Dear Friends, It has been nine months since I became superintendent of the Sunnyvale School District, and I am finally able to welcome our students back to school. Our gradual phased return to in-person instruction began March 18, and each…
Dear Friends, As we head into the December Holiday Recess and the new year, it is an appropriate time to reflect upon all that we have learned and all that we have achieved in 2020. Certainly, this has been the…
Dear SSD Family, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to our district for the 2020-21 academic year. While I wish we could welcome students back to our physical campuses today, I am excited about the opportunities our virtual…
Sunnyvale School District has appointed Dr. Michael Gallagher, a longtime educator, and administrator within the District, as its new superintendent. The Board of Education made the announcement at a special board meeting on April 9, 2020. Dr. Gallagher will begin…
Dear SSD Family, I never imagined I would be transitioning to retirement at a time when our campuses are devoid of students, but I will settle for quiet hallways and empty playgrounds if it helps to keep our children safe….
District and school leaders and school programs have been receiving local and state recognition these past few months and we want to celebrate them all! Columbia Middle’s Mary Grace Votran named Outstanding Educator at Murphy Awards Administrators and board members…
Dear Friends, I think that many of us who become educators do so because we want our work to matter. We love children and believe that we can help to bring out the best in them, making a long-term impact…
Dear Friends, I think being an educator is the best job in the world. We have the rare honor of helping children develop from curious school newcomers to confident, sophisticated learners. The youngest ones charm us right away, revealing emerging…
Dear Friends, In my experience, children always come back from summer with plenty of stories to tell, and as educators, we love your children’s stories! They help us get to know our students, shining a light on the complex influencers…
Congratulations to SSD Superintendent Benjamin Picard and Columbia Middle School’s Mary Grace Votran who will be recognized at this year’s State of the City event on September 14th! This annual event recognizes exceptional members of our community and attracts more…
Dear Friends, There are so many things that make Sunnyvale a great place to be an educator: neighbors who care about our children, a Silicon Valley backdrop, and a climate that allows for year-round outdoor exploration. But our single greatest…
Dear Friends, Some years ago, a little book entitled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten soared to the top of the New York Time bestseller list, eventually selling more than 7 million copies. I can guess…
Administrators, staff, teachers, family members, students and community members came together for a day of collaboration Feb. 6 at the Sunnyvale School District’s eighth annual Stakeholder’s Lyceum held, for the first time, at Google’s Tech Corners offices in Sunnyvale. The…
Dear Friends, I hope you had a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. You have certainly given us reason to be thankful here in the Sunnyvale School District! A few weeks ago, nearly 71 percent of local voters stepped forward to collectively give…
The following is a summary of actions taken by the Sunnyvale School District Board at the September, October, and November meetings. September 4: Approved the annual unaudited actuals financial report for the fiscal year 2017-2018. September 20: Approved a resolution…