TUSD Weekly Update
"Every kid is just one caring adult away from being a success story." ~Josh Shipp
No Bully
Gil Ogden, Director of Student Services
All schools in TUSD are now implementing the No Bully System. No Bully staff work with students and parents to prevent student bullying by building a culture where every student is accepted for who they are. All teachers and staff interrupt student disrespect and aggression. Teachers may refer ongoing incidents of bullying to a Solution Coach. Solution Coaches will then convene a Solution Team of students to bring the bullying to an end and follow up with students stuck in the role of bully or target. If a pattern of intolerance is apparent across the entire class or grade, the Solution Coach will implement a plan to create a culture of acceptance. We encourage all students, staff and parents to join with No Bully to eradicate bullying, harassment and intimidation in all TUSD schools!
PD Survey for Certificated Staff
Hello TUSD certificated staff! Please help us prepare for the January 8, 2019 Professional Development day by clicking on the link below to go to a Google Form to provide feedback on PD topics of interest to you. Your input will help us plan for a great day of learning! The survey will be open until 4 PM, Wednesday, September 26th. 
Pitman AP Results
Pitman High School
Congratulations to 23 Pitman High School students who earned a PERFECT score of 5 on last year’s Advanced Placement exams! 684 AP exams were taken last year at Pitman and 57% of test takers earned scores of 3 or higher. There were also 12 AP Scholars with Distinction, 8 AP Scholars with Honors, and 42 AP Scholars.

AP Calculus: Frank Aliaga Augui, Eilbrone Poolis, Andrew Wang
AP English Language and Composition: Frances Haydock, Sarah Seigel, Andrew Wang
AP European History: Chuc Luu
AP Microeconomics: Kovin Aghassi Lelham, Lindsey Berryhill, Sandeep Kaur, Bradley Lafaver, Alex Trujullo
AP Spanish Language: Lyneth Barajas, Kareli Gutierrez, Nathali Hernandez, Luis Ramirez-Padilla, Guillermo Torres
AP Spanish Literature: Aylin Rosales, Alibel Sahagun, Ana Zarete
AP U.S. History: Karendeep Kahlon, Frances Haydock, Sarah Siegel, Gabrielle Sotomayor

Stay tuned for Turlock High School results coming soon! #TUSD
Hometown Hero
Roger Guerra
Schools Attended in TUSD: Medeiros Elementary School, Turlock Junior High School, Pitman High School and Roselawn Continuation High School
Year Graduated: 2017
Military Branch: United States Marines Corps
Your Job/MOS: 1345 Heavy Equipment Operator
Where are you stationed? Yuma, Arizona 
Why did you join the military? To become a better me. I knew it was going to be hard but I did it anyway. I joined for the brotherhood that is like no other. 
What is your favorite part of being in the military?Just being around all of your peers and doing your job but having a good time while doing it.
What has been the biggest challenge? Leaving family and dealing with having to be on my own for the first time.
What are your goals for the future? To get out of the Marine Corps and become a police officer or continue my job as an equipment operator.
Any hobbies? I like to hike, watch movies, hang out with my wife, go out with friends, shoot, and fish.
Anyone you’d like to recognize for helping you on this journey? My wife Lexi and my grandparents.
Anything else you’d like to share? To those who are questioning whether they should join or not--join. It’s going to be the best thing ever happened to you! 
Student Rep to School Board Reports
Henry Wooley
Turlock HIgh School
  • Congratulations to the students who placed at the Lodi High School speech tournament!
  • 50 students from Turlock High School and 5 students from Pitman High School assisted at Dancing with the Turlock Stars on Saturday night! They volunteered their time, worked well together, and were able to support one of Turlock’s biggest fundraising events.
  • We just opened a student writing center. It is a peer tutoring program started by students that will provide writing help during lunch in the Library every day except Wednesday. Students can bring in writing assignments for help from a peer! We are excited to see how this new program will impact writing on campus.
  • The Turlock High Varsity football team is currently ranked 6th in our section by maxpreps.com. Our pre-season schedule has been tough. Looking forward to opening up this week with Downey for Homecoming! Our Homecoming Parade will start at 3 pm. There will also be a dance Friday night in the Bulldog Arena.
  • Interact Club is donating half of their proceeds from last year’s “Tacos and Track” fundraiser to Valley Children’s Hospital and Shriners equally. At Homecoming, they will also be holding a fundraiser to support the eradication of polio worldwide. For their fundraiser, they will paint paw prints on THS supporters’ faces and Shields on Downey Nights supporters’ faces for a $1 each. All proceeds will go to Polio Plus. 
Gabrielle Sotomayor
Pitman High School
  • The new Pride Time scheduling system has been extremely successful. The Enriching Students forum now allows students to schedule 4th period classes by department which is much more user-friendly than the previous system.
  • Many of our sports teams recently competed in their first league meetings of the season!
  • On September 9 Pitman’s very own Don Grishaw (Orchestra & Spanish instructor) played in Modesto Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert. Sept. 10-14 was Pitman’s 2018 Homecoming week—our theme was “Home Sweet Homecoming!"
  • September 29 will hold the Pitman Band will host a Preview of Champions.
  • October 8 THS Drama Department will host a dinner theater at Angelini’s Restaurant.
  • October 17 Pitman will welcome students from Kyoto Gakuen, our sister school in Japan.
  • November 3 the Pitman Development Foundation will host its 1st Annual Hall of Fame Dinner.
Where in the World are . . . Paul & Ardie Feucht?
Ardie Feucht
How long did you work in TUSD? 37 years from 1977 to 2014
What sites did you work? Wakefield Middle School to Turlock Junior High School
What subject/s did you teach? P.E. and Health. Also coached volleyball, track (35 years), basketball, and softball
What year did you retire? 2014
What have you been up to since retirement? Assisting elderly parent; continuing as a 4-H Rabbit leader and started an Archery group for Hughson 4-H; a bit of traveling; re-landscaped our front and side yards, subbing occasionally; currently refereeing TJHS Volleyball: enjoying seeing the sights from the back of Paul’s motorcycle.
What do you miss most about TUSD/teaching? Interaction with students and my teaching family.
Paul Feucht
How long did you work in TUSD? 35 years from 1977 to 2012
What sites did you work? Wakefield Middle School to Turlock Junior High School
What subject/s did you teach? 6, 7 & 8th grade shop, yearbook at Wakefield
What year did you retire? 2012
What have you been up to since retirement? Helped with my son’s recovery after two knee replacements; helped care for mom with failing health; bought a motorcycle; helped friends and family with construction projects; yard work and maintenance on our 20 acre ranch—I’m still trying to turn the barn into a real shop.
What do you miss most about TUSD/teaching? I miss the opportunity to show the kids that they can do things with their hands to plan, create, and finish a project.
Anything else you’d like to share? Favorite memory? Family info? Message to colleagues? Paul and I met as newly hired teachers for Wakefield Middle School in 1977. One year later we were married and had the unique experience of working at the same school sites for our entire teaching careers. We were able to share the same work schedule and holidays—very convenient while raising our 2 boys. We also shared the same colleagues over the years, creating opportunities to make dear friends along the way. We cherish the many friends and memories made during our years with TUSD. 40 years later we are still happily married and are enjoying our retirement together.
School Spotlight: Dennis Earl
We’re visiting Earl Elementary School! Here are some facts about their school: ✔ Est. 1998 ✔ Principal: Paulo Pimentel ✔ Assistant Principal: Dr. Jeff Persons ✔ 41 Teachers ✔ 67 Classified Staff ✔ 871 Students ✔ School Mascot: Explorers ✔ School Motto: Earl Explorers are excellent students, awesome citizens, readers, and learners for life. ✔ History Moment: Dennis Earl was a former TUSD Board of Trustees member who passed away in 1985. Have a great year Explorers!

The 4th Grade Professional Learning Community was hard at work this afternoon at Dennis Earl Elementary School planning the best way to assess student learning. You can tell these ladies have a great sense of humor based on their PLC Norms poster . . . NORM! 
CTE in the Community
City of Turlock
Miguel Mendoza graduated from Turlock High School last year and started an internship with the City of Turlock as a result of his CTE class with Ag teacher Joe DiGrazia. Miguel is now employed by the City in their Public Facilities Maintenance Department.

“Miguel Mendoza has been a great addition to our maintenance staff. He works at the Public Safety Facility. He is always on time and ready to work. Miguel is quick to learn, and brings a great attitude to work with him every day.” 

~ Keith Humphres, Assistant Public Facilities Maintenance Supervisor 
‌
This is TUSD
Meet Matt Ulrich
How long have you worked in TUSD? This is my 3rd year as the Turlock High School Resource Officer. I've been with the Turlock Police Department for 13 years.
What is your job title? School Resource Officer
Where did you work prior to TUSD?  I worked 2 years for Los Banos Police Department before coming to Turlock Police Department.
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? The biggest responsibility I have is the security of THS students and staff. I really enjoy getting to know as many students as possible and showing them police officers are regular people.
Things you are most proud of? I am most proud of the relationships I have formed with the TUSD staff and THS students.
Challenges? The biggest challenge has been understanding the needs of the students and switching mindsets from a patrol officer to an SRO.
Favorite memory/story? By far my favorite experience has been coaching track. Many THS students now call me “Coach Cop” including non-track athletes.
What are you reading? I am not reading anything right now but the last book I read was Capitol Gaines by Chip Gaines from “Fixer Upper”
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? Fixer Upper and always Friends .
Anything surprising we may not know about you? I joined the United States Air Force when I was 19 and tried out for Special Operations.
Anything else you’d like to share? In October I will have been married 15 years to my wife Nettie Ulrich who works at Medeiros Elementary. I have a 9 year old daughter Paige and a 4 year old daughter Reese. I ran a half marathon in full police uniform once. I have been on TPD SWAT team for 8 years.
The 411
Pitman Preview of Champions
Everyone loves a Parade!!! Come line the streets and enjoy an exciting FREE musical parade as over 20+ Northern and Central California high school and junior high school marching bands compete for top prizes in categories such as music, showmanship, and marching at the Pitman High School 2nd Annual Preview of Champions! This Saturday, Sept 29! The parade starts at 9:00am on N. Tegner Road down the street from the high school. In addition a Drumline competition will be happening simultaneously on Sandstone Street at the beginning of the parade procession.

Afterward, join us on campus for food and fun! Hamburgers and hotdogs will be BBQing, and other favorites like Pizza and Nachos will all be available to purchase. Some of our favorite vendors will be on-sight too! Get a great cup of java or a pastry from LaMo Cafe, a yummy scoop of ice cream from Oak Barrel Creamery, event tee shirts will be available from GreaTees, or have fun at the PhotoBooth! All this while waiting for the Awards ceremony which will follow the competition in the Pitman Amphitheater!

All proceeds from this event will go to the Pitman High Band, who has the honor of playing at the Sousa Music Festival in Washington DC this spring, where they will perform at the Kennedy Center. In addition to helping fund this trip, proceeds will also be used to cover items like purchasing sheet music, repairing and replacing broken instruments, and covering costs attached to attending other music festivals and competitions throughout the year.

So make plans now! This Saturday September 29! 9:00am sharp! Allow ample time for parking as the high school parking lot will be full with busses and there are no cars allowed on the parade route.
Don't miss it! Hope to see you there!

Patti Allen
President Elect
2018-19 Pitman Band Boosters
Seen on Social Media
Dutcher Middle School
We love all the pictures students are taking with our September Attendance Awareness Campaign posters! Keep ‘em coming and remember #EveryDayCounts.
Walnut Elementary Education Center
Juan and Sabrina Montes donated a Buddy Bench in memory of their daughter Kenley Montes who attended Walnut Elementary Education Center from grades K-6. Rules of the Buddy Bench: 1. Only sit on the Buddy Bench if you want someone to play with or need a friend. 2. If you see someone sitting on a Buddy Bench talk to them and invite them to play. 3. If you are sitting on the Buddy Bench and someone invites you to play say “yes.” Thank you to the Montes family! 
Trivia is Back!
Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!
Counting down to the TUSD Farm Harvest Festival, we will have a weekly trivia question related to the TUSD Farm! Several folks correctly answered that the TUSD Farm is 10 acres. Our randomly selected winner is Chrissy Coughran from Walnut Elementary Education Center. Chrissy, please e-mail Laura Brem about your FREE pumpkin. Hope you try again this week!
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 click on link below to download an opt-out form and return to "Marie Russell, D.O." via district mail.