Dear Sac City Unified Families,

Congratulations on the completion of a rewarding but challenging 2021-2022 school year – our first in-person together since the pandemic began.  We are thrilled that our students, staff and families were able to experience in-person graduations, proms and other celebrations.  This year, we were inspired by the curiosity and creativity of our incredible students and deeply appreciative of the dedication and efforts of our staff.  

Over the summer, we will continue to strategize and plan for welcoming our students back this fall.  You can find our 2022-2023 Traditional School Attendance Calendar here.  In partnership with The Central Kitchen, we will be serving free summer meals (breakfast and lunch) at 32 school sites.  This year, meals will be served and eaten onsite at these locations Monday through Friday from June 30 – July 29.  Find listings of school sites where meals will be available and more information here. 

We will also continue to partner with local health organizations over the summer to provide free vaccination and testing clinics to help our community stay healthy.  We are proud to share that this past school year, we: 

• Hosted 83 vaccine clinics throughout SCUSD 
• Provided 7,345 vaccinations 
• Provided 672,416 tests
• Distributed over 225,000 free at-home test kits 

Here are some ideas for fun things to check out during Summer Break:

• Explore and learn at one of our local museums, like SMUD Museum of Curiosity and Science, The California Museum and Crocker Art Museum.
• Go take a ride on the American River Bike Trail.
• Rent a kayak or paddleboard to take a tour of Lake Natoma at Sac State Aquatic Center.
• Take an urban hike and discover colorful art on the Wide Open Walls Mural Tour.
• Check out free live music on Saturdays at the Tahoe Park Summer Concert Series.
• Shop local and fresh goods at David Lubin Elementary’s NeighborGood Market on Sundays.
• Rock out and grab dinner at a food truck on Friday evenings with Concerts in the Park.
• Get lost in a book at a Sacramento Public Library.
• Beat Summer Break boredom at free Hot Spot Remix events for teens.
• Splash and play at the City of Sacramento’s new North Natomas Aquatics Complex.

CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2022!

Our Equity, Access and Social Justice Guiding Principle is that all students are given an equal opportunity to graduate with the greatest number of postsecondary choices from the widest array of options.  It was wonderful to celebrate our graduating seniors together in person again! 

Sac City Unified is filled with inspiring stories of students who overcame great obstacles to cross that stage on graduation day.  At the Luther Burbank High School graduation ceremony at Sutter Health Park on Thursday, June 16, Principal Jim Peterson and Superintendent Jorge Aguilar shared the story of Yaqueline Espiritu Santos, who lost her mother to Covid-19 in September.  

As the oldest member of her household, Yaqueline had to work a job to support and care for her five younger siblings, which caused her to fall behind in school.  With the help of loved ones, Yaqueline was able to stabilize her home life, refocus on school and graduate with a 4.0 GPA.  During her mother’s stay in the hospital, Yaqueline was impressed with the team of doctors and nurses and the care and sensitivity they showed.  Some of the nurses even checked in on Yaqueline and her siblings after their mother passed away and brought them gifts at Christmas.  

The experience pushed Yaqueline to study nursing at Sac City College in the fall.  As was said at the graduation ceremony, “Yaqueline epitomizes the human spirit of surviving loss and moving forward by planning a life in which she will serve others who are also going through the challenges of grief and loss.” 

We are so proud of Yaqueline and every graduate from the Class of 2022 and excited to see all the great things you’ll achieve and the lasting impact you’ll make. 

Here are just some of the highlights we enjoyed this year:

FEEL-GOOD VIDEOS

Career and Technical Education

Art & Social Emotional Learning 

Community Fair at Luther Burbank

State Seal of Biliteracy Recipients

Pacific Elementary MLA Field Trip

WIDE OPEN WALLS AT TAHOE ELEMENTARY

Over 30 murals were painted by talented local artists on the exterior walls of the Tahoe Elementary campus, sponsored by Wide Open Walls. 

SUSAN B. ANTHONY PARK

A new community park was officially opened to the public on Saturday, March 26 in partnership with the City of Sacramento and SCUSD. Learn more about this exciting new resource for the South Sacramento community here. 

HIRAM JOHNSON UPGRADES

The second phase of construction has begun on the new football stadium and baseball field, and funding and plans are in place to create a golf facility.  Pool upgrades are scheduled to begin this summer.  Learn more about Hiram Johnson High improvement projects here.  Visit our facilities master plan website to learn more about capital improvements throughout our district.

Here are some announcements and upcoming opportunities: 

CLASSIFIED CHAMPIONS & TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to the following outstanding employees who were celebrated at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, June 9, 2022:

• Ngoc Tran, Central Kitchen, Food Production Assistant 
• Nicole Adams, Fiscal Services Office Assistant, State and Federal Programs
• Shandra Lee, Rosemont High, Office Manager III
• Debi Lawson, Washington Elementary, 4/5th Grade Teacher
• Lisa Bettencourt, Pacific Elementary, 4th Grade Teacher

SAC CITY UNIFIED IS HIRING

Join us on Wednesdays this summer for a series of in-person recruiting events!  We are hiring for a wide variety of positions to support our school, including certificated teaching positions and entry level positions.  Come grow with us! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at RecruitSCUSD@scusd.edu.  Register for these events using the links below:

• Wednesday, July 6
• Wednesday, July 13
• Wednesday, July 20
• Wednesday, July 27

SAC PASS APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Sacramento Parents Advocating for Student Success (Sac PASS) Initiative provides intensive training and support to parents.  They can gain knowledge and skills that lead them to become skilled parent leaders at their school sites and on a District level.  Virtual and in-person sessions are offered over the 9-month leadership training institute.  The deadline for applications is June 30th. 

• English Application
• Spanish Application

WE TIP

This fall, Sac City Unified will launch an anonymous online and phone reporting system that students, staff and families may use if issues arise.  As the 2022-2023 school year approaches, we’ll share how to access this new service.

CITIZEN’S BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

The Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee will consist of dedicated volunteers who will actively review the spending of bond funds by SCUSD and report their findings to the Board of Education and to the public. We are accepting applications for the Measure H Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee through Friday, June 24, 2022. Apply today at scusd.edu/cboc-h.  

LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN (LCAP)

An updated draft of SCUSD’s 2022-23 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is available for review and comment. Your comments on the draft plan are welcomed.  The plan can be reviewed at the Serna Center at 5735 47th Avenue or online at www.scusd.edu/LCAP.  The webpage includes an online form to submit comments.  Comments can also be submitted via hard copy at the front desk of the Serna Center or to the office at any school site or directly via email to lcap@scusd.edu.  The online form will include an option to provide your name and contact information if you would like to be contacted for follow-up.  This information will NOT be required and no names or contact information will be shared.