Benjamin Bubb Elementary showcases social‑emotional learning, sustainability and heritage programs

Benjamin Bubb Elementary Principal Jane Jung presented a school showcase to the Mountain View Whisman School District board, describing three main areas of focus this year: social‑emotional learning, sustainability and inclusion through heritage months and student leadership programs.

The principal opened the presentation by introducing staff and students and saying the showcase would "highlight 3 major, events and initiatives and activities," which included student performances and videos from program participants. Jung told the board the school serves 325 students with 21 classroom teachers and more than 40 additional staff members.

The nut graf: Bubb leaders described a constellation of programs they say aim to support students’ emotional growth, strengthen ties with Spanish‑speaking families, and reduce the school’s environmental footprint — efforts staff say have produced measurable results and might be models for other sites.

Social‑emotional learning. Counselor Kira Henry Duran described monthly SEL lessons and small‑group counseling and introduced Sewn2Grow, a digital check‑in platform the school uses for weekly mood and reflection prompts. "Students engage in weekly emotional and academic check ins," Henry Duran said, and staff receive alerts if a student may need additional support. Two students, who identified themselves as Ori and Alex during the presentation, said the platform helped them express emotions and get adult support.

Family engagement. Jose Carrillo, the school’s School and Community Engagement Facilitator, described translated communications and outreach strategies for Spanish‑speaking families, including voice‑read bulletins sent to families who prefer that format.

Project Cornerstone. Parent volunteers who lead Project Cornerstone reading groups told the board the program gives staff and families a common language for talking about feelings and helps children form relationships with caring adults across grade levels. Parent lead Vanitha Olwen said volunteering "gives us a way to be connected, not just to our child, but to every single child in your child's class."

Sustainability and the Green Team. Student green‑team leaders described a student‑run sorting system that separates liquids, recycling, landfill and organics at six campus stations. They told trustees the program reduced weekly landfill waste from more than 40 trash bags to fewer than three; presenters emphasized the change was driven by student leaders and parent volunteers who help run sorting stations.

Inclusion and student leadership. Fifth‑grade students described heritage month posters and lunchtime cultural tables that brought parent volunteers into classrooms to teach traditions such as playing dreidel during Hanukkah. Student leadership groups also described schoolwide spirit events and a "peace path" program they said helps students resolve conflicts.

The presentation closed with a student musical performance and an invitation from Principal Jung for trustees and community members to visit the campus.

Ending: Trustees thanked staff and students for the presentation and recessed briefly before continuing the meeting’s agenda.