Published in the May 25 – June 7, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Photo courtesy MHUSD
Officer Jeff Brandon, right, with Sgt. Carson Thomas.
Robert Airoldi
A salute to Morgan Hill police officer Jeff Brandon. The MHUSD School Resource Officer was recognized as Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year at the 5th Annual Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board’s Community Heroes Awards Ceremony May 4.
At Morgan Hill public schools, Brandon has been working to move away from traditional law enforcement activities, such as writing a citation, when students find themselves in trouble. He instead focuses on providing them with the services they need. Brandon is also involved in working with schools to help change the mindset of administrators from punitive measures to restorative measures. Instead of punishing students who are in trouble, he looks for ways that students can be helped with the issues they are facing that might impact them in a more positive way than traditional punishment would.
“It’s humbling,” Brandon said about receiving the award. “I don’t do this job for recognition. I do it to help make things better in the community and to help youth before they go too far down the wrong path.”
An example of Brandon’s work can be seen in the successful Restorative Justice program at Martin Murphy Middle School. Suspension rates at Martin Murphy decreased by 40 percent during the first year of the program and 50 percent this year. Along those same lines, Martin Murphy has also reduced the rate of recidivism by 20 percent. Much of that success can be attributed to the Restorative Justice program which strives to build community and shared values among students.
Keep up the good work at our schools, officer Brandon.
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Thank you, Shelli Bettencourt, a member of the Machado Heritage Society, for reminding us of the chance to introduce modern kids to what life was like a century or so ago. The society invites everyone to enjoy its annual end-of-the-school year picnic from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 4.
Machado School was built in 1895 as a one-room schoolhouse for elementary grades, Bettencourt told us. An additional room was added in 1910 and classes were held continuously in the old schoolhouse until the 1960s when the children were moved to a portable behind the school. During the past 11 years the school has been enjoyed by more than 1,500 local children visiting each year on Morgan Hill Unified School District school field trips.
“The Machado Picnic has numerous activities and displays to for families to enjoy, including a quilt show, animals and a room full of memories in the History Room where class photos and a timeline will give a glimpse of the old days at Machado School,” Bettencourt said.
Classic cars owned by members of the Valle Del Sur Car Club will be on display. Children will enjoy playing old-fashioned games such as tug-of-war and sack races. Scheduled throughout the day include a 4-H dog agility demonstration and a wildlife talk from the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center.
Bring a picnic or enjoy Valerie’s Mexican food appetizers and tri-tip barbecue under the oaks. The Machado School Heritage Society will be selling lemonade or water and commemorative T-shirts. Local bluegrass group “The Just Picked String Band” always adds to the enjoyment of the day. Enjoy the picnic!
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McDonald’s is going Gilroy. The fast-food chain recently announced it will be selling “Gilroy Garlic Fries,” seasoned with garlic grown in Gilroy, — the “garlic capital of the world,” McDonald’s said in a press release.
The fries are also made with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, parsley and a pinch of salt.
The garlic fries are available in four restaurants in San Francisco. If successful, the trial could spread to 250 McDonald’s restaurants in California this August.
The garlic fries are part of McDonald’s efforts to experiment with regional flavors and food on its menu.
Chef Michael Haracz, manager of culinary innovation at McDonald’s USA, said the company is committed to listening to their customers.
“We’re proud of the work done by local franchisees and the regional team to create this menu item with locally-sourced garlic and we look forward to introducing Gilroy Garlic Fries to our customers in the Bay Area,“ Haracz said.
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Congratulations to Sobrato High School teacher Howard Barnes, who was named the Morgan Hill Unified School District Teacher of the Year for 2016. Barnes, a 20-year teaching veteran, took on the role of Social Studies department chair and took the Mock Trial team to the state finals in Sacramento.
Howard has way of getting his students to care about the subjects and their own education, according to a notice in the May 17 board meeting agenda. Students constantly remark on how much they learn as well as how much they enjoy his classes, whether AP World History or Civics.
Howard reflects on, revises and innovates his curriculum and grading policies. He spends a week every summer grading AP tests which allows him to improve his own instruction to best support students. He spends countless hours preparing and advising students in Mock Trial, which is a separate and unpaid after-school activity. Howard is a consummate professional, and his leadership skills as well as his positive rapport and success with students, make him an excellent selection for Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year. Good job Howard!
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Out of Acorn’s mighty oaks do grow, at least LOHS alum and local resident Pamala Meador told us. After their 40th reunion in July 2015, the class of 1975 learned how varied and interesting they are.
“It has been amazing to see how well connected we all are now as compared to high school,” Pamala Agaliotis Meador said. “We all share a common bond of having been in the same place at the same time and that seems to make all the difference.” During the years the group has forged deep and lasting friendships many times outside the people that they “hung” with in high school.
After the 40th reunion the decision was made to meet more often so a Rambling Reunion was created. The goal is to do three to four small functions a year where they reach out to the class with an event and see who shows up. They are looking to create additional connection and friendships so when the next reunion comes around they will have more classmate attendance, Meador said.
So far they have had a barbecue at one classmates house, a Christmas Dinner at Ladera, a weekend trip to spring training in Arizona and a Superman Party to surprise and celebrate Steve Elliott’s second place finish in the Hawaiian Scottish games.
It is not about reliving the past but embracing it and allowing it to build bridges of friendship with varied and interesting people who share a common experience, she told us. Sounds like a great idea, class of 1975!
