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Honoring Our Volunteers
Odette Crawford of Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School 
Odette Crawford was recognized as an Education Partner at the December 4, 2012 meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education. Crawford began her volunteer work at Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School four years ago by mentoring students with an offer of a LifeSkills instruction course. She communicates well with the teaching staff and has been instrumental in assisting with conflict resolution issues at the school. In addition to the volunteer duties at Harris, Crawford organized and facilitated a forum for at-risk youth and their parents. The focus of the forum was gang-awareness activities and the vulnerability of youth. Forum panelists included victims of gang-related crimes, along with law enforcement personnel. As a result of her work, there has been a significant decrease in behavioral infractions and in increase in the academic performance of at-risk youth at Harris. Crawford - with her no-nonsense approach with students - is well-respected and maintains a serious focus on academics for the future college graduates of Harris Middle School. Crawford, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, moved to Southern California in 1964. She was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 1976 and promoted through the ranks to Associate Warden assigned to various prisons throughout the state. Crawford retired from the Department of Corrections in 2006. In addition to her volunteer duties at Harris, she also is a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children. |
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Sheldon High School music teacher wins statewide award
James Mazzaferro, band director at Sheldon High School, has been selected to receive the Byron Hoyt/Don Schmeer Band Educator award by the California Association of Music Education (CMEA) Executive Board. This award recognizes excellence in instrumental education and performance.
Mazzaferro will receive the award at CMEA's California All State Music Education Conference on February 13, 2013 in Fresno, California.
CMEA is a Federated unit of the National Association for Music Education (NAfMe). Membership is open to all music educators working in public and private schools, colleges and universities in California. The purpose of the association is to promote access to a sequential music education for all PreK-12 students taught by fully qualified music educators; to support and improve existing music programs; to promote quality pre-service and in-service music teacher preparation programs; and to create a greater awareness of the value of music education through partnerships with other associations and advocacy among state and local agencies.
Click here for more information about the CMEA music awards.
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Calvine High School students participate in AT&T/Junior Achievement Mentorship Program
Students from Calvine High School joined students from Grant High School to tour the AT&T campus and learn more about the company through the AT&T/Junior Achievement Mentorship Program on November 28. The AT&T/Junior Achievement Mentorship Program provides high school students with the chance to visit and tour AT&T, explore specific departmental roles and responsibilities and experience the world of business firsthand. Over 30 AT&T employees volunteered to be "connectors," mentoring students for the day. Students also learned about the dangers of texting and driving. They took a pledge to never text while driving and were challenged to encourage their parents and friends to do the same. |
New prizes in December for Attendance Campaign
It's December and with a new month comes new prize opportunities for the No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign!
Elementary school students will have the chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to a 2013 Sacramento River Cats game or a gift certificate to Chuck E. Cheese.
Middle school students can also win a family 4-pack of tickets to a 2013 Sacramento River Cats game or a gift certificate to Pizza Guys. High school and alternative students have the opportunity to win a family 4-pack of tickets to a Sacramento River Cats game or a gift certificate for a free chicken soft taco meal. Click here for more information about the No Excuses - Go to School Attendance Campaign.
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Welcome to eguNews, an EGUSD email newsletter published every two weeks. To subscribe to eguNews, click here. If you have questions about eguNews, you can email communication@egusd.net or call (916) 686-7732.
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2012/2013 No Excuses - Go to School
Attendance Poster Contest winners announced
The winners of the 2012/2013 No Excuses - Go to School Poster Contest have been announced. The No Excuses - Go to School poster contest showcases student-created art that illustrates rhymes about going to school. Students were invited to create a picture on an entry form that reflects an assigned rhyme. Principals selected the most compelling artwork and forwarded it to the district office. The Superintendent's Cabinet selected the top 12 posters. The posters will be used for the attendance campaign in district communications and events.
The following students were the winners of the 12 poster themes:
- Stubbed your toe? You've still got to go.
Megan Weng, Robert J. Fite Elementary School - Woke up late? School won't wait.
Elvis Xiong, Arthur C. Butler Elementary School - Feeling tired? School's required.
Michaela Lee, Franklin Elementary School - Vacation near? We want you here.
Khalilah Matthews, Cosumnes River Elementary School - Bad hair? We want you there.
Lina Her, Helen Carr Castello Elementary School - Weather is great? Don't be late.
Rebecca Awuah, Stone Lake Elementary School - Attend and achieve? You will succeed.
Shenn Xiong, Harriet Eddy Middle School - Your fashion's a flop? School doesn't stop.
Kaylah Ball, Joseph Kerr Middle School - Dreaming of fresh snow? You've still got to go.
Monica Cha, James Rutter Middle School - Rather sleep in? Think again.
Gina Geissinger, Cosumnes Oaks High School - Test today? Don't delay.
Alisa Porter-Sono, Cosumnes Oaks High School - Missed your ride? Don't let school slide.
Marianne Meyersohn, Laguna Creek High School
These students were formally recognized at the EGUSD Board of Education meeting on December 4.
The No Excuses - Go to School attendance campaign is centered around 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.
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EGUSD educator attends Google Teacher Academy
Gail Desler, technology integration specialist for the Elk Grove Unified School District, was selected to attend the Google Teacher Academy in Mountain View, CA held on December 5, 2012.
The Google Teacher Academy is a free professional development experience designed to help K-12 educational leaders get the most from innovative technologies. Each Academy is an intensive, one-day event where participants get hands-on experience with Google's products and technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies and receive resources to share with colleagues. Upon completion, Academy participants become Google Certified Teachers who share what they learn with other K-12 educators in their local regions and beyond.
During her tenure at EGUSD, Desler has been instrumental in the establishment of many programs benefiting students and received many honors for her exceptional work. She is the co-creator and co-curator of the Time of Remembrance Oral Histories project - including the recently released "I'm American Too" documentary as well as the co-creator and co-curator of the Digital ID project, an extension district-level commitment to promoting digital citizenship. As a result of her involvement on the Digital ID project, Desler has been honored as a 2012 Microsoft Partners in Learning U.S. Forum Regional winner, served as a keynote presenter at the 2012 K12 Online Conference and presented as a featured session at the 2012 National Council of Teachers of English Convention and 2012 National Digital Learning Day.
Teachers selected to attend the Google Teacher Academy are known as exceptional K-12 educators with a passion for using innovative tools to improve teaching and learning, as well as creative leaders and ambassadors for change. They are recognized experts and widely admired for their commitment to high expectations for students, lifelong learning and collaboration.
Launched in 2006, the first Google Certified Teacher program was held at Google headquarters in Mountain View, CA. The program has since held several academies across the U.S., expanding the ranks of Google Certified Teachers.
Click here for more information about the Google Teacher Academy.
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David Garibaldi inspires students while painting to raise funds for VAPA programs
The stage at Sheldon High School's Performing Arts Center came alive with paint, dancing and music when David Garibaldi - Sheldon High School alum and America's Got Talent finalist - returned to his alma matter to help raise money for visual and performing arts programs on December 7.
Garibaldi created a total of ten original works of art - including portraits of Justin Bieber, Rhianna, Mozart, Einstein and a husky, Sheldon's mascot - to raise money for the Sheldon Band Boosters and the Sheldon Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy. Nearly $3,500 was raised through the raffle. All proceeds raised from the raffle will benefit these organizations. The six winners for the raffle - Tony Borders, Ryan Pham, Kathy Zehnder, Joan Ellis, Sharon Conedy and Jill Rogers - attended the assemblies where David Garibaldi produced their paintings.
Students selected to attend the assemblies represented varsity athletes, the ArtsWork program, advanced VAPA, student government, Students Helping Students, yearbook and Team Husky (freshman and mentors).
Garibaldi also encouraged students to find their passion and go after what's inside of their hearts. He credited Shawn Sullivan, his high school animation teacher at Sheldon, with teaching him life lessons about dreams and following his aspirations and Debbie George, his art teacher during his sophomore year, with teaching him how to apply his graffiti skills to fine art.
Click here for more photos from Garibaldi's performance.
In a few short years, and at 29 years old, Garibaldi has raised over $1 million for non-profits and charities across the country through his art. He works closely with charities such as Special Olympics, Echoes of Hope, Sacramento Children's Home and World Vision.
Click here for more information on Garibaldi.
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EGUSD staff, students lend a helping hand for the holidays through Celebrate the Season program
Thanks to the generous efforts of Elk Grove Unified School District students and staff, families in need throughout the district will enjoy a much happier and merrier holiday season.
These families were helped through the district's Celebrate the Season program. The program was created to help EGUSD students and their families who are in need of extra assistance during the holiday season. The families that are assisted through the Celebrate the Season program are selected from the district's Project A.C.T., Healthy Start and Foster Youth programs. Anyone in the district is welcome to sponsor a family and/or foster youth.
After being assigned a family/foster youth - or in some cases, multiple families and foster youth - sponsors use wish lists filled out by their family to purchase gifts. After the gifts have been purchased and wrapped, sponsors deliver the gifts to their adopted family, giving both the adopters and families a chance to meet and share this special moment.
"We are very thankful in Healthy Start for the Celebrate the Season program," said Sandy Waite, program coordinator for the Healthy Start program at David Reese Elementary School. "So many families receive much needed support for the holidays due to the caring and generosity displayed through the program by the sponsors. It is wonderful to see how the program has been sustained over the years - Elk Grove Unified has very giving students and staff."
Since its inception in 2003, hundreds of classrooms, clubs, departments and individuals have volunteered to take part in the program. The program began with eight departments assisting eight families in 2003. This year, a total of 76 classrooms, clubs, departments and individuals assisted 89 families and 15 foster youth.
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