Twin Rivers Unified School District
eWeek At a Glance  Week of 
 September 7, 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

"Tact is the ability to make a person see lightning without letting him feel the bolt."

- Orlando A. Battista
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

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.org to register
~ Registration Deadline for Best Babysitter! class sponsored by Fulton - El Camino Recreation & Park District, call 916.927.3802 x 114
 
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

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 call 916.484.5710 or visit www.chalkitup.org

Monday, September 7th
~ District Office and schools closed for Labor Day
~ 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
~ 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
~ Labor Day Slow Food Event, presentation on GEO (Grant's  Environmental Organization) by Fatima Malik, Tahoe Park at 3501 59th Street, 11am to 2pm
 
Tuesday, September 8th
~ National Address to Students by President Barack Obama, 9am Pacific Standard Time

Wednesday, September 9th
~ 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
 
Thursday, September 10th
~ 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
 
Friday, September 11th
~ 9/11 Memorial Assembly, Pacific Career and Technology High School, 12:30 to 2:07pm
 
Saturday, September 12th
~ Del Paso Heights Farmers' Market, Robertson Community Center at 3525 Norwood Avenue, 7:30am to noon, WIC and EBT accepted
~ Backyard Composting Seminar sponsored by City of Sacramento Department of Utilities Solid Waste Services, Grant High School GEO Garden at 1221 South Avenue, 8 to 10am, for more information call 916.264.5011
~ 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
~ Prevention and Wellness Fair with free car seat inspections, SNAHC (Sacramento Native American Health Center) at 2020 J Street, 10am to 3pm
~ 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, 2100 Del Paso Boulevard, 6 to 9pm
~ Sacramento Photographers Group Show benefiting Creative Connections Arts Academy, 1931 H Street, 6 to 10pm, click here for details

September 12th to 13th
~ California Capital Airshow, online ticket purchases benefit TRUSD, Mather Airport, 10am to 4pm, click here to purchase tickets
 
Sunday, September 13th
~ 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 information
~ Dinner and Cultural Performance hosted by Pacers for Peace to welcome students from Seiryo High School of Matsuyama in Japan, Grant High School Cafeteria, 4pm, cost of admission is one culinary specialty to feed 4 to 6 people
Looking Ahead
Now through October 16
   TRUSD Essay/Poster Contest for Grades K through 12. call Gewon Richards @ 916.566.1600 x 1264

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

    "Toramai" Tiger Dance Performance by Matsuyama Seiryo High School students, Grant Union High School, 9:47 to 10:45am, video conference at 4:45pm
   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
    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
   DAC (District Advisory Committee), location to be determined, 9am
   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, walk for fatherless young men, presented by Shoulder to Shoulder, Martin Luther King, Jr. Technology Academy, 5 to 8pm Friday and 8am 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, 8am to 4:30pm, 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 
   TRERC (Twin Rivers Employee Relations Council), District Office, Pine Room in Bay-A, 4:15pm
 
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 29
   Inaugural Water Polo Game for Foothill High School, away at Rio Linda High School swimming pool

September 30
   Postmark Deadline for Safety Poster Contest sponsored by Sacramento City Police and Fire, visit www.sacfire.org for entry form or call 916.808.1357
   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

Michael Souza, who recently graduated from HAAD (Highlands Academy of Arts & Design), is attending the University of California at Berkeley thanks to a last minute scholarship from SAFE Credit Union.  Thank you to SAFE President Henry Wirz and all the SAFE employees for their continued support of our students including the sponsorship of the Rio Linda High School and HAAD Academic Decathlon teams.  Click here to read more.

There's been a lot in the news about this year's H1N1 flu virus.  Twin Rivers has a dedicated planning team including staff involved with emergency preparedness, wellness, nursing, communication, business support as well as family and community involvement.  We are also working closely with our County Office of Public Health and with other area districts to share best practices and ideas.  We have special cleaning supplies at school sites and a cleaning team ready to deploy to any school or department that needs assistance.  We have shared information in staff trainings and meetings and developed extensive emergency preparedness and communication plans in case of a major outbreak.  For more information about what you can do to help prevent all flu viruses, please visit the special section of our web site created last spring and updated as new information emerges.

On Friday, September 11th at 12:30pm, Pac-Pride Student Leadership from Pacific Career and Technology High School will hold an assembly in memory of those who lost their lives and in honor of those who risked their lives at the Twin Towers site, the Pentagon and Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Noralto Elementary teacher Imogene Norlie recently attended the Twin River Welcome and Wellness event and was surprised when she got a call that she had won a special door prize - lunch with Superintendent Frank Porter.  On Friday, August 28th, Superintendent Porter brought lunch for Ms. Norlie and her entire fifth grade class, including pizza, salad, orange slices and juice.  Afterward, students had the opportunity to chat with the Superintendent and ask any questions they might have about the job.  Click here to see a slide show of the visit.

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.
 
Click here to view a slide show of Pacific Career and Technology High students participating in a variety of activities including school activities, graduation and participation in the opening ceremonies at Sears Point Raceway for the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and Indy series.
 
Thank you to Bayside Church of Granite Bay for sponsoring a school supply drive for Twin Rivers schools.  In addition, those wanting to take advantage of clearance sales may donate school supplies directly to their local school office or bring them to our Family and Community Involvement Department at Bay-A in the District Office at 5115 Dudley Boulevard, McClellan.
 
Raffle prize donations are being collected for the Elementary Schools' Soccer Jamboree which will be held at Foothill High School on Saturday, September 26th from 9am to 2pm.  To make a donation, please call our Director of Student Activities, Gewon Richards at 916.566.1691.
 
Smythe Academy of Arts & Sciences will have a Flea Market on Saturday, October 10th from 7:30am till noon featuring donated and new items.  If you would like to sell your own items, tables are available to rent for $20.  The Flea Market will be at the Smythe Academy of Arts & Sciences (elementary campus) at 2781 Northgate Avenue.  For more information, please call Vera Morris at 916.449.8622.
 
Madison Elementary staff joins teacher, Frances Bigler, in celebrating the three gold medals her 21-year-old daughter, Aryn, recently won at the World Baton Twirler Federation's International Competition in Sydney, Australia.  Click here to read the Sacramento Bee article and view a video of Aryn's baton twirling.  The Madison staff is very proud of Aryn for following her dreams and very proud of her mother for being an awesome parent and teacher.
 
Congratulations!  All Twin Rivers Schools passed recent Williams Case inspections which check for sufficient instructional materials, qualified teachers and safe, well-maintained facilities.

Those interested in volunteering as elementary athletic program coaches may call Gewon Richards, Director of Student Activities, at 916.566.1691.

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.

Highlands High School Class of 1984 is celebrating their 25th Class Reunion on September 25th & 26th.  Click here for details.