Our weekly eConnection newsletter keeps our teachers, parents and
community members up to date with the latest district events and
news.Make sure to sign up to get the weekly newsletter!
The Sacramento Zoo offers a ZooMobile scholarship fund for low
income or Title 1 schools; this scholarship has been made
available through the Yoche Dehe Community Fund. Click here to
download the application. The zoo offers one scholarship per
school. All applications are taken into consideration for a full
scholarship to cover the cost for up to two back-to-back
programs. Information listed on the scholarship application is
strictly confidential.
Working with BloodSource, Health Professions High School students
donated 62 pints of blood during a day long drive on May 8.
Eighty-three students participated, including 28 new donors.
Great!
A video titled “Life of a Cyber-bullied Teenager” produced by a
team from Martin Luther King Jr. K-8 was featured during the
third annual Youth Media Forum for Social Change on May 11 held
at the offices of The Sacramento Press. Congratulations!
SCUSD is committed to improving the health of our students and community. Healthy student are less likely to miss school, which results in higher academic performance. In addition, healthy children and adults are happier, have more energy and maintain a more positive outlook on life. To help you stay fit, SCUSD will be offering “Fit for Life” video exercise tutorials. This week we focus on planks to improve and strengthen your core.
For a second year in a row, SCUSD is partnering with the Magic
Johnson Foundation, the Phoenix Park Magic Johnson Community
Empowerment Center, Best Buy and the Geek Squad to offer a Geek
Squad Summer Academy. Geek Squad Summer Academy is a program
designed to inspire a younger generation to get involved with
technology. This is accomplished through fun, interactive classes
and activities that provide students an opportunity to get
hands-on experience with a wide variety of technology.
Sutter Middle School’s debate team took many of the top honors at
the Northern California Debate Championships on Saturday. Out of
the 50 teams (150 students) competing from throughout Northern
California, Sutter’s four teams all placed in the top 12. With
3-1 records the teams of Olivia Sison, Sam Adams and Trevor
Pearce and Elizabeth Fugit, Sydney Bagshaw and Della Mahoney
placed 12th and 11th, respectively. With a perfect 4-0 record,
the team of Evan Drukker-Schardl, Shaina Zuber and Chloe Craig
placed third overall.
Golden Empire Elementary School’s intermediate students became
poets in residence during the campus’ Second Annual Poetry Jam
Assembly, held recently. Developed and coordinated by
fourth grade teacher Robert Snider, the Poetry Jam showcased 31
students demonstrating their skills memorizing and then reciting
poems for students, families and staff. The poems included
original compositions, such as “Star Wars,” and classics, such as
“The Pearl.” There were even some humorous selections, such
as “I Bought a Pet Banana.” All agreed that the Poetry Jam
is a great way to ce
Fifty six Albert Einstein Middle School intermediate and advanced
band students performed on Saturday, May 5, at Diablo Valley
College in Pleasant Hill. The students received a “gold” rating
for their performance. A special shout-out to the trumpet
section, which received an Outstanding Section Award. Trumpet
students include: Nick Johnson, Adam Boles, Andrew Treadway,
Angelica Mejia, Tremaine Roots, Daniel Topete and Alyssa Jeska.
Students then spent the rest of the day at Six Flags Discovery
Kingdom. Congratulations!
Sequoia Elementary School held its annual Variety Show on Friday,
May 4, with a record-breaking 31 acts performing! There was
singing, dancing, a skit, lip-syncing, a piano recital and even a
mime. Students, ranging from kindergarteners to sixth graders,
showcased their talents. Parent Andrea Raymond spearheaded the
event, and Barbie Walker, Kimberly Castaneda and Jared Newland
helped with practice sessions. Raley’s and parents donated treats
and punch.
Eight middle and high school students of the Jinan (China) Peace
Messengers Delegation visited William Land Elementary School’s
Mandarin Language Dual Immersion Program on Monday, May 7. The
delegation and kindergarten students sang songs and recited poems
in both English and Mandarin and enjoyed an all-American school
lunch of chicken tenders and mashed potatoes. Although the
visit was short, it was a memorable and enriching experience.
C.B. Wire Elementary School joined with 2,000 other campuses
nationwide that participated in “Stand 4 Change” day on Friday,
May 4. All around the country, teachers and students took a
timeout from traditional classwork to make a stand for an
increasingly visible and important lesson in schools:
anti-bullying. The rally at C.B. Wire was planned by the sixth
grade classes as part of their “Taking a Stand” unit. It was
supported by C.B. Wire Youth and Family Resource Center staff.
Students marched through the school chanting “Let’s all cheer!
Judy Lee, who teaches second grade at Matsuyama Elementary
School, began her career in education 23 years ago and today
holds many leadership positions at the Pocket neighborhood
campus. She is a member of the School Quality Review committee,
the site leadership team and is a grade-level leader. She
encourages literacy with a classroom Writers Workshop, during
which kids write and illustrate their own books. Mrs. Lee
encourages positive behavior with “Lee Bucks” rewards. Her
students and parents, many of whom wrote letters to the
eConnection about Mrs.
Cesar Chavez Intermediate School held a fifth grade Family
Science Night on May 3. Students and their families had hands-on
opportunities to complete simple electricity circuits, conduct
sound tests on various items and learn about magnets and
polarity. They also made – and enjoyed – their own ice cream.
Leonardo da Vinci eK-8 School hosted a rock concert on Saturday to benefit the Very Special Arts Leonardo da Vinci Blues Band, which performed in addition to Garajmahal, Jambros and Ed Code and the Violators — a band of teachers and parents. A crowd of students, parents and fans enjoyed hours of classic rock and roll in the middle school quad. LdV’s Blues Bands final two performances of the year will be May 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sutter Senior Center and at noon on May 31 at the Hot Italian Lunch Series in Fremont Park.
Applications are available online for the Cien Amigos – IME Becas
Scholarship Fund. These scholarships are directed to students of
Mexican origin and Latinos in general who reside in Northern
California. Fifty scholarships, worth $1,000 dollars each, will
be awarded to undergraduate students enrolled or about to enroll
in public or private universities or community colleges in
Northern California; AB540 students are encouraged to apply.
Click here to apply.
The SCUSD Department of Integrated Support Services hosted an
all-day conference focused on the needs of LGBTQ youth on April
27 at the Serna Center. More than 250 school and community
professionals attended the “No Time to Lose” conference to learn
strategies for supporting some of the district’s most at-risk
students. Nationally recognized bullying expert Dr. Elizabeth J.
Meyer provided the keynote address. The conference also included
10 workshops, a youth panel, resource tables and an exhibition of
books from the district’s professional resource library.
The Updated Midyear Report for 2012 includes information about
district initiatives aligned with Strategic Plan 2010-2014:
Putting Children First and about green facilities, community
partnerships and other programs. Click
here to read it.
The Sacramento Zoo offers a ZooMobile scholarship fund for low
income or Title 1 schools; this scholarship has been made
available through the Yoche Dehe Community Fund. Click here to
download the application. The zoo offers one scholarship per
school. All applications are taken under consideration for a full
scholarship to cover the cost for up to two back-to-back
programs.
Isador Cohen Elementary School Special Day Class teacher Lucas
Machado uses assistive technology devices in his classroom to
help students optimize their learning. This technology includes a
SMART Board, iPad and the computers in the school’s computer lab.
He also maintains a class website that includes fun learning
activities for students. Parents report that Mr. Machado’s calm
and collected demeanor makes for a safe, fun learning
environment. For all these reasons, he is the eConnection Hero of
the Week!
Parkway Elementary School students who attend both Sacramento
START and Phoenix Park Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Center
after-school programs prepared for the upcoming STAR tests by
competing in the first annual After-school Academic Bowl! Four
students from each grade level (K-6) went head-to-head by
answering questions in language arts, math, and science to
prepare for testing. Each team consisted of a student from both
programs. Teachers and parents were in attendance to support and
cheer on the children.
Parker Family Resource Center in partnership with Fruit Ridge
Elementary School, Girl Scout Troop 160, and Faith Presbyterian
Church, sponsored “Books-Blankets-Bears” on April 27. The event
for 35 students was held at Fruit Ridge Elementary School and
included students from a local shelter, the community and the
school’s START program. The students had fun picking out books,
choosing their own special bear and cozy blanket, participating
in art activities, and snacking on yummy refreshments.
Kristie Miller, who teaches English at John Still Middle School,
has won the 2012 Dr. Barbara Schmidt Lighthouse for Literacy
Award from the Sacramento Area Reading Association. Miller was
recognized for her hard work and creativity in promoting literacy
and improving the reading and writing skills of students,
especially English learners. Miller has developed a program using
iPads to increase the reading and research skills in the ELL
curriculum and implemented an avid reader reward program.
Congrats!
Sixteen Luther Burbank High School students recently visited UC
Riverside at the invitation of the university’s Hmong Student
Association. The students experienced a full day of activities
and had an opportunity to bond with the college students, who
offered to become their mentors. The visit benefited the college
students, too, as they learned how to organize collaborative
event.
The first national Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 9. For
more information on launching a fun Bike to School Day event at
your school, visit http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/ready.
Nicholas Elementary School recently received a generous donation
of computer monitors from the California Medical Association
(CMA). The school was contacted by a representative of CMA who
asked if Nicholas could utilize some gently used flat-screen
monitors for their school. The answer was a resounding “Yes!” and
the monitors were delivered. Nicholas put the donation to good
use by replacing the monitors in the computer lab and placing
several in the school’s recently opened Parent Center.
Emmy Award-winning talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz and Anthem Blue Cross President Pam Kehaly visited Hiram Johnson High School on April 30 to judge a HealthCorps Healthy Breakfast Challenge. Others at the event included Oz’s wife, Lisa Oz; Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach Bobby Jackson; talk show host Montel Williams; Hiram Johnson Principal Felisberto Cedros; former New York State First Lady Michelle Paige Patterson; and HealthCorps President Michelle Bouchard.
Seniors at Sacramento New Technology High School participated in
the seventh annual Law Day on Friday, April 20. The students took
on various roles in a mock trial case that dealt with the First
Amendment and Miranda rights. Some posed as attorneys, arguing
for either the prosecution or defense while others were
well-prepared witnesses and jurors. The jurors deliberated and
were split in their verdict. Following the trial the seniors were
treated to an awards dinner at the Delta King sponsored by U.S.
District Judge James Ware and the law firm of Jones Day.
Three John F. Kennedy High School students attended the first
Sacramento Region Dinner with a Scientist held on May 1 at
McClellan Park. The evening included a Science Knowledge
competition and a keynote address by Dr. Leon Hall from Jackson
Laboratories, who gave advice on choosing a career and overcoming
barriers to success. California State University, Sacramento,
biology professor Kelly McDonald showed students how florescent
microscopy is conducted. During dessert, students visited with a
geologist an electrical engineer and an anesthesiologist.
John Bidwell Elementary School’s running club participated in the
in the 2012 Zoo Zoom, a benefit for the Sacramento Zoo, on
Sunday, April 15. The run was the culmination of John F. Kennedy
High School student Kelly Lemons’ senior project, in which she
designed and implemented a six-week training program for Bidwell
kids. For being one of five schools with the most
participants in the race, Bidwell won $300. Congratulations Kelly
and Bidwell!
John D. Sloat Elementary School teachers, students and parents,
in conjunction with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, planted 12
trees on the school’s campus in celebration of Arbor Day on April
26. Each classroom was a part of planting their tree in the earth
and naming their tree. A special “Thank You” to the Sacramento
Tree Foundation for their support in donating the trees and to
Pamela Fricke for helping make this possible for our children and
our campus!
