EVENT REMINDER: Town Hall Meeting, Fri May 8, 7- 8 pm

You are cordially invited to a town hall meeting on Friday, May 8th with Magnolia Public Schools’ Board President Dr. Umit Yapanel and CEO Dr. Caprice Young. Dr. Young will be discussing updates on the school facilities for 2015-2016 and ongoing efforts to ensure that our program continues uninterrupted in the fall. We look forward to seeing you Friday night.

Town Hall Meeting

When: Friday, May 8, 2015
Time: 7:00 PM ~ 8:00 PM
Where: MSASC Cafeteria, 2720 Sonoma Place, Santa Clara
Subject: Update on school facilities

Town Hall Meeting

Update: Apr 23, SCUSD meeting || Thank you for YOUR support || Photos

Thank you to all the parents and students who came to the SCUSD Meeting last week! You DID make a difference!

Some photos on the MSA-SC PTO Facebook page: Click HERE . And if you haven’t done so already, please  ‘LIKE’  the Facebook page while you’re there.

The principal, Mr. Ak’s update on the SCUSD Board Meeting and its decision:

“Dear MSA Santa Clara Parents and Students,

Last night the Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to not extend our lease at our current campus for the upcoming school year. While we are disappointed in the board’s decision, I would like to assure you that we are committed to remaining open, and we are actively exploring alternative campuses that meet our educational needs for next year.
The district’s board approved a motion that directs the district’s superintendent and staff to work with us to find an alternate site on a district campus. We plan on meeting with the district as soon as possible to explore this option.
Additionally, we are currently engaging in negotiations for a temporary campus that is not on district grounds, and which would serve us in the upcoming school year. As we explore both of these options, we plan to dedicate our time and resources to make sure that we choose a campus that best serves our community, as we continue to provide a rigorous, STEM-focused education to our students.
We will keep you posted on our efforts to secure a campus, and I am confident our high-quality program will continue uninterrupted in the coming years.
I would like to personally thank our parents, students, teachers and staff for their ongoing support and efforts to secure a campus for next year. I am so proud to call MSA Santa Clara my home and look forward to graduating our very first class next year.
Warmest regards,
Yilmaz Ak
Principal”

IMP: MSA-SC PTO Board Nominations + Elections this Thursday, April 30, 7- 8 pm

Hello Magnolians,

As the 2014-15 school year draws to an end, it is time to start preparing for next years school programs and activities.

We are looking for nominations for the following PTO Board positions; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor. The current PTO board members’ term concludes on May 31, 2015. With the MSA-SC PTO infrastructure already in place, we are looking for parents to step up and move us forward next year with the responsibility of enriching the lives of our children and contributing to the quality education they deserve. In accordance with By-laws of the MSA-SC  PTO the nomination committee is soliciting members for each PTO board position. The nominees should represent parents with interests’ experience and expertise with the position nominated and show a strong commitment to the purpose of the PTO.

You may nominate yourself or someone you think will honorably represent the position. Brief job descriptions for each position are included in the Nomination Form. Feel free to contact a current board member for additional information. The new board members will be selected from nominations elicited from the general membership. Additionally Committee heads and volunteer members are needed.

QUALIFICATIONS: The nomination process will be open to anyone who is a current parent in MSA-SC at the time when school re-opens for academic year 2015-16. If appointed, board members must comply with the approved by-laws. Current Board members will help you learn ‘on the job’ as they transition out.

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: From first day of school to last day of school of academic year 2015-16

NOMINATION FORMS: Any MSA-SC parent may nominate a person or persons, including him or herself. Click the form link below to submit online. There will also be paper forms available at the Thursday April 30 meeting.

Link to PTO Board Nomination Form: http://goo.gl/forms/EJaaOiUVRw

Link to PTO Meeting Agenda: http://bit.ly/1HO4fov

Regards,

Jaya Gautam
Vice President, MSA-SC PTO

Why get involved? Research show that parental involvement affects a child’s life positively. Parent involvement is most effective when a true partnership exists between schools and families. The PTO Board works as a liaison between the parents, the teachers and the school to build that partnership, ultimately benefiting each child in the school.

PTO Elections

V. IMP: Come to SCUSD Meeting TONIGHT || Protests, Petitions, Politics || Put children FIRST!

TONIGHT is the night! After a long, frustrating, hard fought struggle- in the course of which we Magnolians learned a lot: support, solidarity, tears, ‘together we can’, protests, petitions, politics and the unfortunate fact that often the children are not placed FIRST but LAST; it comes down to this, we need to show up for the SCUSD board meeting TONIGHT. It could be the ‘Make or Break’ moment!! Let’s remind the SCUSD that our ‘Kids Count‘, too!

The last couple of board meetings, the Magnolia students and parents have asked the SCUSD board to put the Magnolia school lease extension on the agenda, and at the last meeting President Gonzalez said that MSA-SC would be on the Agenda for tonight. Click for Agenda

So, show up tonight, stand together tonight, speak up tonight! Let us make our presence count, let us show our support.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
– Margaret Mead

WHAT: SCUSD Board Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, April 23, 2015. Meeting runs from 5 pm onward. Please come by 6:15 pm at the latest. You’re welcome to come earlier.

WHERE: Board Room, Santa Clara Unified School District Office (Google Maps), 1889 Lawrence Road, Santa Clara 95051

WHAT TO DO/ BRING: Please come prepared with a 1 minute speech. (If you do not want to talk, show up for support! ) Have a good snack before to make sure you have the energy to speak and to stay till the end 🙂 Bring another small snack, some water, a book or something to do as we may have to wait till the end of the meeting. Bring your positive attitude 🙂 Wear your UNIFORM! 

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

Kids count!

IMP: MSA-SC is on the SCUSD meeting agenda this Thursday, April 23! We need YOU to be present to show your support

Hello Magnolians,

MSA-SC is finally officially on the agenda this Thursday, April 23rd at 6:30 pm.

We, the Magnolian community, current and future students, need YOU to be there to show your support for the requested one year school lease extension at the current facility.

In the end, it’s as simple as that- just SHOW UP!

Thank you!

SOS_Save Our School

MSASC students and parents unitedly wait at a board meeting

REMINDER: SCUSD Board Meeting TONIGHT| The students & the school need YOU!

Time to wade out into the breach again. MSA-SC community members, thank you for your support in trying to keep the school and the community intact, alive and existing. Your support has and will make a difference. Many of you have asked what else you can do or when you should show up again at SCUSD  (Santa Clara Unified School District) meetings.

Well, the time is here again! We invite you to come stand with all of us, together, to show our solidarity. Again, every person, parent, student, teacher who shows up does make a difference!

“One person can make a difference, and every person should try.”
― Thomas E. Cronin

WHAT: SCUSD Board Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, March 26, 2015. Meeting runs from 5 pm onward. Please come by 6:15 pm at the latest. You’re welcome to come earlier.

WHERE: Board Room, Santa Clara Unified School District Office (Google Maps), 1889 Lawrence Road, Santa Clara 95051

WHAT TO DO/ BRING: Please come prepared with a 1 minute speech. (If you do not want to talk, show up for support! ) Have a good snack before to make sure you have the energy to speak and to stay till the end 🙂 Bring another small snack, some water, a book or something to do as we may have to wait till the end of the meeting. Bring your positive attitude 🙂 Wear your UNIFORM! 

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

IMP: SCCOE Meeting TONIGHT at 7 pm | Show YOUR Support!

Thank you for your presence at the SCUSD board meeting last week. More than 100 students and parents showed up and stayed to support MSA-SC. It was a wonderful feeling , especially for the children who spoke about their love for MSA-SC and how they have grown in confidence and knowledge while in the school. Listening to them brought a tear to the eye and a lump to many people’s throats.

WE need YOU to show up again tonight at the SCCOE (Santa Clara County Office of Education).  The new charter is the ONLY item on the agenda and we should flood the room before they start deliberating on it. Thanks to the SCCOE board which agreed to convene this special meeting for us. Let us NOT waste this special opportunity! The SCCOE needs to see that our school community is committed, not just the staff and 5-6 parents. Like I said last week, if we stand TOGETHER, we can move mountains (or at least do our best to). Please rally around the school again. I hope to see 200 people tonight at 7 pm!!!

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

WHAT: SCCOE Board Meeting

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95131 (Google Maps)

WHAT TO DO/ BRING: Please come prepared with a 1 minute speech. (If you do not want to talk, show up for support! ) Have a good snack before to make sure you have the energy to speak and to stay till the end 🙂 Bring another small snack, some water, a book or something to do as we have to wait till the end of the meeting. Bring your positive attitude 🙂 Wear your UNIFORM! There will be some pizza at the end of the meeting.

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

REMINDER: PTO Meeting tomorrow, Thurs Feb 26, 7- 8 pm + link to Agenda

Hello Magnolians,

The February MSA-SC PTO Meeting is  tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 26, 7- 8 pm in the school cafeteria. All are welcome.

Look forward to your presence!

Link to Agenda: http://bit.ly/1LGNXwq

What: February MSA-SC PTO meeting

When: Thursday, February 26, 7- 8 pm

Where: Cafeteria, MSA-SC

Join us for the monthly PTO meeting

Welcome back | Round-up of Movie screening + New charter petition hearing

Welcome back to school! Hope you all had a great President’s Week 🙂

Movie Screening of ‘Waiting for “Superman”‘

We had a very interesting  screening of ‘Waiting for “Superman”‘ on Friday, February 13th. It was informative and inspiring to see how people and organizations are working to fix lacunae in the American educational system. Young children and parents with dreams were waiting for lotteries to get into charter schools which could potentially change their lives. The students in MSA-SC could imagine themselves in those shoes! Good schools can literally change the entire direction your life will take as you grow up to adulthood and beyond.

Thank you to all the parents who brought snacks and food. It was much appreciated!

New charter petition hearing

Many parents, staff and one student, Aaryan G., spoke at the new charter petition hearing for STEM Academy at the Santa Clara County Office of Education on Wednesday , February 18th. Thank you to those who came out to show their support. The  next meeting in March will also be important. Please put it on your calendars.