CLMS Finalists
Winter Camp/Robotics
Green Company Award
Jefferson Art Docent Program
Lone Star Student Article
Safety a Priority
Adult Education
Udio at WAMS
CARE
A Day in the Life of a Bus Driver
Golf Tournament
A-STEM Program at Del Rey
SUSD
At a glance
February 2016
Dream Big, Work Hard and Believe! ✳ Never Give Up!
Foundation for Sanger Schools - Sanger Unified School District - 1905 7th Street - Sanger, CA 93657 - (559) 524-6521 ✳ Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, SchoolWay App, and at www.sanger.k12.ca.us
District Education Starts Early
Contributed by Donna Silveira
A positive attitude, a safe, nurturing environment, well-trained staff, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, and parental support are the cornerstones of a quality
preschool. The mission of the preschool program is to plant the seeds for learning.
Children who have an enriching, high quality preschool experience enter kindergarten
ready to learn and equipped with the skills that enable them to be successful in school.
In terms of quality, the SUSD California State Preschool Program (CSPP), with classrooms at Del Rey, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Wilson elementary schools, recently participated in the Early Stars Program. Early Stars is the quality rating and improvement
system in Fresno County. All of the classrooms received a 4-star rating for a two-year
period.
In addition to the CSPP classrooms, the district has opened four preschool classrooms at Jackson, Lone Star (2), and Sequoia. In total, 422 three- to five-year-old children are enrolled in a three-hour program, five days a week.
While there are income criteria for
enrollment in the CSPP classrooms, they
do not apply to the district-funded classrooms. There is no fee for the preschool
program.
Throughout the preschool day children are given opportunities to experience, manipulate, explore, examine, and
experiment with various materials.
Teacher-directed activities use materials and strategies that enhance children’s active learning.
At the heart of the instructional day is
an emphasis on early literacy. Children
participate in small group activities that
focus on learning their names, working
with letters, phonological awareness, and working with books.
The preschool program enables children to develop social skills as well as cognitive
skills. They learn to interact with their peers and develop strategies for problem solving and anger management. Teachers guide children in resolving conflicts and model
skills that help them solve their own problems.
Families interested in enrolling a child in preschool for the 2016-2017 school year
may call the Wilson Preschool office at 524-6959 for more information.
A Generous Heart
Contributed by
Superintendent Matt Navo
Last month’s Unsung Hero article
received tremendous feedback with its
message of how special Sanger is.
Clara Soto was touched by the community’s outreach and the memory of
her son being acknowledged by so many
in our community.
We want to continue to recognize individuals who have similar stories that
inspire us to reach outside of ourselves
to positively influence others.
You may have heard the story of the
Carrillo boys—Glen, Juan, Jose, and
Freddy. What you might not know is the
unsung hero who is now caring for them.
Just over three and a half years ago
the boys lost their mother, Maria Ortega, to a battle with cancer. She was given one of the toughest choices I could
ever imagine: survive by not giving birth
to Glen or give birth to Glen and hope for
the best.
Twenty-two days after giving birth she
passed away. This left all four boys in the
care of their father, Isidoro Carrillo, who
was born in Mexico and moved to California approximately 12 years ago.
What’s amazing about this story is the
way it unfolds and how all things have a
purpose, and in the face of such tragedy
unsung heroes come to light.
Early Literacy Matters
Contributed by Michelle Carr
Left to right: Debbie Galloway, Marianne Moore, Elizabeth Reyes Ragsdale, Audra Soto, Marissa O’Donnell,
Michelle Carr, Erin Heryford, Bernadette Gomez, Laurie Bianchi, Jessica Perez, and Lynette Simon
One of our district’s initiatives set by Superintendent Navo is a focus on early childhood literacy. The Early Literacy Task Force established a vision statement to guide
this work: “Students use all four areas of language (listening, speaking, reading, and
writing) to effectively communicate by producing and receiving information that enables them to be critical thinkers.” The goal is for all students to be literate by 3rd
grade.
Literacy Specialist Teachers (LSTs) are an essential component of the early literacy
initiative. Each elementary site is supported by an LST in many ways. LSTs participate
in Guided Reading training (given to all TK-2 teachers) and follow up at their sites to
support effective implementation. They can regularly be seen teaching guided reading to small groups within teachers’ classrooms, modeling or co-teaching lessons, and
planning lessons alongside teachers.
To encourage community involvement and support of the early literacy initiative,
LSTs hold multiple Parent Literacy Nights to spotlight literacy strategies and share
their love of reading and writing. For example, Jessica Perez held a “Falling for Books”
Literacy Night at Wilson. This included technology, writing, reading, science, and art
centers for parents to learn strategies to support their children’s literacy skills at
home. Debbie Galloway held a Parent Pride Night at Jackson in which connections
were made between literacy and STEM.
LSTs are also coming up with innovative ideas to increase students’ literacy success. Marissa O’Donnell is spearheading the Roaring Readers Book Exchange at Jefferson. Students and families are invited every Wednesday to exchange and shop for
new books. Lynette Simon coordinates a year-long book drive and lending library in
the main office at Madison. Laurie Bianchi oversees the Anytime Anywhere Reading
program at Lincoln where students are often seen grabbing books to read all around
campus. We appreciate our dedicated LSTs who are impacting so many young lives!
Isidoro was known for being involved
four to eight and her daughters moved
with his family and being a hardworking
into just one bedroom so the boys could
single father, but the task of caring for
have their own room.
Glen when he was so young was monuBut the story doesn’t end there. In
mental.
fact, far from it! It’s just the beginning
It was at that time that Glen went to
of our community’s response, and that’s
live with Teresa Muniz, who already had
what amazes me.
four children of her own.
Donations for moving the father’s
In March 2015, out of fear of possible
body back to Mexico began pouring in,
deportation, Isidoro signed documents
beds were donated by a Fresno busithat in the event
ness, funds for
of his absence
food were regave over custody
ceived, Christmas
of all four boys to
gifts were given
Teresa.
by schools, indiWho would have
viduals, and comknown that the
panies. But most
decision to authoimportantly, an
rize custody to
overall generosity
her would be one
of support grew
of the most imfor the boys.
portant decisions
As I sit here
of his life?
and reflect about
Left: Janelle, Izaac, Juan, Freddy, Jose,
On Thanksgiving Day,
the Carrillo boys, I can’t
Ashley, Teresa, and Glen
November 26, 2015,
imagine how my own
Below: Daughter Janessa
Isidoro was struck by a
children would respond
car and passed away, leaving all four
to such tragedy if within three and a
of his children orphaned and, through
half years they lost their mother, fathe power of his document, in the
ther, and all that they knew as a famcare of Teresa.
ily, and to top it off on Thanksgiving
Teresa never wanted recognition
Day!
for doing nothing more then what
I think about the journey ahead
she feels any other person would do.
for Teresa and her family, the sacrifices,
But what she doesn’t realize is that
food, transportation, educational chalnot every other person would have done
lenges, college, and being there for all
what she did.
the children.
Within one day her family grew from
I think about her willingness to take
Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!
on this challenge to be responsible for
the boys, loving them just like their
mother would have wanted.
When I ask Teresa what she needs,
all she says is: “We will make it. We are
blessed. Every little bit helps.”
I am grateful for another person who
has stepped in to help. Roberta Franco
not only helps support the Muniz family, but also helps our local churches,
schools, and community members.
I am humbled by Teresa’s courage and
gratitude in spite of this monumental life
endeavor she and her family have taken
on.
I wonder if this outpouring of support
would have occurred in any other community.
Would there have been another Teresa Muniz to unselfishly step in and take
over?
What I believe is that only in Sanger
would we have this kind of support.
In my 16 years in Sanger I have learned
two things: Sanger is the best little town
in America; and second, when people
are in need, the Sanger community rallies together!
The holiday season may have passed
and the business of our lives has begun
to consume us again.
But let’s not forget the holiday spirit
continues in the best community and
district in the state, even the nation!
May we never forget to Dream Big,
Work Hard and Believe right here in
Sanger!
Golf Tourney Benefits Sanger Schools
Contributed by Susan Good
Employees Who Have
Recently Joined
Our Staff
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
John Wash - Christine Dias, Para Educator
Lincoln - Marisa Caballero, Para Educator; Sylvia
Guerra, Para Educator; Katelyn Lamb, 3rd Grade
Teacher
Lone Star - Victoria Sanchez, Early Childhood Educator Teacher; Osbeidy Ruiz, Child Development
Assistant
Maintenance - Vicente Cardenas, Groundskeeper; Richard Cuevas, Groundskeeper; Philip Arevalo, Groundskeeper
Pupil Services - Romelia Meyer, Health Services
Assistant
Sanger Academy - Michelle Herrera, Food Service
Assistant; Mireya Perez, 2nd Grade Teacher
Sanger High - Raymond Tinoco, Jr., Custodian;
Ann Shin, Math Teacher; Berenice Perez, Para Educator
Sequoia - Nancy Elliott, Library Media Technician
Technology - William McKenzie, Technical Support Specialist
Transportation - Kimberly Wilkerson, Bus Driver
Wilson Elementary - Martha Alvarado, Food Service Assistant
Wilson Preschool - Brittny Manjarrez, Child Development Assistant
To Parents of Lincoln, Lone Star, and Wilson Students:
Students attending a school that is labeled PI may request Supplemental
Educational Services (SES - free tutoring after school). If you are interested in signing up for SES, please visit the District’s website to download an SES application form, or pick up a form at the District Office at
1905 7th Street, Sanger. The deadline to request Supplemental Educational Services for your child(ren) is Feb. 12, 2016. You may return
the form to the District Office. For questions, please call Mandy Chacon
at 559/524-6564.
Para los padres de los estudiantes en las escuelas Lincoln, Lone Star, and
Wilson:
Estudiantes inscritos en una escuela PI pueden solicitar Servicios Educativos Supleméntales (SES-tutoría gratis después de escuela). Si esta
interesado en participar en SES, favor de visitar el sito web del distrito
para bajar una aplicación, o puede recoger una aplicación en las oficinas
del distrito 1905 7th Street, Sanger. Se recibirá aplicaciones para el
programa en las oficinas de distrito hasta el 12 de febrero del 2016.
Para preguntas llame a Mandy Chacon al 559-524-6564.
A-STEM Year Going Strong in Del Rey
Save the Date: Saturday, May 14th
Whether you are interested in playing golf or in becoming a sponsor, you will want to save Saturday, May 14th,
2016 on your calendar now! This is the date of our first
charity golf tournament hosted by the Foundation for
Sanger Schools benefiting, of course, our Sanger schools.
The tournament will be played at the beautiful Ridge
Creek Golf Club in Dinuba. The course will open at 7am
with a 9am shotgun start. Please consider getting your
family and friends together for a foursome or two or more
now. Sign up for just $125 per golfer by calling Chairman Don Vincenti, Foundation for Sanger Schools board
Jr. Robotics at Lone Star
member, at 559/437-4060, or email him at don1225@
aol.com.
You can also become a tee sponsor for this very good
cause by donating $100 per tee. Thank you to Warrior
Golf, Sequoia Chevrolet, Roger Dunn, and Hudson Farms
for being amongst our first sponsors.
Other sponsorship opportunities include providing
items for player “goodie bags,” hosting the 19th Hole or
refreshments, donating an auction item, sponsoring a
meal course at the popular Three Finger Jack’s Restaurant located at the Club, etc. For more information on
these sponsorship opportunities, please call Foundation
board member Derrin Gibbs at 559-351-3280 or email
him at contact@derringibbs.com.
Committee volunteers planning the tournament so far
are Don Vincenti, Derrin Gibbs, Mike Hannigan, and SUSD
Superintendent and Foundation board member Matt
Navo. If you’d like to join in on the fun, please call Chairman Don today.
Upcoming Foundation Events
Friday, April 8th – District Showcase
Saturday, May 14th – 1st Annual Foundation for Sanger
Schools Charity Golf Tournament
Additional business and community sponsors of our
Foundation for Sanger Schools are always welcome.
Business sponsorships are from $1,000 to $5,000, while
community sponsorships are from $50 to $250.
Contributed by Kevin Edwards
Lone Star Jr. Robotics Club - Photo courtesy of Ryan Osier
Offering Excellence and Choice in Education
Contributed by Nancy Penny
Sanger Adult School is proud to offer Career Training, English as a Second Language (ESL), a High School Diploma,
and educational events for adults in Sanger and the surrounding communities.
• The career training is offered in partnership with ProTrain, a national career training institution. The courses
are scheduled with busy adults in mind. Most classes are two evenings a week and can be completed in three to
five months. Additional training opportunities are available with over 99 online courses. Currently, City of Sanger
employees are taking advantage of one of the many Spanish in the Workplace online courses. More career training opportunities are in the planning stage. Visit us at http://sangeradult.sanger.k12.ca.us often to learn of new
courses that may be right for you.
• The English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are available at multiple locations and times for adults who wish
to improve their English skills. Visit us in the main office at Sanger High School to register for an ESL class today.
• The high school diploma program is designed for adults who wish to return to school to complete their high
school diploma. The independent study format allows adult students to study at home while they continue their
busy lives. If your high school education was interrupted before you graduated, visit us in the main office at Sanger
High School to get started now.
Contributed by Jamie Nino
“Students will be successful based on the actions of adults” is a belief at Del Rey Elementary that guides our actions to raise student achievement and close the achievement gap.
Del Rey Elementary has taken the district vision, “All students will have options to
demonstrate what they learn and opportunities to be successful and achieve their dreams,”
to develop and deliver an A-STEM (art, science, technology, engineering, and math) program.
The program was developed by Traci Tucker, RSP teacher, to allow students to engage in
activities that provide our students with an opportunity to engage in the four C’s: critical
thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
Our inclusive climate at Del Rey means that ALL students have access to this program,
including students who have support needs. We believe that inclusion in A-STEM will expose our students to a new world of opportunities and support them to be successful in
their future.
The A-STEM program is available to all students in grades 1-6 and allows them to take
part in before-school classes and activities, such as marble boat building with the Reedley
STEM Ambassadors, building structures with district STEM Specialist Hillary Cloud, and
art classes with district Visual and Performing Arts Specialist Jennifer Determan-Lewis.
Para Educator Adriana Guerrero and RSP Teacher Traci Tucker provide computer-based
reading intervention and also various art and engineering projects.
The computer-based reading intervention serves 40-45 students from Monday-Friday,
7:45-8:40am, and supports students in meeting their literacy goals. Students are engaged
with programs that provide phonics, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and keyboarding instruction.
Our Del Rey Knights’ Coding Club has
been very popular. It has been a satisfying
experience to see the excitement in our
students’ faces as they use the Raspberry
Pi to create their own coding with Scratch
and Python while manipulating the very
popular Minecraft game.
Background: Cindy Lopez Hernandez, Isaiah
Cervantes, and David Cervera; foreground:
Ramiro Bernal, Joseph Marquez, and David Gomez. Photo courtesy of Traci Tucker
Washington Academic Middle School has been chosen to
be part of a research study to
use a supplemental reading
tool known as Udio (Universal Design for Learning and
Studio) within our intervention classes. CAST (Center
for Applied Special Technology), based out of Boston, has
seeded and grown the field of
Universal Design for Learning
(UDL) through creative research and development, strategic partnerships, teacher
preparation and support, and
international outreach.
Holly Willet, Curriculum
Support Provider, brought
this research study to the administration’s attention because she attended a UDL conference to find ways to help
struggling readers.
On average, our struggling
readers read at a 3rd-grade
level. Our teachers are always trying to find ways to
support our students. Mrs.
Willet thought this was a tool
that would help middle school
Silver Business Sponsor
The Schow Foundation
Bronze Business Sponsor
Youth Centers of America
Safety a Priority
Lone Star’s 1st-3rd graders are doing much more than math and spelling. A select 15 were chosen to be a part of the Jr. Robotics Club. The club is
where the students build moving things with Lego blocks based on a theme. They enter a showcase to display their wonderful Lego creations.
This year’s theme is trash. Not just regular old trash, but eco friendly alternatives for waste disposal. The first showcase will be on Saturday, April 16th. The
teachers who run the Jr. Robotics Club are Sarah LeBeau and Jennifer McVay, both
3rd-grade teachers at Lone Star.
The club’s main focus is to get kids interested in robotics and computers. The
lesson the club will teach is how to work in teams, show sportsmanship, communicate clearly, and overcome challenges. Kathie Hartsell, a mother of a student in
the club says, “I’m excited and happy we’re one of the first schools to do Jr. Robotics.” Joy Aller, another mother of a child in the club says, “I’m glad the school
is doing something new and different.”
The club will be meeting every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour after school.
“I want the devices to be totally student driven. No adult ideas for the project,”
Mrs. LeBeau says.
I think we are all excited to see what Lone Star’s students will create with this
new program.
Udio at WAMS
The District and the Foundation for Sanger Schools
wish to thank the following organizations for their
generous donation to the Foundation:
Become an FFSS Sponsor
Contributed by Reese Moreno
6th Grade, Lone Star Elementary
Contributed by Pete Munoz
To learn more about the Foundation or perhaps consider becoming a sponsor, please contact Nettie Niles at
netcommca@gmail.com. This newsletter is co-sponsored
by the Foundation and is distributed not only in Sanger
but throughout the District.
students. Yolanda Shahbazian,
vice principal, and Mrs. Willet advocated for WAMS to be
part of this research.
Udio is designed to help
motivate struggling middle
school students, to increase
reading strategies used to aid
comprehension, and use technology as a tool. Udio allows
students to make choices in
what they read and to choose
their reading strategy. It also
has a Project Based Learning
(PBL) component that allows
students to convey their understanding of their learning.
Additionally, Udio is aligned
with our college- and career-ready standards, including the Common Core State
Standards, and provides hundreds of stories for students
to read.
There are 12 teachers who
are involved with this research, with Mrs. Willet and
Mrs. Shahbazian providing
support. Jim Simpson is helping CAST to record findings
within this study. We are continually striving to find ways
to help motivate and support
struggling readers.
In January we hosted a safety workshop, which provided
personal protective equipment (PPE) assessment training
to classified employee department supervisors. Cal/OSHA
(California Occupational Safety and Health Administration),
through CCR Title 8, Section 3380, requires this assessment.
The workshop was lead by POMS & Associates and sponsored by the District’s JPA insurance carrier, Fresno County
Self-Insurance Group (FCSIG). Our employees, as well as employees from neighboring districts, attended.
The purpose of this type of training opportunity is to ensure we remain in compliance in all mandates as it relates to workplace safety. Cal/OSHA requires that all employers assess the workplace and associated job activities to determine the hazards
and types of PPE that will protect the employee from identified hazards. Our district
grounds manager, Tom Amoruso, was one of many who attended the workshop and
continues to remind his employees about safety. “As a manager, it is my responsibility
to make sure each member of my team goes home each night to their families.”
At the conclusion of this workshop, supervisors returned to their departments and
conducted a PPE assessment to ensure hazards are identified and appropriate policies and protections are in place to prevent injuries.
•
Educational events occur at various times throughout the year at
Sanger Adult School. Everyone in the community is invited to our
upcoming Career Night on February 11, 2016 in the Sanger High
School Library. Representatives from local training programs will
be present to answer questions for those looking for career training opportunities.
• The community is also invited to attend our computer class at
the Wilson Media Center. The computer lab is open Mondays and
Wednesdays from 4:30-7:30pm. Three staff members are available to help with keyboarding, various computer programs, online job search skills, research, and more. Beginners to advanced
users are welcome. Wi-Fi is available to all.
We have something for everyone. Follow us on Twitter or visit our
website for updates.
Right: Isaac Lopez receiving his diploma from
Contributed by Richard Sepulveda
Green Technology is a
non-profit initiative designed to inform government efforts toward
sustainability,
providing
a forum in which government officials can communicate with those in the
private sector who are developing and distributing
green technologies.
Green California Schools
Summit is the largest annual event focused on green
programs in the nation’s largest K-12 system and higher
education systems. The Summit highlights the economic,
educational, and community benefits that districts have
achieved by making a commitment to sustainability.
In October 2015, our district was recognized with a Leadership Award by the Green California Schools Summit for
its efforts in energy conservation. The annual award recognizes achievements in categories ranging from green building and energy efficiency to curriculum. The awards were
established by the Summit’s Advisory Board to honor individuals and school districts on the leading edge of school
sustainability.
Congratulations to Kevin Edwards, Brad Pawlowski, and
the Maintenance Department for their work in the District’s
energy efficiency program!
In observance of the holidays, our district office
and school sites will be closed as follows:
Monday, February 8 (Lincoln’s Birthday)
Monday, February 15 (Washington’s Birthday)
Spelling Bee
Competition
Come join us on
Friday - February 12, 2016
10:30am
WAMS Auditorium
Superintendent Matt Navo.
Photo courtesy of Dawn Pearson
Child and Adult Resource and Education Team, Because We CARE!
Contributed by Kimberly Salomonson
In 2011, California Assembly Bill (AB) 114 drastically changed how students with
disabilities were provided mental health services. Funding changes followed and
school districts were left scrambling to keep support flowing to its children. Our district had always maintained some of the best student-to-counselor/psychologist ratios
in the Valley. Consequently, when funding finally made its way to the district, we were
able to focus our sight on something creative and groundbreaking in our community.
In 2014, we hired and then worked as a team to design our Child and Adult Resource
and Education Team (CARE). This team serves our most intensive mental health needs
and has also expanded related services for foster and homeless youth. Our CARE team
Above: Alma Aguirre, Julie Barrett,
mental health model is unique to the Sanger Unified system in that it provides support
Hayley Field, and Megan Velo
not only to students but to families and community as well.
This school year started with the ribbon cutting for our new CARE team facilities
located on the Wilson Elementary campus. Most importantly, though, are the colleagues hired as our CARE team. Julie Barrett, Megan
Decker, Hayley Field, and Alma Aguirre all have strong backgrounds in mental health, including credentials in school psychology,
counseling and marriage, and family therapy licenses. Their innovative ideas and tireless work ethic has created a breadth of support
which, to date, has served over 100 families.
Although they are incredibly busy with direct counseling services, the CARE team is also passionate about mental health awareness
and training. They have all certified to become ASIST trainers (a suicide prevention model) and have successfully trained school administrators, counselors, psychologists, and many community members.
Their first Resource Fair was held in October
2015, bringing over 15 different mental health
agencies together in Sanger to discuss how to
best support our community. They also have
multiple groups available, including Nurturing
Parent, Nurturing Teen, ABC’s Parenting, and
Parent Support. Look for information about our
CARE team and their calendar of services on the
Sanger Unified website.
Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!
District Embraces Green Technology
Left: Resource Fair held in October 2015
Photo courtesy of Hayley Field
Read Across
America
February 26-March 7
As part of the literacy initiative,
various community members and
school leaders in our district will
be visiting elementary sites to read
to the students from a book of the
reader’s choice.
Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness
program that calls for children in
every community to celebrate reading in honor of beloved children’s
author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel).
Created by a small
reading task force at
the National Education Association (NEA),
schools throughout the
nation celebrate this
activity as close to
March 2 (the birth date
of Dr. Seuss) as possible.
Three Finalists for CLMS
Educator of the Year!
Contributed by Jamie Nino
Melanie Parrent, Chuck Yeh,
and Rachel Groft
Sanger was honored to have three finalists for the California League of Middle
School (CLMS) Educator of the Year on
December 1st. There were over 25 applicants with 10 finalists chosen. Our finalists were: Rachel Groft from Quail Lake,
Melanie Parrent from WAMS, and Chuck
Yeh from Fairmont. This elegant award
ceremony was held at the Fort Washington Country Club where the finalists gave
a speech on “How have middle school students changed you?” All of our finalists
did a fantastic job! A required part of the
nomination process was to write about
the finalist’s leadership characteristics,
middle school awareness, and exemplary
characteristics that define them as an educator.
Kim Labosky, principal of Quail Lake,
nominated Mrs. Groft and stated: “Mrs.
Groft has helped to improve our school
results, makes no excuses, and functions
culture. She is innovative and explores
at a level that is both efficient and of the
ways to enrich students inside and outhighest quality.”
side of the classroom. She is a leader on
All of our finalists received an exquisite
campus, a model teacher, and a kind and
trophy, plaque, photo, and a large basket
giving individual.”
of donated goods. Lots of their colleagues
WAMS vice principal, Jimmy Robles, statand family were there to support them
ed: “Melanie Parrent has shown dedicaand to acknowledge their dedication
tion to the children of the Sanger commuto middle school students. Once again
nity for more than 24 years. She continues
Sanger represented us well.
to be driven by her passion to empower
Congratulations to all three finalists!
each of her students with
self-efficacy through her
New Art Docent Program
relationships and high academic expectations.”
at Jefferson Elementary
Fairmont principal, Jared
Contributed by Jennifer Determan-Lewis
Savage, stated: “Chuck Yeh
is a person of unquestionStudents at Jefferson Elementary are learning to
able principle, integrity,
create, communicate, collaborate, and think critically
and honesty. He produces
Team Races to Build a Champion Robot
Contributed by Hillary Cloud
Sanger High recently started a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC),
which competed in November at the Madtown Throwdown.
The pre-rookie Team Uni-Rex, coached by Sanger High science teacher Ramon Cuevas, had an impressive 2nd place finish amongst a field of
7 world championship teams and 16 other veteran teams.
The details and kickoff for Team Uni-Rex’s first competition season
were released on January 9th.
The team of freshmen and sophomores has six weeks to design, CAD, build, program, and compete in the Strong
Hold Game. The students are working with local businesses
ADCO, POM Wonderful, and SunBurst throughout the build
season. Root for Team Uni-Rex as they race to prepare and
build a champion robot before Midnight, February 23.
Left top row: Asif Khan, Mike Stokes, Genisis Ramirez, Skylar McGee, Mitch Stokes, John Stokes, Andrew Alvarez,
Ramon Cuevas, Yovana Martinez, and Daniel Bibb
Bottom row: Daniellyse Moreno, David Gonzalez, Chris Moua,
and Sophie Pham
Winter Camp
Contributed by Hillary Cloud
On January 6th and 7th, 75 Sanger Unified students attended STEM Winter Camp. The first half of each day focused
on designing and engineering insulated structures. Students in teams explored and tested a variety of insulation
materials to understand how heat affects the temperature inside homes. Working together teams engineered insulated transportation tanks to prevent a frozen woolly mammoth from melting and designed and constructed their
own model homes.
In the afternoons, students utilized Makey-Makeys to design their own video game controller. A Makey-Makey
is an inventive device that allows people to intertwine everyday objects with engineering and technology. Any material that can conduct at least a tiny bit of electricity will work. Our camp students were extremely creative and
resourceful. Playdough, aluminum foil, and even bananas were used to design and build the game controllers. Two
teams were chosen to receive their own Makey-Makeys for having the best video game and controller design. Luis
Lopez and Carlos Moctezuma won for their Space Pong Game. Rachelle Rodriguez and Daniel Ornelas won for their
Witches and Dragons game.
Left: Jayline Garcia, Daniel Larson, and Ashley Neri are taking
temperature readings on an insulated home they designed.
Right: Marissa Cabellos and Katelyn Estep are utilizing
a Makey-Makey to create and design their own video
game and controller.
Photos courtesy of Hillary Cloud
A Day in the Life of a Bus Driver
Contributed by Nadine Sheppard
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a bus driver? You just drive around for a few hours and then go home.
Simple, right? Wrong!
For one thing, you have to be an early riser. In the case of Lea McCrillis, she checks in at the bus yard at 5:45am.
Her eyes are examined to make sure they are clear, and then she goes thru a general exam to ensure she is fit to drive.
After that she does a safety check on over 150 items on the 37,000-pound vehicle.
If you’re a seasoned driver like Lea, you not only know the names of all students on your route, you know the
names of the parents too. And because she has been doing this for 27 years, some parents rode her bus as students!
One of the challenges happens when people go through a red light. (By the way, if you are caught doing that, it’s
a $750 fine!) A frustrating encounter for our employees is when other drivers don’t pay attention to the stop sign
attached to the bus, used when students cross the road.
Mechanical problems can happen while on a route. Lea experienced a broken door while driving, which meant she
had to wait for the mechanic to come fix it. That’s valuable time lost because the vehicle can’t be moved.
Our drivers have shifts and for Lea it is 5:50-8:45am, then 12:45-4:50pm. Many favor this because it allows free
time for doctor appointments, shopping, etc.
Lea says the best part of her day is greeting the children and telling them how good they look. If students seem
alone, she talks to them in private to get a bigger picture of what is going on in their life.
On her “Happy Bus” she always says good morning to each student by name and freely
gives hugs, along with reminding them to use their seatbelt. The most memorable thing
a student has said to Lea? “Can you be my grandma?”
Thanks to all of our drivers whose job is so important to our district! And a special
thank you to Lea for all the years she dedicated herself to the service of our students.
Lea retired on January 31, 2016. She has many
fond memories of the students and will be greatly missed.
Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!
through an exciting new Art Docent program.
Every child at Jefferson Elementary will receive 12
visual art lessons throughout the year, taught by volunteer docents
from our community.
Students will
create a portfolio of artwork
to take home at
the end of the
school year. Jefferson’s team
Jim Simpson, district assessment
of
dedicated
coordinator, shows 4th-grade
docents
regustudents the elements of art.
larly meets with
Photo courtesy of
Katherine Campos
Annette Husak,
a kindergarten
teacher. Annette ensures they are familiar with the
lessons, giving them an opportunity to practice before they teach students.
Visual art lessons for all K-5 students were written
by local artist in residence, Kathleen Mattox of Mixed
Messages art studio in Sanger, and focus on both California Visual Art Standards and connections to other core content areas.
Young Author’s Fair
March 3, 2016
Contributed by Jeaneen Christiansen
For the past 34 years, John Wash School has hosted
an annual Young Authors’ Fair for over 700 students
within the school district. Activities include a published author’s presentation, student art and writing
displays, live music, storytellers from our community, and a science experience. All of these activities are
geared toward the love of reading and writing.
The 35th Young Authors’ Fair will be held Thursday, March 3, 2016, from 9:00am-12:30pm. We will
be privileged to have Greg Trine, author of the Melvin Beederman series, the Jo Schmo series, and Willy
Maykit in Space, as our featured writer this year.
All of Mr. Trine’s characters are strong kids with individual, unique superpowers used to solve all sorts
of problems. Therefore, this year our theme will be
Reading is my Superpower! Schools attending allow one student from each classroom in grades 1-3
and two students from each classroom in grades 4-6
to attend. These students are selected based on an
original story or collection of original poems they
wrote themselves. These stories are featured during
the Fair, along with John Wash student art from the
Youth Art Month competition.
Dale Halderman, a former district teacher, will
again entertain students with his guitar and original
songs. Several local community members and leaders engage students by reading their favorite books
during the storytelling sessions.
SAM Academy, located in Sanger, will instruct, promote interest, and entertain students with a handson science experience. All events focus on the importance of being a strong reader.
Parents of invited students are welcome to attend.
Please contact your school’s YAF liaison for more information.
$15 registration fee is
due prior to February 19