East Side Connect - December

Hello East Side,

We have had a great first semester and I know you’ve been looking forward to enjoying the two week holiday. Schools will be closed starting today, but classes will resume on January 8, 2024. Reflecting on first semester, I want to share a few successes.

This is the time of year seniors are submitting applications to college. This year, there were 1,843 seniors who applied to the Spartan East Side Promise - with this number expected to increase after a few additional counts. The Spartan East Side Promise is a pathway to guaranteed admission to SJSU and we’re happy to see students joining the program.

Applying to college is the first step, applying for financial aid is the next! On January 9, 2024, San Jose Cal-SOAP, an organization that provides financial aid workshops at each school here at ESUHSD will be hosting a Virtual Financial Aid Kick-off - I invite you to join! (Link and information below).

Please also save the date! ESUHSD will be hosting a Family and Community Engagement Conference on March 2, 2024, at Yerba Buena High School with workshops and presentations from a range of community partners aimed at supporting student successes.

As we celebrate the holidays, I hope you take the time to rest, rejuvenate, and cherish the moments with your loved ones.

Wishing you all a joyful and festive holiday season!

Sincerely,

Glenn Vander Zee

Superintendent

East Side Union High School District

Among the business discussed during the Board Study Session on December 11, 2023, the Board of Trustees:

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

View the Full Board Agenda for December 11, 2023

The Board of Trustees honored the life of Dr. Frank Fiscalini who passed away on Friday, December 8, 2023.

Dr. Frank Fiscalini served as a teacher at James Lick High School in 1950 and then served as Superintendent of the East Side Union High School District from 1956 to 1982. During Dr. Fiscalini’s tenure as Superintendent, he had the privilege of putting the District together with the building of Andrew P. Hill, William C. Overfelt, Mt. Pleasant, Piedmont Hills, Oak Grove, Silver Creek, Foothill, Yerba Buena, Santa Teresa, and Independence High Schools. He served as San Jose City Council Member (1992-2000) and Vice Mayor (1998-2000) and served as a volunteer with several non-profit agencies. Frank Fiscalini’s community service included coordination of the Saint Joseph Cathedral Restoration Project for the Diocese of San Jose, founding Board Member for Opera San Jose, Board Member for FACES Silicon Valley (40 years); Board Member for Little Italy San Jose, and CEO of Alexian Brothers Hospital. Frank Fiscalini dedicated his life to the service of youth.

Dr. Frank Fiscalini will be remembered as “A True Renaissance Man,” for his many contributions to San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley and for his many achievements and humble devotion to the betterment of the East Side Community. He will be missed.

The Board of Trustees recognized donors to the ESUHSD McKinney-Vento Program. The McKinney-Vento Program supports the nearly 900 East Side students who qualify with direct gift cards and support. Among the group of donors were student organizers and advisors of the 32nd Children's Moon Festival held at Yerba Buena High School. Congratulations!

Santa Teresa

Principal Michael Payne-Alex of Santa Teresa High School provided an overview of the programs and progress on student achievement. Among the highlights, Santa Teresa is improving student success through:

• Special Focus on supporting English Learners

• Counselors and all staff remind students that college is still a sound investment in their future

• Supporting students with team-based interventions which have been nicknamed, “EduCats Alliance,” “Guidance Gazelles,” “Resilience Rhinos,” “Safari Squirrels,” “Accomodation Armadillos,” “Punctuality Penguins,” (See the full presentation for detailed breakdowns of the teams

See the Full Presentation

James Lick

Principal Honey Gubuan of James Lick High School provided an overview of the programs and progress on student achievement. Among the highlights, James Lick is improving student success through:

• “Comet Con” Career Day to help students better see future trajectories they could take

• Targeted support meetings and tutoring for students earning at least 1 D

• 1 on 1 meetings with all students and parents, tutoring support, and instructional strategies for English Learners

• Home visits with students who are chronically absent

See the Full Presentation

The 2024-2025 FAFSA and CADAA are here! Join San Jose Cal-SOAP in a Virtual Financial Aid Kick-Off on January 9th, 2024 for more information on how to get financial aid this year!

Add to Calendar (Google Calendar)