Local business gives teachers money through grant program

Two years ago GDI president Grant Davis started the "Adopt-A-Teacher" grant program. But in two years Davis said he has only received a grand total of two requests for funds.

Learning about space

Walnut Elementary Education Center celebrated "Space Week" this week. Space week started 15 years ago to commemorate astronaut Alan Sheppard's first U.S. manned space launch. Students at Walnut learned about aerodynamics, flight control and design, and rocketry. Fifth grade teacher Bret Sutterley said Space Week is now done in conjunction with California Standardized Testing to loosen up what can be a tight atmosphere on campus.

Renaissance kid

Pitman High School Principal Rod Hollars has worked in education for decades and has never seen a child so young and gifted as Kohl James.

School district dealing with Sacramento failures

After months of trying to work out problems with legislative Republicans, Gov. Jerry Brown called off budget negotiations on Tuesday.

TUSD school communities raise funds for sixth grade camp

Where there's a will, there's a way. In a remarkable display of cooperation, dedication and commitment all nine Turlock Unified School District elementary schools raised enough funds to send every single sixth grader to Foothill Horizons camp in May.

Wakefield students have ‘no excuses’

There is a simple theory that if you tell kids over and over again they are unlikely to succeed because they come from bad neighborhoods and are growing up in poverty, they will do exactly what society tells them to do, which is fail.

Cancer doesn’t keep Osborn student down

If you ever get a chance to meet Adham Hamza it will be hard to forget him. He has that much personality. He has been known to literally talk non-stop for hours and the whole time he will have a smile on his face and unrelenting enthusiasm for wherever his creative mind takes him.

Julien students blast math at competition

A group of sixth-grade students from Julien Elementary in Turlock recently competed in the Stanislaus County Math Blast. More than 200 sixth-grade students from across the county participated in the event.

Hilmar student earns dairy scholarship

Modesto Junior College student and Hilmar resident Karessa Mann was selected as a 2011 scholarship recipient by the Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA), a national milk marketing cooperative.

Crowell principal earns top honors

Before Linda Alaniz became principal of Crowell Elementary School in Turlock five years ago, there was a slight disconnect between parent, teachers and administrators. While the school was functioning, it wasn't doing so at its highest level, according to numerous parents and teachers on campus.

Local students excel at Occupational Olympics

The 26th Annual Stanislaus County Occupational Olympics and Career Exposition was held Wednesday at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock. More than 800 students from county high schools participated in 23 competitive events. In addition to the events 54 business and industry representatives exhibited and spoke to students during the Career Expo.

Turlocker named Middle School Teacher of the Year

Turlock resident Jeanne Hartman, a resource specialist teacher at Empire Elementary K-8 School in Empire, was recently named the California League of Middle Schools' "Middle School Educator of the Year."

Junior high rallies ‘Just for Jeremiah’

About a month ago Turlock Junior High School seventh grader Jeremiah Coghill started feeling ill. He was weak, had random nose bleeds, and was sleeping 20 hours a day and he had lost 15 pounds.

Pentathlon athletes bring home top honors

Denair Middle School seventh-grade students were big winners at The Stanislaus County Academic Pentathlon, held last Saturday in Modesto. The Pentathlon is a one-day, five-event competition for county seventh and eighth grade students. After weeks of coaching, studying and preparation, students gather and are tested on their knowledge in literature, math, science, social science, speech and essay writing. Other local seventh grade winners included Sarah Reedy (TJHS- silver ...

CSU system faces drastic cuts in enrollment, employees

The California State University system will likely enroll at least 10,000 fewer students and cut employees to meet a $550 million funding gap, according to a report delivered to the CSU Board of Trustees Tuesday.

Hilmar earns top grades in WASC accreditation

After a thorough review of its programs and practices by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Hilmar High School has been awarded a full six-year term of accreditation, the longest available.

TUSD board delays trustee district mapping

The Turlock Unified School District (TUSD) Board of Trustees received information and discussed trustee district mapping at Tuesday's meeting, but received zero input from the public.

TUSD Board of Trustees to discuss district mapping for 2013 elections

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees is scheduled to hear a report and discuss trustee district lines during its Tuesday board meeting at Turlock High School's Performing Arts building.

Food 4 Thought wraps up year

Students at El Capitan Elementary School in Delhi wrapped up a year of Food 4 Thought after-school programming with a special delivery from Merced County Food Banks on Wednesday. The Food 4 Thought program, underwritten by Foster Farms and the food bank, provides supplemental groceries to students every week in exchange for their participation in educational after-school programs.

Gratton School receives garden grant

The California Fertilizer Foundation will be presenting a $1,200 school garden grant to Gratton School. The grant will help improve an already existing garden at the school.

TUSD reinstates Head Start preschool employees

Head Start Pre-school teacher aides and family service workers will likely be reinstated at a June 7 Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting.

Compromise shines on foundation transparency

The California State University, University of California, and state community college systems have reached a compromise on transparency at university foundations with legislators who have fought for more openness.

Survey reveals class of 2011 optimistic about future

Hundreds of graduates from Turlock, Pitman, Turlock Christian and Denair high schools donned traditional caps and gowns to receive their diplomas on Friday, joining their classmates in commencement ceremonies that have been held throughout the week and will continue into early June.

MJC faculty member layoff overturned

Ten of the 11 Modesto Junior College faculty members laid off as part of $8 million in budget cuts which eliminated entire programs from the college will not return, after Yosemite Community College District Trustees upheld the layoffs on Wednesday.

CSU Stanislaus garners presidential recognition

For the fifth consecutive year, California State University, Stanislaus has been recognized with the President of the United States' Higher Education Community Service Award.

Rabobank gives $50,000 to Ag Science Center’s Mobile Classroom

As Ag in Motion, a state-of-the-art mobile classroom, receives its finishing touches in preparation for its public unveiling next month, Rabobank announced Friday that it is donating $50,000 to the National Ag Science Center to help fund the effort. Ag in Motion is a fifty-three-foot trailer featuring 20 laboratories complete with microscopes, lesson plans and the latest technology to deliver a unique educational experience to area seventh graders. The board of directors of the National ...

EDUCATION: PIONEER DAY

School district partners police department in supporting ‘Character Counts’ program

The Turlock Unified School District has been promoting positive values in students and faculty through the "Character Counts" program, instituted in 2009. Now, the school district is partnering with the Turlock Police Department to stress the importance of the "Six Pillars of Character" - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship - throughout the community.

Denair's got talent

Denair Middle School held their annual talent show on Wednesday, giving budding dancers, singers and musicians a chance to perform.

Osborn families unify under Latino reading improvement program

For Lissette Ruesga, a parent at Osborn Two-Way Academy in Turlock, involvement in her children's learning is paramount to success and a gateway toward teaching her family the importance of their history and culture.