Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School teacher receives state commission appointment
Mark Freathy, a math teacher at Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School, has been appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Academic Content Standards Commission.
The Academic Content Standards Commission was established by SBX5 1 by Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) to evaluate the national Common Core State Standards for statewide adoption and to make recommendations to the California State Board of Education on any adjustments necessary to ensure that California's rigorous standards are maintained.
Freathy has worked as a math teacher and math department chair for the Elk Grove Unified School District since 1989. From 1986 to 1989, he was a special day class teacher at Don Lugo High School and vice principal at Ramona Jr. High School in the Chino Unified School District. Freathy is a member of the California Mathematics Council and the California League of Middle Schools. He earned a Master of Education degree in educational administration from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Arts degree in special education from Michigan State University, East Lansing.
|
EGUSD receives energy conservation award from SMUD
The Elk Grove Unified School District has been selected as a 2010 recipient of the SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utilities District) Community Energy Award for its multi-faceted energy conservation and awareness efforts in several areas throughout the district. The district was honored at a SMUD Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, July 15.
Elk Grove Unified efforts to conserve energy encourages participation from students, staff and administrators. The district's newest schools - Sunrise Elementary School, Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School and Cosumnes Oaks High School - were designed and built to exceed California's Title 24 standards by 10 percent. In addition, energy efficient designs were incorporated into the modernization projects at Herman Leimbach and James McKee elementary schools.
The district has also extended energy conservation to its vast computer network. PC Management software was installed on more than 11,500 computers throughout the district, ensuring that all school district computers are powered down every evening and on weekends.
Elk Grove Unified also worked closely with a SMUD representative in implementing a behavior modification program to cut back on energy usage. The district has already reduced energy usage by 10 percent just three months into the program.
As a result of Elk Grove Unified's efforts, the district has reduced energy consumption by over 2,452,000 kilowatt hours annually - which is equal to eliminating over 230 cars from the road each year.
The Community Energy Awards recognizes commercial customers who share SMUD's values of energy efficiency and environmental sensitivity, and who have turned these beliefs into actions. Award recipients have controlled their energy usage, improved their bottom lines and reduced the amount of energy that must be generated for the Sacramento area. For more information about the SMUD Community Energy Awards, click here. |
EGUSD 10th Annual Golf Tournament for college scholarships now accepting registrations
The Elk Grove Unified School District will host its 10th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 7 at Bing Maloney Golf Course in Sacramento. The golf event is the main fundraiser for the district's college scholarship fund and has successfully raised over $130,000 to date.
The college fund was created by EGUSD employees to support students pursuing post-secondary education. Because of the continued success of the golf tournament, EGUSD employees have been able to award over 130 $1,000 scholarships to EGUSD graduates and fund a $10,000 Golden 50 Endowed Scholarship in honor of the district's 50th Anniversary.
The tournament offers participants 18 holes of golf (including golf cart), lunch, prizes for the winning team, and men's and women's longest drive and accuracy contests. Participants also can take part in a putting contest with EGUSD Superintendent Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D.
The cost is $95 per player with $20 going directly to the scholarship fund. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the tournament begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. at Bing Maloney Golf Course (6801 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95822).
For more information on registration or sponsorship, please visit www.egusd.net/golf or call Greg Lindner at 916-686-7710, x2041. |
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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
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.
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. 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.
|
|
No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign returns for fifth year
The No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign will return for its fifth year for the 2010-2011 school year. The campaign is centered around the theme of "responsibility" - which reinforces the concept that being in class means being a responsible person.
The Attendance Campaign's newest addition this year is the 1st Annual No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign Video Commercial Contest. The Video Commercial Contest will ask students to create short commercials stressing the importance of consistent school attendance. The Superintendent's Cabinet will select the winners in each grade-level division. The winning commercials will be used for the attendance campaign in district communications and events. Information about the contest will be sent home with students during the week of August 23.
One of the most popular features of the Attendance Campaign are the monthly prizes. Monthly incentives will start in September at all schools throughout the district. To be eligible for these monthly school prizes, students will have to achieve perfect attendance for the past immediate month (i.e. to be eligible for the drawing in October, the student would need to have perfect attendance for the month of September.)
In addition to the monthly elementary school giveaways, elementary school students will also have a chance to win a new bicycle and helmet through the Perfect Attendance Bike Giveaway. Each month that a student has perfect attendance, they will earn one entry into a drawing for the bike giveaway. One elementary school student at each elementary school will win a new bicycle and helmet.
Lastly, the Elk Grove Auto Mall Graduating Seniors Attendance Drive will also return for its fifth run. The concept of the Senior Attendance Drive is similar to the bike giveaway. Twelfth grade students will have a chance to earn entries for a chance to win $20,000 to purchase a vehicle from any dealership at the Elk Grove Auto Mall. This year, the Attendance Drive will include Cosumnes Oaks High School, as they will have their first senior class.
For more information about the Attendance Campaign, click here.
|
|
Elitha Donner Elementary School recognized by Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Elitha Donner Elementary School has been selected as one of 100 schools in California to receive a DanceDanceRevolution system from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Donner was selected for this award based on its participation in the 2010 Governor's Challenge Competition, a contest that promotes increased physical activity and better nutrition among California's youth. More than 560 students, teachers and parents at Donner successfully completed the Governor's Challenge of being active 30-60 minutes a day - outside of school - at least three days a week for a month in the 2009-2010 school year. Donner recorded a total of 34,040 minutes of physical activity.
"We were very excited to have another fun way to stay active through the Governor's Challenge," said Michelle Jenkins, principal at Donner. "Creating healthy fitness habits now will benefit all of our children and families well into their future. As a school, we encourage healthy habits as they have a direct impact on school attendance and academic success."
Across California, more than 1.3 million participants recorded more than 11 million days of physical activity through the Governor's Challenge in 2010.
The Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians, with an emphasis on children and youth. For more information on the Governor's Challenge, visit www.CalGovCouncil.org.
|
|
EGUSD teachers receive $5,000 NEA Foundation grants
Two sets of Elk Grove Unified School District elementary school teachers have received $5,000 grants from the NEA (National Education Association) Foundation.
Jackie Ferreira and Tara Higashino of Union House Elementary School, as well as Jessika Negrete and Mikako Fisher of Prairie Elementary School received the Learning and Leadership grants to create high-quality professional development activities.
Ferreira and Higashino will use grant funds to create an effective, research-driven math and science website to build the technology capacity of educators and to serve as a collaborative, interactive website that will include online tools, document sharing, web-based activities and video streaming. The goal of the website is to help students excel in California math and science content standards.
Negrete and Fisher will use their grant to increase the proficiency of English Language Learners (ELL) within Elk Grove Unified. Through the grant, a team of educators will identify schools in Northern California that have been successful in assisting ELL students to read at grade level. The team will target the most effective teaching practices and implement them district-wide within Elk Grove Unified.
The NEA Foundation awards two primary categories of grants to public education professionals: Student Achievement Grants - for initiatives to improve academic achievement, and Learning and Leadership Grants - for high-quality professional development activities. The NEA Foundation has awarded more than $6 million in grants like these over the past decade to educators in every state in the country. Each year, the Foundation awards approximately 150 Student Achievement and Learning and Leadership grants. Since 1999, the Foundation has funded 168 grants for California educators.
|
|
|
|
|
