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Wednesday, August 9, 2017 | Volume VIII Issue I
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Welcome Back Students & Families!
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Back to School Message from Superintendent Koligian
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Dear Folsom Cordova families and community:
It is with great anticipation and excitement that I welcome you to another successful school year. As Folsom Cordova's new superintendent, it is a true honor to be joining this remarkable district family.
In my 30-year journey from classroom teacher to becoming your superintendent - as well as my experience raising four children - I know firsthand how every parent has big dreams for their child. As educators, we carry a tremendous responsibility to do everything we can to ensure all children have the tools and support they need to achieve those dreams. I'm proud to be joining Folsom Cordova, a school system with a long and proud tradition of excellence and experience creating personalized pathways to success for every child.
FULL MESSAGE from Superintendent Koligian Welcome Message - Spanish Welcome Message - Russian
Follow the superintendent on Twitter:
@drkoligian
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Helpful resources to navigate a new school year
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The first day of school for 2017-18 School is tomorrow! Here are a few resources to help our families and students prepare:
Click here for Elementary School Back to School Night and Open House dates.
Click here for Secondary School Back to School Orientation Night dates.
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| VIDEO: Dale Waldo named NBC Sports Bay Area All-Star Teacher |
Folsom Middle School engineering teacher Dale Waldo is the winner of NBC Sports Bay Area All-Star Teacher Award 2017.
Waldo was announced the winning teacher at the Giants vs. Rockies game on June 28, 2017. He was one of five finalists honored during a ceremony at AT&T ballpark in San Francisco.
Waldo was presented with a $20,000 check for Folsom Middle School sponsored by NBC Sports and Provident Credit Union.
Waldo has been a teacher for FCUSD since 2001, at W.E. Mitchell Middle School for 13 years and at his current school Folsom Middle School for three years.
Needless to say this was Mr. Waldo's "best day ever!"
Here is
video of Mr. Waldo being announced the winner!
FOX40 interviewed Dale Waldo following his big win.
Click here to watch.
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VIDEO: Anita Kamath named ABC10's July Teacher of the Month
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Folsom Middle School 6th grade math teacher Anita Kamath was named ABC10's July Teacher of the Month.
Kamath was chosen for the award based on her commitment to innovative teaching and impact on her students.
Schools Finacial Credit Union presented Kamath with $1,000 check and a TV crew from ABC10 came out to her classroom that day to film a story on her.
Kamath has worked education for the past 11 years. 2016-17 was her first year teaching with a single subject credential in a general education classroom. Prior to teaching at Folsom Middle school she worked as a substitute teacher in various elementary and middle schools at Roseville City School District and worked as an Instructional Assistant in Special Education.
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I find it very rewarding to see my students develop their interest in math over the course of the school year. It is especially fulfilling to hear from my students that I have instilled in them a liking for math," said Kamath.
Click here
to watch the ABC10 story on Anita Kamath.
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ICYMI: Summer learning highlights in FCUSD schools
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- Students grades 3-6 in the district performed a musical play "The Lion King," at the Visual and Performing Arts Summer Enrichment Camp. Students engaged in Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Theater. Here is VIDEO of students performing the song, "Hakuna Matata." The camp was the brainchild of Mindy Andrus Teacher Induction and Elementary Music, Art & PE Coordinator. A team of 7 teachers and 72 students put on the performance. The camp was funded through parent donations.
- Watch this VIDEO of some pretty impressive robots built by students at Riverview STEM Academy that participated in a two week Summer Robotics Camp taught by 5th grade teacher Valerie Lanich. Students grades 3-5 learn how to build and program robots by going through the engineering design process: ask, explore, model, evaluate and explain. The camp was funded through The City of Rancho Cordova's Community Enhancement Fund.
- The Family Engagement Summer Academy held at Williamson Elementary gave students the opportunity to engage in activities such as Archaeology, gold panning, Entomology, and learn about rockets and drones at the closing event. PHOTOS
- GATE students in grades 3-6 participated in the Summer GATE Enrichment Program, which this year's theme is " The Science of Flight." Students are involved in various hands-on STEM activities to learn about the science behind flying. Lead STEM teacher Lari Powell expains what students learned in this VIDEO.
- They finished! Here is a video from Folsom Cordova's summer school high school graduation held at Cordova High School. Congratulations!
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District and teachers union issue joint update on negotiations
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On Monday, Aug. 7, bargaining team members from the Folsom Cordova Education Association (FCEA), which represents teachers and other certificated staff, and the Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD) met to renew negotiations for a successor contract after a summer break.
During the daylong session at the Education Services Center, both teams broke into small collaborative groups to discuss each sides' common bargaining interests. Below is a short summary of what the teams produced, and initial outcomes:
Compensation: FCUSD's bargaining team presented a written offer:
- a one-time, off-schedule 2% bonus, effective Jan. 1, 2017
- an ongoing, 2% salary increase effective July 1, 2017
FCUSD's proposal was offered after both negotiating teams discussed common interests, including compensation that values the contributions of our teachers and that supports the recruitment and retention of the best in the profession.
Special Education Release Time: FCEA and FCUSD have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides four release days a year for special education teachers to work on Individualized Education Plans and other routine tasks associated with increasingly heavy workloads. The MOU recognizes the extra time needed to meet special education compliance requirements and the additional layers of complexity associated with the work. The MOU will be presented to the FCEA Executive Board on Aug. 15 and to the FCUSD Board of Education on Aug. 17. FCEA and FCUSD will continue to look at ways to address the needs of other Support Services providers who are responsible for students with IEPs.
Benefits: In their discussion of common interests, both teams acknowledged that the cost of health benefits continue to be a significant burden for employees. While no proposal was offered, both teams agreed to work together to develop an educational plan for employees that helps staff navigate the complexities of health plans and maximize value and affordability for their families.
FCEA and FCUSD have agreed to resume negotiations on Aug. 18 and Aug. 23. This update and more will be posted during the process at
www.fcusd.org/negotiations.
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| Applying for free/reduced meals could increase funding for your school |
Folsom Cordova is asking our families to apply for free and reduced school meals - even if they're not sure they'll use it.
Why? Because it turns out those applications could increase the amount of money your school receives to pay for resources that help students: academic coaches, technology, musical instruments, field trips and more!
Schools receive more money and resources based on the number of families who qualify for free and reduced meals - regardless of whether they decide to use the program.
Do I qualify?
Click here to see if your household income qualifies your family.
Easy and private: There's no need to bring us paper applications, and we keep your information private.
Your child will never be identified as a participant.
Another benefit? You and your student may be eligible to receive other services: Not sure you'll use the meal program? That's OK! You don't have to - but keep your approval letter. It could qualify you for other services, like reduced-cost bus transportation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Families in the following schools
DO NOT need to fill out a meal application:
- Cordova Gardens Elementary
- Cordova Meadows Elementary
- Cordova Villa Elementary
- Mills Middle School
- Peter J. Shields Elementary
- Rancho Cordova Elementary
- White Rock Elementary
- Williamson Elementary
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Barnes & Noble announces Educator Appreciation Days
SAVE THE DATES for discounted prices
every Saturday and Sunday in August.
Pre-K-12th educators save in store 25% off list price on purchases of books, toys, games, music and movies and 10% off on cafe consumables and select NOOK devices.
Discounts valid Saturdays and Sundays only in August, 2017.
Educator Discount Card must be presented at time of purchase.
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Preschool registration now open
I
t's time to register for pre-school!
Register now to secure a spot for your child for this school year. School starts Thursday!
Income eligibility levels have been increased, so now we can serve more families.
Please see the revised scale
here in the preschool web page. The new scale was effective July 1
st, 2017.
Applications are available at
Cordova Lane Center 2460 Cordova Lane Rancho Cordova Monday thru Friday from 7:30-4:00 pm.
Call (916) 294-9090 Ext. 610116 or 610117 for more information.
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Board of Education Update: August 3, 2017
The FCUSD Board of Education held its regular meeting on Thursday, August 3.
Agenda items included:
- Approve Reappointment of Measure P Citizens Oversight Committee Members
- Approve 2017-2018 Elementary Instructional Bell Schedules
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Approval of 45-Day Budget Revision
The full agenda can be found here.
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