|
Thursday, May 4, 2017 | Volume VII, Issue XXXIV
|
|
|
|
Your weekly recap of student success
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017 FCUSD Employees of the Year Announced
|
Congratulations to this year's Folsom Cordova Employees of the Year, who were honored at the District's annual Employee Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, May 3:
Classified Employee of the Year: Maria De La Torre, Cordova Meadows Elementary STARS after-school program leader
Leadership Person of the Year: Mary Ann Delleney, Health Services & Programs Coordinator
Teacher of the Year: Jessica Cisneros-Elliott, Walnutwood High School independent study teacher
MORE TO COME: Stay tuned for next week's Digest and on social media throughout the week, where we'll be posting photos, full stories and videos!
|
| Kids Day in the Park draws thousands |
FCUSD enjoyed being a part of Rancho Cordova's 28th Annual Kids Day in the Park on Saturday, April 29th.
The theme this year; health and fitness. Over 7000 people came to the event this year, and our FCUSD area grew to record numbers. We had over 17 different schools and district programs represented with the help of 64 volunteers.
Visitors who came to the FCUSD area got to meet teachers, principals, students and staff, take advantage of complimentary health screenings and participate in fun, interactive activities, as well as learn about the educational opportunities and cutting edge programs FCUSD offers students.
Three valued community partners,California Family Fitness, Dignity Health and Sacramento County Health programs were with us to share positive healthy living messages with families of students. Thank you to Cordova Community Council for organizing this outstanding community event.
|
|
A note on the new Netflix series "13 Reasons Why"
|
Families and staff should be aware about a new Netflix television series with sensitive themes that is popular with teenagers. The series is based on a 2007 bestselling novel with the same title, "Thirteen Reasons Why," and chronicles a teen's choice to take her own life. Each episode features an audio recording that a teen leaves behind for her classmates and friends explaining her decision.
On one hand, the reduced stigma toward mental health has opened the door for productive conversations concerning suicide. However many mental health specialists believe that for youth who are vulnerable, who are depressed, or who are having thoughts about self-harm, the series can exacerbate these feelings. The District is reaching out to provide our families and staff with some resources for support and for talking to children about what they may be thinking or feeling.
The topics covered in this television series are: adolescent bullying, rejection, heartbreak, sexual assault, abuse, revenge, depression, and desperate but unsuccessful efforts to find help or understanding. These topics are depicted as many of the reasons for the character's suicide at the end of the series - and for the show's young viewers, could trigger feelings of distress.
All Folsom Cordova Unified school administrators, therapists and social workers have been informed of this series and will continue to be a resource for all students - including evaluating and counseling when students reach out in distress, or intervening when they observe or receive a report that a student has expressed concerning thoughts, language, or behaviors.
This year, the District has trained all administrators, mental health professionals and teachers in mental health supports - including first aid and suicide prevention strategies,
Students and families who need assistance can always talk an adult at school, or contact our District's Child Welfare Coordinator, Scott Meyer, at
smeyer@fcusd.org
.
For anyone in a crisis, we also recommend these hotlines:
|
| VIDEO: Mills Middle makes music video for campus monitor |
Beloved campus monitor at Mills Middle School Ms. Syl had a special music video made just for her to show how much she is appreciated on campus.
School counseling staff at Mills Middle School Janice Shippy and Aya Handler made the video with the help of students and staff to simply say, "Thank you" for all that Ms. Syl does on campus.
Her real name is Sylvia Miller-Davenport, but students call her Ms. Syl. She has worked at the school for 10 years.
Students, staff and the Mustangs' Mascot can been seen lip-syncing and dancing to Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling."
|
| FHS student wins volunteer scholarship to Guatemala |
F
olsom High junior Wade Kiesow is one of ten winners that earned a full scholarship to spend two weeks in Guatemala this summer.
The scholarship is part of the AFS Intercultural Programs/USA.
Read about Kiesow's winning project idea regarding bringing hands-on STEAM activities to students in Columbia and Guatemala in this
Folsom Telegraph article.
To find out more about AFS: Project Change
|
|
Vista del Lago High, Folsom High earn U.S. News medals
|
The list is out for U.S. News Best High Schools, both Vista del Lago High and Folsom High earned silver medals.
Medals are given based on the school's College Readiness Index, AP tests, Mathematics and English Proficiency.
Vista del Lago ranks #173 and Folsom High ranks #204 in California,
click here
to see the full statistics.
|
| Visual and Performing Arts Summer Enrichment Camp |
 Folsom Cordova's Elementary Music, Art & PE departments are holding for the first time a Visual and Performing Arts Summer Enrichment Camp.
The camp is open to currently enrolled FCUSD students who are currently attending 3rd, 4th, 5th grades in elementary or 6th grade in the 2016-2017 school year.
The camp will run Monday June 5 to Friday June 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. The program will be located at Gold Ridge Elementary School in Folsom. The donation is $275, per child, which includes materials. (The program is self supporting.)
All students will engage in a highly creative and comprehensive two week session. Daily lessons will include instruction in music, visual arts, dance and theater. Teachers will also be using a Disney Junior program, such as the Lion King, as our curriculum for all subject areas.
Parents will be invited on June 16, where students will showcase what they have learned in a performance.
The deadline to register is May 5 by 4 p.m. For questions contact vapa@fcusd.org . Click here for the registration form. Here is a link to their website.
|
|
Negotiations update: FAQs on "work-to-rule" and "impasse"
|
As negotiations progress with the District and the Folsom Cordova Education Association (FCEA), the employee union that represents the District's roughly 1,000 teachers, Folsom Cordova has added additional factual information to
its negotiations website to help our families, employees, and community members better understand the process and actions being taken.
Work-to-Rule FAQ:
This page provides information about what it means when an employee chooses to "work-to-rule," and also offers details about other employee demonstration and speech regarding negotiations.
Impasse FAQ:
Though the District and FCEA are not currently at impasse, this page provides an overview of what that process looks like.
|
|
|
|
|
School Readiness Program announces: Summer KinderCamp
KinderCamp will be available to children with little or no preschool experience
from
June 5 to June 30, 2017
at
Cordova Lane Center, Cordova Villa and Williamson Elementary
Schools.
The program will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 am -12:30 pm.
Participating kids will be engaged on
lots of fun learning activities and receive free nutritious lunch.
Some specific criteria to qualify for
Kinder Camp will include:
- Child has limited English speaking proficiency
- Child will be 5 years old by 9/1/2017 or 4 years old by 12/2/2017 and being enrolled for Kindergarten or Transitional Kindergarten for the 2017-18 school year.
Call Cordova Lane Center at 916-294-9090 Ext. 610117 for additional information.
|
Play golf, eat breakfast, support Cordova High Golf Program
Golf And Breakfast Fundraiser Tournament & Auction coming on
Sunday, May 21 at TopGolf Rocklin 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
All proceeds will benefit the Cordova High boys and girls golf teams.
There will be 4 levels of sponsorship:
- $1,000 Corporate Major Sponsor
- $500 Corporate Mid-Sponsor
- $35 per person, Breakfast Only
You don't need to be an accomplished golfer to participate. All equipment will be provided.
Donation of nice items for auction would be highly appreciated. Any donations of new or used golf clubs or other golf equipment for our program are also encouraged.
Contact Mark Gribskov at
mgribskov@fcusd.org for additional details and registration form.
|
Board of Education Update: May 4, 2017
The FCUSD Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, May 4.
Agenda items will include:
The full agenda can be found here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
