Free Online Tutoring 

The Office of African American Student Achievement in partnership with Zion Learning is offering 10 free hours of online private tutoring.  Subjects range from K-5 math to Statistics and SAT Preparation.  There are a limited number of spots left and we are taking students on a first-come-first-served basis.  If you would like to sign up contact OAASA Coordinator, Ardarius McDonald at ardarius.mcdonald@wccusd.net or call (510) 806-8486.

SMASH

SMASH, free STEM program for first-generation, low-income, 9th graders of color in the Bay Area! Both SMASH UC Berkeley and SMASH Stanford programs are open for 9th graders in the Bay Area! 

The SMASH program prepares students for college and careers in STEM by:

• Hosting students to live and study at a university campus for 3 summers at no cost to students.

• Exposing students to the many careers in STEM and computer science that they can pursue and ways they can use STEM and technology to advance their communities.

• Expanding students’ peer and adult networks by immersing them in weekly networking nights, speaker series, field trips, and a tight-knit community of peers.

• Supporting students through high school, college applications, college, and career preparation.

The SMASH mission is to diversify the field of STEM so we focus on students who are underrepresented in the field. We are looking for 9th graders who meet the following criteria:

• High-achieving (minimum 3.0 GPA, with an interest in math and science)

• Low-income (preferably eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch)

• Underrepresented students of color in STEM

Our application is now open at www.smash.org/apply. The deadline to apply will be March 1st, 2022.

African American Student of Honors Celebration 2022

This year the OAASA is bringing back an in-person county and district health code compliant celebration to recognize students that are excelling in academics. Middle and High school students must have a 3.3 cumulative grade point average this school year to be eligible.  Qualifications for elementary school students are yet to be determined but will be communicated in our February newsletter.  The event is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 19, 2022.

Vaccine Mandate Extension

At its regular meeting last night, the WCCUSD Board of Education trustees voted to extend the district’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadline for students to February 18, 2022. 

We thank everyone who has gotten vaccinated and submitted their student’s vaccination card, and we applaud everyone in our community for their effort to vaccinate as many students as possible. 

While families now have more time, we will continue to operate with a sense of urgency to vaccinate students as soon as possible. Experts agree that the fastest way out of the pandemic is vaccination, and the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We will continue to partner with Contra Costa County Health Services to provide vaccine clinics on our school sites in 2022. Click here to see Vaccine Clinic Resources. 

If you missed out on a chance to win during our last raffle, we will be having another one in January! Look out for more information following the holiday break. 

If you have yet to submit your student’s vaccination card, please do so here. 

Math Sequence For Middle & High School Students

Effective 2021-2022, WCCUSD has aligned the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Course Placement and Sequences with WCCUSD’s own math course progressions. 

The WCCUSD Math Department recommends the CCSS-M course sequence of Course 1 (Math 6), Course 2 (Math 7), and Course 3 (Math 8) for all students. In addition, the CDE recommends that even strong mathematics students should consider NOT skipping ahead to Algebra I in middle school.  Reasons include:

• The Course 1, 2, 3 sequences are focused, coherent, and rigorous. 

• The grade-eight standards in the CA CCSSM are significantly more rigorous than the Algebra I course that many students took in eighth grade.  (SBAC examples for Course 3)

• The new Algebra I course builds on grade-eight standards and is, therefore, more advanced than the previous courses.

The University of California Board of Admissions “strongly urges students not to race to calculus at the cost of full mastery of the earlier math curriculum.”  They commend “the Common Core's goal of a deeper understanding of the mathematical concepts taught at each K-12 grade level.“ Statement on the Impact of Calculus on UC Admissions

For more information about CCSS-M: 2013 Mathematics Framework Chapters - (CA Dept of Education)

ALL students will have the opportunity to take advanced mathematics courses in high school.  WCCUSD will provide various opportunities for acceleration in high school.  Here are a few examples of such acceleration:

High school math departments will coordinate with counselors to describe to students the various acceleration options available.  WCCUSD is also working to align with recent changes in UC’s A-G high school articulation policy to expand choices of advanced mathematics courses from which students can select based on their interests and future aspirations.  Probable courses to include Data Science and Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications

CDE Unveils Grants to Fight Isolation During the Pandemic

Black Villiage Network

Black Village Network is an exciting collaboration between the Ed Fund and Building Blocks for Kids (BBK). Through the Black Village Network, they are supporting emerging Black leaders of all ages within WCCUSD to build their leadership skills and capacity.  

If you or someone you know may be interested you can nominate them via this Google Form and someone from their team will follow up with more information. 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact blackvillagenetwork@edfundwest.org.

OAASA Newsletter Submission Form