2020-2021 TK/K Registration
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"I'm Kinder Ready" Campaign
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We need your help! TUSD has launched our 2020 TK/K Kinder Registration campaign with the slogan "I'm Kinder Ready!" Please help us get the word out to your friends and family. If you know a location that would be perfect for a campaign poster reach out to Marie Russell!
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Tech in TUSD: Google Forms New Look
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Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach
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For those who use Google Forms in our classes for surveys, rubrics, and assessments, it is important to see the differences in the new update that Forms will be rolling out. The new update has changed the banner picture, but also how questions, titles, and descriptions look. Changes in the new form:
- Each question and item added is separated
- Added titles are not given color emphasis
- Titles do not connect to the question before it
- More space at the top of your form
- Header picture fits perfectly
- Only way to get rid of a section is to merge the section, and NOT delete. All questions associated with the section will be deleted.
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Gil Ogden, Director of Student Services
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Most bullying in school comes from bias, prejudice, and stereotypes whether it is based on race, gender, or religion. Students need opportunities to discuss the kinds of bullying that they really see and hear in order to prevent bullying so that all students may feel safe and secure at school.
Talk with your students about how we treat each other in the classroom and school—what makes us feel welcome, happy and included—as well as behaviors that can make us feel lonely, sad and excluded. Go further, and explain that students can feel excluded because they are in a situation where groups of students have already formed bonds of friendship or because they feel different in some way. Point out that some people might automatically put up barriers to another student, deciding quickly that they dislike the student, without even trying to get to know them. This is called “unconscious bias” and it how we prejudge people based on superficial appearances or impressions and is the root cause of bullying. Let your students discuss experiences with unconscious bias at school and in the community.
But most importantly, listen to your students and monitor ways that students or others in the school put each other down or exclude each other. Listen for put-downs, related to gender identity, gender expression, religion, home language, race, ethnicity, class, family structure, disability or appearance. Notice who gets excluded and why.
The mission of No Bully is to send a clear message to students that in our school, we want everyone to be treated kindly, included, and free to learn and make friends.
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On Igniting Learning Using Writer’s Workshop
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Mary Asgill, Instructional Writing Coach
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Some of them wrote while sitting on the floor. Some at their desks. Some in corners of the room, but all wrote during the “five minutes of sacred writing time,” even the teacher.
During sacred writing time, Bodie Bloxham’s sixth graders at Julien Elementary spent time writing down what they had just experienced: a mini-lesson on pre-writing and voice using four questions, and a robust discussion of chapter 8 of the novel
Walk Two Moons
.
Contact Bodie for details of her mini-lesson.
“It
is my first year successfully implementing writer’s workshop, and I’m figuring it out as I go,” said Bodie. One book she found particularly helpful was,
How Long Does it Have to Be?
by Jennifer Jacobson.
[It] helped me get the year started and has a fabulous guide for launching writer’s workshop,” she said.
Other helpful pre-writing activities Bodie uses during writer’s workshop are these: “modeling the genre of writing using mentor text, analyzing mentor text to teach writer’s craft, brainstorming ways students can get started, teacher conferences, and daily author’s chair.”
One young writer’s comments after she shared her piece from the author’s chair: “Oh, I don’t think that’s what I was going for.” “I’m not sure about the tone I wanted, but that wasn’t it,” the young writer added as she answered a question from a peer.
What is Author’s Chair?
- A strictly voluntary reading – an author decides to share her work sitting up front in the classroom chair decorated and designated strictly for the author
- Author can request feedback, in which case we take out a pencil and paper, and write our feedback in these three ways, in this order: 1) What we enjoyed. …is clear and specific, particular imagery, etc. I liked the part when you said his hair was red like the burning rash the fire ants left on his arm after they repeatedly bit him 2) What we question or wonder I wonder why you chose ants to attack instead of some other insect or animal. His hair must be really, really red. 3) What suggestions we have Maybe you could tell the story about why the ants bit your character. Maybe you could let us feel the bites.
- Author wants NO feedback, in which case we clap furiously when the author is done reading. The author receives recognition and validation about the courage to share her gift of writing with the class.
In addition to author’s chair, Bodie says she inspires her students to write by allowing them to choose topics and by giving them lots of time to write. “My students write every day at the same time for about an hour. Students want to write and they want to hear the writing of their classmates…The structure of the writer's workshop has created an energized writing culture in my classroom and getting students to write has become easy,” she said.
What some of her young writers said:
“I used to be really bad at writing. I was not happy that much because I did not know a lot, but now I’m learning a lot [about] writing.”
“My experience [with writing] has been a rollercoaster. I used to get bad grades from my writing, but this year, [my grade] has gone up thanks to books grabbing my interest.”
“I’ve been less bored in class since I started writing.”
“In past years I have been ‘forced’ to write about a topic or idea/opinion that I personally did not enjoy. For example, one year I had to write about which sport I liked best. I struggled on it because I strongly dislike all sports. But this year, I feel very confident with my writing because I’m allowed to have a lot more creativity.”
“[Writing] has been good. I feel like I did really well on my personal narrative. I showed it to my uncle, and he started crying. He was really proud of me.”
“I used to be really bad at writing, and I didn’t like it, but now my imagination just pops into my brain and tells me what to write, and I am very thankful for that.”
What pops into the brains of many students when writing responses to literature, unfortunately, is the need to
summarize
literature instead of
respond
to it. Bodie has been successful in using sacred writing time after mini-lessons to help students develop a focus for their responses during writer’s workshop where they engage in teacher conferences, peer discussions, and sustained writing. She says the writing workshop hour is one of the best parts of her day, especially because, “…it is very powerful if students get to see their teacher as a writer, too!”
Give the writer’s workshop model a try in your subject area. Start small. Modify.
5-10 min. mini-lecture on safety in welding
5 min. of writing time to focus on one aspect of the lecture
5-10 min. of discussion, rereading, conferencing, or writing
5-10 min. of sharing the writing in groups to check for understanding
This 20-30 minutes a week will help your students capture, explore, and retain important knowledge from your content and help them become better writers and thinkers.
If you have a lesson to share, please drop me a line. Let’s continue to make TUSD a community of writers.
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Rachel Valladeras, Turlock Junior High School
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Turlock Junior High School students created these awesome monochromatic self-portraits. Students had the opportunity to create self-portraits at any age. They were able to use Chromebooks to create the outline, then used a variety of values to create their tints and shades. Students reported that the project was challenging, fun, and rewarding.
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College & Career Newsletter
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Kristen Cole, College & Career Counselor
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Athletic Director Sports Update
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Dave Walls, Pitman High School AD
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Boys Soccer
The Varsity boys traveled to Rodriguez HS - Fairfield on Thursday to take on the Mustangs in a non-league match-up. The Pride defeated the Mustangs 5-0 on the night. The Pride played strong after being off for almost 10 days for the Christmas break. The Pride are 3-7 as they head into CCAL play.
Girls Soccer
The Lady Pride went 2-0 on the week after traveling to McNair HS in Stockton on Tuesday for a non-league match and defeated to the Eagles 5-0 with goals by Emily Alvarez (4) and Hanna Delay (1). The Pride hosted the Rodriguez Mustangs on Thursday on the turf and came away with a 2-0 victory with goals by Sydney Cantwell and Sarah Sahagun (1). The Lady Pride are 8-4-1 as they head into CCAL play.
Girls Basketball
The Lady Pride continued their strong pre-season play. The Pride hosted Merced on Tuesday as the Bears came in 11-3 on the season. 1st time in recent memory that two 11-3 teams played this early in the season at the Pit. The Bears used full court pressure and three point shooting to take the Pride out of their game. Merced took the night 68-51. Thursday was bounce back night for the Pride as they entertained Thunder of Buhach Colony. The ladies came out slow but picked up the pace in the second quarter to take the victory 52-28 while missing 3 starters. The Pride placed 4 girls in double figures - lead by Khaya Simpson (14), Sydney Smith (12) Abbie Digrazia (12) and Malaikah Kashif (11). The Pride end the preseason 12-4.
Wrestling
The Pride boys traveled to the Mat Classic at Granada HS over the weekend and won the tournament - placing three wrestlers in the finals. Isaiah Ontiveros finished second while Johnathan Stout and Juan Mora took first. The boys have won all but one of the invitationals they have participated in this year.
The Lady Pride wrestlers traveled to Napa - Vintage HS on Saturday and had a great day. Alana Ontiveros wrestled at 138 and battled in three matches before being injured. Lillian Avalos wrestled at 111 and took 3rd in one of the toughest brackets in the tournament. The ladies placed four in the finals and brought home four 1st place medals - Alana Ontiveros, Lillian Avalos, Venize Llena and Breanne Black all brought home the gold.
Upcoming Pride Athletics 1/13-1/18
Tuesday
GBASK @ Enochs - 4:15, 5:45, 7:15
Wednesday
GSOC vs. Modesto - Pitman (JV-Varsity) @ 3:00PM
BSOC @ Modesto - 3:00PM (JV-Varsity)
BBASK vs. Enochs - Pitman 4:15, 5:45, 7:15
W @ Turlock Tri Meet vs. Downey & Modesto - 3:00PM
Thursday
GBASK @ Gregori - 4:15, 5:45, 7:15
Friday
GSOC vs. Enochs - Pitman (JV-Varsity) @ 3:00PM
BSOC @ Enochs - 3:00PM (JV-Varsity)
BBASK vs. Gregori - Pitman 4:15, 5:45, 7:15
W @ Morro Bay Tournament - TBA
Saturday
VG-BASK @ MLK Showcase - Modesto Christian HS - TBA
W @ Morro Bay Tournament - TBA
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Mike Brown, Turlock High School AD
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Meet Kim Fann, Walnut Elementary Education Center
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I was born St. Louis and grew up in southern Missouri. My childhood consisted of fishing, a bit of hunting, spending time outside and relaxing on the river. I am a country girl at heart and most comfortable in jeans and boots.
How long have you worked in TUSD? Almost 15 years - I started at Dutcher and have been at Walnut since it opened in 2007.
What is your job title? Admin Secretary
Where did you work prior to TUSD? One of Turlock's most sweet places - Olde Tyme Pastries.
Any info you would like to share about your job? There are no average days in an elementary school office. We wear many hats and never know where the day will take us but I love every minute of it. Well, honestly, almost every minute.
Things you are most proud of? I'm most proud of my family. My husband, Eric and I have been married for 30 years. We moved from Missouri to California in 1990. Our son, Ethan is 27. He graduated from UC Merced. Our daughter Kirstynn is 24 and graduated from CSU, Stanislaus. Both of our children went to Pitman High School. Between them, I've been a football, baseball, golf, softball and volleyball mom. We have 2 dogs, Piper and Zou.
Challenges? Currently my biggest challenge is not having enough time in the day to do everything I want to do or have to get done. I've recently changed job positions and this is a daily struggle but I love the challenge and I'm learning a lot. I think every wife and mom will say the same thing.
Favorite memory/story? Favorite thing about my job? I love our students and their families. I have the privilege of watching the kids grow, getting to know their families over the years and I've made some wonderful friends along the way. The Walnut staff have become like a second family to me.
What are you reading? Sadly, nothing at the moment but I'm always looking for that next great read. Fiction novels are my favorite.
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV?
God Friended Me,
The Good Doctor and
Bluff City Law are my favorite TV shows right now.
Fave movies? Classic musical movies and anything on Hallmark.
Anything surprising we may not know about you? I learned how to weld in FFA and loved it. My dad was an ornamental iron welder and designed some beautiful things over the years. I wanted to create and build like he did.
Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? I'm a happy lady while camping on the beach, 4-wheeling then spending time sitting around a campfire with friends and family.
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Artist of the Week, Sara Gonzales, Pitman High School
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My name is Sara Gonzales and I am a freshman. I have one sibling and a small dog. I started drawing as a way to relieve stress, but I noticed that the longer I drew, the more I improved. Even now, looking back at my past sketchbooks, it’s always crazy to see the evolution of my art. I still have a long way to go, but with time and patience it will be worth it. At first, I drew comics and smaller doodles, later progressing to painting and more complex illustrations. I entered Pitman’s art courses late, as I hadn’t planned to take them. However, I am glad I did as I have learned new strategies especially pertaining to drawing backgrounds. I hope to work on my animation skills, and progress from there. When I am older I hope to become an artist with a degree in law as a backup plan.
What is it that most intrigues you about creating art?
The overall versatility of art intrigues me, while there are rules and regulations to certain styles, for the most part art is what you make it. It takes patience and effort, perhaps for years before one comes close to achieving their desired look. The fact that no artist is the same, and that there’s always something new to see. And most of all, the reaction I can see others experience when they look at my work. It's like giving someone a present every time.
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Share Your Awesome!
Marie Russell
Chief Communication Coordinator
mrussell@turlock.k12.ca.us
209.648.0968
@tusd_mrussell
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We would love to have ALL staff help share our TUSD story to the world, but if that is not really your thing, just email Marie Russell for an opt-out form.
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