Honoring Our Volunteers
Beth Adams of Cosumnes Oaks High School
Beth Adams was recognized as an Education Partner at the April 20, 2010 meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education.
Beth has been involved at Cosumnes Oaks High School from its very beginning. She was one of the first parents to indicate her interest in supporting the school and has worked tirelessly to ensure that COHS students have a quality experience. She models the importance of parent involvement as a key to creating a great school and also works constantly to recruit and encourage other parents to get involved.
Currently, Beth is vice-president of the COHS Football Boosters and is an active member of the COHS Track Parent Group. She has taken on the daunting task of running the snack bar for all football games and track meets. Beth also serves on the Academic Support Team, which is designed to help athletes on campus maintain their grades throughout the school year.
Beth is married to Jeffrey Adams. They have three children - Jeffrey, a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, Brandon, a sophomore at Cosumnes Oaks and Courtney, a 7th grade student at Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School.
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Batey students perform at California PTA Convention
On April 30, students in Melody Bruch and Lynette Byrd's third grade classes had the honor of performing for over 2,000 attendees at the state convention for the California State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at the Sacramento Convention Center.
Bruch and Byrd's students performed the musical "Mighty Minds," the story of students who are stressed about their upcoming CST tests and need a reminder from their 'Mighty Minded' teachers that they are ready and have all the tools they need to be successful.
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Help EGUSD elementary schools earn Farmers Market Days from Paragary Restaurant Group
Paragary Restaurant Group will award $5,000 to a local group to help make a positive impact in the community. You can help bring Farmers Market Days to elementary schools across Elk Grove Unified by voting here. The winner will be announced on May 5th at Centro's 16th Annual Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Fiesta. |
EGUSD preschool programs now accepting enrollment
The Elk Grove Unified School District offers a variety of preschool programs for 3½ and 4-year-old children. Head Start, State Preschool and Title I Preschool are currently accepting enrollment for the 2010 - 2011 school year. These programs are funded from different sources and have varying requirements. Head StartHead Start is a federally-funded program for preschool children from low-income families. Head Start is operated by the Early Childhood Education Department in Elk Grove Unified. At Head Start, children participate in educational activities focusing on emerging literacy and numeracy skills. They also receive health follow-ups, and enjoy healthy meals and snacks and playing outdoors in a safe environment. Special services are offered for children with disabilities. Classes are 3½ hours long, Monday through Thursday. State PreschoolCalifornia's State Preschool income-eligible program is available for 4 year-old children. This state-funded program focuses on preparing students for kindergarten and first grade. Classes in this program are 3 hours long, Monday through Friday. Title I PreschoolTitle I Preschool is for children who reside within the boundaries of a Title I school. To register a child for any of these programs, please call 916-686-7595. Preschool registration is ongoing throughout the year. Elk Grove Unified also offers parent participation preschool programs through Adult Education. For registration information on parent participation preschool programs, please call 916-686-7717 or click here.
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Ellen Feickert Elementary School student wins "Fight the Bite" calendar contest
Zalea Bjorgum, a first grade student at Ellen Feickert Elementary School, was recently awarded first place in the grade K-3 category of the Spring 2010 Fight the Bite Calendar Page Contest, sponsored by the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. This year, the contest received over 1,750 entries. All winning entries will be used in the 2011 Fite the Bite calendar and distributed at events later in the year. Bjorgum earned a cash prize for herself and also for her school. She will also have the chance to be in a commercial that will be aired on Radio Disney. The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District provides year-round mosquito and vector control services. To view Zalea's winning poster, click here. |
Support CA Kids Meeting at MTHS
Support CA Kids will hold a public meeting in support of adequate funding for education from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Monterey Trail High School's multipurpose room. MTHS is at 8661 Power Inn Road, Elk Grove, CA, 95624.
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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.
***BREAKING NEWS*** EGUSD is now on Twitter and Facebook! 
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Arthur C. Butler Elementary students fly paper airplanes across the state and throughout the world
Students in Nancy Ludu's 4th grade class at Arthur C. Butler Elementary School participated in MegaConference Jr. 2010 - a daylong event designed to give students in elementary through secondary schools around the world the opportunity to communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other's learning in real time, using video conferencing.
Butler students joined Ryan Howatt's 4th grade classroom at Mesa Elementary School in Ventura, California, to learn more about Wings at Work, their year-long exploration of statistics and graphing using paper airplanes.
The Mesa students presented what they had discovered about flight and then hosted a lively interactive quiz show for the Butler students and several other classrooms at points across the nation and world. The Butler students quickly fired back answer after answer, receiving an enthusiastic applause from all viewers.
"My students are really looking forward to pursuing the study of flight, based on their Megaconference experience. What a great way to connect two classrooms and begin a collaboration around a shared interest!" said Ludu. "And the opportunity to have an international audience - from as far away as Croatia and Taiwan - also joining in the event really added to the experience."
Fourth grader Rahib Hamade summed up the event as, "So fun! We got to fly paper airplanes with another classroom. And I really liked learning new dance steps from the high school students in Taiwan."
Classmate Sophia Rusk added, "I really enjoyed doing this! I hope that the kids in third grade will get to do the video conference when they are in fourth grade. The best was getting to see students from other countries that got up at 5 a.m. in the morning to be a part of the conference!
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.
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Voluntary Athletic Contributions
The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) has long been known for its excellent athletic programs. The district is proud of this reputation and recognizes that athletics support students' physical, social, and academic development. Unfortunately, due to the financial crisis in the State of California and the reduction of funding for public education, the district has been forced to cut over $60 million from its 2010-11 budget, including more than $900,000 to high school athletics.
A Parent Advisory Committee was formed to explore alternative financial options for supporting the district's athletic programs. As a result of the recommendations of this parent committee, as well as those of principals, athletic directors, and coaches, the Board of Education approved the implementation of a Voluntary Athletic Contribution (VAC) plan beginning in 2010-11.
The purpose of the plan is to support EGUSD athletic programs and help offset district and school site costs associated with the potential reinstatement of any eliminated programs next year or in future years. The district encourages your help and support to ensure the success of the plan.
The district is seeking to raise $700,000 in donations through the VAC plan. To accomplish this, every student-athlete is encouraged to contribute in support of the district's athletics under the VAC. The Parent Advisory Committee has determined that the following suggested voluntary contributions per athlete for 2010-11 would result in meeting the VAC fund-raising goal:
First Sport - $125
Second Sport/Second Sibling - $100
Third Sport/Third Sibling - $ 75
Family Plan - $450
It is not the intent of the VAC to create a financial hardship. VAC contributions are not mandatory. While a student will not be adversely affected in terms of her/his participation in the district's athletic programs should a family choose not to make financial contributions, neither will VAC contributions ensure a student's inclusion on a team or guarantee playing time. Families who wish to contribute more or less than the suggested amount or choose not to make a contribution may indicate so on the VAC form. All VAC contributions are tax-deductible.
EGUSD is grateful for parents continued support of EGUSD athletics, especially in these uncertain economic times. The district's goal is to continue to offer a quality and comprehensive athletic program at each of its comprehensive high school sites. The voluntary contribution will provide students with the opportunity to enhance their personal growth and have a positive high school experience through participation in athletics.
More information about the district's budget reductions, athletic programs and the voluntary athletic contribution (including the form) can be viewed on the EGUSD website at www.egusd.net. Students interested in participating in high school athletics will be provided a form along with other information about their participating in a sport.
Parents and community members interested in making an additional tax-deductible donation to athletics, please contact the EGUSD Fiscal Services Department at (916) 686-7797, extension 7663.
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FBI Agent visits Monterey Trail High School DATA Academy
 Students in Monterey Trail High School's Design and Technology Academy (DATA) had the chance to chat exclusively with a real FBI agent when Special Agent LuAnna Harmon stopped by for a visit in April.
"Our students were really fortunate to hear LuAnna speak," said Cindy Lascola, a DATA teacher at Monterey Trail. "Doc Dochtermann, one of our academy mentors from Microsoft, was instrumental in getting her here after having a conversation with some of our students who were interested in the FBI."
Harmon spoke to about 130 DATA students after-school about life as an FBI agent and answered questions from students. Harmon, a FBI agent for over 20 years, discussed cyber-terrorism and careers within the FBI. She also highlighted computer forensics and how students can be safe when using the Internet.
Computer forensics is the investigation and analysis of a suspect's computer to uncover evidence of a crime. The FBI uses many methods for recovering deleted, encrypted or damaged files to reveal information stored in a computer.
"Many of our students want to major in Computer Science, although LuAnna pointed out that the FBI will consider people with any college degree," said Lascola. "She mentioned that the FBI wants to develop a diverse workforce with different perspectives, which gave many students not planning on majoring in the sciences that the FBI might be a potential career path for them as well."
Lascola said her students benefited from the presentation.
"As an academy, we like to connect the concepts that the students are learning in class with real life applications," said Lascola. "LuAnna's presentation tied together our concepts and potential careers perfectly."
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EGUSD High School Graduation Schedule
As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, graduation season is almost upon us. The following comprehensive and alternative high schools will hold their commencement ceremonies on these dates:
Monday, May 24
Sheldon High School - 12 noon (Arco Arena)
Florin High School - 3:30 p.m. (Arco Arena)
Monterey Trail High School - 7 p.m. (Arco Arena)
Tuesday, May 25
Calvine High School - 9 a.m. (Sheldon PAC)
Valley High School - 12 noon (Arco Arena)
Elk Grove High School - 3:30 p.m. (Arco Arena)
Pleasant Grove High School - 7 p.m. (Arco Arena)
Wednesday, May 26
Elk Grove Charter School - 9:30 a.m. (Sheldon PAC)
Las Flores High School - 11:30 a.m. (Sheldon PAC)
Laguna Creek High School - 3:30 p.m. (Arco Arena)
Franklin High School - 7 p.m. (Arco Arena)
Thursday, May 27
William Daylor High School - 9:30 a.m. (Sheldon PAC)
Rio Cazadero High School - 11:30 a.m. (Sheldon PAC)
Thursday, June 3
Adult Education - 7 p.m. (Sheldon PAC)
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