Return to Headlines

February 2022

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

View this email in your browser

THE OFFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

OAASA Newsletter

January 2022

IMPORTANT DATES

Feb. 10	Freedom School/Mafanikio Info Night Join Here
Feb. 15	AASAT Meeting
Feb. 19	El Cerrito Branch NAACP Meeting w/ Dr. Hurst
Feb. 28	End of the month BHM Celebration

CONNECT WITH OAASA

F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K

F O L L O W on T W I T T E R

Website

African American Students of Honors Celebration 2022

The African American Students of Honor program is continuing this year despite the challenges students, families, and staff are continuing to deal with regarding our ongoing health crisis. The African American Student of Honors Committee has been working on this year's celebration and would like to share with you the following information:

All elementary (K-6) students that are identified as being African American in Powerschool will be acknowledged with special recognition going to those students that have demonstrated outstanding attendance, STAR test scores (above grade level), academic performance/improvement, and progress towards IEP goals.
Middle and High School eligibility is determined by calculating the unweighted GPA of students. Those students with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher will be included in this year's celebration.

The plan is to hold the celebration on May 19, 2022, at Contra Costa College. It will be held outdoors to comply with local, state, and district health requirements.

Mafanikio

The Mafanikio Academic Coaching Program is entering its sixth year and is continuing its mission to provide after-school academic support, enrichment opportunities, culture, and more to students. Mafanikio is currently operating at the following nine WCCUSD schools:

Hercules Middle, King, Mira Vista, Montalvin Manor, Nystrom, Shannon, Sheldon, Washington, and West County Mandarin. To find out more about Mafanikio contact Mr. Ardarius McDonald at ardarius.mcdonald@wccusd.net or you can contact your child’s school directly.

Zion Online Tutoring

Free Online Tutoring! If you are interested in 10 hours (1-hour sessions) of online tutoring for your child through Zion Learning then contact Mr. Ardarius McDonald at ardarius.mcdonald@wccusd.net to enroll. These 1:1 tutoring sessions are available for students K-12.

Learn More

Black and Brown Career Excellence Summit. Find out more about this exciting opportunity through the provided link. The summit will be held Thursday, February 24 and Friday, February 25.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-brown-excellence-summit-tickets-194624817067-

OAASA Reads! The Office of African American Student Achievement is in its second year of providing culturally relevant (Black characters, themes, authors) books to WCCUSD students grades K-12. Each child will receive four books that are individually packaged and are at/around your child’s grade level. The books will be delivered to schools sometime during the month of February and distributed by either the 2nd-period teacher (middle and high school) or grade level teacher (K-6). Be on the lookout for more information!

Youth Financial Institute of America

OAASA has partnered with the Youth Finance Institute of America to offer thirteen free workshops! ***All workshops Thursdays 5 pm-6 pm. Zoom Links will be available and shared once we get closer to the beginning of the series.

March 3rd- Budgeting & Banking
March 10th- Credit Management
March 17th- First Job
March 24th- Financial Aid for College
March 31st- First Car
April 14th- First Apartment
April 21st- Spending Pitfalls
April 28th- Student Discounts/Budgeting Clinic
May 5th- Insurance 101
May 11th- Dinner Time!
May 19th- Finding a Job in a Pandemic
May 26th- Side Hustles
June 2nd- Investment Basics

Hidden Genius Project, a Hellman partner, has opened its application for their 2022-year Intensive Immersion Program for Black male youth in 9th - 11th grade in Oakland or Richmond, focused on holistic trauma healing/entrepreneurial immersion.

https://www.hiddengeniusproject.org/apply/

The MISS project is a program honoring Black women. To sign up to be a part please complete the form below!
https://forms.gle/cESAFYrj8fdPZepD7

Planning For Transition

These three webinars will help students and parents better understand the options that are available in order to plan for life after high school. Parents of individuals in middle school, high school, and beyond are encouraged to attend, but all parents and caregivers are welcome. It’s never too soon to plan for transition! Please see the attached flyers for the webinars.

TH 2/17 Adult Day Program Virtual Tour
TH 3/10 Social/Recreational Programs & Services Virtual Tour
TU 3/15 Transition 101

El Cerrito NAACP Branch, Featuring Dr. Hurst
Please join the NAACP El Cerrito Branch meeting on February 19, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. to hear guest speaker Dr. Kenneth “Chris” Hurst, the new West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent.

Saturday, February 19, 2022
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Via Zoom invitation Email Shirley Haney, Branch Secretary, to receive the invitation link: haneyshirley2@gmail.com

Do you have a question for Dr. Hurst? Email or text your question to Joanna Pace, Branch Education Committee Chair, no later than Friday, January 28: joannapace4@gmail.com

We look forward to you joining us on February 19!

---Rev. Willie McDaniels, El Cerrito NAACP Branch President

About our speaker:

Superintendent Dr. Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, Sr. is the 10th permanent superintendent in West Contra Costa Unified School District History. WCCUSD's Board of Education hired Dr. Hurst on April 14, 2021, making him the first permanent African American superintendent. Sylvester Greenwood and Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc each served one-year terms as interim superintendents.

As an educator in both California and Washington State, Dr. Hurst has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, district administrator, and Superintendent. Prior to his education career, he served 12 years in The United States Marine Corps. He and his wife Cynthia, have two grown children, a teacher, and a computer scientist

Edfund - Black History Month Projects
Do you have a Black History Month project/ event that needs support?

The Ed Fund will be providing Arts grants to support Black History Month projects and/or community events within the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Grant amounts range from $500 up to $1,500 and can be used for art materials, guest speakers/ performances, etc.

Deadline: The Ed Fund is accepting applications on a rolling basis through February 21st, 2022.

Questions?: Please contact Sarah Camacho (sarah@edfundwest.org).

BVN Deadline

Note about BVN: deadline extended to Feb. 1st, 2022 with two application support workshops on:

2/1/2022 5-6 pm. Zoom link here. (Meeting ID: 854 8096 9846 Passcode: 786475)

OAASA Newsletter Submission Form

If you or your organization desire to have an article featured on the OAASA Newsletter, please submit Via this link. Thank You