Coordinator’s Message: Fall’s Bounty, Winter’s Promise
(November 2011)

Quarter one is behind us. We’ve enjoyed a beautiful fall, with many great athletic events, a wonderful homecoming rally, homecoming parade through Land Park and victory in the football games. Dracula came with the Sacramento Ballet. We have ventured to San Francisco for a couple of great plays and enjoyed the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s rendition of Macbeth right here on our own stage. On the academic front, the good news rolls in from last spring’s testing period (our API rose to 781) and we embark on new efforts to continually improve campus life and academic achievement here at McClatchy High School.

Winter quarter is an extremely busy part of the year in the HISP office, as we begin visiting middle schools, holding our own doors open for prospective HISP students and their parents, and the application period opens. We look forward to working with many current families to assist us in welcoming new families to the program. Many of you have already submitted volunteer forms and will be contacted over the next few weeks for assistance with our visitation days and our evening Open Enrollment Open House (something we haven’t done here in years!). If you have not already indicated that you’d like to help, it’s not too late and we are happy to have you join the effort (complete the Volunteer Interest Survey and return it to the HISP Office).

On a personal note, I would like to wish everyone a healthy and relaxing (possible?) holiday season with family and friends. As the days get shorter, may our patience grow longer, and our kitchens get warm with cooking and conversation. Keep in mind those people who might not have the good fortune to have family around and may be in need. It is a good time for our students to do some valuable community service and reach out to those less fortunate.

Coordinator’s Message: Fall Back into the Lion Rhythm!
(August 2011)

Let’s start with thanks for the second consecutive summer of beautiful California weather! Again, we have been spared the misery scorching much of the country and I hope that all of our families were able to enjoy the climate that draws so many to the Golden State. Time spent outdoors with those good summer reads, maybe traveling with one of the groups from CKM to Europe, Japan, Germany or Costa Rica, or just hanging out with family and friends in Sacramento.

Now it’s back to the job of school and we are happy to welcome back all HISP students, with a special shout out to the incoming class of 2015. It remains our privilege and pleasure to teach all the sons and daughters who will walk through these doors in September. We know that all of our families will fully engage in the education of their children and we look forward to partnering with you in that endeavor as you become involved in activities here at McClatchy High School.

Last April we celebrated 25 years of HISP achievement with former students, parents and faculty at the Sierra II Community Center in Curtis Park. It was a wonderful affirmation of the work being done by HISP staff, the wider McClatchy community, and the students who have been through the program, supported by their parents along the way. Our students are working and studying around the world, making their best effort to improve the lives of others and living with purpose. From Peace Corps stints in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, to working with public and private organizations in the widest array of professions. A sampling? Director of sustainable agriculture for a non-profit. Public health policy analyst for the California prison system. Clinical psychologist. Landscape architect. Press secretary for Governor Brown. VP of finance at a venture capital firm. Elementary school principal. Navy SEAL. Chief of Staff for state senator. Plastic surgeon. High school math teacher. Program director for refugee services in the former Yugoslavia. IT coordinator for Stanford University. And these are the graduates who are now being paid.

Many current college students are overseas studying—everything from the Punjabi language in India to international development in Zimbabwe to artificial intelligence at Cambridge. We are most proud of how our students have lived, studied and worked around the globe to continue as life-long learners. Truly an international bunch of young people, and we are always happy to welcome them home to continue their good work. Each graduating class inspires those who follow and we expect the tradition to continue.

Cheers,

Ellen Wong
HISP Coordinator