Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School students experience "A Day in the Life of a Law Student"

On March 9, 32 lucky 8^th grade students from Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School had the opportunity to spend the day walking the halls of the University of California, Davis School of Law during the UC Davis La Raza Law Students Association's "A Day in the Life of a Law Student."  Students were selected to attend the event based on teacher recommendations and through interest expressed by students to school administrators.

"The La Raza Law Students Association sponsored this event in an effort to educate young people from underrepresented groups on the educational opportunities awaiting them in life - not just law school specifically, but the benefits of higher education in general," said Jeanne Carroll, a science teacher at Harris who chaperoned the students to the event.  "The law students hope that early exposure will help the students to understand the importance of doing well in school at the middle school level and beyond."

The students were placed into groups of seven and spent the day participating in an extensive list of activities, including taking a tour of the school's counseling and career center, meeting two law school professors, participating in a college feud game show, attending a law school class specifically created for them, and participating in a mock trial where the Harris students served as jurors, prosecutors and defense attorneys.  The UC Davis law students served as parties and witnesses.

"The energy of the law students was a wonderful thing to see," Carroll said.  "Our students were provided a bird's eye view of a college campus and exposed to the workings of a law school.  Professors and law students alike expressed interest in our students and allowed them to learn about an aspect of law and then practice it.  As a result, the students were interested, engaged and challenged."

Principal gets to "Kiss A Pig"  

- all in the name of reading

On Wednesday, March 21, Charles Mack Elementary School principal puckered up and made good on a promise she made to her students - by kissing a pig.

After thwarting Oscar the pig's quick attempt at an escape, students squealed with delight as Collier planted three big ones on Oscar -  the "guest of honor" provided for the special occasion by the California Education Through Animals (CETA) Foundation.  The Mack principal had earned her fate with the lucky pig by challenging the students at Mack to reach 20,000 points through the school's Accelerated Reader (AR) program.

Although the AR program was used in certain classrooms for years at Mack, Collier made the decision to take the program school-wide three years ago.  Each year, the program continues to grow at Mack.  The program offers many benefits for students, including personalizing reading practice to each student's current reading level, making essential reading practice more effective for every student and helping to build a lifelong love of reading.  The program also supports a variety of academic standards, including fluency, comprehension and vocabulary development.

"What makes the AR program fun and interesting are the incentives we offer the students," said Heather Wygocki, an academic intervention teacher at Mack.  "We have weekly rewards for classrooms in each grade level that earns the highest point total.  We give out monthly awards for students that meet or exceed their classroom point goals.  Teachers have  AR charts up in their classrooms and a huge bulletin board is on display in the multipurpose room that tracks our progress school-wide.  But the most popular rewards are where the teachers or staff participate in dance or skits in front of the students.  Roberta's {Collier} promise really motivated the students to reach that 20,000 point goal!"

Now that Collier has paid the piper, Mack vice-principal Martin Hock is now on the hook.  He promised he would let a Mack student shave his head if the school reaches 30,000 points in the AR program.  From the looks of things, Hock should get his clippers ready because the Mack students are eagerly reading to surpass this goal.

Click here for more information about the AR program.  

As the end of March draws closer, so does the conclusion of the 2011/2012 school year.  In addition to the promise of a relaxing summer, students also have other exciting events to look forward to - monthly and end-of-the-year grand prizes in the No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign.

The No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign is an outreach approach to parents and community members through school newsletter articles, press releases, letters home, posters, calendars and flyers. Student support is sought through monthly incentives donated by local businesses and community members.  Each month throughout the school year, a list is compiled of students with perfect attendance at 63 district schools.  From that list, one student's name from each school is drawn to receive an incentive.  April is the last month to have a chance to win a monthly prize so be sure to encourage your student(s) to attend all their classes every day to be eligible to win prizes from the Sacramento River Cats, Rubio's Mexican Grill and the Cheese Steak Restaurant.

One of our most popular contests - the annual bike giveaway - has returned this year as an attendance incentive for elementary school students.  Each month a student has perfect attendance, they earn an entry in the drawing for a new bike and helmet at the end of the school year.  One bike and helmet combo will be given away at each elementary school in the district.  Schools will be picking their winners in late April so stay tuned for the names of the lucky students!

Our newest contest, the laptop giveaway, is an incentive contest exclusively for middle school students and high school students in grades 9-11.  The concept is the same as the elementary bike giveaway - each month of perfect attendance earns students another entry in the drawing to be selected as a finalist for the Grand Finale Event to be held at the district office in May.

For the sixth year in a row, the Elk Grove Auto Mall is sponsoring the Graduating Seniors Attendance Drive for one lucky graduating senior with at least five months of perfect attendance and at least a 2.0 GPA.  The winner of the Elk Grove Auto Mall Graduating Seniors Attendance Drive will win the $20,000 grand prize to purchase a vehicle from ANY of the Elk Grove Auto Mall's 20 brands.  One senior from each comprehensive high school and one senior representing all of the alternative schools will be invited to the Grand Finale Event on May 11 to compete for the grand prize so be sure to remind your senior students to attend all of their classes - every day - to make sure they are eligible to be selected as the top winner!

Click here for more information about the No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign.