We hope you had a restful and rejuvenating spring break. It is hard to believe there are just nine weeks left in the school year!
As we enter this final stretch, I want to thank you for your continued support. Despite the uncertainty around us, we are moving forward together, focused on what has always mattered most: the safety, well-being, and growth of our students. That shared focus continues to create the conditions for meaningful learning.
In the weeks ahead, we will have many opportunities to celebrate that learning and the remarkable growth of our students through performances, milestones, and special moments across our schools. I am excited to experience these celebrations with all of you.
Thank you for being such an essential part of our work. Let us finish the year strong, together.
With gratitude,
Dr. Michael McLaughlin
Superintendent, San Leandro Unified School District
Student Spotlight
Anhvy Nguyen, Superintendent’s Award Winner for Madison Elementary
Congratulations to Anhvy Nguyen, a 5th-grade student in Ms. Delos Reyes’ class at Madison Elementary, for being named the March Superintendent’s Award winner! Anhvy stands out for her emotional intelligence, empathy, and academic excellence, having met standards on the CA SBAC in both reading and math. A lifelong learner and collaborator, she also participated in Project Mosaic Camp as a fourth grader. Way to go, Anhvy!
Sophia Tovar, Superintendent’s Award Winner for Garfield Elementary
Congratulations to Sophia Tovar, a dedicated 5th grader at Garfield Elementary, for being named the March Superintendent’s Award winner! Sophia leads by example in the classroom, supports younger students as a caring buddy, and helps keep the campus clean and green as an active member of the Green Team. Her commitment to academics, leadership, and environmental responsibility makes her a true role model. Well deserved, Sophia!
Schools Showcase
Garfield Elementary
4th and 5th-grade Garfield students explored the vibrant traditions of Puerto Rican culture by learning about Vejigante masks, which are used in festivals to represent folklore, identity, and celebration. This rich cultural experience included discussions about the history and meaning behind the masks, giving students a deeper appreciation for Puerto Rican heritage. Each student then created their own unique mask as a self-identified representation, blending personal expression with cultural learning.
Halkin Elementary
Halkin’s STEAM Night was a hands-on celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math! Families explored interactive stations, built creative projects, and discovered the fun of learning together. From coding challenges to art experiments, it was an inspiring evening of curiosity and collaboration. Thank you to all the students, staff, and families who made it a night to remember!
Jefferson Elementary
We enjoyed a beautiful day of giving at our Latino Literacy class! Thanks to an incredibly generous DonorsChoose supporter, our mamis and their children received gift bags full of literacy goodies. $4,500 in love and learning shared with families who inspire us every day!
Madison Elementary
Madison Elementary fourth graders stepped back in time with a visit to historic Old Town Sacramento. Through hands-on experiences and interactive exhibits, students explored California’s rich Gold Rush history and gained a deeper understanding of life in the 1800s. It was a memorable day of learning outside the classroom!
McKinley Elementary
Congratulations to Room 3B at McKinley Elementary—this year’s Golden Sneaker Contest winners! Students were beaming with pride as they celebrated their achievement. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped promote healthy, active travel to school!
Monroe Elementary
James Monroe Elementary had the incredible honor of hosting Diamano Coura, an amazing West African dance group! Their high-energy performance lit up the stage with powerful drumming, vibrant dance, and rich cultural storytelling. Students joined them on stage, learned traditional dance moves, and gained insight into West African culture through this highly interactive experience. What a joyful and unforgettable assembly — thank you, Diamano Coura!
Roosevelt Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary is proud to have fully implemented the Science of Reading in all K–2 classrooms! This research-based approach has transformed instruction by focusing on phonemic awareness and phonics, laying a strong foundation for reading success. Our students are showing significant growth in English Language Arts—and we’re just getting started!
Washington Elementary
We had an amazing time at the Washington PTO Jog-A-Thon this month! Our Wildcats showed their spirit and energy as they jogged and walked around the school field—it was a fantastic day of fun, fitness, and community. Huge thanks to our incredible PTO for organizing such a joyful and successful event!
Bancroft Middle School
The Bancroft band brought the energy to Open House with an unforgettable performance! Students showcased their musical talents with confidence and style—everyone was rocking along and feeling the rhythm. A big shoutout to our incredible band members and music staff for making the night extra special!
John Muir Middle School
The John Muir Middle School Science team wowed families at Open House with engaging, hands-on displays that highlighted the curiosity and critical thinking happening in our classrooms. From experiments to interactive demos, the team made science come alive in fun and meaningful ways. A huge thank you to our amazing science teachers for creating such an inspiring and academic experience!
San Leandro High School
The SLHS Olympics are a beloved annual tradition that brings the campus together for fun, friendly competition, and school spirit! Featuring a variety of competitions organized by student clubs and groups, the Olympics showcase the teamwork, pride, and creativity that define the San Leandro High community. It’s a week full of energy, connection, and unforgettable moments!
Lincoln High School
Lincoln had the pleasure of hosting Bunny Gurus on campus, and it was an unforgettable experience. Using cognitive science, Bunny Gurus trains specially selected rabbits to provide emotional and therapeutic support. Students and staff enjoyed the calming presence of the bunnies, taking time to slow down, settle their minds, and be present. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of connection and mindfulness.
San Leandro Virtual Academy
The SLVA Sharks had an incredible field trip to MOCHA (Museum of Children’s Art) in Oakland! Students explored a variety of clay techniques and expressed their creativity in hands-on ways. The highlight? Bringing their unique creations home to proudly share with their families.
Important Updates
SLUSD Calendars Are Here — Through 2027!
Start planning ahead! SLUSD has released the academic calendars for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years. These calendars include key dates such as the first and last day of school, holidays, breaks, and professional development days. Visit our website to view or download the calendars and stay ahead for the years to come.
This April, we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month by honoring the unique experiences of individuals with autism and our shared commitment to inclusion. In our schools and community, we work to ensure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Let’s use this month to spark conversations, share resources, and uplift the voices and talents of those with autism. Together, we build a stronger, more inclusive community.
SLUSD Reaffirms Commitment to Climate Action
In honor of Earth Month, San Leandro Unified proudly highlights Resolution 25-12: Commitment to Climate Change Action. Passed by our Board of Education, this resolution recognizes climate change as both a human and social justice issue and outlines actionable steps we are taking to reduce our environmental impact. From clean energy purchases to green building practices, SLUSD is committed to sustainable operations. Just as importantly, we are ensuring our students graduate as informed, environmentally conscious citizens through classroom learning and leadership opportunities. Together, we are building a greener future for our students and community.
April is Stress Awareness Month
This month is a reminder to pause, breathe, and prioritize mental well-being. With the demands of school and daily life, small moments of mindfulness can make a big difference for both students and families.
Quick Stress Tips for Families:
Create calm spaces at home
Make time for shared activities
Check in emotionally
Set screen-free times
Model healthy coping strategies
Quick Stress Tips for Students:
Take brain breaks every 30–45 minutes
Move your body—walk, stretch, or dance
Try deep breathing (4 in, 4 hold, 4 out)
Stay organized with a planner
Limit screen and social media time
Need support? Call Care Solace at 888-515-0595 or visit www.caresolace.com/slusdfamilies — available 24/7 with multilingual support.
Celebrating Our Schools and Volunteers
At our annual Celebrating Schools Board Meeting, we proudly highlighted the outstanding work taking place at Washington, Roosevelt, and McKinley Elementary Schools, as well as Bancroft Middle School. From student performances to moving stories, the evening captured the heart of what makes SLUSD special.
We were especially proud to honor our 2024–2025 SLUSD Star Volunteers—community members who go above and beyond for our students every day:
Bancroft: America Minelli, Sindy Quiroa, Dennice Duran
McKinley: Lucia Vergara
Roosevelt: Marianne Camp
Washington: Christina Chavez-Johnson
Thank you for making SLUSD shine!
Lucia Vergara
Volunteer of the Year, McKinley Elementary
Marianne Camp
Volunteer of the Year, Roosevelt Elementary
Christina Chavez-Johnson
Volunteer of the Year, Washington Elementary
America Minelli, Sindy Quiroa, Dennice Duran,
Volunteers of the Year, Bancroft Middle School
Scenes from the Celebrating Schools Board Meeting
Here is a a collection of videos and presentations shared during the event that highlight the joy, creativity, and accomplishments happening across our San Leandro schools.
SLUSD and Blaze Consulting host a supportive space for Black Families and Families Raising Black Children. Join San Leandro families as we explore how to help our children thrive in San Leandro schools. What are the supports we need as caregivers? And what are the mindsets that we want to share with our young people as they finish the year? Let’s acknowledge and celebrate the resilience of Black peoples and the people of the African Diaspora. There will be a raffle for gift cards at the end of the session.
Come join us as we use physical movement to relieve stress, increase our sense of wellness, and share time with others. In this session, Blaze Consulting will use the Family Landing Pad, a virtual space for SLUSD parents and caregivers to talk about their own experience of caring for our children and teens during the pandemic. During this interactive session, we will have a guest presenter lead us in movement. Come as you are and leave a little stronger. The session is open to all San Leandro parents/caregivers with TK-12th grade students. Raffle Prizes! Spanish and Chinese translations will be provided.
When we can be intentional in acknowledging the ending of one chapter in our story, we allow and make space for the next beginning. As the school year wraps up, our time together does well. Let’s take some time to acknowledge the events of the chapter that is ending, share our hopes and visions for the next chapter that is beginning. This session will support single and co-parent families with TK-12th grade students. Raffle Prizes! Spanish and Chinese translations will be provided.
Self, Sky & Color: A Celebration of Student Art at Zocalo Coffeehouse
Now showing at Zocalo Coffeehouse (645 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro), Self, Sky & Color features hundreds of original acrylic and watercolor works by Beginning and Advanced Drawing & Painting students from San Leandro High School, taught by Lee Rosenberg.
Exhibition Dates: March 23 – May 3, 2025
Part 1 (March 23 – April 20): Monochromatic self-portraits and cloud studies
Part 2 (April 20 – May 3): Abstract color tables, lemon paintings, and still-life color builds
This vibrant two-part exhibition celebrates the creativity and imagination of San Leandro’s young artists.
🎬 Save the Date: SLAM Presents “Lights, Talent, Action!” 🎤
SLAM’s first-ever Talent Show/Film Festival hybrid is hitting the stage and screen on April 9 at 6:00 PM—and admission is FREE! Don’t miss this exciting evening of original student films and live performances that showcase the incredible creativity and talent across our community.
📍 Where: Arts Education Center, 2200 Bancroft Ave.
📆 When: April 9 | 6:00 PM
🎟 Free Admission
Come cheer on our student artists and performers—it’s a show you won’t want to miss!
Celebrate Culture, Language, and Talent at SLHS!
San Leandro High School invites you to the ELD & World Language Talent Showcase on April 23, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the SLHS Arts Education Center (2250 Bancroft Ave, San Leandro).
This annual event celebrates the rich diversity of languages, cultures, and talents within our school community. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. For more information, please contact jfall@slusd.us or lwong@slusd.us.
San Leandro Citywide Track and Field Meet
Show off your skills and join fellow student-athletes for a fun-filled day of athletic challenges, hosted by Jaguar Speed Inc.
May 3, 2025 at Burrell Field, 2451 Teagarden St., San Leandro
Events start at 3 PM (Same-day registration at 2:30 PM)
