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Preparing students for careers in the 21st century is the new thrust of ROP. |
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The holidays are upon us! While we celebrate the season, we also pause to think of those in need and how we can help to make their holiday a bright one, too. There are many organizations in our community working to make a difference. In this newsletter we highlight a few under "Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season." They can use your help as they provide for the needy in our community this December.
All of us at the San Mateo County Office of Education wish you a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends, good health and joyful times together.
Jean Holbrook, Ed.D.
San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools
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Career Technical Education (CTE) is the new thrust of the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), with courses and skill building designed to prepare students for careers in the 21st century.
Increasingly, high school students are engaging in ROP courses in the most popular industry sectors of art, media and entertainment, and health science and medical technology. And they are able to take many of these courses on their own high school campuses through partnerships with ROP.
Learn more about how ROP is changing and creating career pathways for students here.
Learn more about SMCOE ROP courses here.
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New Chapter Begins for
Quality Preschool
SMCOE serves as lead agency for EquIP
The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), a pioneer and recognized leader in early childhood education services, is now serving as the lead agency for the San  Mateo Early Childhood Quality Improvement Project (EQuIP), designed to support and develop high-quality early learning experiences for children ages 0 - 5 throughout San Mateo County. EQuIP builds on the successes of Preschool for All, a five-year demonstration project that ended in June 2009. With EQuIP, professional development opportunities for early childhood teachers and administrators will be expanded, and the scope of the project will encompass a wider geographic area of the County. In addition to preschools, the project will also include early childhood education (ECE) programs countywide, including infant-toddler and family child care programs. Learn more about the goals of EQuIP and the specific programs that are funded here. See the EQuIP section of the SMCOE Web site here. |
Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season
Even as the economy begins to recover, there are many in our community who need a helping hand. This holiday season, please consider volunteering your time, contributing food, making a financial contribution or honoring that special someone on your holiday list with a donation to any of the many worthy organizations that help others.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves more than 207,000 people in need in Santa Clara and San Mateo County each month, requests monetary donations as well as canned goods and shelf staples, such as peanut butter, cereal, boxed juices, etc.
Samaritan House in San Mateo has a host of holiday giving programs including a family sharing program that serves 200 families and 50 seniors.
Shelter Network helps homeless families find shelter, health care and job counseling. In addition to financial contributions, there is a particular need for department store or grocery gift certificates, kitchenware, and disposable items and toiletries such as diapers, soap, toothpaste, and paper products.
Family Service Agency offers programs teaching children, families, and older adults lifelong skills to build a self-sufficient future, regardless of ability to pay. You can make a monetary donation and/or contribute items on their wish list diapers in all sizes, new children's picture books and Enfamil baby formula. Check out their Family Tree Holiday Boutique at 1589 Laurel Street in San Carlos through December 18, 2009. DonorsChoose is a national organization that links donors to classrooms in need. On its Web site, you can see requests for funds for specific projects from teachers both in local classrooms as well as across the country.
Learn more about these worthy organizations, as well as how and what to donate here. . |
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About the San Mateo County Office of Education
The San Mateo County Office of Education provides a variety of instructional, business and consulting services to the County's twenty-three public school districts, charter schools, the Community College District, and County Office of Education staff.
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