State takes $8.2 million from TUSD budget

The Turlock Unified School District already adjusted their budget for the poor economy three years ago, but now new State legislation is reducing school district funding even further.

TUSD takes a bite into nutrition education

Obesity has more than doubled in children from the age of five to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This comes as no surprise to parents and teachers who often see children pass up healthy food offered in the lunch room and choose anything with grease or sugar.

New faculty at CSU Stanislaus

California State University, Stanislaus has hired three new full-time faculty to fill key openings for the 2009-10 academic year.

Giving back new competition at Keyes Charter

Serving dinner to the homeless on Friday nights, helping stabilize blood donors with juice and crackers, putting books on shelves and sending Valentine's Day cards to soldiers over seas. These are some of the activities students at Keyes Charter School will volunteer to do.

University receives half-million dollar gift

California State University, Stanislaus was given a gift of half a million dollars Friday from long-time university supporters Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick.

Learning extended in after-school program

An after-school program introduced in Turlock schools last spring will soon be offered in schools all over Stanislaus County.

Earl student charts path to success

While Cheyanne Schraeder may seem like any other American tween, with cheerleading and the "Twilight" series being her favorite things, she gets an opportunity most children her age don't even know about.

Obama’s speech well received by Turlock students

Sitting, waiting, hoping. Students at Turlock High drummed their fingers on desktops and watched the blank overhead projector in their United States history class hoping the Internet would work. "We are just waiting for the president to come on," said U.S. history teacher Mark de la Motte, assuring his students. Two minutes later, the President appeared on the screen and a sigh of relief escaped the students.

Community colleges struggle with higher enrollment and fewer funds

If students at community colleges think the classrooms are crowded now, just wait till they see what it looks like a few years from now. At the same time that state funding for community colleges has decreased, the enrollment is rising at a rapid rate.

Wakefield starts peer mediation program

Playing handball, climbing the jungle gym and jumping in the hopscotch squares is all a part of the fun at recess. Sometimes though, there can be a little rough housing or miscommunication on the playground that can lead to a conflict. This is where the Wildcat Rangers step in to help solve the problems.

Local students show improvement in CAHSEE scores

California High School Exit Exam results were released Wednesday and Turlock's numbers are up by one percent.

Free science lessons at MJC

The Science, Math and Engineering Division at Modesto Junior College will present two series of free science presentations as part of the Modesto Area Partners in Science programs and weekly Science Colloquiums.

Local schools to benefit from tobacco use prevention grant

The Stanislaus County Office of Education recently received $1.8 million in grants for their Tobacco Use Prevention Program from the California Department of Education. This money is to help educate students in sixth to12th grades about the negative health effects of smoking.

Turlock instructor wins big at State Fair

Turlock High agriculture teacher, Chad Russell, won the instructor sweepstakes at the California State Fair in August due to his students' success. All of his ag students won first place at the Fair, which gave their instructor the most points at the end to win his own prize. Russell won a plaque and $150.

Stanislaus dean resigns

California State University, Stanislaus Professor Nael Aly, who has served as the dean of the College of Business Administration for the last two years has resigned his position, according to university officials.

CSUS botany professor’s dream closer to realization

An arboretum intended to celebrate California's diverse collection of plant life – and a former California State University, Stanislaus professor – could break ground as soon as mid-October. But that's only if California State University, Stanislaus can raise the final $30,000 needed to pay for the project, more than 30 years in the making. The brainchild of former CSU Stanislaus botany professor Wayne Piece, the Trans-California Pathway Project would transform a vacant ...

Local children get a lesson in American history

School district lists accomplishments, goals for future

Turlock Unified School District Superintendent Sonny Da Marto is proud of the successes the district saw in the 2010-11 school year and is looking forward to an even better - and more tech savvy 2011-12. Da Marto submitted a report to the TUSD Board of Trustees Tuesday night that listed the district's accomplishments for the 2010-11 school year - 75 in all. "If I have to pick one that stands out I ...

Chemistry students get laptops instead of textbooks

The 160 Honors Chemistry students in the Turlock Unified School District each received brand new laptop computers this week as part of a pilot program. The netbooks are on loan to the students for the school year to aid in the online component of their chemistry class. "They can view tutorials, complete assignments and tests, download lecture notes and amend them as we go through the lecture. It is going to allow students ...

Turlock High students have good showing at debate tournament

The Turlock High School Speech and Debate Team had the following students place at the Delta Charter Novice Tournament on Aug. 27: · Giana Amador and Bryce Brenda: 1st place in Lincoln Douglas Debate · Corey Garcia and Bryce Brenda: 1st place in National Extemporaneous · Sidney Bragdon: 1st place in Original Oratory · ...

TUSD makes gains in test scores

The Turlock Unified School District saw another year of growth in test scores, as the newest Accountability Progress Report was released by the state on Wednesday. The district recorded a 13-point gain in its Academic Performance Index, or API, going from a score of 760 in 2010 to 773 in 2011. "I'm very, very pleased with that over the last three years, we've had growth over time of 8.7 percent in test ...

Turlock High puts learning on fast track

During the morning announcements on Friday, Turlock High principal Dana Trevethan read the answers submitted by students to Thursday's "Question of the Day." The question: Where did Turlock High rank among Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin and Tuolumne county high schools in regards to the recently released academic performance index scores? The answer: seventh. After reading the correct answer over the school's public address system, Trevethan went on to list the rank, ...

EDUCATION: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Turlock Unified School District recently released the names of students who scored perfect 600s on their California Standards Tests in the 2010-2011 academic year. TUSD had 132 students who got a perfect score on at least one subject and seven students who reached perfection in more than one subject testing area. The CSTs include testing for general math, English-language arts, geometry, algebra 1, algebra 2, summative high school math, integrated high school math, history-social ...

Parents get a chance to learn more about teachers, curriculum

Back to School Night was a trip down memory lane for many Turlock parents. They sat in child-sized chairs at child-sized desks surrounded by picture books and finger paintings. They sat quietly while teachers explained the year's curriculum, and some even had snack time. "Back to School Night is a time for teachers to connect with parents," said Janet Wheeler, a second grade teacher at Julien Elementary School. And what better way ...

eCademy opens doors to first class of students

eCademy Charter School is the newest addition to Turlock Unified School district, but it isn't your typical K-12 school. The school has a physical site at Crane - several classrooms and two mobile units under construction - but most of the high school level courses offered by the school take place online.

Stanislaus students start new year with higher costs

It may not seem like fall, with leaves still on trees and thermometers showing numbers reminiscent of video game high scores.

EDUCATION: GRADUATION DAY

Turlock Unified School District seniors who completed their studies over the summer were honored at their own graduation ceremony at the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday night. Students from Turlock High School, Pitman High School, Freedom High and Roselawn were in attendance.

TUSD employee retires after 25 years of service

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees honored Oliver Middaugh on Tuesday for his 25 years of service to the district. Middaugh spent the last quarter of a century as a district maintenance worker.

Local students see another year of progress in state testing

For the second year in a row, students in the Turlock Unified School District have made strides in core academics, according to state test results released Monday.

Students, parents need to prepare for college life

The last New Student Orientation wrapped up at California State University, Stanislaus on Friday. Local colleges and universities across the country are preparing to welcome a new freshman class. The majority of these students will be teenagers fresh out of high school and ready to start their adult lives. The first year of college brings its own unique set of challenges for these freshmen, but campus advisors say that a ...