|
Gold Fun Facts
The arrangement of
buildings on the campus of Florin High School was modeled after the University of Virginia
where Florin's first principal - and chief
planner - Bill Huyett had attended.
|
| Honoring Our Volunteers
Choua "Jennifer" Thao of
Prairie Elementary Head Start
Choua "Jennifer" Thao was recognized as an Education Partner at the March 3, 2009 meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education.
Thao was elected by her peers - other Head Start classroom parents - to serve on the Parent Policy Committee. The Parent Policy Committee plays an important role in Head Start. Committee members work with the Head Start director and staff member to oversee classroom curriculum, budget, hiring and program decisions. During the 2007-2008 school year, Thao was elected vice-chair of this committee. Most recently, she was elected as chair of the committee and has proven to be an able and inspiring leader.
Thao has attended the California Head Start Parent Conference, the Sacramento Employment Training Agency Leadership Conference and the Parenting Across Cultures parent classes offered by the Early Childhood Education department.
Thao is a student at Cosumnes River College where she is enrolled in Early Childhood Education classes. She volunteers in the classroom whenever she can and also provides updates and information at the monthly classroom parent meetings.
Thao is the proud parent of three children: Mason - a kindergartener at Prairie, Payton - a student in Head Start preschool and Ana - a future Head Start preschool student. In her spare time, Thao enjoys spending time with her children, cooking and reading. |
Toby Johnson Middle School earns redesignation as a "School to Watch"
Toby Johnson Middle School has been redesignated as a "School to Watch" by the Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage Program though the California League of Middle Schools.
In 2006, Johnson Middle School was initially awarded the distinction of being one of 11 middle schools throughout California identified as a "School to Watch." In 2009, 24 middle schools were awarded this honor. As a part of the redesignation process, a Johnson Middle School team developed and submitted a narrative application which included a self-assessment of all identified practices.
Following the submission, Johnson Middle School was visited by a team of educators for an evaluation. At the conclusion of the visitation, Johnson Middle School was redesignated as a "School to Watch." Johnson Middle School will retain their designation through 2012. The school was recognized for this achievement at the California League of Middle Schools Conference in early March in San Diego.
To qualify as a "School to Watch," selected schools must have in place replicable practices in the areas of academic excellence, responsiveness to the developmental needs of young adolescents, fair and equitable education for all students and organizational processes and procedures that foster and sustain academic growth. |
Morse Elementary School raises over
$700 for Pennies for Patients
The students at Barbara
Comstock Morse
Elementary School have
raised over $700 to be donated to the Pennies for Patients campaign through the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The Pennies for Patients campaign has been in existence
since 1995. Since then, millions of
dollars have been raised in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters by more than
10 million elementary, middle and high school students across the United States.
For more information on the Pennies for Patients campaign, please click here.
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to eguNews, an EGUSD email newsletter published every two weeks. If you have questions about eguNews, you can email communication@egusd.net or call (916) 686-7732.
|
|
EGUSD Board adopts new energy initiative
On March 3, 2009, the Elk Grove Unified School District's Board of Education approved an Energy Conservation Board Policy, beginning a new initiative that will ultimately save the district millions of dollars in utility consumption.
The district's next step will be to establish an Energy Conservation Committee that will be tasked with energy conservation guidelines for EGUSD staff and students.
"Perhaps the most exciting fact of the conservation program is that it's a zero cost program," said Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Planning Robert Pierce. "The savings will be very significant perhaps in the millions of dollars all based on simple behavioral changes and awareness programs."
The new board policy establishes the district's commitment to conserve natural resources and to also generate significant savings which will be utilized to support and enhance educational priorities.
The conservation program will research many options for determining strategies to provide for the most efficient use of utilities. These may include identifying funding opportunities, incentive programs and grants to assist the district in its energy conservation efforts; considering alternative energy sources as appropriate; and establishing and maintaining Energy Conservation Guidelines that specify district standards regarding energy use and conservation techniques. |
|
Daylor High School goes "Green" with new Construction Technology ROP program
At William Daylor High School, the sounds of buzz saws and hammers can be heard coming from the new Green Construction Technology Regional Occupation Program (ROP).
The program was created to prepare students to compete in a world that is becoming increasingly sensitive to environmental issues and reliant on energy conservation. The new ROP focuses on present and future green technologies and encourages students to participate in civic restoration activities.
"Essentially, our program focuses on two primary areas - what we can do now with current technologies and what we can do in the future with forthcoming technologies," said Joe Airoso, vice-principal at Daylor. "Training our students for future 'green-collar' jobs will help them compete in an every-changing world."
Any Elk Grove Unified student can participate in the ROP. The only stipulations are students must actively participate in the course and maintain 90 percent attendance.
"Our students are learning the principles of the construction trade and we are merging those skills into the world of green technology through the new program," said David Adams, construction technology teacher at Daylor. "Our ROP students are being trained on how to frame a house, including the floors, walls, ceilings and rafters. They are also learning about sheetrock and concrete work as they get acquainted with the operation of various power tools common in the construction trade."
"As these fundamentals and an appreciation for this type of work are learned," continued Adams, "students then start to incorporate the green aspects of refurbishing, retrofitting, design, energy-saving and recycling."
Daylor students are currently working on framing mock houses out of salvaged building materials, salvaging old desks to donate to students in need and refurbishing various pieces of furniture.
"This program gives our students a hands-on practical experience that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives," said Adams. "I love to watch them gain experience with the projects and use of power tools because I am witnessing their confidence grow." |
|
Markofer Elementary students and staff help one of their own
In December 2008, Kathy Cooper - a second grade teacher at Florence Markofer Elementary School - received some unsettling news.
One of her students, Kylie Applemun, had been hospitalized with leukemia.
Cooper and two of the students' mothers in her class - Melissa Hartsough and Heather Ali - felt a need to help and decided to brainstorm ways to help the family.
Thus, the motto "Hearts for Kylie" was born and bracelets were created to sell to people who wanted to support Kylie in her fight against leukemia.
"Currently, our class is selling bracelets schoolwide," said Cooper. "I started sending out emails from home and school and now people everywhere in the community are reaching out and helping. The Elk Grove Business Club is selling bracelets and members are helping with promoting them. Joseph Kerr Middle School is selling bracelets and Katherine L. Albiani Middle School recently had a skate night to raise money. It's like we're living in a 'Pay It Forward' movie - people just keep helping!"
The class has raised over $5,000 for Kylie to date. All monies raised through the selling of bracelets and other fundraisers are being placed into a trust fund for Kylie.
Fortunately, Kylie has responded well to her treatment. She has been placed in the Rapid Responder category and was able to come home on Christmas Day.
"Kylie has always been an outstanding citizen and student," said Cooper. "Although she is not currently in class with her fellow classmates, I am home schooling her and she is academically on grade level and definitely keeping pace with her classmates."
Although Cooper's class' efforts have been quite successful, she has plans to continue helping in the future.
"We plan to keep spreading the word and see what happens in this awesome community of generous people," said Cooper. "It's amazing to see how the support of both the Markofer community and other schools throughout the district have given the Applemun family hope and strength."
To get involved in Hearts for Kylie, email Cooper at rainwatercooper@comcast.net.
|
Megaconference, Jr. showcases KidsBookBlog
Sixth grade students in Denise Phillips' Language Arts class at Joseph Sims Elementary School took their year-long blogging project to a international audience as they joined in the February 19 Megaconference Jr. 2009 - an event by and for Students of the World. The students logged into the annual interactive videoconference with the purpose of inviting a world wide audience into their KidsBookBlog, a growing resource "for students who love good books."
During their 30-minute slot, the Sims students connected "live" with an elementary classroom in Minnesota and in Ohio. They introduced the project to their visitors by inviting them to login to the website, take a guided tour and post comments. They also took requests for future book reviews.
Following the KidsBookBlog presentation, the students joined "the world's youngest writer," Adora Svitak for a highly interactive session on how to write a descriptive paragraph.
Megaconference Jr., now in its sixth year, is a project designed to give students in elementary and secondary schools around the world the opportunity to communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other's learning in real time, via videoconferencing. Classrooms selected for the 12-hour event are expected to design and facilitate their presentation and activities with a focus on both academic and cultural issues.
"The Megaconference Jr. is an outstanding opportunity for students to create, connect, and share their work beyond the walls of our classroom," said Phillips. "My students were thrilled to meet students in cities they hadn't heard of before and to hear some feedback about their website. They truly enjoyed the chance to see other creative and unique presentations."
Videoconferencing connectivity at the school site was made possible by EGUSD's Technology Service's ongoing partnerships with the Sacramento Education Cable Consortium's (SECC) BESTNet - a regional high-speed network that connects all SECC K-20 member educational institutions - and the California K12 High Speed Network. California K12 High Speed Network is a state program that provides network connectivity, Internet services, teaching, learning application and videoconferencing coordination and support for California's K-12 community.
For more information about the Megaconference Jr. or other videoconferencing opportunities, contact Gail Desler in Technology Services or visit the Megaconference, Jr. website.
| |
|
|
|
