Inside this issue:

From the Superintendent

June Greetings to All,

I’m not sure where it went, but this school year is quickly approaching its conclusion. By almost every measure this has been an excellent year! With that being said, not too long ago I compared the school year (and really every year) to my recent trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom where I found myself on just about every roller coaster with my grandson. Like a roller coaster, the year has been full of highs, plenty of twists and turns, and yes, a few low points as well. From teams winning national competitions, to a state budget that is still spinning wildly (making our ability to chart a course very difficult), to our low moments as we dealt with the loss of a staff member, student family members,  and even students themselves, we have celebrated and grieved together as an educational family and community.  It has been my experience that every school year is a collection of millions of interactions, events and moments in time, which when woven together create a tapestry of joy, hope, success, as well as disappointments and sadness at times. 

Of all the celebrations that take place, two of the most important are still to occur. The first are our high school commencements. When crossing the stage to receive a diploma, our seniors participate in what may be the closest thing to a "rite of passage" as they leave their childhood behind and walk off the stage as young adults. I am confident that our school district has prepared them well and I wish them all good things wherever life may take them.

The second celebration will be a recognition of all our retiring staff members, scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Education Center. Following a brief reception, the Board of Education will recognize each retiring employee. No words can ever adequately express our gratitude to those who have given so much to our students and to society, but we will do our best to honor their service at this event. 

During these summer months I want to encourage our families, whether your children are enrolled in summer school or not, to please keep their minds active through reading, writing, exploring and intriguing conversations, as summer can be a wonderful time for learning outside of the classroom.

As we conclude another school year I want to thank you for your support of our district, the schools, and most importantly the students whom we are privileged to serve. We are reminded often how fortunate we are to serve a community that cares about children and about the quality of their schools. Your support is always valued and never taken for granted.

Please have a safe and pleasant summer. Enjoy the time with your children as a new school year will be here soon.

Sincerely,

Steven Enoch

Superintendent of Schools

Whooping Cough shots available at local Safeway pharmacies. Stores offer 10% off grocery voucher

New Rule - Shots Before School!

7th-12th grade students are now required to get a whooping cough shot before starting the 2011-12 school year.

*** If you already have proof of your child's t-dap adolescent immunization, please bring it to your school office before the end of the school year. This will help avoid a huge influx prior to the start of school in the Fall.

Local Safeway Pharmacies are offering a 10% off grocery voucher to SRVUSD families when you take your child to the pharmacy for the immunization. Convenient walk-in service 7 days a week, no appointment required. Many insurances accepted.

Locations include:

• San Ramon: 2505 San Ramon Valley Blvd., 925-831-9502
• San Ramon: 11060 Bollinger Canyon Rd., 925-359-2005
• Danville: 3498 Camino Tassajara, 925-736-0346
• Walnut Creek: 600 S. Broadway, 925-945-3440

In addition, Contra Contra Costa Public Health has ongoing vaccination clinics where vaccines are available for $10 for youth under 19 years of age or $30 per family - the fee will be waived if families cannot pay. Additional teen vaccine clinics are also being arranged through August.

The closest County clinic is in Concord. Logistics are still being finalized, but information can be found at: http://cchealth.org/topics/pertussis/

Reminder to outgoing seniors - please complete exit survey!

Attention all seniors - SRVUSD wants to hear from you!! You were sent information regarding a district-wide 12th grade exit survey. We encourage all seniors to complete the survey, as it will provide the school district with valuable information regarding the high school experience. If you are a senior and did not receive this information, please contact one of our school administrators or counselors.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors students nationwide with a variety of scholarship awards and recognition.  The San Ramon Valley Unified School District is proud to announce the names of students from the four comprehensive high schools and independent study program in our district who won the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist and those who achieved the highest designation (with a monetary scholarship)  by being named National Merit Scholar.  

About 1.5 million juniors entered the competition when they took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT©) in 2009.  Results were 16,000 semifinalists who had to advance to the Finalist level by submitting an application and fulfilling additional academic and citizenship requirements.  Of the 16,000 semifinalists, more than half have been named 2011 Merit Scholar and received a financial scholarship.  These awards, bestowed by a corporation, a specific college or university, or by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, provide between $500 and $2,500 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. 

National Merit Semifinalists from SRVUSD are:

From California High School: Brian R. He, Joshua I. Ho, David T. Huang, Hamin Kim, Shyam Kumar, Kanika S. Puri, Ridhima Vemula

From Dougherty Valley High School: Laura E. Boardman, Rona L. Chen, Zene Chou, Ivan A. Gomes, Tracy Guo, Yumeng Han, Linda B. Hong, Jason Hsiao, Naifang Hu, Jennifer J. Kim, Kyungeun Kim, Gloria Ku, Brandon E. Kutzler, Jaimie H. Kwon, Megan J. Liou, Yujia Ma, Rosanna Ren, Johnny P. Velasquez, Michelle B. Wang, Melissa Wibowo, George Q. Wu, Alton Zheng-Xie, Sharon Zhong

From Monte Vista High School:  Zachary Chambers, Alexander DeBoni, Jason P. Kim, Joshua P. Latner, Louis R. Li, Kevin Lu

From San Ramon Valley High School:  Caitlin R. Kickson, Jake D. Friedler, Kevin Guan, Stephanie E. Wraith

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation also sponsors a program that recognizes scholastically talented young Black American men and women who have an opportunity to compete for 800 Achievement Scholarship awards.   The two San Ramon Valley Unified School District students who reached the semifinalist level are Tristan Baldauf-Warren from Venture Independent Home Study Program and Kelsey M. Glavee from Dougherty Valley High School.

The following students have been honored with the highest level of recognition.  SRVUSD National Merit Scholars for 2011 are:

• Alexander DeBoni, Natl. Merit Lockheed Martin Academic Scholarship (Monte Vista High)
• Jason Guan, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (San Ramon Valley High)
• Brian R. He, Natl. Merit Chevron Corporation Scholarship (California High)
• Joshua Ho, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (California High)
• Naifang Hu, Natl. Merit University of Southern California Scholarship (Dougherty Valley High)
• Jason P. Kim, Natl. Merit Omron Scholarship (Monte Vista High)
• Shyam Kumar, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (California High)
• Louis R. Li, Natl. Merit Bayer Scholarship (Monte Vista High)
• Kevin Lu, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (Monte Vista High)
• Kanika S. Puri, Natl. Merit University of Minnesota Scholarship (California High School)
• Sharon Zhong , Natl. Merit Macy’s, Inc Scholarship (Dougherty Valley High)

A final group of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients will be announced by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in July.

Congratulations to all these students for their distinguished recognition.  It is indeed an honor to advance to an academic level recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation!