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Teachers association praises staff; schools preview spring testing, concerts and summer programs
Summary
A teachers association representative recognized district teachers and described improving relations with district leadership; school representatives highlighted testing schedules, band honors, extracurricular successes and a UC Merced math academy opportunity, and shared several upcoming event dates for families.
A representative of the teachers association (WEDA) opened the nonaction segment with recognition for district staff and awardees and said the union has been working productively with district leadership, including Board President Munoz and Superintendent Mr. Weber.
The association named three teachers singled out for recognition: Brianna Jensen (also referred to as 'Breezy') from Pioneer Elementary for leadership with student council, Shanny Garcia from Bondale for student recognition work, and Espironza Flores for leadership at Weaver Middle School. The representative said the joint meetings with district leadership have been constructive.
School representatives then gave updates across campuses. A Weaver Middle School representative reported that CAST testing was nearly complete, that the band had earned two 'honors' ratings at recent festivals (an indication that multiple judges rated the performances superior), and that eighth‑grade promotion, ceremonies and makeups were being scheduled. The speaker said the district‑wide graduation would be held at Merced High School and reminded the public of multiple end‑of‑year activities, including a staff‑vs‑student softball game and a variety of concerts and cultural events.
The principal also highlighted a summer academic opportunity: UC Merced's four‑week math academy, which the speaker said could be used to target students needing extra support; the program includes meals and ST/STEAM activities, according to the presentation.
Speakers shared an anecdote about a fifth‑grade runner, Martina, who performed poorly in an early race but returned and won her later event; trustees and staff used the example to illustrate the value of extracurricular investment and community support for students.
Dates and family events called out during the presentations included a tiny‑tunes showcase on May 20 at 6 p.m., various concerts and multicultural events in the coming week, a countywide graduation at Merced High School, and a variety of promotion and end‑of‑year celebrations. Staff also noted a preschool culture night (May 15) and senior‑year deadlines for grade submission for eighth graders.
The school reports emphasized testing logistics, student supports, and ongoing collaboration between teachers, site staff and district offices to manage end‑of‑year activities and extracurricular programs.
