Internet Safety Tips
TIP: If children use chat or e-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they first "met" online.
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Honoring Our Volunteers
Maggie Madrigal of Irene B. West Elementary School 
Maggie Madrigal was recognized as an Education Partner at the June 18, 2013 meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education. Madrigal is an active volunteer on the Irene B. West Elementary School campus. All of the West Wildcats lovingly refer to her as "Miss Maggie." Last year, Madrigal hung banners for each of West's 38 classes in the multipurpose room for the Reading Counts program and tracked the number of points students earned every day and awarded them their milestone prizes throughout the year. She also has tutored students for reading as a part of the 3rd Grade Reading Initiative. Every day, Madrigal met individually with struggling readers, helped them find books that both built their confidence and reading skills and coached them on how to improve their reading. Madrigal also coordinates the principal's weekly reading fluency visits to the classrooms and organizes a longtime West tradition - the Santa breakfast. The Santa breakfast includes a pancake breakfast and book fair courtesy of West parents. Without Madrigal's assistance, it would be difficult to have this event. Madrigal, a native of Spain, speaks fluent Spanish and often provides translations for parents when needed both in the office and on the phone. She also helps in the office every day, supervises the breakfast room in the morning and is a well-loved yard supervisor. |
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EGUSD Communications Department
The Elk Grove Unified School District's (EGUSD) Communications Department has earned two 2013 Golden Achievement Awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The Golden Achievement Awards Program recognizes exemplary public relations activities, programs and projects. Entries are evaluated by judges individually against specific criteria reflecting the four-steps of a public relations program. The department captured the Golden Achievement Awards for the marketing and communications campaigns to educate staff about EGUSD's "Your Health, Your Choice" Wellness Program and for the student-led #UnfollowBullying campaign against cyberbullying. The Elk Grove Unified School District's Employee Wellness Program seeks to promote and support a healthy work environment, health awareness, individual responsibility for a healthy lifestyle, decreased risk of disease and enhanced quality of life for District personnel. Click here for more information about the "Your Health, Your Choice" Wellness Program. In November 2012, middle and high school students went live with #UnfollowBullying - a campaign that continues to ignite shared conversations and activities at schools throughout the Elk Grove Unified School District - and beyond. Click here for more information about the #UnfollowBullying campaign. Click here for more information on the Golden Achievement Awards Program. |
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Help EGUSD schools through the Big Lots "Lots2Give" Program
The Big Lots "Lots2Give" Program has returned to help schools across the country. The program has two components: first, customers can contribute money at the checkout stand for schools in the Sacramento area and second, schools can prepare a three minute video that depicts how they would use a cash donation to improve their school.
Selected schools will be given the opportunity to put their creativity to the test by entering an online video contest. Videos will be posted online through July 7, 2013 for public voting. Winning schools will share $120,000 in cash prizes, which include thirty $2,000 third place prizes, four $5,000 second place prizes, two $10,000 first place prizes and one $20,000 grand prize! Your votes will determine the winners!
In addition, you can donate to support schools in our area in $1 or $5 increments in local Big Lots stores. One hundred percent of donations will be given to schools.
You can vote three times a day until July 7th. Be sure to vote to help the following schools:
- Arlene Hein Elementary School
- Prairie Elementary School
- Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School
- Samuel Jackman Middle School
- Valley High School
Click here to search for these schools and vote for them.
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Immunization requirements reminder for
incoming 7th grade students
For the 2013-2014 school year, incoming 7th grade students will need to provide schools with proof that they have received an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot (Tdap) prior to starting school. California Law AB 354, the law enacting this requirement, has been in effect since July 1, 2011.
Students will not be able to attend school in 2013-2014 until they show proof of the booster shot.
Parents/guardians should take their child's immunization record with them to their child's doctor or clinic. After the child receives the shot, take the updated immunization record to the child's middle school over the summer. If a child has already received the immunizations, bring the immunization record to the child's middle school over the summer.
California law allows parents/guardians to exempt their child from the Tdap immunization for two reasons, medical and personal beliefs. If a child cannot have immunizations for medical reasons, parents/guardians must provide a signed letter from the child's doctor. The law does not allow parents/guardians to exempt their child from immunizations out of convenience. The exemption form is available at school sites and must be completed at the school of attendance.
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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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Japanese delegation visits EGUSD to discuss California-Japan Scholars Exchange Program
On Tuesday, June 11, the Governor of Osaka, Japan, Ichiro Matsui, Hiroshi Inomata, Consul General of Japan and Toru Nakahara, Osaka's Superintendent of Education - visited the Elk Grove Unified School District to discuss the California-Japan Scholars Exchange Program and education with Elk Grove Unified School District Superintendent Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D.
Also included in the conversation from Elk Grove Unified were Franklin High School students Michael Constantinou and Caitlin Planchard, their parents as well as Franklin High School teacher Yukiko Kozuma. Constantinou and Planchard both gave speeches to the Osaka delegation in Japanese and spoke about their experiences in the program. Constantinou has participated in the program as a student traveling abroad and as a host student. Planchard hosted a Japanese student this year and will travel to Osaka, Japan next year through the program. Constantinou and Planchard's parents also spoke on their observations about the program.
The Osaka delegation also included Takeshi Niwa from the Department of Policy and Planning - Secretariat Division, Masayuki Kusumoto, Senior Executive Director of International Relations - Department of Civic and Cultural Affairs, Masaya Nakamura, Director of International Affairs, Hitoshi Sato, Assistant Director of International Affairs, Akiko Aota, Chief Senior Staff of International Affairs and Isao Hiruta, Director of the Department of Curriculum Development. A large contingent of Japanese media also accompanied the Osaka delegation on their trip to the United States.
The Osaka delegation was especially interested in finding out more about the program from the students and teacher's point of view, asking questions about how the program has affected their career choices and areas for improvement in the program.
The 2012-2013 school year marks the 15th year of Elk Grove Unified's participation in the California-Japan Scholars Exchange Program. The California-Japan Scholars Exchange Program promotes cultural understanding and international relations. Through the program, schools in Osaka, Japan and Elk Grove alternate sending students on a two-week exchange. This year, a group of students from Osaka visited Elk Grove through the program in March-April 2013. EGUSD students and their families hosted a group of 30 students and three teacher chaperones.
Click here for more information about the California-Japan Scholars Exchange Program.
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EGUSD teams up with USDA and Sacramento Public Library for "Summer Lunch at the Library" In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Sacramento Public Library, the Elk Grove Unified School celebrated the launch of the Summer Lunch at the Library program at a kick-off event on June 13 at the North Laguna/Valley Hi Library. The program will provide free summer meals and reading programs at this library location. For many low-income children, the end of the school year is also the end of learning/enrichment opportunities and a nutritious lunch offered by a school lunch program. The Summer Lunch at the Library kick-off event aimed to raise awareness among families in Sacramento about free, healthy lunches available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s summer nutrition programs. The kick-off event featured remarks from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, EGUSD Board President Chet Madison, Sr., Sacramento Public Library Director Rivkah Sass, Acting State Librarian Gerry Maginnity and Acting Regional Administrator of Food and Nutrition Service for the USDA's Western Region Jesus Mendoza. The event also provided activities for children, including produce taste tests, a chance to take a ride on the "smoothie bike," Rethink Your Drink activities, a mini farmers market, Glitter the Clown and visits with the Sacramento Police and Fire departments. Free lunch was provided for children ages 18 and under at the end of the event. Click here for more information about the Summer Lunch at the Library program. This summer, Elk Grove Unified School District's Food & Nutrition Services will work with local community partners to provide meals, free of charge, to children under the age of 18. The Seamless Summer Feeding Program, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), allows school districts to provide meals in neighborhoods with greater than 50 percent free or reduced eligible populations. Meals are served to children free of charge and there are no income requirements for those who participate. Food & Nutrition Services will be providing meals from June 3 through August 9 (no meal service on July 4, 2013). Click here for list of locations for the district's summer lunch program. |
EGUSD high school students tackle the "math steeplechase"
In the Olympics, athletes tackling the steeplechase event must demonstrate amazing athletic endurance while running over and through obstacles to be victorious. In Elk Grove Unified's Math Steeplechase event, "mathletes" must also display endurance of another kind as they encounter obstacles - mathematical prowess.
The 2013 EGUSD Math Steeplechase was held on June 5 in Elk Grove Regional Park. Since the mid 1990's, students from high schools throughout the district have competed at this event. At the competition, students must complete eight math problems - one per station - where a group of five students are given 15 minutes to come up with answer. At the end of the allotted time period, the students give their answers to the proctor and the student groups all rotate to the next station.
"Sometimes, the problems require multiple students to participate directly in coming up with a solution," said Jim Friedrich, a math teacher from Laguna Creek High School. "For example, this year a loop of string was to be made into the largest possible cube. It physically can't be done with one, two or three people. The topics covered in the competition include logic, geometry, probability, geometry, ratios and proportions, and functions."
Although the Math Steeplechase has been around EGUSD since the mid-1990's, EGUSD students have been participating in Math Steeplechase competitions since 1990. Students from Friedrich's classes from Valley High School and Brad Schottle's classes from Elk Grove High School made the 40-mile trek to Ponderosa High School in 1990 to compete in their Math Steeplechase competition. After placing first and second in the competition multiple times, the EGUSD Math Steeplechase was born.
"The future of the steeplechase is evolving," Friedrich said. "With the Common Core Standards headed to our schools, this activity could easily represent the culminating showcase where students have to problem solve, work together and think mathematically. I would love to see these activities expanded in all EGUSD classrooms and the best at each school compete in an annual competition."
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Volunteers and sponsors needed for
Elk Grove Optimist/Kohl's ChildSpree
The Elk Grove Unified School District Healthy Start Program is seeking volunteers, chaperones and sponsors for the Elk Grove Optimist/Kohl's ChildSpree scheduled for Saturday, July 27, 2013.
The Elk Grove Optimist/Kohl's ChildSpree - an event for select students who are in need of school clothes, backpacks and school supplies - gives more than 100 Elk Grove Unified students the chance to enjoy a $100 back-to-school shopping spree to shop for back to school clothing at the Elk Grove Kohl's store. Participating students are in kindergarten through 5th grade.
Students will shop with chaperones from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Kohl's store located at 9650 Bruceville Road. Kohl's will provide each student with a 10 percent discount. Students participating in the event are identified through Healthy Start, Project Act and Foster Youth Services.
The day includes a pancake breakfast in the parking lot, prepared and served by Elk Grove Lions Club and their members. Great Clips will offer free haircuts in the parking lot to the students. Each student will receive a backpack filled with school supplies, compliments of Soroptimist International of Elk Grove. The Children's Safety Coalition will provide free booster seats and fire alarm batteries to families participating in this event. In addition, the University of California, Davis will provide free bicycle helmets to the students and Elk Grove Unified Healthy Start Program will provide oral dental supplies.
"ChildSpree is a wonderful opportunity for the community to give back to children and make a difference in their future," said Sandy Waite, a Healthy Start coordinator for the district. "The students remember this day for the rest of their lives."
Event vendors include: Elk Grove Optimist, Kohl's, Elk Grove Lions Club, UC Davis hospitals, California Highway Patrol, Elk Grove Police Department, Soroptimist International of Elk Grove, Cosumnes CSD Fire Department, Paula Maita, Great Clips, Trader Joe's, Double R DJ Entertainment, Project ACT and Molina Health Care Systems.
Event sponsors include Elk Grove Optimist, Kohl's, Sacramento Breakfast Optimist Club, Lyon's Real Estate, VFW of Elk Grove, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Department of Human Assistance, and many anonymous angels in the community.
Volunteers will represent the following organizations: Elk Grove Unified School District, Elk Grove Optimists, Sacramento Breakfast Optimist Club, Soroptimists of Elk Grove, Elk Grove Rotary, Elk Grove Lions, Department of Human Assistance and various members of the Elk Grove Community.
To become a volunteer or sponsor, please contact Sandy Waite or Isabel Reynoso at 916-392-9081 for more information. |
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