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Wednesday, October 26 2016 | Volume VII, Issue XII
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Your weekly recap of student success
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Discover myriad STEM opportunities throughout FCUSD!
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It's more important than ever for our students to gain skills necessary to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of the information that surrounds them. The subjects collectively known as STEM - science, technology, engineering and math - help prepare these young minds for success beyond school - whether they are future engineers, architects or artists!
Learn about our special STEM magnet programs in Rancho Cordova and Folsom at www.fcusd.org/STEM
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Students don't only have to attend a magnet program to get a rich STEM education!
- Folsom Cordova schools have created a STEM Lead Teacher, who works directly with schools and teachers to help bolster their STEM-related curriculum.
- Several of our schools - including Russell Ranch Elementary and Folsom Middle School - use Project Lead the Way curriculum, an innovative, hands-on approach to classroom instruction.
- For high school, we have several rigorous, STEM-related career pathways, including computer science and engineering. Learn more here.
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VIDEO: Folsom High students create near-space experience
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Video by Folsom High School's media production program
Students in a space education unit for Folsom High's Tyler Johnstone recently sent a small package with a camera attached up to 100,000 feet - technically called near space - using a high-altitude balloon.
Using online modeling software and advice from experts across the U.S. and Europe, students plotted the course and received clearance from the FAA for the flight.
Using satellite trackers and a network of radio receivers, the landing location was plotted and the device was spotted on top of a dairy barn east of Stockton. The helpful farmer retrieved it from atop the barn with the package intact.
Watch this video, produced by the school's media students, to see the breathtaking footage!
The students are planning additional flights this year with student experiments onboard, and will be entering the project into
FCUSD's annual STEM Expo
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The balloon, parachute, and package also will be displayed in Folsom High's front office, along with images captured during flight.
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Sutter team wins big at international "School of the Future" contest
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The students took home a second-place prize - the Award of Distinction - at the Oct. 12 conference in Philadelphia, out of 3,000 entries internationally. The two girls also won state and regional honors before receiving the international award.
Teams were challenged to plan and design sustainable and resilient learning spaces that encourage innovation, critical thinking, and collaborative teamwork. Here is a description of Sutter Middle's project, from a SchoolsNEXT news release:
What an exciting journey we had with the Sutter Middle School team as they led us into the future and its endless possibilities- Crecerus. A play on the Latin word to grow, the Crecerus Institute's watchword became "with wisdom we grow.'
No idea is a bad idea at Creserus, rather learning from mistakes sows the seeds for curiosity and living an intelligent and useful life. Gathering ideas from all the stakeholders, and applying their mantra of "rigor, relevance and relationships," their design goal addressed the problems they found in their current learning environment.
With an eye to the connection between learning and the global community, Creserus challenges the traditional grade structure, offering an environment for self-paced learning, grouped by passion and interest in four dormitory houses: Strexora for aspiring artists; Aulara for those who follow the path of technology and science; Cessna houses future leaders who strive to make this world a better place; and, Razelle for those who push themselves to their physical limits. While core academies cover the basics during the day, the four houses offer opportunities to study in their areas of interest, strengthening a student's career path.
Each house manages an urban farming pod that produces energy as it
s
contents are cultivated and nurtured. Those who do not work in the field are responsible for cooking and cleaning and all are encouraged to provide community service.
Points are earned and may be used for the snack bar and to ride the Maglev train, a magnetic levitation train providing frictionless propulsion that enables a train to "float" above the track, capable of speeds in excess of 350 mph.
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Next IB Programme Info Night just around the corner: November 1
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You're invited to plan ahead for your child's future success!
Folsom Cordova invites families of students of any grade level to attend the IB Program Info Nights. Join us to learn about IB educational, instructional and grading philosophy. The IB programs aim to an education that develops inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people.
Enrolling in Folsom Cordova's International Baccalaureate Programme is a chance to show top universities your student is ready for the next level of success.
Folsom Cordova has two International Baccalaureate programmes:
We will have the info night on Nov. 1, 2016 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Cordova High School Library.
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| PHOTOS: Navy Blue Angels inspire Mills STEM students |
In the days before this year's California Capital Airshow, service members from the Navy Blue Angels support team and the Navy Explosive Ordinance Device technician team came to Mills Middle School to present to
the school's STEM Academy students about their jobs, and the paths to success they followed.
The 150 students were captivated as the service members shared information about their education, training, duties, and more. Several students stayed afterward to see - and drive - some of the military robots up close. The students gathered for the event enjoyed seeing for themselves some of the STEM- science, technology, engineering, and math - concepts being taught in class.
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Sutter Middle presents: Protecting your children from Internet dangers
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Families, you are invited to an evening of learning and parenting tools. With the support of the Sacramento District Attorney's Office and the District's Child Welfare Office, Sutter Middle is offering a workshop for families about the dangers of the Internet and how to protect children growing up in the digital era.
As parents, it is difficult to keep up with the new trends and advancements in technology. Social media and digital communication is a clear example of how something can be both effective and potentially harmful. At the workshop, families learn:
- Tools to keep their kids safe on their mobile devices using the iSmart program
- The latest trends in cyber-crimes directed toward children
- How to protect their children from cyber bullying and sexting
- Skills to parent teens in the age of the internet
- How to teach social media boundaries to their children
- How to help children after they have made poor cyber choices
- How to have difficult discussions with their children and avoid power struggles
- The legal ramifications for children who inappropriately use the internet
The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Sutter Middle School.
At 5:30 p.m. the Folsom Police Department will be serving BBQ hot dogs, and at 6 p.m. parents will gather in the gym for the presentation offered by Kelly Richardson, marriage family therapist, and Scott Meyer, the FCUSD's child welfare coordinator.
For questions, please contact Assistant Principal Andy Evans at (916) 294-9035.
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PTA volunteers, school service honored in annual banquet
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More than 100 FCUSD principals, teachers, staff members, and honorees were on hand this month for the Folsom Cordova PTA Council's annual banquet, celebrating the thousands of hours of service families provide to support student success.
Marni Krpata was among the top honorees for her years of service to Williamson Elementary and Mitchell Middle schools. She was one of dozens who, in 2015-16, contributed an estimated 33,601 hours of service to FCUSD schools. The PTA Council also raised $2,174 for the District's Health Services department.
Community leaders also were in attendance, including: Linda Budge, Rancho Cordova City Council; Ernie Sheldon, Folsom City Council; Don Notolli, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors; Dianna MacDonald, California State PTA President-elect; and past Third District PTA President Lea Darrah.
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Cordova High School Presents: The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon, and Cordova High is presenting a female version of the story.
The play is about two mismatched roommates: the neat, bad-tempered, uneasy girl and the careless, sloppy easygoing one.
The careless, excessive gambling, a poorly kept house- seems to enjoy life,
while the fastidious one seems utterly incapable of enjoying anything and only finds purpose in pointing out their own and other people's mistakes and imperfections.
Performances will be held from Oct. 27-29 at 7 p.m. at Cordova High's
new Performing Arts Theatre.
Adult admission tickets are $10 and children $5.
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CSU overview presentation at Vista del Lago on Nov. 1
Charles Cole, associate director of Admissions at California State University, Sacramento will be offering an overview of the CSU System to interested students and families.
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 1
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Vista del Lago Library.
Topics will include campuses in the system, the admission process, requirements, financial aid, impaction, college readiness, and freshman admissions eligibility.
For details, please email Vista College & Career Clerk Julie Calderwood
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Board of Education Update: Oct. 20, 2016
The FCUSD Board of Education held its most recent regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Education Services Center, 1965 Birkmont Drive in Rancho Cordova.
Agenda items included:
- Discussion of the 2017-18 Instructional Calendar proposals
The next regular meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 3.
Agendas are posted the Fridays before each regular meeting and can be found here.
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