NUSD Essential Services Available During Winter Break
We wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, safe and joyous holiday season. As a reminder, the Natomas Unified School District Winter Recess is December 21 – January 1, 2021. Although our schools and many of our virtual offices will be closed, some of our essential services will continue to be available for families. For a list of essential services that will remain open and available for families during the recess, please click here.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Length of a newsletter can cause stories at the bottom to be clipped from display. If that happens to this newsletter, click "View Entire Message" prompt at the bottom of the page. Thank you very much.
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Keeping Students Connected |
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Board Approves funding to extend K-5 Day Camps through February 26
The Natomas Unified School District (NUSD) Board of Trustees approved additional funding at the Dec. 17 board meeting to extend The Center’s K-5 Day Camps from Jan. 4 through Feb. 26, allowing those families already enrolled to continue receiving support.
The Day Camps have been made possible by a $1 million investment from Trustees and later supplemented by a $500,000 contribution from the City of Sacramento. The Camps are available at all NUSD K-5 and K-8 school sites and geared to families who need extra support with their students during Distance Learning.
While it is currently unclear when NUSD will begin the Transitional Learning Model, which includes an in-person instructional option, families with students enrolled in The Day Camps should begin determining alternative childcare options for after Feb. 26.
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Broadcast Media Pathway Students Get Rare Behind-the-Scenes Look at LucasFilms
Imagine being in high school and getting the rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes experience at LucasFilms. That’s exactly what students enrolled in Inderkum High School’s Broadcast Media Pathway were able to experience as part of a virtual field trip to the Art and Science of LucasFilms event. “It was a tremendous opportunity and so beneficial for our students to get a window into this media production world, see technology, storytelling, teamwork, and how this kind of production comes together,” excitedly shares Melissa May, Inderkum’s Broadcast Media Teacher.
Click here to read more about this unique opportunity.
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Ceramics Club Provides Enrichment Opportunities for Student Artists
It’s 2 pm on Thursday, and 4th-grade students in Mrs. Amawi’s Ceramics Club at H. Allen Hight Elementary are quiet and ready to get started. Using just their hands and some clay provided by the teacher, students begin to build a foundation for a vase or bowl, working from the bottom up. “I like how you are holding the clay and supporting it with your fingers,” said Mrs. Amawi. Along with guiding students and answering questions, Amawi teaches her students about strokes and texture, allowing students to express themselves and show their creativity through their artwork. “Natalia, you are doing a beautiful job, and Tyler too.” Students left the class captivated and more creative, eager to add more to their masterpieces. We invite you to view some of the students’ final pieces below.
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On Track to College Letters Sent to Families
NUSD is continuing its efforts to promote college and career readiness this fall by emailing and mailing On Track to College Letters to every 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade student at Inderkum High School, Leroy Greene Academy, and Natomas High School. This six-page letter is personalized for each student and provides a wealth of information to families based on each student’s completed courses, final grades, and college exam scores. An email will be sent from [email protected], the company that provides this to us. Please be on the lookout for that email and for the hard copy in the mail. For more information on the On Track to College letters, please click here.
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Giving to Families in Need |
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Natomas Community Comes Together to Raise Money for Unsheltered Homeless NUSD Families
Unfortunately, some of our Natomas USD families do not have their basic needs met - permanent shelter, enough food, and a job. We are asking our Natomas community to come together to help us provide shelter, food, and some holiday spirit for our neighbors who are facing temporary challenges. The Natomas School Foundation has opened a GoFundMe page for our students and families who need extra support from us right now. The goal is to raise $30,000 for temporary shelter while we work with our local governmental agencies for long-term solutions. All donations are tax-deductible and will directly support these families.
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The Spirit of Giving Runs Deep in Natomas
The spirit of giving sure does run deep in Natomas! Thanks to your generosity and kindness, over two hundred families will receive toys and gifts this holiday season. Toys will be distributed to foster students, homeless students, and local children before Winter break. To those who donated -- thank you for your continuous support, and for being a unanimous hero to children and families in need.
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Resources You Need to Know |
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Free Meals to be served Dec. 21 & 28
No NUSD child should go hungry in the coming weeks. We’ll be offering a one-time per week pick up from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm on Monday, December 21, and again Monday, December 28, at all NUSD mobile meal locations. Each pick-up will provide seven days' worth of meals, including breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks to anyone 18 years and younger. Please refer to the flyer below for a list of mobile meal locations.
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Counseling Available During Winter Break
Your mental and emotional health is important. NUSD’s Student Services and Support Department will offer counseling support for all parents and students, even over the upcoming winter break.
Appointments will be available from 4–6 pm December 19 – January 3, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
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Free COVID-19 Testing on Tuesdays
Sacramento County Public Health is providing free COVID-19 testing for residents of the Natomas area. Testing is available from 10 am – 6 pm at NUSD's Service Center, 1931 Arena Blvd. A limited number of appointments are available; however, we accept walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis from 10 am – 12 pm and 2–5 pm. Walk-ins are encouraged to come early in the time windows and avoid the hour before lunch or closing time.
Click here to schedule an appointment. For additional testing sites throughout Sacramento County, click here.
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Please 'Like' us on Facebook
and follow us on Twitter & Instagram
Let's work together. We encourage parents and staff to stay up-to-date on district developments. We provide multiple opportunities to learn about NUSD successes, plans and events throughout the school year.
Three key sources are Facebook -- we're listed as "Natomas Unified School District" -- Twitter and Instagram under @NatomasUSD. District and school websites also are a good source of information ranging from lunch menus to parent opportunities. Thanks for taking a look. We're honored to be your partner.
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CONTACT US
Brought to you by NUSD Communications. If you have questions, comments or story tips, please call (916) 561-5267 or email [email protected].
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