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Superintendent's Community Message, December 10

Good evening WCCUSD Community,

We have several events and opportunities happening in WCCUSD and I hope you will read about them below and spread the word to everyone. But first, I want to speak to you about the recent threats to safety in our schools. We were notified that some schools in the District have received online threats through social media, and alerted authorities to investigate. After a thorough investigation, police determined that the threats were false. 

I am sharing this video with you to speak to the safety concerns and I encourage all students, parents and staff to stay vigilant and immediately report anything suspicious. The safety of students and staff is our top priority, and we thank you for helping us to keep everyone safe.

Nominate School Support Staff for an Award by December 17

The West Contra Costa Education Fair, a collaboration between WCCUSD and EnrollWCC, exists to champion the power of education and highlight that it takes a village to serve the many needs of our students. This year, the West Contra Costa Education Fair is thrilled to introduce the West Contra Costa School Champion Awards to honor all of the hard work of West Contra Costa’s school support staff. We need your help to recognize these incredible individuals in our community!

Do you know a superstar staff member that is making an impact for kids and families at a school in West Contra Costa? If so, help us highlight these school champions and their dedication to serving our young people by nominating them for our West Contra Costa School Champion Award. Winners will be announced on Saturday January 29, 2022 at the in-person West Contra Costa Education Fair.

Click here to complete the nomination process
 

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 sequence is 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 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.

Elementary Music Live Stream Fundraiser

Join elementary school band teacher Eric Lim and friends on Friday, December 17 at 7 p.m. for a live stream fundraiser to support the WCCUSD elementary music program. The event will stream live on YouTube and Twitch. View the event flyer or click here to learn more and spread the word!

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Upload your Vaccination Card

Upload your vaccination card for a chance to win! WCCUSD in partnership with the West Contra Costa Ed Fund, district tech partner D&D Security and WCCUSD Unions, are excited to announce a district-wide raffle for children ages 12 and older who upload their vaccination card to the District’s secure website at: www.wccusd.powerschool.com/public. There are several prizes available, including:

  • A laptop computer 
  • $500 Gift Cards
  • Portable Speakers
  • Nano-Leafs
  • Portable Photo Printers
  • Amazon Echos
  • Google Assistants 
  • VISA and Store Gift Cards

We held the first drawing today, December 10, 2021 and winners will be announced next week. The second drawing will be December 17, 2021.

Every student vaccination card that is uploaded or returned to the school front office before December 9, 2021 will be eligible for both drawings. Vaccination cards received after December 9 and before December 16 will be eligible for the second drawing.

Find more information and details at www.wccusd.net/vaccineraffle.

Apply for the 2022 Chevron Black Employee Network Scholarship Program

The Chevron Black Employee Network invites high school students in WCCUSD to participate in the 2021 Chevron Richmond Black History Awareness Committee Scholarship Program. Since 2004, the Chevron Richmond Black Employee Network (BEN) has awarded over 40 scholarships to deserving high school students from the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Funding for the scholarships is provided by Chevron Richmond’s Policy, Government & Public Affairs (PGPA) department in partnership with the Richmond Black History Awareness Committee (BHAC). The scholarship is given in honor of Dr. William F. King. Dr. King is a distinguished African American Chemical Engineer who retired from Chevron in 2003. 

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is January 17, 2022. All required documents must be received as requested.

Click here to read more and apply.

Take the WCCUSD Website Survey

We want to hear from you! The WCCUSD communications team is working to improve the district website to ensure everyone in the community can access information about schools, programs and services. 

We are launching this survey this week to collect your feedback. Any upgrades we make to the website will be reflective of the WCCUSD community’s ideas. Thank you for taking the time to complete this five-minute survey. 

Click here to take the survey in English. 

Click here to take the survey in Spanish.

WCCUSD Proudly Presents 2021-2022 Winter Band/Orchestra/Choir/Theater/Dance Performances

We would like to wish everyone the happiest of Holidays!! There are a host of winter performances around the district for you to enjoy.
 

12/10/21: De Anza VAPA Showcase 6:30 PM @ the DeAnza Theater

12/14/21, 12/15/21: Korematsu MS Winter Concerts 5:00 PM @ Korematsu Gym

12/15/21: Helms Middle School Winter Performance 6:00 PM @HelmsMS Gymnasium

12/15/21: Hercules High School Music Department Showcase 7:00 PM @ the Hercules HS Gym

12/15/21: Betty Reid Soskin MS Winter Band/Orchestra Concert 3:00 PM  @BRSMS Gym (Live Stream Available)

12/15/21: Pinole Valley HS Bands Winter Concert  7:00 PM @ PVHS Theater

12/16/21: Pinole Valley Choir, Dance, and Piano Winter Performance  7:00PM @PVHS Theater

12/16/21, 12/17/21: ECHS Winter Band Concert 7:30 PM @ ECHS Theater

1/28/22, 1/29/22: ECHS Theater Production 7:00 PM @ ECHS Theater

EdFund 2021-22 Teaching Excellence Award Nominations Now Open

For more than 30 years, the Ed Fund has recognized the district's best teachers through the Teaching Excellence Awards. With the return to in-person learning, the Ed Fund wants to acknowledge and celebrate the tremendous work our teachers have done and continue to do throughout the West Contra Costa Unified School District to support our students. This year, we are proud to announce the 2021-2022 Teaching Excellence Awards. Our 2021-2022 nomination form is now open! Please submit your nomination(s) by December 31, 2021.

 

WCCUSD’s Independent Redistricting Commission Seeks Applicants for Trustee Area 2 Commissioner Seat

The West Contra Costa Unified School District Redistricting Commission is an independent body tasked with analyzing the 2020 Census Data and reviewing and revising the Trustee Area boundaries for the 2022-2030 elections for the Board of Education. The commission consists of seven members representing each of the five trustee areas and two members who are residents of Contra Costa County but live outside of the district boundaries.  The Commission will perform all or nearly all of its work between now and March 1, 2022.

The Commission seat for Trustee Area 2, which encompasses Kennedy High School and other portions of Richmond, is currently vacant, and the District is soliciting applications for that position.  All interested individuals should apply.  The application is available here. English | Spanish.  Service on the Commission does not require any prior experience with redistricting or any particular subject matter expertise.

 

In Community,

Kenneth Chris Hurst, Ed.D
Superintendent