| Honoring Our Volunteers
Lisa Collins of Calvine High School
Lisa Collins was recognized as an Education Partner at the May 3, 2011, meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education.
Lisa has been a dedicated volunteer at Calvine High School for the past two years. During her first year, she was voted in as chairperson for the Calvine Parent Advisory group, a position she has held for two consecutive years. Through her parent group leadership, she has been instrumental in assisting the Calvine administration and staff in creating a culture that pursues and supports greater student learning.
Lisa's personal dedication and assistance during the recent WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) visit helped provide concrete evidence of Calvine's improved parent/community communication and school performance.
Lisa has one son, Jessie - a student at Calvine.
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New California immunization law for incoming 7th-12th grade students
A new California law now requires that all students entering 7th through 12th grade in the 2011-2012 school year provide schools proof that they have received an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot (Tdap) prior to starting school.
Students will not be able to attend school in 2011-2012 until they show proof of the booster shot.
The new law was enacted following a widespread pertussis epidemic in 2010. Pertussis is a serious disease that causes coughing fits that can last for months. It can also be deadly for infants.
Once your student receives the Tdap booster shot, bring the written proof to the front office of your student's current school. If your student has already received the Tdap booster shot, please bring a copy of the written proof to your student's current school.
The Elk Grove Unified School District is urging parents of current 6th through 11th graders to get the booster shot now to avoid the back-to-school rush this summer. Please note that the tetanus-diphtheria booster shot (Td) does not meet the requirement of the law. Students must have the Tdap booster to meet the requirements of the new law.
California law allows parents/guardians to exempt their child from the pertussis booster (Tdap) immunization for two reasons: (1) medical (by way of letter from physician) or (2) personal beliefs. The law does not allow parents/guardians to elect an exemption out of convenience. The exemption form is available at the school and must be completed at the school of attendance. If you have questions, contact the nurse or Health Records Assistant at the school.
After the 2011-2012 school year, only students entering 7th grade will need to show proof of having received the adolescent pertussis booster shot.
For additional information, please visit the California Department of Public Health website.
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EGUSD Virtual Academy to hold Open Houses for new students and parents
The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) Virtual Academy will hold open houses for new students and parents to provide an overview of the district's K-12 virtual education program, meet staff and ask questions. Registration for the 2011-2012 school year is now open. Registration materials can be obtained or submitted during these open houses or parents can visit http://blogs.egusd.net/egva/ to download materials. Open houses will be held at Cosumnes Oaks High School (8350 Lotz Parkway, Elk Grove 95757) in the Computer Lab near the Library on the following dates: Wednesday, May 25th 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 16th 12 p.m. Friday, July 22nd 3 p.m. For more information about the EGUSD Virtual Academy, contact (916) 686-7747, email EGVirtual@egusd.net or visit http://blogs.egusd.net/egva/.
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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.
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 Following the legislature's failure to take action on a budget solution for education, the Elk Grove Unified School District is faced with $40 million in budget reductions for the 2011-2012 school year. Governor Brown, State Superintendent of Public Education Torlakson, and the California Teachers Association have all declared a fiscal emergency. This is now the fourth year in a row that the state's fiscal crisis has had a significant impact on EGUSD. Over the past three years, state budget cuts have translated into a $100 million or 27 percent budget cut to EGUSD. The additional $40 million EGUSD faces for the 2011-2012 school year will translate to a 36 percent reduction to the district's budget over the past four years. School districts are required by law to submit a three-year budget projection to the Sacramento County Office of Education by July 1 of each year. Failure to demonstrate that the district can balance its budget for the next three years results in sanctions. Due to the state's cuts to public education, EGUSD has held a qualified budget certification since 2009-2010. EGUSD is currently facing the possibility of a negative certification, which is assigned when a district will be unable to meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the current year or for the subsequent fiscal year. Even after EGUSD implements the $40 million for 2011-2012, the district's three-year budget plan includes a negative balance in 2012-2013 and again in 2013-2014. A negative certification will likely result in a state-appointed fiscal advisor being assigned to the district to assist with identifying areas for reduction. The 2011-2012 cuts are dismal and will directly impact school sites next year. They include increased class sizes in kindergarten through sixth grade to a 30:1 student to teacher ratio. Over the summer, EGUSD is planning to use facilities funds to increase the physical size of our elementary classrooms to better accommodate increased class sizes. The list also includes increased class sizes at middle and high schools. At the district level, there are cuts to administrators, office assistants, support personnel, and services. Every department in the district is affected. Elementary computer teaching positions, secondary librarians and counselors are on the list of budget cuts. Athletics is being reduced by an additional 10 percent, amounting to a $1 million reduction over two years. Two-way transportation for our general education kindergarten and secondary students is on the list to be reduced to one-way transportation. The entire list of cuts and more details about the budget can be found on the district's Budget Watch webpage at http://www.egusd.net/news/budget/index.cfm. Parents, staff and community members can express their support for adequate funding for public education by contacting their legislators. |
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EGUSD teacher earns 2011 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence
Paul Swain, a science teacher at Katherine L. Albiani Middle School, has been selected as one of six recipients of the 2011 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence (AASTE) in California. Swain was presented with his award at a staff meeting on May 9.
Swain is among 34 teachers to receive the 2011 AASTE in locations where Amgen has operating sites: California, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington and Canada.
"Albiani Middle School is exceptionally proud of Paul," said Melanie Dopson, principal at Albiani. "He is a creative and inspirational science/AVID teacher. Paul loves teaching middle school students and dedicates countless hours to his profession and his students. We are extremely fortunate to have Paul Swain as a member of the incredible Albiani teaching team."
Amgen designed the AASTE program to recognize and honor extraordinary science teachers at the K-12 level who significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning. Each teacher will receive an unrestricted $5,000 grant and their schools will receive a restricted $5,000 grant which can be used for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program, science resources or the professional development of the school's science teachers. Since the program's inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded over $3 million dollars to more than 200 educators and schools that have made exceptional contributions to the science teaching field.
For more information about the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence, visit http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/aaste.html.
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Valley High School hosts 5th Annual Health & Fitness Expo
Students and staff at Valley High School, as well as members of the surrounding community, eagerly participated in the 5th Annual Health and Fitness Expo, held at Valley High School on April 29.
"The Health and Fitness Expo has been a tremendous success over the past five years," said Keven MacDonald, principal at Valley. "Through this event, the Valley High School Health TECH Academy has made a name for itself as a community leader in health advocacy. As a result, the Health Expo has continued to bring more opportunities for our students to promote health and fitness in our surrounding community."
Visitors could participate in a variety of activities at the Health and Fitness Expo. In the gymnasium, informational booths featuring student projects as well as community groups and health organizations provided take-home materials to increase awareness about health and fitness. Outside of the gymnasium, students and community members could visit booths promoting healthy eating, as well as participate in physical activities, such as Zumba, Macumba and martial arts. The U.S. Army also brought their popular rock wall for event attendees to climb.
The Health and Fitness Expo is presented by the Health TECH (Tomorrow's Employees in Careers in Health) Academy at Valley. The Health TECH Academy is designed for students interested in health-related careers. This academy is an innovative four-year program that combines advanced technology, student work place experience and direct contact with local health officials to create a unique educational experience for all students interested in any health-related occupation.
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Class of 2011 Graduations Schedule
As the end of the 2010-2011 school year rapidly approaches, graduation season is almost upon us. The following Elk Grove Unified School District comprehensive and alternative high schools will hold their commencement ceremonies on these dates at the following locations:
Monday, May 16
Monterey Trail High School - 12 noon (Power Balance Pavilion)
Florin High School - 3:30 p.m. (Power Balance Pavilion)
Cosumnes Oaks High School - 7 p.m. (Power Balance Pavilion)
Tuesday, May 17
Valley High School - 12 noon (Power Balance Pavilion)
Elk Grove High School - 3:30 p.m. (Power Balance Pavilion)
Pleasant Grove High School - 7 p.m. (Power Balance Pavilion)
Wednesday, May 18
Sheldon High School - 12 noon (Power Balance Pavilion)
Laguna Creek High School - 3:30 p.m. (Power Balance Pavilion)
Franklin High School - 7 p.m. (Power Balance Pavilion)
Thursday, May 19
Calvine High School - 9:30 a.m. (Sheldon High School PAC)
Elk Grove Charter School - 11:30 a.m. (Sheldon High School PAC)
Las Flores High School - 2 p.m. (Sheldon High School PAC)
Friday, May 20
William Daylor High School - 9:30 a.m. (Sheldon High School PAC)
Rio Cazadero High School - 11:30 a.m. (Sheldon High School PAC)
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