FREE Education + Communication = A Better Nation ® Covering the Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach City, Ocean View, and Westminster School Districts VOLUME 15, ISSUE 93 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019 Westminster School District Honors Mendez Family in Tribute to Landmark Civil Rights Case By Dr. Cyndi Paik, Superintendent – Today, the Westminster School Westminster School District District is proud to be a district Last month, the Westminster that strongly stands for equity School District officially dedicated its for all students. As home of the Central Office to the Mendez family first Vietnamese dual immersion in honor of the landmark civil rights program in California, the District case Mendez, et al v. Westminster embraces diversity, multilingualism School District of Orange County. and multiculturalism while This groundbreaking court case promoting tolerance and essentially ended segregation in inclusivity. schools in California and later the In addition to dedicating the nation. Sylvia Mendez, who was Central Office to the Mendez family, awarded the Presidential Medal the District is also commemorating of Freedom in 2011, and about 30 the Mendez family by naming the family members were on-hand for board chambers, the Mendez Board the dedication ceremony. State and Room and by naming the Johnson local dignitaries along with parents, Middle School gymnasium, the Sylvia students and community members Mendez Gymnasium. Superintendent Dr. Cyndi Paik, Sylvia Mendez, looked on as the Westminster “My father grew up here in Assistant Superintendent Art Jimenez, and Joannie Mendez Westminster, and we fought the School District Board of Trustees stand in front of the new monument honoring the unveiled a beautiful monument Mendez family in front of the Westminster School District Central Office. case and won it,” commented Sylvia honoring the Mendez family. In Mendez. “And after it was won, addition, special commendations would be allowed to enroll there. The Result nobody said, ‘Gracias, Gonzalo.’ But were presented to the Mendez The Mendezes flatly refused this The Mendez family’s efforts look at the wonderful ‘gracias’ we are family and the Westminster School offer and in 1945, on behalf of 5,000 led to the end of segregation in getting today from this wonderful District by California State Senator students, Gonzalo Mendez along schools and resulted in schools school district.” Tom Umberg, Congressman Alan with four other Mexican-American opening to all races, creeds and When asked what her parents Lowenthal, Assemblyman Tyler Diep, fathers challenged the practice colors. Sylvia Mendez and her family taught her, Sylvia Mendez said, “That Orange County Supervisor Andrew of segregation of students in four showed a great deal of courage and we are all individuals; that we are Do, Westminster Mayor Tri Ta and Orange County school districts: determination by advocating for all human beings; that we are all Westminster Council Member Sergio Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa an equal right to education for all connected together; and that we Contreras. Ana, and El Modena in the court children and ultimately changed the all have the same rights, the same case known as Mendez, et al v. course of history. Their journey is freedom.” The Background Westminster School District of one of the most important stories of Well said. Thank you Gonzalo and In 1943, Gonzalo and Felicitas Orange County. the American civil rights movement. Felicitas Mendez. Mendez tried to enroll their children On April 14, 1947, the 9th - Sylvia, Geronimo and Gonzalo - in Circuit Court of Appeals in San Superintendents their neighborhood school called the Francisco ruled that public schools 17th Street School. However, school in California could not segregate Fountain Valley Huntington Beach City Ocean View Westminster officials told them the children on the basis of national origin in would have to attend a less desirable the Mendez v. Westminster School school much further away called District case. The case represented Hoover School because it served the first successful challenge to the students of Mexican descent. The decades-old “separate but equal” Mendezes were upset and petitioned doctrine in public school education the Westminster School District. and established an important legal precedent used by Thurgood They were eventually told that Dr. Cyndi Marshall in his landmark Brown v. Dr. Mark Gregory Dr. Carol their children would be allowed to Johnson Haulk Hansen Paik attend 17th Street School, but no The Board of Education of Topeka, pages 6—8 pages 9—12 pages 13—17 pages 18—22 other Mexican American children Kansas in 1954. www.SchoolNewsRollCall.com Online check-in for emergencies. Hands-on care for you. A COMMUNITY BUILT ON QUALITY When life takes an unexpected turn, let us help get you back on track. You can check in online and then wait from the comfort of your home. 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Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center ® 17100 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708 • 714/966-7200 • www.fountainvalleyhospital.com Education + Communication = A Better Nation www.schoolnewsrollcall.com Covering the: Vaping: What Parents Need to Know FOUNTAIN VALLEY/ OCEAN VIEW According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, vaping is now the most HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY Netragrednik WESTMINSTER SCHOOL DISTRICTS Neta Madison commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the U.S. Kay Coop Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol, which typically FOUNDER/PUBLISHER: Kay Coop Founder/Publisher 562/493-3193 • [email protected] contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals, through battery-operated ADVERTISING SALES: 562/493-3193 electronic cigarettes. These devices can look like a cigarette, cigar or pipe, as CONTENT COORDINATOR: Barbra Longiny well as a USB stick or small phone; and they are known by many names: e-cigs, GRAPHIC DESIGNER/PRODUCTION: vapes, mods, e-hookahs, and juuls. Gerald Villaluz and Emily Ung COPY EDITORS: Nicotine, which is inhaled while vaping, is an addictive drug. In young Lisa Brock, Kate Karp & Anna Zappia adults, nicotine can affect brain development related to attention and learning. SOCIAL MEDIA: Nancy Lueder Other risks include mood disorders and inability to fight impulses that may Netragrednik by Neta Madison harm oneself or others. The added chemicals also affect the lungs and can cause disease and breathing problems. Teens using electronic cigarettes are @SchoolNewsRC Fall is here and holidays are so more likely to start smoking other tobacco products including cigarettes, which close you can almost smell the turkey are also known to cause death and disease. SchoolNewsRollCall in the oven! SchoolNewsRollCall Fountain Valley Regional Hospital What are the signs of vaping? has a vital message on this page • Lower caffeine intake. SCHOOL NEWS ROLL CALL, LLC P.O. Box 728, Seal Beach, CA 90740 about Vaping: What parents need • Dehydration and/or nose bleeds. 562/493-3193 to know. Please read and share this • Changes in appearance and/or behavior. www.schoolnewsrollcall.com information. • Electronic cigarette packaging or online purchases. Copyright © 2006, School News Roll Call, LLC Reproduction in whole or in part without written MemorialCare Miller Women’s & • The smell of unusual scents, such as chocolate cake, permission is strictly prohibited unless otherwise stated. Opinions expressed by contributing writers and guest Children’s Hospital has a message on when these items are not around. columnists are their views and not necessarily those of page 4 regarding the importance of • Use of lingo, such as “atty” (atomizer), in conversation, School News Roll Call. This publication is privately owned and the right is reserved to select and edit content. not spreading the flu. text messages or on social media. The Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach City, Ocean View, and Westminster School Districts do not endorse the advertisers Our School News staff wish you in this publication. and your families a very happy, Discuss and educate your children about vaping, explain the long-term healthy holiday. effects and be a good role model. It may also help them to hear the risks from a Our next issue is January 8, 2020 medical professional. To talk to an expert, call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669). 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