PS7 Elementary School Band 3

We are thrilled that our very own Cassandra Jennings is named one of Comstock Magazine’s 2025 Women Leaders. Cassandra joins nine trailblazers including Jita Pandya Buno, Associate COO of UC Davis Health, Ann Patterson, Governor Newsom’s Cabinet Secretary, and Faye Nabhani, President and CEO of Safe Credit Union, who were all recognized for their perseverance, dedication, and commitment to success. Judy Farrah, editor of Comstock’s Magazine, said determination was the throughline that connected the Women in Leadership Class of 2025. 

As we head into the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude for your support and partnership as we collectively work to uplift Oak Park and the greater Sacramento community. An important part of building the next generation of leaders who will do good for our community is teaching them about and connecting them with everyday heroes. When our scholars see the difference that others are making in the world, they will be inspired to be part of that change.

The line “it takes a village” has never been more true as our community rallied behind PS7 and Sacramento Charter High School to express their support for the schools. I’m thrilled to report that the Sacramento City Unified School Board voted unanimously on September 19 to renew the charters for both schools for another 5-year term (until June 30, 2030). I am incredibly grateful for all the support that the schools received and that they can continue focusing on educating scholars and sending them to and through college. 

I hope that you all are having a good summer and are staying cool as we weather the hot temperatures. We wrapped up a fantastic school year at PS7 and Sac High – please check out our 2023-24 highlights video that features our scholars’ successes and showcases our schools’ innovative and exciting programs.

This month, we have been fully immersed in learning about and celebrating Black history. Not only are we focused on learning from the past we are focused on seizing future opportunities and building our next generation of leaders.

At St. HOPE we are always working to increase access and exposure. This includes ensuring our community has access to authors and artists of all ethnicities and backgrounds. We recently hosted the Oak Park Black Film Festival at the historic Guild Theater and are getting ready to welcome the Colour of Music Festival to Sacramento. This wonderful music festival showcases the talents of black classical musicians and composers and highlights their impact and historical significance on American and world culture. 

As students head back to school, I want to remind parents, students, and neighbors about the incredible community asset we have in Underground Books located in the heart of Oak Park. Underground Books opened in the summer of 2003 and is part of the 40 Acres Cultural Center that provides so many enriching entertainment and cultural activities for residents in the region.  

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! For me the recent Independence Day celebrations – both Juneteenth and the 4th of July – were fun-filled days spent enjoying time with family, friends, and our larger community. Not only were they full of good food and friendship, they were important occasions to reflect on the freedoms and opportunities we often take for granted. Whether due to limited access or inequitable policies, too many people in America and throughout the world face barriers to success.

Graduation season is upon us and I’m proud to report that 99% of Sac High seniors were accepted into four-year colleges in 2023 including all nine University of California campuses and 20 out of 23 California State University campuses. This is an achievement worth celebrating! We will be congratulating our Sac High seniors as they walk across the stage at their graduation on June 3. I know they have a bright future and I can’t wait to see them succeed in college next year.