Student Success Spotlight |
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Ainslie Coughran and Fanney Bjargardottir, Turlock High School |
By Young People, for Young People podcast is an accessible and short debrief of political news created by two Turlock High School seniors, Ainslie Coughran and Fanney Bjargardottir, that works to contextualize the current moment for other young people. Topics range from executive orders to the courts to impeachment and often include special student guests.
Be sure to check them out on Apple Podcasts and prepare to be impressed!
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Student Support Clinicians |
We received questions recently about resources specifically to support Black students and families with regard to mental health. In exploring this, we learned a great deal about the disparities that continue to exist in this area. As we celebrate Black History Month, it has never been more important to fully recognize these challenges and extend our support.
Disparities in Mental Health Services for the Black Community
Although the rates of mental illnesses in Black communities are similar to those of the general population, disparities exist in regard to mental health services for Black Americans, who often receive poorer quality care.
Only one-in-three African Americans who need mental health care receives it. Statistically, Black Americans are:
- Less likely to receive care that is consistent with guidelines, or is culturally informed
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Less frequently included in mental health research
- More likely to receive care in emergency rooms or primary care rather than from a mental health specialist.
For more information on disparities and data sources, click HERE.
There are many other troubling statistics that reflect the need for better mental health services in this population, especially where we live.
In Stanislaus County specifically,
- “Black youth had over six times the arrests, eight times the detentions, and four times the out-of-home placements per population as white youth.
- When compared to California Black youth, Stanislaus Black youth were over fifty percent more likely to experience substantiated child abuse and neglect during 2015-2017.
- African American/Black students in Stanislaus (8.9%) have the highest percentage of experiencing dating violence compared to all other races in both Stanislaus and California.”
As always, TUSD’s CARE Program is proud to provide social-emotional support and mental health services to students. We encourage staff and families to please communicate any concerns to your site counselors and/or administrators. Here are some *additional resources for Black students and families:
Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM): Group aimed at removing the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing. They do this through education, training, advocacy and the creative arts.
Black Men Heal: Offers free mental health sessions for Black men who qualify. Also includes resource information and guides.
Provides information and resources and a “Find a Therapist” locator to connect with a culturally competent mental health professional.
Sista Afya: Organization that provides mental wellness education, resource connection and community support for Black women and girls. “Sista Afya offers low-cost monthly support groups, group therapy & workshops under $35/session and free community-wide events that support Black women throughout their healing journey.”
Therapy for Black Girls: Online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. Offers listing of mental health professionals across the country (including Modesto) who provide high-quality, culturally competent services to Black women and girls. Includes an informational podcast and an online support community.
The Steve Fund: Organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. Offer seminars and workshops “designed to equip high school and college students of color with the knowledge and skills to maintain a positive mental health and well-being as they navigate the educational system and life transitions.”
*Please note: TUSD is not responsible for the content of or service provided by any of these resources.
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Marie Russell, Chief Communication Coordinator |
On February 12, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under President Biden issued guidance on safely resuming in-person instruction in K-12 schools. The CDC guidance is a set of non-mandatory recommendations and does not supersede existing state or local guidance.
The CDC guidance is highly aligned with California’s approach. Where there are differences, California’s health and safety standards for school staff and students are generally more cautious.
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Football, Soccer, Baseball, Cheerleading, and other Outdoor Sport Competitions
May Resume with Modifications in Counties with Case Rates at
or Below 14 per 100,000
Currently 27 Counties Have a Case Rate at or Below 14 per 100,000
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Career Technical Education Month |
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Tami Truax, Director, Career Technical Education and Program Equity |
Each week in February, TUSD will showcase the AMAZING CTE programs that currently exist at our school sites. |
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Agriculture & Natural Resources |
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The Ag & Natural Resource sector provides a foundation in Agriculture. The pathways emphasize real-world, occupationally relevant experiences of significant scope and depth in Ag Business, Ag Mechanics, Agriscience, Animal Science, Forestry and Natural Resources, Ornamental Horticulture and Plant and Soil Science. |
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Pitman High School
Luke Gocke-Ag Mechanics
Linda Clinton –Agriscience, Animal Science
Kiley Gravatt – Agriscience, Ornamental Horticulture
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Turlock High School
Chad Booth-Ag Mechanics
Trey Johnston – Ag Mechanics
Tina Nunes – Agriscience, Ornamental Horticulture
Alexandria Hahlbeck – Agriscience
Anton Fernandes – Agriscience
Randee Vitorino – Ornamental Horticulture, Ag Business
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Arts, Media, & Entertainment |
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Learning the skills and knowledge for creating, refining, and sharing work in the Arts, Media and Entertainment industry sector promotes teamwork, communication, creative thinking, and decision-making abilities. |
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Pitman High School
Video Arts
Matt Jeans
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Turlock High School
Dance/Choreography
Jennifer Cullum
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Engineering and Architecture |
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To prepare students for continued training, advanced educational opportunities and direct entry to a career, the Engineering & Architecture sector offers the following components; classroom, laboratory and hands-on contextual learning; project- and work-based instruction; and leadership and interpersonal skills development. |
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Turlock High School
Engineering Technology
Carlos Montanez
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Information and Communication Technologies |
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The ICT sector meets national criteria for high demand, high wages, and high skills and provides students with excellent opportunities for interesting work and good pay. |
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Pitman High School
Software & Systems Development
Games & Simulations
Shawne Arnold
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Students engage in an instructional program that integrates academic and technical preparation and focuses on career awareness, career exploration, skill preparation and preparation for post-secondary education and training. |
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Pitman High School
Criminal Justice
Michael Moore
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Turlock High School
Criminal Justice
Marcus Lawson
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Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach |
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Discovery Education Streaming, accessible on our CLEVER pages, gives all Educators at all K-12 grade levels flexible resources, videos, and the ability to assign content all within Discovery Ed! Engage your students with Digital Media Content with an awesome engaging curriculum that connects to ALL subject matters, grade levels, and even current events. The digital video-based learning resources support academic achievement through videos that can be easily integrated in the classroom to provide students with visuals and experiences to help with background knowledge and standard integration.
By signing in with Google, you will be able to search through different contents by subjects and standards. Take your students on virtual field trips, watch the Perseverance Rover Landing on Mars which occurred on 2/18/21! Find videos to support History and Math, helping students look at real-world applications! Use the Spanish version of activities for our Dual Immersion programs, and even download the videos and save them on your computer, so you don’t have to rely on the internet!
There are so many great options and possibilities available when using Discovery Ed Streaming, and it is all easily accessible for all teachers and students, right on Clever! Just sign in with Google and you are ready to go!
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Lisa Alejandre, Human Resources |
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How long have you worked in TUSD? 5 years on September 14th.
What is your job title? Risk Management/Leaves Technician
Where did you work prior to TUSD? SCOE and MCOE
Any info you would like to share about your job? There is no "average" day in workers' compensation and leaves. EVERY DAY is different, LOL.
Things you are most proud of? Professionally, the position I am in currently. I helped to create this combined position of Risk Management (workers' compensation) and non-industrial leaves. Personally, my family.
Challenges? New changes in laws or leave types. I honestly enjoy the chaos and the changes. It keeps me on my toes!
Favorite memory/story? My favorite memory at work is our Annual Gift Grab. It is so much fun to be able to gather and see all of the people that I interact with on the phone and via email in person.
What are you reading? Nothing right now. I have been busy fixing up our new house.
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? I like reality shows, anything on TLC. Oh, I really enjoyed the The Crown on Netflix.
Fave movies? I just finished Hillbilly Elegy, it was really good. I cried at the end. I love all Tim Burton movies!
Anything surprising we may not know about you? I have a very dark sense of humor.
Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? I love spending time with my kids and my husband. We spend most of our free time enjoying the outdoors, swimming, hiking, and kayaking. I'm addicted to walking my dog. I take her out rain or shine.
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Dave Walls, Pitman High School |
After 11 months of shutdowns, closures and the suspension of high school sports ... WE'RE BACK!! With great excitement our weekly athletic updates return. Since mid-January many of the local high school teams have been conditioning and several have transitioned to official in-season practice. Over the next several weeks I'll give updates on Cross Country, Girls Golf, Boys Tennis, and Swimming.
Girls Golf
After an extended layoff PHS Girls Golf and Coach Santos returned to the links last week at Creekside Golf Course - Modesto. The Lady Pride traveled to Modesto to take on Downey and Enochs in the first tri-meet of the year. The Pride defeated Downey and lost to Enochs after scoring 273 as a team. On the day the Pride were led by Monet Sayadian (42) and Isabella Rodriguez (46) to lead the way for the Pride. On Monday the Lady Pride play at home (Turlock Country Club) for the first time this season in the CCAL Tournament - 11:00AM.
Boys Tennis
Boys Tennis returned to action this week after getting the go ahead from the CCAL to start official practice on February 1st. With an abbreviated practice schedule the Pride jumped back into action on Thursday with a home match against the Downey Knights. The young Pride played hard falling to the Knights 7-2. The Pride were led by #1 singles Marcos Mendoza (6-3), (6-2) and #2 singles Trey Bucheli (2-6), (6-2), (10-7) tie breaker. Congrats Pride Tennis and keep up the good work Coach Hayes.
Upcoming Pride Athletics 2/22-2/27
Monday
GGOLF @ CCAL Golf Tournament – 11:00 / Turlock GCC
Tuesday
BOYS TENN @ Turlock – 3:00
Wednesday
CROSS COUNTRY @ CCAL Center Meet #1 (Pitman, Turlock, Enochs) 2:30 / Pitman HS
Thursday
BOYS TENN vs. Enochs – 3:00
Friday
SWIM vs. Enochs – 3:00 / Enochs High School
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Colin Wenstrand, Turlock High School |
High school sports competition returned last week after eleven months of shutdown. Turlock High School participated in Boys Tennis and Girls Golf, both of which will return this week, along with the first Cross Country race and Swim meet.
Boys Tennis
Boys Tennis opened CCAL play at Enochs last Tuesday followed by a road match at Gregori on Thursday. At Enoch, the Bulldogs came out strong winning five of six singles matches (Adrian Rosero, Joe Chan, Peter Wilson, Jacob Putnam and Richard Wang) and one of two doubles matches (Luke May & Vincent Hoobyar) for a 6-2 final. Two days later Gregori would prove too strong as the Bulldogs fell 3-6 losing with two matches reaching tie-breaker. The Bulldogs enter Week Two with a 1-1 CCAL record hosting Pitman on Tuesday and traveling to Downey on Thursday.
Girls Golf
Girls Golf traveled to Modesto last Wednesday for the first tri-meet against Gregori and Modesto at Dryden. Coach Mary Krupka was happy with the teams performance, particularly against Gregori who has beaten the Bulldogs the previous two years. The Bulldogs return to play at their home course, Turlock Country Club, on Monday in CCAL competition.
Upcoming competitions:
Monday 2/22
Girls Golf @ CCAL Tourney, Turlock GCC – 11AM
Tuesday 2/23
Boys Tennis v Pitman - 3PM
Wednesday 2/24
Cross Country @ CCAL Tri Meet #1, Pitman (Pitman, Turlock, Enochs) - 2:30PM
Thursday 2/25
Boys Tennis @ Downey - 3PM
Friday 2/26
Swim v. Gregori - 3PM
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The first episode of Pride Cafe Season Two is finally released today as of 7 am! This time around, we will be featuring the Pitman Performing Arts Dept. and Tiger Choir with the theme of "#hope." All of us are hitting the walls of pandemic right now and we need all the help we can get to find hope around us. Our exceptional students have been working so hard since January to put this show on, and they are still working hard even with all the hardships. I believe their performances will bring a glimpse of hope to our communities, and in that, I can find hope myself. |
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February Kindness Character Trait Winner: Bus Driver Leanne Inahara |
The Transportation Department recently held a small event in honor of Valentine’s Day that a group of our drivers put together for the rest of the team.“The Funny Beesiness Committee” handed out Valentine's cookies and hot chocolate to the rest of the drivers and staff. The Funny Beesiness Committee consists of drivers: Betsy Roberts, Leanne Inahara, Luz Estrada, and Evelyn Costa. These drivers organized fun activities for the rest of the drivers each month. |
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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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