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.

TUSD hires consultant for special education program

In hopes of improving the special education program and reducing costs, the Turlock Unified School District hired the School Innovations and Advocacy, Inc. to be a consultant from Aug. 1 to June 30, 2010. TUSD trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to contract with SI & A.

Dear Mr. President

Students in Kristin Wilson's fourth grade class carefully followed the 2008 presidential elections. They watched the Presidential Inauguration as a class, and they discussed what they would like to see from their new president. They even wrote Barack Obama letters that offered suggestions on how he could improve the country.

CSU Stanislaus earns high ranking in West from U.S. News & World Report

For the 14th straight year, California State University, Stanislaus has been recognized as one of the country's top public universities in the U.S. News & World Report "America's Best College" rankings.

Academy charts new path for alternative education

Cadets in full uniform sat perfectly still in their seats on the basketball court at John B. Allard School Thursday evening. Despite the scorching heat rising from the blacktop below them, these high school students didn't move a muscle, not even to wipe the sweat that was running down their faces.

Retirees honored by school district

Sandi Sing walked across the stage of the Turlock High School Performing Arts Building amid applause, handshakes, and hugs from the Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees.

CSUS students scramble to replace cut classes

With the start of the fall semester rapidly approaching, California State University, Stanislaus junior Amanda Crocker thought she was all ready for the first day of class. That was until she checked her e-mail and found out one of her required courses had been cut from the university's schedule.

School district plans for success

The first week of school is a hectic time in the Turlock Unified School District. Teachers have to finalize lesson plans and decorate classrooms; students have to find their classes and get back into the school spirit; and this year administrators have to find ways to follow the District's new strategic plan.

Local winery pours resources into school district

Thanks to E. & J. Gallo Winery students in the Turlock Unified School District will have a few dozen more computers on which to research everything from the classics to modern art.

Program looks to fill future teacher shortages now

Turlock High School teacher Kyle Sires became a teacher after his career as a professional indoor football player. He was able to make the transition from professional athlete to professional educator through the alternative certification program.

Turlock students make progress in state testing

Despite a down turn in educational spending at the state level, Turlock Unified School District students made modest improvements in their English and mathematics skills according to state test results released Tuesday.

Stadium eligible for RDA funds, say trustees

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to allow the Turlock Redevelopment Agency to offer the District funds to install an all-weather field at Joe Debely Stadium at Turlock High School.

Excitement, enrollment up on first day of school

Children all around Turlock waited patiently at bus stops early Tuesday morning. They were dressed in their best new clothes, carrying brand new backpacks. Some were eager, some were anxious, some just wanted to go back to bed, but they were all on their way back to school.

Starting school with style

MedicAlert estimates that over 2,000 children in the Turlock Unified School District cannot afford the supplies that they need to begin the school year. That is why they organized Crayons to Calculators, a community-wide initiative to get students the supplies they need to succeed.

CSU Stanislaus receives $400,000 gift

California State University, Stanislaus received a gift of $400,000 to fund an endowed chair in the College of Education.

University employees protest layoffs

California State University, Stanislaus employees held a rally Monday to protest proposed non-teacher layoffs that they say seem excessive compared to those at other CSU campuses. "We decided to have a rally because the cuts at Stanislaus don't seem to fit the rest of the state," said Pat Gantt, CSUEU president. System-wide, 14 layoff or cutback notices were issued to CSUEU employees, set to take effect Sept. 30. Eleven of those notices ...

Denair students celebrate grandparents

The first Sunday after Labor Day is traditionally considered Grandparents' Day in the United States. This holiday celebrates the special role that grandparents play in families, and especially their relationships with their young grandchildren. Although this holiday is not as commercially popular as Mother's Day or Father's Day, it recognizes important parental figures in many children's lives. For that reason and many others, students at Denair Elementary School took Friday to celebrate their grandparents. ...

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.