Internet Safety Tips
TIP: Avoid strangers.
Tell your kids that people aren't always who they say they are in cyberspace. Explain that if someone they don't know talks to them, they shouldn't respond but should let you know.
|
|
Honoring Our Volunteers
Michael and Mary Beth Kropp of Cosumnes Oaks High School 
Michael and Mary Beth Kropp were recognized as Education Partners at the February 5, 2013 meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education. Mary Beth Kropp was joined by son Alex to accept the award. Mary Beth is already known throughout the district as the principal of Foulks Ranch Elementary School, but at Cosumnes Oaks High School, Mary Beth and her husband Michael are known as super parents. Since 2010, Michael and Mary Beth have been instrumental volunteers for Cosumnes Oaks. Michael is the president of the Wolfpack Touchdown Club and Mary Beth is the president of the Wolfpack Booster Association, which provides organizational structure, fiscal responsibility and guidance for more than 20 different parent booster groups on campus. Together, Michael and Mary Beth have been a powerful duo who have helped transform the culture of Cosumnes Oaks and have established a structure for the school's two largest parent organizations that will last for decades to come. Mary Beth has also been instrumental in the leadership and development of Cosumnes Oaks' Academic Support Program, which provides tutoring, academic support and study habit development with the players in the football program. The program runs two days a week from and the results have been impressive. This year's varsity football team had an average GPA of 3.3 and the junior varsity team's was 3.24. There were 98 players whose GPA was above 3.0. Michael and Mary Beth have two sons - Michael, a graduate of Cosumnes Oaks and a student at the University of Southern California, and Alex, a junior at Cosumnes Oaks. |
|
Pleasant Grove Elementary School sisters gather "Gifts of Love" for Shriners Hospital
Two sisters at Pleasant Grove Elementary School took the meaning of spreading love and cheer for Valentine's Day literally to heart this year. Ashleigh and Sierra Hardy - both 4thgrade students at Pleasant Grove - organized a "Gift of Love" campaign to benefit the children at Shriners Hospital.
Ashleigh and Sierra collected over 1,300 handmade Valentine's from classes at Pleasant Grove and over 250 new toys to be delivered to the children at Shriners.
"Ashleigh and Sierra's vision, drive, determination and follow-through is well beyond their years," said Joe Donovan, principal at Pleasant Grove. "The entire Pleasant Grove Elementary community responded and helped make their dream of doing something special for these children in need a reality."
|
Help Harriet Eddy Middle School collect jeans for Jeans for Teens donation drive
Harriet Eddy Middle School is collecting jeans for the national Jeans for Teens donation drive, sponsored by DoSomething.org. Students and staff at Eddy have currently collected over 6,000 pairs of jeans to date.
Since 2007, the Jeans for Teens drive has collected over 2.5 million pairs of jeans for homeless teens across the country. DoSomething.org, Aéropostale and P.S. from Aéropostale have partnered with over 1,000 homeless shelters across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to donate jeans to homeless shelters. Jeans collected by Eddy students will be donated to shelters in the local community.
Harriet Eddy Middle School is competing to be the top school across the country in the jeans drive. If Eddy wins, the school will receive a $10,000 grant, sweatshirts for all Eddy students and a celebratory pizza party. Eddy will accept jeans or pants - except sweatpants and shorts - of all sizes - new or used - in good condition through Thursday, February 22. Pants donations can be dropped off in the front office at Harriet Eddy Middle School (9329 Soaring Oaks Drive, Elk Grove 95758) between 7:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Click here to learn more about the Jeans for Teens program.
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to eguNews, an EGUSD email newsletter published every two weeks. If you have questions about eguNews, you can email communication@egusd.net or call (916) 686-7732.
|
|
Franklin, Sheldon high schools host Animation & Game Design Day
Cartoon Network. Pixar. CalTECH. Several Elk Grove Unified School District students began their journey to these institutions right here at the Elk Grove Unified School District.
On Saturday, February 16, two graduates of Sheldon High School's K9 Studios, who are currently working at Cartoon Network - along with two representatives from Electronic Arts - visited Sheldon High as featured speakers at the 1st Annual Animation and Game Design Day.
Nearly 200 people attended the event, representing various schools from throughout the district. The animation and game design event was co-sponsored by Franklin and Sheldon high schools. The free event was open to any interested students and their parents.
"The goal of Animation & Game Design Day was to provide students with an opportunity to hear from top industry professionals," said Brad Clark, event co-coordinator and video and animation teacher at Franklin High School. "EA-Electronic Arts is one of the largest game companies in the world, and they have a studio right here in Sacramento. Students were very excited to hear from artists working in fields they are interested in."
Animation and Game Design Day included an animation presentation, game design presentation, a mini-college fair, an art contest and the opportunity to tour Sheldon High School's Animation Department led by event co-coordinator teacher Shawn Sullivan. The event featured the following four guest speakers:
- Ben Adams - character designer, writer and storyboard artists for Cartoon Network's "The Regular Show;" Sheldon High School alum (animation presenter)
- Cole Sanchez - writer, storyboard artists and voiceover actor for Cartoon Network's "Adventure Time;" Sheldon High School alum (animation presenter)
- Noah Bench - associate 3D artist at Electronic Arts (game design presenter)
- Mario De Govia - producer at Electronic Arts (game design presenter)
Click here for more information about Animation and Game Design Day.
|
Florin High School offers Panther Cub enrichment courses
The next generation of "panthers" are getting a chance to spend time at their future high school campus and learn something new at the same time - all through the Panther Cub program at Florin High School.
The Panther Cub courses, created by John Patterson - ASSETS administrator at Florin - and Emily Diehl - an instructional coach for Elk Grove Unified - were created to enrich students in grades 4-8 in the Florin High School feeder area and connect them to the high school.
"We wanted to showcase the unique programs and experiences that Florin has to offer for Elk Grove Unified students," said John Patterson, ASSETS administrator for Florin. "We recognized that leadership students and teachers on our campus are a powerful voice and positive influence. We also saw this as the perfect opportunity to develop our region's motto - 'Imagine, Perform, Succeed!'"
The Panther Cub courses are a three-week program where students can sign up for courses that interest them. Students can choose from a variety of enrichment classes, including ceramics, silk screening, culinary arts, digital arts, agriculture, robotics, songwriting with Garage Band and leadership development.
On Mondays, buses pick up students at their home school and bring them to Florin High School for Panther Cub classes. The buses then return students to their home school after the classes are finished. A total of eight classes have been offered in the 2012-2013 school year. The program is funded through the ASSETS program at Florin High School.
Currently, Patterson and Diehl are in the process of gathering feedback from the six feeder schools in the Florin area about continuing the program in the coming years.
"The students are really enjoying themselves and the program is wildly popular," said Diehl. "It is really fun for them to see their older sisters and brothers on campus assisting with the classes. The students love walking through Florin's beautiful campus and imagining coming here when they are older.
|
|
Valley High School freshmen
"commit to graduate"
For most students, high school graduation is something they think about as their senior year nears the end in the spring. At Valley High School, students are beginning their graduation preparation during their freshman year through a new program called "Commit to Graduate."
"The program was created to give students an understanding in their freshman year what they are working toward," said Dan Laine, activities director at Valley. "The program also ensures that all students understand their value and should be celebrated like other groups on campus."
The program, currently in its second year, keeps students thinking about and understanding graduation requirements for college and helping to prevent students from getting lost or unconnected to the school. Commit to Graduate begins with a freshmen rally where freshmen meet with upperclassmen and receive guidance for their upcoming year. Among one of the highlights shared is a top 10 list of things every freshman should know.
During the middle of the year, freshmen listen to a guest speaker, student leaders talk to freshmen about finding their college path and future plans and the celebration of graduation starts with each freshman taking a picture in their cap and gown. The next Commit to Graduate meeting takes place during testing time where freshmen listen to another guest speaker and sign their gown and a commitment form stipulating that they are committed to graduating.
The program continues throughout their time at Valley through meetings in small groups during their advocacy classes to remind them of their commitment to graduating. In their junior year, students are presented with a faux diploma in recognition of their commitment to graduate from high school. During their senior year, students are once again reminded of their commitment and are presented with their graduation gowns that they signed during their freshman year.
"Studies have shown that students who are not recognized at school end up dropping out," said Laine. "Commit to Graduate is part of a larger program at Valley that works for honor nearly all students on our campus."
|
|
Sheldon High School's Universal Rhythm Dance Company educates elementary school students through lecture performances
Elementary school students from throughout the Elk Grove Unified School District had a chance to enjoy entertaining dances and learn more about the history and information behind these dances through Sheldon High School's Universal Rhythm Dance Company lecture performances on February 6, 2013.
"I started the lecture performances when I was teaching a Valley High School with the Footworks Dance Company in 1984-85," said Rebecca Hobgood, Sheldon's dance instructor. "The idea was to share the art of dance with our feeder schools. We traveled to the schools to give the lectures and it was truly an amazing experience for all that were involved."
When Hobgood came to Sheldon, scheduling limited Universal Rhythm from traveling to the elementary schools to continue the lecture demonstrations. As a result, elementary schools were invited to attend the lecture performances at Sheldon's Performing Arts Center during the week leading up to Universal Rhythm's mainstage performances. The students in Universal Rhythm are a part of the planning process of what is performed for elementary school students. The lecture demonstrations featured a vast spectrum of dance styles, including the opening number from the mainstage performance, lyrical, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, cultural and theatrical.
"We hope that the lecture demonstrations are different and educational in that we include the audience in the conversation and we try to provide information to help enhance the audience's knowledge about the world of dance," said Hobgood. "This includes not only what it is, but it's historical contributions and the components necessary to be successful as a dancer."
|
|
|
|
|
