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Honoring Our Volunteers
Mark Hancock of
Joseph Kerr Middle School
Mark Hancock was recognized as an Education Partner at the December 6, 2011, meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education.
After surviving a brain aneurysm that left him blind and paralyzed for many months as a teenager, Hancock gained an appreciation for life that enables him to be a very connected at-home parent. This appreciation has helped him build character in young students.
Hancock has volunteered in many capacities throughout the district since his sons started school at Ellen Feickert Elementary School. He assists with parking lot security in the morning at Kerr every day. Hancock also ensures that students are in the appropriate area until the first bell rings. After morning breakfast, Hancock also assists the custodial staff in preparing for physical education classes in the multipurpose room.
Hancock also volunteers at Elk Grove High School. He helps keep order in the lunch room at Elk Grove High School. In addition to volunteering at his sons' schools, Hancock is also a competitive soccer coach. He is always willing to tailor his volunteer time to whatever the district needs from him.
Mark Hancock is married to Kate Hancock. They have two sons - Ross, a 9th grade student at Elk Grove High School and Ryan, an 8th grade student at Kerr.
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EGUSD Board of Education appoints new President, Clerk
Three Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education members were elected to serve in three positions at the board meeting on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.
EGUSD board member Chet Madison, Sr. became the new Board President. Al Rowlett will serve as Board Clerk. Pamela Irey was re-elected as the EGUSD Board Representative to the Sacramento County Office of Education. The term for all three positions will expire in December 2012.
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Kindergarten/
Transitional
Kindergarten
Registration
Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013 school year at Elk Grove Unified School District's year-round schools is now open. For schools on a modified traditional or traditional calendar registration will begin on January 3, 2012. In an effort to better prepare students to perform their best when they begin school, California schools are in the process of enacting the 2010 Kindergarten Readiness Act (Senate Bill 1381). This new law will change the birth date for kindergarten eligibility from December 2 to September 1 over the next three years. The new age eligibility requirement will be phased in over three years: - 2012-2013 - Child must turn 5 by November 1 to enter kindergarten
- 2013-2014 - Child must turn 5 by October 1 to enter kindergarten
- 2014-2015 - Child must turn 5 by September 1 to enter kindergarten
For the first time this year, families will also register for Transitional Kindergarten (TK), a new grade level created through the passage of the 2010 Kindergarten Readiness Act. This two-year program was created to build a bridge between early learning and kindergarten by using a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. TK will follow the same school year calendar as a kindergarten class and will contain the same number of instructional minutes per day. Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, Elk Grove Unified will begin offering TK at select elementary school sites in the district. New eligibility requirements for TK will be phased in over three years: - 2012-2013 - Child must turn 5 between November 2-December 2
- 2013-2014 - Child must turn 5 between October 2-December 2
- 2014-2015 - Child must turn 5 between September 2-December 2
EGUSD's PreK-6 Education Department is working with other departments to develop curriculum and select locations for TK classes for the 2012-2013 school year. Schools will contact parents with students who are eligible for TK after April 1, 2012 with the locations of the TK classes so parents can decide on enrolling their child. EGUSD does not provide transportation for TK. For more information about kindergarten/TK registration, contact the PreK-6 Education Department at (916) 686-7702. |
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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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Katherine L. Albiani Middle School selected
as a "School to Watch" by CDE
 Katherine L. Albiani Middle School has been selected as a "School to Watch" through the California Schools to WatchTM - Taking Center Stage program, sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE), National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform and California Middle Grades Alliance. Albiani Middle School is the second middle school in Elk Grove Unified to receive the "School to Watch" designation. The achievement gap of students at Albiani has narrowed by more than 30 points on the state's standardized tests since 2007. In October 2011, Toby Johnson Middle School - a "School to Watch" for the past six years - also earned this recognition from CDE. The school will maintain its redesignation as a "School to Watch" through 2015. 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. To apply to become a "School to Watch," middle school administrators must conduct a self-study evaluation and complete an extensive narrative application. Each site is then reviewed by a team of middle grades experts. In order to retain the designation, each school is re-evaluated every three years. Both schools will be recognized for these achievements at the California League of Middle Schools conference to be held in Sacramento in February 2012. Schools selected as a "School to Watch" demonstrate exemplary middle school design. Schools are evaluated using criteria for high performance developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. The criteria and its scoring rubric used to determine a "School to Watch" are found in the School Self-Study and Rating Rubric (SSRR). The SSRR is fully aligned to CDE's 12 recommendations to ensure success and close the achievement gap for all of California's middle grades students. Click here for more information on the California Schools to Watch - Taking Center Stage program.
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Edward Harris Jr. Middle School students
explore space at "STAR" party
On Saturday, December 3, staff, students and parents at Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School, a NASA Explorer School (NES), braved the chilly night air for a fun-filled night of stargazing with the Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society (SVAS).
The popular event gives students and parents the chance to gaze upon the stars through powerful telescopes provided by SVAS. Two years ago, students and parents participated in a star counting activity. This year, students and parents were given STAR viewing charts to try to identify constellations. The NES team provided popcorn and hot chocolate for attendees. Students from feeder elementary schools were also invited to attend the event.
"Every person that attends this event loves it," said Lisa Delfino, NES team member at Harris. "There's something about hanging out at school in the dark, drinking hot chocolate and looking at the stars that makes it a magical experience."
Harris is an alumnus NASA Explorer School. The NES program is NASA's classroom-based gateway for middle and high school students that provides authentic learning experiences designed around NASA's unique missions while promoting students engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics based on NASA's resources. As an alumnus program, Harris' program has been reorganized. Harris students continue to enjoy STAR parties, as well as Math & Science Discovery Nights and astronaut assemblies.
"My granddaughters loved the STAR Party," said Laurie Viramontes, data processor at Harris. "They had never looked through a telescope before and couldn't stop talking about the craters on the moon, the Seven Sisters star cluster and all of the other things they saw that night. They were so excited that I let them use my telescope to continue the party when we got home. The STAR Party definitely sparked their interest. I'm so thankful for programs like these to help expand a child's education."
Click here for more information about Harris' NES Program.
Click here for more information about the NASA Explorer Schools Program.
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2011/2012 No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign Poster Contest winners recognized
The winners of the 2011/2012 No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign Poster Contest were recognized for their artistic talents at the December 6, 2011 EGUSD Board of Education meeting. The poster contest gave students the opportunity to create art that illustrated rhymes featuring excuses about going to school.
Students were invited to create a picture on the entry form that reflected an attendance rhyme. Principals selected the most compelling artwork, from which the top 12 posters were chosen. The art has been turned into posters that will be sent out to schools on a monthly basis to help promote the importance of consistent school attendance. The posters will also be used for the attendance campaign in district communications and events.
The following students were the winners of the 12 poster themes this year:
- Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus." - Jenelle Casasos, Barbara Comstock Morse Elementary School
- "Be on time, your grades will climb!" - Alivia Fenika, Herman Leimbach Elementary School
- "Get to school, don't delay. Make the most of every day." - Alyssa Menard, Mary Tsukamoto Elementary School
- "Be a shining jewel and get to school." - Madeline Edel, Stone Lake Elementary School
- "The road to college begins with knowledge." - Sophie Zhang, Elliott Ranch Elementary School
- "Scared about the test? Come to school and do your best." - Curtis Lam, Arlene Hein Elementary School
- "Texting has your thumbs in pain? Go to school and educate your brain." - Rachel Jamora, Harriet Eddy Middle School
- "Don't be tardy - let's get smarty. School is better than a party!" - Do Nguyen, James Rutter Middle School
- "Early to bed, early to rise - get to school so you can be wise." - Alexandra Martinez, Harriet Eddy Middle School
- "Going to school lays a foundation, to prepare us for an occupation." - Linda Nguyen, Laguna Creek High School
- "Feeling tired? Feeling drained? Go to school, recharge your brain." - Mariah Martin, Elk Grove Charter School
- "Texting late last night? Come to school, let your brain take flight!" - Michael Hanzalik, Elk Grove Charter School
The No Excuses - Go to School attendance campaign focuses on the theme of "responsibility" to promote the importance of consistent school attendance. The program is an outreach approach to parents and community members through school newsletter articles, press releases, letters home, posters, flyers and incentive contests.
The 2010-2011 No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign contributed to an increase in district-wide attendance of .38 percent, which equates to an additional $1.4 million in funding for the district through average daily attendance (ADA).
Click here for more information about Elk Grove Unified's No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign.
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Elitha Donner Elementary School student wins EGUSD Spelling Bee
After an intense four-hour competition - the longest in EGUSD Spelling Bee history - Elitha Donner Elementary School sixth grader John Gulden correctly spelled the word "crucible" to win the 2011 Elk Grove Unified School District Spelling Bee on December 7.
This year's runner-up was Jacob Padua, a sixth grade student at Raymond Case Elementary School.
A total of 39 competitors representing 31 elementary and eight middle schools from the district participated in this year's competition. Participants first took a written test followed by the more traditional oral competition.
Marsha Holmes, a long-time Elk Grove community member and EGUSD supporter, served as the official word pronouncer at this year's spelling bee. Other judges included Cecelia Bazett, Marie Coleman and Kathi Goldsberry.
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