

Superintendent Community Update
March 22, 2024

Superintendent's Message
Dear JUHSD Community,
This past Wednesday, all district employees participated in a dedicated day of professional development. While schools focused on learning that was specific to their sites, there were some trends throughout the district.
There was a focus on core values and purpose, anti bias training, and Growth Mindset. Sites continued their learning about Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is the belief all students will become expert learners if barriers are removed. We identify and address barriers by focusing on three pillars/questions: Do students care? Do they understand? And can they tell you what they know?
Some school sites spent time on their WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) Accreditation process. This process includes both self-evaluation and peer review processes that focus on equity, inclusion, and access to high-level, rigorous learning opportunities for all students.
This day provided time for teachers and staff to meet with each other to think deeply about their craft, and I am heartened by the level of thought and care that went in to the planning and execution of the professional development provided.
We invest in staff development because we are committed to ensuring that every student in our district receives the support and guidance they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you to our outstanding staff for their dedication to our students!
Coming Up
These last few months of school get busy with all of the awesome culminating activities of the year. And, I thoroughly enjoy it! I am looking forward to attending the school musical, "Grease," at Westmoor on Friday and our Adult Transition students' Art Exhibition at "Imaginate Youth" on Saturday.
I hope you get out there and have a great weekend!
Warmly,
Toni Presta
Superintendent
@superintendent_tonipresta
Women's History Month Guest Speakers at WHS
In honor of Women's History Month, Westmoor High School College and Career Center assistant Grace Moevao organized a week-long event in the school's library. During lunch, students were invited to meet and chat with female guest speakers who have made a positive difference in the JUHSD community. WHS thanks the following women for taking time out of their day to be a part of this worthwhile event:
- Susie Cunanan, Pacifica Police Department Detective
- Manufou Liaiga-Anoa'i, Daly City Politician
- Phrani Diksa, WHS Social Worker
- Toni Presta, JUHSD Superintendent
- Melissa Ambrose, JUHSD Wellness Coordinator
- Bonnie Finnegan, Daly City Police Department
Photo: JUHSD Superintendent Toni Presta takes a photo with students who attended the March 21 lunchtime gathering.
Miss this past Tuesday's Board Meeting?
Click below to find out what you missed!
JUHSD's March Student of the Month
Pedro Soares Da Silva, THS
Congratulations to Thornton High School 12th grader Pedro Soares Da Silva for being named JUHSD's March Student of the Month! To read more about Pedro receiving this honor, along with photos of him with his family, THS Staff, and the Board of Trustees, click here. Congratulations, Pedro!
Photo: THS 12th grader Pedro Soares Da Silva stands with school Principal Dr. Dennie Marenco after receiving his official certificate during the March 19 District Board Meeting.
🎶 GREASE Closes this Weekend at Westmoor 🎶
Westmoor High Theater tonight and tomorrow at 7 pm, Sunday at 2 pm!
131 Westmoor Avenue, Daly City
ATP Students Host Art Exhibit Tomorrow in SF!
Culminating Exhibition for ATP Students Tomorrow
Creativity Explored, a San Francisco-based art studio and gallery for adults with special needs, has shared their talents with students from the District's Adult Transition Program (ATP) during a month-long series where interested students attended workshops and created their own works of art.
Tomorrow, March 23, 12:30-2:30 pm, their masterpieces will be on display and for sale at Creativity Explored Studios in San Francisco's Mission District, 16th and Guerrero Streets, during the program's Culminating Exhibition! To learn more about this amazing opportunity offered to our ATP students, click here.
Photo: District ATP students create beautiful pieces of art at Creativity Explored on March 2.
JHS Helps Out at Daly City Colma Chamber Event
Students from the Jefferson High School student government leadership class volunteered at the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce crab feed, hosted by the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce, this past weekend at the Colma Community Center. During this sports-themed event, money was raised for student scholarships that benefit graduating 12th graders of JUHSD. To learn more about the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce, along with ways in which you can donate to this scholarship fund, click here.
Photo: Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Director Felicia Leong stands with student volunteers from JHS Leadership.
⭐ Student Spotlight ⭐
Chloe Chou, WHS
Congratulations to Westmoor High's 11th grader Chloe Chou for representing San Mateo County at the 2024 California Arts Council Poetry Out Loud Competition held this past weekend at the Jean Runyon Little Theater and the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento, and for winning runner-up in the Poetry Ourselves Competition!
Since 2019, California’s county champions have also been invited to submit original written works at the state level through the Poetry Ourselves creative writing contest. At the end of this contest, Chloe was selected as runner-up with her reading of "DetoNation" by Ocean Vuong and "Israfel" by Edgar Allan Poe.
After receiving this esteemed honor, Chloe shared that she was super grateful for this amazing experience and thanked Mara Grimes and San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture for organizing this event. She also thanked her coach Lisa Rosenberg and WHS English teacher Joal Truong-Vargas for their guidance and support.
As this is an annual event, Chloe plans to complete in the 2025 completion, too! Learn more about the California Arts Council Poetry Out Loud Competition by clicking here. Congrats, Chloe!
Image credit: San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture
Youth Summit Success!
This past Saturday, March 16, over 100 area students attended the Pacifica Youth Summit held at Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School. During this afternoon event, our high school students led youth-centered workshops focusing on substance use prevention and mental wellness, including an intervention program presentation from Daly City Youth Health Center (DCYHC) employee Miguel Duenas. JUHSD thanks DCYHC Director Mary Bier, and all involved, for hosting such a worthwhile event for students in our JUHSD community.
Math Week Celebration at WHS
JUHSD Alumni Spotlight
Sean Chan and Moises Gutierrez, JHS
This past Thursday, March 14, Jefferson High School Class of 2023 alums Sean Chan and Moises Gutierrez were honored at the Fortitude Careers graduation ceremony held at San Mateo County Event Center.
During this eight-week program that covers life skills, career services, financial literacy skills, and construction trades job readiness, both former JHS grads received comprehensive training and support tailored to their individual needs, empowering them to thrive in their chosen careers and beyond.
Soon, Sean Chan plans to start work with a construction company as a result of the connections made through the Fortitude Careers program. Nicole Davis, the Executive Director of Fortitude, shared that the students were true leaders and really excelled throughout the eight-week program.
Fortitude Careers is a non-profit organization that the District's Transition Department works closely with to help connect students interested in pursuing the trades after graduation. Learn more here.
An event for 12th graders planning to attend SFSU!
👗 FREE Prom Dresses 👗
Free Dresses Through The Princess Project
Essay and Visual Arts Scholarships Available
The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation is holding two scholarship contests for the 2024 commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. High school students in ninth through twelfth grades are invited to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to increase awareness of the Armenian Genocide. The submission deadline for both contests is on Friday, March 29, 2024, 11:59 pm. Learn more here.
Safe Routes to School Parent/Caregiver Survey
An Internship Opportunity for Recent Graduates
Scholarship Opportunity For Hard of Hearing 12th Graders from HLAA - Info Below
Click on the attached application to apply!
Scholarship Opportunity for Seniors from San Mateo County Grand Jurors Assoc.
Click on the attached application to apply!
Women's History Month Continues
As March is Women's History Month, we'll continue to honor women who have positively transformed and impacted the landscape of our society. Today, we share with you an interesting fact about women and the U.S. financial banking system.
It wasn’t until 1974, when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act passed, that women in the U.S. were granted the right to open a bank account on their own. Technically, women won the right to open a bank account in the 1960s, but many banks still refused to let women do so without a signature from their husbands. This meant men still held control over women’s access to banking services, and unmarried women were often refused service by financial institutions.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibited financial institutions from discriminating against applicants based on their sex, age, marital status, religion, race or national origin. Because of the act’s passage, women could finally open bank accounts independently.
Do you have an interesting Women's Month fact you'd like to see in next Friday's Update? If so, email communications@jeffersonunion.net.
Source credit: forbes.com, Image credit: PL Gould, Getty Images
JUHSD's Equity Statement
Contact JUHSD: communication@jeffersonunion.net