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East Side Connect - November

East Side Connect - November

Message from the Superintendent

Dear ESUHSD Community,


We are two thirds the way through the semester and these last two months of 2023 are crucial. College application season is in full swing and many applications are due November 30th - including the University of California and Cal State applications.


Remember, the Spartan East Side Promise guarantees admission to ESUHSD students with a 2.5 GPA and above (normally a 2.75 but ESUHSD students have a local boost), as long as they meet eligibility requirements - see details on our Spartan East Side Promise Webpage (bit.ly/eastsidepromise).


I also want to take a moment to share again about our McKinney-Vento Program, which plays a crucial role in supporting students who are unhoused. There will be 900 unhoused students in our district this year, up from 300 in 2020. We recently launched a fundraiser to provide direct gifts to our students this holiday season. If you have not yet done so, I invite you to learn more and donate on the East Side Education Foundation webpage (www.eastside-fund.org/mckinney-vento/).


I am confident that, together, we can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our students and strengthen our East Side community. Thank you for your ongoing support.


Warm regards,

Superintendent Vander Zee

East Side Union High School District

Among the business discussed during the Board Meeting on November 2, 2023, the Board of Trustees:

  • Received a Presentation on Charter School Renewals

  • Heard from Principals of Independence and Oak Grove High School on school progress

View the Full Board Agenda for November 2, 2023


Among the business discussed during the Board Study Session on November 13, 2023, the Board of Trustees:

  • Received an Update from the Positive School Climate and Safety Task Force


View the Full Board Agenda for November 13, 2023


Among the business discussed during the Board Meeting on November 16, 2023, the Board of Trustees:

  • Heard from Principals of Piedmont Hills and Silver Creek High School on school progress

  • Recognized the Maintenance and Operations Team at ESUHSD


View the Full Board Agenda for November 16, 2023

Board of Trustees receive update from Positive School Climate and Safety Task Force

The Board of Trustees held a Board Study Session to hear an update on EUHSD’s Task Force for Positive School Climate and Safety. As a result of the Task Force meetings and community survey results so far, key areas of mutual support among Task Force members include:


  • More Campus Security Personnel: ore trained security and more security training for campus monitors. Student responses placed this as the last priority.

  • Engaging in Pro Active and Preventative Approaches: Increasing intervention services to support all students who are facing significant family, social, and emotional stress.

  • Developing Clearer and Consistent Consequences for Disruptive Behaviors: Developing standardized systems to hold students accountable for disruptive behavior through consistent consequences.

  • Improving Engagement with Students: Boredom, lack of connection with faculty, poor curriculum options and limited access to mental health care were highlighted by students as key contributors to campus disruption, poor academic performance and a poor sense of belonging.


At the November 13th study session, Task Force members called for more time to develop recommended activities to the Board of Trustees beyond the initial December 14th Board Study Session. As such, a plan is being developed to accommodate these changes.


View the 2023 Board Study Session

Board of Trustees recognize Maintenance and Operations Team

The Board of Trustees recognized ESUHSD’s Maintenance and Operations team for their work in keeping schools operational through challenges faced by recent broken water mains, power outages, and similar emergencies. Superintendent Vander Zee shared that ESUHSD “has over 16 different building locations, 500+ acres to maintain, as well as 2.6 million square feet of interior space.” The Maintenance and Operations team is crucial for maintaining each facility and classroom in ESUHSD. Congratulations!

Principals provide presentations on school site progress

Piedmont Hills


Principal Ginny Davis of Piedmont Hills High School provided an overview of the programs and progress on student achievement. Among the highlights, Piedmont Hills is improving student success through:

  • Relationship building with “Pirate Gold” and “Pirate Way” incentive awards for students

  • Staff training through Inclusion and Equity Conference

  • Assistant Principals of Tiered Support are training teachers on using the Early Warning System which highlights students who need additional support.

See the Full Presentation

Silver Creek High School


Principal Kelly Daugherty of Silver Creek High School provided an overview of the programs and progress on student achievement. Among the highlights, Silver Creek is improving student success through:

  • Training and supporting bilingual students to be tutors of English Learner students

  • Creating a Parent/Teacher conference program for struggling students

  • Assistant Principal of Tiered Supports led a collaborative training on the Early Warning System and lead monthly meetings to support students


See the Full Presentation


Independence High School


Principal Bjorn Berg of Independence High School provided an overview of the programs and progress on student achievement. Among the highlights from Independence:

  • Marching Band will perform in the London New Years Day Parade

  • Inaugural Girls Flag Football Season

  • Each staff member identifies 3 students and attempts 10 intentional strategies to support them

See the Full Presentation


Oak Grove High School


Principal Martha Brazil of Oak Grove High School provided an overview of the programs and progress on student achievement. Among the highlights from Oak Grove:

  • Students received schoolwide lessons on programs like the Spartan East Side Promise, A-G Standing, and Progress towards Graduation, among others to promote college and career readiness

  • Students from Oak Grove earned the Power Of Change Award from the YWCA

See the Full Presentation

Board of Trustees hear presentation on charter school renewals

On July 1, 2020, AB1505 modified the level of review for requested renewal petitions based on California School Dashboard data, including a presumption for renewal for high-performing charters, a presumption for non-renewal for low-performing charters, and a standard for those charters that fall in between. The Board of Trustees received a presentations on the current education code requirements for charter school renewals, grounds for renewal and denial, and mandatory requirements of both petitioners and authorizers.


View the Full Presentation

ABC7
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ABC7: Day of Giving: San Jose school district launches fundraiser for unhoused students

Read the Full Story

KTVU FOX 2 reporter
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KTVU FOX 2: Giving Tuesday: San Jose school district launches fundraiser for homeless students

Read the Full Story

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San Jose Spotlight: San Jose schools to teach media literacy in misinformation fight

Read the Full Story

Fundraiser Image of Home
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East Side Union High School District and East Side Education Foundation Launch Fundraising Effort for Unhoused Students

Read the Full Story

Artwork of students who won Santa Clara County DA contest
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Two ESUHSD Students Win Santa Clara County DA’s 2023 “Justice for All” Art Contest

Read the Full Story

2023 Hall of Fame
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East Side Education Foundation Introduces 2023 Inductees to the Thomas P. Ryan Hall of Fame

Read the Full Story

Students visiting Regional Medical Center
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Oak Grove and Andrew Hill High School Students attend Day of the Girl Empowerment Expo at Regional Medical Center

Read the Full Story

Educator's Day at the Court
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East Side Educators Attend Santa Clara County Superior Court 2023 Educator's Day

Read the Full Story

50th Anniversary Game @ Santa Teresa
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Santa Teresa Hosts 50th Anniversary Celebration

Read the Full Story

SJSU Fall Preview Day
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Students Attend SJSU Fall Preview Day in Large Numbers

Read the Full Story

Andrew Hill High Students Host Science Day
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Andrew Hill High School Students Host Science Day

Read the Full Story

Looking to volunteer? Want to complete additional hours?

Luz Neighborhood Litter Pickup


Volunteers are needed for Saturday December 2, 2023 for a Litter Pickup at the Luz Neighborhood. Meet at the Regional Medical Center. Learn more at bit.ly/luzcleanup

Community Tree Planting at Sylvia Cassell Park


Volunteers are needed to support tree planting at Sylvia Cassell Park on Saturday December 9th, 2023. Visit ourcityforest.eventbrite.com to sign up!

We’re Hiring!

We’re hiring at ESUHSD! Join our team! By joining our team you can make a difference for East Side Students. Learn more about open positions and apply now at: www.esuhsd.org/careers
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You can look forward to the next edition of East Side Connect in November!

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