Twin Rivers Unified School District

Welcome Back to School!
eWeek At a Glance  Week of 
 August 17, 2009
Welcome to the TRUSD eWAG.  We hope you find this electronic week at a glance helpful. 
 
We are actively soliciting information on events and news items from our schools, departments and community organizations.  Please send them to Kathy.Young@twinriversusd.org or call our Communications Department at 916.566.1628.
 
Quote of the Week
"Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk."

-Doug Larson, cartoonist
Events, Gatherings & Meetings

Saturday, August 15th
~ Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
~ Elkhorn Farmers' Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
~ RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching) Annual Back to School Sale, 3136 Howard Street at McClellan, 9:30am to 4pm
~ E.A.T. from the Garden free adult cooking and gardening classes, 5th of 6 sessions, Grant HS Room W-42, 10am to 1pm, call Fatima Malik at 916.256.6593 or Genine Morris at 916.256.6100

Sunday, August 16th
~ Ice Cream Social sponsored by Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society, Dry Creek Ranch House, 2pm
 
Monday, August 17th
~ TRERC - Certificated (Twin Rivers Employee Relations Council), District Office Bay-A Pine Room, 4:15 to 6pm
 
Tuesday, August 18th
~ Back to School Night, Highlands Academy of Arts & Design, 6 to 7pm
~ Board of Trustees Meeting, District Office Bay-A, 6:30pm
 
Wednesday, August 19th
~ Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567.9567
~ Back to School Night, Foothill Oaks Elementary, 5:30 to 7:30pm
~ Back to School Night, Sierra View Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
  
Thursday, August 20th
~ American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (a 5k walk to save lives) kickoff breakfast, call 916.446.7933 or e-mail MakingStridesSacramento@cancer.org
~ Community Farm Stand, Las Palmas Adult School at the corner of Las Palmas Avenue and Fairfield Street, 8:30 to 10:30am, EBT accepted
~ Community Farm Stand, Freedom Park Head Start at 6015 Watt Avenue, noon to 2pm EBT accepted
~ Back to School Night, Del Paso Heights Elementary, 6 to 7pm
~ Back to School Night, Westside Campus of Westside Preparatory Charter School, 6 to 7pm
~ Back to School Night, Regency Park Elementary, 6 to7:30pm


Saturday, August 22nd
~ Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30 am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
~ Elkhorn Farmers' Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
~ "Algebraic Reasoning" Professional Development for Educators of Grades 3-5 at RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching), 3136 Howard Street in McClellan Park, 9am to noon
Looking Ahead
August 24 through October 16
   TRUSD Essay/Poster Contest for Grades K through 12. call Gewon Richards @ 916.566.1600 x 1264

August 25
   Back to School Night, Rio Tierra Junior High, 5:30 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Rio Linda Junior High, 6 to 7:30pm

August 26 and 27
   Walgreen's Community Wellness Van, CA State Fair, noon to 8pm

August 26
   Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567.9567
   Back to School Night, Garden Valley Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Smythe Academy (K-6 campus), 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Woodlake Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Village Elementary, 6 to 8pm
   Back to School Night, Rio Linda Elementary, 6:30 to 8pm

August 27
   Community Farm Stand, Las Palmas Adult School at the corner of Las Palmas Avenue and Fairfield Street, 8:30 to 10:30am, EBT accepted       
  Community Farm Stand, Freedom Park Head Start at 6015 Watt Avenue, noon to 2pm, EBT accepted
   Back to School Night, Dry Creek Elementary, 5 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Noralto Elementary, 5 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Allison Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, F.C. Joyce Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Madison Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Woodridge Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Norwood Junior High, 5:30 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Northwood Elementary, 6 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Pioneer Elementary, 6 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Creative Connections Arts Academy, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Frontier Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Hagginwood Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Hillsdale Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Pathways Community Day School and Vineland Preschool, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Aero Haven Elementary, 6:30 to 8pm

August 29
   Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
   Elkhorn Farmers' Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
   "Dry Ice Investigations" Professional Development for Educators of Grades 5-10 at RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching), 3136 Howard Street in McClellan Park, 9am to noon

August 30
   Walgreen's Community Wellness Van, 5020 Madison Avenue, noon to 6pm

August 31 to September 3
   Professional Development Day (non-student day), one per school, see date for schedule

August 31
   Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
Aero Haven Elementary
Babcock Elementary
Castori Elementary
Del Paso Heights Elementary
Dry Creek Elementary
Foothill High School
Foothill Oaks Elementary
Garden Valley Elementary
Grant Union High School
Highlands Academy of Arts & Design
Kohler Elementary
Orchard Elementary
Rio Linda High School
 
September 1
    Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
Fairbanks Elementary
Foothill Farms Junior High
Hagginwood Elementary
Harmon Johnson Elementary
F.C. Joyce Elementary
Martin Luther King, Jr., Technology Academy
Larchmont Elementary
Madison Elementary
Noralto Elementary
Norwood Junior High
Oakdale Elementary
Rio Linda Junior High
Rio Tierra Junior High
Sierra View Elementary
   Back to School Night, Foothill Farms Junior High, 6 to 8pm
   Board of Trustees Meeting, District Office Bay-A, 6:30pm
 
September 2
   Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
Allison Elementary
Creative Connections Arts Academy
Eastside Campus of WPCS (Westside Preparatory Charter School)
Frontier Campus of WPCS (Westside Preparatory Charter School)
Frontier Elementary
Hillsdale Elementary
Northwood Elementary
Pioneer Elementary
Ridgepoint Elementary
Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences (K-6)
Westside Campus of WPCS (Westside Preparatory Charter School)
Westside Elementary
   Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567-9567
   Back to School Night, Oakdale Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
 
September 3
    Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
Morey Avenue Early Childhood Development Center
North Avenue Elementary
Pathways Community Day School
Regency Park Elementary
Rio Linda Elementary
Robinson Community Day School
Strauch Elementary
Village Elementary
Woodlake Elementary
Woodridge Elementary
   Community Farm Stand, Las Palmas Adult School at the corner of Las Palmas Avenue and Fairfield Street, 8:30 to 10:30am, EBT accepted
   Community Farm Stand, Freedom Park Head Start at 6015 Watt Avenue, noon to 2pm, EBT accepted
   Back to School Night, Castori Elementary, 5:30 to 6:30pm
   Back to School Night, Kohler Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, North Avenue Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Foothill High School, 6 to 8pm
   Back to School Night, Rio Linda High School, 6 to 8pm
   Back to School Night, Harmon Johnson Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
   Back to School Night, Smythe Academy (middle school campus), 7 to 8pm
   
September 4
   Student Minimum Day, Junior High and Senior High only
 
September 5
   Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
   Elkhorn Farmer's Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
   Classic Car Show & Swap Meet, Dry Creek Ranch House, 8am to 4pm, for car show information call Bob Bastian at 916.991.2484, for swap meet information call Al at 916.991.5212
 
September 7
   District Office and schools closed for Labor Day
 
September 9
   Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567-9567
   Back to School Night, Babcock Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
 
September 10
   Community Farm Stand, Las Palmas Adult School at the corner of Las Palmas Avenue and Fairfield Street, 8:30 to 10:30am, EBT accepted
   Community Farm Stand, Freedom Park Head Start at 6015 Watt Avenue, noon to 2pm, EBT accepted
   Sacramento Monarchs' WNBA game to benefit RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching), ARCO Arena, 7pm
 
September 12
   Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
   Elkhorn Farmer's Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
   "Solar Schoolhouse Solar Primer" Professional Development for Educators of Grades 4-12 at SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), 6301 S Street in Sacramento, 8:30am to 3:30pm
   Concert in the Park sponsored by Supervisor Susan Peters, Pioneer Park in Old Foothill Farms, 3 to 6pm
   Second Saturday Art Exhibition and Phantom Galleries Participation, VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) featuring Rio Linda High School, location to be determined, 6pm
 
September 15
   Board of Trustees Meeting, District Office Bay-A, 6:30pm
 
September 16
   Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567-9567
 
September 17
   Community Farm Stand, Las Palmas Adult School at the corner of Las Palmas Avenue and Fairfield Street, 8:30 to 10:30am, EBT accepted
   Community Farm Stand, Freedom Park Head Start at 6015 Watt Avenue, noon to 2pm, EBT accepted
 
September 18 through 20
   Grant Union High School Class of 1984 25th Anniversary of Graduation, click here for details  
 
September 19
   Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
   Elkhorn Farmer's Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
   Oktoberfest 2009 to benefit Kops-N-Kids, Brew It Up at 801 4th Street, 6pm, for tickets e-mail Lisa Hinz at lisa@kopsnkids.com
   Robla Cleanup Day, meet at Robla Community Park, 8 am to noon
   E.A.T. from the Garden free adult cooking and gardening classes, last of 6 sessions, Grant HS Room W-42, 10am to 1pm, call Fatima Malik at 916.256.6593 or Genine Morris at 916.256.6100
 
September 23
   Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567-9567
 
September 24
   Community Farm Stand, Las Palmas Adult School at the corner of Las Palmas Avenue and Fairfield Street, 8:30 to 10:30am, EBT accepted
   Community Farm Stand, Freedom Park Head Start at 6015 Watt Avenue, noon to 2pm, EBT accepted

September 25 and 26
   Highlands High School Class of 1984 Reunion Celebration, click here for details
 
September 26
   Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
   Elkhorn Farmer's Market, Towne Center at Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, 8am to noon
   TRUSD 2nd Annual Elementary Schools' Soccer Jamboree, Foothill High School, 9am to 2pm
   Sacramento World Music & Dance Festival, Cultural Extravaganza at Benvenuti Performing Arts Center, 3 and 7:30pm

September 27
   Sacramento World Music & Dance Festival, Festival at Historic Old Sacramento, 10am to 5pm

September 30
   Bright Beginnings for Parents with Children Ages 0 to 5 years, Firehouse Community Center, 810 Grand Avenue, 10am to noon, call 916.567-9567
   "Math Around the World" Professional Development for Educators of Grades 3-12 at SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), 6301 S Street in Sacramento, 4 to 7pm

Around Twin Rivers

All Twin Rivers families are encouraged to return completed Free and Reduced Lunch Application forms even if you do not plan to participate in the program.  The forms also affect schools' cafeteria funding; Title 1 funding and eRate (computers, software and phones) funding.  In addition, elementary schools are competing for a free movie night for all students.  Secondary students have the chance to win a variety of high-tech gadgets.  Click here to access the form online.
 
The 2nd Annual Del Paso Heights Cardboard Boat Regata was recently held at the Grant Union High School swimming pool.  This event was sponsored by Freedom Hall at Martin Luther King, Jr. Technology Academy.  Click here to view the Chanel 13 coverage.
 
Twin Rivers Human Resource Department is happy to announce that Diedre Barlow has been promoted to Vice Principal of Rio Linda Junior High.  This is her fifth year there.  She was Instructional Coach last year and taught math prior to that.  Congratulations, Diedre!
 
Our Welcome & Wellness Fest was enjoyed by over 600 Twin Rivers employees.  Special thanks to our event sponsors:  SIA (Schools Insurance Authority), Total School Solutions and TRUE (Twin Rivers United Educators).  Click here to see our Welcome & Wellness Fest employee rock band video and here for the event slide show.  Please check back next week for the list of our door prize donors and winners.
 
RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching) will benefit from ticket proceeds from the Sacramento Monarchs' National Women's Basketball Association game at ARCO Arena on Thursday, September 10th at 7pm.  This event is sponsored by the University of Phoenix.  Click here for ticket information.
 
Congratulations to Twin Rivers Officer Justin Stanley who played on the CHP (California Highway Patrol) hockey team in the 2009 Western States Police and Fire Games. His team received 3rd place out of over two dozen hockey teams.
 
Highlands High School Class of 1984 is celebrating their 25th Class Reunion on September 25th & 26th.  Click here for details. 
 
Twin Rivers classroom teachers are reminded that our Board of Trustees has approved the allocation of $115 per teacher in special lottery funds for classroom instructional materials.  Click here for details or call Sami Jackson at 916.566.1600 x 1363.
 
As of July 1st, our district will reimburse up to $15.00 for employee tuberculosis tests.  Please submit your receipts to our Human Resource Department for reimbursement.
 
Employees and visitors to our district office at 5115 Dudley Boulevard are invited to dine at our Mobile CaffĂ© located in the courtyard behind Bays A, B and C.  Our Nutrition Services Department has also opened a deli, CaffĂ© Winona, at 3222Winona Way.
 
Twin Rivers offers a variety of adult education classes at the Winona Center and Las Palmas Center including Citizenship Preparation, Medical Billing and Coding, Electrician Training and Forklift Operator Certification.  Fall classes begin on August 18th.  Click here to download or view the Adult Education Fall Schedule.

Did you know that Twin Rivers has openings for a Boys' Basketball Coach, a School Office Assistant, an Instructional Para Educator and a Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist?  Visit ED-JOIN for details on these and other job postings.
 
Our condolences to the family, friends and former co-workers of Eleanor Allen who recently passed away.  Mrs. Allen taught at Foothill High School, Grant Union High School, Norte Del Rio High School and Vista Nueva Career and Technology High School.