H
“

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
FRESNO, CA
PERMIT NO. 398
April 2019

Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 21, No. 9

follow us on	TM               and at CUSD.COM

Behind the Wheel

VMS to get new track n Stadium closed until May
CUSD Today

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Clovis Unified bus driver Mike Meroni has worked for the district for 40 years without a single accident, big or small. The California Highway Patrol recently presented him with an award for his safety record.

CHP honors driver’s 40 years of safety

CUSD Today	rolling on the roads ever since.
He has seen hundreds of students walk through E’S DRIVEN the mileage equivalent to	his bus doors, and he is aware that he is their first crossing the United States several times	point of contact as they head to school.“I try to over all the while with dozens of energetic	be positive,” he said.
children sitting right behind him, but that hasn’t	He expects good behavior on his bus and looks phased Clovis Unified bus driver Mike Meroni.         out for his precious passengers.
Meroni’s been driving a school bus for the dis-	Recently during a very heavy rain, he was drop-trict for four decades, and during those 40 years      ping off a student in the country who normally hasn’t been in a single accident, big or small.      walks from the bus stop to home. “But it was Given that the average driver in the U.S. will be in      pouring,” he said. Meroni phoned the parents a collision of some kind once every 17.9 years,      and waited as they came to pick up their child. Meroni’s accomplishment is particularly significant.	Many of his past passengers now have families
According to local California Highway Patrol,	of their own and their children sit on Meroni’s no other bus driver in recent memory has achieved	seats. He also sees “his students” all grown up and what Meroni has for that length of years. The	working in the district. In the Transportation De-CHP presented Meroni with its School Bus Safety	partment, his maintenance manager and some of Award April 3 at the CUSD Governing Board	the other drivers were once students on his route. meeting.	“I like seeing who they have become.”
“I keep my eyes moving all the time and try to	Meroni credits his sense of humor and his keep focused on the task at hand,” he said of      wife with keeping him positive.
driving his yellow 76-passenger bus. “Every day	“I’m blessed. I have faith in the Lord that he there are close calls, folks who aren’t looking at      watches over me. I’ve got people praying for me stop signs or watching what they are doing. But, I      and my safety, and so far, it’s worked.”
watch out for them.”                                                         Other CHP School Bus Safety Awards went to Growing up in Los Angeles, Meroni always      Clovis Unified drivers: Dave Behlen and Desiree liked to drive and said as a young driver he’d be      Van Bindsbergen, 15 years; Cristin Duke, 10 years; the first to volunteer if something was needed at      and Dave Dupree, Edward Neves, Jock Patterson, the store. He later got his license to drive a bus at      Michelle Villagrana and Gary Winebrenner, five
the suggestion of his brother-in-law and has been	years.

Runners take your mark!
Starting the early part of May, Clovis Unified track athletes will enjoy a new state-of-the-art track surface at Veterans Memorial Stadium that may just increase their
speed.
The stadium – located on the Buchanan Educa-tional Center campus – is closed for use in April in order to replace the surface that had begun to deteri-orate from weather and wear.
The new surface will be made of Beynon, a top-of-the-line product that
has an eight-year warranty and is made of a high-performance synthetic athletic material. It’s designed for speed, safety and durability, and VMS will be one of the few non-collegiate stadiums in the nation with the specialized Hobart running surface.
With the stadium used for 18 different high-level local, regional and state track and field events each year, the new track surface will protect the safety of athletes and continue to support top performance.
“Veterans Memorial Stadium is used 26 days a year for track events, compared to the district’s other tracks that are used on average six times a year,” said Administrator of Facility Services Denver Stairs.“It’s high usage.”
The $600,000 replacement project should be complete in May just in time for the heart of the track season meets, the Mountain West Track & Field Championships, the CIF Valley Championships and the

➤ Please see Track, Page 8

We need to teach and speak languages in our classrooms
that students need to hear like kindness, compassion, love, comfort,
responsibility, accountability
and hope.

Mica Tan Reyburn Intermediate teacher and 2019 California Middle School Teacher of the Year winner

For complete story, see Page 9.

BookBuddies

The Foundation for Clovis Schools awarded 16 Students of Promise Scholarships at a gala event April 10.
For complete story, see Page 11.

Law college donates 5,000 books

By Missy Mckai Cartier, San Joaquin College of Law Special to CUSD Today

“Miss Rose, I get to read this one first!”
The chorus of kids and chaos on a Clovis Unified elementary campus recently enveloped the arrival of a truck filled with books donated to the Elizabeth O’Neill Memorial Drive. The books will be split between Mi-ramonte and Reagan elementary schools, and they

➤ Please see Books, Page 8

INSIDE:

ANNOUNCEMENTS
CW opens “Mamma Mia!” April 25 The hit-Broadway musical “Mamma Mia!” will
be performed by Clovis West High’s drama students with opening night set for April 25. Page 3

DISTRICT-WIDE
Summer activities plentiful in CUSD Summer break is just around the corner and
Clovis Unified has many opportunities for kids to enjoy a variety of engaging activities. Page 6

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
We get better by working together Though sometimes it feels that society wants us to
focus on our differences, public education operates from a completely different perspective. Page 5

Page 2	CUSD Today	April 2019

April 2019	CUSD Today	Page 3

➤ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Exceptional Person Awards will be presented April 23

The Special Education Exceptional Person Awards for the 2018-19 school year will be presented April 23 at a reception honoring 32 Clovis Unified employees and volunteers. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the CUSD Pro-fessional Development Building, 1680 David E. Cook Way, Clovis.
The award recognizes those who work with or support students with special needs and whose qualities include devotion, hard work, grit, creativity, integrity, initiative, compassion and talent. The honorees were nominated by families, staff, students and volunteers.

CW opens “Mamma Mia!”April 25 The lively hit-Broadway musical “Mamma

Mia!” will be performed by Clovis West High’s drama students with opening night set for April 25. The story is about a spirit-ed-bride-to-be who secretly invites three men from her mother’s past to her wedding in the hopes that one of them may be her father. The musical will be performed at the Mercedes Edwards Theatre at 7:30 p.m. April 25-27 and May 2-4; and at 2 p.m.

April 27 and May 4. Tickets are $10 for stu-dents and $12 for adults.

CE opens “Clue” May 9
The exciting mur-der mystery comedy “Clue” will be per-formed on stage at the Dan Pessano Theater by Clovis East High drama students.
The story is set at an isolated mansion where six strangers are invited dinner guests. Soon the party be-
comes a crime scene and the guests take part in a who-dunnit as they become wit-nesses, suspects and possible victims to a murder.
The play will be at 7:30 p.m. May 9-11 and 16-18 at the Dan Pessano Theater. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults. Details: www.cloviseastdance drama.com.

Community Health & Multicultural Fair, May 9

The great Gateway Health Fair is coming.

Clovis Unified School District Alternative Education will host the 28th Annual Com-munity Health and Multicultural Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. May 9 at Gateway High, 1550 Herndon Ave., Clovis.
This free event is open to the public and will feature 30 local agencies and community organizations, including Clovis Community College, CUSD Family Resource Center, Marjaree Mason Center, Grizzly Youth Acad-emy and the American Red Cross. Also available will be free blood pressure meas-urements, body mass index, college and career information, health and dental services and more.
Participants can also try delicious food and enjoy a multicultural talent show fea-turing students, staff and local entertainers. There will be prize drawings and a silent auction.
Details: Maggie Pendleton, Gateway High, at maggieikedapendleton@cusd.com or 327-1877.

this school year will be recognized with awards ranging from Best Actor to Best Supporting Character.A team of anonymous judges from the community have determined the winners after watching each show.
The award show also includes encore performances from each CUSD high schools’ musical and return appearances from some of the district’s drama students from years past.
The Danny Award is named after former Clovis Unified drama teacher and local the-ater legend Dan Pessano. Tickets are $5.

Spring Break
Clovis Unified students will be on Spring Break and school campuses will be closed April 15, reopening on Tuesday, April 22. Clovis Unified’s School District office complex at 1450 Herndon Ave., in Clovis, will be open during this time.

Parent Academy Technology workshop, May 21

The final CUSD Parent Academy work-shop of the school year will be “Social Media Awareness” on May 21.
The workshop is designed to inform and empower parents with information and re-sources to best support their student. It will be held at the Clovis Unified Professional Learning Center, 362 N. Clovis Ave., #101, in Clovis. There is no cost. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program will be from 6 to 8 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Krista Cortez in CUSD Supplemental Services at 327-0667 or kristacortez@cusd.com.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Clovis Unified’s new free mobile app helps parents quickly find out the latest news at their child’s school, look up grades, report an absence and even add money to a lunch account.
Help spread the word about this new, convenient feature as we continue to expand its of-ferings to en-hance ways in which parents
and schools can communicate.
The app is available for download in iOS and Android app stores.

Danny Awards set for May 14 Clovis Unified’s 48th Annual Danny

Awards will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 14 at the Mercedes Edwards Theatre. High school actors will be honored for their work in plays and musicals in this “Emmy Award” style event.
Students dressed in high fashion will arrive
in limousines and walk a red-carpet entry amid a crowd of adoring fans as they make their way into the theater. During the awards ceremony, the on-stage and behind-the-scenes talent for drama productions held

Page 4	CUSD Today	April 2019

K
,
VISION

April 2019	CUSD Today	Page 5

We get better by working together

By Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D. Superintendent

EVERY year in Clovis Unified we select a theme

for the school year. Different than our overar-ching strategic plan aims and goals or our long-standing core val-
ues and beliefs,	Eimear O’Farrell, our theme is like             Ed.D.
a catchphrase; a
motivating sentiment that unifies us through a single year in time.
Like a catchphrase, we try to make our theme memorable, uni-fying and an expression of the emo-tion of our community of students, employees and families at a given moment. Most importantly, it’s an effort to plant the feet of our edu-cational team in a common effort to serve our students at the highest level. “We Believe,”“Be the Differ-ence,” “Standing Together,” are all themes from recent years that each spoke to current experiences and captured the mood of a given time. In the 2018-19 school year, our theme is “Better Together” and as I have been out and about on our school campuses, I’ve been remind-ed again and again of the perfect truth of that statement.
Better together! We absolutely are better when we work together. Though sometimes it feels that so-ciety wants us to focus on our dif-ferences, public education operates from a completely different per-spective – one summarized by our theme Better Together.We welcome every student, from every back-ground and every walk of life to our CUSD family. We believe that every child can learn and that we can teach every child. Every day I see our theme lived out with positive effect.
Over the course of this school year, there hasn’t been a week in which I wasn’t out in our schools and classrooms, and at every site I

saw examples of our theme in ac- measure on a future ballot.                     I have found that when we sit tion. I see it in the first-year teacher,         We are proof that we are better down in small groups without a who from Day 1 was reaching out together, when we sit down together set agenda, and simply talk about to families to build relationships over a shared meal and talk about our experiences, we take advantage and encourage parental involvement the issues facing families today, or of a unique opportunity to improve. to support student success. I see it, about the needs of our most at- We get better by working together. too, in the recent meeting of our risk students and how we can best         Another moment this truth hit Citizens Committee to Study Cap- meet those needs. Conversations home was at the February Career ital Facility Needs at which close like this happen at breakfast meet- Technical Education (CTE) Night, to 35 community members and ings I hold with groups of parents, our first one of its kind, held at CUSD staff are spending their members of the faith-based com- the Veterans Memorial Building. evenings analyzing future facility munity, business leaders, students Not only was it a huge hit with the needs of the district to make a rec- and our own employee groups; and close to 1,000 students and parents ommendation as to whether or meetings in the evenings with par- who attended to check out our not we consider placing a bond ents from every one of our schools. CTE offerings, but it was also a

LESSONS

Inspirations by, for and from our CUSD students

“Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose –
it teaches you about life.”

BILLIE JEAN ING

WINNER OF 39 GRAND SLAM TENNIS TITLES

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Athletic teams from across Clovis Unified competed in the Spring Elementary Championships earlier this month. Cedarwood, Fugman and Maple Creek earned co-championship baseball titles;Century captured the softball championship; and Red Bank won the boys volleyball title. To view all the action, see photos at https://clovisunified.zenfolio.com/19springelemsports. Photos can be downloaded and shared.

unique opportunity for all of our CTE programs to come together under one roof. For every excited conversation I heard taking place between a prospective CTE student and faculty or enrolled students, there was another taking place be-tween students enrolled in neigh-boring programs and/or staff mem-bers sharing ideas about how to continually improve. The interaction I saw during this fun-filled evening was a great example of how we be-come better when we come togeth-er.
My list of examples could fill the pages of this entire issue of CUSD Today:diverse parent groups coming together in our district In-tercultural and Diversity Advisory Council, our expanded student suc-cess conferences for Asian, Latino and African American students (which were open to anyone who wanted to attend) reaching down to the middle school for the first time, and our engagement with new members of our Governing Board who took office this past December. We improve when we work as a team.
It could be implied in my words that working together is an easy task. I think we would all agree that there are many times when we want to hunker down and work in isolation, without listening to the input of others’ perspectives. To-getherness takes courage – courage to listen, even when there isn’t agreement, and courage to persevere through differences of opinions and personalities. But, there is no doubt, we are ALWAYS better when we work together.
This year has passed, like so many others, in a whirlwind of ac-tivity and growth for our students. In just weeks we will be bidding another senior class farewell and preparing for summer break… and picking the theme for the 2019-20 school year. I’m confident that we will again find another unifying phrase behind which to rally… and that better together is a sentiment that will be alive and well long into our future.

Clovis Unified employees sparkle with excellence

Editor’s note:Thirty-two exceptional Clovis Unified em-ployees received a Crystal Award at a gala celebration earlier this year. The award is the district’s highest employee recognition. It is given to those employees whose passion, innovation, dedication and dynamic work ethic far surpasses their job description.
These are people who in tangible, measurable ways self-lessly help students reach their full potential in mind, body and spirit. They go above and beyond what is expected, and they do so without prompting. They lead and inspire others by their humble nature and heart-felt examples.
Employees are nominated for the award by their peers or supervisor, and judging panels made up of Clovis Unified employees follow a strict rubric that outlines criteria in selecting the year’s recipients.
The following is the final installment of a three-part series profiling each of the recipients in alphabetical order.

By Kathleen Coates Special to CUSD Today

Vincent R. Oraze
Math and Computer Science Teacher, Kastner Intermediate
Kastner Intermediate eighth-grade math teacher Vincent R. Oraze, a 28-year teaching veteran, is a champion for all students. He uses his teaching tool kit to handle behavioral problems and learning
issues, finding a way to reach every student.
Analytical by nature, Oraze uses assessment data to make sure no student falls through the cracks. He works constantly to strengthen the eighth-grade math program. Not only does he bring engaging and powerful instructional strategies to his math team, he also created a robotics and computer science program for technology-minded students. He’s working to put on the first Clovis West-area technology fair to showcase area talent.
Oraze devised a competitive system in math to motivate

➤The Crystals

A full list of this year’s winners and biographical videos can be found online at cusd.com.

student to do better on math assessments. The system, later adapted for the entire Kastner math program, resulted in higher homework turn-in rates and improved test scores. Students learn that being prepared and investing in study practices pays off. Kastner state math scores have improved now three years in a row.
As Professional Learning Communities leader, Oraze spearheaded the piloting of an online math curriculum, coaching and mentoring for seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher teams. Once his stamp is on a program, he takes its success personally.
Oraze has an untiring work ethic and an abiding concern for “what is right.”

Christen Otta
Third Grade Teacher Maple Creek Elementary
“By far, the most passionate, talented enthusiastic and competent teacher.”
“Irreplaceable.” “A life changer.”
Meet Christen Otta, Maple Creek Ele-mentary third-grade teacher. For 22 years she has been at the top of her game, serving as a positive role model who pours her heart into teaching, caring for her students, maintaining stellar communications with parents, doing good deeds and leading her grade-level team.
Through her innovative methods, Otta shows her students how to choose optimism and how to grow from life’s challenges. Her energy is magnetic. Other teachers want to be like her.

In her classroom, each student has a computer to do as-signments from Google Classroom and learn digital citi-zenship lessons. Students learn to build on each other’s ideas.
While leading the way with technology and making sure all students in her class and in the school maximize their achievement, Otta also manages to find time to deliver meals to families in need, bring forgotten homework to students and keep her classroom open before and after class and during lunch time to reteach lessons or just give someone a safe space.
Her impact is evidenced by revised curriculum, instruc-tional practices and high standardized test scores. Her third-grade team is eager to meet four times a month and more.

Kendra Pfalzgraff First Grade Teacher Red Bank Elementary
There is one perfect word for Red Bank Elementary first-grade teacher Kendra Pfalzgraff: kind.
Pfalzgraff models good character in her own life. She teaches students to be
kind to one another and give back to the community through her volunteer projects. During Operation Spreading Kindness, her class collected donations for the Marjaree Mason Center. Her class recognizes those who spread kindness by ringing a special bell and students make Kindness Cards once a week.
Pfalzgraff can often be seen at Red Bank and in the community, attending her students’ athletic contests, cultural festivals – even hula dancing! Kendra also coaches cross-country. A parent once called Kendra “the face of Red Bank!”
This teacher calls her classroom “the Room 9 Family,” and starts her class every day with “Family Chats” in which students talk about their previous day. She is especially

➤ Please see Crystals, Page 8

— ABOUT US —

CUSD Today,Clovis Unified’s good news publi-cation, is sent directly to the homes of all CUSD parents and staff, as well as district supporters. In an effort to unify the CUSD community, the news-paper highlights the achievements of Clovis Unified students and staff; profiles new and updated Gov-erning Board policies; and shares general news and information happening within the district.
Circulation: 33,000.
Funding: All costs associated with producing, printing and mailing CUSD Today are entirely funded by our advertisers. To show your appreciation of their support, we ask you to consider patronizing these businesses and services as the need arises.
Story submissions: Please submit all ideas to the Site Coordinator at your school. Please contact your school to find out who your Site Coordinator is. Editorial deadlines are two weeks before the publication date. We do our best to include as many submissions in each issue as our editorial space will allow.

CUSD Today Staff

Publishing & Editorial Clovis Unified School District 1450 Herndon Avenue Clovis, CA 93611 Telephone (559) 327-9094 Fax (559) 327-2957 cusdtoday@cusd.com Kelly Avants, APR
Chief Communication Officer
327-9092 Patti J. Lippert Managing Editor
327-9094 Sara Almaraz
Advertising 327-9095 Verna Garcia
Graphic Designer 224-9711

CUSD Governing Board

Brian Heryford	Christopher Casado	Steven G. Fogg, M.D. President                              Vice-President                                 Clerk

299-4586	908-9953	269-7000

Susan Hatmaker	Ginny L. Hovsepian Elizabeth J. Sandoval Tiffany Stoker Madsen 288-2743                          434-8272	291-7564	392-1014

CUSD Administration

Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D.	Don Ulrich, Ed.D. Superintendent                                       Deputy Superintendent
327-9100	327-9107

Norm Anderson                        Barry Jager                         Michael Johnston Associate Superintendent,          Associate Superintendent,            Associate Superintendent,
School Leadership	Human Resources and	Administrative Services 327-9350                             Employee Relations                              327-9110
327-9308

cooking and more
Every summer, CUSD’s Campus Club program not only
portunities. Campus Club’s summer program will run for
Summer Campus Club provides students with an outlet to
CART Summer Academy
learning lab.
Laptop Camp
Summer Public Swim
High school session
Elementary summer school
Page 6	CUSD Today	April 2019

Summer activities plentiful in CUSD

nSign-ups starting for arts, sports,

CUSD Today

Summer break is just around the corner and Clovis Unified has many opportunities for kids to enjoy a variety of engaging activities.Whether that is taking a two-hour class twice a week exploring “Pirates, Ninjas and Knights!” or joining a weeklong half-day camp playing sports and making crafts, students can have fun learning while spending time with other kids.
The following are district programs offered this year.:

Summer Arts and Sports Camp
CUSD’s Sports and Recreation Department offers the Summer Arts and Sports Camp 2019, a fun-filled, five-week summer program, consisting of games, sports, physical activities, performing and visual arts, weekly field trips and more. Sessions are taught by credentialed teachers and qualified spe-cialists. The program is for students who are now in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. The camp will be held at Buchanan High School, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, June 17 to July 19. The cost is $400 per child for the full session; weekly registration is also available at a rate of $125 per week. The deadline to register is June 7. Registration is available online only at http://leagues.bluesombrero.com/clovisrec. Details: clovisrec.com or call 327-9225.

Summer Fun
The Summer Fun program, coordinated by Clovis Adult Education, offers a variety of classes for children ages 4 to 13. The program is open to all students in this age range, regardless of their home district. Class registration begins online May 1. Summer Fun classes will be held Monday through Thursday, June 17 to July 18, from 8 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. at Kastner Inter-mediate. Most classes are $119 and meet twice a week for two hours. Students can take one class or multiple classes.
The program offers a variety of fun learning opportunities including arts, crafts, computer, cooking, foreign language, math, music, drama, reading, writing, science, sports, dance and much more. Some of the highlights this year include: Broadcasting, Chinese, Piñata Party,Animal Science and Agri-culture, No Bake Dessert, and Pirates, Ninjas and Knights… Oh My! Course catalogs will be distributed to all CUSD ele-mentary schools before May 1. Details: www.cloviscommuni-tyed.com, call 327-2880 or email SummerFunInfo@cusd.com.

Summer Fun’s Jr. Staffer Program
What happens to the teenager who is too young to get a job and too old for Summer Fun? The answer: Summer Fun’s Jr. Staffer Program! Summer Fun is offering this special program for kids that have “graduated” from Summer Fun and are 13 to 16 years old. It is a way to fill the gap for young teenagers who want to get a job but do not have enough experience.
Kelly Peterson, program specialist for Community Education, said as an employer, she has received hundreds of applications from teenagers looking to be Summer Fun aides. “We really have to choose carefully whose applications and interviews stand out,” she said noting that the new Jr. Staffer Program will teach students these invaluable tools. In the Jr. Staffer Pro-gram, students will learn how to build a resume based on their volunteer or extracurricular activities. Kids will learn the im-portance of the first impression.The Jr. Staffer Program runs June 17 to July 18 and is available either Mondays and Wednes-days from 8 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. The program fee is $209. Details: Clovis Community Education at 327-2880 or visit www.clo-viscommunityed.com.

Campus Club
that is a joint project of Clovis and Fresno unified school districts – offers a Summer Academy for children who will be
session is from 8 to 11:30 a.m. June 10 to 14 at CART, 2555
provides care for students of working parents but also it in fourth through seventh grade in the fall. The one-week enriches the lives of students through expanded learning op- Clovis Ave., Clovis. Students will be enrolled in a hands-on

nine weeks, June 1 to Aug. 8, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday
Hills, Freedom, Gettysburg, Maple Creek and Woods.
d School, Movie Magic, Robotics and Lemonade Stand –
through Friday, at2six elementary schools: Garfield, Copper MeChoices this year are: Builders Workshop, Game Design, Mini-Microbusiness. The academy costs $199 before June 3, and
www.cart.org or call 248-7400.
explore and learn while having fun.Activities such as arts and $250 after that date. The fee includes a T-shirt. Details: crafts, recreation, cooking and educational science projects let
kids have fun and learn. There are optional swimming oppor-
tunities at CUSD pools Tuesdays through Thursdays. There	Clovis Unified’s Laptop Camp is designed for students are also field trips planned that include Blackbeards, Island who will be entering intermediate school in the fall. The four-Water Park, Chukchansi Park, Maya Cinemas and Downing day, 10-hour camp will be held July 29 to Aug. 1 at Alta Sierra Planetarium at Fresno State. The program also offers on-site Intermediate. Teachers will provide students instructions on visitors such as Fresno Chaffee Zoo Mobile,Aquarium Aquarius the basic skills needed to use laptops in the classroom.Participants and The Bubble Guy. This year renowned author L. Kobie will get hands-on practice using Microsoft Office 365 Applications “The Wiz”Wilkerson will be coming to work with our students and numerous web-based tools. Students may use their own for a week of poetry and writing inspiration. There will be laptop or request a loaner for the camp. The camp costs $70.A three evening meet and greet opportunities, June 25-27.             morning session and afternoon session are offered. Registration
The full-day fee is $32; a half-day fee of $27 is also available. is required by July 11.
Children must be enrolled a minimum of three days a week,	Details: https://www.cusd.com/LaptopCamp.aspx. and parents can pick the week or weeks their child will attend.
Registration forms are available starting April 26 at school
sites and in the Child Development Department, 1735 David	Designated Clovis Unified swimming pools will be open to E. Cook Way in Clovis, and completed applications will be ac- the public this summer.
cepted in Child Development starting April 29. Enrollment is         ■ Clovis East and Clovis West: 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, on a first-come, first-served basis as some locations fill quickly. Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 18 to July 25; pools will
Details: https://www.cusd.com/CampusClub-OptionalPro- be closed July 4 and 10
grams.aspx or by calling 327-9160.		■ Clovis East and Buchanan: 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31 and Thursday,Aug. 1
Day usage fee is $3 for adults and $2 for children 12-years-CART – the Center for Advanced Research and Technology old and younger.

2019 academic summer school programs

CUSD Today                                                                            East and Clovis High will attend Clovis Highl. These sites provide in-class instruction, independent study and the online
Several academic programs are offered in Clovis Unified	Edgenuity program.
during the summer. For more information on any of the fol-          High school students living near Pinedale and Nelson ele-lowing programs, contact your local school site.                        mentary schools can participate in the Independent Study
Satellite Program at Pinedale Elementary.
Due to the highly impacted courses and short duration of Clovis Unified’s High School Summer School 2019 will	the summer session, strict discipline and attendance policies
offer coursework through in-class and independent study	are enforced. In order for a student to receive credit for a courses. The in-class programs will be from June 17 to July	summer school course, he or she must attend the entire 25, with instructional days Mondays through Thursdays. Sum-	summer school session and not miss more than one day of mer school sites will be closed Fridays as well as on July 4.     instruction. One absence is permitted. On the second absence The Independent Study Program will be in session from June	of a semester class, the student will be dropped from the 11 to July 24, meeting on Tuesdays or Wednesdays of each	summer school program.
week.	To register or receive more information, students must The purpose of the summer session for grades 9-12 is     meet with their high school counselors.
two-fold. First, the summer session provides high school stu-
dents with the opportunity for “credit-recovery” to master
the essential elements of incomplete/failed courses. Summer	Elementary summer school programs are offered for school may also be used as “original credit” for selected     students who have recently completed grades 1 to 6. The courses when students meet specific eligibility criteria that     session runs from June 17 to July 11, with instructional days provide an open space for an impacted class schedule for stu-     Mondays through Thursdays.All summer school sites will be dents to take an additional class the following school year. If     closed on July 4.
a student meets the criteria, high school counselors will enroll          The summer school programs for elementary and inter-the student into summer school during the registration     mediate grades are designed to provide students with targeted, process.                                                                                     meaningful and engaging instruction for essential skills in Students who are currently enrolled at Buchanan, Clovis     English and/or math. Instruction is focused on meeting the
North and Clovis West will attend Alta Sierra Intermediate
this summer. Students who are currently enrolled at Clovis	➤ Please see Academic, Page 9

BHS essay winner
Buchanan High senior Claire Van Driver
Incredible generosity
Center collected an astonishing 63,507 items
That's a lot of soup! And a lot of cans of
corn, beans, tuna and dry goods of pastas,
Folmer.
From left, Weldon ASES teachers Aseem Virk,
Tatyana Taylor, Samanth Waldrop, Jacob
Weldon Milk Money Project
AROUND

April 2019

THE DISTRICT

CUSD Today	Page 7

Art in action thanks to Foundation for Clovis Schools

Photo special to CUSD Today. Students attending Clovis West’s first Eagle Tech Showcase had the chance to try out ro-bots and various computer applications.

Eagle Tech Showcase
The Clovis West Area held its first-ever Eagle Tech Showcase in March where students could share some of their computer science projects and curious parents and younger students could see upcoming opportunities. The event featured all of Kastner Inter-mediate’s Computer Discoveries game design projects; history/personal/and scary-face Apps; sumo bot battles; and student-designed
robots.
Clovis West High students presented their App designs. Pinedale Elementary brought their robotics group and demonstrated their robots.
The evening was a great success and is set to become an annual event.

Skyhawks fill the stage
Clovis West leadership invited the area elementary schools to participate in a canned food drive to benefit the Pinedale Good Neighbor Center. The Liberty Elementary Skyhawks’ Student Council teamed up with the school’s Kindness Club to launch the “Fill the Stage” Campaign, with the goal of each student bringing in a bag of 10 canned food items. The Kindness Club gave a bag to each student, and student council offered rewards and raffle tickets for those who par-ticipated.
“It was a good idea to make it a competi-tion, because everyone loves a reward. More importantly, it will help people in need,” said Student Body President, Cadence Gabriel. The campaign was a huge success, col-lecting the most cans in Liberty’s canned
food drive history, with over 3,000.

Recess fun at Red Bank
After months of anticipation, Red Bank students were welcomed March 11 with a brand new play structure.After the school’s morning flag salute on the blacktop, students

Photo special to CUSD Today. Clovis West and Clovis High AP Art History students recently experienced art and architecture in person at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor. The group interacted with the museum’s collection that spans four millenia of history. They also saw artwork by 15 of the artists in their curriculum, preparing the students for their AP Art History exam later this year. The trip was funded in part by the Foundation for Clovis Schools’ Classroom Grant program and was led by teachers Katherine Merrill and Svenja Oliver.

watched as their student body president and Contest presented by the Veterans of Foreign vice president cut the red ribbon alongside Wars and Auxiliary District 9, which covers Clovis Unified grounds crew to officially the Central Valley. new playground.
open their new playground.
in the Wolfpack
Students and teachers at the Reagan Ed
Earlier this year, Red Bank students pro-vided input on the new structure. The Bobcat structure offers many different playing op-tions, fit for students of all ages and abilities. It
and strength challenges. Recess time has
collection drive.
Photo special to CUSD Today.
provides different climbing features, obstacles of food to be donated to local families and always been a favorite time for students but organizations during the school’s annual with the addition of the new structure, stu-
dents are more eager than ever to get outside,
play, and exercise with their peers on their	lentils, rice and cereal! REC students shattered Amaro and Jesus Garcia. last year's record of 46,000-plus items.
“I’m so proud of our staff and kids,” says
won first place in the Patriots Pen Essay Clovis East Area Superintendent Corrine helps students
Weldon Elementary students in the af-terschool program ASES helped children in Tanzania through the Milk Money Project. More than $400 was raised in the friendly competition between the ASES classes, with the winning class earning a party.
Students learned that in the southern highlands region of Tanzania, it is difficult to get pasteurized milk, however milk contains many nutrients that children there do not get elsewhere in their diets. The Milk Money Project, organized by Heifer International, provides milk to children at schools in Tan-zania, with $2 being able to fund a week’s worth of milk.

Photo special to CUSD Today. The Buchanan Bird Brains robotics team placed first in the alliance competition at the Monterey Bay Regional Robotics tournament held earlier this year and will be traveling to Texas this month to compete in the FIRST World Festival competition.

FC Foxes visit FC Photo special to CUSD Today.

Bud Rank Elementary students Maya Gonzales, Daniella Diaz, Katie DeShields, Brianna Heintz, Suhanna Gill, Meg Hampton, Lilly Cohen and Bella Jankovic make up the robotics team, the Smartadoodles, that qualified to compete in the FIRST World Festival.

2 CUSD robotics teams head to Worlds

The Bird Brains and Smartadoodles are heading to Houston this month for the FIRST World Festival that brings robotics teams from across the nation and around the world to compete. The Buchanan High Bird Brains qualified for the prestigious competition by winning first place and the Chairman’s Award at the Monterey Bay Regional Robotics earlier this year. The team had advanced to the top eight and the alliance competition where they then partnered with two other teams to ultimately
win the final.
“We are so proud of all the amazing work our students have

put in this year,” said team advisor Andrew Austin.
Bud Rank Elementary’s Smartadoodles received the first place Champions Award at the Central Valley Championship for FIRST Lego League to advance to Worlds. The all-girls team is made up of Maya Gonzales, Daniella Diaz, Katie DeShields, Brianna Heintz, Suhanna Gill, Meg Hampton, Lilly Cohen, and Bella Jankovic, who are fifth- and sixth-graders.
This is their third year together. Last year they won the second place Champions Award and competed in an open championship in Arkansas.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Fresno FC Foxes came to Fancher Creek Ele-mentary to play with students involved in in-tramural soccer recently. The Fuego mascot, played soccer, danced and passed out tickets to students for an upcoming game.

		
	Photo special to CUSD Today. FortWashington Elementary second-grader Sunny Chen and her teacher Jennifer Puentes with Sunny’s winning Clovis Rodeo Coloring Contest entry.
Coloring Cowgirls

Not long ago, FortWash-	Kindergarten winner and ington Elementary second- Freedom Elementary stu-grader Sunny Chen had nev- dent Jules Pearson and first-er heard of a rodeo. Now, grade winner and Woods having just won first-place Elementary student Beth for second graders in the Prosperi will also have their Clovis Rodeo Association’s coloring work displayed. annual coloring contest, she	“The contest is part of will be attending one.             the Clovis Rodeo Associa-
Sunny is spending a year tion giving back to the com-in the area from China with munity, honoring the long-her father who is a guest time partnership with the professor at Fresno State. school district, and teaching Her winning artwork in- the future generation about cluded the careful coloring this Western heritage and of two cowboys and horses, area traditions,” said Clovis and it will be displayed in Rodeo Association President the Clovis Rodeo program Ken Elliot.
and at the annual Clovis	Each winner receives four Rodeo that is held the last tickets to attend the April weekend in April.                    28 final rodeo competition.

Page 8	CUSD Today	April 2019

Crystals:32 exceptional employees honored at gala

FROM PAGE 5
good at working with troubled children. Outside of her class, she volunteered to go through Clovis Support Inter-vention training and leads many groups each year to help students emotionally.
She is known for her positivity and encouragement, and she brings innovative teaching techniques to her first-grade students making learning sounds and numbers fun. Pfalzgraff is a two-time winner of Clovis Unified’s Exceptional Persons Award.

Regina Ponomarenko Kindergarten Teacher Fancher Creek Elementary
Fancher Creek kindergarten teacher extraordinaire Regina Ponomarenko is known as a “teacher leader.”When a calm, non-judgmental demeanor is called for, ‘Mrs. P,” as students call her, steps up.
One example was when the kindergarten Professional Learning Community needed leadership and direction. She agreed to be at the helm and helped create collaboration in identifying what was best for their students. The success of this teamwork among staff resulted in an improved grade-level performance, moving up nine places among district elementary schools.
Everywhere Ponomarenko goes, she makes a positive difference. Using her endless patience and huge heart, she worked with students before a new math assessment. Student results grew from 65 percent meeting or exceeding standards at mid-year to 96 percent at year’s end.
But Ponomarenko’s impact goes beyond academics. To make sure all children can learn, she also provides food, clothing and materials with her own money to make sure no one is hungry or feels insecure. She gives students new experiences. She brings in ice chests of snow from her foothills home, pumpkins for carving and even captured a tarantula to bring to her class.
According to Fancher Creek Principal Erin Parker, Pono-marenko’s “warm classroom environment, high standards and intention … allows her kindergartners to succeed.”

Sharon Rutherford
Campus Catering Supervisor Tarpey Elementary
If you work or go to school at Tarpey Elementary School, chances are you know Campus Catering supervisor Sharon Rutherford.And you probably also know,
her impact is felt far beyond the cafeteria.
During her 10 years on the job, Rutherford has been the epitome of student support, helping “her babies” any way she can. She shows up to both home and away games and is now the Spartan mascot, appearing in her costume to cheer for her Tarpey players.
Back in the cafeteria, she has set up a system of encouraging students to master their meal numbers to keep the line moving – her team serves 700 students 3,500 lunches within 375 minutes weekly. Students who punch in their numbers on their own earn a reward on Wednesdays from her Store of Treasures – prizes Rutherford pays for out of her own pocket. She makes students feel safe by providing an envi-ronment of support.
Rutherford participates as a Tarpey mentor, fostering students in her kitchen each morning. They put on aprons and assist her with putting food together and washing pans. Meanwhile she discusses and sets goals for each child and feeds them breakfast before class.
If she sees a need, she does what she can to fill it.When a child became homeless, Rutherford provided two bags of new clothes for the student. She has donated shoes, diapers and books and bought extra yearbooks to share.

Lori Salazar Science Teacher
Alta Sierra Intermediate Enthusiastic Alta Sierra Intermediate

science teacher Lori Salazar is one who is constantly pushing herself to learn new things for the good of ALL students. She
created a goal of building a technology-rich classroom culture, even though she didn’t consider herself to be tech-nologically oriented. Salazar was able to incorporate digital applications such as Google Classroom and Rocketbook into her lessons.

Salazar partnered with colleague Joe Marquez to design and beta-test a digital science notebook, merging Next Generation Science Standards with technology to create a blended model. Her students loved it.
Being the AVID coordinator on campus, she created the first AVID elective class and has implemented AVID strategies in her science classes. She is also the chairwoman of the science department and seventh grade Professional Learning Community lead, meeting with teachers weekly.
One of her former students lauded her for “opening op-portunities for us to try new things.” He said there was a “constant warmth in her classroom.” Salazar made him want to get up and come to school each day.

Michael Sandoval School Plant Supervisor Dry Creek Elementary
Meet Michael Sandoval, the epitome of a servant leader.As plant supervisor of Dry Creek Elementary, Sandoval comes in an hour early every day, and works after school and on weekends to make
sure everything on campus is in tip-top shape.
Working with a large school built in the 1950s, he manages to operate with increasing efficiency to make everything look new, taking care of the smallest details in classrooms and at two multi-purpose rooms. He exceeds expectations on a daily basis, always with a positive attitude, and has imparted his values to his team of custodians. His standards are high and the school reflects that.
Sandoval believes that taking care of preparation for the school’s community events, movie nights, athletic ac-tivities, ceremonies and performance events as well as daily upkeep gives teachers more time to optimize learning.
Not only that, he often takes children under his wing, including two from Guatemala and one from Mexico who did not speak English. Communicating with them in Spanish, he eased their fears and explained campus routines. Principal Aaron Cook calls Sandoval “a special man who makes himself available to do anything for anyone!”

Shera Scott
Preschool Teacher Director Child Development
Life-long learner Shera Scott is an in-spiration to early childhood educators everywhere. The Child Development Pre-school Teacher Director not only innovates in her own classroom, but also frequently
researches learning techniques and attends workshops, and she is quick to share what she’s learned with her preschool colleagues.
One of Scott’s noteworthy accomplishments was learning and teaching a technique called the “Loose Parts” theory that gives children the chance to create and learn with a variety of materials on topics such as science, art and history. She implemented the program in her class and collaborated for six months with a program supervisor. Together they prepared an in-service training for all CUSD preschool teachers. Staff left feeling inspired.
To streamline a state assessment tool, Scott volunteered to pilot an app called “Learning Genie” in her classroom. She also supported other teachers piloting the program and created user-friendly instruction sheets.
Although preschool teachers work part time, it’s common to see Scott with her peers after her program time ends. She is considered a mentor by her colleagues.
Scott is also involved in early childhood education on a regional and state basis, serving on the executive board of the Central California Association for the Education of Young Children and being president twice.

Wendy Smith Kindergarten Teacher Dry Creek Elementary
To say that Dry Creek Elementary kindergarten teacher Wendy Smith is ded-icated is to state the obvious. For 37 years she has been the smiling, hardworking guide to 5-year-olds ready to undertake
their education.All those years have been spent not only in the same school, but in the same classroom.
Smith hasn’t just rested on her laurels. She has kept up with all the latest educational and technological trends, volunteering to go to conferences and imparting her knowl-

Books:

edge to colleagues. She has been the grade-level chairwoman and served as PLC leader.
Smith isn’t the type to crack the whip. She tracks all stu-dents with a gentle hand, doing interventions for struggling students. She also lovingly works on and gives each student a memory book with pictures at the end of the year. These customized books are each 42 pages specific to a child – that makes 1,134 pages she creates for her whole class.
Parents love Smith because she sends them letters before the school year begins and offers to meet with each of them. She knows sending one’s little ones to kindergarten is a very big deal. Smith works with a team of eager volunteers and aides to maximize achievement for each student! Some former parents of Smith’s students who are now grandparents to her students again have even come back to volunteer.

Michael Ward
Senior Business Analyst Budget/Finance Department
As senior business analyst, Michael Ward doesn’t have much direct contact with students. But, he definitely makes a positive difference in many students’ lives every day.
His analysis and review of data systems creates powerful results used across the district.When the district’s Transition Coordinators needed help better understanding student attendance and tardiness,Ward developed data maps to vi-sually assist in identifying tardy“hot spots.” He discovered that in hot spot areas, students walked long distances and crossed busy streets; and using that information, the Transition Team was able to provide bus passes and help kids make it to school on time.
Ward’s work has also improved program efficiencies. He helped refine the Allocated Personnel Unit or APU for-mula, helping Student Services determine if there is room for transfer students. He also saved the district’s self-insurance program nearly $1million by identifying a lab used by many covered employees that was charging signif-icantly higher rates allowing an opportunity to educate employees about other choices. He streamlined tasks to create more accurate site budgets and attended workshops to find a way for the district to deal with Affordable Care Act reporting in-house. The list goes on.
Ward is a fan of students and is known for his weekly report predicting the outcome of high school football games, which he regularly attends. His drive to make Clovis Unified better has raised the district’s level of analytical thinking. The facts are clear: Ward is dedicated to CUSD.

Katrena Washington Second Grade Teacher Mountain View Elementary
A deserving Crystal award winner goes well beyond his or her expected duties and is someone that everyone admires and wants to work with. That is definitely the case for second-grade teacher Katrena
Washington who was nominated for a Crystal by the entire staff at Mountain View Elementary.
That’s because Washington always goes the extra mile to improve instruction with new approaches in all subjects, independently researches additional materials, shares methods with colleagues – and she does it all in the name of doing what’s best for students. She is celebrated as a leader, coach, mentor, team player and great person!
Last year Washington created and implemented a behavior support plan to help an autistic student with severe anxiety. She looks for ways to assist wherever needed. She commu-nicates and collaborates daily with other teachers regarding student progress. For example, for literacy training, she set up weekly meetings to support others who attended a workshop so they could strategize together how best to bring the techniques into the classroom.
Washington is dedicated to recognizing the cultural per-spectives of the community through special teachings and events. One was bringing in high school students to give a presentation about African-American heritage. She coor-dinates the annual Chinese New Year parade and the school-wide History Learning Event, which celebrates multicultural Americans.
Outside the classroom Washington coaches girls basketball and spelling bee. She does it all and is deserving of a Crys-tal.

FROM PAGE 1
include everything from clas-sics like Dr. Seuss,“The Wiz-ard of Oz” and “The Giving Tree” to fairy tales, mysteries and adventures like “Jungle Dog” and “Thunder.”
Since 2009, the San Joaquin College of Law has held the book drive among its staff and students at the Clovis law college to benefit Title 1 schools in Clovis Uni-fied.
The 1,133 books collected this year represent both a boon to the two CUSD li-braries and a record-breaking number for the O’Neill Drive, with the tally more than dou-bling what was received last year when 529 books were collected. Since its inception, the donation drive has now

Track: FROM PAGE 1

CIF State Track & Field Championships.
The project is being paid for out of the district’s reserve funds for capital projects, an account saved for major maintenance and repair needs of cocurricular facili-ties.
The stadium’s high-qual-ity features have resulted in its selection as host to several major track and field events by outside organizations every year.
These meets bring thou-sands of out-of-town guests

contributed more than 5,000 books to Clovis Unified li-braries.
The San Joaquin College of Law Student Bar Associa-tion spearheaded this year’s drive, which may account for the record-breaking book haul. Who helped? Law school faculty, staff, students, alumni, attorneys throughout the community, friends of students, friends of alumni, friends of friends and more. Friends of the Fresno County Library also contributed to this year’s success.
Miramonte Librarian Sue Hamilton expressed joy over the “huge, wonderful variety” filling 31 boxes, adding “This is a librarian’s dream; our kids love new books!”
Reagan Elementary Li-

to the community and are estimated to infuse millions of dollars into the local econ-omy, filling hotels and in-creasing area spending.
“It is important that we maintain our facilities well in order to provide our stu-dents and our community with quality environments in which they can perform their best,” Stairs said.
During	the	closure, Buchanan track practice has been relocated to nearbyAlta Sierra Intermediate and April meets were rescheduled to other locations.

brarian Kyla Rose says kids nowadays do like high tech things, but they also love“the feel of a book in their hands.” The book drive commem-orates Elizabeth O’Neill whose concern for children is a lasting legacy for the Val-ley. Her life was at first fo-cused on raising five children before completing her law degree from Boalt Hall at UC

Berkeley in 1969, but her concern for children never ended. She became a na-tionally recognized expert in family law including child custody, visitation, and child abuse. She was one of the founders of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Fresno County and the Fres-no Council on Child Abuse Prevention.

April 2019	CUSD Today	Page 9

Reyburn teacher wins state educator award

Art contest winners honored by board

Congratulations to Mica Tan of Reyburn Intermediate who was recently named the California State Educator of the Year by the California League of Middle Schools. Tan had been announced the winner of Region 7 earlier this year and was advanced to the state finals.
The award is given to those who exemplify exceptional characteristics in the four focus areas identified by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grade Reform. Those are academic excellence, developmental respon-siveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes.
Tan is a graduate of Buchanan High and has taught for 12 years in Ethiopia, Hanford and Clovis Unified, spending the last three years at Reyburn as a seventh-grade Academic Block teacher. She said she was “shocked” when her name was announced.“It is such an honor to be recognized.”
Tan shared a little about her approach to teaching in a Q&A for CUSD Today.
Q. Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A. There is nothing better than being a part of the future and having a front row seat daily to the good in the world. I don’t take for granted that I have future politicians, teachers, doctors, lawyers, therapists etc. right in front of me, and I get to be a small part of helping to build their confidence, grow their knowledge and watch them soar. I love to create a place where all kids can learn, feel loved, overcome challenges and learn to be good people. Nothing is more motivating than watching a student really grasp something for the first time – whether that is grasping how amazing they really are, learning to accept challenges with a

growth mindset, learn-ing to take ownership, or acing a concept they never thought they would understand.
Q. What atmos-phere do you want in your classroom?
A.I want to create an atmosphere of genuine care, hard-
work, respect and “realness.” We strive to own our challenges and setbacks and cele-brate our wins and accomplishments together as a class. I want to hold students to high standards because they are amazing and capable.
Q. What is your teaching philosophy? A. My philosophy is that all kids are ca-
pable of learning, growth, good character and kindness. I believe we need to teach and speak languages in our classrooms that students need to hear like kindness, com-passion, love, comfort, responsibility, ac-countability and hope. We need to become fluent in their heart language to help them grow as students and people. I believe that focusing on developing good character and kindness results in growth academically and socially. Students usually rise to the lowest expectation, so I believe in keeping your expectations high, and watch them soar.
Q.What does this award mean to you? A. The truth is I would not have won
this award without the incredible teachers, administrators, students, friends, and family I have currently (and have had) in my life. Throughout my career they have inspired me, challenged me, and made me better as a person and teacher.

By Kelly Avants

Chief Communications Officer

April 3
The Clovis Unified Governing Board thanked Clovis Adult School staff at its April 3 meeting for their service to students, and later adopted a resolution declaring April 8-12 as Adult Education Week.
Student artists were honored during the meeting. Four students (Kate Campagne, eighth grade Alta Sierra Intermediate; Sinclaire Gomez, third grade Freedom Elementary; Sophie Helsley, third grade Liberty Elemen-tary; Morgan O’Neal, sixth grade Woods El-ementary) were named runner ups in the annual Budget Book Cover Contest, with Faith Dumore, ninth grade Buchanan High School, named this year’s winner. Faith’s art-work will be featured on the cover of the District’s 2018-19 budget book.
In other action, the board:
■ Awarded bids for office and custodial supplies warehouse stock to multiple vendors, and a painting bid for work at Clark Intermediate School, Fort Washington, Fugman and Red Bank elementary schools toWm B. Saleh.
■ Appointed Darden Architects to com-plete architectural design services for the pool improvement project at Clovis High School.
■ Adopted a resolution to authorize emer-gency repair work on the track located at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The stadium will be closed during the month of April.

March 20
The vibrant sounds of jazz filled the Clovis Unified Governing Boardroom March

➤ BOARD BRIEFS

20 as the district celebrated Music in Our Schools Month and the importance of arts education. Members of the Clovis North High School ‘A’ Jazz Band performed.
Three new appointments were also ap-proved at the meeting effective July 1. Con-gratulations to:
■ Current Riverview Elementary School GIS Tom Wright moving to the position of learning director at Clovis North High School. ■ Current SierraVista Elementary School GIS Alicynne Chaney moving to the position of learning director at Clovis North High
School.
■ Current Alta Sierra Intermediate School GIS Shannon Harris-Heilbut moving to the position of learning director at Clovis West High School.
Two administrators recently appointed to new positions were also present at the meeting to be introduced to the board. Spe -cial Education Director Carrie Carter and Clovis High Deputy Principal Matt Hernandez addressed the board, thanking members for their new opportunities.
In other action, the board:
■ Awarded construction bids and con-struction management agreements for the Jefferson Elementary modernization project, the Fort Washington Elementary modern-ization project, and Shields and Locan avenues offsite work.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for April 24, at 6:30 p.m., 1680 David E. Cook Way in Clovis. Complete minutes and agendas are available at www.cusd.com.

Academic: In-class and independent study classes tobe offered

FROM PAGE 6                                                                           The academy is designed to provide a fun and active learning op-needs of students and providing targeted instruction designed to portunity that accelerates students’ English language, reading, support student learning.                                                            writing, speaking and listening skills through flexible and dynamic Summer academic programs for students in grades 1 to 6 will activities. Student attendance is emphasized throughout the pro-
be held at the following sites:	gram. Admission is based on English learner classification and ■ Buchanan Area students will attend Tarpey Elementary.	parent consent.
■ Clovis Area students will attend Mickey Cox Elementary.            A Newcomer’s Program for students who have been enrolled ■ Clovis East Area students will attend Temperance-Kutner in school less than 12 months will be held at Miramonte for
Elementary.                                                                                grades 1 to 8 and at Clovis High for grades 9 to 11. Instructional ■ Clovis North Area students will attend Mountain View Ele- strategies will focus on foundational literacy skills with an
mentary.	emphasis on oral language development.
■
elerated English
Grades 6 to 8
AccClovis West Area students will attend Lincoln Elementary. Intermediate Leadership Academy – Language Academy	The Intermediate Leadership Academy summer school program
The Elementary and Intermediate Accelerated English Language is for recently completed grades 6-8 students. It is designed to Academy will be held at Miramonte Elementary. The program is provide authentic instruction and application of learned skills as offered to students who have recently completed grades 1 to 8. well as leadership training. Reading, writing and math will be

embedded in the curriculum.
Admission to the Intermediate Leadership Academy is based on performance assessment, teacher/counselor recommendation and parent consent.

8th Grade Math Academy
For current eighth-grade students, this academy offers a non-traditional math experience designed to put students on a path for success in high school math courses.
Instruction is designed to be engaging and interactive. The academy will be held at Alta Sierra and Clovis High School, in session from June 17 to July 25. Instructional days are Monday through Thursday.

Transportation
Transportation to summer school sites is available to students. Visit www.cusd.com/summerschoool.aspx for a list of summer transportation bus schedules available at the end of May.

Page 10	CUSD Today	April 2019

Golfers take swing at Four-Ball Championship

Golf partners Clovis North freshman Aidan Tran and Clovis High senior Jackson Lake qualified to play in the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship to be held in May in Oregon at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
The duo shot a 65 (-6) in regulation play and tied with three other teams for the second and final qualifying spot during the USGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship. The four tied teams then competed in a playoff that lasted into the dark. On the third playoff hole, Jackson made a clutch 10-foot birdie on the par 5 Hole 9 to remain in contention. The battle continued for three more holes when Aidan

cinched the win by hitting his 7-iron tee shot on Hole 11, a 175-yard par 3, to within inches for an easy tap-in birdie. Jackson has signed to play for Oregon State next year, and Aidan has already committed to play for Georgia Tech.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Golfers Aidan Tran, Clovis North, and Jackson Lake, Clovis High, qualified to play in the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in Oregon.

April 2019	CUSD Today	Page 11

Clovis Unified juniors honored for tenacity

By Sara Almaraz CUSD Today

“He doesn’t know what impossible means.”
“She is the most positive person I know.”
“You would never know what he’s gone through.”
These phrases were used throughout the evening when describing the re-silience and grit of 16 hon-orees at the 2019 Students of Promise Scholarship and Awards Gala earlier this month.
A signature program of the Foundation for Clovis Schools, Students of Promise is designed to encourage cur-rent high school juniors to enter their senior year with hope and encouragement. The generosity of local busi-nesses and individual donors allows student recipients to have a $2,000 scholarship awaiting them upon gradu-ation from high school and enrollment in post-secondary education.
“Students of Promise stu-dents are truly heroes in everyday life,” said Hugh Awtrey, III, Foundation for Clovis Schools chairperson. “Many of them have expe-rienced unthinkable struggles that would stop a typical person in their tracks, but these students continue to endure. We want them to know that we believe in them and to finish high school strong.”
Nominated by a counselor or teacher, student recipients are recognized for the re-silience that they demon-strate daily. They are students who may have faced aban-donment by a parent, ad-diction, severe medical con-ditions, learning disabilities or numerous other chal-lenges.
“When I told [Alexandria] there’s a scholarship attached

to this, she was ecstatic,” said Clovis High instructional aide Beth Norman about in-forming student Alexandria Chavez that she had been selected for the award.“’I’m going to go to college. I’m going to do something,’” Alexandia said.
At the scholarship dinner April 10, honorees entered the ballroom at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Audito-rium upon a lush red-carpet walkway lined with life-sized banners of themselves to en-joy an event at which they were the stars.
Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell congratulated the students on their awards and told the 500-plus crowd of her hope that the winners carry the memory of the evening with them forever, as a reminder of what it means to be named a Student of Promise.
“We see huge potential in you, that you may not even see in yourselves,” O’Farrell said to the recipi-ents. “We see that because of the way you have respond-ed to the adversity that life has presented you. We are extremely proud of you.”
The evening’s featured speaker was Corryn Brech-mann, a 2016 Students of Promise recipient and Clovis West High graduate, who is currently a student at Fresno State. Brechmann had been in the foster care system be-fore ultimately being adopted and had been academically behind. But she persevered. Today, she is in her soph-omore year at Fresno State with ambitions of becoming a kindergarten teacher. Brechmann’s story of per-sonal triumph mirrors the stories of many Students of
Promise recipients.

Justin Aguirre Clovis High School

Thierra Farley Gateway High School

Chloe Pence Clovis High School

Savanah Anderson Clovis High School

Brooke Freeman Clovis North High School

Emily Pierce Gateway High School

Haleigh Berry Clovis East High School

Cienna Goldman Clovis East High School

Rebecca Pitkin Clovis West High School

Alexandria Chavez Clovis High School

Andrew Parmer Clovis West High School

Saphire Ruiz-Heard Clovis North High School

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb

Raegan S’Gro Buchanan High School

Erika Smith Clovis West High School

Ted Vang
Clovis East High School

Saira Vasquz Buchanan High School

Page 12	CUSD Today	April 2019