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.

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 ...