Superintendent Community Update

Dear JUHSD Community,

As we enter our final month of this school year with all of the culminating activities, I encourage you to enjoy the special moments!

Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Ceremony

This past Monday, April 29, fifty students from across the District each received a $1,000 scholarship from Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce during a special awards ceremony held at the Colma Community Center.

JUHSD thanks the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce for their providing our students with this opportunity to further their post-high school education and appreciate them for being community partners with us. Their dedication to supporting educational endeavors enriches the lives of our students and strengthens the bonds within our community. To see a list of the fifty recipients from JUHSD, click here. To see photos from this event, scroll below in today's Update!

Staff Appreciation Week

Next week, May 6-10, is Staff Appreciation Week. As we know, teachers and staff are the backbone of our schools. They play a pivotal role in our students' lives, inspiring a lifelong love of learning and discovery and making a difference each day in their well-being and success. On behalf the District's Executive Cabinet team, and the Board of Trustees, I thank our JUHSD staff for their dedication to our students! Next week, please thank your school's staff.🤩

Homestretch

The next few weeks are filled with culminating activities. Enjoy! 💥

Warmly,

Toni Presta

Superintendent

@superintendent_tonipresta

Do you want to make JUHSD a better place in which to be? Do you have thoughts and opinions that would serve the better could of this district community? If so, you should join the JUHSD Student Advisory Council! During monthly Board of Trustee meetings, Student Advisory Council members and trustees share their thoughts on ways to improve the quality of education and student life for their specific school site and district as a whole. Learn more about this amazing opportunity for current JUHSD students and how to apply by clicking here.

The Terra Nova High Drama Department will present their second weekend of the widely popular Shrek the Musical! in the school's state-of-the-art theater, May 3-5. Bring the whole family out to see this heartwarming story of a lonely ogre who makes friends with a clownish donkey and saves a princess in the hopes of finding true love.

Tickets can be purchased before the show from the theater box office, and also online by visiting tntheatrearts.org. Adult tickets are $15, with students and senior tickets at $7. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:00 pm with Sunday matinees taking place at 2:00 pm. This is one show you don't want to miss!

Tonight, May 3, students from Jefferson High School's Mission Fusion program will perform in the City College of San Francisco's annual spring showcase "Emergence," an dance concert featuring the new works of their faculty, students, alumni, and JHS! For ticket information, click here!

Learn more about Jefferson High's acclaimed Mission Fusion program by visiting their Instagram @missionfusion_.

Stressed about exams? Struggling to accept yourself? Stuck in relationship drama? If so, Soluna can support! JUHSD is proud to launch Soluna: a new, innovative, and completely free mobile app that offers you confidential mental health support, wherever you are in your journey.

Soluna is committed to you, as access to their app is 100% free. No ads, no data sales, ever. Just completely safe and anonymous mental health support, available whenever you need it, 24/7.

A universe of tools at your fingertips In the Soluna app, you'll find a wide variety of mental health resources and tools so that you can find the support that's right for you. Through Soluna, you'll find:

• Interactive tools: Use the Thought Shaker, Mood Log, Starboard, and more to destress, find calm, and reset.
• Soluna coaches: Chat with a professional for personalized for one-on-one guidance.
• Unique content: Explore quizzes, text chats, and swipeable activities.
• Your digital journal: Vent your feelings, jot down ideas, or draft big dreams.
• Breathing exercises and meditations: Relax and unwind your mind, whether for an hour or just three minutes
• Community forums: Post a question, get advice, or analyze a favorite show together (you choose).

Soluna is committed to you, as access to their app is 100% free. No ads, no data sales, ever. Just completely safe and anonymous mental health support, available whenever you need it, 24/7.

Three steps to get started:

1. Find Soluna on the App Store or Google Play.
2. Enter your California zip code and birthdate.
3. Embark on your journey in the Solunaverse.

Still on the fence? Feel free to explore as a guest user first. If you have any questions or need more info, visit SolunaApp.com.

For this week’s Student Spotlight, we feature Thornton High School 12th grader Jorge Ruiz.

Three years ago, if you had inquired about Jorge's high school graduation and college plans, he wouldn't have given it much thought and might have even scoffed at the idea.

Starting high school as a 9th grader and facing the challenges of COVID-induced distance learning, Jorge quickly lost interest in attending classes and completing assignments. Consequently, failing grades started to show up on his report cards. To him, the idea of attending school and striving to excel seemed pointless. As he rejoined his peers on campus in 10th grade and persisted into the first quarter of 11th grade, his academic performance continued to decline, and his drive to graduate high school the following year almost vanished. Almost.

During the second semester of his 11th grade year, Jorge transferred to Thornton High School, the District's continuation school. At Thornton, students have the opportunity to earn academic credits in a smaller campus setting, while receiving direct support from the school's staff, with the goal of receiving their high school diplomas. At the end of this month, Jorge will do just that!

While attending Thornton High, Jorge began to see that he, in fact, could earn enough high school credits to graduate from JUHSD. As he realized this, his motivation to attend school, and be productive while there, began to pick up steam, sparked by a newfound determination to turn things around. He started seeking out extra help from teachers and dedicated more time to studying.

Steadily, his grades began to improve, reflecting his renewed commitment to his education. He set small, achievable goals for himself and celebrated each milestone along the way, including his receiving a certificate of recognition for being placed on the school's third quarter honor roll boasting an impressive GPA of 3.6. Through the support of the Thornton High staff, along with his parents and girlfriend, he regained confidence in his ability to succeed academically and started creating a better future for himself beyond high school.

After graduating from Thornton High School on May 21, Jorge plans to attend San Francisco City College's culinary arts program, where he'd like to pursue a career as a chef. During this past year, he took part in Thornton teacher Mr. Andrew Solomon's elective cooking class and not only enjoyed planning out fun and fancy meals to prepare, but also enjoyed teaching his peers how to do the same. Jorge is no stranger to the kitchen, as he helps out in his parent's restaurant El Rincon de Jorgito on 1850 Cesar Chavez Street in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood.

Jorge urges students struggling with lack of motivation to recognize the importance of taking breaks, regaining focus, and then returning to the task at hand. Additionally, he encourages school staff members to foster meaningful connections with their students, recognizing that when such bonds exist, students are motivated to excel more in the classroom.

Jorge has proven that the journey of improvement is an ongoing process, showcasing the heart of hard work and determination. JUHSD is proud of you, Jorge!

Congratulations to JUHSD students from the class of 2024 for receiving this special scholarship from the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce!

Superintendent Toni Presta, Board President Kalimah Salahuddin, Board Trustee Rosie Tejada, Board Trustee Andrew Lie, JHS Principal John Harrigan, WHS Principal Brock Ahrens, TNHS Academic Counselor Anne Carew, and WHS College and Career Technician Grace Moevao attend the Daly City Colma's Higher Education Scholarship Ceremony held at the Colma Community Center on April 29.

The Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Committee take a group photo after graciously distributing $60,000 in scholarship monies to local students including 50 from JUHSD! The District thanks the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce for their continued support of our students!

Help support Midpeninsula Regional Open Space connect with tomorrow’s land stewards, people in underserved communities, and upcoming generations who are exploring their interests and purpose in life as a Community Connections Volunteer! Volunteers provide support at community outreach events, with some opportunities to assist in the preserves or other areas of connection building and communications. Volunteers must be 18 years or older. Sign-ups will take place on May 11, 9:30-11:30 am. Learn more.

The San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission Youth Committee's Youth Action Board is seeking student members, especially from JUHSD!

This board believes that young leaders, like those in our schools, are essential in addressing the mental health needs of our community. Their unique insights and enthusiasm can drive positive change and create a more supportive environment for all.

If you are passionate about mental health advocacy, then this is the board in which to apply. The deadline to apply is June 1 and interested individuals can learn more and apply by clicking here.

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

The AANHPI 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 AANHPI community. Learn more here.

Jewish American Heritage Month provides an opportunity for all to celebrate and draw inspiration from Jewish Americans’ many contributions to our nation’s history and culture.

Jewish Americans have faced discrimination and adversity, with many continuing to be impacted by antisemitism. This year, we recognize May as Jewish American Heritage Month and encourage all to celebrate Jewish Americans and work to erase antisemitism in our communities and nation. Learn more here.

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. Needing extra support? Visit the District's Wellness Page for more!