Elk Grove Unified School District
Excellence by Design
 EGUSD News and NotesMarch 3, 2014 
In This Issue
Teachers in Training @ COHS
DHOH Program @ MTHS & Harris MS
Middle School Leadership Conference
Spring Musicals/Plays
Digital Citizenship Safety Tips
 
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Establish expectations and limits about the amount of time your children spend online and what they do. 

 

 

Honoring our Volunteers

   

Victoria Lamar-Haas of John Ehrhardt Elementary School 
  

 

Victoria Lamar-Haas was recognized as an Education Partner at the February 18, 2014 meeting of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education.

 

Lamar-Haas has volunteered at Ehrhardt since 2005. She is a strong supporter of local public schools, with a vision to ensure all students have access to a high-quality school experience complete with music, field trips and community service opportunities. Lamar-Haas has invested considerable time and effort to make sure Ehrhardt has had the resources needed to provide each student with those opportunities.

 

She has served on the School Site Council, Ehrhardt's Distinguished School Committee, Superintendent's Parent Advisory Committee, Elementary Parent Advisory Committee and has served as either PTO president or co-president for the past five years.

 

As PTO president, Lamar-Haas plans and executes Ehrhardt's community engagement events, including Burgers and Books library fundraiser, Lunches on the Quad, Sweetheart Dances, family golf tournaments and the spring carnival. The PTO's fundraising efforts provide all students in grades second through sixth with a Time for Kids magazine each week, all students with either a homework folder or school agenda, teacher allocations for classroom supplies, art materials and funding to support school sports and the school-wide musical. Most importantly, the PTO has funded every field trip scholarship requested every year.

 

Lamar-Haas has also used her skills and expertise from her day job with the California Emergency Management Agency to ensure Ehrhardt's school safety plan and procedures are the best they can be. She has also been instrumental in acquiring emergency supplies for every classroom and bringing the Safely Out Project and emergency kits to all Ehrhardt families.

 

Lamar-Haas is married to Jeffery Haas and they have two children: Hailee, a 7th grade student at Harriet Eddy Middle School and Brianna, a 5th grade student at Ehrhardt.

 

 

EGUSD Board of Education seeks Finance Committee members 

 

The Elk Grove Unified Board of Education would like to invite interested applicants to serve in one of three open volunteer positions on the Board's advisory Finance Committee.

 

"We welcome community involvement in our District and appreciate the dedication of those individuals who take an opportunity to serve in this area of public education," said EGUSD Board President Priscilla S. Cox.

 

The function of the Finance Committee is to serve in an advisory capacity to the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to District finances.  

 

The Committee provides community input that is shared with the Board of Education. It is comprised of community members appointed by each Board member and the Superintendent and three community members appointed by the entire Board of Education. Finance Committee Members serve two-year terms.

 

The Committee is assisted by non-voting District staff members including the Associate Superintendent of Finance and School Support, Director of Fiscal Services and other staff as needed. Student representatives from the District's high schools provide feedback on financial impact at their school sites.

 

The functions of the Finance Committee are to:

  • review the annual budget and interim financial reports and comment when deemed necessary;
  • provide opinions on current fiscal strategies for the district;
  • identify potential fiscal problems and refer them to the Board of Education for analysis;
  • provide an annual written report of the committee's activities to the Board;
  • provide any oral presentations to the Board of Education at the Board's request or at the committee's initiative; and
  • serve as an ad hoc resource or provide specific research or study as requested by the Board.

Applicants must live within the District's 320 square mile boundary and be 18-years-old or over.

 

To apply, please download and fill out an application from the EGUSD Budget Watch website. Applications are due to Arlene Hein, Board Secretary, no later than 5 p.m. on March 5, 2014. They can be emailed to ahein@egusd.net or mailed or delivered to:

Arlene Hein
Robert L. Trigg Education Center
9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road
Elk Grove, CA 95624 

 

EGUSD invites parents to take online parent survey  

 

Elk Grove Unified parents are invited to take the District's Parent Survey online. This survey has been offered every two years for over 20 years. The survey helps guide the District and schools in evaluating programs and finding areas of improvement. Parent opinions are very important.

Click here to take the survey.
  

 

EGUSD to hold information night for Common Core
State Standards

On Wednesday, March 26, the Elk Grove Unified School District will host a Common Core State Standards informational night for EGUSD parents. The topic will be "Getting to Know the Common Core State Standards" and will answer the following questions:  

 

- How might Common Core instruction look different from when I was in school?

- How do Common Core State Standards impact me as a parent?

The information night will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Board Room at the Robert L. Trigg Education Center (9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road, Elk Grove 95624).

 

Click here for more information about upcoming Common Core Parent Nights.  

 

 

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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 Teachers of tomorrow in training at Cosumnes Oaks High School

      

   

 

The next generation of teachers is being groomed right here in Elk Grove Unified at Cosumnes Oaks High School - all through the school's Future Teachers Association (FEA) chapter.

 

FEA was brought to the COHS campus by Cosumnes Oaks Principal Patrick McDougal. McDougal felt the need to bring FEA to COHS because there were no teacher-related pathways in the District and he was aware of students who wanted to consider teaching as a profession. The FEA chapter, which is only open to juniors and seniors, is currently in its first year at Cosumnes Oaks and has about 20 members.

 

Students meet with McDougal about twice a month for hands-on teaching experiences. Most recently, students prepared lesson plans and taught advocacy classes at Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School. Next, students will tackle learning about content standards to teach lessons in core subjects at Pinkerton in the future. Students in the COHS FEA chapter can also become Wolfpack Ambassadors, who serve as liaisons for the school and the public face of FEA for Cosumnes Oaks.

 

Currently, Cosumnes Oaks is one of three FEA chapters in California. Next year, McDougal hopes to have Cosumnes Oaks members seek statewide offices in the organization.

 

"We would definitely like to see the program grow more over the next couple years and eventually attend state and national conferences and participate in other FEA activities," McDougal said. "On campus, we hope to have at least one course dealing with teaching added to the course offerings here at Cosumnes Oaks within three years and then move towards eventually having a career pathway."

 

The Future Educators Association has existed under several names and has been sponsored by several organizations over the course of its history. The National Education Association founded the Future Teachers of America in 1937 to inspire young people to consider careers in education. That effort lasted until the early 1980s. By the end of the decade, the Association of Teacher Educators, under president Jan Towslee, took the lead to re-form a national organization for high school students interested in education and founded the Future Educators of America. In 1994, PDK International provided FEA with permanent headquarters, and in 2005, PDK changed the name to Future Educators Association to more accurately reflect the international nature of the organization. Click here to learn more about the Future Educators Association.

   

 

Secondary education deaf students find a home at Monterey Trail High School and Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School
 
   

 

 

Deaf secondary education students from throughout the Elk Grove Unified School District have an opportunity to attend an educational program just for them - all through the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHOH) program at Monterey Trail High School and Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School.

 

The program began 10 years ago at Monterey Trail as a service to deaf secondary students. All deaf education students in grades 7-12 come to these sites to receive services from a Teacher of the Deaf and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. An elementary program had already existed at Irene B. West Elementary School.

 

"The DHOH program at the secondary level is important for the education of our deaf students in the District," said Talia Chapman, a DHOH teacher at Monterey Trail. "Deaf students need a language-like peer group and learn best by socialization and interaction with their deaf peers. Creating a program like this allows for deaf students from all over the District to come to one place with supports and services from a Teacher of the Deaf, ASL interpreters and a deaf paraeducator that provides perspective into the deaf culture as it relates to their education."

 

In the future, Chapman hopes to continue to offer a program where deaf students have access to a quality education with a large deaf peer group and to expose deaf students to the deaf cultural group to provide deaf adult role models for students. She also hopes to offer ASL as a second language at the high school level so hearing students and staff can learn to communicate with deaf students.

 

Overall, the deaf students and staff at both Monterey Trail and Harris Middle School thoroughly enjoy the program.

 

"The students love the deaf program and enjoy having a community of learners that embrace the language and culture of deaf people. The staff at Harris and Monterey Trail embrace all the students with hearing loss on their campuses. Deaf students are mainstreamed into general education classes so all teachers have a chance to work with deaf students."

 

 

 

   

Middle school students attend 13th Annual Middle School Leadership Conference
 

 

On Thursday, February 27, middle school leadership students from all nine Elk Grove Unified School District middle schools attended the 13th Annual Middle School Leadership Conference at Antioch Progressive Baptist Church.

 

The district-wide conference was designed for middle school students involved in student leadership, peer counseling, conflict management, Students Reaching Out, WEB (Where Everybody Belongs), Club Live and Teens for Tolerance. This year's theme is "Take A Stand...Make Your Mark."

 

EGUSD Superintendent Steven M. Ladd welcomed students to the conference.  

 

One of the hallmarks of the conference is the concept of peers teaching peers. High school students from Elk Grove, Pleasant Grove and Sheldon high schools, along with other adult presenters served as facilitators of the conference.

 

"The conference presents a unique opportunity for high school leadership students in the District as they are the ones who are doing the bulk of the planning and will serve as leaders in the workshops," said Tami Silvera, Positive Youth Development Coordinator for the District. "This event gives students in helping and leadership roles at schools throughout our District an opportunity to network and gain skills and information related to teen issues."

 

The conference also included a keynote address from Justin Boudreau, a motivational speaker who uses his insightful "There YOU Are" vision and expertise in HUMERGY (humor and energy) to empower students to step up and stand out. Students will also attend breakout sessions covering drug-use prevention, leadership skills, bullying prevention and promoting a positive school climate.

 

 

 

All the world's a stage at Elk Grove Unified

  stage  

      

 

The greater Elk Grove and South Sacramento communities are invited to spend a night at the theater as Elk Grove Unified high schools present their spring musical productions.  Musicals will be presented by the following schools:

 

Cosumnes Oaks High School's theater students will perform the beloved classic "The Wizard of Oz" April 10-12 and 24-26.  In one of the world's most beloved musical productions, young Dorothy and her dog Toto get whisked away in a tornado to the magical Land of Oz.  To get home, she must see The Great and Powerful Oz and along the way, she meets characters on the yellow brick road that help her on her journey.  Featuring the timeless songs "Over the Rainbow," Follow the Yellow Brick Road" and "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead," The Wizard of Oz is guaranteed to be a wonderfully good time.  Showtimes start at 6 p.m. on April 10 and 24, 7 p.m. on April 11-12 and 25-26 and matinee showings at 2 p.m. on April 12 and 26.  Tickets are $12 general admission and $8 for senior citizens, children under 12 and COHS students with a current ASB sticker.

 

Drama students at Elk Grove High School will present "Cinder-Ella," an award-winning original musical written by John Lee, on March 28-29 and April 4-5.  The musical tells the story of poor Eleanor, a sweet simple girl enslaved by her cruel stepmother and wicked stepsisters - and Prince Johann, a reckless royal with a strange secret who longs for life outside the palace walls.  The show features slapstick comedy, singing, dancing and music by Strauss.  Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on all nights with 2 p.m. matinees on March 29 and April 5. Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 for students, seniors and the military. 

 

Theater students at Florin High School will present "Noises Off" on March 27-29 and April 4-5.  The play presents a manic menagerie as a cast of itinerant actors rehearse a flop called Nothing's On.  Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play.  Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on all nights with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 29.  Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

 

Franklin High School's Theater Company will present Rogers and Hammerstein's classic musical "The King & I" on March 13-14 and 20-22. This popular musical takes place in 1862 in Siam.  English widow Anna Leonowens and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok to tutor the King's many children and wives.  The King is considered to be somewhat a barbarian by those in the West and he seeks Anna's help in changing his image. Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on all nights with two 2 p.m. matinees on March 14 and 22. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students with an ASB sticker, children under 12 and seniors 55 and over. Matinees are $8 for everyone. 

 

Theater students at Laguna Creek High School will present the musical "Changing Minds" on March 13-15.  It's Freaky Friday meets High School musical when Kyle and Natalie switch brains and learn valuable lessons about walking in other people's shoes...or pumps. Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on all nights with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 15. Tickets are $6 general admission.


Monterey Trail High School's drama department will present their rendition of "Guys and Dolls" on March 28-29 and April 3-5. Set in a mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters.  Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on March 28-29 and April 4-5, with a 4 p.m. show on April 3. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for students/senior citizens/children.

Theatre students at Pleasant Grove High School will present Disney Jr.'s "Alice in Wonderland" April 3-5 and 10-12. Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice's madcap adventures in Wonderland as she chases the White Rabbit, races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game! Roles are plentiful, including three Cheshire Cats and dozens of other wonderfully wacky characters.  Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on all nights with 2 p.m. matinees on April 5 and 12. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for PGHS students with an ASB card.

Sheldon High School's TheaterWorks will present their interpretation of the musical "Once on This Island" on April 4-5 and 10-12.  This musical tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island.  When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of social class, hatred and death. Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on all nights with a 2 p.m. matinee on April 12. Tickets are $12 general admission and $8 for children under 10.

 

Valley High School Theater will present "The Wiz" on April 25-26.  This popular musical, based on the popular movie of the same name - starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson - features musical favorites, such as 'Ease on Down the Road' and 'Home.'  Showtimes start at 7 p.m. on both nights. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults.  Children under five are free.