W
ELCOMEto our Back-to-School
edition of CUSD Today!
Our opening of school is far from normal
this year, but our enthusiasm to greet our
43,000 students is as strong as ever! We are
As we send this newspaper to print, we
best for their family.
them to know this year’s planned
Most students now will be in a learn-

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
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FRESNO, CA
PERMIT NO. 220
Clovis Unified School District
August 2020

1450 Herndon Ave.
Clovis, CA 93611
Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 23, No. 1

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Let’s get this year started!

school year opening using online instruction. At some point, when Fresno County is taken off the state watch list and we are al-lowed to have onsite learning, we will then provide our parents the choice of continuing online or sending their children to school
we want parents to decide what is
in the business of education, and we cannot with safety protocols in place. Ultimately, wait to get back to the classroom
albeit virtually for now.
portant you know that we move
for the new year. We have an en-
and engage our students in learning,                                    In this edition, you will find in-The coronavirus pandemic pres-                                formation to help prepare children ents many challenges, but it’s im-                                gaging experience awaiting students forward each day with the goal of                                this fall, and it is important for
students and staff. We have and
making decisions to best serve our Eimear O’Farrell, virtual learning will look different will continue to work to adjust to            Ed.D.           from what took place in the spring.
safety guidelines.
required changes as dictated by health and ing model that includes daily attendance and scheduled live Clovis Unified teacher
struction Models on Page 2.)
are currently unable to open our campuses instruction times. (Read more about the In-to students and have planned our 2020-21        Living through these unprecedented times

is unsettling, but we hope school’s return to session can provide some portion of normalcy for your family.We encourage you to prepare as you would for any school year. There will be some modifications needed, but there can still be shopping for supplies or a new outfit and taking pictures on the first day. (Read suggestions for making online learning successful by Clovis Online’s principal on Page 3, and ideas for creating a positive atmosphere and environment by our a team of our district’s psychologists on Page 4.)
Given the fluidity of our current situation, we must add our disclaimer that while ac-curate to date, information and dates within this newspaper are subject to change should new guidelines or orders be issued by the state or local health officials.Watch for email, text and website updates to keep you in-formed.
Please know, our full Clovis Unified ed-ucational team of 6,000-plus employees is here to support you with technology needs,

CUSD Today file photo. Clovis Unified will officially open the new school year with its tradition of ringing the bell at Jef-ferson Elementary, the location of founding Su-perintendent Floyd“Doc” Buchanan’s first office. This year the Bell Ringing Opening Ceremony will be held virtually at 8:10 a.m.Aug. 17 on Clo-vis Unified’s YouTube Channel. Join us!

learning resources, wellness and more. To-gether, Clovis Unified, we’ve got this!

Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D. CUSD Superintendent

R E S O U R C E S	Ready forTakeoff Clovis Unified’s plans for the upcoming school
year remain fluid and adjustments will be made as changing conditions, mandates and directives re-quire. The following is up to date as of press time for this newspaper, but is subject to change. Please check emails, texts and school and district web-sites regularly for updates.

TECHNOLOGY NEEDS–Parents in-dicated if they needed a device,
hotspot or support on the recent An-nual Information Update. These will be distributed in the next
weeks through your child’s school. If a family’s needs change,
contact your school site or the CUSD Technology Help Desk at 327-9595.
MEALS–Clovis Unified’s Cam-pus Catering team is prepared to serve breakfast and lunch week-
days at all school sites beginning Aug. 17. No cost meals will be available for those who qualify – households may apply online at https://qweb.clovisusd.
k12.ca.us/FSOnline/Main/Login or print a paper application athttps://www.cusd.com/NoCostMea-ls.aspx. Meals will also be available for purchase with funds added to a student’s account via the ParentConnection portal.
STAY CONNECTED–Parents will be receiving information from their child’s school and teachers regarding schedules, teacher assignments, text-book pickup and more. Please review these mate-rials carefully and ask questions as needed. Before the school year begins, you may email your school’s principal or contact your school area’s su-perintendent at the District Office at 327-9000. During the school year, be sure to join a teacher’s group text app or other specified ways of commu-nicating. (See Page 7 for more contact information.)
BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT–Each school will be holding a virtual Back-to-School Night for their parent communities to meet online and hear information from your child’s teacher(s). Watch for details!
WELLNESS SUPPORT–Clovis Unified has sev-eral resources and employees who can assist with wellness and mental health needs. Additionally, a short video series called “Together We’ve Got This!” is available on the district’s website. Put to-gether by district counselors and psychologists, the short 4-minute videos focus on practical ways to build your child’s emotional capacity during on-line learning. (See Page 4 for our wellness team’s suggestions for curbing anxiety and creating a healthy learning environment at home.)
SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING–Find a variety of online support and tutorials, along with supple-mental education like virtual field trips and craft projects, on Clovis Unified’s website. Many teach-ers will also offer links to further learning and in-structional help.

Schools win 2020 Bonner Award for character

CUSD Today

Fifteen Clovis Unified schools won the 2020 Bonner Center’s Virtues and Character Recognition Award. Each year, Fresno State’s Bonner Center recognizes exemplary Valley schools of character, with awards presented to elementary schools in even years and to secondary schools in odd years.
Recipients are Bud Rank, Century, Copper Hills, Dry Creek, Fugman, Garfield, Mickey Cox, Miramonte, Mountain View, Red Bank, Riverview, Sierra Vista, Tarpey, Temperance-Kutner and Woods elementary schools.
Among the criteria for the award is that a school promotes core ethical values as the basis for good behavior; fosters an intentional, proactive and comprehensive approach to its core values in all phases of school life; and provides students with opportunities for civic learning and service learning projects tied to curriculum.
The awards were to be presented at the Conference on Character and Civic Education that was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but will be presented to the schools upon re-opening in the fall.

The Jets are soaring into the Clovis Unified family as Janet Young Elemen-tary School opens for students Aug. 17. Named after former CUSD Superin-tendent Janet Young, the new school is located near Shields and Locan avenues in Fresno in the southeast part of the district boundaries and has the Jets as its mascot. Recently, a small ribbon cut-ting was held with Young and Principal Kacey Gibson. The online opening will not keep an excited staff from connect-ing with the incoming 560 students and creating a community.“Before we take flight into our school year, we will be holding a Pre-Flight Event by grade level both online and through our
drive-by of supplies/technology pickup,” Gibson said.“We want our Jets to feel connected and ready to take flight into the 2020-2021 school year regardless of the turbulence we might face this school year.”

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb.

State’s Top Bears

Cal-Hi Sports named Buchanan High School’s Sports Program as the State School of the Year! Among the Bears’ many accomplishments during the 2019-20 year are a state title for wrestling for
the fifth year in a row, a state team ti-
tle for girls cross country and a NorCal regional title in boys water polo.
“This award is by far the biggest award an athletic department and community can achieve in the world of California athletics,” Buchanan ath-letic director James Gambrell said upon learning the Bears had won. “For a public school with an enrollment radius of 5 miles to win in consecutive years says a lot about Buchanan’s stu-dent athletes, coaches, and adminis-tration.”

INSIDE:

ACADEMIC TIPS
10 ways to make online learning a success The start of a new school year is always an
exciting time of year for students, parents and teachers! Page 3

HEALTH
Tips to keep your student healthy District psychologists and counselors share ways
parents can help promote emotional and mental wellness during this unique time. Page 4

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE COVID creates change
In just a few weeks we will start a school year that may live in our nation’s history as one of the most unusual of modern times. Page 5

Page 2	CUSD Today	August 2020

Instruction options explained for 2020-21 year

Clovis Unified School District, at the time of printing this publication, is starting all instruction in an online format for the 2020-21 school year.While our Clovis Unified Governing Board did vote to provide parents a choice for their students of online or onsite, some of those choices cannot come into effect until Fresno County has met the governor’s requirements allowing for onsite instruction.
We anticipate this year to involve different learning models that at times will switch from one to another, de-

pending upon the choice parents have made for their student and the current conditions regarding mandates.
Below you will see more details of each of the Learning Option models for this school year.As always, with each de-livery method of instruction, we are ready to work with your child and you to assist how possible.
You will also find below our Standards for Online Learning. These have been developed in accordance with what is required by the state legislature for online learning

in the fall.
Finally, we offer sample schedules for what the CUSD teacher-led timeframe may look like for students. Your student will be receiving additional information containing more specifics or customizations to these schedules from your school and/or teacher. Please note, these schedules are not for those students signed up for the Flexible Online – Edgenuity learning model that will be accessible anytime of the day.

CUSD Learning Options for the 2020-21 School Year

SCHEDULES

Secondary Student Instructional Schedule

August 2020	CUSD Today	Page 3

“
ways to make learning online a success

By Ben Clement

Principal, Clovis Online School

I have watched
countless students
The start of a new school year is always an exciting time for students, parents and teachers!
HOW TOHELP YOUR
CHILD BE A SUCCESSFUL
ONLINE LEARNER
thrive, excel and
achieve in an
online learning
Getting to change grade levels, see old friends, meet new ones, and take on fresh challenges is something I remember from my own childhood growing up in CUSD. Now I am both a parent and a prin-cipal in Clovis Unified, and it is still a time of year that I look forward to with much anticipation.
Set Up a Distraction Free Workspace
environment.
”
The pandemic however, had other plans. School startup this year will most likely not look the same for thousands of students in our district and millions more across the country. As a dad, I have watched my children long to be back at school, learning from the teachers they love, seeing their friends every day, and participating in all
offers.
the great opportunities that our district                                                                                                                                                                                              Ben Clement I am also principal of the Clovis Unified’s                                                                                                                                                                           Clovis Online School principal

online charter school, and I have watched
countless students thrive, excel and achieve                                                                                                                                                   questions during Zoom lessons. Tell them in an online learning environment.                                                                                                                                                               to ask the teacher for help if they don’t un-As the start of the year approaches, I                                                                                                                                                   derstand something or need help with a have been thinking of ways to make the                                                                                                                                                   new concept. Teachers will be working hard most out of this unique situation for my                                                                                                                                                   to check for understanding with every one children, for my students and for the kids                                                                                                                                                   of their students, but just like in an actual of Clovis Unified.                                                                                                                                                                                           classroom, it is important for kids to speak
Here are some things parents can do to	up.
help make online learning a success:                                                                                                                                                                                 PARTNER up with your child’s TREATthis year like you normally                                                                                                                                                                teacher(s)! Don’t hesitate to reach
would! If possible, keep some of the	out to your child’s teacher through back-to-school routines you normally	email or a phone call.Ask questions, have. Go back-to-school shopping                                                                                                                                                   tell them about your child’s needs and let
for a few school supplies, pick out a new                                                                                                                                                   them know of any concerns. Just like parents, first day of school outfit (or two) and help                                                                                                                                                   teachers care about kids and want to do build some excitement for the coming year.                                                                                                                                                   what’s best for them! Good communication ONCEyou know who your child’s                                                                                                                                                   is key to seeing our students be successful.
teacher (or teachers) will be, have	DON’T forget that CUSD is your child email them to introduce                                                                                                                                                                  here for students in mind, body themselves. Every teacher I know                                                                                                                                                                  and spirit! In addition to our teach-
loves connecting with their students and                                                                                                                                                                  ers, all of our schools have caring would love a chance to get to know your                                                                                                                                                   counselors, school nurses, transitions teams child before the year officially begins. I                                                                                                                                                   and administrators who want to see our would also encourage parents to reach out                                                                                                                                                   students healthy, safe and succeeding. Are to your child’s teacher(s) to introduce your-                                                                                                                                                   you concerned about your child’s social self and ask any questions you might have.                                                                                                                                                   and emotional health? Reach out to your Clovis Unified teachers are up for the chal-                                                                                                                                                   school administration so they can connect lenge and connecting with them will help                                                                                                                                                   you with our school psychologist and coun-put both you and your child’s mind at ease                                                                                                                                                   selors. Have concerns about your senior as the year starts up online.                                                                                                                                                                            applying for college? Reach out to your stu-SET UP a quiet, distraction-free                                                                                                                                                   dent’s academic counselor for help and
area, in your home where your child	guidance. The entire Clovis Unified team is can work each day. Keep in mind	here to help your student thrive!
this will be where your child will                                                                                                                                                                      STAY ACTIVE!Encourage your participate in Zoom lessons, complete work,                                                                                                                                                                  children to get out and go for a study, and take tests during the day so try                                                                                                                                                                  walk, participate in an online yoga and make it as comfortable as possible.                                                                                                                                                                        class or go for a family bike ride DO YOU always take a picture                                                                                                                                                   around the neighborhood. Studies show
on the first day of school? Break	that exercise helps improve mood and even out that cute new outfit and take	academic performance.
the picture just like you always do!	STAY CONNECTED to I know I always enjoy seeing my friends                                                                                                                                                                          others! The pandemic has and family’s social media posts as school                                                                                                                                                                          made it tough for our chil-begin.You can always see the excitement in                                                                                                                                                                          dren to be socially connected their smiles.                                                                                                                                                                                                    to one another. Encourage your children to
STICKto a routine. Studies show                                                                                                                                                   video chat with their close friends and class-that children (and adults) work best                                                                                                                                                   mates (be sure to monitor of course). Hold when they know and keep to a rou-                                                                                                                                                   a virtual game night with grandma and tine. Make sure your child gets                                                                                                                                                   grandpa or their favorite cousins. Luckily,
plenty of rest before each school day by	the digital world we live in provides for lots setting a bedtime, use an alarm clock to	of ways for our kids to stay connected. help them wake up and encourage them to                                                                                                                                                         These are just a few of the many possi-get dressed in school attire to help set the	bilities to help our students have a successful tone for each day.	and safe start to this unique school year.
ENCOURAGE your child to be	Ultimately, I am certain that our students an engaged online learner! Talk to	and staff will rise to meet the challenges them about being an active partici-	that this year will bring, and we will be pant in class discussions and to ask	stronger and more resilient because of it.

support the process and help your child
the district who can help.
that is not normal right now, do what
usually would. New school supplies and
■
Begin the Transition Now:Children
Start shifting their summer sleep and
spirit images (go to the school website
and print a picture of the school name or
maintain focus or becoming frustrated,
let them have a short break. Stepping out
Jonathan Logan,
we are at. But at some
“
”
Wellness Resources
CUSD psychologists
Page 4	CUSD Today	August 2020 Ways to promote wellness during online learning

n offer practical suggestions	Elements of Clovis Unified’s

By Patti Lippert CUSD Today

For the first time, Clovis Unified will start its school year online, and parents have concerns about how this will impact their child’s well-being.
“It’s understandable parents may be feeling frustrated or anxious. This is dif-ferent. It is normal to feel what they are feeling. It’s where we are at. But at some point, we must embrace that this is the situation – that is when our prob-
lem-solving mode can kick in,” said CUSD Lead Psychologist Jonathan Logan. “We do
have the capacity to address this, to learn and to grow.” A panel of district psy-chologists and counselors met to share ways parents can help promote emotion-
al and mental wellness during this unique time.
The following list is developed from their recommendations.
■ Set the Example:A parent’s attitude plays a key role in a child’s attitude. Be positive.
Let your children know that it’s going to be OK and that you believe in them. Refrain from speaking neg-atively about a school-re-lated problem in front of your child; instead, reach out to the school (teacher, admin-
istration) to discuss. Keep in-formed by checking your email and
school and district’s websites often for updates. Knowing the plan can help defuse stress.
■ Parent Help – Self Care:Allow your-self grace through the learning curve as you and your child get familiar with the logistics of online studies. Practice selfcare; make time each day to do something you enjoy, like going for a walk, sitting in the backyard for 10 minutes or having a cup of tea. Keep connected by talking with
ideas or offer support.
■
Parent Help – Resources: You are
not your child’s teacher. Your role is to
friends, co-workers and family to share	stability of a schedule. You will receive	■ Have a Daily Check List: Create a information from your school/teacher re-     quick check list for your child’s day, in-garding established online instruction and     cluding meeting times, work assignments meeting times. Use that to develop a full     due, outside play, lunch, etc. Customize
technology. You are not alone. There are
issue, have a behavioral concern or need
work with you or direct you to others in
this to meet the needs of your child. For
an hour block of time for the independent
■
Make a Work Space: Designate a
this to what works best for your child –
Use this list in the morning to review
how things went. Another option is to
navigate the day, the assignments and the     schedule for your child’s day. Customize     some like specific times and details spelled several resources available. Whether you     example, some children do better having     out while others need general categories. need help with a computer connection     work, while others do better having a     with your child the plan for the day and to access the meal program, contact your     break every 30 minutes.                                use this list at the end of the day to review child’s teacher or school site. They can     place in your home where your child can     use a daily planner or a whiteboard. Cre-expect to do school and online work. Pick     ating a daily road map can help your
■
Maintain Normal: With so much
a spot where there are minimal visual	child process and navigate that day’s ex-and noise distractions. Use a container to	pectations.
normal. If you have back-to-school tra-
everything is in one place and easy to
a bulletin board for this area with school
■
Take a Break: Children’s attention
you see them beginning to struggle to
you can to maintain what is your family’s	hold their school supplies and books so	spans vary.You know your child best. To ditions, make those happen this year. That	find. Consider having your child decorate	help them avoid feeling overwhelmed, if might be shopping online for a new shirt,
taking the first-day-of-school picture by
all the fun information about your child
starting school. Try to prepare for the
new school year as much the same as you
your front door or creating a placard with	mascot). Put up an inspiring quote. A	of the learning environment for even five bulletin board is also a good place for	minutes lets them relax, get out some en-their schedule, teacher information and	ergy and helps them to be refreshed when classmate list. Note – Consistency in using	they are then redirected back to their les-
to your child the anticipation of back to
school and indicate the switch from a
summer to the school year.
associate hat they are “in” school when
sons. Note – Parents are encouraged not
a haircut (if salons are open) help message	this spacetfor school will help your child	to let breaktime become a different screen in this space. It’s OK on occasion to be	time (videos, television, etc.) as these can flexible, letting them take their school bin	be distracting and difficult to leave, and outside and working on the patio table	they can create screen fatigue.
do better easing into a new situation.
for a refreshing change, but children gen-          ■ How to Keep Your Child’s Anxiety erally benefit most from a predictable,     Level Normal:Be clear with expectations.
wake times now to move them toward	consistent place.	Talk with your child before the first day what will be their upcoming routine.
It’s understandable
parents may be
feeling frustrated or
anxious. This is different.
It is normal to feel what
they are feeling. It’s where
Begin using the alarm clock and let them know what they need to do when they wake up. (e.g. get dressed, make bed, have breakfast and brush teeth.) Help them build academic stamina by adding into their day one or two set activities like reading for 15 minutes or doing a chore with you where they need to follow in-structions. The sooner the transition be-gins, the more your child will be ready for the first day of school. Said one school psychologist, an athlete wouldn’t just show up to the game but would practice and
before.
■
many unknowns and changing variables
train Create Consistencies: There are	point, we must embrace that this is the situation – occurring during this pandemic, but anx-	that is when our problem-solving mode can kick in. iety can be lessened by holding on to
those things in your life that can be con-
sistent. Your child will benefit from the	CUSD Lead Psychologist

‰OUR CONTRIBUTORS:

of school about what he or she can expect, based off the information you will be re-ceiving from your school and teacher. Let them know the online learning in place now will be different than what they ex-perienced in the spring. They will be par-ticipating five days a week with their teachers and classmates, with attendance taken. Share the basic schedule that includes some blocks of online instruction and also blocks for independent work. The school hours will be shorter. Practice log-ging into Google Classroom once you’ve received your password and develop some ground rules for when school is in session. Explain that just like there are rules in a classroom, there will be rules at home. Customize these for what is ap-propriate for your child. Con-
sider having a rule of no cell phones/video games/stream-ing during the school day. And while you cannot take a tour of your school and visit classrooms this year, you can ease a child’s anxiety and “meet” the child’s new
teachers online by reading a teacher’s class website if they have one and sending an email introducing youself and your child to the
teacher.
■ Encountering Problems: It is likely there will be chal-lenges that come up. Stay calm.We want your child to succeed and can work to-gether to find solutions. If there is a technical difficulty, an academic challenge or be-
havior concern, contact your child’s teacher or school. Let your children know, too, that it is OK for
them to email their teacher. If your child is resisting doing schoolwork, a few suggestions include checking to make sure they are taking short breaks to refresh and then redirect.Are they getting adequate sleep? Are they hungry? If they are missing friends, set up a virtual hangout. Sometimes learning fatigue can be refreshed with something simple. A new school supply (a pack of markers or crayons) a few weeks in may reenergize a student. Con-sider pairing schoolwork with a preferred activity, such as, when you get your math paper finished, then you can play on your scooter for 10 minutes.Ask for help should you start to feel overwhelmed or need more ideas.
■ Engage with Your Child,Ask Ques-tions: Children may experience a variety of emotions, and parents can help them navigate these by checking in with them and asking questions. Some children may give just quick replies, but it’s important to send the message that you are there for them should they need to talk. When asking questions, validate what they are feeling, let them know these feelings are normal and ask them what they might be able to do to help themselves and what you can do to help.

Here’s a few questions to consider asking your child that can be asked before the school year starts and as the year pro-gresses. These can be adapted to a variety of topics:
■ What are some of your con-cerns right now?
■ How are you feeling about all of this? (Encourage them to name their feeling, such as sad, afraid, excited, nervous.)
■ When you feel that way, what are some things that help you feel better? (This can be used to create coping strategies that help, such as turning on music, shooting some baskets, having one-on-one time with a parent.)
■ Do you know what you need to do or what to expect?
■ Do you know how/do you feel comfortable contacting your teacher/classmates/coach/coun-selor?
■ What can I do to help? What can we (the parent and teacher) do to help? What can you do to help?
■ How did today go? Is there anything we should do different tomorrow?

Clovis Unified contributors: Jonathan Logan, lead psychologist; David Weber, lead psychologist; Dianne Kapigian, guidance and learning specialist; Jill Duran, mental
health support provider; Emily Dennison, psychologist; Jessica Cox, psychologist; Temple Ginther, psychologist; and Cy Hiyane, psychologist.

VISION

August 2020	CUSD Today	Page 5

Superintendent
Some of their plans focused on
“
COVID creates changes, but core values stay same By Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D.	We have spent many weeks over the summer working on plans and	after the start of school).

I
face-covering and disinfecting guide-
professional development for the upcoming school year that will provide	the operational changes we needed the support and guidance we know our educational team will utilize to provide an	to make to meet physical distancing,
most unusual of
Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D.,
Superintendent
”
N JUST a few weeks we will	outstanding online educational experience for our students this fall.	lines first for our employees to con-start a school year that may live in                                                                                                                                                                                   fidently return to the workplace, and our nation’s history as one of the                                                                                                                                                                                   then for the time when students can
The bulk of the work, however,
modern times. The	tional program possible.	And, together, we made it happen outstanding online educational ex- return to campus.
COVID pandemic
has forced us to
rethink the way we
An 88-person team, 40 of them
teachers, has been working through-
ers who support them remain at the
impact of the		I was deeply moved by the depth better than most. However, we have perience for our students this fall..	was focused on instructional delivery. of effort our families and educational spent many weeks over the summer	In these plans, students and the teach-team put into transforming our working on plans and professional
do many things in
our lives, including
how we deliver ed-
sibility of a time in which we might
have to operate in a full online in-
struction model (whether before or
schools to distance learning opera- development for the upcoming school out the summer to plan for the pos- center. Daily “live” instruction, min-tions in the space of about 48 hours year that will provide the support	imum instructional minutes, avail-last March. There was no road map, and guidance we know our educa-	ability of school-based supports (like
ucation to our stu-
Eimear O’Farrell, we just had to figure it out… together. tional team will utilize to provide an	our Transition Teams, academic coun-
dents.
In Clovis Unified we, like many
L
ESSONS
Ed.D.                                                                                                                                                                        selors or school psychologists), services to English Learners or students with
core mission and values as we make
key components of the online edu-
Families can expect:
other organizations in America, have	special needs and/or 504 plans, are been turning again and again to our           Inspirations by, for and from our CUSD students	cational program with which all stu-decisions in an unprecedented time	dents will begin the year.
■
Their technology needs to be
in history. For us, that meant that as we navigated a jump to distance
plans for opening the new school
those in need;
■
Students to be engaged daily
learning in March and as we made	met with school-owned devices and year we constantly returned to our	internet access points disbursed to core mission and the principles that
We have always put the needs of
■
Our entire educational team to
be focused on identifying and sup-
have defined us for the past 60 years.	with CUSD teachers and attendance our students at the forefront of our	will be monitored carefully; and decision-making, leaned into the
key to unlocking our students’ po-
tential, and honored the knowledge
value of our people as the critical                                                                                                                                                                                   porting students academically and emotionally who are struggling with
Decisions over the past five
to be so as we prepare to open the
Our Governing Board set the
pus closures.
we want the success of our team’s
to be top among them.
that as our schools go, so goes the	the negative effects of prolonged cam-community.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Yes, the 2020-21 school year will months have been constantly guided	be remembered for many things, and by these same values and continue	innovative instructional models and school year Aug. 17.	the advancement of student learning

our community – one that would
have provided an online option as
We care for our tudents an their
“The whole world opened up to me when
course for us to provide a choice for                                                                                                                                                                                   families, and theirs prolongeddsepa-ration from being physically present
of us.
I know we all yearn for the day
I learned to read.”
well as a five-day traditional onsite	on our campuses is agonizing for all option with all the safety protocols
our students can return to our cam-
of our local health authorities built
us by county, and thus our goal now
all there.
in. Our governor decided to evaluate                                                                                                                                                                                   puses, and I have faith we will work is to provide the best online educa-          MARY MCCLEOD BETHUNE, AMERICAN EDUCATOR, STATESWOMAN, PHILANTHROPIST AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST               together as a community to get us

Instead of modeling screen time, set clear goals

Editor’s note: “Screenagers – Growing Up in the Digital Age” and “Screenagers – Next Chapter” are documentaries created and directed by Delaney Ruston, a physician and film director. The films examine what it is to grow up in a tech-saturated time and how balance might be achieved between screen time and screen-free time. Clovis Unified has brought “Screenagers” and follow-up discussions to its high schools. Further insights from Dr. Ruston are offered occasionally in CUSD Today. Taken from her blog, the following highlights current trends and offers conversation starters parents can have with their children.

By Delaney Ruston, M.D. Screenagers moviemaker

FOR years parents have said to me,“I know I am part of the problem. I should be modeling screen time better.”
I first respond by validating them in some way, such as,“It is really great that you are thinking and talking about this
issue of modeling screen time. It is so important.”
Then, my next response often sur-prises them. Rather than say something like,“Yes, yes, I know we all need to do that better,” I gently point out that there is a major problem with the goal of “trying to model better” — the problem lies in the ambiguity of the goal —
ambiguous goals never go well.
So much of what I do as a doctor is helping patients recognize and try to change unhealthy behaviors. Issues around behavior change are something I have been fascinated with and researching for years. One fundamental aspect of behavior change is choosing a definable and reasonable goal.
So, to parents, I say, rather than having a vague goal like,“I should model screen time better,” pick a specific goal, and then model how you are going to try to reach that goal. Helping youth learn skills around behavior change through one’s own efforts is a valuable gift to them.
A goal can be even something like changing the type of shows one decides to watch. Recently, for example, my husband

announced to the family that he decided to stop watching a popular crime-drama. He told us the reason was that it was adding to his feelings of the bleakness about the world. He didn’t like how the show made him root for people that he did not feel good about cheering for. So, to replace that activity, he planned to start a new book.

Examples of parents setting specific goals

Over the years, parents have told me about screen time be-havior changes they wanted to make. They told me variations of the examples I give here.
■ After checking my email, my goal is to turn off the Wifi on my computer for 1 hour each weekday morning, so I can get my writing done and not get tempted to check my email. ■ I am going to try to resist checking my phone when we are setting up for dinner and at the table, so I get to talk with
my family in a more connected way.
■ My goal is to take a full weekend off of screens one weekend this month and see how I feel afterward.
■ I plan to no longer have my phone in my room at night, just like I have decided I don’t want my teens to have theirs.
■ I plan to delete my favorite sports app off my phone because I check it too often. I want to see if I can keep it off permanently and only look up sports on my computer.

A model for effective behavior change that I love

If you have a change that you would consider announcing and trying, there is a model for behavior change I love in Joshua Klapow’s book,“Living Smart.”
The one from Living Smart goes like this:
S = Set a reasonable small, and actionable goal.
M = Monitor your progress by doing something like noting on a calendar each time you succeed.
A = Arrange for success like I did when I put my beading tray on the kitchen table Tuesday mornings. I knew exactly where it was, and I was ready to go that evening when my screen-free night arrived.
R = Recruit people to help hold you accountable. I told my kids, husband, and some friends about my goal and asked

— ABOUT US —

them to ask me about it now and then.Wanting the ego lift of being able to report success, gave me some extra motivation. Honestly, though, knowing my kids were witnesses to my at-tempts was the strongest motivation. When I slipped-up, I asked them for their suggestions of what I could do, and they loved giving me advice.
T = Treat.My favorite part! Choose a personal reward you value, like having a special dessert.All the data shows that sus-tained behavior change comes when we get rewards for our change. For example, if one does not like the gym where they do the elliptical, over time, they will stop going. But if they allow themselves to watch their favorite show, only when they are on the elliptical, it can be enough of a reward that they stick with it. Or, they get the reward that they actually start to enjoy the movement of an elliptical.
I don’t mean to say in this blog that modeling screen time is not important or doable – of course, it is both important and doable. But modeling is complex and is a superb topic to be discussing with your kids. Let me give you an example. If a family has a rule that devices are put away at mealtime, it would be a real disconnect if a parent sat on their phone night after night at dinner. If now, and then, the parent has to step away from dinner for an urgent work call, then ideally the parent would say something like, “I am sorry, I have to take this call for work – but I will tell them I will call them back shortly.” This parent is doing a great job of modeling even though they have actually “broken the rule.”
And how did my screen-free beading turn out for me on Tuesday nights? The habit did take hold for a couple of months, and then I decided that I didn’t want to do it anymore. I do continue to work to take nights off from my screen though.

Conversation starters to ask your kids:
■ How do I model screen time? What messages do my actions with my devices signal to you?
■ Have you seen me try to change a habit, screen time, or others?
■ What do you think of the SMART approach to behavior change?
■ Is there anything around my screen time habits that you think I should consider changing?

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 newspaper highlights the achievements of Clovis Unified students and staff; profiles new and updated Governing Board policies; and shares general news and information happening within the district.
Circulation: 34,000.
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 pub-lication 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 Communications Officer
327-9092 Patti J. Lippert Managing Editor
327-9094 Sara Almaraz
Advertising Specialist 327-9095 Verna Garcia
Graphic Designer

CUSD Governing Board

Christopher Casado                   Tiffany Stoker Madsen                      Susan Hatmaker President                                      Vice President                                         Clerk

908-9953	392-1014	288-2743

.
Hugh H.Awtrey	Steven G. Fogg, M.D	Ginny L. Hovsepian	Elizabeth J. Sandoval 437-6580                            269-7000                            916-1286                             291-7564

CUSD Administration

Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D.	Norm Anderson Superintendent                                                    Deputy Superintendent
327-9100	327-9107

Robyn Castillo, Ed.D.	Corrine Folmer	Barry Jager	Michael Johnston Associate Superintendent      Associate Superintendent Associate Superintendent Associate Superintendent
Instructional Services	School Leadership	Human Resources and	Administrative Services 327-9373                            327-9350                   Employee Relations                  327-9110
327-9308

Page 6	CUSD Today	August 2020

August 2020	CUSD Today	Page 7

School area system creates smaller, interactive communities CUSD Today

For families new to the district, it is helpful to understand the structure of Clovis Unified.
Clovis Unified School District includes five traditional high schools, five interme-diate schools and 34 elementary schools. The district also has four alternative edu-cation schools, an online school, an outdoor school, CART and an adult education school.
Within Clovis Unified’s 200-square-mile boundaries are most of the City of Clovis, parts of Fresno County and around 20 percent of the City of Fresno.
In order to maintain a smaller, inter-active approach, the district is divided into five school areas and an educational service area that each has an overseeing area superintendent.
Our school-area structure not only creates easier access and support for a school area, but it also helps keep our growing size in check and allows for people to interact with one another. Founding Clovis Unified Superintendent Dr. Floyd“Doc” Buchanan, who established many of the core values that the district follows today, said,“It’s people, not programs, that make a positive difference.”
We value people to people connection

and hope you’ll keep in touch.
Clovis Unified encourages an exchange of information, and parents and the com-munity are invited to share comments or questions. Teachers generally should be a

parent’s first stop, but par-
ents are always welcome to contact school staff and principal, whose contact informa-tion is on the school’s website, and the school’s area superintendent as needed.

Working together, we will make a powerful team for our students and we will make this a great school year!

			
	‰ OUR DISTRICT

BUCHANAN AREA	Jennifer Thomas, 327-9365	Intermediate: Kastner
Area Superintendent:	High School: Clovis East	Elementary:Fort Washington, Liberty, Kevin Kerney, 327-9370                              Intermediate: Reyburn                             Lincoln, Nelson, Maple Creek,
High School: Buchanan	Elementary:Boris, Fancher Creek,	Pinedale, Valley Oak Intermediate: Alta Sierra                   Freedom, Miramonte, Oraze, Reagan,
Elementary:Century, Cole, Dry Creek,	Temperance-Kutner and Young	EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Garfield, Tarpey, Woods                                                                                                Area Superintendent:
CLOVIS NORTH AREA	Steve France, 327-9380 CLOVIS AREA	Area Superintendent:                                   Specialty Schools:
Area Superintendent:	Darin Tockey, 327-9355	Center for Advanced Research Scott Dille, Ed.D., 327-9360                         High School: Clovis North                             and Technology (CART)
High School: Clovis	Intermediate: Granite Ridge	Clovis Adult Education Intermediate: Clark                       Elementary:Bud Rank, Copper Hills,            Clovis Community Day Elementary
Elementary:Cedarwood, Clovis,	Fugman, Mountain View, Riverview	Clovis Community Day Secondary Gettysburg, Jefferson, Mickey Cox,                                                                                              Clovis Online
Red Bank, Sierra Vista, Weldon	 CLOVIS WEST AREA	Enterprise High Area Superintendent:                                       Gateway High
CLOVIS EAST AREA	Marc Hammack, Ed.D., 327-9375	Sierra Outdoor School Area Superintendent:                              High School: Clovis West

Many ways for parents to be informed and stay connected

CUSD Today

The entire Clovis Unified educational team looks forward to partnering with par-ents and the community in helping our students become the best they can be in mind, body and spirit.
There are many ways parents can reach out to connect with us, and there are multiple ways we strive to connect with them.
Each month our student families and employees receive CUSD Todayin the mail. Our district newspaper – funded by com-munity sponsors by way of advertising sup-port – showcases some of the bigger events and news of the district while also high-

in touch

lighting a sample of the many great things	to get ready for the school year.)
going on in our 50-plus schools. Story ideas          Parent Bulletins are produced by the dis-and photos are welcome and can be sent to     trict when it is important to delve deeper a school’s designated Media Site Coordinator     into a trending topic and provide parents for consideration.                                                                               with useful informa-The district also                                                                          tion to consider for uses Two Minutes To-                                                                  their child, such as day,a short video blog                                                                          emotional wellness, emailed monthly to                                                                          navigating social me-parents, to provide in-                                                                          dia or the dangers of formation about current news. (Watch for     vaping. These newsletter-style reports are this month’s segment that will discuss ways     directly emailed to parents and guardians.

Each of our schools will be hosting a Virtual Back-to-School Night for parents to learn more from their child’s site and teacher.Watch for details to be sent soon.
Additionally, each of our schools offers a newsletter, website and social media chan-nels that are full of useful information. They also offer links to Clovis Unified’s ParentConnection, NutriSlice and PeachJar that let parents and students easily find out about grades, schoolwork, lunch menus and more.
The free Clovis Unified mobile app gives parents the convenience to access much of these items in one place. Parents are also encouraged to follow Clovis Unified on Facebook and Instagram and to check out the dis-
trict website cusd.com regularly for district news and updates.

Page 8	CUSD Today	August 2020

Board will give parents options, when allowed

n District to put $335m bond on November ballot

By Kelly Avants

Chief Communications Officer

July 15
The Clovis Unified Governing Board decided July 15 that it will offer families an online and on-site learning model for first weeks of the new school year.(Editor’s note: The choices are not yet allowed to be imple-mented as on July 17 the governor determined students may not return to their campuses for those schools within a county on the state’s COVID Watch List.When allowed to return to campuses, students will follow the learning model selected.)
In making its decision, the board ac-knowledged that education is defined by law as one of the essential categories of so-ciety, like careers in food production, law enforcement and medical, and is compelled to find safety solutions that mitigate risk to employees and allow for students to be taught at school.
Also discussed was the extensive effort put forth by a task force of close to 100 em-ployees from all departments and employee groups (including Faculty Senate, CSEA, CUBSS) to collaborate with local public health and medical professionals, study guidance and data from local, state and na-tional public health officials; and process feedback from staff, parents and students. As part of their work, the task force sought input from all employees gathered through surveys, small group discussions and indi-vidual phone calls/conversations with every teacher in the district to understand the needs of employees in advance of any deci-sions being made.
Board members cited concerns about long-term risks facing students because of prolonged campus closures. This includes loss of learning and slowed academic progress, food insecurity, increases in so-cial-emotional struggles and hopelessness, inequity in technology access, loss of school-based supports, and struggles facing students with special needs as some of their reasons for moving forward with the online and traditional instructional models. Members also reiterated the expectation that extensive health and safety measures will be in place to support employees and mitigate the

➤ BOARD BRIEFS

spread of COVID in the community.
Also at the July 15 meeting, the board spent considerable time in a workshop pro-ceeding the meeting and during a staff report discussing the possibility of placing a facility bond measure on the November 2020 ballot. On March of this year, a facility bond measure that would build a new high school and complete needed repair work at all other campuses failed to receive the 55% approval needed to pass. Without the funds made possible through passage of the bond measure, the district is now facing sweeping boundary changes that would move students from high school and elementary school areas that are overcrowded to areas that can accommodate growing enrollment. At the same time, necessary repairs and mod-ernization projects have been put on hold because funds aren’t available to complete needed projects.
The board discussed the challenging times our community is facing during the COVID pandemic, and the uncertainty many of our local businesses are experiencing during the closure of some sectors of the economy, along with how the challenges are balanced against the danger of schools falling into disrepair. After a lengthy dis-cussion, the board voted to place a new $335 million facility bond measure on the November 2020 ballot that is expected to maintain the existing tax rate, and provide resources to build needed new schools and make needed repairs to existing campuses.
In other action, the board:
■ Received a written report on the district’s After School Education and Safety (ASES) program
■ Appointed Monica Castillo, currently a learning director at the Reagan Educational Center, to the position of Principal, Clovis Community Day School, following former principal Tom Judd’s retirement.
■ Appointed Jeremy Pierro, currently Sr. GIS at Fancher Creek Elementary, to the position of Learning Director at Clovis West High.
■ Adopted resolutions to authorize in-ter-fund loans for cash flow purposes during the current fiscal year, and to provide workers compensation and general liability coverage related to volunteer personnel.
■ Approved the annual authorization of the Superintendent,Associate Superintendent of Administrative Services, Assistant Su-perintendent of Business Services, and Di-

rector of Budget and Finance to continue approving and signing check registers, and authorize the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services to receive all district fi-nancial mail.
■ Approved an annual agreement with School Services of California for legislative consulting and advocacy on behalf of the district.
■ Amended the district’s Student Suicide Prevention Board Policy to include suicide prevention for information related to pre-vention, intervention and post-vention efforts for kindergarten through grade six. ■ Approved a donation of theatrical items from Stageworks Fresno to the Mer-cedes Edwards Theatre to support the dis-
trict’s theatrical productions.
■ Approved the extension of the current employment contract for the Assistant Su-perintendent of the Clovis HighArea through June 2023.
■ Approved bids for perishable/non-per-

ishable items for the Sierra Outdoor School, Clovis High chiller replacement to Lawson Mechanical, and toAthletic Trainer Services to Sierra Pacific Orthopedics.

June 10
The Governing Board:
■ Approved the appointment of Thomas Brocklebank as principal of Nelson Ele-mentary; he was previously a learning di-rector at Clovis West High.
■ Adopted and heard a presentation on the Clovis Unified Special Education Region 7 Local Plan.
■ Adopted a resolution honoring retiring district employees and their many contri-butions. A video of all the 2019-20 school year retirees was shown.
■ Adopted the 2020-21 Clovis Unified School District budget.

q
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Governing Board is set for Aug. 12 with the public portion of the meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Complete minutes and agendas along with videos of meetings are available online at cusd.com.

August 2020

Governing

CUSD Today

board thanks

Page 9

district’s retirees

Clovis Unified’s Governing Board held an online celebration for employees who re-tired in the 2019-20 school year. In total, there were 113 men and women concluding their career who collectively represented 2,636 years of services and dedication to Clovis Unified students. Included among them were teachers, librarians, secretaries, nurses, technicians and administrators.
“You have each made Clovis Unified a better place, and we will miss you,” said Su-perintendent Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., in of-fering them her best wishes.
O’Farrell also thanked her deputy super-intendent, Dr. Don Ulrich, who stepped down after 35 years with the district. “He has led by example, embodying [founding Superintendent) Doc Buchanan’s core values and philosophies, and teaching those to young leaders in our district,” she said.
More than 30 retirees had worked for Clovis Unified for more than 30 years.
Congratulations and thank you to these employees, listed here with their years of service to the district:
Bob Kampf, 41; Teri Ireland, 39; Leslie Booth, 38; Andrea Ohanesian, 38; Karen Ruhl, 37; Deena Johnson, 37; Claudia Hooten, 36; Judy Kobayashi, 36; Barbara Sather, 36; Craig Elia, 36; Rhonda Moser, 36; Debra Zimmerman, 35; Steve Dickson, 35; Don Ul-rich, 35; Deana Buchanan, 34; Mike Olenchalk,

Photo special to CUSD Today. Retiring Deputy Superintendent Don Ulrich, Ed.D., receives a gift during his drive-through retirement parade from Buchanan Principal Joe Aiello. During his 35 years with Clovis Unified, Ulrich was a teacher, principal (of Buchanan), assistant superintendent of Facilities and deputy superintendent.

34; Tom Lopez, 34; Deborah Jarvinen, 33;	Janet Weaver,30;
Richard Kinney, 33; Sheryl Revilla, 33; Robert          Jackie Stafford, 29; Kendra Matson, 29; Shuman, 33; Stella Moreno, 33; Eugene     Gwen Taylor, 28; Lynne Rayner, 28; Pamela Shimizu, 32; Caroline Weaver, 32; Rita Duggan,     Anderson, 28; Denae Buchholz, 28; David 32; Elizabeth Christensen, 32;                            Ivancovich, 28; Keven Haddix, 27; Sally Pe-Diane Giovannoni, 32;Annamarie Brown,     terson, 27; Carrie Callisch, 27; Mary Carroll, 32; Steven Tschappler, 31; Paul Lake, 30;     27; Rosa Reyes, 26; Susan Sharp Lehr, 26;

Rose Caley, 26; Doug Buchanan, 26; Katie Kraetsch, 26; Orville Spohn, 26; Deborah Scott, 25; David Pickford, 25; Cheryl Thomp-son, 25; Holly VanVleck, 25; Carla Heredia, 24; James Herrin, 24; Debbie Brooks, 24; Marcia Haas, 24; Teresa McMullen, 24; Lisa Keller, 24; Maria Minjares, 23; Pam Huha, 23; Robert Chambers, 23; Christy Campbell, 22; Carol Whitney, 22; Laurette Lee, 22; Cheryl Kurtze, 22;Venetia Collier, 21; Candace Lee, 21; Constance Boyd, 21; Marla Jackson, 21; Jodi Winter, 20;
Betsy Clemings, 19; Cindy Mefford, 19; Karen Sensenbach, 19; Sherry Motte, 19; Rosalind Rush, 19; Rodrick McKinney, 19; Carol Calahan, 19; Suzanne Edwards, 19; Stephanie Grogg, 19; Pattie Myers, 18; Deborah Mayer, 18; Debbie Hinkle, 18; Regina Cabral, 18; Kathie Aschenbrenner, 18; Cheryl Gon-zales, 18; Paula Brown, 17; Kathleen Miller, 16; Karen Stokes, 16; James Hill, 16;Annette Gehris, 15; Tania Siebert, 15; Quentin Toyloy, 15; Maychap Phakonekham, 15; Donald Mar-tin, 15; Sandy Headrick, 15; Kathy Shuman, 15; Christopher Konze, 14; Bette Schramm, 14; Rosa Belmont, 13; Phyllis Brown, 12; John Sayers, 12; Karen Pimentel, 11;
Richard Thaxton, 9; Carol Carter, 9; Kevin MacNeil, 9; Joyce Hinklin, 8; Dora Gregg, 8; John Marquard, 7; Emery Phillips, 7; Abby McCrary, 7; Ricky Krikorian, 7; David Dupree, 6; and Nina Casanova, 2.

Page 10	CUSD Today	August 2020