Congratulations to the Class of 2007 graduates of Live Oak, Ann Sobrato and Central Continuation high schools. As State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell stated when he came to visit Morgan Hill in January, each diploma this year will be worth more than any previous diplomas. This year, each diploma earned ties accountability to what we do in schools and we congratulate all of our graduates for not only completing the required coursework but for passing the California High School Exit Exam.
We’d also like to mention that this will be the first graduating class of Ann Sobrato High School and I think it is fitting that we thank all those who made our second high school possible, including Ann Sobrato and her family, all previous and current board members and staff, and the community at large in assisting with the passage of the bond which allowed us to fulfill this dream.
Academic achievement
We have increased the number of students taking ninth-grade biology by 329 pupils, from 300 in 2005-06 to 629 in 2006-07. We have also increased the number of students enrolled in seventh-grade algebra by 49 pupils, from 33 in 2005-06 to 82 in 2006-07. The number of students enrolled in eighth-grade algebra also increased by 24 pupils, from 183 in 2005-06 to 207 in 2006-07. The number of advanced placement courses also grew by 167, from 696 in 2005-06 to 863 in 2006-07. Finally, the percentage of graduating seniors who passed the CAHSEE increased from 92 to 94 percent from 2005-06 to 2006-07.
This summer we are offering summer courses for students who need additional support. We also have a new summer academy housed at Sobrato High School, sponsored by the Silicon Valley Engineering Council in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University and the 2010 International Science and Engineering Fair. This program will target those students who have exceptional skills in math and science and is offered by invitation/application. We would like to thank Morgan Hill Rotarian Dana Ditmore, and Dr. Jay Pinson from San Jose State University for assisting us in bringing this wonderful and hopefully lasting program to Morgan Hill Unified.
Along with this, we have recently consummated a partnership with the American Institute of Mathematics, whose home office will be located on the John Fry mathematics campus in Morgan Hill. This partnership is part of the vision of extending our academic reach for those students who are ready for challenges beyond their grade level. We are grateful to Dr. Brian Conrey, executive director of the American Institute of Mathematics, Morgan Hill Unified parent Lori Mains and the volunteers who have led the Math Counts enrichment program for middle school students for the past four years.
The Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education and the District are committed to continue to seek opportunities for our best and brightest and close the ever-concerning achievement gap that exists among our socio-economically and ethnically diverse student population.
Alan Nishino has been serving as superintendent of the Morgan Hill Unified School District since July of 2005. He served as superintendent of the Alameda School District for five years. Reach him at
al**********@mh*.us
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