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Wednesday, November 20, 2019 | Volume X, Issue XV
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News, Announcements, & Success Stories
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Annual College Fair connects students with post-secondary options
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High school seniors looking at post-secondary options had the opportunity to visit our annual
College Fair
last month at Folsom High. Check out some
photos here!
We hosted over 100 representatives from colleges, universities, vocational schools and military branches to engage with our students and families, provide options and answer questions. Breakout sessions were also conducted and videotaped, which provided helpful information on matters such as applying for and paying for college.
We want to acknowledge and thank the event sponsors SMUD and the Folsom Cordova Education Foundation. Their support made it possible to offer the College Fair to our students and families.
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Cordova High students pursuing medical careers learn life-saving skills
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Dozens of students in Cordova High School's newest career program learned life-saving lessons at a daylong training with the District's Health Services professionals.
The 37 students are part of the school's new two-year Patient Care career pathway, part of the
IB Career Programme
and among the growing offering of
Career Technical Education
options for students to explore as they prepare for the real world. The Patient Care pathway helps set students on a path to potential careers in medicine, everything from doctors to nurses, medical assistants to physical therapists, and more.
During the Nov. 13 training at the Education Services Center, students learned critical first aid and CPR skills, walking away with not only their certification but aspirations of working in medical fields.
Photos:
Click here
to see snapshots from the recent hands-on lesson!
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PHOTOS: Physics, engineering - and speed - race through Folsom High
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Creativity, enthusiasm and competition - fueled by physics and engineering smarts - propelled dozens of students across the campus of Folsom High School on Friday, Nov. 15 at the school's first-ever Soap Box Derby.
Families, teachers, and community members cheered as students showcased their hand-built gravity race-cars in spirited races.
Led by teachers Andrew Bias, Tyler Johnstone, and Eric Wright, 29 student teams competed - some decked out in elaborate costumes - in their
un-powered gravity race cars, complete with steering, brakes, and safety inspection. The design of the car was up to the student teams.
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CHS Teacher is a State Finalist for Samsung Solve For Tomorrow contest
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Faith Caplan, teacher at Cordova High School, oversees and teaches classes in the Product Innovation and Design Pathway, part of the California Partnership Academies at CHS. We just learned she is a State Finalist in the very competitive
Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Contes
t!
CHS is one of only 13 other California schools to be named a finalist in this national competition designed to "boost interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and MATH (STEM), and challenges public school teachers and students in grades 6-12 to show how STEM can be applied to help improve their local community."
For the submission, Caplan assembled a team of multi grade-level students to come up with an invention. They envisioned a vending machine to serve the homeless population. People in need would deposit trash into the machine, and receive personal hygiene products in return. Advising the student team were community partners from Folsom Lake Innovation Center, Parallax, Rancho Cordova Navigator and Loaves and Fishes. Students drew upon the skills they learn in Caplan's classes such as "creativity, problem-solving, test and redesign and teamwork."
According to Principal Jerad Hyden "Our California Partnership Academies (Agriculture, Business, Culinary, and Engineering) are phenomenal - the program is literally funded on serving "at-risk" students as evidenced by a set of pre-established criteria." He is also pleased to report a "95% success rate amongst 10th grade Academy students," in both academic and attendance measures.
As a state finalist, Caplan has already won a Samsung Tablet for her classroom, and is now competing for the grand prize of a "$100,000 prize package including Samsung technology and classroom resources."
Excited for this opportunity, Caplan is "now in the process of developing the action plan for the next step in the contest. I plan on doing this collaboratively with my students, advisory board and key stakeholders."
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Budget update: Board to consider proposed reductions Thursday
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The Folsom Cordova Unified Board of Education will consider a package of budget reductions proposed to help alleviate the District's budget challenges during its next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, which begins at 6 p.m. and is held in the Education Services Center, 1965 Birkmont Drive in Rancho Cordova.
The PowerPoint presentation outlining proposed budget reductions can be found
here
. The formal resolution the Board will be asked to approve can be found
here
.
How were these reductions identified?
In recent months, the District has been working collaboratively with its employee unions, including the Folsom Cordova Education Association and the California School Employees Association, to explore long-term budget reductions designed to minimize potential staff reductions and reduce impacts to classrooms and student learning.
If the Board adopts the recommended reductions Thursday, the District will still need to identify an additional $2.5 million in cuts by its next report to the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) by March 2020.
Why do cuts need to be made?
School districts across the state are experiencing fiscal challenges due to rising employee and operating costs that are outpacing revenues. The Board has held five public study sessions in the last year to explore ideas for solutions to Folsom Cordova's budget shortfall.
In the 2020-21 school year, the District projects an estimated $3.5 million budget shortfall, and an additional $5.5 million the following year. If long-term, ongoing cuts are not identified, SCOE may reject the District's budget, prompting deeper cuts.
Have any cuts been made previously?
As part of the first phase of budget reductions this year, the District has taken several actions, including reducing travel and conference expenses, saving money through early retirements, eliminating vacant teaching positions that did not have class rosters, declining to backfill some clerical positions, and eliminating some administration positions by collapsing vacant positions.
More background information:
Below are links to public presentations and resources during this year's budget development process:
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Photos and recap from 2019 Fall Parent Summit: Full STEAM Ahead!
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Parents who attended the Fall Parent Summit were treated to a Saturday morning filled with information, surrounding the theme STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.
Monica Merrill from Powerschool started the morning with a presentation on how parents can utilize the Powerschool Parent Portal to access student information such as grades and attendance. Later, parents were offered the opportunity to visit workshop stations, where hands-on activities provided engagement on ways we engage students with STEAM Extended Learning and Visual and Performing Arts.
For parents whose language was not English, staff was on hand to translate the presentations in Spanish, Farsi, Dari and Pashto. Additionally, childcare and lunch was provided for attendees! To see what the day looked like, visit our
Facebook post for photos
.
Don't miss out on the next Parent Summit, which will take place on February 8, 2020. More details and information can be found on our
Parent Engagement
website. For questions, please contact Elena Cabrera at
[email protected]
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REMINDER: CA School Climate Survey: Parents, let your voice be heard by taking the annual survey
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Each year, the
CDE along with WestED
develops surveys for students, staff and parents. Survey results help us understand how to allocate resources for programs that support safe and welcoming schools, such as anti-bullying programs, resources that connect students to a network of care and opportunities, and data we need to provide education on healthy choices such as staying away from tobacco products. These results also help guide our annual
LCAP goals
.
As we focus on positive culture, climate and connectedness for all of our students, the CalSCHLS information collected provides valuable information we can use for actionable decisions.
Participation is voluntary and anonymous.
Note: For families with multiple children, only one survey per school is requested.
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Community Partner shout-out: Folsom Runway celebrates inclusion
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More than 200 people turned out earlier this month to the Folsom Community Center to celebrate opportunities for students with disabilities at the third-annual Folsom Runway 19 fashion show and fundraiser.
Folsom Runway
is a nonprofit association, in partnership with the Folsom Athletic Association and the City of Folsom, formed to support children with a variety of special needs so that all children can participate in programs across the community.
The annual fashion show featured 56 models including dozens of Folsom Cordova students, as well as District and school leaders including Board of Education members, Superintendent Sarah Koligian, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Betty Jo Wessinger, and many others.
Learn more about Folsom Runway
here
.
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FHS & Folsom Library Present: Community Mindfulness Night
The motivation behind this event is to make students and their families aware of what "Mindfulness" is.
Folsom High chose finals week to host the event because so many people are stressed during finals and the holiday season. This will be a great introduction to mindfulness! Liz England of Folsom High School will be leading two 30-minute meditations at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
There will be an acoustic guitarist, some local wellness organizations and student art on display.
Details
: Folsom Public Library, Dec. 17, 6-8 p.m.
-Liz England, Physical Education Teacher, Folsom High School
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FCUSD is hiring: Find open positions here
Here are some current employment openings with Folsom Cordova Unified School District:
frequently for the most up-to-date postings throughout the year!
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Board of Education: November 21, 2019
The FCUSD Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, November 21.
Agendas are posted online the Friday before each regularly scheduled meeting.
This week's agenda items include:
Discussion/Action:
- Approve Folsom Attendance Boundary Change- Effective 2020-21 School Year
- Identify and implement budget reductions for 2019-20 and 2020-21
A video broadcast of the Board meetings can be found here.
All agendas can be found
here
.
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