Medeiros fifth grader doesn’t see his cerebral palsy as disability

In Horacio Gutierrez's mind he isn't succeeding at anything - other than being a fun-loving kid.

MJC students, faculty cry foul with cuts

After four hours of passionate public comment, with hundreds of students, faculty and community leaders pleading for programs to be saved, the Yosemite Community College District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously voted to send pink slips to 55 employees and eliminate entire programs from Modesto Junior College.

City, TUSD partner for environmental education program

The Turlock Unified School District and the City of Turlock Municipal Services Department teamed up for the fourth annual "Go Green Week" program, which is the city's primary environmental education program. Go Green Week started Monday and will continue through Friday.

College students march to protest cuts in programs

About 70 Modesto Junior College students walked out of class and marched from campus to Modesto's Tenth Street Plaza to protest planned budget cuts on Tuesday.

Turlock Junior High students learn that milk rocks

Recording artist and up and coming star Britney Christian proved that milk rocks during a concert at Turlock Junior High on Tuesday. Christian stopped in Turlock as part of the Foster Farms/ Milk Rocks Central Valley tour, taking place this week at schools from Livermore to Stockton. The Milk Rocks campaign is a multifaceted school campaign promoting the benefits of milk as a healthy alternative to other beverages. ...

Waiting for Walnut

Several hundred anxious parents gathered in the Walnut Elementary Education Center gym Tuesday night, waiting for their child's name to be called on…"the list."

EATING HISTORY AT JULIEN

Fifth grade students from Julien Elementary School in Turlock got a taste of history with maple syrup, a common source of sugar and water during colonial America. Students in fifth grade learn about early U.S. history and pioneers. Julien parent Christina Hemming volunteered to give students a taste of what early Americans did for sugar. She explained that pioneers in New England would tap trees for sap.

Tobacco whistleblower shares story with Turlock students

Good parents always tell their kids not to smoke and while most of the time it works, their advice can sometimes go in one ear and out the other.

University students, faculty adjust to changes in academic calendar

In the first year of California State University, Stanislaus' new, self-supported winter session, 235 fewer classes were available to students, at approximately four-times the price of the state-funded winter term of 2010, but the university says the session offered other benefits to students.

10 programs, 55 positions on MJC chopping block

The effort to shed $8 million from Modesto Junior College's budget would eliminate 55 employees and entire programs from the college – including mass communications, culinary arts, dental assisting, architecture, engineering, communication graphics, industrial technology, French, German and Italian – according to a report released by MJC President Gaither Loewenstein on Monday.

TUSD budget committee advises salary reductions

District-wide salary and benefits could be on the chopping block when the Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees produces its final budget in June.

Temporarily homeless: Nu Alpha Kappa raises awareness, collects donations

Many college students find it difficult to wake up and get to class in the morning, but for the past week members of California State University, Stanislaus' fraternity Nu Alpha Kappa have welcomed the opportunity to get out of the cold.

MJC president answers protestors’ questions about cuts

Modesto Junior College administrators informed faculty members on Thursday that jobs may be cut – and that the communications department could be eliminated entirely – as the college attempts to shed $8 million from its budget in response to declining state contributions.

Walnut brothers live by ‘Golden Rule’

February Character Counts Profile: Respect

‘Character Counts’ in TUSD

In recent months, the Turlock Unified School District introduced the Character Counts program on campuses and in the community. The program is being introduced in an effort to improve student and adult interaction, decrease behavior problems and teach a set of universal values so educational focus throughout TUSD can improve.

Local students get Ag Edventure

Earl's Cardoso earns Teacher of the Year honors

Dennis Earl Elementary third grade teacher Michelle Cardoso strives to take her students' learning beyond the classroom and into the community. And it's her drive to go beyond the expected that earned Cardoso the title of 2013 Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year for the K-3 grade division. "I truly had no idea that I would be the one to receive the award," said Cardoso. "It definitely was the cherry on top ...

Walnut teacher earns county's top education honors

Jamie Garner, a sixth grade teacher for the Discovery Math Science Program at Walnut Elementary, has long been a treasured educator to her students. Now, Garner's exemplary teaching has also earned her the title of 2013 Stanislaus County Teacher of the Year for the 4th-6th grade division. "It's because of the school that I am in this position," said Garner. "I love teaching here because we are given so many opportunities to do ...

Warrior Day 2013

California State University, Stanislaus students celebrated the end of another year at Warrior Day on Friday. This annual campus party was almost canceled last year due to concerns about alcohol sales and consumption. In 2012, a scaled-down, student-only event was put together at short notice. On Friday, the event was back in full-force - although still sans alcohol. A series of bands played at the outdoor festival and students were able to get ...

CSU Stanislaus interim president may soon become permanent

An open forum was held at California State University, Stanislaus on Monday to discuss the potential permanency of Interim President Joseph Sheley. University students, trustees and department heads evaluated Sheley's performance, pointing out both the good and areas in need of improvement throughout the campus. Much of the university's tribulations over the past few years arose from system-wide budget cuts implemented due to lack of funding statewide. Like many other California universities, CSU ...

More cuts in store for Denair schools

Denair Unified's new interim superintendent didn't pull any punches during Thursday's board of trustees meeting, calling for even more cuts to help fix the district's financial problems. He also, however, rescinded previous teacher lay-offs that didn't "make sense" to him. "The district will get back to where it was," said Interim Superintendent Walt Hanline. "It'll be back. In order to that we're going to have to suck it up and make the cuts." ...

Playground to parking lot

While students across Turlock have been enjoying the warm spring weather during recess and physical education time, students at Julien Elementary have been watching the bulldozing of their playground. The Julien construction plan, which includes the creation of a new parking lot, is a point of contention between a group of parents and Turlock Unified School District administration. In 2006 the district authorized spending $9.9 million for a series of modernization projects, with ...

Sacred Heart students learn the pioneer way

Fourth and fifth graders at Sacred Heart Elementary School will take a step back in time to the pioneer days as part of the Yosemite Environmental Living Program. During an overnight visit at Yosemite on May 20, students will confront the problems of the pioneers by performing tasks such as cooking, blacksmithing, spinning, candle dipping, covered wagon packing, square dancing and craft making - all without electricity. "Through this program students will discover ...

Local dairywoman donates $1 million to UC Merced

When it comes to educational opportunities, Turlock native Margo Souza believes that it is better to give than to receive. The 74-year-old former president and CEO of Turlock's Circle H Dairy Ranch Inc. donated $1 million to UC Merced in an effort to create leadership initiatives for Merced's diverse student population. In April, the school pledged to establish the Margo F. Souza Leadership Center within UC Merced's Office of Student Life. The ...

TUSD prepares for shift in classroom instruction

As public schools across the country transition to the new Common Core Standards, which will change the way math and reading are taught nationwide, the Turlock Unified School District is already adopting the approach by building a foundation for a better tomorrow for its students. On Tuesday, the TUSD trustees were presented an overview of the district's Common Core Transition and Implementation Plan, changing the way students will learn in the classroom. CCS ...

Proposed smoking ban passes at CSU Stanislaus

A proposed mandate to ban smoking passed with 69 percent in California State University, Stanislaus' recent Associated Students Inc. elections. The elections are voluntary, so although it may seem that the mandate passed with flying colors, the ballot may not accurately represent the entire student population. Not everyone chooses to vote for student government. "I didn't even know it was up for a vote," Alicia Sablan (junior, Political Science) said. "I would've ...

Career Fair puts Pitman students on the right path

Pitman High School junior Trevor Knudsen came to the 4th annual Career Fair on Wednesday with pressing questions about his future. Knudsen, along with hundreds of other students, left with a better understanding of what types of jobs and educational opportunities are available thanks to the 25 businesses, colleges and agencies from the Central Valley that attended the event. "I learned about all the different careers and pathways I can take once ...

Passion for music

The piano notes that flow from Neve Foresti's fingers tell the story of a young woman whose passion for life centers around music. At her short 13 years of age, Foresti, a resident of Denair, has achieved musical excellence and will soon put her abilities on display as she will be attending the prestigious Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy. The program will involve intense musical study for three weeks in July, with ...

Running for Boston

Even though Boston is 3,000 miles away, the victims of the recent marathon bombings are in the minds and hearts of the students at Osborn Two-Way Immersion Dual Academy. Over 750 students from Osborn participated in a jog-a-thon on Friday to raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Osborn students raised $3,000 for The One Fund Boston, set up by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to ...

Denair students Picnic for Earth

Over 300 students from Denair Elementary celebrated everything 'green' on Tuesday by holding a Picnic for Earth in honor of Earth Day. As part of the "All Hands on Earth" campaign, an organization that is celebrated worldwide, Denair took the pledge to spend the entire month of April learning about the importance of nature and its impact globally. "Picnic for Earth is about coming together to celebrate nature," said Denair Principal Fawn Oliver. ...