Don't want to part ways with your English textbook? Great news: This year, you don't have to give it back.

Folsom Cordova schools have adopted a new curriculum for English-language arts and English-language development classes for all grades K-12. New textbooks and instructional materials will be used starting in the next school year - replacing the older ones we can't use anymore.

Why might you want to hold onto your book? Here are a few ideas:

• Add it to the shelf as you build your home library.
• Revisit stories, poems, and classic pieces of literature you fell in love with.
• Give it to a younger sibling so they can get a head start on future years.
• Some kids love to play "school" - what better way to play the role of teacher at home?
• Refresh your memory on challenging concepts you'll encounter in later years.

Whatever your reason, when the final bell rings on May 26 and you pack your bags, feel free to take the English book home for good.

This year, the Rancho Cordova Police Department partnered with Cordova Meadows Elementary to offer students and officers the opportunity to interact in positive ways - through games, activities, mentoring, and rewards for good behavior.

  

Some 20 businesses from throughout Rancho Cordova donated giveaways and items that RCPD used as prizes for strong character. Earlier this month, students were given the chance to use their "Cub Cash" - vouchers earned for doing good deeds on campus - to purchase bicycles donated by local merchant Motel 6.

  

Video: Good Day Sacramento recently featured this great partnership. Watch the segments here and here!

Third graders from Rancho Cordova Elementary took a journey to the 1830s earlier this month for a unique hands-on opportunity to learn more about the Maidu Indians. Fifty students participated in a tour of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, exploring an Indian Cultural Demonstration Site complete with huts, fire pit, and a grinding rock.

The students formed teams for a hands-on activity to identify Indian relics from the past and enjoyed a nature walk to the beautiful American River Parkway as they learned what plants, animals, and natural resources were available to the Maidu Indians.

All third graders at each of FCUSD's Rancho Cordova elementary schools were be able to visit the Nature Center through a $20,000 grant from the City of Rancho Cordova's Community Enhancement Fund, a ½ cent sales tax measure passed by Rancho Cordova voters to support local priorities such as education and children.

Video: Watch a recap of this experience from a recent Good Day Sacramento feature! 

Congratulations to Cassidy Scott from Vista del Lago High School and McCall Fellows from Folsom High School for winning the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) and F3 contests.

  

Cassidy Scott received $1,000 for her essay on Why Education Matters.  In Cassidy's essay she writes about how success transcends past material objects and commercial wealth but is achieving a mental and physical state of true joy and happiness.  She writes saying "without an education, we would not be able to achieve our goals; we would not be able to create our own definition of success."

  

McCall Fellows also received $1,000 for Education For All Photography Contest.  The topic was What do the themes of Diversity, Collaboration, and Achievement in an educational setting look like to you?

On May 15, hundreds of young people from across the six-county region were given an opportunity that most kids have only dreamed of for the Positive Altitude - Youth Event .  Using the power of magic of flight, kids enjoyed an eye-opening afternoon of endless opportunity, inspiration and life-changing possibilities. 

  

Quentin Lipscomb, a fifth grader at Riverview STEM Academy was one of the winners of First Flight essay.  Quentin wrote about how he plans on achieving his goal of becoming a pilot, the planes he would like to fly, and his role model in life, his grandfather.

  

Being the winner of this essay contest had its perks.  Quentin took a 30 minute Introductory Flight to get hands-on experience and truly feel the thrill of flying a private aircraft.  Check out the video of him actually flying a plane! 

St. Baldrick's is a foundation that raises money to fund research into childhood cancer.  Every year millions of people shave their heads to raise money.  More than $178 million has been raised globally.

 

Sutter Middle School participated in the St. Baldrick's event raising approximately $9000 for the cause.  There were 27 students, 3 teachers, 1 instructional aide, and 1 parent that shaved their heads.  There were 5 females who shaved their heads, of which two of them will be donating their hair to make wigs for kids undergoing chemotherapy.  Mrs. Nelson will be donating 28 inches of hair.

 

Thank you to the four barbers who donated their time for this cause:

• Mrs. Cannon, Johnny and Alex from Adagio for Hair
• Aaron from Lucky's Barbershop and Men's Club

The Sacramento Educational Cable Consortium (SECC) is pleased to announce that students from Folsom Cordova Unified were recognized at this year's Student Educational video Awards (SEVAs).

  

Cordova High School students took home an honorable mention for their clever instructional video "How to do the Pick and Roll".  Cordova High School also had four videos make it to the finalist round.

  

For 27 years, SECC has worked with students and teachers exploring the value of video production.  The SEVA contest is open to all Sacramento county ad regional students K-20 and celebrates the talents and visions of student video producers.  Winners and participants are recognized at SECC's SEVA Award Night each spring and winning videos and producer interviews are shown on cable and online.

  

The 2016 Student Educational Video Awards will be available online and will be broadcast on educational cable at the following times:

• June 1 at 1:30 p.m. on Comcast 16
• June 3 at 4:30 p.m. on Comcast 15
• June 6 at 10:00 a.m. on Comcast 16