Superintendent's Newsletter
October 2019
Dear MUSD Community,
What an amazing two weeks we’ve shared in MUSD! First, we had an incredible AHS Homecoming week complete with participation from across the district and throughout our local community. We followed that up with our 17th Annual Shell/MEF Run for Education. These two events are hallmarks of our incredible MUSD community.
Thanks to all our schools that participated in the homecoming parade and congrats to all the Bulldogs for making it a great week, including a victory over Oakland Tech under the Friday night lights of Knowles Field.
A huge shout-out to the Shell/MEF Run For Education events this past weekend! Thanks to Shell Oil, MEF, Kiwanis, and Rotary for their support in putting on a great Family Fun Night with a delicious dinner and fantastic raffle prizes. The Run for Education was a tremendous success and Shell Oil was able to donate $92,000 to the Martinez Education Foundation. These funds are used by MEF to provide grants for teachers, schools, and students across our district. There is no way to list each and every one of the volunteers who make this event such a success. We are so incredibly lucky to have members of our local community that believe so passionately in the success of our schools and our individual students.
Student & School Safety
In addition to our community caring so deeply for our schools, we all share a common interest in the health and safety of our students. With the theme of health and safety at the forefront of our work, I want to share the following three pieces of information:
#1 - Did you know...the MUSD Board of Education passed a resolution in September to ban the use of glyphosate-based products (products like Roundup)? It states, in part, "glyphosate-based product be immediately removed from all District sites, disposed of properly, and banned from all future use from this day forward." Another step toward safer school environments for our students, staff, and community.
#2 - Did you know...our classified, certificated, and administrative staff have completed trainings this year in two courses?
- Mandated Reporter: Child Abuse and Neglect
- Youth Suicide: Awareness, Prevention and Postvention
As a district, our staff is committed to being informed and prepared to assist students and keep them safe.
#3 Did you know...this is year two for MUSD and our partnership with The Sandy Hook Promise and the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. If you, your student(s), or any person in our community sees something or knows of something potentially dangerous, an anonymous report can be made three ways:
- Phone: 1-844-5-SAYNOW
- Website: https://www.saysomething.net/
- App: https://www.saysomething.net/
Together We Can Make A Difference
As you may have recently seen on the news or other media outlets, there is an increasing number of very concerning developments related to E-cigarette or vaping products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a Health Advisory that warns youth, young adults, pregnant women and adults who do not currently use tobacco products to not use e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes can contain harmful substances including nicotine, heavy metals (e.g. lead), volatile organic compounds and cancer causing chemicals. In addition, some e-cigarette products can be refilled with illicit or unknown substances. More than 450 possible cases of lung illness associated with the use of e-cigarette products have been reported to the CDC.
We want to work with our community to reduce and eliminate the use of these products of students in the Martinez community. I want to offer some helpful tools to equip you in protecting your child from this harmful habit. First, begin to educate yourself by reading the information on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/features/back-to-school/e-cigarettes-talk-to-youth-about-risks/index.html Second, be vigilant in talking with your children about the hazards of E-cigarettes. We don’t want these products used by our students and we certainly don’t want them in our schools. With your cooperation and support we can make a difference.
Upcoming Events
October 10 AHS Senior Parent Night
October 17 AHS Financial Aid Night
October 22 AHS Fall Blood Drive
October 24 AHS Junior Parent Night
October 28th-November 1st Elementary Parent Conference Week - Minimum Days
Martinez Unified School District
Website: martinezusd.net
Location: 921 Susana Street, Martinez, CA, USA
Phone: 925-335-5800
Facebook: facebook.com/MartinezUnified/
Twitter: @CJMUSD