Chatom Union consolidates super with principal

The Chatom Union School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees approved the consolidation of the district superintendent position with the Mountain View Middle School principal position during their Tuesday night board meeting.

Taking steps to improve

Three years ago the Turlock Unified School District was placed in "program improvement" after failing to meet federal student testing standards. Since that time the district has been implementing a Sheltered Intervention Observation Protocol (SIOP), which is essentially a way for school administrators and district personnel to evaluate teachers' instructional methods, with follow up discussion and coaching. Administrators and district ...

TUSD receives Energy Star award

The Turlock Unified School District recently received the federal government's Energy Star award for 14 school sites throughout the district.

Parents help plan new eCademy Charter School

Parents and community members gathered at the Turlock High Performing Arts building Tuesday night to hear more about the new high-tech eCademy Charter School and to add their suggestions on how the school will work.

Bilingual immersion students share learning experiences

Students in the Two-Way Bilingual Immersion program at Dutcher Middle School spent Thursday night showing off. Most of the students in the program have been studying in English and Spanish since they were in kindergarten or first grade. On Thursday they took the opportunity to showcase what they have learned and to persuade younger students that the immersion program pays off.

School administrators justify iPad purchases

In recent weeks numerous anonymous complaints have been made to the Turlock Journal concerning a recent $20,000 purchase of Apple iPads for Turlock Unified School District administrators and certain teachers. The complaints circulated around the idea that administrators were wasting money on iPads and letting teachers go without much needed technological upgrades in TUSD classrooms.

EDUCATION: MUSICALLY INCLINED

Edwin Savelson, an 8th grader at Turlock Junior High, was recently awarded first chair at the California Music Educators Association conference in the Bay Area for his exemplary French horn play. He is also first chair for the Stanislaus County Honor Band. Edwin, also an honor student, has only played the French horn for about a year and a half after switching from clarinet.

Turlock Christian Schools highest performing in county

According to data from the California Post Secondary Education Commission, Turlock Christian High School sends the highest rate of students on to California colleges in Stanislaus County.

Welding tech students with future occupations

One of the most paramount priorities of secondary public education is to train a skilled, workforce to enter technical related career fields educated and employable.

Dangerous crossings in Hilmar

During a recent Hilmar Municipal Advisory Council meeting, Isabel Cabral-Johnson, Hilmar Unified School District superintendent, updated council members about her concern for a potentially dangerous out-of-order set of lighted crosswalks in front of Elim Elementary School and Hilmar High School.

Turlock schools climb up education ladder, still work to do

The Turlock Unified School District is showing serious signs of improvement, but lots of work remains to be done.

EDUCATION: GOIN’ COUNTRY

Walnut Elementary Education Center students, danced, sang and played the fiddle - among other things - on Friday during the "Walnut Goes Country" talent show. A total of 175 students auditioned for the show.

TUSD Board of Trustees to receive update on energy program, budget process

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees will consider approval of numerous noteworthy items at Tuesday's board meeting. The board is scheduled to hear an update regarding the TUSD Energy Conservation Program and schools that received the "Energy Star Label" award from the federal government.

Parenting focus of ‘Choose Civility’ lecture event

Justin Lookadoo entertained and informed parents on Thursday night at the Stanislaus County Office of Education's latest "Choose Civility" event. Lookadoo is a former juvenile probation officer turned professional speaker who lectures across the country. Lookadoo said that he does consultation work with schools and parents who have made national headlines because of crisis situations. "What I'm excited about here ...

Poll says most voters will support K-12 education with tax extension

A poll of 2,000 residents released yesterday by the Public Policy Institute of California, an independent research institution, indicates the majority of California voters would "pay higher taxes to maintain funding for K-12 education."

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.

Local students get AgEdventure at CSU Stanislaus

More than 1,400 third graders from Turlock, Denair and Keyes school districts attended the 2nd annual AgEdventure Day, hosted by CSU Stanislaus Agriculture Studies Department on Friday.