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Seniors at Northgate HS turned into senators on Dec. 4-5 as they participated in the school's annual Mock Congress that required them to write bills, then debate and vote on them. It is a "two-day capstone event that showcases the creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration of our senior class," said Principal Kelly Cooper. "This long-standing tradition is a highlight of our curriculum, offering students a hands-on experience in civic engagement and legislative processes."

Teacher Jon Burchett said he "inherited the program" when he came to the school 28 years ago. In the simulation, each student must author a bill and write a research paper explaining the background and context of their proposed law, and why it should be approved, he said. "Each bill is debated and voted on in committees, and the bills which pass are debated and voted on in our Senates. We follow adapted rules which are based on the rules of the U.S. Senate."

The school's roughly 380 seniors divided into four large groups that met in the Little Theater and other areas of the campus to hold Senate sessions. In the theater, student Sarah Zhao argued passionately in favor of her bill, which would require the Department of Defense to conduct an annual audit of its financial statements and operations to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Other senators made motions to amend the bill, or argued for or against the motions or the overall bill, before standing to vote in support or opposition. Those who were unsure voted "present." If the vote appeared close, Senate Pro-Tem Matty Biener asked the party leaders to count those standing before declaring that the motion or bill passed or failed. 

During the lunch break, Zhao said she appreciated the event because it opened her eyes to the way Congress works and helped her to apply what she is learning in her U.S. History class to the real world. Sophia Mac, who supported Zhao's bill, said students allowed each other time to speak and were respectful of each other's opinions in the "comfortable and safe space" facilitated by teachers. Ares Foster was proud to have been elected as the Democratic Party leader and said the role involved a lot of work talking to party members and telling them what they should do, but it was also very rewarding. Foster said it was important to research the issues and form opinions in order to vote one way or another on each bill. Ryan-Adele Heskett, who transferred to Northgate from another school, said the event was very rigorous and empowering. "People were writing bills about things I never knew existed," she said, adding that the it gave students a chance to educate themselves and each other about issues that were important to them.

Burchett said he and his colleagues are very proud of the Mock Congress, which has been prominently mentioned in every WASC accreditation report the school has received since he has been there. Teacher Meg Honey expressed her pride on Instagram, posting: "That’s a wrap on Mock Congress 2024! ❤️💛 I’m so proud of our Senior Senators, and I love working with this amazing team."

Northgate HS Social Studies teachers (l-r) Paula Dillon, Meg Honey, Christine Reimer, Jennifer Krnich, Jen Collier, Jon Burchett, Mitchell Woerner, and Brian Corbett (not pictured: James Rogers and Scott Harris) celebrate "a wrap" on another successful Mock Congress.

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

• The 2nd Annual SOAR Winter Resource Fair;
• Northgate High School seniors bring civics to life during Mock Congress;
• Sun Terrace Elementary student Samantha Gaspar Meija, Sequoia Elementary student Jenner Breward, and Oak Grove MS student Sophia Hernandez were honored by the Concord City Council as winners of the Mayor’s Art Contest;
• Mt. Diablo HS and Ygnacio Valley HS student-athletes Antonio Kellog Jr., Christopher Arezta, Natalie Dance, and Sa’rye Starks recognized as "Players to Watch" by Bay Area News Group;
• Pleasant Hill MS art students create "Celebration with Cake" displays;
• First Farsi Heritage Language Listening session held at Meadow Homes Elementary;
• Sequoia MS holds first African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) Meeting;
• School, Alumni, Staff and Technology Integration Leader Social Media Highlights;
• and more!

You can read it here. 

MDUSD is offering seven dual enrollment classes this spring, which enable students to earn college credit while still in high school free through partnerships between MDUSD and its high schools and Diablo Valley College (DVC).

Why Dual Enrollment?

The benefits of dual enrollment are numerous:

• Students can get a head start on their college education and potentially save time/money by completing college credits early.
• Classes part of MDUSD’s dual enrollment program are intended to help meet either a certificate requirement or a degree requirement.
• Dual Enrollment also provides exposure to the rigor of college coursework and helps students transition more smoothly to higher education.

A typical college class will earn students one year of high school credit. Additionally, students earning a C or higher in a dual enrollment class will result in a GPA boost for that class – similar to an AP or honors class. Participating in this program demonstrates academic ambition, preparedness, and long term goal setting. Overall this program offers an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, reduce future college costs, and accelerate their educational journey. 

While MDUSD's spring dual enrollment courses are offered at Concord, Mt. Diablo and Ygnacio Valley high schools, they are open to students across the District. Please note that students are responsible for getting themselves to the classes as MDUSD does not provide transportation.

Spring classes include:

• Graphic Design at Concord HS;
• Technology & Society, Introduction to Public & Community Health, and Intro to Race and Ethnicity at Mt. Diablo HS; and
• Child Development and Psychology; College & Career Readiness; and Math for Technicians at Ygnacio Valley HS.

Take a look at our Dual Enrollment Flyer and Spring 2025 Dual Enrollment Schedule for locations, dates and times.

Applications are now open. For more information, please complete the form here.

Dual Enrollment Calendar

Dec 5th & 6th MDHS Dual Enrollment Application Workshop

Dec 12th & 13th CHS Dual Enrollment Application Workshop

Jan 6th - 26th Dual Enrollment Support

Contacts:

Jorge Salinas-Tognetti email:  salinastognettij@mdusd.org

Amanda Witczack
email:  witczaka@mdusd.org

Sarah Peterson
email:  sapeterson@dvc.edu

Additional information is here.

Mt. Diablo HS is proud to announce that 12 students in the school's Patient Care health career pathway recently completed in-depth Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training presented by the city of Concord, and participated in a graduation ceremony on Monday, Nov. 18, after learning life-saving skills that they will be able to share with their family and community, said teacher Dr. David Pintado. 

“Special thanks to Mrs. Trish Beirne, Emergency Services Volunteer Coordinator from the Concord Police Department and her team of instructors that came to our school for six weeks and prepared our students for catastrophic events,” Pintado said. “And thank you to our school administration for providing all the logistics to make this important event a success!”

The students participated in drills that required them to be sworn in as Disaster Service Workers and simulate how they would assist in emergency response if an earthquake damaged the school, Beirne said. "It was part of the actual drill," she said. "If they were to be called up to deploy with our team, the first step is to swear volunteers in as DSWs so they are covered by the state’s Workers’ Comp insurance."

The students rotated through the following stations:

• Incident Command System structure
• Fire Suppression
• Cribbing (a technique to lift a heavy object that is pinning a victim underneath
• Damage Assessment (to report to Command)
• Light Search and Rescue (of a damaged classroom to find and triage victims)
• Medical treatment (of victims’ injuries)
• Radio communications

Congratulations to the students, who have learned valuable skills as part of Mt. Diablo High School's Career Pathways program! More information about MDUSD's Career Pathways programs is here.

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

• Mt. Diablo HS Patient Care pathway students completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training,
• Students at Mt. Diablo Elementary and Diablo View Middle School recognized with Clayton "Do the Right Thing Awards,"
• Oak Grove MS hosts panel discussion about hate speech with members of the Ygnacio Valley HS Black Student Union,
• Walnut Acres Elementary hosts jog-a-thon,
• Sequoia Elementary holds African American Family Engagement Night,
• Video highlights El Dorado MS collaboration with Project Color Corps to create new mural,
• Ygnacio Valley HS "Project 212: Engineering the Future" robotics club video wins Gold Anthem Award,
• School social media highlights from Gregory Gardens, Meadow Homes, Mt. Diablo and Sequoia elementary schools; Diablo View, Pine Hollow, Riverview and Sequoia middle schools; and College Park, Mt. Diablo, Northgate and Olympic high schools;
• Riverview MS "secret" staff spirit days,
• Staff social media highlights from Meadow Homes Elementary, Foothill MS, Oak Grove MS and Holbrook Language Academy, and
• Reflecting on the loss of Horizons student James Unfried, who tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident.

You can read it here.

To help educate students about the courageous, historic, and nation-changing “walk” of Ruby Bridges in November of 1960 to integrate schools, Rio Vista Elementary 4th and 5th graders walked to MDUSD's Black/African American Family Engagement Center in Bay Point on Thursday, Nov. 14th, to learn more about Bridges and her role in ending segregation in public schools. As a symbolic gesture, the students re-enacted her walk, then watched a short video about Bridges, and participated fun outdoor activities including jumping rope, throwing softballs and creating Ruby Bridges-themed chalk art on the blacktop. 

Rio Vista was one of several District schools to participate in the national Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, which is held on Nov. 14th to commemorate the anniversary of the day 6-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to integrate the formerly whites-only William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana. Schoolchildren around the country celebrate her accomplishment by walking to their schools, reading books and watching videos about Ruby Bridges, and talking about both historic and ongoing efforts to fight racism and discrimination.

The Rio Vista event was hosted by MDUSD's Focal Scholars Team, in partnership with 4th and 5th grade teachers and Principal Janis Heden. A special thanks goes out to the Oak Grove MS and Riverview MS PE departments and principals for lending their jump ropes and softballs for the celebration. Rio Vista and other MDUSD schools received Ruby Bridges flags, bracelets, stickers, and hats through the American Automobile Association. A Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office Deputy helped to escort the Bay Point group on their 1-mile round-trip walk. 

Fifth-grade teacher Jonathan Moses said the event was the culmination of previous lessons he has taught his students about state and federal laws and the history of segregation in the South, which the Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional in 1954, but which persisted until U.S. federal marshals escorted Bridges to her school. Moses' students A.J. Eda and Aryiane Hill said they enjoyed learning about Ruby Bridges and participating in the walk and activities. A.J., who is Filipino, said he is happy that schools are integrated. "It's good so we can all be together with each other and we can get to know each other and find out about other races and cultures," he said. Aryiane (pictured above with flag) said she admires Ruby Bridges. "I think she was a brave, smart and awesome girl," Aryiane said.

The Focal Scholars Program consists of K-12 students from seven Focal Scholar schools within MDUSD, including Rio Vista Elementary. It is designed to monitor as well as assist students with their attendance, behavior, and academic endeavors to show growth in each area. Some of the students identified as Focal Scholars are unhoused youths, foster children, and more. Students receive free tutorial and counseling services as a benefit of being in this program.

Other MDUSD schools that participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School events included: Gregory Gardens, Highlands, Mt. Diablo, Monte Gardens, Silverwood, Strandwood, Valhalla and Valle Verde elementary schools, as well as Sequoia and Valley View middle schools.