 | | Featured Article | | The ROP Online Art Show highlights student work in the digital arts. |
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 We have much to be grateful for this holiday season--the bright faces and eager minds of the students we serve; the dedication of our teachers, principals and staff; our own families who give us strength and support. While we celebrate all we have, we also pause to consider ways to help those among us who are struggling in these difficult economic times. In this newsletter, we highlight several organizations in San Mateo County that serve families in need. We hope you'll find a way to lend them a hand to help brighten their holidays.
On behalf of all of us here at the San Mateo County Office of Education, I wish you and yours a most joyous holiday season.
Anne E. Campbell
San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools
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Online Art Show Highlights ROP Digital Arts
The diverse talents and accomplishments of San Mateo County students in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) arts, media and entertainment sector were recently on display in an online art show organized by the students and their instructors.
The art show, viewed online from May 10-September 24, 2010, included the work of students in digital photography, animation, graphics, video games and video production. Some of this work is still on display here.
Lauren Sneed, school guidance counselor at the San Mateo County Office of Education, helped to get the online art show off the ground. "I kept seeing all this amazing artwork in ROP classrooms throughout the county and I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could showcase it for the community.'" It was the students, Sneed noted, who came up with the idea to put the art show online. They wanted it accessible, as the students said, "rather than in some boring room somewhere." Sneed helped to coordinate meetings with the ROP arts and digital media teachers to bring the art show to life. "We wanted it to be a team effort, and it definitely was."
The arts, media and entertainment industry sector, the most popular subject area in ROP, is a growing Career Technical Education pathway with a wide range of class offerings at Aragon, Burlingame, Capuchino, Carlmont, Hillsdale, Menlo-Atherton, Mills, Sequoia, and Woodside high schools. The San Mateo County Office of Education ROP connects career technical training and academics to prepare high school students for the challenges and career opportunities in a 21st Century workforce.
Learn more about the online art show and ROP digital media courses here. |
Plans in the Works for PPLC
Children's Summit With the theme "Destination 2025 -- Mapping the Course for Our Children," a Children's Summit for San Mateo County is in the planning stages for early April under the auspices of the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council (PPLC). County Superintendent Anne Campbell is the chair of the PPLC and is working closely with PPLC Executive Director Larry Best, as well as with PPLC steering committee members San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom and Silicon Valley Community Foundation Vice President for Community Affairs Erica Wood, on planning the half-day event.
"The idea is to present a vision and then map the course for the 2- and 3-year-olds of today who will graduate from high school in 2025," notes Best. At the Summit, the PPLC plans to gather neighborhood leaders, school board trustees, city council members, members of the business community and youth from all over the county to address important issues that affect children. Senator Christopher Dodd, chair of the Children's Caucus in the Senate, has been invited to be the keynote speaker.
Learn more about the Children's Summit and the work of the PPLC here. |
Lend a Helping Hand This Holiday Season
As joyous as the holiday season is for many, it can be a sad time for those who need a helping hand. Local food banks report an increase in demand while at the same time they are receiving fewer  canned goods, shelf staples and financial donations. In the past year, Second Harvest Food Bank served an average of 231,311 people per month. That was an 11% increase over the previous year. Most of the recipients are low-income families with children, and seniors. This holiday season, why not volunteer your time, contribute food, make a financial contribution or honor that special someone on your holiday list with a donation to Second Harvest or any of the many worthy organizations that help others.
Here are a few additional suggestions to get you started:
Samaritan House in San Mateo has a host of holiday giving programs including a family sharing program where you can "adopt" a needy family for the holiday season, buy gifts and food on their wish list, and then deliver the items to the family.
Shelter Network helps homeless families find shelter, health care and job counseling through a variety of programs in San Mateo County. In addition to simply donating money, gifts and food, Shelter Network has a variety of holiday programs you can help out with, including providing holiday gifts for a specific family, creating a holiday dinner basket, or preparing and serving a holiday meal.
Peninsula Family Service Agency offers comprehensive programs teaching children, families, and older adults lifelong skills to build a self-sufficient future, regardless of ability to pay. Their Holiday Toy Store on Dec. 10 and 11 in the Family Service Agency lobby at 24 Second Ave. in San Mateo will give parents of their clients the opportunity to pick out one new toy for each of their children. Family Service is seeking donations of balls, backpacks, craft sets, baby dolls and more for the "Toy Store," and volunteers to set up and staff the store. Check their website for details.
DonorsChoose is a national organization that links donors to classrooms in need. On their website, you can see specific projects that teachers have requested funds for, locally and across the country. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.
Learn more about these organizations and how to help 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.
Believe In Tomorrow: Think Green Today
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