Twin Rivers Unified School District
eWeek At a Glance  Week of 
 August 24, 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
"The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

-Mitch Albom (b. 1958)
author, screenwriter, musician
Events, Gatherings & Meetings

Now through October 16
~ TRUSD Essay/Poster Contest for Grades K through 12, for information call Gewon Richards @ 916.566.1600 x 1264

Saturday, August 29th
~ 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
~ "Dry Ice Investigations" Professional Development for Educators of Grades 3-5 at RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching), 3136 Howard Street in McClellan Park, 9am to noon
~ Farmer's Market and Craft Fair hosted by Rio Linda / Elverta Chamber of Commerce and Food Source, Food Source Center at 430 Elkhorn Boulevard, 10am to 3pm, for more information call 916.991.9344 or e-mail LisaLMorris@comcast.netLisaLMorris@comcast.net
 
Sunday, August 30th
~ Walgreen's Community Wellness Van, 5020 Madison Avenue, noon to 6pm
 
August 31st to September 3rd
~ Professional Development Days (non-student days), one per school, see dates listed below

Monday, August 31st
~ Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
Aero Haven Elementary
Babcock Elementary
Castori Elementary
Dry Creek Elementary
Foothill High School
Foothill Oaks Elementary
Garden Valley Elementary
Grant Union High School
Highlands Academy of Arts & Design
Keema High School
Kohler Elementary
Morey Avenue Early Childhood Development Center
North Avenue Elementary
NOVA Community Day School
Orchard Elementary
Pacific Career and Technology High School
Miles P. Richmond School
Rio Linda High School
Smythe Academy of Arts & Sciences (middle school)
Vineland Preschool
Vista Nueva Career and Technology High School
 
Tuesday, September 1st
~ 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
 
Wednesday, September 2nd
~ Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
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)
Village Elementary
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, Madison Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
~ Back to School Night, North Avenue Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
~ Back to School Night, Oakdale Elementary, 6 to 7:30pm
 
Thursday, September 3rd
~ Professional Development Day (non-student day) for
Allison Elementary
North Avenue Elementary
Pathways Community Day School
Regency Park Elementary
Rio Linda Elementary
Robinson Community Day School
Strauch 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
~ Mayor Kevin Johnson's Back to School Rally, Guild Theater, 2:30 to 3:30pm, by invitation
~ Back to School Night, Miles P. Richmond School, 5 to 7pm
~ 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, Smythe Academy (middle school campus), 5:30 to 7pm
~ Back to School Night, Fairbanks Elementary, 6pm
~ Back to School Night, Martin Luther King, Jr. Technology Academy, 6 to 7:30pm
~ Back to School Night, Grant Union High School, 6 to 8pm
~ Back to School Night, NOVA Community Day School, 6 to 8pm
~ Back to School Night, Vista Nueva Career and Technology High, 6 to 8pm
~ Back to School Night, Foothill High School, 6 to 8pm
~ Back to School Night, Pacific 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
   
Friday, September 4th
~ Student Minimum Day, Junior and Senior High Schools only
~ Registration Deadline for Free Teacher Appreciation Day on September 12 at Crocker Art Museum, call 916.808.1182 or email education@crockerartmuseum.orgeducation@crockerartmuseum.org to register
~ Registration Deadline for Best Babysitter! class sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, call 916.927.3802 x 114
 
September 5th to 7th
~ Chalk It Up to Sacramento! benefiting Children's Arts Education, Fremont Park at 15th & P Street in Sacramento, 10am to 6pm, for more information cal 916.484.5710 or visit www.chalkitup.org

Saturday, September 5th
~ 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
Looking Ahead
Now through October 16
   TRUSD Essay/Poster Contest for Grades K through 12. call Gewon Richards @ 916.566.1600 x 1264

September 7
   District Office and schools closed for Labor Day
   Athletic Team Logo Wear Chick-fil-A Giveaway, free original chicken sandwich to those wearing an athletic team logo, Chick-fil-A at 2101 Alta Arden Expressway, 10:30am to 8pm
   Fishing in the City sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, 8:30am to noon, for more information call 916.358.2872

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
   Best Babysitter! classes sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, 4 to 7pm, for registration info call 916.927.3802 x 114
   Back to School Night, Babcock Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm
   Back to School Night, Rio Linda Elementary, 5:30 to 7pm

September 10
   Suits and Slippers to benefit Roberts Family Development Center, Market Square at Arden Fair, 7:30 to 9am, click here for online ticket purchase
   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, Harmon Johnson Elementary, 6 to 9pm
   Free Movie in the Park sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, movie starts at dusk
   Sacramento Monarchs' WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) game to benefit RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching), ARCO Arena, 7pm

September 11
   9/11 Memorial Assembly, Pacific Career and Technology High School, 12:30 to 2:07pm

September 12 to 13
   California Capital Airshow, online ticket purchases benefit TRUSD, Mather Airport, click here to purchase tickets

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
   Free Teacher Appreciation Day, Crocker Art Museum, noon to 3pm, call 916.808.1182 or email education @crockerartmuseum.org to register
   Celebrate Natomas!, South Natomas Community Park/Center/Library at 2921 Truxel Road, noon to 8pm
   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
   Sacramento Photographers Group Show benefiting Creative Connections Arts Academy, 1931 H Street, 6 to 10pm, click here for details

September 13
   Community Yard Sale sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, 7am set up and shopping from 8am to 1pm, call Clara or Teri at 916.927.3802 x 114 for registration information

September 14
   "Toramai" Tiger Dance Performance by Matsuyama Seiryo High School students, Foothill High School, 8:30am

September 15
   American River Salmon School Days (for 4th grade students and teachers) Application Deadline, call 916.808.5264 for details or click here for application
   Board of Trustees Meeting, District Office Bay-A, 6:30pm
    "Toramai" Tiger Dance Performance by Matsuyama Seiryo High School students, Grant Union High School, time to be announced

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
    Best Babysitter! classes sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, 4 to 7pm, for registration details call 916.927.3802 x 114  
 
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 to 19
   Going the Distance Together, a 24 hour walk for fatherless young men, presented by Shoulder to Shoulder, Martin Luther King, Jr. Technology Academy, 5pm Friday to 5pm Saturday

September 18 to 20
   Grant Union High School Class of 1984 25th Anniversary of Graduation, click here for details
   Reno Air Races & Airshow, online ticket purchases benefit TRUSD, Reno Stead Airport, click here to purchase tickets
 
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
   Robla Cleanup Day, meet at Robla Community Park, 8am to noon
   Playground and Butterfly Garden Grand Opening, Community Center Park at 810 Oak Lane in Rio Linda, 10am
   E.A.T. from the Garden free adult cooking and gardening classes, last class, 10am to 1pm, call Fatima Malik at 916.256.6593 or Genine Morris at 916.256.6100
   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
   Grant Union High School Pacers vs Bellevue High School Wolverines football game, Bellevue, Washington, 8pm, for privately sponsored Rooter Bus information call Ray O'Bannon at 916.275.7067

September 21
   Open Enrollment (Benefits) Workshop for TRUSD employees, District Office Bay-A, 8 to 10am
 
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
    Best Babysitter! classes sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, 4 to 7pm, for registration details call 916.927.3802 x 114  
 
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 25
   Open Enrollment (Benefits) Workshop for TRUSD employees, District Office Bay-A, 3 to 6pm

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, 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
   Best Babysitter! classes sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, Howe Park at 2201 Cottage Way, 4 to 7pm, for registration details call 916.927.3802 x 114

Around Twin Rivers

Over 27,000 students joined Twin Rivers teachers and staff to begin an exciting new year on Wednesday, August 12th.  Click here to view the Twin Rivers First Day of School slideshow.

If you haven't yet turned in your student's Free and Reduced Lunch Application form, don't delay! These forms affect your school's funding in a number of areas. In addition, our elementary schools are competing for a free movie night based on their form return rate and secondary students are entered into a drawing for lots of cool technology prizes.  For more information, call Nutrition Services at 916.566.1600, extension 1525, or you may click here to access the form online.
 
Congratulations to Anna Ampania of Woodridge Elementary and Reginald Harris of Grant Union High School, our Twin Rivers 2009-2010 Teachers of the Year. They will be honored on September 2nd, along with teachers representing other local school districts, at the SCOE (Sacramento County Office of Education) annual Teachers of the Year awards banquet.  The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program is coordinated annually by SCOE to recognize the achievements of local educators and to raise awareness of the valuable role our teachers play in the lives of students and in the community.

Our 2009 Twin Rivers district Teachers and Classified Employees of the Year will be recognized together at our September 1 Board Meeting. Our Classified Employees of the Year include Kim Bosworth from Nutrition Services, Louie Cervantez from Garden Valley Elementary, Sue Dean from Babcock Elementary, Isabella Maranon from Transportation, Phitsamay Sosanavongsa from Highlands Academy of Arts & Design, and Sandy Westerberg from Student Services. Thanks to all of them for the inspirational work they do every day.

Marla Miller of Career/College Options is pleased to announce that Twin Rivers is the recipient of an $86,000 (annually for three to six years) Learn and Serve America:  School Based Program Grant.  Service learning engages young people in service to their communities as a means of enriching their academic learning, promoting personal growth, establishing real-world relevance to curriculum and helping them to develop the skills needed for productive citizenship.  Thanks to all of our staff who participated in our Service Learning survey last spring to help us provide documentation for this grant application.

Congratulations to Janet Balcom, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services on being appointed to the ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) State Students Services and Special Education Council.  Janet will be serving as a liaison for our entire region. 

Tim Gardes, our District Librarian, was working at Garden Valley Elementary getting their newly created library ready for Back to School Night when a 6th grade student walked in and asked if he could look around.  They talked about the student's interests which included soccer, the Captain Underpants books and pets.  At one point, as they were talking about all the cool book titles on the shelves for the first time at the school, the student said, "This might be the year that I start liking reading.  I don't really like to read, but there are so many cool books in here that I think I'll like reading this year."  Tim said, "He made my day, my month and my year!" 

Congratulations to Welcome & Wellness Fest school attendance winners Vineland School, Hazel Strauch Elementary, Aero Haven Elementary and Dry Creek Elementary.  Each school will receive $100 in printing services or warehouse items.  Click here for the list of  door prize donors and winners.
 
Twin Rivers teacher forums are held on the second Saturday of the month from September through May excluding February.  Attendees earn professional development units which may be used for salary schedule advancement.  Click here for information on how to log on to My Learning Plan and to register for and track professional development units.  For help, call Jo Baker at 916.566.1600 x 1292 or e-mail at jo.baker@twinriversusd.org

The Crocker Art Museum will host a free day for teachers and their families on Saturday, September 12th from noon to 3pm.  Call 916.808.1182 or e-mail education@crockerartmuseum.org to register before September 4th deadline. 

Twin Rivers employees who want to make changes to their current medical / benefit plans are encouraged to attend one of two workshops being held at the District Office, 5115 Dudley Boulevard, Bay-A.  Mark your calendar for Monday, September 21st, from 8 to 10am or Friday, September 25th, from 3 to 6pm.  Medical / benefit providers will be available to answer questions and review plan options.  Payroll / benefit technicians will assist employees with paperwork.  Those employees not making any medical / benefit plan changes do not need to attend or complete any paperwork.  Additional information is being sent from CalPERS to employees' home addresses. 

Foothill High School Class of 1984 25th Reunion will be celebrated on Saturday, October 10th from 5 to 10pm with a catered BBQ.  Click here for details.

Futures High School, a charter school in the North Sacramento area, has been honored as a "Certified Charter School" for their commitment to quality standards established by California's charter school movement.