NUSD's Nutrition Services Department has won a coveted Golden Bell from the California School Boards Association for a wide-ranging program teaching students of all ages about nutrition, healthy eating, and food-related careers.

CSBA's Golden Bells honor educational "best practices" that can be replicated by other school districts.

In its student outreach program, Nutrition Services staff work directly with high school culinary students, campus culinary clubs, and students of all ages through cooking demonstrations, cooking instruction, classroom presentations, and farm field trips.

Over the past four years, NUSD's Nutrition Services has helped create culinary clubs at three high schools, helped special-education students learn independent living skills in the district's central kitchen, taken culinary club members on annual farm field trips, organized a district Health and Wellness Fair, spoken about nutrition in classrooms, and organized numerous special events. 

"In education, we're in the business of teaching kids about things they don't know they love yet," said Vince Caguin, NUSD Nutrition Services Director. "That's as true of fruits and vegetables as it is for math." Read more here. 

'Cooking with Kids' is prime example of outreach

OK, kids take this class with a grain of salt - and a pinch of cilantro, too, if you'd like.

"Cooking with Kids" is a monthly after-school class at Paso Verde School, taught by NUSD's Nutrition Services Department, that brings parents and kids together with a simple recipe for success: Have fun, learn something new, and never go home with an empty belly.

"Hopefully, they'll take it from here and implement it in their own homes," said NUSD Chef James Valles, a former NUSD "Classified Employee of the Year" and longtime culinary arts aficionado who dispenses more cooking tips than Starbucks does coffee -- well, almost. He is assisted by Anna Liggins, an NUSD Nutrition Services colleague.

At one recent "Cooking with Kids" class, each family member made his or her own parfait by mixing or topping a cup of yogurt with berry mix, peaches and granola. Later, they made soup and salsa by using identical ingredients: tomatoes, beans, chickens, peppers, onions, cilantro and oregano.

Valerie, 8, had a hard time choosing a favorite among foods cooked in the class. "I think all of them," she said. Read more here.

(One in a series of stories looking at NUSD college and career preparation, starting in early grades.)

Don't just tell me, show me.

Video images are becoming as much a part of 21st century life as laptops and cellular telephones, perhaps, used for everything from real estate ads to wedding photography to marketing pitches and college admission applications. You Tube alone attracts more than 30 million visitors per day.

Heron School embraces this societal trend toward images, not just words, by offering video production classes preparing students for college and career by teaching valuable technical skills in story planning, recording, camera angles, sound, voice-overs, intros, outros and other editing skills.

Heron's good thing is about to get a whole lot better. Video classes currently are held in a traditional classroom, but a new wing about to open at the K-8 school includes a video production studio with quality lighting, backgrounds, microphones, teleprompters, editing and other equipment.

The new studio will expand student opportunities and make it faster to produce "The Heron Show," a student-created, school-focused video production which currently airs every two weeks and could expand to weekly. Someday, perhaps, the show could be broadcast live in the new facility.

Many of Heron's students graduate from 8thgrade into Inderkum High, which offers additional opportunities in video production through a Broadcast and Media Arts pathway led by former TV newscaster Melissa May.

Heron teacher Charles King offers beginning and advanced video production classes to 7th- and 8th-graders. He spends one period a day exposing other classes to video, and he supervises an after-school video production club for 4th-6th-graders who learn the basics and record "Heron Show" segments.

In addition to technical skills, King said, video students practice planning, writing, storytelling, collaborating, thinking outside the box, and deadline-meeting skills that can benefit them forever. 

Jonathan, 12, said he took Heron's video production class because he likes technology, likes making videos for the school, and "all my friends are in this class, so it's really fun." Would he advise others to enroll? "If you really like technology, I would recommend it a lot," he said. Read more here .

Do you know a family member, friend, or acquaintance who wants to attend an NUSD school next year?

Enrollment forms are being accepted now to attend any NUSD non-charter school for the 2018-19 school year. We are excited to share that NUSD is offering an online enrollment option for the first time.

Requests to transfer from one NUSD school to another next year also are being accepted.

For details on how to enroll, click here.

Family fun for all is planned at a free "International Festival" to be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at Paso Verde School, 3800 Del Paso Road.

A parade is planned, along with children's activity booths, live entertainment, continent exhibits, a photo booth, and international food vendors. Early holiday shopping opportunities will be available.

In keeping with the spirit of the event, participants are urged to dress in a multicultural outfit. 

More information is available on this flyer or by emailing pasoverdepta@gmail.com.

Tiger Shauna Jackson will be a Seawolf soon.

Inderkum High honored the 17-year-old senior Nov. 15 with a lunchtime ceremony at which she signed a letter of intent to attend Sonoma State University next year on a basketball scholarship. 

Shauna proves there's a place in college basketball for a versatile 5-foot-11 team leader who doesn't have eye-popping statistics -- 4 points and 5 rebounds per game last year -- but is respected by peers, works hard, can play two positions, loves the game, is very athletic, and has all-around skills and high potential.

 "She's very coachable and she's unselfish almost to a fault," said Inderkum Coach Phillip Hampton.

After college, Shauna wants to be a sports physical therapist. Congratulations on your hard-earned success, Shauna, and here's a message from your mama: Sonoma State is not too far to stay in touch! 

Thanksgiving came early.

Six days before the annual holiday, a turkey-and-trimmings feast for dozens of students, staff and guests at Natomas High School was cooked and served by special-needs students in NUSD's Adult Transition and Independent Living Skills programs.

Honoring an annual tradition, each diner pointed out something he or she is thankful for this Thanksgiving: Family or friends was a popular response, as were Mom, Dad, teachers, and "everyone." Also singled out were pets, pumpkins, the military, the food, the chance to get together - and the fact that it's Friday.

Attendees filled their plates from a smorgasbord of turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberries, salad, rolls and dessert - pumpkin, apple or pecan pie.

Special-needs teacher Joel Schwieger, who helps spearhead the annual feast, said that a lot of his students don't have Thanksgiving get-togethers at home. So he wants to make sure they get a bellyful of holiday cheer at school. The tradition is 24 years old.

"It's going to be a tradition as long as I'm teaching - and probably longer than that," he said, smiling. "Everybody loves it. It seems to get bigger and bigger every year." Read more here.

NUSD Spotlight              Brought to you by:              Jim Sanders    Director of  Communications              (916) 561-5267