TUSD Weekly Update
CDPH Guidance for Schools
California Releases Updated Guidance for Schools, Colleges & Large Public Events to Prepare and Protect Californians from COVID-19
Building on existing plans and the latest science on how the COVID-19 virus is transmitted, State health officials on Saturday issued new guidance for schools, colleges and universities. “It’s a question of when— not if—some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a news release. “School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.”
 
The latest guidance for schools is broken into four potential scenarios:
 
  • Scenario I: Measures already underway to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
  • Scenario II: Measures to be taken if there are two or more community transmission cases of COVID-19, but no individuals within the school test positive.
  • Scenario III: Measures to be taken if one student, teacher or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and exposed others at the school.
  • Scenario IV: Measures to be taken if multiple schools within a school district have a student, teacher or staff member test positive for COVID-19.
 
Stanislaus County currently has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. In areas without community transmission, the State says schools and districts should be reviewing and updating their comprehensive school safety plans, including continuity plans for teaching and learning if students are absent from school. 
 
Large public gatherings
State officials also provided new guidance for mass gatherings and public events Saturday. In counties with evidence of community transmission, organizers should anticipate that some non-essential events may need to be modified — such as making the event a webinar — canceled or postponed. Organizers should consider canceling non-essential events primarily attended by older adults and people with chronic medical conditions who are at higher risk for severe illness.
 
“We understand Californians are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and remind them that the best way to protect yourself and others is by washing your hands, covering your sneeze or cough, staying away from others who are sick, and staying home if you are sick,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health and state health officer. “This new guidance is designed to help California improve preparation and prevention.” 
 
You can read the complete updated guidance HERE .
 
We will continue to keep you informed and encourage everyone to remain calm and stay healthy.
 
For more information about TUSD’s efforts to prevent and prepare for COVID-19 visit:

Stay informed:
Tech in TUSD: Gamification of Google Forms
Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach
Ever heard of an escape room? A room where you solve puzzles and riddles to obtain clues to then “breakout” of the room? You can use this same concept and idea to make a Digital Breakout, using Google Forms! Have your students solve puzzles, riddles, problems, and find clues in order to complete the special code! Use answer validation to create an electronic treasure hunt, where students use clues to get the codes. Once all code words/numbers have been entered, they have “unlocked” the form and completed the assignment. You first must create each answer as a short answer type, then select response validation, so that only the correct answer will let students submit.

Examples and Resources
C.A.R.E. Program
Student Support Clinicians
Hometown Hero
Turlock High School
Name: David Tomlinson
Schools Attended in TUSD: I attended Crane Kindergarten, Dennis Earl Elementary School, Cunningham Elementary School, Dutcher Middle School, and Turlock High School. 
Your Rank: Ensign 
Your Job/MOS: I am currently training to be a submarine officer. 
Where are you stationed? Charleston, South Carolina
Why did you join the military? I joined the military to help pay for college and to do something exciting for at least a few years before joining the workforce. 
What is your favorite part of being in the military? My favorite part about being in the military so far is the rigor of the program that my classmates and I are going through and the camaraderie that we get from going through it together.
What has been the biggest challenge? The biggest challenge so far had been adjusting from a collegiate academic environment to the much more rigid one in the nuclear power pipeline. 
What are your goals for the future? In the future I would like to get a master’s degree, but beyond that there are just so many possibilities that it is hard to focus on a single one. 
Any hobbies? There isn't too much to do in Charleston, but the city has amazing food. My friends and I love to go out and try different restaurants pretty regularly. One of our favorites is this little hole in the wall called "Codfather.”
Anyone you’d like to recognize for helping you on this journey? I would like to thank LCDR Montanez and Major Cross. Without them, I would not have had the opportunities that I've had. I wouldn't have been able to go the university that I did, and I wouldn't have had the college experiences that I did. Obviously, I also would not have commissioned. 
Athletic Director Sports Update
Dave Walls, Pitman High School AD
Baseball
The Pride opened the 2020 season with a busy week and are 2-1 on the year. On Monday the Pride hosted former CCC rival El Capitan and came away with a run field 11-10 victory after scoring 3 in the bottom of the 7th to take the victory. On Tuesday the Pride hosted Oakdale out of the VOL and fell to the Mustangs 3-1 and on Friday the Pride traveled to Manteca and came away with a 5-0 victory. Chase Gilbreth went the distance against the Buffaloes only giving up 3 hits to get the complete game victory. 

Boys Tennis
The Pride traveled to Clovis on Friday and Saturday to participate in the California Tennis Classic. The boys went 3-0 on Saturday and won their bracket for the day. Marcos Mendez at #1 went 5-0 on the weekend and will be a strong contender in CCAL play.
 
Softball
The Lady Pride played five games in 4 days. On Tuesday the Pride played two as they traveled to Rainbow Fields to participate in the Jaguar Classic. The Pride tied Merced 2-2 in the early game and took a 13-2 victory over Hughson in the night cap. On Wednesday the ladies hosted Hilmar in the very first official game on the Pitman Varsity Softball Complex. The Pride came away with a 12-0 victory over the Yellowjackets. On Friday the ladies traveled back to Rainbow Fields and defeated El Capitan 12-0 and Central Valley 9-5. The Pride are 5-1 on the year and look to continue their strong play.
 
Swimming
The Pride hosted Enochs on Friday in the first CCAL meet of the year. The Pride split the afternoon as the varsity boys won 88-84 and the varsity girls fell to the Eagles 84-87. For the girls, Joelle Lok won the 200 FR - 2:18.40, Maddie Ngo won the 200 IM - 2:27.73 and 500 FR - 5:51.44. For the boys Sean Benard won the 200 FR - 1:52.34, Tristan Loesche won 100 FLY - 57.90 and Bryce Kelly won the 100 BRST - 1:11.93. 
 
Track & Field
The Pride participated in the Dean Andreessen Classic at Golden Valley High School on Saturday with no results available. On Wednesday Pitman traveled to Hughson HS for the Frosh-Soph Showcase where Damian Garcia and Maci Day set meet record in the 1600m. For the boys, Garcia ran 4:33.64 and for the girls, Day ran 5:36.64. Damian Garcia also set a meet record in the 3200m at 9:51.66 
 
Upcoming Pride Athletics:
Monday
BGOLF @ Merced Tournament – 10:00 / Merced CC
 
Tuesday
TENN @ Modesto – 3:00
JV-VBB vs. Lodi – 4:00 / Pitman Field 1 & 2
FBB @ Lodi – 4:00
SB vs. Downey - 3:45 / Pitman Softball Fields
 
Wednesday
TRK @ CCAL Center Meet #1 – 10:00 / Turlock HS
BGOLF vs. Gregori  – Turlock CC / 1:00
 
Thursday
TENN vs. Downey – 3:00
JV-VBB vs. Los Banos – 3:30 / Pitman Field 1 & 2
JV- VSB @ Gregori - 3:45
 
Friday
TRK @ Stanislaus County Meet  – 1:00 / Riverbank HS
FROSH-JVBB vs. Downey - 3:45 / Pitman Field 1 & 2
SWIM vs. Gregori – 3:00 / Pitman Pool

Saturday
SWIM @ Johansen - Nor Cal Relays / Johansen HS – 7:30AM
Mike Brown, Turlock High School AD
Baseball: Freshman played a great game against St. Mary’s and beat them. JV had a great game with St. Mary’s back here at THS and ended up in a tie due to ran out of light to play. JV went down to Buhach and beat them 7 – 0.  Varsity beat Lodi 3 – 2 and then went down to Buhach and had a crazy game but ended up winning 10 – 8. Varsity Baseball went to San Joaquin Memorial and lost to them 1 – 3.   

Boys Golf:  Went up to St. Mary’s and placed 8th with a score of 343. Keena Young 88, Elias Rabine 82, Paul Envia 85, Myles Harp 88, Nihal Gill 101   
Boys and Girls Track: Track opened up with the distance wars in Hughson. Boys Varsity took first place and girls varsity took 5th.
Boys and Girls Swimming:  Swimming went against Buhach Colony JV girls won 140 – 0, JV boys won 132 – 15, Varsity Girls won 136 – 35, Varsity boys won 116 – 54.  They opened up their league season against Gregori and another clean sweep. JV girls 125 – 46, JV boys 90 – 78 , Varsity girls 121 – 63, Varsity boys 115 – 53.                                                                     
Softball: Varsity went down the Merced and lost to them 0 – 8. They played a great game against Central Catholic but came up a little short and lost 5 – 7. 

Wrestling: Our girl Hailey Ward went 4-3 and placed 6th. She claimed her fourth state medal becoming the first THS girl to ever claim four state medals. She finished her senior season at 33-6.
On the boy’s side, Ethan Ward went 2-2 as a freshman state qualifier. Adrian Heras placed 8th finishing the tournament 4-2. And finishing his senior season at 42-3. Great job, dogs!

Coming Up Next Week for the Bulldogs:  
Mon: JV/Varsity baseball is home against Oak Ridge @ 4:00. Golf is down at Merced Tourney
Tues: Softball is at Enochs @ 3:45. Boys Tennis is also at Enochs @ 3:00
Wed: JV/Freshman are home against Folsom 4:00. Freshman will play at Pedretti due to a home track meet.  Track first Center meet here at THS @ 10:00 am. Boys golf against Enochs @ Creekside 1:30.  Swimming is home against Golden Valley.
Thurs: Softball is home against Modesto @ 3:45. Tennis is at Gregori @ 3:00                          
Fri: Varsity baseball is home against Lincoln @ 4:00. F/JV baseball is at Lincoln @ 3:45. Swimming is home against Modesto @ 3:00. Track is at Riverbank for the County Track meet @ 2:00.
The "US" in TUSD
Michaela Texeira, Medeiros Elementary School
How long have you worked in TUSD? Just over a year and a half.

What is your job title? Special Education Paraprofessional-Severe

Where did you work prior to TUSD? Therapeutic Pathways Kendall Center.

Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? Lots of giggles, transitions around campus, academics, and dancing to get all the wiggles out!

Things you are most proud of? Inclusion is daily a right we (special education staff) advocate for on behalf of our students with great dignity and respect. 

Challenges? Sometimes that advocacy is met with indifference and narrow minded thinking regarding the immense capacity our students have to thrive when given the chance. 

Favorite memory/story? Currently, one of the students in my classroom has been yelling, “Awesome!” during his favorite song. 

What are you reading? Emotional Virtue by Sarah Swafford

Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? Mindhunter on Netflix. It is about the beginnings of the FBI’s behavioral science department. 

Fave movies? The Princess Bride

Anything surprising we may not know about you? I also work after school with general education students for tutoring. 

Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? I am currently enrolled in a master’s program, through Arizona State, studying special education and behavioral science.
Students of TUSD
March Character Trait
Seen on Social Media
Read Across America
The 411
Share Your Awesome!

Marie Russell
Chief Communication Coordinator
mrussell@turlock.k12.ca.us
209.648.0968
@tusd_mrussell

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.