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."

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 ...