Dozens of students are celebrating the completion of a program that aims to change lives through positive experiences, meaningful mentorships, and strong support systems. It’s called the Lift While You Lead Empowerment Project and is part of the Merced City School District’s Summer Academy. This is the third group of girls to complete the program and the first year it has been offered for boys. On Thursday, the participants took part in a closing ceremony at UC Merced, but their journey is just beginning.
The program helps students increase their self-esteem and improve academics, discipline, and attendance. It also promotes higher education and encourages the students to become leaders in their schools and community. The four week course included classroom activities at Reyes Elementary School and excursions to places such as UC Santa Cruz. The group also took a trip to Yosemite Ziplines and Adventure Ranch in Mariposa, where the students conquered a ropes course more than 30 feet above the ground by supporting one another.
The Lift While You Lead Empowerment Project is made possible thanks to collaboration between multiple agencies. The participants are all Merced City School District middle school students. Their teachers, Annie Delgado and Sam Parker, work for the Merced Union High School District and will continue to interact with the students and track their progress throughout their high school years. The participants are also mentored by students from UC Merced and Golden Valley High School. Field trips are funded through the Educational Employees Credit Union.
This program has had proven success in a number of ways. The inaugural class members raised their combined grade point average from 2.8 to 3.26. Several of the participants have also gone on to shine individually. Ms. Delgado says, “We have two young ladies who just graduated from Hoover Middle School who delivered their commencement speeches. We had one student who was recognized as the ‘Comeback Kid’ because she completely turned it around. We had two other ladies at Tenaya Middle School deliver their commencement speeches, and another student recognized as the ‘Ultimate Warrior.’”
During Thursday’s closing ceremony, the students each spoke about the impact Lift While You Lead has had on their lives, and they performed an uplifting dance for their family and friends.
Dozens of students are celebrating the completion of a program that aims to change lives through positive experiences, meaningful mentorships, and strong support systems. It’s called the Lift While You Lead Empowerment Project and is part of the Merced City School District’s Summer Academy. This is the third group of girls to complete the program and the first year it has been offered for boys. On Thursday, the participants took part in a closing ceremony at UC Merced, but their journey is just beginning.
The program helps students increase their self-esteem and improve academics, discipline, and attendance. It also promotes higher education and encourages the students to become leaders in their schools and community. The four week course included classroom activities at Reyes Elementary School and excursions to places such as UC Santa Cruz. The group also took a trip to Yosemite Ziplines and Adventure Ranch in Mariposa, where the students conquered a ropes course more than 30 feet above the ground by supporting one another.
The Lift While You Lead Empowerment Project is made possible thanks to collaboration between multiple agencies. The participants are all Merced City School District middle school students. Their teachers, Annie Delgado and Sam Parker, work for the Merced Union High School District and will continue to interact with the students and track their progress throughout their high school years. The participants are also mentored by students from UC Merced and Golden Valley High School. Field trips are funded through the Educational Employees Credit Union.
This program has had proven success in a number of ways. The inaugural class members raised their combined grade point average from 2.8 to 3.26. Several of the participants have also gone on to shine individually. Ms. Delgado says, “We have two young ladies who just graduated from Hoover Middle School who delivered their commencement speeches. We had one student who was recognized as the ‘Comeback Kid’ because she completely turned it around. We had two other ladies at Tenaya Middle School deliver their commencement speeches, and another student recognized as the ‘Ultimate Warrior.’”
During Thursday’s closing ceremony, the students each spoke about the impact Lift While You Lead has had on their lives, and they performed an uplifting dance for their family and friends.
Merced Sun-Star Column by Sara Sandrik/MCSD Public Information Officer:
There’s no such thing as summer “break” when it comes to the hard working crews responsible for giving our students the best possible places to learn. In fact, this is the time of year when facilities projects across the Merced City School District are going full speed ahead in order to accomplish as much as possible while children are away from their campuses. The current projects include major modernization work, the completion of our cutting edge STEAM Center, and the addition of several new solar arrays.
MEASURE M MODERNIZATION WORK:
Many of our schools are receiving extensive repairs and upgrades thanks to Measure M, which voters approved in 2014. That money is allowing us to bring our aging elementary and middle school campuses into the 21st century so they meet contemporary academic, technology, and safety standards.
At Chenoweth Elementary, crews are working to complete a project that started last summer. It includes the modernization of 18 classrooms, remodeled restrooms, the complete replacement of a 1965 HVAC system, the addition of two new modular classrooms, and the removal of two old portables that will open up the central quad for outdoor learning and assemblies. You may also notice some of the improvements that were made to the exterior of the campus, including new playground equipment, basketball courts, a safer student loading zone, and an expanded parking lot to ease congestion along Parsons Avenue.
Wright Elementary is receiving similar upgrades, including the modernization of 20 classrooms first constructed in 1946. The rooms will not only have efficient new air conditioning systems, but also insulation, acoustical, and lighting upgrades, plus large magnetic display/marker boards and updated projector systems to help make lessons more engaging. Students and their families will also enjoy a much improved library, seven completely remodeled restrooms, and later this year new basketball courts, a new parking and drop off area, and a new air conditioning system for the cafeteria.
At Franklin Elementary, the first of a three phase project is underway. It will feature two new preschool classrooms adjacent to an expanded parking lot and drop-off lanes to improve safety and accessibility. The project also includes playfield and irrigation improvements, a larger preschool playground area with new equipment, landscaping, and even a custom drinking fountain for our smallest students.
Roofing projects are underway this summer at both Cruickshank and Tenaya middle schools. These represent an important aspect of what Measure M aims to do, which is overhaul deteriorating infrastructure. The bond also covers safety upgrades, which are in progress at Tenaya and Reyes Elementary. They are the latest two schools to be equipped with new security fencing and electronic gates. Meanwhile, Hoover Middle School is receiving new LED outdoor lighting, and all of our campuses now have surveillance cameras as well.
The next projects on the horizon include vast improvements to Fremont Elementary and Galen Clark Preschool, along with upgrades to the libraries and multipurpose rooms at Gracey, Reyes, and Peterson. Those are all in various planning phases with work set to begin in 2018 and continue for the next three years.
This is a great time to mention that our Citizens Bond Oversight Committee is actively seeking new members to help monitor and report on these projects. The group meets four times per year and includes representatives from a variety of backgrounds. You can find much more information, including an application here: http://www.mcsd.k12.ca.us/District/Department/1-Facilities/Portal/citizens-bond-oversight-committee
STEAM CENTER:
Another major project for our district and community is the STEAM Center that is nearly complete next to Ada Givens Elementary. This state-of-the-art facility will give all of our TK-8th grade students an opportunity to experience integrated hands-on learning in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. It will also allow groups of teachers to work together and receive support and training in the most challenging curriculum so they can continue to expand their own horizons and bring that knowledge back to our 18 school sites. It is truly expected to be a game changer for education in our area.
The 5460 square foot facility includes a lab classroom and two “flex” collaboration rooms, along with a lobby/breakout space and a large outdoor amphitheater. The entire design is intended to allow for interactive lessons that can be tailored to various age groups and class sizes. The rooms are separated by glass doors that also function as visual display boards, along with audio-visual technology, and magnetic “wall-talker” surfaces that can be used as projection screens and dry erase boards simultaneously.
Crews are putting the final touches in place this month so the center will be ready before students return to school on August 16th, and we plan to hold a grand opening ceremony for the entire community in the near future as well. Stay tuned for updates!
SOLAR ARRAYS:
We’re also excited to share that seventeen new solar arrays will be built at ten thoughtfully selected sites across the district starting in August. Our district secured grant funding through the California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Proposition 39) to pay for these solar arrays as well as air conditioning and lighting upgrades at Burbank, Gracey, Muir, and Reyes elementary schools in the coming year. The goal is to save money on energy costs while also providing much needed shade around playground areas and other key locations. Hoover, Givens, and Chenoweth will be the first to receive the solar arrays, followed by Peterson, Gracey, and Wright. In December, the project will be completed at Burbank, Sheehy, Muir, and our Maintenance/Operations/Transportation facility.
We look forward to seeing all of these projects come to fruition and hope that our students, staff, and community will enjoy the many upgrades throughout our district. Should you have any questions about our projects, you are welcome to contact the MCSD Facilities Services Department at (209) 385-6632. We thank you for your support and welcome your interest!
Hundreds of students from throughout the Merced City School District are enjoying a variety of fun and interactive learning opportunities during Summer Academy.
They’re getting a chance to program robots, build marshmallow catapults, launch paper towel roll rockets, make ice cream, design Rube Goldberg machines, and create their own instruments. There are also special performances, assemblies, and learning excursions to places such as local zoos, performing arts centers, colleges, and universities.
All of the activities and other classroom instruction are based around integrated STEAM learning – science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. This approach is designed to help students develop 21st century skills including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
The five week session started June 12 and will continue through July 14. The classes are open to children who were in transitional kindergarten through seventh grade during the 2016-2017 school year. They are being held at Reyes Elementary, Rivera Elementary, and Rivera Middle School.
Summer Academy also offers online programs for foreign language and mathematics. Students enrolled in those courses can work from home at their own pace but also have the option of attending classes at the school sites for extra support and unique learning opportunities that incorporate art into both subjects.
Fourth grader Lily Tupuanai says, “My favorite part about coming to Summer Academy is to learn new things, and Summer Academy helps me go over the things I just learned in the recent grade.”
Eighth grader Jade Velasquez adds, “I enjoy the activities that they have us do, our art projects, and the experience we have in our science classes.”
Twelve Merced City School District campuses have been recognized for their success with implementing a system known as “Positive Behavior Intervention and Support.” PBIS is a research-based, nationally recognized framework that promotes a positive culture of making good choices on school campuses. It includes clear expectations for the students as well as incentives and intervention plans. This system is part of the district’s effort to reduce suspension and expulsion rates in a safe and sustainable way.
The Merced City School District has been implementing PBIS in phases. It will be in place at all 18 campuses starting in the 2017-2018 school year. The dozen schools that currently use this system applied for either a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award through the Fresno County Office of Education depending on how far along they are with the implementation process, and they were all selected for the award they hoped to receive.
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Givens Elementary School: Gold Award
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Burbank Elementary School: Silver Award
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Hoover Middle School: Silver Award
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Reyes Elementary: Silver Award
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Rivera Elementary: Silver Award
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Stowell Elementary: Silver Award
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Fremont Elementary School: Silver Award
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Chenoweth Elementary School: Bronze Award
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Franklin Elementary School: Bronze Award
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Rivera Middle School: Bronze Award
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Stefani Elementary School: Bronze Award
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Muir Elementary School: Bronze Award
Representatives from the winning schools were honored during an awards ceremony hosted by the Fresno County Office of Education on May 18.
Pupil Services Director Brian Meisenheimer says, “This is such important work, to shape the positive culture on each school site and to develop lasting relationships with students. I am proud of the hard work our administrators, teachers, support staff, students, and parents have put toward creating a productive learning environment for all.”
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The Merced City School District is currently enrolling students for the 2017-2018 preschool program. This is a chance for children to reap the academic, social, emotional, and physical benefits of early education, which research shows continue even beyond the school years. Qualified families who live in the district and have children ages three or four can stop by Galen Clark Preschool at 211 E. 11th Street to fill out a pre-application. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you have any questions, please call Galen Clark Preschool at 209-385-6619. You can also find additional information at: http://www.mcsd.k12.ca.us/MCSDPreschool/
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