Internet Safety Tips
TIP: Talk to children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat or other communications. Report any such communication to local law enforcement. Do not delete the offensive or dangerous e-mail; turn off the monitor, and contact local law enforcement.
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Honoring Our Volunteers
Nancy Dewey of Calvine High School 
Nancy Dewey was recognized as an Education Partner at the May 7, 2013, meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education. Dewey has been volunteering her time in support of the Elk Grove Unified School District at Calvine High School since the first day her granddaughter enrolled. She serves as chairperson of the Calvine Parent Advisory group and has been instrumental in assisting the Calvine administration and staff in creating a culture that is in constant pursuit of greater student learning. Dewey's personal dedication and assistance during the recent Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visit provided concrete evidence of improved parent/community communication and school performance supported by the entire Calvine community. "My Nana helped me with many things, especially during my senior year," said Jessica Centeno, Dewey's granddaughter. "She made sure I got to school every day and has been very supportive in wanting me to be successful. She offers her help every day to make sure I have the necessary skills and knowledge in life. Although there have been some tough times, my Nana has been by my side. She works so hard and tries her best to make sure that I do well in both life and school." |
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William Daylor High School students bring home award from 2013 Design Build competition
Green Construction Technology ROP students from William Daylor High School recently captured the "Best Architecture and Design Award" at the Design Build 2013 competition, sponsored by the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange. Sheldon High School also participated in the competition this year.
The Daylor team, who competed for the first time in the competition in 2012, designed and built a shed designed as a greenhouse. Daylor's entry in the competition marked their first time a greenhouse had been built in Design Build. The greenhouse had a vegetated roof with a variety of succulents growing on the roof of the shed. The greenhouse will be used on Daylor's campus to help grow plants for the organic vegetable garden.
For the competition, teams must complete the challenge of designing and preparing construction documents for a 96-square foot structure. The team then secures project approval from the local building department. Both steps must be completed prior to competition day. The actual construction of the structure takes place at the competition site over a two-day period.
Projects are judged by a panel of building and construction professionals from the greater Sacramento area. Structures are judged on the students ability to perform all functions of the project, including planning and design, scheduling, overall project management and conduct, craftsmanship, teamwork and safety.
The Daylor team consisted of students Michaela Navarro, Tyreak Holmes, Ken Chan, Terrance Valentine, William Thomas, Alejandra Pelayo, Marcos Andrade, Malik Bradford, Jack Wilson, Breeanna Robertson, Tatiania Owens, Whitney Brown, Antonique Parker and Azhane Wilber. The Daylor coaches included Green Construction Technology ROP teacher Dave Adams, woodshop/math teacher Jim Spangler and Dewith Woods.
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Register for EGUSD Virtual Academy
The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) Virtual Academy is now accepting registration for kindergarten through 8thgrade students for the 2013-2014 school year. The online academy is open to students living in Sacramento, Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties.
The EGUSD Virtual Academy offers an innovative learning experience for the 21st century student. This free online academy allows students in kindergarten through 8th grade to experience teaching and learning from virtually anywhere a computer will take them. All courses are aligned to the State of California's standards and benchmarks and have a strong emphasis on building skills and critical thinking.
Each EGUSD Virtual Academy student has an individualized plan for his or her course of study. Student learning is guided by Elk Grove Unified teachers. Students have access to their teachers in person, online and by email. Parents play a critical role as learning coaches in the EGUSD Virtual Academy to support their students' learning.
Registration materials can be downloaded at http://blogs.egusd.net/egva/enroll/ or picked up at the Las Flores High School campus at 5900 Bamford Drive, Sacramento.
For more information about the EGUSD Virtual Academy, contact (916) 399-9890, email egvirtual@egusd.net or visit http://blogs.egusd.net/egva/.
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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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EGUSD elementary school students compete in Nature Bowl
On Wednesday, May 1, students from six Elk Grove Unified School District elementary schools - Isabelle Jackson, Samuel Kennedy, Anna Kirchgater, Herman Leimbach, Charles Mack and David Reese - competed at the 1st Annual Nature Bowl held at the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
"The Nature Bowl fosters a cooperative team environment where students in grades 3-6 actively participate in science-based activities that emphasize local and regional environments," said Ray Pietersen, science program specialist for the district. "The activities students will participate in are correlated with the Science State Standards and innovative strategies to teach and reinforce conservation. These activities will also engage and challenge students in critical and creative thinking."
During the competition, teams of three to seven students participated in two divisions - 3rd and 4th grade and 5th and 6th grade. Most schools are sent one team per division to compete. Students competed in the following categories:
- Bell-Ringers: Short answer questions
- Enviro-Mercial: One minute presentation on environmental issue in the region
- Nature Investigations: Team exploration of items that don't belong in nature, living specimens and signs of wildlife.
- Nature Relay: Team environmental term competition.
- Team Problems: Teams problem solving - examples such as constructing food chains; matching tools to adaptations; comparing products of renewable and non-renewable resources and deciding which can be recycled, reused or reused; and science charades.
Click here for more information about the Nature Bowl.
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Valley High School receives statewide civic learning award
Valley High School received the California Department of Education Civic Learning Award Program's Award of Merit from Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Stacy Boulware Euire on Friday, May 3. The Civic Learning Award Program celebrates successful efforts to engage California public high school students in civic learning and spotlights replicable models for other schools to follow.
To be considered for the award, schools had to describe their civic learning practices and programs, with an emphasis on those that incorporate research-based proven practices in civic education. A panel of experts assessed the applications according to both depth and breadth. Valley was selected for the Award of Merit for their work with their Associated Student Body (ASB) program, Regional Summer Academy for Arts and Sciences, Health TECH Academy and Social Sciences Department.
"Civic learning is the cornerstone of our society - one in which our students here at Valley are proud to serve," said Chelsea Bowler-Shelton, principal at Valley. "The Civic Learning Award shines a light on the students and teachers of these programs who believe that giving back to their communities prepares students for civic engagement, college and career opportunities."
At Valley, ASB students are involved in numerous civic-minded activities, including School Site Council, the Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee, blood drives and homeless outreach. Valley's ASB is also in charge of the Regional Summer Academy of the Arts and Sciences, which is a week-long summer program for fifth and sixth grade students.
The Health TECH Academy prepares students for careers in the health field and has forged a partnership with Kaiser Permanente to create the Cultural Awareness and Community Health Education Project (CACHE). In addition to the CACHE project, one of the highlights of Valley's Health TECH Academy is their annual Health and Fitness Expo. This year's expo was held on May 3. The expo featured information booths displaying student projects and allowed community groups and health organizations the opportunity to distribute take-home materials to increase awareness about fitness and healthy eating.
Valley's Social Sciences Department has posted impressive gains on standardized tests, largely due to the department's staff creative ideas to bring history to life for students. Over the years, department staff have created a "living history" museum so students can speak to historical figures, along with giving students a chance to wear togas while debating as Roman senators. Thanks to the innovation of Valley's Social Science Department, over the past eight years, the number of students scoring proficient and advanced on the U.S. History CST has increased by 47 percent and World History CST scores have nearly tripled.
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Harriet Eddy Middle School holds first annual Solar Sunflower Festival
Last year, a solar "sunflower" - courtesy of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - took root at Harriet Eddy Middle School. This year, another new program has sprouted at Eddy - the 1st Annual Solar Sunflower Festival.
On April 30, students from Eddy and the Green Energy Technology Academy (GETA) at Laguna Creek High School participated in a new festival, featuring the solar sunflower on Eddy's campus. The solar sunflower, the result of a partnership between the Elk Grove Unified School District and SMUD, helps students learn about solar energy.
"The idea for the Solar Festival grew from when one of my former students - Jenny Wasson, a senior in GETA at Laguna Creek - asked if she could give her solar presentation to my current students," said Diana Brooks, a science teacher at Eddy and the creator of the festival. "Through my communications with Jenny, the idea for the Solar Sunflower Festival was born."
During the festival, Eddy students received an introduction to the solar sunflower and discussed data acquisition from the sunflower and the basics of solar energy. SMUD loaned Eddy their solar education kit to use for the festival. Eddy students also had the chance to listen to a presentation from GETA students about what GETA is and what is solar energy. After the GETA presentation, Eddy students rotated through numerous educational stations, including solar cars, panels and cookers, as well as UV bead detectors and GETA projects on display - most notably the solar boat GETA students used to compete in and win the SMUD Solar Regatta last summer.
William Del Bonta, Eddy's principal, has plans to expand the Solar Festival in future. He hopes to create a streamlined full green technology articulation program utilizing the solar sunflower between Eddy and Laguna Creek. Eddy will expose all students to green technology in 8th grade science classes and eventually with Common Core State Standards in other academic areas.
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EGUSD celebrates Digital Citizenship Month
The Elk Grove Unified School District recognizes that teaching students to be good digital citizens is part of 21st century learning. During the 2012-2013 school year, all EGUSD schools incorporated lessons about digital footprints, cyberbullying and copyright/fair use. Students at middle and high schools built upon this work with their student created, student driven #UnfollowBulyling campaign.
The year ends with one final event - Digital Citizenship Month - the result of a partnership between Common Sense Media and the California Writing Project. These organizations have invited school districts throughout California to engage in digital activities that guide students in making good choices in their use of social media and to empower them to act responsibly, safely and ethically online.
As part of Digital Citizenship month, EGUSD students are creating Public Service Announcements, adding their voices to the "Upstanders, Not Bystanders" Voice Thread and designing digital slides for the "Upstanders Together" project. In support of this effort, EGUSD Technology Services Department has offered teachers classes on using digital tools such voice threads and digital slide.
To learn more about Digital Citizenship Month check out the California Writing Project and Common Sense Media websites.
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