TUSD trustees approve budget, await further state cuts

After months of slashing expenses, negotiating new contracts, and cutting services and programs, the Turlock Unified School District finally has a budget for the 2009-10 school year ... at least for a few weeks.

Retiring teachers honored, voice their appreciation for district

Marsha Memmott has spent the last 30 years teaching English to Turlock eighth graders. She has spent 30 years correcting grammar, grading essays, and explaining when to use "who" and when to use "whom." After all of those years of dedication to Turlock students and their education, Memmott is retiring from her job at Turlock Junior High School.

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 ...

CSU Stanislaus receives $250K grant for student research

Anthropology research at California State University, Stanislaus will soon get a technological upgrade thanks to a quarter million dollar grant. CSU Stanislaus was recently awarded a $250,000 grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation to support the creation of the Deck Visual Anthropology Lab to equip and fund an undergraduate classroom and research lab. The grant will fund the project for three years, paying for new cameras and accessories, editing workstations, digitizing equipment, ...

Solar lesson puts seniors on roof

LIVINGSTON - A rooftop in Merced County might be the last place you'd think high school students would find an education. But that's where 10 students of the Ceres High School Manufacturing Academy were two days last week, receiving instruction on installing solar panels on the roof of a low-income Livingston homeowners. Ceres High School officials teamed up with Grid Alternatives, a non-profit organization that introduces the benefits of solar technology to low-income communities. ...

Pitman teacher's aide to represent county in state award program

From a very early age, Karen Souza felt a special connection to her fellow students who didn't quite fit in. Souza eventually turned her passion for inclusion into a career as a teacher's aide in special education. She has now been a para-educator at Pitman High School for three years, and was one of five classified employees chosen to represent Stanislaus County in the California School Employee of the Year program. Called ...

Education foundation holds tailgate party to support Kaepernick

A community-wide celebration of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is planned for the day before he makes his debut in the Super Bowl arena. The Turlock Education Foundation is hosting "Turlock Believes," a community tailgate party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Pitman High School. Kaepernick's performance as the 49ers quarterback and the team's rise to the Super Bowl has inspired the community and the foundation wanted a ...