News, Announcements, & Success Stories
Russell Ranch Elementary named 2020 CA Distinguished School 
Russell Ranch Elementary School not only has been named a 2020 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education - it's the second-consecutive honor for the Folsom school. 

"We are beyond proud of our school community for not only earning this honor again, but for keeping students at the center of everything we do," said Principal Joanie Cunningham. "Our families, teachers, and support staff all work together every day to create an exceptional school that strives to serve every student." 

Russell Ranch, with 627 students, is one of only six schools in Sacramento County that earned the honor this year. The program recognizes outstanding educational programs and practices. Russell Ranch was last named a California Distinguished School in 2018 (elementary and secondary schools are recognized in alternate years). 

A component of the California School Recognition Program , the Distinguished Schools Program recognizes schools based on performance and progress on the state indicators as specified on the California School Dashboard . Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate. 

"Early learning is critical to setting students on a path to success in life after graduation," said Superintendent Sarah Koligian, Ed.D. "This award is a testament to the exemplary work of the Russell Ranch school community to build positive connections with our young learners." 

-Daniel Thigpen, Director of Communication & Community Engagement , dthigpen@fcusd.org  
Message from Superintendent Koligian:  Season of Gratitude
As we wrap up our first semester of the 2019-20 school year and head into the holiday season, I want to pause and thank all of our families and community members for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to supporting our students. Folsom Cordova has taken on some heavy challenges in recent months, and I want you to know how proud I am of the many successes and accomplishments our schools have achieved this past year.

Those accomplishments surround us daily, such as one of our Cordova High teachers earning accolades for her exceptional Product Innovation and Design courses , or Folsom and Vista del Lago high school being named some of the best STEM schools in the nation . Even outside the classroom, Team FCUSD goes above and beyond to improve the lives of students - like Carl Sundahl yard supervisor Tupou McCready, whose creative efforts to connect with kids are documented in this video

Full Message : Click here to read Dr. Koligian's message to families and community members. 
-Superintendent Sarah Koligian, Ed.D., skoligian@fcusd.org
Dashboard: Explore how your schools are performing academically
The California School Dashboard, which allows families and community members to look up detailed and multiple measures of school and district performance, has been released for 2019. 

The Dashboard evaluates schools and districts holistically.  The Dashboard gives parents and caregivers a fuller picture of student performance by displaying data on graduation rates, suspension rates, school attendance rates, college/career readiness rates, English learner progress and test scores. It also includes local information about school climate and conditions, parent engagement and basic services. All of these factors are interrelated and contribute to school success.

The Dashboard puts equity issues up front and center. The Dashboard breaks down information by student group (low-income, English learner, foster youth, etc.) to help local communities see gaps and align resources to support struggling students.

Every school and district can improve. To do so, local communities need to know what they're doing right and where there are issues to address. Look up your school at caschooldashboard.org

What's new this year:
  • Smart phone and tablet users can access the 2019 Dashboard via a free mobile app available from the iOS App Store, the Microsoft Store and Google Play. Or download it here. 
  • CDE has also launched the California School Dashboard Navigator, an interactive map of Dashboard performance by district and school to make important data more transparent and accessible to parents/caregivers and community members. 
-California Department of Education, communications@cde.ca.gov  
Black Student Union students from three high schools attend regional conference
Cordova High, Vista del Lago and Folsom High all have Black Student Union clubs (BSU). In the past, the three clubs have gathered together to hold an all-District BSU where friendships have been made and great ideas shared to help each club grow stronger and larger.
This past month, the three BSU clubs were invited to attend a regional leadership meeting, chaperoned by CHS teacher, Melody Smith-Williams. Smith-Williams took a moment to share that experience:
"On Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 the BSU clubs from Cordova, Folsom and Vista high schools attend the UBSUC (United Black Student Unions of California) Northern Region Leadership & Election conference at California State University Sonoma. The students attended workshops, learning about the history of hip-hop as well as how to grow their BSU (via fundraising and branding) club.  The students linked up with Trinity Foster, a Cordova alumni who attends Sonoma State. During the lunch performance Amari, a senior a Cordova, joined and lead a performance of a traditional African drumming circle. A campus tour was provided, and the students got an opportunity to see the housing accommodations."
-submitted by Melody Smith-Williams, teacher and BSU advisor, Cordova High School
-Angela Griffin Ankhelyi, APR, Community Engagement Specialist , agriffin@fcusd.org  
Cordova High, Vista del Lago students participate in Honor Band 
Student musicians from Cordova High and Vista del Lago High schools were among those selected for a special Honor Band concert earlier this month that featured top student musicians from throughout the Sacramento region.
For the Dec. 7 performance at American River College, 20 students from Cordova High and Vista del Lago High were selected by their directors ( Kevin Sims , CHS, and Elicia Carlson , VDL) to participate in the concert. 
Folsom Cordova students who participated included: 
  • Charlie Becker-Ellison, baritone sax, VDL
  • Preston Breeze, trumpet, VDL
  • Ashlee Byrdsong-Bailey, flute, CHS
  • Brendan Caples, tenor saxophone, VDL
  • Madi Feenstra, tuba VDL
  • Emma Garcia, flute, CHS
  • Ryan Goff, trombone, VDL
  • Aliyah Katsograsakis, bass clarinet, VDL
  • Vrishank Krishnamurthy, trumpet, VDL
  • Madison Moulton, trombone, CHS
  • Gian Pitcher, trumpet, CHS
  • Carter Schultz, trombone, VDL
  • Daniel Sims, alto saxophone, CHS
  • Michael Spiller, clarinet, CHS
  • Matthew Vasquez, clarinet, CHS
  • Jero Wong, French horn, VDL
  • Dennis Xiao, trumpet, VDL
  • Alyssa Yomogida, flute, VDL
  • Isabella Zilles, French horn, CHS
-Submitted by Martha Campos, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent, mcampos@fcusd.org
From FCUSD Health Services: Resources & information on student vaping
School staff across the country are reporting increased incidences of vaping on school campuses, and many do not know what to do about this growing problem. This is a new and emerging issue of great concern, and school districts are working on policies and practices to address vaping use. 

In the meantime, FCUSD Health Services provides resources and information on what the CDC is learning, and provides some best practices outlined by Stanford Medicine's Tobacco Prevention Toolkit. 

Best practices to help school staff with this issue:
  • Recognize vaping devices. 
  • Let parents know.
  • Consistently communicate and enforce policy.
  • Educate yourself on vaping.
FCUSD is doing a number of things to prevent student vaping including prevention education:

Project Alert - taught in FCUSD middle schools to motivate students against drug use and equip youth with skills and strategies to resist drugs.

Youth Development Activities - Friday Night Live (high school), Club Live (middle school), Bulldogs reaching out (Folsom HS). These school clubs engage youth as active peer leaders and educators in the prevention of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.

Smokeless School Days (Kinney) - small group workshops as an alternative to suspension where students learn about their tobacco use triggers for tips for quitting.

Brief Intervention (comprehensive schools) Alternative to suspension for tobacco infractions and first-time offenses of marijuana and alcohol that may be offered.

More information on vaping can be found here.

-submitted by Lea Rathbun, Counselor, Tobacco Prevention Services, lrathbun@fcusd.org 
-Shannon Buck, Administrative Assistant - Communication & Community Engagement, sbuck@fcusd.org
CSEA & FCUSD Joint Negotiations Update: December 2019
Bargaining team members from FCUSD and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter #528, which represents about 1,000 bus drivers, food service workers, maintenance staff and other non-teaching positions, met on Dec. 5 for a regularly scheduled session.

At the collaborative and productive meeting, the teams discussed various Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), job descriptions, and other items of mutual interest. 

Click here for the full update. All updates are posted regularly at www.fcusd.org/negotiations

-Rob Thomas, President, CSEA Chapter #528, rthomas@fcusd.org  
-Don Ogden, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, dogden@fcusd.org  
In other news ...
                                


SAVE THE DATE! Kids Day at the Capitol

The Office of Child Abuse Prevention and The Child Abuse Prevention Center proudly partner to host Kids Day at the Capitol

Numerous statewide public agencies and their partnering organizations will host individual booths providing information about programs, services and resources that strengthen families.

The event will take place on the East Side of the California State Capitol from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23 2020.

If your school would like to attend Kid's Day at the Capitol please email kidsday@dss.ca.gov for more information.


FCUSD is hiring: Find open positions here

Here are some current employment openings with Folsom Cordova Unified School District:


Clerk Typist III - District Receptionist (ESC)

Coach Head Boys JV Baseball - CHS

 School Clerk -Elementary (CVE)

Yard Duty Supervisor (RCE)


Visit  www.edjoin.org 
frequently for the most up-to-date postings throughout the year!  
  

Board of Education:  December 19, 2019
 
The FCUSD Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, December 19.
 
Agendas are posted online the Friday before each regularly scheduled meeting. 

This week's agenda items include: 

Discussion/Action: 
  • First interim financial report
  • Vista del Lago High School registration policy for 2020-21
A video broadcast of the Board meetings can be found here.

All agendas can be found  here .

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