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.

'Dinosaurs of California' topic of next MAPS public lecture

The Modesto Area Partners in Science will offer a presentation by Richard Hilton on "Dinosaurs of California" at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Forum 110 at Modesto Junior College, 435 College Ave. in Modesto. Professor Richard Hilton will discuss dinosaurs and other fossil Mesozoic reptiles found in California and the people involved in their science. Bones, originally deposited in sediments between 210 and 65 million years ago, have been discovered in the rocks of ...

TUSD restores library positions

The Turlock Unified School District is bringing back at least one victim of the recent budget cuts - library resources. On Tuesday, the TUSD trustees voted to restore hours to current library technicians and create three new positions. The "There's a combination of library technicians who are currently divided into the school sites and many of them work very few hours," said TUSD's Director of Human Resources Jason Maggard. "We wanted to ...

Class gives Hilmar students skills for success

Many high school students think that career planning happens once they have entered college. On the contrary, career planning is a process that begins during high school, a task that Hilmar High holds as a standard. Hilmar High helps junior and senior students get a jump start on finding their career path through the ROP Business and Marketing Course. Through this special course, students are taught how to produce a portfolio with a ...

Mountain View students collect pennies to save lives

Students from Mountain View Middle School learned a penny can go a long way through their participation in a fundraiser for patients who suffer from leukemia and lymphoma. For three weeks the school collected pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and raised more than $400 for the Pennies for Patients organization, which helps with funding for scientific research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Student Council Advisor Kathy Cook said students were excited ...

Earl students connect with elders through letters

Love was in the air at Cypress Assisted Living on Wednesday morning as third grade students from Earl Elementary greeted their pen pals with gifts in honor of Valentine's Day. The residents showed their affection in return by showering the students with candies, stuffed animals and other memorabilia. "The kids were extremely excited to meet their pen pals," said 3rd grade teacher Deserae Cook. "It was a good experience for them to go ...

Cuts continue for Denair schools

Valentine's Day was a somber event for the Denair Unified School District as it continued to process cuts for the 2013-14 school year. Trustees voted to cut 14 high school teachers' school hours, most for one period each. The elimination of hours will save the district $457,356, equivalent of 7.24 fulltime slots for the 2013-14 school year. "As board members, we understand that decisions that we make are going to affect a ...

TUSD moves forward with science, technology program

The Turlock Unified School District's plan to implement a program that will give students the leg-up they need in science and technology was approved by the Board of Trustees. Starting with the 2013-14 school year, the STEM program will be offered to 30 seventh grade students as an elective program at Turlock Junior High School. This systematic approach will integrate the content and skills of science, technology, engineering and mathematics over the course ...

Local students turn imagined ag stories into award winners

One local student imagined how an ordinary egg journeys to the supermarket and eventually the breakfast platter. Another taught a city girl what it takes to live on a farm. Still another explained the importance of barn owls during harvest season. These three young authors won top honors in the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom's 18th annual "Imagine this…" writing contest. For Gratton Elementary fourth grader Morgan Gravatt, seeing her ...

Celebration of science

TUSD applies for USDA Farm to School grant

The Turlock Unified School District is looking to bring even more fresh fruits and vegetables to its students through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant. The district is applying for funds from the federal program, that, if granted, will help buy seed and supplies for a new farm being constructed at Turlock High School. Once fully implemented, the THS farm could potentially supply 10 to 20 percent of the fresh ...

A fun trip to the dentist?

Dozens of schoolchildren entered the First Step Dental office Friday morning; for some a first-time dental experience. The purpose of annual field trip day: make children more comfortable with going to the dentist and teach important dental hygiene skills. The Turlock dental office hosted the field trip as part of Children Dental Health Month and taught the importance of brushing and flossing, nutrition and a fun introduction of the dentist chair. "This ...

THS finalist for classroom makeover

When Turlock High School yearbook advisor Virginia Barr entered her classroom one morning in December 2011, she was surprised to learn that a flood had destroyed her entire classroom from the inside. "The torrent of water passed through me when I opened the door," said Barr. "Our books were covered in mold. Aside from losing files and computers, our students lost valuable time in completing their assignments. Our computers were filled with water. ...

Sacred Heart celebrates Catholic Schools Week

As parishes across the nation celebrate Catholic Schools Week, students at Sacred Heart School in Turlock marked the annual event with a jog-a-thon, open house, and musical presentation. From special masses to open houses, Sacred Heart found ways to mirror the National Catholic Schools Week theme of "Catholic Schools Raise the Standard. " This initiative seeks to ensure that these high standards are met at catholic schools across the country. "Catholic Schools ...

Science holds the key: STEM program to open at TJHS

With the onset of the recession and high unemployment rates, education is fundamental in succeeding in today's economy. The Turlock Unified School District is looking to offer a program that will give students the leg-up they need to compete in high-demand science and technology fields. The STEM program, a systematic approach that integrates the content and skills of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, will be integrated over the course of three years and ...

Turlock High principal moves to district office

Turlock High School students began 2013 with a few changes, as longtime principal Dana Salles Trevethan moved into a position at the district office and assistant principal Marie Peterson stepped up to lead in her place. On Jan. 10, Trevethan sent a letter to parents announcing her departure from Turlock High School and her move to the Turlock Unified School District under Superintendent Sonny DaMarto. "I will relocate to the district office ...