Folsom Cordova schools welcome our students, teachers, staff, and families back to what we know will be another successful year of learning and achievement!

SNAPSHOTS: Click here to see some of our favorite first-day moments from our schools! 

As we gear up for another school year, here are a few items to help you and your family prepare:

• Calendar: View our 2016-17 school year calendar here for important dates, holidays, and more.
• Bus routes: This year's transportation routes will be posted here.
• Back-to-school nights: Find your elementary school back-to-school-night dates here. For middle and high school dates, click here.

As we kick off a new school year, I continue to reflect on some of the personal stories of achievement among last year's graduates. Students like Cordova High's Karen Buenrostro, who heads off to UC Santa Barbara this fall to become a pediatrician.  Or Nicholas Williams, who left Vista del Lago High with the tools he needs to one day become an aerospace engineer.  It's these stories of success, and the hundreds more like them, that demonstrate the ultimate return on our investments.

We are grateful for the efforts of our dedicated employees to help students realize those dreams.  We continue to invest in resources for our teachers and students so that every child has a personalized pathway to pursue their dreams.  Over the past year, we have restored and created positions that support every child's learning - from academic coaches to intervention teachers - who help identify each student's strengths and areas for improvement.

To read the full letter from Superintendent Deborah Bettencourt, click here!

Folsom Cordova Unified School District administrators, teachers, and staff came together to talk about their love of teaching and how they enjoy working for this district.

"Education is unique.  Don't forget that it is actually something that is so vitally important to society that we are creating the next generation of leaders, of citizens, of people in this society, that it takes more than just teachers to make the school work," said Charlie Gilmore, a lead teacher at Cordova High. "It's more than just teachers that touch the lives of the students on a daily basis. It's all of us that work here at Cordova High or in the Folsom Cordova District.  It's really an opportunity I think for all of us to remember that what we're doing really matters." 

Folsom Cordova families of students who were in grades 3-8 or 11 last year will soon receive the individual score reports for their students under the state's new testing system.  These scores are one tool designed to help teachers better understand how our students are performing under new state standards, measure student growth, and implement effective learning strategies tailored to individual children.

Families, students, and community members may have many questions about how to read these score reports, and what the results mean.

Please visit www.fcusd.org/testing, where we have provided answers to common questions and additional resources for you to help support your child's learning.

Don't miss this opportunity to plan for success in college!  Folsom Cordova is inviting all students in grades 9-12 and their families to a special college fair, where parents and children can learn more about opportunities after graduation.

Participants will have the opportunity to speak face-to-face with representatives from colleges and universities throughout California and out of state, and branches of the military will be available to discuss their admission process.

Additionally, families can learn more about financial aid, college admission requirements, and the District's college and career planning software, Naviance.  This event is coordinated in partnership with the Folsom Cordova Education Foundation.

Date:            Tuesday, Sept. 20

Time:            6 - 8 p.m.

Location:      Cordova High School, 2239 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova

More details: www.fcusd.org/collegefair or contact your high school's College/Career Clerk

Keep an eye out in September for the launch of Folsom Cordova's new and improved mobile app!  We're making it easier for families, staff, and students to stay connected to their schools, grades, events, and more.

New features:  Upgraded features will include:

• Custom notifications from your school
• Be alerted to changes in your student's grades and attendance
• Peachjar e-flyers straight to your app
• Sync school events to your personal calendar
• Much more!

Questions?  Contact Communication & Community Engagement at (916) 294-9000 ext. 104530 or smello@fcusd.org.

Folsom Cordova and the Via Heart Project are inviting all students ages 12-25 enrolled in FCUSD, San Juan Unified or Twin Rivers Unified schools to participate in a special, free heart screening event next month designed to help prevent health problems before they emerge.

An estimated 1 in 500 school-aged children suffer an undiagnosed heart defect, which can lead to sudden cardiac and death.  A typical annual physical does not screen for advanced heart abnormalities.

Via Heart screenings take 60-90 minutes and are non-invasive.  A team of medical volunteers, including cardiologists, sonographers, and nurses will conduct a health history questionnaire review, an EKG, and, if warranted, an echocardiogram.  Student privacy is protected throughout all aspects of the screening.

Date & Time:  Sunday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Register:         viaheartproject.org/screenings  Registration is open until noon on Sept. 16 and is limited to 750 students.

Cost:             Free.  Participants are encouraged to consider a donation that will help support the screening program.

Questions:     (800) 284-0125 or screening@viaheartproject.org   Click here for a flyer.

Thank you to our generous community sponsors: Dignity Health, Western Health Advantage, VSP Vision Care, Basic Pacific, Superior Vision, California Family Fitness, Roebbelen, Rainforth Grau Architects, DLM, EPIC, Office Depot/Office Max.

Story and photos by Michelle Broskie and Jason Novik, FCUSD Communication Internship Program

Learning does not end when school is out; neither does the need for good nutrition.  However, many families cannot afford to provide three well-balanced meals a day during the summer.

"It's difficult when you have, say, a family of four, to come up with three meals, especially when you've bee n relying on the lunch program during the year," said Cynthia Lewis-Tipton, a lunch server at Williamson Elementary School.

In response, Folsom Cordova schools introduced a free summer meals program five years ago.  The service is funded through the federal government's meal program and aims to supply families with healthy meals throughout the summer.

PHOTOS: See snapshots from this year's summer meals program here.

Joye McKettey, the District's food service director, said the purpose of this program "has always been to have a continuity of meals so that children do not have a break from eating two meals a day at school to nothing."

This year the program provided breakfast and lunch for families at White Rock Elementary, Cordova Lane Center, Cordova Meadows Elementary, and Williamson Elementary.

The summer meals program benefits many members of the community.  "With four boys it's a lot. They're always hungry," said Emma Callahan, a mother of four.  "Here, they like the food and it makes it easier for me."

It's a hit with the kids, too.  "I like going with my friends, coming in with them, and playing with them," said third-grader Noelani Nuufolau.

Next summer the District hopes to offer activities for kids and families, such as storytelling or games, during meal times, McKettey said.  In addition, through the involvement and support of the community, FCUSD aspires to expand the program and extend its benefits to more families.

The Folsom Cordova Unified School District is pleased to partner with Walmart for Back to School this year, to support our teachers and families who choose to purchase school supplies for their children or classrooms.

Teachers can simply visit http://www.walmart.com/tp/teacher-wish-list and create a classroom supplies wish list.  Our parents visit the site and will know what teachers recommend for their classroom, for their child and classmates to use.  Proceeds from this sponsorship support FCUSD programs.  Teachers can help by creating a teacher wish list at walmart.com, and help us to build a long-term partnership that supports our schools.