Area students get training in biotech at THS

Did you know that you can transform e-coli bacteria by injecting DNA extracted from a jelly fish that will create a florescent protein, which could then create insulin for use by a human diabetic? If you didn't know that (or even have a clue what protein exactly is) you can rest assured that a group of about 30 students from area high schools do know.

Local sixth graders earn accolades for Future City designs

For months, sixth graders from around Turlock spent hours playing the "Sim City" computer game – for school, of course.

TUSD Budget Advisory Committee in quandary

Members of the Turlock Unified School District Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) were left speechless and clearly in shock numerous times during a disconcerting budget meeting Monday evening at Turlock High.

School employees honored at annual event

They're the heroes behind the scenes of every school. Those individuals who dish out the macaroni, trim the grass, schedule substitutes, and watch over the school yard, but seldom receive appreciation.

Proposed upgrade to school meals adds fruits, vegetables and subtracts sodium, calories

President Barack Obama and the U.S. Department of Agriculture want American kids to be healthier. To help the nation's students on their way to better health, the USDA has proposed updating the nutrition standards for meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs for the first time in 15 years.

TUSD quickens pace of district mapping for 2013 trustee elections

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees laid out a timeline Tuesday night that will chart the course towards the first district elections in 2013.

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

Turlock Junior High students recognized Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by researching the Civil Rights leader's life and his impact on American history. Below are just a few of the essays.

EDUCATION: CALL TO SERVICE

In honor of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's inauguration, mayors from across the country are challenging youth to get involved in their communities. The speech JFK made on that day is still famous for the line "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

School district financial health dependent on tax extension

Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget for 2011-2012 leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the Turlock Unified School District. Officials say that if California voters don't approve to extend a set of taxes that are about to expire the results could be devastating for local school districts.

Higher education takes big hit in Brown budget

Governor Jerry Brown's 2010-2011 budget proposal, released Monday, calls for a $500 million, 18 percent cut in state support to the California State University system.

TUSD eCademy to become charter school

Targeting non-traditional students has always been the goal of the Turlock Unified School District's new eCademy school, but now the district is looking to bring in more students sooner by becoming a charter school.

TUSD sixth graders raise money for outdoor education camp

Turlock schools have been coming up with creative ways to raise money to allow all of their sixth graders to attend the traditional Outdoor Education camp. Some schools have put on Halloween stores, candle sales and cookie dough fundraisers to make ends meet for their sixth graders.

Campus gears up for year of growth, changes

In the coming year, the University of California, Merced, will appoint new leadership, open additional buildings, increase enrollment and hire more faculty members.

Class makes dresses for Salvation Army

Pitman High School students in Anne Cornell's fashion and design class learned the value of community service this semester. Thirty-six students sewed 30 little girls' Christmas dresses and donated them to the Salvation Army. Major Debi Shrum of the Salvation Army said the dresses will be distributed to families with young daughters during the holiday food distribution, and they would probably all be gone by the end of ...

Walnut Elementary enters USDA recipe challenge

Michelle Obama created the Let's Move! program in order to motivate America's kids to make healthier eating choices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture then joined the First Lady's campaign with their Recipes for Healthy Kids contest and Walnut Elementary has taken on this nutritious challenge with gusto.

Julien student teaches peers importance of respect

February Character Counts Profile: Respect Student Feature: Decimas Guzman, Julien Elementary School Nominated by: Linda Murphy-Lopes, principal Treating people with dignity and respect can build a foundation for a better tomorrow. Decimas Guzman, a fourth grade student, is well on his way to building that foundation at Julien Elementary School. For his short 9 years of age, Decimas has already embodied the belief of treating others as you would like ...

'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 ...