Superintendent Update 0920/Actualización del Superintendente 0920

Dear Students, Families and Staff, 

It is hard to believe, but we are already about to start the sixth week of school. The first five weeks have started well, with staff and students adapting well to the many changes at both of our campuses this year. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month

We are one week into National Hispanic Heritage Month. Every year from September 15 through October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and significant accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino citizens. The month started as a week back in 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson first created National Hispanic Heritage Week. President Ronald Reagan expanded the week to a month in 1988. Immigrants from eight different Central and South American countries celebrate their national or independence days between September 15 and 21. GTA recognizes the many contributions of our students and families with origins in the many Latin American countries, as well as Spain. 

Back to School Nights

The fifth and sixth weeks of school are a typical time to hold Back to School Nights, and our two programs have either just held theirs, or are about to this coming week.  

This past Thursday, Griffin Academy Middle and High Schools invited parents onto campus to see what their students are doing. The evening featured a brief welcome from Site Director Charquita Arnold, followed by parents going to each of their students’s classrooms. Our teachers demonstrated what they are teaching our students, as well as ways that parents can assist in their students’ learning experiences. 

This coming Thursday, MIT Middle and High Schools Back to School Night will take place from 5:15 to 8pm. 

Declining Enrollment Summit in Sacramento 

GTA faced an enormous declining enrollment challenge five years ago, mostly due to internal issues that we have now fixed. Over the past four years, GTA has increased its enrollment to more than 1,100 students, from a low of 950. We are still working hard to return to our pre-covid enrollment, but believe we will get there in the next two years. 

We believe our experience in overcoming declining enrollment challenges places us in a position to be able to share our solutions with others. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is convening a statewide summit in Sacramento next month to crowdsource solutions to the systemic declining enrollment California’s more than 1,000 school districts are facing. We have applied to present our set of solutions to district leaders from across the state. Our challenges were unique, but our solutions can work for other districts and schools. 

School Climate Survey for Parents

Reminder: GTA really wants to hear how students, parents and staff think we are doing as an organization. As most of you know, we survey parents, students and staff members every year to gauge how we are doing, and how we can improve. 

After strong feedback about the length of the survey, this year we have shortened the student survey. The student survey will be given by teachers during advisory on both campuses.  The staff surveys will be given during Monday professional development time, either tomorrow or in one of the upcoming Monday staff meetings. 

Parents, we would love it if you could all fill out the survey, which is linked below. Our Site Directors at each school have also sent out this link to you, but please go ahead and fill it out here. https://assc.questionpro.com/GA-MITParentsF26

We know there are many areas in which we can improve. And only with your feedback can we make the improvements you want. Thank you! 

Athletic Update

GTA sports teams had another busy week last week with seven games on the calendar; here is the GTA weekly athletic update:

MIT Girls Volleyball beat Bay Tech, 3-1

Griffin Girls Volleyball lost 3-0 to Kipp King

MIT Girls Flag Football lost 50-0 to a much larger Castlemont High in Oakland 

Griffin Boys Soccer tied Downtown Oakland Science Academy, 1-1

Griffin Girls Volleyball beat Twin Oaks, 3-0

MIT Girls Volleyball bet Summit Tam, 3-0 

Griffin Boys Soccer beat Bay Tech, 1-0

MIT Boys Soccer lost 7-0 to Lodestar

Rummage Sale Saturday, Benefit for Athletics Department 

This coming Saturday September 26, GTA is hosting a community wide rummage sale in the gymnasium parking lot. Anyone who would like to sell used items is encouraged to buy a parking space for $25. Recommended items include clothing, appliances, toys and home and kitchen items. All proceeds will go to the GTA Athletics Department. The rummage sale will go from 9am until 3pm.   

Vallejo Waterfront Fest 

In less than two weeks, on October 3rd, the annual Vallejo Waterfront Fest will take place again on the waterfront green. Many of the crowd-pleasing events, such as the Color Run, the Splash Chair, and of course the live music, will be returning. GTA will as always have a booth at the event, and our students will again serve as volunteers. In addition, we are asking many of our volleyball student athletes to join us in showcasing GTA sports and playing volleyball with children from across Vallejo. For more information, here is the link to the event: https://www.vallejowaterfrontweekend.com/

And if you want to volunteer for the event, please contact Ms Mildred Gains at mgains@gtaschools.org

In service,

Nick Driver

Superintendent

MITA https://www.facebook.com/MITAcademyVallejo/ Griffin https://www.facebook.com/griffinacademyvallejo 

GTA Schools https://www.facebook.com/gtaschools 

Griffin Technology Academies https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086920435034 Instagram - MIT Vallejo https://www.instagram.com/mit_vallejo/ Griffin Academy https://www.instagram.com/griffinvallejo/ 

GTA Schools https://www.instagram.com/gtaschools/