Volunteering for the Love of Animals at the East Bay SPCA
Meet Howie. Howie is a four-year old St. Bernard dog who came to the East Bay SPCA unhealthy and in lots of pain. Howie’s legs could not support his body weight. He was put to limited exercise and short walks, staying mostly in his room at the SPCA with droopy eyes, head down, and lying on the floor. As the days passed Howie was still not able to be adopted due to his condition. It was time to do something about it. The SPCA sent Howie to Oakland for the two intense surgeries he should have gotten a long time ago. The SPCA expected Howie to need foster care for 6-8 months after the surgeries. The operations were such a huge success, however, that it was not necessary to foster Howie and he was back at the SPCA in about a month and put up for adoption. In a just a couple of days, Howie was sent home with a family who loved him. This is only one example of the success of the East Bay SPCA.
East Bay SPCA – Not a Depressing Shelter
My name’s Evelyn and I’m a sixth grader at Fallon Middle School. I have always loved animals, especially cats. I was first introduced to the East Bay SPCA on a Girl Scout field trip. I had never been to the SPCA, and all I was expecting was a depressing shelter like the others. As we walked through the doors I realized I was completely wrong. The SPCA was a huge, colorful building that was the opposite of depressing. The cats had large habitats filled with toys, cat trees, and light! The dogs had large rooms to run around in and a big yard to play fetch and get their energy out. After that trip I knew that I wanted to help out at the SPCA, but I didn’t know how. That upcoming summer my mom signed me up for Animal Camp at the SPCA. In that week I learned so much about animal behavior, different types of animals, body language, and animal care. We got to groom dogs and play with the cats, I had a blast. My mom realized how much I loved the animals at the SPCA so she soon signed us both up to volunteer there for the cats. I was ready to get started as soon as possible!
Socializing with Lola at the East Bay SPCA
There was a process that we had to go through before we could begin as official Feline Kennel Assistant volunteers. First there were a couple of two-hour classroom training sessions. In them we learned basic rules and procedures with the cats. For example we went over, feeding, cleaning, and body language. We were also introduced to the different levels of volunteering. The first level is Kennel Assistant, the main goal for assistants is to clean and feed all of the habitats. Level two is Caretaker, but to become one you must complete twenty hours of volunteering. When you are a Caretaker you socialize with the animals and help with adoptions. You also get to interact with the public more, answering questions and showing them cats and dogs. Other things you get to do are off-site events (like the Farmer’s Market at Emerald Glen Park), becoming a volunteer mentor, and helping with adoptions. After the classroom training we had to complete mentor training. Mentor training is where someone, staff or volunteer, shows you how to do everything yourself. Once mentor training is complete you can start volunteering as a Kennel Assistant and build up your hours. I recently became a Caretaker and it is very satisfying.
Being a volunteer at the SPCA has many positives. One of them is knowing all of the animals. I have learned all of the cats’ names and have become friends with them. When I pass by the dogs I can say “hi” to them and they know me. One of the cats I have become very close with is Lola. She is currently up for adoption at the SPCA. Lola is a gray tabby cat, very desperate for a family. She is a wonderful friend who sits by the door meowing. When you walk in she immediately comes to you and rubs against your leg. Along with Lola, I am also friends with a dog named Cookie. Cookie is a Chihuahua mix who recently got adopted. I met her at animal camp when I groomed and trained her. She is very sweet and I hope she went home with a loving family. Volunteering at the SPCA is hard work and a big dedication of my time, but I love it so much. Volunteering has even pushed me to continue my interest in animal behavior. I hope to go to college someday to study animal behavioral science. Until then the SPCA is a great opportunity for me to spend time with animals.
Dublin High School continued its API winning streak in 2011 with another increase to 879, a 12-point increase over 2010 and an 81-point increase since 2008. Along with Dublin High’s academic improvement has come recognition: GreatSchools.org rates Dublin High a perfect 10 out of 10 and the California Department of Education lists Dublin High School’s Statewide Rank as a 10 (where 10 is the highest rank and 1 is the lowest rank, read more…). Dublin High School’s latest academic rankings for API, SAT, ACT and AP test results, and college admissions results, are available here.
Dublin High School’s graduation rate also improved to 97.47% (from 96.16%).
The Dublin Unified School District API improved to 884 (a 6-point increase over 2010). Green Elementary School’s API led the way with a 19-point increase to 952 (the highest API in the District) followed by Dublin High School’s API with a 12-point increase to 879. Dougherty Elementary School, Fallon School (K-8) and Murray Elementary School also posted increases while Dublin Elementary School, Frederiksen Elementary School and Wells Middle School scores declined year-over-year. A detailed breakdown of all Dublin Unified School District API results is available here.
Valley High School (Dublin’s continuation high school) recorded a 99-point increase to an API of 656. Note that Valley High School is considered a small school by the California Department of Education (less than 99 students), and as a result API results are not considered as reliable.
The Dublin Unified School District’s API results broken down by subgroup are as follows:
| Subgroup | Number of Students Included in 2011 API |
Numerically Significant in |
Subgroup API |
||
|
2011 Growth |
2010 Base |
2010 – 11 Growth |
|||
| Black or African American |
287 |
Yes |
787 |
780 |
7 |
| American Indian or Alaska Native |
18 |
No |
912 |
864 |
|
| Asian |
1,232 |
Yes |
950 |
938 |
12 |
| Filipino |
351 |
Yes |
901 |
901 |
0 |
| Hispanic or Latino |
667 |
Yes |
806 |
807 |
-1 |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
25 |
No |
814 |
870 |
|
| White |
1,779 |
Yes |
883 |
881 |
2 |
| Two or More Races |
114 |
No |
875 |
861 |
|
| Socioeconomically Disadvantaged |
552 |
Yes |
789 |
770 |
19 |
| English Learners |
597 |
Yes |
829 |
842 |
-13 |
| Students with Disabilities |
349 |
Yes |
676 |
692 |
-16 |
Full details of the 2011 API results for each school including 2011 STAR / CST and CHSEE test results that are used in calculating API scores are available here.
A public hearing regarding the Tassajara Prep charter high school petition will be held Wednesday September 7 at 6:30pm in the Dublin High School library. Tassajara Prep is an initiative of Tri-Valley Learning Corp., a Livermore-based charter school corporation. Tri-Valley Learning Corp. abruptly withdrew the original Tassajara Prep charter petition earlier this year after being denied by the Dublin Unified School District and Alameda County Office of Education.
The revised Tassajara Prep charter petition has cosmetic changes over the original petition, and like the original petition does not include parent signatures. A charter petition must either include teacher signatures or parent signatures; Tri-Valley Learning Corp.’s first charter school, Livermore Valley Charter School (K-8), was signed by parents and was supported by the community. Despite a 3-month delay in submitting a revised Tassajara Prep charter petition, Tassajara Prep organizers were apparently unable to garner sufficient support to re-submit the petition with parent signatures.
Tassajara Prep was originally scheduled to open for the 2012-13 school year, although Tri-Valley Learning Corp. COO Bill Batchelor conceded in a Contra Costa Times interview that the school opening may need to be pushed back by one year due to Tri-Valley Learning Corp.’s voluntary decision to re-start the charter petition process.
A location for Tassajara Prep remains unknown and is not specified in the charter petition. More information on Tassajara Prep is available here.
More information on Dublin High School is available here.
Parents and members of the community will be able to make 3-minute statements regarding the Tassajara Prep charter petition at the Sept 7 public hearing. Both those opposed to and in favor of the Tassajara Prep charter petition are encouraged to attend the public hearing.
Dublin High School’s Academic Block D Program recognizes outstanding scholars just like athletic letterman programs recognize outstanding athletes. Dublin High School students that both meet the stringent academic requirements and take the initiative to submit the required application forms on time can enhance their college application portfolios with Certificates of Accomplishment, Certificates of Commendation and an Academic Letter.
The program has multiple tiers and requires students meet the following criteria:
- Students with a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 for three consecutive semesters or five total semesters are eligible to apply. The GPA is weighted (Honors and AP courses can add one grade point).
- Students may not have a confirmed cut, suspension or have been dropped from a class by a teacher for disciplinary or attendance reasons.
- Classes that do not count include P.E. (grades 10-12), student assistant, adult education, continuation school, work experience and student government.
For the 2011-12 school year the application periods are the first 15 days of October (for the 2011 spring semester – application form available here…) and the first 15 days of February (for the 2011 fall semester). Late applications are not accepted – just like college. Note that the application forms are only available during the application period (forms will be made available in the Dublin High Counseling Office and online).
The award is not automatic – students need to take the initiative to understand the requirements, complete the application correctly and submit the application on time – just like they will need to do for college applications in their senior year.
Meet Dougherty Elementary School Principal Catherine Ward-Mikes
Dougherty Elementary School’s new principal, Catherine Ward-Mikes, originally planned to be a dentist. Working as a substitute teacher at her children’s school changed that plan and education became her calling. Catherine earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a master’s degree in education from Chapman University. Dougherty Elementary School’s former principal, Lynn Medici, moved to Kolb Elementary School earlier this year (Kolb is Dublin’s newest elementary school – read more…)
Catherine has taught at the elementary and secondary levels, and has been the principal of schools at all levels – elementary, K-8, junior high and high school (most recently Catherine was principal of Newark Junior High School – read more…). Along the way Catherine has worked in affluent school districts and socio-economically challenged districts. This diverse experience has provided her with unique insights on how to educate children from all backgrounds.
Catherine chose to join the Dublin Unified School District because of a shared vision on how to educate children, the child-centric approach of the District and the focus on Professional Learning Communities (PLC).
Catherine will soon be celebrating 21 years of marriage and has three children (a son in college, and a son and daughter in high school). The Ward-Mikes family currently lives in Concord.
CSSSA: An Introduction to College Life at Sixteen
- CSSSA at CalArts 2011
For a month this summer, I had the unique opportunity to experience college life while still in high school: living in a dorm away from home, eating cafeteria food and taking intense courses taught by university professors who would leave me with lessons I would never forget. At only sixteen, the California State Summer School of the Arts (or CSSSA) gave me a taste of college life that I’ll never forget.
From July 9 to August 5, I joined artists from around the California (and the world) at CalArts in Valencia for the most eye-opening experience of my life. Everyone who attended was as passionate and excited to learn as I was. It wasn’t the usual high school setting where most kids are unenthusiastic and could care less about academics. At CSSSA, everyone came together to create a supportive environment. Although the teachers provided us with growth, it was our peers that we learned from the most.
As a creative writer, I spent each day with future authors, playwrights, screenwriters and poets. My teachers had already succeeded in all of these. One of my teachers has a play opening in New York while another has a book of short stories sitting on a shelf in Barnes and Noble. My teachers made it their goal to bring us to their level. On the first day, they informed us that each day at CSSSA represented three college classes. Needless to say, my writing improved significantly and I got a feel of how tough college will be in two years.
“Children exposed to a multi-year programme of music tuition involving training in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their non-musically trained peers, according to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music.” (read more…) This recent study reinforces what many parents believe – music is a fundamental component of educating the whole child.
For parents with the financial means to do so, private music lessons starting at an early age is a wonderful experience for many students. I benefited from growing up in a musical family – both of my parents are college-educated professional musicians – and as a result music lessons were a natural part of my childhood.
For parents without a musical background, knowing where to start for music lessons can be intimidating. OneDublin.org recently met with professional drummer and drum instructor Kelly Fasman to learn more about how to approach music lessons:
In preparation for August 22, the first day of school for students attending a Dublin public school, below is the latest available Dublin school packet pickup and registration information. Please note that this information, while current as of 7-22-2011, is subject to change. The Dublin Unified School District online calendar is available here.
Note that this year Dublin middle and high schools are shifting part of the process online. Packets will be available for download from school websites, where applicable, as outlined below.
Elementary School Packet Pickup and Registration
| Elementary School Site |
Office Reopens |
School Packet Pickup |
Summer Check In / Registration |
| Dougherty Elementary |
August 10 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 15 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 18 10:00 am-7:00 pm |
| Dublin Elementary |
August 10 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 15 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 17 3:00 pm-7:00 pm August 18 9:00 am-1:00 pm |
| Frederiksen Elementary |
August 10 8:30 am-4:00 pm |
August 12 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 18 5:00 pm-7:00 pm |
| Green Elementary |
August 10 8:30 am-4:00 pm |
August 11 9:00 am-12:00 pm 1:00 pm-4:00 pm |
August 16 9:00 am-3:00 pm August 17 1:00 pm-7:00 pm |
| Kolb Elementary | August 10 8:30 am-4:00 pm |
August 15-17 8:00 am- 4:00 pm |
August 18 10:00 am-7:00 pm |
| Murray Elementary |
August 10 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 15 8:00 am-4:00 pm August 16 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 17 3:00 pm-7:00 pm |
Middle School Packet Pickup and Registration
| Middle School School Site | Office Reopens | School Packet Pickup | Summer Check In / Registration |
| Fallon Middle School | August 5 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 1 – ONLINE PICKUP For grades 6-12 packets will now be available online. More information and download forms: http://dusd.schoolwires.net/fms/site/default.asp |
August 16 11:00 am – 3:00 pm August 17 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
| Wells Middle School | August 5 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 1 – ONLINE PICKUP For grades 6-12 packets will now be available online. More information and download forms: http://dusd.schoolwires.net/wms/site/default.asp |
August 8 New (to Dublin) Student Registration August 16 1:00 pm-6:00 pm August 17 9:00 am-2:00 pm |
High School Packet Pickup and Registration
| High School Site | Office Reopens | School Packet Pickup | Summer Check In / Registration |
| Dublin High School | August 5 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 1 – ONLINE PICKUP For grades 6-12 packets will now be available online. More information and download forms: http://dusd.schoolwires.net/dhs/site/default.asp |
August 17 9:00 am-5:00 pm August 18 11:00 am-7:00 pm |
| Valley High School | August 5 8:00 am-4:00 pm |
August 1 For grades 6-12 packets will now be available online. More information and download forms: http://dusd.schoolwires.net/vhs/site/default.asp Dates for Walk-In Packet Pick-Up August 15-18 8:00-11:00 am & 12:00-3:30 pm |
August 15-18 8:00 am -11:00 am 12:00-3:30 pm August 17 – New Students 11:30 am -1:00 pm 6:30 pm-8:00 pm |
Dublin Private School Links:
Dublin, California’s newest elementary school, Kolb Elementary School, is nearing completion and on track for the 2011-12 school year. OneDublin.org recently toured the construction site with Kolb Elementary School Principal Lynn Medici (previously principal of Dougherty Elementary School) and Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke.
For those familiar with John Green Elementary School you’ll find many similarities in the design and layout of the school – from the library to the multi-purpose room. Classroom materials are just now arriving in anticipation of Kolb’s inaugural year teaching staff. Kolb Elementary School’s PFC will be hosting a welcome event and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday August 21 from 1pm – 3pm (read more…). Kolb Elementary School registration information is available on Kolb’s website.
Kolb Elementary School’s principal, Lynn Medici, was interviewed by OneDublin.org late last year (read more…).
Kolb Elementary School Library
Kolb Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room Panorama
With July 4 approaching, below is a list of fireworks booth locations, with a spotlight on Dublin public schools. Each year local charities vie for fireworks booths via a lottery system. This year, Dublin High School is represented twice: the Dublin High Alumni Association has a booth for the first time and the Dublin High PFSO has a booth. Wells Middle School’s Band Program gets a boost from fireworks sales and Dublin Elementary School looks to shrink the budget gap with explosive discounts on fireworks. As per City of Dublin code, firework sales begin at noon on Tuesday June 28.
Below are the fireworks booth locations supporting Dublin public schools:
| School | Location |
| Dublin Elementary PFC | 7884 Dublin Blvd. (Orchard Supply) |
| Dublin High School Alumni Association | 4288 Dublin Blvd. (Ulferts Center) |
| Dublin High School PFSO | 7499 Dublin Blvd. (Safeway) |
| Fallon Middle School PFC | 7544 Dublin Blvd. (SEC Golden Gate & Dublin Blvd) |
| Wells Middle School Marching Band | 4400 Tassajara Rd. (Safeway at Waterford) |
Additional local organizations with fireworks booths:
OneDublin.org 