.  The dilemma for the majority of school districts is that most were advocating for an immediate age cutoff date September 1 – including Dublin Unified.  This is in contrast to the legislation that proposed a three year phase in period – one month at a time, through the 2014-15 school year.

With Kindergarten registration at all elementary sites across the district ahead of us in two weeks, the TK Committee needed to make an immediate recommendation to the DUSD Board of Trustees.  This subject was an agenda item at the February 28 meeting.  TK Committee Chairwoman, Tess Johnson, delivered a presentation and a proposal that DUSD execute the program for 2012-13 under the original legislation so that the District would be in compliance with the law.

What this means is that the new birth cutoff date for Kindergarten enrollment in DUSD in the next academic year is November 1, 2007. Kindergarten registrations at all elementary school sites will commence on March 14, 2012. Subsequently, assessments of these new students will occur in the April/May timeframe.

As a result of this, an amended program will be created called Developmental Kindergarten (DK). The name change reflects that the offering in the next academic year is not the “full-fledged” package that was initially proposed. At the same time, it will create the footprint for what the school district wants to ultimately provide. Additionally, it will create a differentiated program that will address the needs of these students in the presence of a certificated staff member. The TK Committee will meet again on March 6 to cement these concepts for implementation.

On Tuesday night, the DUSD Board of Trustees deliberated the proposal and passed it unanimously. Parents with Kindergarten-eligible children within the new cutoff date should contact their respective elementary school sites for further guidance.

[ORIGINAL ARTICLE]

Transitional Kindergarten is likely a new term for many Dublin parents – OneDublin.org met with Dublin Unified School District administrators to learn more about the initiative. Senate Bill (SB) 1381 was signed into law by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Fall of 2010. The passage of the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 represents many things. For one, it ends a debate that has continued for almost 20 years. Education advocates have rallied for a change to the cut-off dates for enrollment into kindergarten. What this could also potentially represent is a population of students who are better equipped to succeed in the first years of their primary education. As a result, Transitional Kindergarten will go into effect starting with the 2012-13 school year.

How did this come about? For many years, California schools have maintained that children shall be enrolled into kindergarten if the child will have his or her fifth birthday on or before December 2nd. However, the school year typically begins in late August. This meant that a sizeable portion of the students would begin school at the age of four. California has also employed one of the latest cut-off dates when compared to other states across the nation. In the pre-existing CA Education Code, parents would have to wrestle with the decision whether to enroll their child immediately or to hold them back an additional year. In the Dublin Unified School District, this “tween” age group of students – those at four years of age at entry – equates to roughly 25% of the total kindergarten population currently enrolled. This figure also mirrors the same age demographic across the state.

Specifically, the bill changes the required birthday for admission into kindergarten. By the 2014/15 school year, a child must be five years old by September 1st. As structured, it gave each school district the option to phase this program in over three years – moving up the cut- off date one month at a time. After reviewing research at other successful program introductions, the committee has recommended that the September 1st date be adopted in the next coming school year. So, what does this mean for a student born in the earlier part of the year? Transitional Kindergarten (TK). TK will provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum; aligned with kindergarten standards and will be taught by a credentialed teacher.

To ensure that Transitional Kindergarten is executed effectively at each elementary site, DUSD has assembled a broad-based committee with members that includes teachers, administrators, District office staff, the Dublin Teachers Association, Special Education, English Language Learners and Extended Day Care Center. This group has been collaborating since October and will continue on into March, 2012 when kindergarten registration begins. To gain more insights into this exciting new program, OneDublin.org had the opportunity to sit down with the TK Committee Chairperson, Tess Johnson.

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