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| Oct. 12 |
No School |
Oct. 13
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Help a Brother go to College Month Kick Off |
| Oct. 15 |
Student game show |
| Oct. 20 |
AASAT Meeting |
| Nov. 11 |
No School |
Nov. 13,14
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PD/Parent Engagement Workshop |
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Welcome to October
September marked a powerful month for the OAASA with a kickoff of our Parent Engagement/Empowerment Speaker Series. Student board member Caden Cotton-Blake, along with students Joi Gonzales and Jayvon Bolds ushered us through this informative evening. There will be more opportunities for us to learn and grow as a community, so please stay tuned.
The OAASA is breaking down the resolution In Support of the Achievement and Success of African American/Black Students in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. We are working to ensure that Black students have the best opportunity at academic and social success as possible. Please check our website frequently, and join the call to action to support our students.
Lastly, as we navigate through this time period, you must take care of yourself. The other day a wise person told me, “...from me to you, Sir, as you move forth with this noble work, don’t forget your own family, man. They have needs too, Good Brother.” This resonated with me because I feel that we, as a Black community, are a family. We must take care of each other. As you are taking care of yourself and your family, remember to support your community and take care of each other with love and compassion.
With that said, we hope you and your loved ones are doing well. Please ensure that your child/ren is/are engaged daily with their school and in their instruction.
In solidarity,
Mr. William McGee
Director, Office of African American Student Achievement
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UC Berkeley's Black Recruitment and Retention Center (BRRC) virtual information sessions begin Oct. 12
 BRRC will host a series of virtual information sessions coupled with interactive learning modules for prospective Black students from around the state of California through its first SoCal - NorCal virtual recruitment trip entitled “Highway 5 to Higher Ed”.
BRRC will be hosting weekly information sessions beginning on October 12 and ending October 24, 2020. This free program will include, interactive modules, live virtual sessions with UC Berkeley students, financial aid and admissions advisors, giveaways, care packages, and more!
This program is designed to bridge the gap between Black low-income high school students and colleges and universities, but every Black student should apply.
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Why Should I Join the African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC)?
Well, I’m so glad that you asked. First of all, you should do it because you care for and love your child, and want them to achieve academic excellence.
It is well documented that African American students perform at higher levels in school when their parent/guardian is engaged in their learning efforts. I do not know of any African American/Black parent or guardian who doesn’t want their child to do well. I have discovered that what has been missing is providing the parent/guardian with the appropriate opportunity and tools that will enable them to become advocates for their King and Queen.
The WCCUSD has the opportunities and tools for Black parents/guardians, such as the African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC). The purpose of AAPAC is to work with the school to identify needs and opportunities for African American/Black students to achieve academically at high levels, and to identify strategies and resources that will eliminate barriers to their achievement. Our Black parents/guardians have so much wisdom to bring to the table to ensure the success of your Kings and Queens in the classroom.
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Young Scholars Program, Help a Brother Go to College Kicks Off Oct. 12
The Young Scholars Program is a college access non-profit organization for underrepresented students founded in San Francisco in 1999. In our 21 years of service, we have helped thousands of high school students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to get to and through college. Rising Scholars is a subsidiary of the YoungScholars Program (YSP). It is YSP’s in-school initiative which launched in WCCUSD in 2014. Our goal is to increase the number of Young Men of Color who matriculate to and graduate from college.
Here are some highlights of our program:
We offer:
- college prep and career development
- college application guidance and finding the "best fit" college/university
- social & emotional support through various affinity groups within our organization
- a brotherhood & sisterhood community amongst the Scholars
- strategic partnerships with colleges & universities
- college exposure via virtual college fairs, college workshops (FAFSA & personal statement, and nationwide college tours (post-COVID)
- a parent academy to help parents prepare for their student's college admission and college matriculation
- counselor training to help counselors learn to work more effectively with Young Men of Color
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Why We Need to Focus on Black Girls
 As a little girl, I always loved science. I wanted to know why birds could fly, and we as humans could not. I loved to take things apart and figure out how they work. I would look up at the night sky and dream about going to the moon. The older I got, I started to get messages from everywhere that girls (especially black girls) are not scientists and cannot do higher math levels.
I want to change this by showing black girls that they can be in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). I want them to see other black women as scientists, computer programmers, and lots more. So how do we do this? We start by doing a few things when black girls are little:
- Break stereotypes now by reading books with girls in science and other fields.
- 1000 Black girls books resource
- Affirm that our girls are compatible with learning math and science and at high levels.
- Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Achievement (MESA)
- How to Learn Math
- YouCubed
- Find activities that girls can do at home that are based in STEM.
- Maker Ed
- Raspberry Pi
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The First AASAT Meeting of the 20-21 school year is Oct. 20
The WCCUSD African-American Site Advisory Team (AASAT) is an advisory group made up of Parents/Guardians and District Leaders dedicated to promoting quality education for African-American/Black students. The purpose of AASAT is to advise the WCCUSD School Board of Trustees and District staff on strategies that will improve academic outcomes for African-American/Black students, and increase the engagement of African-American families.
AASAT first meeting of the 2020-21 school year is 6:15 pm-8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20 via Zoom. At this meeting we will conduct the election for the AASAT Executive Officer positions, review goals, the purpose of AASAT, and more. For more information and documents about AASAT positions, please click here.
October 20, 2020 at 6:15 p.m.
Via Zoom Meeting:
https://wccusd.zoom.us/j/92616720798
Passcode: AASAT
Telephone: (669) 900-6833
Webinar ID: 926 1672 0798
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Calling all African American/Black high school students!
Enroll in the NAACP Achievement Program ACT-SO
If you want to learn and compete, and possibly win some money, all at the same time, then checkout the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.
Joi Gonzales, a junior at Pinole Valley High School won the national competition with a silver medal at the 42nd Annual National NAACP ACT-SO competition in July. Gonzales competed in the “Earth and Science” category and her project focused on the disparity in water quality used in five distinctly diverse communities in the Bay Area.
The local NAACP is partnering with the WCCUSD high schools to bring this program to more students like Gonzales. Please contact your child's high school to find out how they may participate in this exciting program that is sure to bring out excellence!
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Event Recap: Parent Engagement & Empowerment Seminar
It was an honor and a privilege to have Dr. Pedro Noguera speak to us about how we as parents and guardians, employees, and the community, can best help support our students with their education, during distance learning and beyond.
The key question he asked was: How do we create conditions in schools that counter adversity, provide support and expand access to educational opportunity for Black Children?
He touched on preventative discipline instead of reactive, agency over grit, love, respect, and character development.
He also touched on these 5 Essential Ingredients of School Improvement:
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A coherent instructional guidance system
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Development of the professional capacity of staff
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Strong parent/community school ties
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A student-centered learning climate
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Shared leadership to drive change.
Here are some things we can do as parents/guardians:
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Volunteer at your child’s school
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Join your school’s AAPAC. If they don’t have one, start one.
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Create a partnership with your child’s school.
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Join the call to action the OAASA is asking for.
A link to Dr. Noguera’s presentation can be located by clicking Here.
Submitted by Ms. Day
Teacher On Special Assignment, OAASA
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Black Educator Network (BEN)
The Black Educator Network (BEN) is in its second school year. Born out of a necessity for Black employees to support each other, the Network hosts meetings on the fourth Saturday of the month. Employees from the WCCUSD get together to discuss a wide variety of topics that affect them and student achievement.
The second meeting of this school year was held on Saturday, September 26, 2020. We were honored that Dr. Sharroky Hollie visited via Zoom to discuss with the Network about what is needed to do the work on behalf of all students. There was also a discussion about liberating students so they can have the highest potential at academic success.
All employees of the WCCUSD are invited to the BEN meetings. Not only is this an opportunity for support, but an opportunity for fellowship and to learn. The Black Educator Network is a prime example of employees coming together to make a difference for themselves and the students they serve.
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