Please see Nurse,
junior

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

Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 21, No. 8

follow us on	TM               and at CUSD.COM

District to build new	BEST IN THE STATE elementary school

Clovis Unified’s 34th elementary school, which will open fall of 2020, has been named after CUSD retired superintendent, Dr. Janet Young following a unanimous vote by the district’s Governing Board in
February.
Board members spoke highly ofYoung’s 39-years with Clovis Unified, starting in 1979 as a first-grade teacher. They called her an ex-
emplary teacher and leader, noting her high work ethic, dedication and caring nature. Young Elementary Principal Kacey Gibson was on hand to reveal an architectural render-ing of the school and to present Young with gifts that included a pink hard hat so that she can
help keep her eye on the project	Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb.
during construction.                   Young Elementary Principal “I am absolutely humbled Kacey Gibson is with retired beyond measure,” Young said. Clovis Unified Superintendent Construction began at the Dr. Janet Young for whom the Shields and Locan site earlier school has been named, after this month. The school will showing her a rendering of the
help ease overcrowding and new school. growth occurring in the dis-

trict’s Clovis East Area. With the help of community input, new boundaries were determined and have been approved by the board. In the upcoming weeks, a school mascot and colors will be determined.

CUSD schools earn Civic Learning Award

The 2019 Civic Learning Award of Merit recipients include 11 Clovis Unified schools, with a total of 83 announced. Sponsored by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, the award recognizes ef-forts to engage students in learning about
democracy and civic mindedness. Clovis Unified recipients are Boris,
Century, Cole, Freedom, Garfield, Jef-ferson, Maple Creek, Oraze, Red Bank
and Tarpey elementary schools and Kastner Intermediate.
Garfield Principal Jennifer Bump said they were thrilled upon receipt of the
award. She said the school makes civic awareness a priority and aims to engage students in civic activities through a
mock election process that closely mir-rors actual elections; training about the
history and importance of the U.S. and state flag; and community service projects and outreach.
Said Cole Principal Marshall Hamm,“This award validates our efforts to help students understand that being productive, contributing members in the community is an important as-pect of the education process.”

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Thanks to Clovis Unified Nurse Sarah Mikolavich, youngsters like 4-year-old Hailey Gallegos who is a preschooler at Fancher Creek Elementary, are learning all about their bodies and good health. Here students are exploring an x-ray.Below: Mikolavich, who was announced as California’s School Nurse of the Year, reads to students during a recent teaching time.

Clovis Unified nurse is finalist in nation’s excellence award

By Carol Lawson-Swezey                                                   Cristina Ashton. Other lessons have covered dental Special to CUSD Today                                                           hygiene, hand washing and germ prevention, seatbelt
safety and nutrition.
Young eyes brighten as she arrives for her monthly	“She is an invaluable resource, readily available to teaching time at Fancher Creek Elementary. “Nurse       give expert opinions and health-minded support to Sarah!” the young preschoolers squeal.                             both students and parents,”Ashton said.
Nurse Sarah – aka Sarah Mikolavich – pulls out x-	Clovis Unified Nurse Sarah Mikolavich recently rays, cotton swab sticks and heart-shaped stickers as       won the state’s top award for Excellence in School she sets up for her lesson. On this day, students will       Nursing by the California School Nurses Organization learn about their bodies and using a light table, view       and will represent the state as a finalist in the 2019 x-rays to see real bones. They will build a skeleton       National Association of School Nurses during its puzzle and craft a human                                                                                                  conference in Denver in body with foam heart                                                                                                  June.
stickers, sponge-painted                                                                                                       “Excellence in school internal organs and cot-                                                                                                  nursing describes Sarah ton swab sticks for bones.                                                                                                  perfectly,” said CUSD’s “A day doesn’t go by                                                                                                  Nursing Services Director that I don’t love going to                                                                                                  Jeanne Prandini. “Sarah a campus and having di-                                                                                                  shows her true passion alogue with preschool                                                                                                  and love for what she
students, looking into	does every day.”
their eyes… seeing, feel-                                                                                                       In her 22 years with ing their expressions and                                                                                                  the district, Mikolavich moods,” Mikolavich said.                                                                                                  has embraced all areas The students love                                                                                                  for a credentialed nurse Nurse Sarah’s visits and                                                                                                  – working at elementary,
the interesting topics she
shares, said Fancher	➤
Creek Preschool Teacher	Page 11

FOUR-PEAT FOR THE BEARS

Buchanan High’s wrestling team	driguez (freshman) all left with cham-won its fourth state championship	pionship medals for their weight class. title in a row at the 2019 CIF State                          The Bears scored 235 points for Boys Championships, with seven                          the state’s top place. Clovis High’s wrestlers making it to the finals                           Cougars took third with 171.5, and and three taking first place                           Clovis North came in ninth. crowns.                                                                        Clovis High senior Jacob Good
Matthew Olguin (senior), Maximo	won the state title for the 220-pound Renteria (sophomore) and Cristelle Ro-      weight class.

CHS

achieves firsts

Clovis High junior Chali Lee was named as the Fres-no County Office of Education’s Superstar of the Month. He was chosen from among 250,000 students countywide, is the first student from Clovis High to re-ceive this honor and he is the first Hmong student in Fresno County to ever receive it.
Chali was honored at an event where he spoke to his work with Hmong refugees and his pride in represent-ing his community and giving back to them however he can.
At Clovis High, he has been on the Principal’s Advi-sory for Student Affairs for three years, is the vice pres-ident of the school’s Asian Club and helped plan the district’s Asian Student Success Conference, and is one of three in his class selected to the National Honors So-ciety. Chali volunteers for various organizations and tutors students and helps with financial aid and college
application workshops.	Chali Lee

INSIDE:

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Distinguished awards earned Granite Ridge Intermediate, Gateway High and
CUSD were all announced winners in this year’s California Distinguished School Program. Page 7

CULTURAL
Latino celebration
In March Clovis Unified offers two Latino leadership conferences for intermediate and high school students. Page 3

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
CTE courses offer real-world lessons These real-world, hands-on experiences are en-
hanced by the state of the art CTE facilities found all across the district. Page 5

Page 2	CUSD Today	March 2019

F
and well being.
T
“
March 2019	CUSD Today	Page 3

	
	Celebrating Latino success IN MARCH, Cesar Chavez Day is recognized throughout our nation,
and in Clovis Unified, the district offers two Latino leadership conferences for intermediate and high school students. This special page coincides with these conferences as another way to celebrate the success of
Latino students.
While other months also offer opportunity for celebration of Latino heritage, this month gives students experiences to recognize and explore Latino contributions in the region and nation.Additionally, students can be engaged in learning and provided resources to prepare for accessing college and careers after high school.
Within Clovis Unified, 5,256 students in intermediate and high schools are enrolled in a Spanish language classes where they are learning not just the language, but also insights into the Latino culture, including history, folklore and even food tastings.
According to Dr. Debbie Parra, Clovis Unified’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability, CUSD strives to bring literature and curriculum to its students
that includes diversity and to which they can relate. For example, there are at least 19 versions of the “Cinderella” story that are each tailored to 19 different countries and cultures.As CUSD works to adopt curriculum that reflects the diversity of the community, state and nation, Parra said stories like “Cinderella” support making this happen.“ADELITA: A Mexican Cinderella Story” is a great resource to use when teaching students to recall in-formation from fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures, she said.
Clovis Unified’s adopted curriculum contains both fictional and non-fiction stories depicting the Hispanic culture or material written by Hispanic authors. There are numerous examples that include “And of Clay We are Created,” a true story about a young victim of an earthquake in Colombia, and “Esperanza Rising,” about a family overcoming hardships in a farm camp.
“One way students learn about the world around them is through reading great literature,” Parra said.

Latino conferences in March THIS MONTHmarks the sixth year Clovis Unified will host the Latino Student
Success High School Conference and this year it will present a similar event for intermediate students.“These conferences provide
an inspirational platform for students to get to know one another, meet professionals in the community and listen
to testimonies by a va-riety of people of Lati-no and Hispanic her-itages,” said Clovis Unified Coordinator of Community Rela-
tions Saul Salinas.
In years past dis-trict high schools held
their own activities but decided to pool their resources together to create the districtwide conference with culturally enriched activities and performances that could impact all students. Additionally, they could provide college and career workshops and presenters to
offer students access to information that would help them pursue post-secondary education.
“We are very proud that students from various ethnicities and cultures have also attended these motivational conferences over the years,” said Richard Delgado, Clovis West teacher and chairperson for the high school conference. The conferences have been a success and have reached full capacity with 750 students every year.
The CUSD Latino Student Success High School Conference will be held March 29 at Clovis North Educational Center and feature keynote speaker Juan Felipe Herrera. Herrera is the 21st U.S. poet laureate (the first Latino to hold the position) and was a Fresno State professor, writer and activist.
The inaugural CUSD Latino Student Success Middle School Conference will be held March 22 at Kastner Intermediate and feature keynote speaker Gabe Salazar, who is among the top youth Latino speakers in the country. He overcame homelessness and gang influences to become the first in his family to go to college. More information on these upcoming conferences is available at school site
Q
counseling offices.

“Cesar Chavez would say “Sí se puede!” or “Yes, you can!”What is it that you would like to accomplish to make your community a better place?”

“As part of the Latino club at our school and	“We would like to get more	“Depression is a big issue Latino community members, what we would like to                                                             people educated about our                                 in our community today. accomplish to make our community a better place                                                             rich culture. Getting people                                 Lots of teens are stressed is a safe environment for all. How? By treating others                                                             into the club meetings, talking,                                 out from school and prob-with respect, helping keep our school and community                                                             eating and just having fun                                 lems at home and other clean, being active learners and becoming role                                                             seems like a step closer.”                                         everyday issues, and I think models for others, donating time and being involved	Daniel Barco and                                              that these young adults in our community, having positive impacts on others,	Alex Sandoval                                                   need a resource that they and promoting diversity and cultural awareness.	Buchanan High                                                 can confide in without being
April Garcia-Maravilla, Itzel Corral,	put down but will get realistic advice”. Glenda Medina, Jasmine Vasquez                                                                                                                                             Naomi Zapien
Clovis High	Clovis East High

“Personally, I want to	“Something that I	“I would like to raise raise awareness for the opi-                             would like to accom-                             more money for children oid epidemic and the ram-                             plish with to make our                             who can’t afford to get pant use of hard drugs like                             community	better                             their basic necessities crystal meth, especially here                             would be to reduce the                             and the education they in the Central Valley. The                             plastic our community                             deserve. Also, more char-problem of drug use in our                             is using. A big current                             ities to help get people community is growing and                             problem is the over-                             off the streets. Children growing, affecting all com-                             flowing of plastic use                             are our future, and peo-
munities, whether African-American, Hispanic, and most people do not recycle either ple need a hand.” Asian or Caucasian.”	and just litter on the street.”	Anastacio Blanco
David Hernandez	Joselyne Solano	Clovis North High Clovis East High	Clovis East High

“Something that I would like to improve in my community would be to promote more re-cycling. … If we help to recycle more and put a stop to the mass pro-duction of plastic, then we would be helping not
just our community, but also the future of the world.”
Alexis Moreno Clovis North High

“I want to break the trend and be the first member of my family to attend college. I have the support that my parents didn’t have in Mexico and that’s why I want to pur-
sue a degree in nursing so that I can make an impact on my community.” Brenda Jazmin Contreras Barajas
Clovis West High

I became in-volved with Mexican Folklorico in
1970 when I started a dance group at Clovis High. It was the first such group in the district at the time. With the sup-port of administra-tion and staff, our group grew and thrived, and, had a tremendous amount of fun learning and performing the folk dances of Mexico... The dances we inter-preted were from a variety of regional areas of Mexico, each unique in their costuming, music, and presentation. Most of our groups' costumes were made because we had the great fortune of hav-ing an expert tailor/seamstress who donated her services,
namely my wife.

–Pat Gutierrez on his 51-year legacy at Clovis High founding a folklorico group, a marimba band and teaching.

Thank you to the following for contributing to this page:
n Perla Alamo, CHS n Javier Avila, CE
n Julio Bustos, CW
n Richard Delgado, CW n Lizette Garcia, BHS
n Pat Gutierrez, CHS, retired n Debbie Parra, CI&A
n Ana Robles, CN
n Angel Rodriguez, BHS
n Saul Salinas, Community Relations
n Dora Macias Sanchez, CHS

Folklorico is a cultural legacy schools; and at the elementary school level, more and more schools are beginning to see the benefits of having this cultural co-curricular activity

to their roots, allows other students to positively see
ered afterschool.
OLKLORICOdancing connects Latino students offThe dances are beautiful and also physically demanding. Like an athletic Mexican culture and teaches students teamwork and event, there are benefits of improved strength, flexibility, endurance
discipline.	In November, the district held the inaugural Day of the
Folklorico at Clovis Unified was started under the leadership	Dead performance at the Performing Arts Center, which of two pioneers: Pat Gutierrez in 1970 at Clovis High and	Bustos said he hopes becomes an annual folklorico festival. Hortencia Gonzalez in 1976 at Clovis West High. In 1999, Clovis	This month, folklorico groups will perform at the High School West teacher and folklorico instructor Julio Bustos spearheaded	Show Offs and also will compete with groups from through-
the district’s effort to re-write the curriculum so that it met	out California at CSU/UC entrance requirements under fine arts as well as providing	Clovis West’sthird PE credit for students in grades 7-12. This is the same curriculum	a n n u a l now in use throughout the district.	Aguilas de
Clovis Unified has more folklorico programs than any other     Oro district in the Valley: Clovis, Clovis East, Buchanan and Clovis     comp-West at the high school level; Reyburn and Kastner intermediate     etition.

Beyond dance

Growing interest
STUDENT clubs such as Folklorico Club or Latino Club offer many ways for exploring the Hispanic culture through creative expressions, events and discus-
,
sions. Students make friends and share their similar in-                                                           HERE are 176 Spanish classes in Clovis Unified high schools terests. These clubs can also provide personal growth                                              and intermediate schools, with an enrollment of 5,256. The deep opportunities where students can take part in volunteer                                              Valley roots and Hispanic culture in the region make it very work or find guidance in their pursuit of college.                                                          meaningful to learn Spanish as a second language. Last year 86 “We develop, enhance, and apply social and leadership skills and opportunities         graduating seniors received the Seal of Biliteracy and this year 96
through school activities, community service, cultural awareness, fundraising,	students are expected to achieve this prestigious goal.
club involvement and participation to promote and learn about diversity that	Interest in Latino culture is shared by students throughout the exists within our school and our community,” said Clovis High Latino Club         district, and clubs and outlets for this interest continue to form. Advisor Perla Alamo.                                                                                                       Here are highlights of two new and recently developed student
Students recently volunteered at Two Cities Marathon handing out water	groups:
,
along the route and also selling newspapers for Kids Day, a fundraiser for Valley              Los Aztecas de Buchanan – This new dance club formed last year Children’s Hospital. Students benefit from these efforts as they experience ways         thanks to three years of work by Buchanan graduate Monserrat to help others.                                                                                                                  Gonzalez who now choreographs the group. Gonzalez has been Dora Macias Sanchez, who oversees Clovis High’s folklorico, said her students         working hard to bring the group as close together as possible by certainly enjoy learning about and performing the traditional dances, but they         teaching them: dance steps, choreography Folklorico culture, and also are learning in other ways.                                                                                       the history behind each folklorico region and state. The students Recently the group went to Fresno State for an all-day Folklorico Summit         have been very focused on all the aspects of this program. Students where they attended workshops that not only included dance, but also information         have been dedicating their lunchtime to practice and preparing as about attending college. They learned about the admittance process, programs         much as they can for their upcoming performance. They are currently
available, financial aid and other university requirements. They could even fill	learning posture, skirt movements, and body control.
e
out forms with their current information and grades to find out if they were              The Latino Student Success Club – At Clovis W st High the eligible for the school.                                                                                                     former club M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) “It was an eye opener for students. Many were very excited to find out that         was recently transformed to become The Latino Student Success they could go to Fresno State,” Macias Sanchez said. Said student Amanda         Club. The purpose of this fast-growing group is to promote the ad-Zepeda,“ I learned that the score of my SAT and GPA combine to determine if I         vancement of Latinos in higher education and develop unity among
will be accepted into Fresno State, so I feel much more confident now.”	Latino students. The dance group has also visited Fresno City College and Reedley College.

Page 4	CUSD Today	March 2019

VISION

March 2019	CUSD Today	Page 5 Innovative CTE courses give real-world lessons to students

By Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D. Superintendent

WHEN you were in high school did you

have an opportu-nity to observe open heart sur-geries? Get paid to be a credit union	teller? How about oper-
ate a fully func-	Eimear O’Farrell, tioning ranching             Ed.D. operation?
In the expanding world of Career Technical Education (CTE), Clovis Unified students are doing all of the above and then some. On dis-play in late February at our first ever CTE Night, students and ed-ucators from our more than 18 different career pathways and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) put their work on display for our community, and it was amazing!
The expo-style event created a one-stop opportunity for families to see the programs in action, meet with students, teachers and coun-selors, and learn more about the college and career opportunities available through these pathways. At the end of the evening, we esti-mated that more than 1,000 parents, students and community members attended the event, opening up fu-ture opportunities for students not yet in high school.
As I circled the room, I was fas-cinated to see professional-level work products created by our stu-dents, as families engaged with real-world learning.
Construction projects were on display from the Clovis High Con-struction Management pathway, including a tiny house built by stu-dents positioned just outside the

event. Attendees were invited to clinic work.                                         fully engaged students operated pound nails, observe Computer         “Seeing the human heart beating their robot and explained to inter-Aided Design (CAD) projects, and right in front of my face has com- ested onlookers how it was built talk to students about how math pletely changed my life,” was a com- and programmed. Nearby, students and science lessons are embedded ment made by one student about in Clovis East High’s firefighting into their CTE coursework.               her experience observing a triple courses displayed the physical skills Students from our Careers in coronary artery bypass as part of and technical knowledge needed Healthcare pathway gave lessons Clovis East High’s partnership with to be in public safety careers, and on tending to injuries and shared local hospitals.                                    students enrolled in the Systems, stories of their experiences working         Across the room from our Diagnostic, Service and Repair (au-in local hospitals and healthcare healthcare students were those en- tomotive) pathway at Clovis West facilities. English lessons were dis- rolled in robotics courses at Clovis proudly shared information about played in the form of written re- North. Engineering, science and the school’s first electric vehicle ports on healthcare issues and math were all on demonstration as which is helping students prepare

LESSONS

Inspirations by, for and from our CUSD students

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb.. Bud Rank Elementary first-grader Ansley Gerety gets instructions from Buchanan High senior Jai Vue on how to use virtual reality equipment at a recent showcase at CART (Center for Advanced Research and Technology).

“I have no special talent. I am only passionate and curious.”

ALBERT EINSTEIN, THEORETICAL PHYSICIST

for the rapidly-changing automotive job market.
While each booth was very dif-ferent, they all had something in common. A tangible air of excite-ment and real-world relevance could be seen on each side of the equation, the students presenting about their pathway, and the attending families learning about these programs.
As one parent put it, “This is not what CTE looked like when I was in school.”
I am so proud of our CTE teach-ers and school sites for bringing innovation to these programs by searching out business partnerships, and internship opportunities, and for weaving in core academic coursework like English, math and science into the classes. Some of our courses even allow for concur-rent enrollment with local colleges so kids can earn college credits as well as job skills.
Every element of our academic program is valuable to students and can be the catalyst for students to succeed beyond high school. CTE is just one example, an example that showcases many great things about education in Clovis Unified. We provide well-trained and caring teachers, innovative curriculum, collaboration between business and education (one of our CTE business partners was just named a winner of the Fresno Compact Business Partners Award), a continuum of education between high school and post-secondary colleges and uni-versities, and support from families. These real-world, hands-on expe-riences are enhanced by the state of the art CTE facilities located all across the district, and only made possible by the ongoing fiscal man-agement of district dollars to lever-age matching dollars for state grants. It is a model for success, and one that I am proud to see thrive in Clovis Unified!

Crystal Award winners show Clovis Unified at its best

Phenomenal. Passionate. Dedicated. Humble.
These are just a few of the words describing the 32 ex-ceptional Clovis Unified employees who are the 2017-18 school-year Crystal Award recipients who were celebrated at The Crystals Feb. 27 at the Performing Arts Center.
The Crystal Award is Clovis Unified’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 selflessly 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.
This year’s Crystal Award winners are each, in their own way, a testament to the exceptional work employees are doing across the district daily.
The following is the second of a three-part series profiling each of the recipients in alphabetical order.

By Kathleen Coates Special to CUSD Today

Ellen Hansen Gates School Nurse, Nursing Services/Clovis High
Longtime Clovis High School Nurse Ellen Hansen Gates is dedicated to the health and social welfare of all students and staff. That’s why she chooses to attend all special education needs student meet-
ings regarding their Individualized education programs or IEPs. Gates is only required to go when a child has a physical health issue, yet she attends an average of 200 meetings each year.
“Nurse Ellen” strives to get to know students individually beyond their physical ailments, often attending students’ plays and athletic games. She takes time to visit every sick student taken to the hospital, and often sits with parents. When students go on field trips, Gates calls ahead and makes sure each child will be accommodated, such as with
handicap-accessible restrooms.
Says one Crystal nominator:“She is a mentor to everyone, a positive family member.”

➤The Crystals A full list of this year’s winners and

biographical videos can be found online at cusd.com.

Says a student of Gates,“She cures my heart and makes me happier to be here.”
Not only does Nurse Ellen take care of students, but she also assists staff members, including an instructional aide who complained of chest pains! She monitored her condition until paramedics arrived. She has an uncanny ability to put everyone at ease, even in stressful situations.
Gates has changed many students’ lives by encouraging independent daily living. She is a genuinely caring individual who is seen as the invisible backbone of the district’s nursing team.

Donna Geil
Second Grade Teacher, Cedarwood Elementary
A loving and caring presence at Cedar-wood Elementary has given second-grade teacher Donna Geil the title of “Campus Mom.”
Geil believes strongly that every student can learn, and she works daily to make sure her classroom is an inclusive place. She seeks out children with autism and learning disabilities to mainstream. She has a knack for helping struggling students reach their potential.
Geil has a special way of teaching. She spends the first few weeks of the school year getting to know her students individually in order to establish trust. She holds team-building activities, then digs deep into academics.
Geil works to develop foundational skills that will serve her students as they grow older. She teaches students to solve problems together and gets results. More than 80 percent of grade-level students met or exceeded standards last year in math and language arts.
Geil reaches out to mentor teachers, including a new autism teacher and a substitute who was placed class after a teacher took ill.
This “Campus Mom” gives students the tools they need to be successful in life.

Margarita Gonzalez
Math Co-Department Chair, Clovis West High
Math – just the thought of doing math problems strikes fear into the hearts of some students. But Clovis West mathe-matics teacher Margarita Gonzalez has turned that fear around for many with
her decision to co-create a support class for remedial students in the freshman course Math 1.
As a member of the Secondary Math Curriculum Design Team, Gonzalez took the lead. Her willingness to learn new methods and grow as a professional inspired all Clovis math teachers.
Gonzalez, the district’s top math teacher and department co-chairwoman, has even been called to present at a state conference. She teaches the highest-level to the lowest-level students with a zeal that helps students as well as her fellow math teachers succeed.
The numbers tell the story of her commitment to help ALL students. Her new support class helped 56 percent of students move on to Math 2 as sophomores, where previously around 90 percent of these students who had struggled substantially with math would have repeated Math 1 as a sophomore.
Through Gonzalez’s work on “College,” a competitive program that targets students struggling to reach a 2.0 grade point average, more students reached 2.0 than any other team on campus.
In addition, the number of students in her Math 3 classes who reached or exceeded the state standard grew from 68 percent to 79 percent last year. It was the highest rate of achievement in the district.
Margarita Gonzalez doesn’t just try to reach all students – she succeeds.

Stacey Kiehlmeier School Nurse, Nursing
Services/Clovis East High
What does a school nurse do all day? On average in a given day, Clovis East High nurse Stacey Kiehlmeier can see up to 100 students. She attends to medical needs while also extending compassion.
She has been known to pick lice out of students’ hair; provide food to those who have not had enough to eat; and

➤ Please see Awards, Page 6

— 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

Page 6	CUSD Today	March 2019

Awards:32 exceptional employees honored at gala

FROM PAGE 5
bought winter clothing for students who did not have warm attire.
In this past year, two unusual medical emergencies oc-curred on campus that might have rattled even the most seasoned of medical staff – a student went into cardiac arrest and another had a severe cut. But Nurse Stacey quickly processed the situations and calmly tended to the needs until emergency personnel arrived, very likely assisting in saving those students’ lives.
Kiehlmeier is dedicated to helping ALL students have a fulfilling education experience, working long hours, re-searching what to do in certain situations with students who are disabled, have seizures or other emotional or medical needs. She stepped up to take a student with special needs to Grad Night. She is an advocate for LGBTQ students, creating a safe haven for them to receive emotional support. And she is the prime advocate for students suffering from concussions, helping ease their return back into classrooms through a program she monitors called “Return to Learn.” Kiehlmeier’s positive attitude and infectious personality create a welcoming environment where individuals feel ap-
preciated and valued.

Donna Kohlruss Academic Block Teacher,
Granite Ridge Intermediate Google Classroom pioneer Donna

Kohlruss, an Academic Block teacher at Granite Ridge Intermediate, believes in technology to enhance student achieve-ment!
Kohlruss uses creative technology-based techniques to get her students into the middle of the action of historical events like the Boston Massacre trial and uses Break-out activities to review curricular concepts in a competitive game-like atmosphere.
There’s also the new elective she created, a film studies course that proved so popular the school had to create a second section.
Kohlruss originated the GREAT committee to create a middle school culture to meet students’ social needs. She also developed the Clovis North Educational Center Study Hall, staffed by teachers to provide a quiet place to study with academic support.
Kohlruss served as the eighth-grade chairwoman for 11 years. Her annual CNEC planner helps students in grades 7-11 stay organized. She also created the Granite Ridge Ac-ademic Block web page for teachers to share resources. Donna serves on the district’s curriculum design team and the writing articulation team.
And she gets results – 73 percent of her eighth-grade students met or exceeded state testing standards.

Tara Lindlahr
Application Development and Support Services Manager, Technology Services
Tara Lindlahr, manager of Applications and Support Services, has changed the way district information is transmitted.
She’s moved multiple departments from paper to digital in order to ensure easy access for all students, administrators and parents.
Lindlahr’s efforts save the district more than $50,000 in paper, printing and postage costs each year. But most im-portantly, these streamlined processes create efficiencies for teachers and administrators, allowing them more time to concentrate on their classrooms and their students!
Lindlahr has maximized every feature in the Student Information System or “Q.” This allows the Technology Team to work more efficiently by reducing the need to support multiple systems and providing more time to develop innovative solutions for the district. Nothing in Lindlahr’s job description required this work, but she saw the opportunities for improvement and made them hap-pen.
A project that has had the most impact was Tara’s trans-formation of CUSD’s Annual Information Update into a 100-percent electronic process. Parents can now login and update all the information for their students in one convenient place. This last school year, 43,000 information updates were made electronically.
Lindlahr has also overseen moving more than a dozen reports from the old report server into Q, resulting in quicker turnaround time. She has spearheaded similar effi-ciency changes in the Child Development Department and the Transition Support Team and many more.

Sandy Marcelo
Campus Club Lead Instructor, Child Development
Cole Elementary Campus Club lead instructor Sandy Marcelo’s work is so outstanding the staff even calls her “Won-
der Woman.”
Marcelo not only provides a safe, fun environment for kids after school, but she also extends the school day by having her team provide homework support in addition to enriching activities through online curriculum, games and indoor play.

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Mountain View Elementary teacher Katrena Washington is all smiles as she is announced as a Crystals winner.

Marcelo is passionate about learning and volunteers in teachers’ classrooms during her non-working hours, helping students both in school and after school! Amazing!
Marcelo does everything with flair. Her Campus Club team attends all school events dressed in spirit or theme attire! This year she made it possible for aides who are Zumba instructors to lead kids in fun, challenging exer-cise.
Marcelo has a big heart. She continuously helps struggling students, including one boy who was worried because his single mom had lost her job. The team raised money for gas and food for the family of four that was living in a one-bedroom apartment, connected the family with the district’s SSSA for help with housing and groceries, and presented the student with gifts.
Another little boy who was helped by Marcelo’s kindness and help said simply,“She is my everything.”

Marcos Martinez
English Teacher/Peer Counseling Coordinator, Buchanan High
Outstanding leader. Extraordinary teacher. Compassionate friend.
These are some of the superlatives used to describe Buchanan High English teacher Marcos Martinez. He is seen as a one-of-
a-kind individual who is a friend to students and colleagues alike. Martinez is dedicated to making sure children with physical, social or emotional issues have a place to go for help.
Highlights of his service during his 19 years at Buchanan include his revival of the Peer Counseling program – even giving of his time during the summer to train students and allowing his kids to teach others at Garfield Elementary. The number of trained peer counselors has doubled, and the number of referrals has tripled under his watch.
Martinez also took steps to teach the “Know More” cur-riculum to help students talk about abuse in teen relation-ships, and he started Suicide Week to lend a hand to struggling students.
Showing his compassion for all children he joined the St. Baldrick Foundation as a volunteer and organized an annual event to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Students shave their heads and families donate. Last year the campaign raised $4,600.
He has a caring heart, makes selfless contributions and is committed to students.

Melissa McKenney Fourth Grade Teacher, Freedom Elementary
The word that comes to mind when describing fourth-grade Freedom Elemen-tary teacher Melissa McKenney is “stellar.” She goes above and beyond to teach her students to do things for others through
good works in the community.
She coordinates the school’s annual “Pennies for Patients” drive to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising more than $3,290 last year. McKenney also heads up Red Ribbon Week festivities, making it fun to learn to “just say no” to drugs and dangerous habits. She also coor-dinates Kids Day – the paper drive that raises money for Valley Children’s Hospital. McKenney does stellar stuff.
This sharp teacher also acts as a bridge between staff and the parent community, volunteering as the point person on the Freedom Social Committee.
In the classroom she demands excellence of herself and her students. By attending professional trainings, such as Visible Learning and Internal Coherence, she has brought

back ideas to share with her students and staff members. Her goal is to maximize learning for ALL of her students. She asked class members what the traits of a good learner are and taught them the difference between a fixed and growth mindset.
McKenney is also a Benchmark lead teacher, introducing a new and challenging curriculum. She is engaging and motivates those around her.

Susan Mott
Third Grade Teacher, Clovis Elementary
Clovis Elementary third-grade teacher Susan Mott isn’t afraid to color outside the lines. She recently instituted “flexible seating” in her classroom, going beyond the typical desks to now offer round yoga
ball seats, yoga discs scoops, mats and tools.
Studies have shown that student movement influences their mind, body and soul – and Mott has found it also im-proves math skills. Test scores have improved!
This is just one example of Mott’s strategies that she re-searches and implements in order to keep her students en-gaged and active participants in their learning. It all works toward her goal of maximizing their achievement.
She also seeks out conferences to attend and programs to try to continue her growth as a teacher. The kids quickly become acclimated to her academic rigor. Mott also co-wrote a grant to bring the MakerSpace program to Cole El-ementary, enriching students before school with STEM ac-tivities in the school library three days a week.
Mott also volunteers as coordinator of the school’s Fa-ther-Daughter Dance. She plans the event to the last detail, and she gets help from teachers and Clovis High peer counseling volunteers at the dance.

Carrie Mueller Library Technician, Fugman Elementary
Fugman Elementary has a librarian who goes way above and beyond her du-ties.
Not only is Carrie Mueller super-efficient with learning each student’s reading level
and tastes in books, she also has turned the library into a classroom. She reads out loud to kids, discusses concepts in the books and works with them individually to improve their reading skills.
One case stands out. A child from Iraq with no English skills arrived at Fugman Elementary. Mueller took her under her wing, and although she is not a certificated teacher, she taught the girl words by matching them to pic-tures. Mueller taught the student with her heart and worked with her to read at grade level. By the end of the year, the student won the Sparthenian Reader Award.
For 20 years, Mueller has provided a safe and inclusive learning environment in the library. She is creative! She turns worn-out books into dolls, animals and other creations. She even started an Origami Club and a History Club.
Each year Mueller is instrumental in running two book fairs to raise money for library materials and equipment. Recently she used the nearly $7,000 raised to buy flexible seating for the library and created a quiet area for students to relax and read. They love it.
She also assists teachers and other staff by unboxing computers and curriculum materials and getting them to the classrooms. She volunteers to be part of the Marlin Fair and the Marlin Mingle, a community event.

Les Nunes
Music Teacher, Clark Intermediate and Clovis High
Jazz expert and jazz band teacher Les Nunes has made it his mission in life to instill the art of music within each of his students at Clovis High and Clark Inter-mediate schools. He gets rave reviews from
students, parents and colleagues for the many ways he works with children. They especially enjoy that he takes them to state festivals where some of the best jazz musicians are playing and teaching _ including their histories, style and original songs.
Nunes is a constant source of pride to Clovis Unified, being named the state’s Jazz Educator of the Year. He has been chosen All State Junior High Jazz Band Director for 2018-2019. He is a winner through and through, but also a humble teacher with great character who turns his students into winners, too!
He has produced jazz bands with superior ratings eight out of 10 years.
Often Nunes helps struggling students, encouraging them to play instruments, giving them something to enjoy and creating a desire for them to want to come to school. He has contacts with professional musicians who come to speak and even jam with the students.
Every year Nunes volunteers to teach at several music and arts summer camps, recruiting kids of all backgrounds to participate.
He is alternately described as “the epitome of a first-class act,” “a life coach on how to do life right” and “a winner on a national scale.”

March 2019	CUSD Today	Page 7

➤ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome ‘Class of 2032’

Kindergarten registration for the 2019-20 school year is currently underway at all Clovis Unified elementary schools, and this year parents may begin the process online. The new online site allows parents to fill out their child’s registration form and make an appointment to drop off the enrollment documents to their resident school. Par-ents unable to utilize the on-line process may go directly to their school site during regular hours.
At the time of registra-
tion, parents will need to provide a birth certificate or other birth record; proof of residency; and written evi-dence of up-to-date immunizations.
California law also allows parents to use their work address for school enrollment.
For complete details or to access the online pre-reg-istration, visit cusd.com.

Parent Academy technology workshop, March 19

Clovis Unified offers Parent Academy workshops through-out the school year at no cost to attendees. The workshops are designed to inform and empower parents with infor-mation, understanding and resources to support their student at home and at school. Dinner and childcare are offered for each event.
The next workshop will be “Technology in Our Classrooms and Homes – The New Future” on March 19. How technology is being integrated in classrooms and ways parents can assist at home will be discussed. The workshop will also explore the effects of social media on students and review various websites that students access and how parents can help their children navigate this virtual world.
The workshop will be held at the Clovis Unified Profes-sional Learning Center, 362 N. Clovis Ave., #101, in Clovis. (Southwest corner of Herndon and Clovis avenues, behind In-N-Out.). Dinner and childcare are offered for each event. 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.

Clovis Adult hosts ArtHop, March 21
The creativity and hard work of students and staff at Clovis Adult Education will be on display at an ArtHop event from 5 to 8 p.m. March 21 at 1452 David E. Cook Way, Clovis. Samples of drawings, paintings, ceramics, quilts, crafts and more will be exhibited. There will be food trucks, face painting, live music and dances. The event is free and open to the public. For information call 327-2876.

Bronco Drama’s“Peter and the Starcatcher” starts March 21

Clovis North High will present “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a play that provides the backstory to
Peter Pan. The story includes adven-tures on the high seas and a faraway island of an orphan boy named Peter and his friend, Molly. Other characters include a pirate named “Black Stache” and a crocodile named “Mister Grin.” Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 21-23 and March 28-30; and a matinee at 2 p.m. March 23 and 30 at the Dan Pessano Theater,
2770 E. International Ave., Fresno. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults.

Performance showcases
All Clovis Unified secondary school dance programs will be participating in the CUSD Dance Showcase to be held at 7:30 p.m. March 30 at the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall. Other upcoming events of district performing arts students displaying their talents at the Shaghoian include: ■ CUSD Elementary Choral Festival, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
April 1 and 2.
■ CUSD Intermediate Band Festival, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., April 3.
■ CUSD High School Band Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 4.
■ CUSD Elementary Instrumental Festival, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,April 8 to 10.

CUSD Foundation to benefit from Granville Home of Hope

The Foundation for Clovis Schools has been selected as a beneficiary of the 2019 Granville Home of Hope fundraiser.
Granville Homes, along with help from its trade partners, donates a new home each year as the grand prize awarded to one lucky winner from a limited-ticket sales drawing. Participants can also win other prizes, including a 24-month lease on a Lexus SUV.
Tickets are $100 each, and 100 percent of proceeds raised benefit nine local nonprofits.All proceeds from tickets pur-chased through Clovis Unified stay in Clovis Unified.
The Foundation for Clovis Schools is a nonprofit organ-ization that awards student scholarships, new teacher grants and classroom grants each year.
For more information or tickets, contact Sara Almaraz at 327-9095 or saraalmaraz@cusd.com.

Spring Break
Clovis Unified students will be on Spring Break and school campuses will be closed April 15, reopening on Tuesday,April 23. Clovis Unified’s School District office complex at 1450 Herndon Ave., in Clovis, will be open during this time.

Download the app!
Keep connected with all the latest news about Clovis Unified schools by downloading the Clovis Unified app, available through iOS and Android app stores. Available through mobile devices, the app conveniently accesses at-

Distinguished awards earned
Granite Ridge Intermediate, Gateway High and Clovis Unified School District were all announced winners in this year’s California Distinguished School Program. The program recognizes outstanding education programs and practices at elementary and middle and high schools in alternate years. Selected schools exemplify they have made exceptional gains in imple-menting the academic content and performance stan-dards adopted by the State Board of Education for all students. Granite Ridge received the 2019 California Distinguished School Award; Gateway High was named a 2019 Model Continuation High School; and Clovis Unified was one of the only 18 districts (out of 1,026) in the state to earn a 2019 California Exemplary District award. The awards will be recognized in a special ceremony by the state in April in Anaheim.

tendance reporting, lunch menus, school flyers, student grades and more.

Business-Education awards
Fresno Compact’s Business-Education Partnership Award winners included two that were nominated by Clovis Unified schools in gratitude for the businesses’ investment, support and partnership with the schools.
On March 6, the 10 honorees and one individual educator were recognized for outstanding work to support the future of the community and to build connections between schools and businesses.
The 2019 Fresno Compact honorees include:
■ Business-Education Partnership Award Winners
■ ADCO Manufacturing – nominated by Clovis North High
■ Core Business Interiors ■ Foot Motion
■ Fresno Grizzlies
■ Fresno Lexus – nominated by Pinedale Elementary ■ Full Throttle Suspension
■ G&E Collision, LLC
■ Hunter Engineering Co.
■ Lennar Homes Central Valley Division ■ Wawona Frozen Foods
■ Dr. Harold Haak Award for Educational Excellence for Building Business/Education Partnerships, Honoree Dr. Carole Goldsmith, Fresno City College President

SPECIAL EDUCATION Upcoming workshop

The following upcoming workshop will be offered by the CUSD Special Education Department’s Family Resource Center. For more information or to inquire about an inter-preter, please call 327-8455.
■ “Planning the future for Your Student with an IEP Who is a Regional Center Client,” 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 26, PDB, 1680 David E. Cook Way, Clovis. Free. This workshop is for those with students in sixth grade through age 18. Presenters will include Central Valley Regional Center, CUSD Adult Transition Program, Resources for In-dependence Central Valley, and city and community colleges. RSVP: Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/Future-P-CVRC.

Reyburn helps Leukemia
AROUND THE DISTRICT

Page 8	CUSD Today	March 2019

Photo special to CUSD Today. Lincoln Elementary fourth-graders Aubrey Mitchell, left, Malaya Hughes and Hayleigh Nodal celebrate the success of the shoe drive.

Lions show kindness
Lincoln Elementary more than doubled its goal by collecting 237 pairs of shoes that will be sent to children in Africa who cannot go to school because they do not have shoes. The collection drive was part of Lincoln’s participation in the annual Kindness Chal-lenge. World champion martial artist and renowned youth speaker Kelley Perotti kicked off the two-week challenge that was held during the first part of February. Students kept journals detailing the kind acts they took part in, from sharing a compliment to lending a friend a pencil to saying an unex-pected thank you to a school staff member.

High school highlights
■ Buchanan High held its annual Matt Mueller Blood Drive Jan. 31 with the 80’s-theme “Totally Rad.” The blood drive drew support from nearly 300 students, staff and community members.
■ Clovis High’s Jazz A band has been chosen as one of 12 finalists from bands across the nation to participate in the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey in April.
■ Clovis East High celebrated national Compliment Day in February, greeting stu-dents in each period with compliment cards created by their peers. They also sent com-pliment grams to each other and wrote their own compliments to give to a friend or stranger.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Fresno Police Officer Justin Bell talks with Tarpey Elementary students about a career in law enforcement at the school’s Career Day.

Inspiring possibilities

Tarpey Elementary recently held Career	curious students.
Day and employees from a variety of	Fourteen presenters in total participated fields talked with students, giving them     – well, 15 if the Clovis Police Department’s insights into possible future careers.            canine officer counts.
From firefighters to police officers, 14	The event was organized by Dee Jett, different presenters told about the work     Randy Downer and the Tarpey Student they do and answered questions from     Council.

■ Clovis North Highhosted an elementary “Bring the Change!” – a fundraiser benefiting special education basketball clinic during the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Spare which students with special needs got to change was collected in math classes and display their skills and learn a few new ones. during lunch, students could drop off money ■ Clovis West High’s Mock Trial Team in different collection bins that represented won the Fresno County Mock Trial compe- a different teacher. The teacher’s bin with tition. The Legal Eagles advance to the state the most money was then the recipient of a level competition in Sacramento later in cream pie to the face during the end Pack March.                                                               Pride Rally. Scott Garvis was the lucky teacher.
Students raised more than $1,500.

and Lymphoma Society
Clovis High construction Every nickel, dime and quarter counted class puts learning to work
as Reyburn Intermediate students joined in	Twenty-eight students in Clovis High’s

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Con-struction Pathway held an old-fashioned wall raising earlier this year as they continued construction on five small structures including a tiny house.
The students are in the University Cali-fornia Curriculum Integration (UCCI) Build-ing Trades class and have been working on a unit studying geometry in construction, 3-D modeling, digital blue prints, estimating, generating lumber orders, framing and car-pentry.
The event brought their learning together with saws cutting, hammers swinging and walls raising. Ultimately, they will build four full-scale sheds and one tiny-house trailer. Several of the sheds are going to schools in the district while the others are slated for pathway supporters.
“At this point, the students are expected to work independently – demonstrating mas-tery knowledge in framing, construction processes and safety. This is as close as it comes to a real-world test. If students miss the mark it will be reflected in the quality of their structure,” said CTE Construction Teacher John “Jay” Eichmann.
The Construction Pathway is one of 18 CTE pathways offered in Clovis Unified that provides classroom and practical learning to help students become college and career ready. The Construction Pathway has about 300 students participating in classes from Clark Intermediate through Clovis High. It offers students a chance to explore and ex-perience the vast array of opportunities in the construction industry ranging from in-troductory level classes up through specialized ROP capstone classes that include architecture, engineering, electrical/electronic systems and construction technology.

Mountain View cares
Mountain View Elementary teamed up with the Clovis Police Department, Clovis Rotary and other district schools in collecting canned food items for families in need. Large collection bins in the school cafeteria filled up, with more than 2,200 items donated.

Board considers Minnewawa/International site for school

n New administrators named for several positions

By Kelly Avants and Susan Wise CUSD Today

March 6
In honor of March’s National Music in Our Schools Month, Alta Sierra Intermediate’s Chamber Choir performed for the Clovis Unified Governing Board three songs – “’Tis a Gift,”“If It Must Be” and “Taylor, the Latte Boy” – under the direction of Gail Barbour and accompanied by Matthew Dean.
Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., reviewed Clovis Unified’s current 2016-2019 Strategic Plan and shared how the district has put into action the three aims outlined in the plan: 1. Maximize Achieve-ment for ALL Students; 2. Operate with Increasing Efficiency and Ef-fectiveness; and 3. Hire, Develop, Sustain and Value a High-Quality, Diverse Workforce. A proposal re-lated to updates to the plan effective 2020-2023 will be presented to the board in spring 2020.
In other action, the board:
■ Approved the appointment of Matt Hernandez, currently a Learn-ing Director at Clovis West High, to the position of Deputy Principal at Clovis High.
■ Approved the appointment of current Program Specialist Yvette Adams to the position of Special Education Learning Director for the Clovis North Area and approved the transfer of current Clovis North Educational Center Learning Di-rector Cari Loete to the position of

Special Education Learning Director for the Clovis Area.
■ Held public hearings regarding the suitability, Mitigated Negative Declaration and approval of real property located near the southeast corner of Minnewawa and Inter-national avenues as the proposed site for a new elementary school; adopted a resolution declaring that the 22.7-acre property conforms to the site selection standards estab-lished by the state; and approved a resolution adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and approving the Minnewawa/International ele-mentary school project.
■ Accepted a grant award of $1.2 million from the California State Department of Education-funded Local Solutions Grant Program de-signed to address the shortage of highly qualified teachers of special needs students.
■ Approved the second quarter financial report certifying that the district will be able to meet its fi-nancial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.
■ Awarded a request for proposal for an employee timekeeping system to TimeClock Plus.

Feb. 20
Clovis Unified’s new elementary school, opening in August 2020 in the Clovis East Area, now has both attendance boundaries and a name. The attendance boundaries were created from within the existing boundary of the Clovis East High area for the new school near Shields and Locan avenues. The new map was developed after a lengthy study of enrollment projections and city planning documents, and using

➤ BOARD BRIEFS

feedback gathered at multiple meet-ings held last fall with parents. A copy of the new attendance bound-ary map is available at cusd.com.
The board unanimously ap-proved a recommendation to name the new school Dr. Janet L. Young Elementary, after the district’s former superintendent. In a survey last fall, community members asked that the school be named for an in-dividual who reflects the educational culture of Clovis Unified, its aims and core values, and who embraces diversity, exemplifies the pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS! and has made a positive impact on the com-munity and education. After careful deliberation of multiple names, for-mer Clovis Unified Superintendent Janet Young, Ed.D. was selected as an individual who exemplifies these characteristics.
Earlier in the meeting, it was announced that the board had ap-proved the appointment of current Clovis High Deputy Principal Carrie Carter to the position of Director of Special Education. The appoint-ment will become effective July 1 following the retirement of current Director Joanne Fiedler.
In other action the board:
■ Welcomed five newly appointed elementary school principals who assume their roles this July. At the meeting were soon-to-be principals Andrew Bolls (Jefferson Elemen-tary), Michael Olson (Fugman Ele-mentary), Donelle Kellom (Clovis Elementary), Pam Hoffhaus (Reagan Elementary), and Kacey Gibson (Janet Young Elementary).

■ Accepted a written report on the district’s Advancement Via In-dividual Determination (AVID) pro-gram, and heard from three Alta Sierra Intermediate students, Genesis Jasper, Josiah Gonzeles and DeAndre Torrence, who read essays about their experience in the program.
■ Authorized acceptance of the California Career Pathway Trust Ed-ucation Pathway Service Agreement to enhance teacher training pro-grams in the district.
■ Accepted the school site safety plans annually prepared to articulate safety procedures at each school site.
■ Approved the proposed use of funds from the low performing block grant within the district and at the Clovis Online School.
■ Approved an addendum to the CART operating agreement to in-clude cost-sharing with CART and Fresno Unified a modernization project at the school that will be completed this summer.
■ Awarded supply and construc-tion bids for the Cole Elementary modernization and technology equipment.
■ Approved a memorandum of understanding with the City of Clo-vis Fire Department related to use of the fire training facility by students enrolled in the Clovis Unified Career Technical Education (CTE) fire-fighting program.

Feb. 6
The board spent the early part of the meeting recognizing student athletes from teams at every one of the five comprehensive high schools that earned Valley Championship titles, and hearing a presentation

by students in the kNOw More clubs on each high school campus. The kNOw More presentation was provided by students and advisors to raise awareness of work in our schools to decrease dating violence and domestic abuse in the Valley.
New learning director (LD) ap-pointments were approved by the board as they continue work to pre-pare for the 2019-20 school year. They are:
■ Current Clark Intermediate GIS Sr. Baljit Singh Gill to LD at Clark Intermediate
■ Current Jefferson Elementary GIS Sr. Sara McAvoy to LD at Clovis High
■ Current Fugman Elementary GIS Sr. Katie Doherty to LD at Kast-ner Intermediate
■ Current Reyburn Intermediate GIS Sr. Monica Castillo to LD at the Reagan Educational Center
■ Current Pinedale Elementary GIS Sr. Carisa Cordova to LD at the Reagan Educational Center
■ Current Clovis Elementary GIS Sr. Russ Harding to LD at Reagan Educational Center
In other action, the board:
■ Heard staff reports on the im-pact of the Governor’s proposed state budget to Clovis Unified, and the annual Citizen’s Oversight Com-mittee for Measure A were presented to the board. Copies of these reports are available online.
❑
Complete minutes and agendas of all Governing Board meetings, along with videos, are available online at www. cusd.com.The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Governing Board is sched-uled for 6:30 p.m. March 20 at 1680 David E. Cook Way in Clovis.

nents scoring only 3 points
She is fearless”
is fearless.”
Ray Blanco,
SPORTS

March 2019	CUSD Today	Page 9

Boris girl makes wrestling history

Clovis Unified’s 101-pound weight class wrestling championship match was over practically before the announcer finished announc-ing the athletes’ names – but that’s not the only reason why Boris Elementary cele-brated recently.
The winner, sixth-grade student Isabella Gonzales, is the first girl in Clovis Unified School District history to win an	elementary	school wrestling championship ti-tle.
The school surprised Bella, as she is known by friends, during its annual Winter Sports Award Assembly with some special attention. Her coach Ray Blanco had the team and coaching staff sign Bella’s singlet, had it framed in a shadow box that has room for her championship medal and gave it to her at the assembly.
The entire school then watched a video of Bella’s final match that took place Jan. 26 against a boy.
Blanco said this season some of the boys have not wanted to wrestle against Bel-la, but not because she is a girl. Rather, he said, it is be-
every match, with her oppo-
cause she has dominated                                                    Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Boris Elementary wrestler Isabella Gonzales wins her cham-
the entire season.“She’s that pionship elementary school match (101-weight-pound class).
who watch he matches for
good,” Blanco rsaid. “People	“People who watch her matches the first time .are in awe. …      for the first time are in awe. … She

Her championship match
lasted less than a minute as
she won by fall in the first	CUSD Wrestling Coach

period. “She was aggressive,
dominate and patient,” Blanco wrestling in fourth grade for     Her wrestling victory makes said.                                           the school and also wrestles     her a two-sport champion Bella, who is a straight-A for Team Fearless Youth     as she won the district cham-student and the school’s stu- Wrestling, which is Boris’ pionships in long jump last
dent body president, began year-round wrestling club. year.

Red Bank honors late coach

Red Bank El-	Denise and Steve e m e n t a r y	Herman. “He in-wrestlers dedicat-	stilled a sense of ed their season	humility	and to the memory	grace in both of their coach, Je-	winning and los-remy Herman,	ing matches. He 41, who died un-	loved being a true expectedly dur-	mentor to them.” ing the summer.                                                                                         Coach Herm Herman’s family	had been at Red and friends had	Bank for three t-shirts	made	seasons. He had that       showed	wrestled in his “Coach Herm,” as he was known, with a      youth at Jefferson Elementary, Clark In-caricature of his signature beard and base-      termediate and Clovis High; he won the ball cap. The proceeds from the shirts      state championship in eighth grade in the were donated to Red Bank to use for the      80-pound class.
wrestling program during a dedication           The Red Bank wrestling team were all ceremony attended by his family.                   presented shirts of Coach Herm that they “Those young wrestlers at Red Bank      wore to matches throughout the winter
meant everything to him,” said his parents,	season.

➤ SPORTS BRIEFS

Athletes sign for college	Winter league champions Nearly two dozen Clovis Unified seniors            Soccer, wrestling, gymnastics and bas-

signed Letters of Intent in February, com-	ketball kept Clovis Unified school courts mitting to play their sport with colleges	and playing fields in motion during the across the nation.	winter season.
Ceremonies were held for the following	■ High School
students:                                                                  Tri-River Athletic Conference, or TRAC, ■ Buchanan High                                          winners for varsity high school sports were: Chase Bibler,Valparaiso University, foot-       Clovis North, girls soccer; Clovis West, boys ball; Garrett Boe, Cal State Fullerton, golf;       basketball; Clovis West and Clovis North Claire Buckley,Arizona Christian University,       (tie), girls basketball; and Buchanan, wrestling.
softball; Shelby Daniele, Cal Poly San Luis	■ Intermediate
Obispo, track and field; Garrett Hernandez,            In the Clovis Intermediate Athletic Lea -Chapman University, water polo; Meagen       gue, or CIAL, top varsity team finishes were Lowe, Oregon State, track and field; Dustyn       Kastner, seventh-grade boys basketball; Gran-McKenney,Western Oregon, track and field.       ite Ridge, eighth-grade boys basketball; ■ Clovis High                                                Granite Ridge, seventh-grade girls basketball; Xavier Gutierrez, Master’s University,       Alta Sierra and Kastner (co-champions), swim; Zoe Juarez, UC Merced, soccer; Kylie       eighth-grade girls basketball; Clark, seventh-Lucero, Fresno State, soccer; Allie Young,       grade boys soccer; Granite Ridge, eighth-Bethany College, softball.                                   grade boys soccer;Alta Sierra, seventh-grade ■ Clovis North High                                     girls soccer; Granite Ridge, eighth-grade girls Parker Bell, University of Montevallo,       soccer; Alta Sierra, wrestling; and Clark,
swim/dive; Alyssa Gallegos, Cal State East	gymnastics.
Bay, cross country/track and field; Paige	■ Elementary
Kent, University of Montevallo, swim/dive;            The Clovis Unified Elementary Winter Josh Kuo, Ithaca College, football;America       Championships featured top-season finishes Maples, Salem University, softball; Naythn       from the different school areas. Champi-Scruggs, Cal State Fullerton, track and field;       onships went to FortWashington Elementary Alexz Wheaton, Holy Names University,       for boys basketball, with Garfield Elementary soccer.                                                                 as runners up; Freedom Elementary for ■ Clovis West High                                       girls basketball, with Liberty Elementary Kyle Kuest, Cal State Monterey Bay, golf;       as runners up; and Fugman Elementary
Darian Tatum, CSU Bakersfield, soccer.	for wrestling.

Page 10	CUSD Today	March 2019

EMPLOYEE CONNECTION

March 2019	CUSD Today	Page 11

➤ EMPLOYEE BRIEFS

Photo | Ron Webb	Photo | Ron Webb	Photo | Ron Webb Suzi Erickson                          Marcos Martinez                      Michael Sandoval

Clovis Unified nominates three employees for county honor

Congratulations to Mar- port Senators (CUBSS) was     Marcos Martinez, English cos Martinez, Suzi Erickson charged with selecting a clas-     Teacher, Buchanan High and Michael Sandoval who sified employee as its nominee	■ Administrator of the have been selected to be Clo- for 2019 School Employee of     Year – Suzi Erickson, Deputy vis Unified’s nominees for the Year. Faculty Senate also     Principal, Reagan Education-the Fresno County Office of created a committee to choose     al Center
Education’s 2019 Educator a certificated employee as         The FCOE will name fi-of the Year Program.                 CUSD’s nominee for 2019     nalists in late March who Each year, the FCOE pub- Teacher of the Year. In addi-     will then participate in fur-licly recognizes outstanding tion, members of CUSD’s     ther interviews.All nominees achievements of Fresno leadership team selected their     will be honored and winners County teachers, school ad- nominee for 2019 Adminis-     of each award will be an-ministrators and school em- trator of the Year.                      nounced at the FCOE’s Ed-ployees through this event         There selections were:          ucator of the Year Program that is open to all school dis-         ■ School Employee of the     Awards Ceremony held the tricts in the county. In making Year – Michael Sandoval, evening of Nov. 21, at the Clovis Unified’s nominee se- Plant Supervisor, Dry Creek     William Saroyan Theatre in lections, a subcommittee of Elementary                                downtown Fresno. The cer-Classified Unit/Business Sup-         ■ Teacher of the Year –     emony is open to the public.

Clovis Unified bus drivers earn ‘roadeo’awards

Clovis Unified hosted the 2019 School Bus Safety Roadeo in February. The compe-tition – which is part of the California As-sociation of School Transportation Officials, or CASTO – took place in the parking lot at Clovis East High School.
Bus drivers from 10 school districts in the CASTO Chapter 8 region competed, with several from Clovis Unified earning awards:
■ 1st place, special education, individual, Kevin MacNeil
■ 2nd place, special education, individual, Frank Urias
■ 3rd place, special education, individual, Marty Streeter
■ 1st place, special education, team,Frank Urias, Marty Streeter and Chris Mendez
■ 2nd place, special education, team, Kevin MacNeil, Dave Dupree and Jennifer Combs
■ Overall Novice Champion, Marty Streeter
■ 2nd place, transit, team, Alexander Hardee, Bryant Vick and Marco Ruelas
■ 3rd place, transit, individual, Roland Kolb

Retiree receives lifetime achievment award

Clovis Unified Psychology Department retiree Sue Goldman received a Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this school year from the Central ValleyAffiliate of the Cali-fornia Association of School Psychologists (CASP).
The presentation event was made at a fundraising dinner that supported local youth programs and scholarships for students

pursuing a career in school psychology. Two CUSD psychologists, Cy Hiyane and Melissa Saunders, serve on the CVA-CASP board and helped organize the event.

Future teachers career fair Clovis Unified held a Certificated Career

Fair and used the opportunity to show high school students interested in an education career what they may one day experience in preparing for a job interview. Around 130 Clovis Unified students in the CTE Education Pathway attended the career fair to observe the process and get pointers on interviewing and employment.
Students also attended a seminar where they were able to spend time with CUSD industry professionals and hear personal ex-periences from various avenues of a career in education.
Students learned about requirements and pointers not only on how to enter the edu-cation field, but also pursue education career opportunities that are available now, or in the immediate future, for high school stu-dents, graduates, college students, and be-yond.
Also at the event, 280 applicants signed up for the certificated career fair with inter-views held for elementary teachers, single-subject teachers, performing-arts teachers, school psychologists and speech specialists conducted at time slots throughout the day. Clovis Unified is looking for the best and brightest current and aspiring educators to join our team for the 2019-20 school year. Decreasing class sizes and increasing student enrollment has created a demand for addi-tional high-quality educators in Clovis Uni-
fied.
For more information about current em-ployment opportunities, visit cusd.com.

Nurse:State winner mentors CUSD’s students, newer nurses

FROM PAGE 1 intermediate	and	high schools; teaching the Career and Technical Education health pathway and at the Clovis Adult Education school nursing education program; and mentoring nursing students as well as new school nurses.
Mikolavich has been a reg-istered nurse since 1989 and worked in telemetry, oncol-ogy and adolescent psychia-try. She has been a creden-tialed school nurse since 1992 and joined Clovis Unified in 1997 as she wanted to work in the district where her sons attended school.
A 1981 Clovis West grad-uate, Mikolavich said her mo-

tivation comes from CUSD founding Superintendent Floyd“Doc” Buchanan’s phi-losophy of “A fair break for every child” and from her parents Sally and John Coff-man. Her father developed a close relationship with Doc Buchanan while serving on the Clovis Unified Governing Board for 23 years. Coffman was instrumental in the de-velopment of Clovis East’s ag school with his good friend, Bill McFarlane. (The school bears their names, the McFarlane-Coffman Agricul-ture Center.)
“My dad instilled the ethic to work ‘tirelessly for your job,’” Mikolavich said.
“For me, school nursing

and teaching has been my tireless passion. My mom, a homemaker, instilled in me to be firm, fair and consistent with children.”
Working tirelessly has not been easy. Mikolavich was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014 and although the tu-mor is dormant, she struggles with daily health challenges such as adrenal insufficiency, cortisol depletion and daily steroids.
She is married to her “rock of unconditional loving sup-port,” Matt Mikolavich, who is the athletic director at Kast-ner Intermediate and they have two sons, Gianni DiCer-to, 25, a Buchanan High grad-uate and computer engineer,

and Dominick DiCerto, 22, a Clovis East ag school grad-uate, who works as a steel welder. During her tenure, Mikolavich was the Clovis North High nurse and was instrumental in shaping the CTE Medical Careers path-way program.
“One of the greatest joys for me is having relations with these graduates to this day – six of them still stay in touch with me,” Mikolavich said.
She has also taught in the nursing program at Clovis Adult Education and cur-rently works as a CUSD pre-school school nurse through Child Development and has revamped the health educa-

tion curriculum.
“Sarah exudes the qualities of a leader and innovator in nursing and in education. She sets the bar high for ex-pectations in service to chil-dren and their families,” said Janet Samuelian, director of Child Development. “She is caring, nurturing, and a champion for children.”
Mikolavich mentors newly hired CUSD school nurses, provides support and en-courages their individual de-velopment of problem solv-

ing and decision-making skills.
“I’m on the back side of my career and my goal has been to come full circle, end-ing my career back where I started in preschool,” Miko-lavich said. “I mentor new nurses with my passion to share what they need to know to be a successful team player on a school campus TEAM.” Of nursing, she said,“The rapport you establish with students, families, and staff
is invaluable.”

Page 12	CUSD Today	March 2019