I am proud to recognize and congratulate the JUHSD 2024-2025 retirees! Their dedication, hard work, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our students, staff, and the entire JUHSD community. Through their years of service, they have helped shape futures, inspire young minds, and strengthen our schools.

As they embark on this well-deserved new chapter, I hope they enjoy retirement to the fullest — with joy, relaxation, and new adventures. I am thankful for everything they have given to Jefferson Union High School District. They will always be a valued and cherished part of the JUHSD family.

Adult Education

Priscilla Aguilera - Assessment Tech

Carolyn Sobel - Workability

Adult Transition Program

Maria Joji Villaseca - Paraprofessional

Bus Garage

Lorraine Morton-Feazell - Van Driver

Oceana High School

Adam Weiss - OHS - Librarian

Terra Nova High School

Carla Hensley - Vice Principal District Office - Attendance TOSA

Annette Kesterson - Librarian

Westmoor High School

Annette Asciutto - Attendance Clerk

Jorge Castelo - Grounds Maintenance Worker

Maria Eichenseher- Paraprofessional

Warm Regards,

Toni Presta

JUHSD Superintendent

@superintendent_tonipresta

This week, we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week, a time to honor the dedication and passion of our incredible JUHSD Staff. All school staff shape the future by inspiring, guiding, and empowering students to reach their full potential. Their commitment goes beyond the classroom, making a lasting impact on our community.

To all JUHSD staff — thank you for your dedication, passion, and the difference you make in our students lives. You are truly appreciated!

Every May, we celebrate the historical and cultural contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) – a group that includes more than 24 million Americans across the country, with 6.7 million in California alone.

The AAPI community has made lasting contributions to our nation’s economic prosperity, technological advancements, and social/political change while navigating significant cultural and systemic barriers. Learn more through the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provides resources centering around the experiences, achievements, and perspectives of the AAPI community.

Mental health is essential to our overall well-being, yet schools across San Mateo County are reporting increasing numbers of students are experiencing mental health challenges.

School-based mental health services help address barriers to learning and provide appropriate student and family support. As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage all educators, students, and families to prioritize their mental health and support others in receiving the help they need.

Visit the JUHSD Wellness Website page for mental health resources.

We are looking for a diverse group of stakeholders, including staff, students, parents and guardians, to join the JUHSD Cell Phone Policy Committee. Please review this letter for full details which include the google form to indicate your interest. We are looking forward to working with you!

Returning this summer, Monday through Friday, June 4 to July 11 (excluding June 19 and July 4), the District Food Services Department will serve a free meal to current JUHSD students, one meal per student, from the Westmoor High School Cafeteria, Edgemont Drive side of the campus, Breakfast 9:50-10:05 am and Lunch 11:30- Noon. For additional information, please contact District Director of Food Services Danielle Sweeters, (650) 550-7961.

Westmoor's Symphonic Band and Concert Choir performed exceptionally well at the Heritage Festival with the Band receiving a Silver rating and a 1st place ranking in their division. The Choir received their highest Gold rating ever, earning them an invitation to the Festival of Gold and the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall!

Willie Sera, the choir accompanist, also received one of the few Maestro awards given to an outstanding student soloists from all ensembles.

These awards are a true reflection of their hard work, dedication, and musical growth since the start of the year.

Thank you to the WHS staff, parent chaperones, and Music Director Stephanie Stewart!

Last night, Jefferson's Mission Fusion and Westmoor's FBLA programs, along with DCYHC’s very own Mary Bier, were honored at the prestigious Kent and Emily Garfield Awards!

We’re proud to recognize the impactful work these programs and individuals are doing for our students and community.

In attendance to celebrate were Board Member Rosie Tejada, Principal Zou, Vice Principal Vega, Director of Communications & CTE Denise Shreve, DCYHC Director Shapiro, and dedicated teachers Jonathan Carpio, Terri Cabarle, Heike Mansel, Mission Fusion students, and FBLA students.

Thank you to the SMCSBA for shining a light on education and youth empowerment!

Huge congratulations to our incredible student-athletes from Oceana and Terra Nova selected for the 2024-2025 Breakfast of Champions awards!

Oceana High School
🥇 Lara Scanziani-Grijalvo — Cross country & track star, 4x state qualifier and CCS standout. Described as “the best runner in recent history” at Oceana!
⚽️ Drake Warren — Soccer MVP, team captain, first team all-league, and rocking a 4.57 GPA!

Terra Nova High School
🥎 Kylie Gangi — 3-year starter in soccer & softball, 2x all-league first team, varsity softball captain, and honor roll student!
🏈⚾️🏀 J.T. Snead — 3-sport athlete, 2x team captain, MVP, Block TN 400 point club member, and honor roll student!

We are so proud of these champions representing JUHSD!

Thornton's talented students are teaming up with the incredible artists from Precita Eyes Muralists to create a vibrant new mural on the main wall of campus.

This collaboration celebrates student voices, community stories, and the power of art to transform spaces.

Senior Awards Night at Oceana High School was incredible! More than $35,000 in scholarships and awards were presented to our amazing graduating seniors.

A special shoutout to our Web Development CTE completers — pictured here proudly receiving their certificates and cords.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Go Sharks!

During the week of May 5–9, Oceana High School had the extraordinary privilege of hosting two sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. This powerful and historic work of art was first created in 1987 as a way to honor the lives lost to the AIDS epidemic, to raise awareness, and to fight the stigma surrounding the disease. Today, it remains one of the largest ongoing community art projects in the world, embodying love, remembrance, and the enduring fight for justice and compassion.

Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to view the quilt sections in person, learn about its profound history through short videos, and hear a presentation from Oceana’s own Gay-Straight Alliance. This is a rare and meaningful opportunity to connect with a living piece of history — one that calls on us to remember the past while continuing to build a more inclusive and empathetic future.

The AIDS memorial quilt was brought to Oceana by the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)

On Saturday, May 3, we said farewell to the Jefferson High School gym, a piece of Daly City history.

Superintendent Presta, the JUHSD Board, Director of Construction Stefanie Philips, Principal John Harrigan, along with current students, alumni, and staff gathered to honor the legacy of this cherished space.

During the Open House, a special moment unfolded as Board Trustee Rosie Tejada and JHS maintenance team members Steve Hawkes and Giuseppe Sibillo opened the original 1937 time capsule—offering a glimpse into the past as we look toward the future.

Thank you to everyone who came to say goodbye. Here’s to the memories made and those still to come.

Jefferson student Harold Monce performing at the Ethnic Studies Summit at SF State. Harold is founder and President of sent of Jeffrey’s Poet Society at Jefferson and was a finalist for the 2025-26 Daly City Youth Poet Laureate Program.

On Wednesday evening, Terra Nova High School proudly honored seniors for their academic achievements and awarded scholarships recognizing their hard work, dedication, and bright futures ahead.

JUHSD is proud of each and every one of you — your journey is just beginning, and the best is yet to come! Go Tigers!

• California State Parks Week Poster Contest Submissions due May 9 | June 11-15 Learn more.

• North County Water District Art Contest Submissions Due May 14 Learn More

• Brisbane Summer Activity Guide https://www.brisbaneca.org/parksrec

• Daly City Summer Guide - https://www.dalycity.org/350/Summer-Youth-Recreation-Program

• 3rd Annual Youth for Climate Policy: Advocating for Environmental Justice - May 13, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Click Here to Register

• Soy & Tofu Festival Youth Art Competition www.soyandtofufest.org/youth-art-contest Deadline: Wednesday, May 14

• California State Parks Week Poster Contest New!

  Submissions due May 9 | June 11-15 Learn more.

• Win Tickets to NHRA Sonoma Nationals - Register by July 23, 3:00 p.m. Learn more.

• Summer Interns and Big Lift Summer Learning Facilitators

• 2025 Bay Area Summer Academy

• Youth Unlimited (K-12 Students) Ongoing - SamTrans provides free bus travel for eligible students. Learn more.
• Take Space to Pause
• All it Takes Social Emotional Learning Resources

• Daly City Summer Guide - https://www.dalycity.org/350/Summer-Youth-Recreation-Program

• Caltrain Climate Change Vulnerability Study Learn more

• No-Cost Green Energy Home Assessment
• All it Takes Social Emotional Learning Resources

• San Mateo County Health Coverage Enrollment Assistance

• HIP Housing Information - April English & Spanish

• Transition to Adulthood: Connections California | Transición a la Edad Adulta: Connections California

• Silicon Valley Reads
• Preventing Underage Drinking

• Public Health Resources Learn more.

• San Mateo County Health Information

• SMC Mobile Clinic Schedule
• Health Coverage Enrollment Assistance for Low- to Mid-income Residents or San Mateo Medical Center Patients (in English and Spanish)

• San Mateo County Health Vaccine Guidance (English | Spanish).

• Mama's Unidas (Spanish Speaking) - DCYHC Mother's support Group. Learn More

• Mama's United (English Speaking) - DCYHC Mother's support Group. Learn More

• Connections California - Parents helping Parents. Learn More

• Oral Health Resources - San Mateo County oral health resources for children and families. Learn More

• Foster Care Awareness Month May 14, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m Learn more.

• Not Again! School Stability for Foster Youth May 19, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Learn more.

• San Mateo County SELPA’s Inaugural Appreciation Event May 14, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Learn more.

• 3rd Annual Youth for Climate Policy: Advocating for Environmental Justice
  May 13, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Click Here to Register

• InPlay Activity Guide Learn more.

• Daly City/Colma Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar

• Brisbane Summer Activity Guide https://www.brisbaneca.org/parksrec