Your weekly recap of student success
Mills Middle wins statewide anti-bullying honor
Mills Middle School has been named one of the best schools in California for preventing bullying and creating a safe learning environment.
 
In its selection of Mills for its Premier-level award Lozano Smith Foundation called the school's two-year-old bullying prevention program "truly inspiring work that your school leaders and students have clearly shown."
 
Mills will receive $1,500 as part of its recognition. The Rancho Cordova middle school was honored for its creation of a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team, which consists of teachers, administrators, parents, and a student leader. This group is tasked with leading evidence-based strategies to create a positive school climate and take a proactive approach to discipline and bullying prevention.
 
The results are impressive: Mills has cut suspensions in half and dramatically reduced bullying incidents.
 
Just a few examples of the school's nearly 20 ongoing initiatives:
 
  • Point Break workshops encourage students to develop character, confidence, and responsibility. Point Break addresses core relational issues and challenges young people face daily.
  •  Mills Bills: students can use these "dollars" - earned by positive behavior - at the student store
  •  Boys to Men: This program works with boys who may have a challenging home environment by providing support, mentoring, field trips, and positive role models. Students learn skills to be successful in all areas, develop character and reach goals.
  •  All staff members have been trained to identify symptoms of mental health problems and strategies to support students. Students facing mental health challenges are more likely to be targets of bullying.
  •  Young Women of Mills: staff meet weekly with girls who have reached out with feelings of depression or thoughts of suicide.
 
VIDEO: Cordova Villa teacher Hawkins is ABC10's Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to Mary Hawkins of Cordova Villa Elementary - who has spent more than two decades of her nearly 40-year teaching career at the Rancho Cordova school - for being named ABC10's latest Teacher of the Month!  Hawkins was nominated for her tireless dedication to student success - not just academically, but socially. Her daughter is now considering a teaching career as well.
 
For her honor, Hawkins received $1,000 from Schools Credit Union.
 
 
MORE: Other FCUSD teachers have been honored in recent months: Eric Wright of Folsom High; Joel Francisco of Mills Middle School; and Nancy Preto of Oak Chan Elementary are among the most recent!
 
NOMINATE a teacher! Click here to nominate a teacher you think is deserving of an honor!
 
PHOTOS: Natoma Station volunteer receives surprise honor for service 
This is what it looks like when an entire school surprises you to say thanks for your countless hours of service.
 
Marilyn Hylton, a grandparent at Natoma Station Elementary, has for years used her time and energy to help coordinate elaborate, beloved school theater and musical performances - from the annual Veteran's Day tribute to today's second grade holiday performance.
 
In honor of her volunteer service, on Dec. 15 the school dedicated the multipurpose stage in her honor by officially naming it "Marilyn Hylton Stage."
 
PHOTOS : Visit our Facebook page to see snapshots from this special moment. And thanks from all of us, Ms. Hylton.
  
1,000 children in need served at annual Christmas in Cordova
Nearly 1,000 children and their families received generous donations of gifts and support services during the sixth annual Christmas in Cordova Event.
 
The annual gathering Dec. 17 at Mills Middle School was sponsored by the Rancho Cordova Police Department; Rancho Cordova Police Activities League; Folsom Cordova Community Partnership; Sacramento County Sheriff's Department; California Highway Patrol; and Sun River Church. While families perused rows of donated toys and gifts - selecting and wrapping items for their children - dozens of volunteers provided fun family activities and helping parents learn more about needed services.
 

SAFE Credit Union brings financial reality to students at CHS 


Students at Cordova High School had a chance to participate in the highly acclaimed SAFE Credit Union Reality Fair which allows students to manage a household budget in a fun, interactive, and no-risk atmosphere.
 
It's like a giant version of the board game "Life." Students are given an imaginary occupation, salary, and family profile and then tasked to rent or buy a home, buy a car, pay for groceries and deal with unexpected circumstances, such as a flat tire, or a job lay-off, or a surprise bonus.
What they learn is more than just balancing a budget. It gets them thinking about the kind of job or career they might want to pursue.
 
"It was a success and educational" said math teacher Cameron Parker. "Students learned that it is expensive out there."
 
Many thanks to our partners at SAFE CU for sharing their time and resources with our students!
 
In other news ...

                                                                                                                                          
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Families Invited to IB Programme Info Nights
 
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. 
 
FCUSD has two International Baccalaureate programmes:
The next Information Night will be held at W. E. Mitchell Middle on Feb. 6, 2017 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Library. 

 
 


 
 
 
Discover myriad STEM opportunities throughout FCUSD
 
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 opportunities in Rancho Cordova and Folsom at  www.fcusd.org/STEM.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Board of Education Update: January 19, 2017 
 
The FCUSD Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the Education Services Center, 1965 Birkmont Drive in Rancho Cordova. 

Board meeting dates for the remaining of 2016-2017 school year:
  • January 19
  • February 2
  • March 9
  • March 23
  • April 6
  • May 18
Agendas are posted the Fridays before each regular meeting and can be found here.
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FCUSD Communication and Community Engagement Office
(916) 294-9000 ext. 104530