Your weekly recap of student success
Board to discuss school capacity challenges for Folsom secondary schools
The Folsom Cordova (FCUSD) Board of Education on Thursday will consider a package of staff recommendations intended to alleviate overcrowding at Folsom secondary schools and accommodate families living in the district's and schools' boundaries as enrollment continues to grow.
 
A number of factors are creating the challenge. Vista del Lago High School has seen an increasing number of approved transfers of students from both outside and inside of the FCUSD boundaries, as well as new students within its own attendance boundaries. With space filling and limited options for facility expansion at Vista del Lago, Folsom High School is anticipated to absorb immediate enrollment growth.

 
The Board will consider the proposal at its next regular meeting, Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Education Services Center, 1965 Birkmont Drive in Rancho Cordova.
Update to community on incident at Sutter Middle School
Sutter Middle School families were notified today about a serious allegation regarding one of its staff members. Late last night, the District was notified that a teacher had hung a Confederate flag in his classroom. This teacher was previously the subject of a complaint for making an inappropriate lynching analogy during a lesson in November.
 
Due to the seriousness and troubling nature of the allegation, we have placed this teacher on paid administrative leave while the school and District conduct a thorough investigation. 
 
We recognize that regardless of context, to many of our students, families, and staff, the Confederate flag is a racist symbol of hate. Although this matter is under investigation, it is important to reiterate: Any employee who is found to engage in behavior that creates an unsafe environment for students will face full consequences, including the possibility of initiating termination proceedings.

SAVE THE DATE:  Celebrated author John Lescroart 
coming to Folsom
Join us for the 2 nd Annual FCUSD Page Turner Event on Monday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m.

The Folsom Cordova Unified School District, along with our community partner, Barnes & Noble, invite you to support family and community literacy at the 2 nd Annual Page Turner event, to be held at the beautiful new Barnes & Noble store in Folsom.

New York Times Bestselling Author John Lescroart will be on hand to sign copies of his latest book Fatal and will deliver the important message that when adults read books, children will be encouraged to read books as well. Lescroart will speak about literacy, answer audience questions and sign books starting at 5 p.m.

Not only can you meet Lescroart, Barnes & Noble will donate a portion of all proceeds that evening toward FCUSD literacy initiatives such as Community Readers.

RSVP for this event, and you'll be entered to win one of two Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nooks, provided by the Folsom Cordova Education Foundation . Click here to RSVP and enter the drawing!
 
PHOTOS: Folsom kids get shopping spree with the STARS
Over the holidays, the Folsom community came together to bring joy to some of our youngest students in need.

For the last six years, the director of Folsom's Hope, Salwa Kasabian, has organized a shopping trip for students, who might not have many gifts to open otherwise.

The Folsom Teen Council, made up of area high school students, raised enough money so each student received a $40 Target gift card. Target, in turn, added in a 10% discount and arranged VIP access to the store for this event. The Folsom PD, Parks and Rec officials, and our own school Principals, all pitched in to help make this a special day the kids would always remember.

Students had their own "personal shopper," made up of mostly Teen Council members, and were told they had to buy something just for themselves. It was joyous to see these young students pick out toys and games they had hoped for, and now got to take home.

Cheers and thanks to Folsom's Hope and the community members in Folsom. Our students' smiles, and ours, are that much brighter because of you.

See the picture gallery and like us on Facebook here!
CSN announces the 2017 All-Star Teacher Award 
The 2017 All-Star Teacher Award recognizes middle and high school teachers in Northern and Central California for their extraordinary dedication to their students in school and in the community.
The winning All-Star Teacher will be announced this summer at an on-field ceremony prior to a San Francisco Giants game from AT&T Park and live during a CSN telecast of Giants Pregame Live, and will be awarded $20,000 for his or her school.
For the seventh straight year, CSN has teamed with Provident Credit Union to award the winning teacher's school $20,000, up from $10,000 in past years.
Nomination forms have been mailed to over 200 schools in Central and  Northern California; they can also be found online Providentcu.org, and at all brand locations as well.
Completed nomination forms must be received no later than Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017
Once nominations have been received, a panel of judges will select five finalists. You can vote for your favorite finalist at CSNBayArea.com/AST starting Monday, April 10.
Click here for additional details.
"Be the First" PSA Anti-tobacco video contest
Breathe California Sa cramento invites  students in middle and high schools to show their creativity and inspiration to make an original anti-tobacco/nicotine Public Service Announcement (PSA) video around the theme of "Be The First." 

What would it be like if your generation was
the first  to be tobacco-free?

Submission deadline: 5 p.m. Jan. 30th
Sacramento area  winners will be  announced Feb.  6th

Prizes: 
1 st  place  winner $ 300
2nd  place winner  $ 200 
3rd  place winner     $100

Winning PSAs will be featured at the Breathe Youth Media Awards on Feb.  25 at the Elks Tower Ballroom in Sacramento.Winners will receive cash prizes and be entered into the Breathe CA Statewide PSA Contest.

Submit your video or URL link via email to Cmaytum@sacbreathe.org or by mail to: 

Carol Maytum 
Breathe California of Sacramento 
Emigrant Trails 909 12th Street, Suite 100 
Sacramento, CA 95814 

For full contest rules and instructions click here

Contact Lea Rathbun if you need additional details at 294-9000 Ext 102316
 
Raise money for schools! FCEF Casino Night in March
Help raise money for FCUSD schools with casino games, appetizers, music, dancing, raffles, silent auction and GREAT prizes during the Casino Night sponsored by the Folsom Cordova Education Foundation on Saturday, March 18, 6-11 p.m. at the Folsom Community Center.

The Folsom Cordova Education Foundation believes student success requires a collaborative effort from families, communities, and educators working together.    

The fundraising event will raise money for classroom grants throughout Folsom Cordova schools.

Tickets are $30, and participants must be 21 or older to attend.

To purchase tickets go to: www.sageapple.org

To learn more about the foundation and/or to see the event flyer click here!
In other news ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Over 140 ensembles will compete at the Folsom High Jazz Festival Jan 28

T he 28th  Annual Folsom Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Folsom High School  and Rolling Hills Christian Church.

This year's guest artists include The Sacramento State Jazz Orchestra (12:15 p.m. at the FHS), the American River College Jazz Choir (3 p.m. at RHCC) and the internationally respected Dave Pietro Group (6:15 p.m. at RHCC). PLUS, over 140 middle school and high school jazz bands, vocal jazz choirs, and jazz combos from all over California and Nevada will compete throughout the day at this family-friendly event. 

Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for Seniors, Children, and Students with ID 
 
All proceeds will benefit the Folsom High School music programs. 

For more information about this event and our program, click here.

 

 
SCOE announces Operation Recognition Essay Contest
 
The Sacramento County Office Office of Education   is a cc ep t i ng s ub mis s ions for an e ssay c o nt e st d es igned to honor  local m il ita ry ve te ran s.

The c o n test is held icon j u nc t i ow ith  t he an n ual  O pe rat i on Rec o gn it ion p ro gram,  t h r ou gh w h i ch bela ted  h igh s chool d ipl o mas a re awa rded to q ualif yi ng U.S. ve te ra ns and  Japa ne se Ame rican c itize ns w hose ed uc ation w as inter r u pt ed d ue to wa rti me c irc ums ta nce s.

The 2017 Essay Theme is "Why You Cannot be a Passive Patriot.

T he w inn ing  h igh sc h ool s t u dent will r ecei ve a
$500 college scholarshipco u r tesy of
SAFE CrediUnion

Es sa ys m ust be rec e iv ed bApril 21, 2017.

See the flyer with detailed information here.
 
 
  
Board of Education Update: Jan. 19, 2017 

The FCUSD Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the Education Services Center, 1965 Birkmont Drive in Rancho Cordova
 
Agenda items will include:
  • Process & timeline for superintendent search 
  • Approve Middle and High School Course Outlines
  • Approve Extended Field Trip Request: Vista del Lago High School's Dance Team to the USA Spirit Nationals 
  • Approval of the 2017-2018 Instructional Calendar
Special Presentation:
  • National Board Certified Teachers 
The full agenda can be found here.

 

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FCUSD Communication and Community Engagement Office
(916) 294-9000 ext. 104530