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new school
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Info:

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

Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 21, No. 7

follow us on	TM               and at CUSD.COM

LOOSE PARTS HELP EXPAND YOUNG HORIZONS

boundaries
Proposed released for

n Shields-Locan site readying for construction

CUSD Today

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Nelson Elementary preschoolers Jude Rockwell, left, and Dominic Moreno are using tiny seashells to create letters on their chalkboard. Below right, classmate Amelia Lehman chooses from baskets of beads and buttons to string together her creation.

n Preschool staff use shells, buttons to grow imaginations through new program

By Carol Lawson-Swezey Special to CUSD Today

Tiny hands search through bins of nature’s bounty to create their own world and give life to creativity.
In Shera Scott’s preschool class at Nelson Elementary, curious pint-sized scholars thrive at thematic workstations with numbers, letters and building structures.
Sebastian Ferry, 5, and Dominic Sais, 4, work on an elaborate six-story animal condominium, complete with a ground-level party area. Dominic even recreates the howl of his favorite coy-ote.
In another corner, Sydney Stevenson and Haven Ramirez, both 4, let handfuls of sparkling colorful glass and seashells cascade through their fingers, using the treasures to trace large numbers.
“My favorite of all activities is the letter board,” Haven said. Although she has never been to the beach, the brittle, delicate shells bring her one step closer to that experience.
For the past six months, preschoolers at Clovis Unified have

➤ Please see Imaginations, Page 8

Check it out!

A recommended attendance boundary for Clovis Unified’s new elementary school near Shields and Locan avenues has been re-leased.
➤
More
information
and a map of
This follows a months-long process to study residential de-velopment in
the Clovis East the proposed Area, resulting attendance enrollment boundaries
trends        and are available neighborhood at cusd.com.

The proposed boundaries will be an information item considered by the CUSD Governing Board at its Feb. 6 meeting, with the board scheduled to take action on the proposal at the Feb. 20 board meeting. If approved, the boundaries would become effective when the new school opens for the 2020-21 school year.
The recommended attendance area is the result of careful study of feedback gathered from resi-dents in the Clovis East Area col-lected since November, as well as analysis of city planning data of the area.
The final recommendation dif-fers from draft options first studied after consideration of feedback from the community and aligned to criteria used by the district to develop attendance lines. These criteria include:
■ Using existing school design capacity whenever possible ■ Keeping neighborhoods to-
gether
■ Creating long lasting bound-aries (7-10 years)
■ Developing	contiguous boundaries that minimize gerrymandering

➤ Please see Boundary, Page 8

On Jan. 4 Clovis Unified launched a redesigned cusd.com that now incorporates additional news and information for the community In addition to carrying over much of the content previously found on the website, users can now interact with the district’ social media channels, watch video content, and directly access every school site in Clovis Unified.
The launch concludes a six-month project that first saw the redesign of all school websites, the introduction of a mobile app and a new phone messaging system. The mobile app now includes district-level content and is
s
directly connected to school websites and the district’ phone/text/email notification system.
e
,
,
“W want to stay engaged in conversation with parents, students, employees and the greater com-munity” said Chief Communication Officer Kelly Avants. “Information travels quickly in the world today and we recognize the need to be able to get news into the hands of our community fast. That’

”
what these new systems allow us to do, and we’re ex-cited about the possibilities we now have to remain in close communication with families. Check out cusd.com and share your feedback with us at info@cusd.com.

Clovis Unified students were the keynote speakers at the Community Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast in January at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building. Standing with CUSD Superintendent Dr. Eimear O’Farrell, from left, are Clovis High senior Faith McKesson, Clovis North High freshman Trisha Prajapati and Buchanan High junior Abbi Akande who spoke about Dr. King’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement and his lasting influence today.
Two African American leadership conferences are in February, which is Black History Month, that are open to all students.(See Page 8 for details.) This edition of CUSD Today also features a special section contributed by CUSD students that celebrates African Americans. See Page 3.

s
Thirty-two of Clovis Unified’s very best em-ployees will receive the district’s highest award at The Crystals on Feb. 27 at the Performing Arts Center. The gala event begins with an appetizer reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by the presentation ceremony of the Crystal Awards at 7:30 p.m. The celebration is open to the public and admission is free.
In this edition of CUSD Today, we begin a series that profiles each of this year’s recipients. For a list of winners and profiles, please see Page 5.

INSIDE:

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Online kindergarten pre-registration Kindergarten registration for the 2019-20 school
year begins March 6. This year parents may pre-register their child online starting Feb. 27. Page 2

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CTE showcase night Feb. 21
Students, grades 8 to 11, and their parents are invited to attend and gather information about the many opportunities that are available. Page 4

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
We depend upon partnership, community Our schools belong to each of you, and we are proud to be your partner in building a bright
future for our community. Page 5

Page 2	CUSD Today	February 2019

➤ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Online kindergarten pre-registration, Feb. 27

Kindergarten registration for the 2019-20 school year begins March 6 at all Clovis Unified elementary schools, and this year parents may pre-register their child online starting Feb. 27. The new online process will allow parents to fill out their child’s registration form and make an appointment to drop off the enroll-ment documents to their resident school.
Parents unable to utilize the online process may go directly to their school site during regular hours beginning March 6.
At the time of registration, parents will need to provide a birth certificate or other birth record; proof of residency; and written evidence of up-to-date im-munizations. California law also allows parents to use their place of work address for school enrollment.
For complete details or to access the online pre-reg-istration, visit cusd.com.

NativeAmerican Indian Family Night, Feb. 21 open to all CUSD families

“Destined for Excellence” will be the theme of Clovis Unified’s sixth annual NativeAmerican Indian Family Night to be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building, 808 Fourth St., Clovis.
This free event is open for all CUSD families and will in-clude dinner, drumming, dancers, activities and the pres-entation “Journeys from the Past,” by master story teller Jacque Nunez.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Krista Cortez in CUSD Supplemental Services at 327-0667 or krista cortez@cusd.com.

CUSD to benefit from Granville Home of Hope 2019 fundraiser

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 purchased through the Foundation stay in Clovis Unified. The Foundation for Clovis Schools is a nonprofit organization 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.

Clovis High musical comedy “Sugar” starts March 8

Clovis High will be performing “Sugar” – the “Some Like It Hot” musical – which is based on two unemployed musicians, Joe and Jerry, who witness the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago in the late 1920s. They must run for their lives and disguise themselves as women in order to join a traveling all-female band to get out of town. The antics get going when Joe (Josephine) begins to fall in love

with the lead singer, Sugar, and Jerry (Daphne) has to fend off the advances of a big fan.
Shows are at 7:30 p.m. March 8, 9 and 14-16 at the Mer-cedes Edwards Theatre, 902 Fifth St., Clovis. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults.

Parent Academy 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.
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 krista cortez@cusd.com.

CUSD holiday closures
Clovis Unified schools and district office will be closed Feb. 11 in honor of Lincoln’s birthday and Feb. 18 in honor of Washington’s birthday. Spring break will be taken by schools April 15 to 22.

Special Education upcoming workshops The following upcoming workshop and events will be

offered by the CUSD Special Education Department’s Family Resource Center. For more information or to inquire about an interpreter, please call 327-8455.
■ “Planning the Future for Your Student with an IEP,” 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 5, Professional Development Building (PDB), 1680 David E. Cook Way, Clovis. Free. If your student has an IEP but will graduate with a diploma and you are wondering what is next, this workshop can help. Presenters will be from Clovis and Fresno city colleges, the Department of Rehabilitation, high school counselors and program specialists, Resources for Independence Central Valley, and ResCare – Youth Workforce Program. RSVP: Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/Future-planning2-5-18. ■ “Come Play! Why It’s So Important,” 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 26, PDB, 1680 David E. Cook Way, Clovis. Free. A practical, hands-on workshop where attendees will learn the purpose and power of play. This is designed for parents of children birth to 5 years old. Social interaction is the foundation and an essential prerequisite for the development of speech and language skills. Presented by Clovis Infant Toddler Intervention (CITI Kids) teachers. RSVP: Eventbrite
at https://tinyurl.com/Play-2-5-18.
■ Nominations are being accepted for the Special Edu-cation Exceptional Person of the 2018-19 school year. Families, staff, students and volunteers who have been ex-ceptional in helping students with special needs may be nominated through March 1. Those chosen will be honored at a reception April 23. The nomination form can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ExPerson2019.

■
Students visit elementary schools and Alta Sierra
ership Conference.
■
AASU club officers attended the Community Martin
cultural immersion opportunity through
students, the program’s primary goal is improving academic
in a Democracy
gender, is allowed to vote. To-
King Jr. had a dream that one day everyone will have equal
rights no matter the color of skin and that everyone will
on our journey thinking: what
■ ■ ■
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Q
Q
future.
schools or colleges were to improve relat onships between
Lauren Fowler, sophomore
“I have learned how to take on big responsibilities and
■ ■ ■
see and perform my very best in my classes. By being a suc-
Madii Frazier, senior

February 2019 BLACK

CUSD Today	Page 3 HISTORY MONTH

“Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘I have a dream…’ What is your dream for the future of America?”

“My dream for the future of America includes freedom and opportunity for every-one. I want to see less pover-ty and more union within minority communities.”
Leah Moment Clovis High

“My dream for the future of America is to nurture the youth into future leaders who will bring peace and stability to our nation.”
Ahmad Kirkland Clovis West

“My dream for America is complete equality for differ-ent races, genders, sexuali-ties, etc. It would be an Amer-ica where we focus on hu-manitarian issues and every-one wanted to be involved in change. I want America to be a country where we are not so caught up in our
own lives that we ignore people in need.” Abbi Akande
Buchanan

“I dream of a society where we can live without racism, but also without hatred to-wards any group no matter race, religion, sexual orien-tation or any other unique trait that makes us human. We as a nation thrive with diversity, and our differences
are what enables us to strive towards a more prosperous civilization.”
Alex Jenkins Clovis North

“If the US wants to help the world and contribute to the advancement of the world in the future, we need to have youth that are educat-ed on what is becoming more important. In a world where technology is king, the United States lacks.That's
why I have a dream that our education system can be reformed to help the future world.”
Mariah Stennis Clovis East

Do you know these figures in U.S. history?

Clovis Unified AASU students created this list of African Americans they felt everyone should know about.
■ Robert Abbott, founded the Chicago Defender and paved the way for black newspapers, magazines and books.
■ Maya Angelou, poet who touched millions and taught us how to write our stories.
■ Ella Baker,civil rights activist, inspired young people to join the civil rights movement while encouraging non-violent protest.
■ Shirley Chisholm, first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, served seven terms, coined the phrase,“If they don’t give you a seat at the table bring a folding chair.”
■ Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr.,first African Amer-ican general/colonel for the U.S. Army.
■ Frederick Douglass, abolitionist who docu-mented the horrors of slavery and implored the country to abolish the institution.
■ Charles Drew, African American physician who discovered how to separate plasma; medical director of the American Red Cross’ National Blood Donor Service.
■ W.E.B. Du Bois, a sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor.
■ Aretha Louise Franklin, singer, songwriter, civil rights activist, actress and pianist.
■ Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist, climbed the ranks of the Democratic Party and in-creased African American participation in politics.
■ Katherine Johnson, mathematician and physi-cist who helped launch the first use of elec-tronic digital computers at NASA and helped calculate the orbit for the 1969 Apollo II flight to the moon.
■ Martin Luther King Jr., minister and activist considered the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement
■ Mary Bethune McLeod, advisor to five U.S. presidents, founded Bethune-Cookman Uni-versity and the National Council of Negro Women, and was one of the first female African American college presidents.
■ Barack and Michelle Obama, first African American U.S. president and first lady, serving from 2009 to 2017.
■ Rosa Parks, activist in the civil rights move-ment best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott.
■ Oprah Winfrey,media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philan-thropist.
■ Carter Godwin Woodson, historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
■ Malcom X, American Muslim minister and human rights activist.

What is Black History Month?

By Sonja Wilson
Ronda Turney
Clovis High Counselor/AASU advisor and	Browder Scholars Program Buchanan AASU advisor, math teacher                                                looks at African history
By Saul Salinas
Coordinator of Community Relations
Clovis Unified School District is ex-
cited to offer CUSD high school students
across the district a free and voluntary
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the history, lives and accomplishments ofAfrican Americans past, present and future. It was originally established by Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week in 1926. Woodson believed black people should know their past so that they could intelligently participate in the affairs of our country. Woodson was the first historian to pioneer
the study of African American history. He later set the	the Browder Scholars Program. This is a foundation along with James Baldwin for what is now	chance for students to get to know one known as Black History Month.	another while participating in a fun, yet
Schools in Clovis Unified honor the month with	rigorous learning environment on Sat-activities to educate and celebrate the role African	urdays over a five-month period. Americans play in U.S. history. The following Buchanan                                                  Renowned cultural historian, professor High activity list is a sample of CUSD events.                          and author, Dr.Anthony Browder developed the program that
■ List of quotes byAfrican Americans – one quote per	guides students on a journey to learn the history of the African day is included in morning announcements over the in-	experience in the United States and abroad.
tercom.	Clovis Unified launched the Browder Scholars Program
■ Art gallery decorated by students with posters of the	Feb. 2, with more sessions to follow once a month. The program most influential African Americans in history who have	creates academic, social and emotional connections to African paved the way for others. Our freshman and sophomore	history, defines African American history with positive imagery classes take turns touring the art gallery with their teach-	and is available to students of all races. Geared for high school

■
Assembly for all History, AP History and Economics
classes, made up mainly of juniors and seniors.
ccess for African American students.
ers. Students annually perform a Black History Month	su Participating students engage in cultural awareness activities that incorporate reading, writing and critical thinking skills. The program aims to enhance a student’s motivation and in-
■
Students attend the African American Student Lead-
may have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., and
Intermediate to give presentations about the richness of         spiration for learning.At the conclusion of the sessions, students African American history.                                                        continue to learn about ancient Egyptian influence on the U.S. Founding Fathers. In past years, this field trip was conducted
■
AASU club officers educate one another on historical
figures. For example, the lesson this week was on W.E.B
Du Bois.
by Dr. Browder himself and was titled,“Egypt on the Potomac.” Learn more about the program and future sessions by con-tacting your school’s AASU advisor or contacting Browder Scholars instructors Sonja Wilson or Demetra Vincent-Walker
3000.
Luther King Jr. Breakfast in January and also participate	at Clovis High 327-1350, or Ronda Turney at Buchanan 327-in the march in downtown Fresno that symbolizes the
struggles African Americans have endured for equality.

Students join Martin Luther Kings Jr.’s dream

Clovis North High freshman	with the mindset that my sur-Trisha Prajapati won first place	roundings would reflect the melt-in this year’s Fresno County Office	ing pot of the beautiful family of Education’s Martin Luther King	from which I was raised and Jr., Speech Contest. She and two	through this existence I would other CUSD students delivered	someday see a peaceful existence. speeches during the Martin Luther	I have yet to see the world that I King Jr. Community Breakfast held	desire.
Jan. 19 at the Clovis Veterans Me-	Sadly, our country isn’t always morial Building. Excerpts of their                                                                                       like the home that I grew up in. speeches are below. Full speeches                                                                                       There are bouts of racial injustice and those from other CUSD stu-                                                                                       still plaguing our nation.
Informed Action
dents appear online at cusd.com.		…As we exist together – all races, genders, and backgrounds in a world filled with unpre-
dictable events and circum-…Today, everyone above the	stances let’s reminisce in the
age of 18, no matter the race or	beautiful legacy and life of the

courage everyone to go forward
gether we are fulfilling Dr. Martin	great civil rights pioneer. I en-Luther King Jr.’s dream through
many people today are taking
Clovis High senior
informed action. Being educated,	would Martin Luther King do? advantage of their right to vote.                                                                                                                      – Faith McKesson, Voting is an important action
Beacon of Hope
that many Americans are given the right to do, achieved with the help of civil rights fighters.
Voting Rights Act, we must remain vigilant. There are
imosity and hatred at every turn, Dr. King was never
Even today, however, over 50 years after the passage of the	was a prime example of what happens when belief is places in America where there are attempts to turn back	merged with activism. In a day and age where he faced an-some of these hard-fought protections. Dr. Martin Luther	derailed from his goal of equality for all men. His work was
a call to action for the American people.
ourselves but our country and our future as well.
– Trisha Prajapati, Clovis North freshman
■ ■ ■
What would MLK do?
mething no one had before him. He started a discussion
use this advantage to take informed action to help not only	so Using the practice of non-violence, he was able to achieve about race and discrimination on a global level and held the American government accountable for the mistreatment of people of color. He was a catalyst for a movement that forever altered race relations in this country.
… As the product of an interracial marriage, I was born	– Abigail Akande,Buchanan junior

AASU lets students share, learn

AASU:
Our purpose is to show respect for African American heritage while creating a positive influence in the community. We strive to reach out and lend a helping hand so others might have an opportunity to expe-rience a better perspective and future. The goal of AASU is to become active in the community, form aca-demic mentoring groups and promote college education.

By Jalen Stafford
Clovis East freshman	Students’ experience

The African American Student Union (AASU) is a resource
sionate about.”
“AASU has immersed me into a new understanding of for African Americans and other students to enjoy, communicate how I can apply myself into school and anything I feel pas-and learn about the history of African culture.
■ ■ ■
In 1968, five African Americans, Clifford E. Darden, E. Theodore Lewis Jr., Lillian Lincoln Lambert, George R. Price,
Union. Their commitment became a driving force behind the
the struggles I go through. Most importantly, I have learned
and A. Leroy Willis, created the African American Student learned to be a leader on my campus and community. I love enrollment of multiple African American college students of     being around people that look like me because they understand the Harvard University Business School, shaping the AASU’s that I am a smart, beautiful, talented and powerful black
Sanaa Scott, senior
The African American Student Union provides social, young woman.” cultural and spiritual events throughout many communities
“AASU has encouraged me to be the change I want to
within the United States. Furthermore, the corporation also ensured that the AASU Black Student Union clubs in high
nic or cultural backgrounds.
also, gain more knowledge of my history and culture through
African American students themselves, and istudents of other cessful student, I break the stereotypes society puts on me. I ethAASU hosts different events throughout the year from na- AASU to educate myself and others.”
tional or state conferences to events for family and friends.

F	E	B	R	U	A	R	Y	2	0	1	9

Page 4	CUSD Today	February 2019

i	,	,	i
l
Finance, ag, teaching part of CTE classes

n CUSD Career Technical Education Night
Feb. 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Clovis Veterans Memorial Building

Showcasing CUSD CTE pathways and courses – enrollment for the 2019-20 school year is underway.
Students, grades 8 to 11, and their parents are invited to attend and get a look at the many opportunities that are available. Currently enrolled students and staff will discuss course information and demonstrate exciting work-based learning projects.
Buchanan, Clovis, Clovis East, Clovis North, Clovis West high schools and the Center for Advanced Research and Tech-nology (CART) will have information booths related to their specific CTE path-ways.
Details: Chuck Sandoval, CTE director, 327-0664.

CTE programs have something for every student

CUSD Today

Career Technical Education (CTE) pro-grams continue to grow in the Clovis Unified School District, and student applications for these courses for the 2019-20 school year are currently underway. The district will hold its first CTE Night Feb. 21 providing interested students a close-up look at the kinds of programs available, with current students conducting demonstrations and staff on hand to provide information.
CTE classes offer content-rich programs containing both academics and hands-on skills that prepare students for college and career. Students apply their learning to real-world application, and the skills acquired will continue to follow them through life. CTE programs have a literal connection to the field being studied.
Clovis Unified offers 18 CTE pathways where students are engaged in course-related profession-based activities such as harvesting crops of lettuce and almonds, observing a knee surgery or interning in a banking fa-cility.
“Students are learning to think like real professionals in their fields of interest. This can be seen on a daily basis in a CTE class-room. For example, students now learning to assemble an electrical car might one day

get a job for Tesla Motor Co., or students learning in their classes how to frame walls might go on to have a construction job during the day while attending college in the evening to pursue a life-long goal of be-coming an architect,” said Chuck Sandoval, CUSD’s director of CTE as of this school year.
Sandoval has been visiting schools throughout the district this year in his new role, speaking with students about their in-terests in taking CTE courses.
“Students have told me how CTE courses help them learn about their career interest first-hand from a teacher who has previously worked in the field. The experiences help them in making decisions about their future,” Sandoval said. “CTE is making a difference in the lives of our students allowing them to see the connection between college and career.”

Programs offered in CUSD The California Department of Education

identified 15 Career Technical Education industry sectors that provide the framework for college and career exploration and at-tainment. Clovis has developed 18 separate pathways within these industry sectors. The following lists pathways by school site, but students are able to participate in CTE path-

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Top: Students in the CTE Agricultural pro-gram at Clovis East harvest lettuce they have grown that will be sold to local restaurants. Above:In the CTE Financial Services pathway at Clovis West, some students intern and learn in the EECU branch located on the campus.

ways not on their home campus. They are: ■ Buchanan High: Design, Visual and Media Arts; Education; Engineering Design; Environmental Resources; Food Service and Hospitality; Patient Care; Performing Arts;
and Production and Managerial Arts.
■ Clovis East High: Agricultural Me-chanics; Agricultural Science; Animal Science;

Plant and Soil Science; Education; Emergency Response; Public Safety; and Patient Care. ■ Clovis High:Design,Visual and Media Arts; Education; Residential and Commercial Construction; and Systems Diagnostics,
Service and Repair.
■ Clovis North High:Education; Patient Care; and Software and Systems Develop-ment.
■ Clovis West High:Education; Financial Services; Systems, Diagnostics, Service and Repair; and Performing Arts.
Many of the pathway courses are UC ap-proved, and dual enrollment courses are of-fered in partnership with Clovis Community College, Fresno City College, Reedley College, and CSU Fresno. These partnerships serve to promote strong post-secondary academic skills, while at the same time provide op-portunities for students to deepen their knowledge of selected occupations. College and Career readiness comes to life in these post-secondary partnerships.
Students interested in learning more or enrolling in CTE pathway courses can visit their high school counseling center or sched-ule an appointment to speak with a counselor regarding occupational interests and op-portunities.

TELEVISION HOST
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February 2019	CUSD Today	Page 5

We depend upon partnership, community

By Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D. Superintendent

OUR first and long-time Su-perintendent “Doc” Buchanan often

reminded us that “the schools be-long to the peo-ple,” and it’s a truth that we have lived out in Clovis Unified where we processed 44,000
community facil-	Eimear O’Farrell, ity use requests             Ed.D.
last school year
alone. We are partners with you, a community that is heavily invested in our local schools, and we want to be transparent and inclusive in our stewardship of our community’s children and their finances.
To that end, we devoted an entire issue of CUSD Today in January to the topic of our budget and finance, and we sent that issue to every res-ident in our district boundary (whether or not they have students in our schools). Since that issue arrived in homes, I have received many positive comments from in-dividuals who expressed apprecia-tion for learning about the funding structure of CUSD especially in comparison to other valley and state school districts that receive significantly higher funding than Clovis Unified.
We welcome a conversation about how we make decisions re-lated to finances and our budget, and our team of dedicated em-ployees in our business services di-vision wake up every day thinking about how we can stretch every dollar to meet the needs of our students.A great example of these types of conversations is the recent convening of both our Local Con-trol Accountability Plan citizens planning committee of over 300

people.Another example is the re- spend the next several months close- build new schools and facilities, cent convening of a 40-plus person ly studying our school facilities and keep every campus (no matter committee of local citizens who program; modernization, mainte- its age) a state-of-the-art learning will spend the next several months nance and renovation needs of each environment of which our students studying capital facilities needs in campus; and available resources for and community can be proud. Clovis Unified as we continue to ensuring that every school in our When considering the strain that serve our ever-expanding commu- district remains in good repair and our lower-than-average-per-pupil nity.                                                    is kept updated to standards of ex- funding creates on our operating This group is made up of par- cellence for students.                          budget, we are constantly mindful ents, retired citizens, local business         Part of their conversation will that it is our facility bonds that leaders, city planning staff, various be about whether or not to recom- have helped balance this inequity taxpayer and citizen interest groups, mend that our Governing Board by providing resources to protect and classified and certificated em- consider placing a facility bond the school facilities that our com-
ployees of the district. Each mem- measure on the ballot in the future. munity highly values.
ber of this committee brings a dif- Their voices are critically impor-         Our Committee on Capital Fa-ferent lens to the conversation, and tant.                                                    cility Needs is just one of many each has a valuable perspective for         Historically, facility bonds have different groups that help us remain us to hear as we look to the future been difference-makers in Clovis in touch with the needs and wants of our district.                                    Unified. It’s through these local of our community. We recently The citizens committee will dollars that we have been able to counted more than 120 different

LESSONS Inspirations by, for and from our CUSD students

“When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand.
A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero.”

FRED ROGERS (AMERICAN CHILDREN’S
Photo special to CUSD Today.

Nelson Elementary preschooler Sergio Coronado makes a letter “8” into a mask.

groups of students, parents and community members that meet regularly across the district to discuss issues of importance to our schools. From student groups meeting with their school principals, to parents meeting to discuss our Local Control Accountability Plan priorities, every one of these groups influences our decision making.
Every week I am in classrooms around the district, observing our teachers and school leaders in action. During these visits I witness ample proof that even as we balance the business of running the state’s 15th largest school district, we are keeping the “main thing” the main thing – the success of our students.
In our classrooms I see enthu-siastic teachers who creatively engage students in learning. Whether it was the Clark Intermediate teacher who recently had her entire class reciting the U.S. Constitution during their history lesson, the students in our special education class at Clovis East High learning how to run their own “East Side Café” coffee shop, or the students at Sierra Vista Elementary school who didn’t notice me in the room because they were so engaged in an ordering of decimals activity.
The phrase I hear most around the district is employees telling me how much they LOVE their jobs! From plant supervisors to catering managers, to our office staff and teachers, our team loves our kids and takes pride in their progress and success. Our team values pro-viding an exemplary learning en-vironment in facilities that reflect a community’s priority on educa-tion, and truly exemplifies our theme “Better Together” as we strive to educate the next generation of citizens and civic leaders.
Our schools belong to each of you, and we are proud to be your partner in building a bright future for our community.

Crystal Award winners make a difference in CUSD

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 will be celebrated at The Crystals Feb. 27 at the Performing Arts Center.
A gala reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the ceremony gets underway in the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are not required and attendance is free. All district employees, family and friends of the recipients are invited to attend.
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.
In this issue of CUSD Today, nine winners are profiled in alphabetical order. The remaining recipients will be profiled in upcoming editions of CUSD Today.

By Kathleen Coates Special to CUSD Today

Kirsten Aguilar
English Teacher, Clovis North High
One word keeps popping up when folks talk about Kirsten Aguilar: “pas-sionate.”
From her role as English teacher at Clovis North High, to a department head, to a club advisor, Aguilar is dedicated to doing what’s best for students. And she goes to extreme lengths, burning the mid-night oil, not just grading, but giving
feedback that helps each student write better than the pre-vious time.
One can see concrete evidence of Aguilar’s passion in

➤Show your support

■ The Crystals ■ 7:30 p.m.
■ Feb. 27
■ CUSD Performing Arts Center 2770 E. International Ave., Fresno
■ The public is invited to help us celebrate the year’s top employees. No tickets required.

the scores her students achieve. For example, from 2017-18 her students’ test scores rose from 96 percent to a 99 percent passing rate on the SBAC. Overseeing a new reading apprenticeship program, her team brought up reading scores from 55 percent to 70 percent in the Above Standard category.Aguilar is responsible for teaching three curriculums, English 11, AP Composition and Contemporary issues, yet she finds time to supervise four clubs. One student called Kirsten a “mother figure,” because she cares so much for her students, helping them academically and socially.
Fellow teachers praise her for her collaboration and are “astonished at the time she gives” to help them succeed. While she was Professional Learning Community (PLC) lead, she found a way to bring together teachers from different walks of life to create common lesson plans and assessments.“The mark of a great leader” said one colleague of this top educator.

Shelley Arakelian
Fourth-Grade Teacher, Garfield Elementary Shelley Arakelian, a fourth-grade

teacher and coach at Garfield Elementary, is all about educating the WHOLE child in mind, body and spirit, and educating ALL children, per two important “Doc’isms.”
Her principal calls Shelley “a winner” who also makes her students winners.
The 16-year teaching veteran is par-ticularly efficient at helping her students earn Garfield’s prestigious Block G awards. Last year 77 percent of fourth-graders who won the award were Arakelian’s students.
Arakelian is always eager to volunteer for extra duties. Teachers are required to commit to two adjunct duties –

this year she signed up for nine… of which only two are stipend. They included Benchmark Lead, Master Teacher, Red Ribbon Week Coordinator and Cross-Country Coach. Inside the classroom, she teaches students that “math is your friend,” and increases students’ self-confidence.Arakelian is known for setting high standards for herself and her stu-
dents.
As fourth-grade PLC lead, she created a culture in which teachers prioritized the needs of students. She also jumps at the chance to further her professional education, and after trainings, shares her knowledge with all teachers, benefitting kids outside her classroom. As cross-country teacher and coach,Arakelian does everything she can to help them run better and faster – including running right alongside them.

Jaime Arredondo
English Teacher, Clovis East High
Clovis East English teacher Jaime Arredondo is one of those CUSD em-ployees who is dedicated to the max and is always volunteering.
As English lead teacher and department chairman, he works with other teachers on curriculum. He volunteered to remain faculty senate adviser, class adviser and Academic Senate member because of his
proven effectiveness.
Arredondo is known for taking over the school canned food drive, having students make a video and trying to best the number of cans collected year after year. Arredondo works with students who are academically gifted and those who are academically challenged. He even makes breakfast for students about to take the Advanced Placement exam for college.
When the school was impacted by tragic suicides, he started Timberwolf Territory, co-opting teachers to open their doors during lunch for students, providing them a place to hang out and talk about their frustrations and concerns.Arredondo is committed to excellence, mastering his teaching craft through humor, calmness and high ex-pectations. Students are encouraged to seek out a personal writing style and take pride in their work! His colleagues say his classroom isn’t just effective, but it serves as a seminar from which they can learn, as many have observed his methods and tremendous educator techniques.

➤ Please see Awards, Page 9

— 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

Clovis Unified’s Governing Board ap-
are effective July 1:
Principal at Clovis Ele-
Principal Isabel Facio.
of Principal at Jefferson
Michael Olson, from
position of Principal at
of current Principal Jen-
Center.
ucational Center, to the
rent Principal Kacey Gib-
cuss instructional strategies
Employees who were nominees to the
In other action, the board:
(BHS, CHS, CEHS, CNHS, CWHS), Intro-
and related items.
Dec. 12
Subcommittee appointments were also
decided as follows:
■
CART: Sandoval (representing the
ford and Sandoval
■
CSBA Delegate Assembly Subregion
Board members heard a report from Clo-
Donelle Kellom
Hoffhaus
Page 6	CUSD Today	February 2019

➤BOARD BRIEFS

Four new principals named for 2019-20 school year

By Kelly Avants                                                 tion. New courses include: Building Infor-Chief Communications Officer                                   mation Modeling – CTE (CHS), Engineering
America (BHS), Honors Computer Integrated Jan. 16	Manufacturing – CTE (BHS), Honors En-
gineering Design and Development – CTE

– CTE (BHS), Integrated Physical Science
pointed four new elementary school prin-	(BHS), Honors Environmental Sustainability cipals to positions vacant in the 2019-20
or moves. The new appointments, which
school year because of upcoming retirements     duction to Musical Theater (CNHS), Intro-duction to Design 1 & 2 – CTE (BHS), and
mentary to the position of
Intermediate).
Donelle Kellom, from     Introduction to Education (Granite Ridge Sr. GIS at Cedarwood Ele-          ■ Held public hearings regarding the Preliminary Environmental Assessment, the
mentary School following
the retirement of current
Suitability of Real Property, and the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed Fowler and McKinley elementary school site, and
High School to the position
three areas.
Andrew Bolls, from     later adopted resolutions in each of these learning director at Clovis          ■ Authorized the submission grant re-quests for Part I of the annual Indian Edu-
rent Principal Jeff Tiftick.
Replacement Program.
Elementary School follow-     cation Grant, and the Electric School Bus ing the retirement of cur-          ■ Authorized the placement of a Special Education student in a non-public school
ucational Center, to the
plan (IEP).
the position of learning     as identified in their individualized education director at the Reagan Ed-          ■ Adopted the annual Student Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and the cate-
school year.
Fugman Elementary fol-	gorical budget for each school for the current Andrew Bolls	lowing the appointment          ■ Approved construction costs for the
nifer Thomas to the posi-
agreement.
new elementary school at Shields and Locan tion of Deputy Principal	avenues as outlined in the lease-lease back at the Reagan Educational          ■ Approved bids for construction projects
Pamela Hoffhaus, from
the position of learning
director at the Reagan Ed-
(the BHS culinary arts CTE classroom re-model) and Campus Catering Specialty Food supplies, and the use of a piggyback bid with Glendale Unified School District
position of Principal at	to purchase computer products, services
lowing the transfer of cur-
Michael Olson     Reagan Elementary fol-          ■ Approved an agreement with Raptor Visitor Management, a visitor and volunteer

son to lead efforts to open
board policy.
management system to assist in ensuring a new school at Shields	that visitors meet expectations outlined in and Locan avenues (open-
ing August 2020).
meeting, members of the
Governing Board partici-
pated in a workshop to
take a close look at student
achievement data and dis-
Pamela
Before the start of the		The Dec. 12 Governing Board meeting included the annual organizational meeting. After board members Betsy Sandoval, Tiffany Stoker Madsen and Susan Hatmaker took the oath of office, members then selected Brian Heryford as president, Chris Casado
clerk.
to support continued	to vice president and Dr. Steven Fogg as growth in student achievement. This hour-
and-a-half long workshop was conducted
and Accountability department.
by members of the Curriculum Instruction	■ Budget Subcommittee: Casado, Hov-sepian and Hatmaker
in 2018 were also recogn zed du ing the
Fogg and Heryford
Madsen and Hatmaker
Fresno County Educator of the Year awards	■ Facilities Subcommittee: Sandoval, meeting. Last November,iFresno rCounty	■ Curriculum Subcommittee:Hovsepian, Office of Education honored Director of
CUSD Board)
■
Joint CUSD and City of Fresno:Madsen
and Fogg
■
Joint CUSD and City of Clovis: Hery-
the Sierra Outdoor School Mike Olenchalk, bus driver Larry Crayne, and Clovis West math teacher Denise DenHartog for their outstanding work to support students. Mem-bers of the board thanked the trio for regu-
their students and colleagues.
larly going well “above and beyond” for	■ Fresno County Committee on School The board also recognized the district’s             District Organization: Sandoval
10-B: Heryford
2018 Golden Bell Award-winning preschool inclusion programs at Copper Hills, Jefferson
en Quill honoree Clovis Roundup Reporter
athletics; and welcomed three newly ap-
May Moua; and Reagan Educational Center
new roles.
North has been awarded a one-year pilot
company has offered three mobile security
security systems on campus. The d strict is
and Reagan elementary schools; CSBA Gold-     vis North Area Superintendent Darin Tockey Paul Meadors who was nominated by the     on a grant award under consideration. Clovis district for his quality reporting on school     program for mobile security systems offered pointed administrators (General Legal Coun-     to the school by Knightscope Security. The sel MaiyaYang; Clovis West Deputy Principal     devices for use up to a two-year period to Deputy Principal Jennifer Thomas) to their     study their usefulness in augmentingiexisting evaluating the offer and the potential long-
the campus.
■ Accepted the annual report on the dis-	term impact of the use of these systems on trict’s After School Education and Safety
(ASES) program.	q
■ Approved new courses of study for	The next regularly scheduled meeting of use in the district’s secondary schools for     the Governing Board is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the 2019-20 school year. The nine new     the Professional Development Building, 1680 courses were reviewed by members of the     David E. Cook Way, Clovis. Complete minutes, board’s Curriculum Subcommittee before     agendas and videos of board meetings are being presented to the board for considera-     available online at cusd.com.

March 11th thru May 11th

2018-2019 REGISTRATION

AROUND

February 2019

THE DISTRICT

CUSD Today	Page 7

Photo special to CUSD Today. Member of the Army Reserve’s 109th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services Support open care packages they received from Valley Oak Elementary sixth-graders.

Army veterinary unit gets treats from Valley Oak

Valley Oak Elementary sixth-grade families recently donated items filling 10 boxes that were sent to the Army Reserve’s 109th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services Support currently serving in Afghanistan. Valley Oak father Matthew Conlan serves in the unit, and his twin sons Casey and Parker are in Andrea Gre-gory’s sixth-grade class at the school.
“The care packages that we received for the holidays were great,” wrote Major Conlan. “It means so much to each and every one of us that [Valley Oak Elemen-tary students] would take the time and energy to think about us. I know it must have been quite a task to collect everything and get it shipped. Everyone at Valley Oak is amazing.”
According to Conlan, the 109th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services Support provides veterinary medical support to military working dogs and also ensures that a wholesome food supply is delivered

Photo special to CUSD Today. Students at Clark Intermediate explore vari-ous parts of the world using Virtual Reality Google Daydream headsets.

New technology opens the world to Clark students

Clark Intermediate students in Matt Berry’s AB and technology classes took a quick field trip recently to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – and then China, and then some went on to the Great Pyramids. Impossible? Not with the new Virtual Reality Google Daydream head-sets that were recently on loan to the class-room.
“Our students are amazed,” Berry said. “The few short tours we have taken corre-spond with our history unit of Medieval China. Students immediately felt a deeper connection and more knowledgeable in regard to the Great Wall and the Silk Road. Seeing the actual location in 360 degree im-aging really aided my instruction. No longer do we just read and look at some pictures, but we go there.”
About 175 students and other curious staff members experienced the headsets.

Broncos in space
Not one but two Clovis North High teams won the “NASA Let Your Invention Fly” En-gineering Design Challenge at Fresno State in October. Their designs will be printed on the International Space Station and used by the astronauts to keep tools from floating away.
The teams are:
9th/10th-grade team: “Screw Driving,” Sofia Guitron, Dylan Plunkett, Ryen Reher, Nathan Maldonado and advisor Steve Els-berry
11th/12th-grade team:“Space M.A.T.S.,” Arya Desai, Ting Guo, Mullairathinam Ve-lappan, Saajid Ahmed and advisor Mary Allen.

Historical medicine given examination

Clovis East science teacher Trevor Reis, who was part of the annual Civil War Revis-ited in Kearney Park, dropped into his char-acter as Civil War surgeon Dr. Crawford Long at school recently. He showed students the medical practices of that time and spoke about the use of leaches, tourniquets and the frequency of amputations as cures.

to all US military personnel in the country. Military dogs have saved many U.S. sol-diers’ lives by being able to smell things that might have been placed to cause harm. If soldiers are sick because they have been exposed to something like ticks or mosquitos that cause disease, they can’t perform their duty. Same thing if soldiers get sick because they have eaten spoiled food, they can’t perform their duties. The unit has a veterinarian, vet-erinary technician and food inspectors. The care packages contained some of the unit’s favorite treats, including pep-permint bark, dried fruit, chocolate cov-ered raisins and kettle corn microwave popcorn, and also some practical items like lotion, dryer sheets and food-storage
bags.
Shipping for the 10 boxes overseas was kindly paid for by Louie Brosi, owner of Field House, and David and Leslie Miller, owners of the Royal Flush.

Golden Eagle Burrito, ‘celebrities’ part of School Lunch Week

A student-created lunch item –the Clovis West Golden Eagle Burrito – was on the Clovis West High School menu as part of the celebration of National School Lunch Week. Students in Clovis West’s Transition Program were part of a special nutrition ed-ucation and meal preparation class hosted by Clovis West’s Campus Catering Supervisor Kristy LeBeouf. During the class, students developed their own recipe for an entrée that meets the National School Lunch Pro-gram Guidelines. Students also discussed the many factors that Clovis Unified’s Campus Catering Department considers when plan-ning meals, including USDA nutritional reg-ulations requiring whole grains, lean protein, low fat and low sodium meals in school.
The students returned to the cafeteria and helped prepare more than 50 servings of the Golden Eagle Burrito, which was filled with fajita chicken, refried beans, Spanish rice and a Mexican cheese blend. It was served with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole and salsa.
“The students were very excited. They were so eager to try this and serve it to other kids,” LeBeouf said. LeBeouf said she devel-oped the program this year as a way to help kids understand what goes into creating a school lunch and seeing what a career pos-sibility in the culinary field might look like. During National School Lunch Week, all campuses in Clovis Unified held activities and celebrity servers – that included teachers, coaches, administrators and Clovis Unified Governing Board members – made special
pop-up appearances at cafeterias.

Cubs care for wildfire victims Students at Garfield Elementary hand

painted ornaments over the holiday season that were then sold as a fundraiser to benefit those impacted by the recent wildfires in California. More than $3,500 was raised. The proceeds were shared among three or-ganizations: the California Community Foun-dation's Wildfire Relief Fund, California Fire Foundation and North ValleyAnimal Disaster Group: Camp Fire.

Weldon keeps the lights on Weldon Elementary’s afterschool program

ASES joined in the annual Lights On After-school this fall, a nationwide celebration of afterschool programs. They were one of more than 8,000 sites across the nation send-ing the message that afterschool is key to children’s success, and that it is important to keep the lights on and doors open after school and providing programs. Parents, neighbors, school officials and others helped Weldon celebrate its safe, stimulating after-school programs and for the special day.
Afterschool programs have many benefits. They support working families by ensuring that children are safe and productive when the school day ends; they make communities stronger by involving students, parents, busi-ness leaders and volunteers; and they give children the opportunity to discover hidden talents as they grow academically and socially.

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb.
cultural learning
that can be moved, carried, pact would be far greater if
imagination, bringing together     impact included introducing
ture books on topics such as     science and math – we have
playdough and felt.	about different textures, clas-
the students and have them     bring in is huge.”
Page 8	CUSD Today	February 2019

Conferences provide

for all students CUSD Today

Clovis Unified has opportunities this spring for students to participate in student leadership conferences. The district partners with the community in creating these cultural events where students can learn about themselves and one another.
Upcoming conferences are:
African American Student Leadership High School Conference, Feb. 5, at the Fresno Convention Center, hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. The theme is “Working Collectively toAchieve Excellence.”
Clovis Unified African American Student Leadership Middle School Conference, Feb. 12, at Clovis North Educational Center, hosted by CUSD. The theme is “Know Your Past, Empower Your Present and Change Your Future,” and the keynote speaker is Dr. Chike Akua, who is a culturally relevant trainer and master teacher.
Clovis Unified Latino Student Success Middle School Conference,March 22, at Kastner Intermediate, hosted by CUSD. The keynote speaker is Gabe Salazar, who is rated the top Latino youth speaker in the nation.
Sixth Annual Latino Student Success Conference, March 29, Clovis North Educational Center, hosted by CUSD for high school students. The conference includes a college and career fair, mentors and keynote speaker Juan Felipe Herrera.
Clovis Unified’s leadership conferences are open to all students regardless of race and ethnicity.
“Having knowledge of each other’s culture and di-versity is important so that students can be better prepared to compete in a diverse society,” said Saul Salinas, CUSD Coordinator of Community Relations. “Listening to wonderful keynote speakers, professionals in the community, and sharing information on college and careers is essential for student success.”
CUSD’s Asian Student Success Conference was held in December.
More information about these conferences and signing up is available through schools’ counseling centers.

Imaginations: Program engages young children

FROM PAGE 1                              The preschool activities, been treated to a cornucopia     which might be done weekly, of stimuli, using everyday     monthly or at the teacher’s child-sized treasures to broad-     discretion, use items multiple en their worlds.                         times either with all the same Called “Loose Parts,” the     materials, or sometimes mixed
newly-implemented program     around.
was hand tested by the pre-         In Clovis Unified, the school teachers themselves     Loose Parts project is a col-last May when the State Fund-     laboration between Scott and ed Preschool Program of     Preschool Program Supervisor CUSD hosted over 100 staff     Erika Whitney. It began with for a voluntary training on     the May training that would The Theory of Loose Parts.       bring this unique and respect-Architect Simon Nicholson     ed theory in Early Childhood developed the theory in 1971, Education to the CUSD State believing that it is the “loose     Preschool Program staff. parts” in the environment     About 80 percent of CUSD’s
“Loose parts” are materials –     the program.
either natural or synthetic –	“We realized that the im-
that will empower creativity. preschool classes are using Nelson Elementary preschoolers Raven Ramirez, left, and Syd-ney Stevenson have fun using seashells to make alphabet letters. The bowls of small items such as shells are part of the “Loose
up, taken apart and put ba	introduce the theory to the
combined, redesigned, lined     we could not only plan and Parts” program that are stimulating young imaginations. together in multiple ways.ck     staff, but also provide the ma-	Loose Parts includes pic-     excited about learning. For
Director Shera Scott said     in a hands-on training session
balls empowers a creative     next day,” Scott said. “The
history. The materials range     on materials include sand,
CUSD Preschool Teacher     terials for the teachers to use science, art, mathematics, en-     books about real beaches and bowls filled with buttons, that they could then take back gineering, social skills and     ocean life and then the hands-beads, feathers, twigs or cotton     to their classrooms the very from shells, stones, wood, shells, starfish and sea horses, mirrors, fabric and plants to     all vary in size shape and col-
tape, boxes, sea glass, feathers, making patterns, learning
multiple curricular areas such     children to materials that de- building materials, newspaper, or. The students are counting, as science, mathematics, en-     veloped their problem-solving
fine motor skills.	ity, and strengthened curric-
gineering, art, literacy and     skills, enhanced their creativ-         “We are always looking for     sifying objects and sorting. “Having "loose parts" avail-     ular development.”                   ways to further engage with     Any of the natural we can
able in a play space allows	Both Scott and Whitney children to use these materials     have received much positive as they choose,” Scott said. feedback and teachers left ex-“Often you will find that chil-     cited to start utilizing what dren would rather play with     they had learned in their class-materials that they can use     rooms.
and adapt as they please,	“The open-ended materi-rather than expensive pieces     als draw both boys and girls of play equipment. These ac-     to the activity, and they stay tivities show us where the     engaged a longer time build-students are at and we im-     ing those cooperative play mediately know where to take     and verbal language skills,” them.”                                       Whitney said.

Boundary: Updates can be found at cusd.com

FROM PAGE 1
■ Reducing operational costs if possible (such as busing)
Also underway are efforts to develop a recommended name for the new school. A community survey was con-ducted in December to gather desired qualities in a school

name from families in the Clovis East Area, and it is anticipated that a recom-mendation will also be pro-vided to the board for con-sideration on Feb. 6 and ac-tion on Feb. 20.
Once attendance lines and a school name are in place, efforts to develop a school

mascot and school colors will begin in collaboration with the new school community led by Principal Kacey Gib-son.
Updates about these rec-ommendations will be pro-vided to the community through their neighborhood school, and on school and

district websites.
“By making these deci-sions more than a full year ahead of the school’s opening, the new school community can come together and build relationships even before the doors open,” said CUSD As-sistant Superintendent of Fa-cilities Kevin Peterson.

WHATCHA MUNCHIN? | Illustrated by Kelly Compton - Multimedia Student at CART High School

February 2019	CUSD Today	Page 9

Awards:32 exceptional employees to be honored

FROM PAGE 5

Adam Belmont
Manager of Maintenance, Maintenance Department
Adam Belmont, Clovis Unified’s man-ager of maintenance, is all about service to teachers and students. He makes sure everything runs smoothly so they can spend their time teaching and learning.
Belmont is responsible for 51 school sites and manages 60-plus employees.With his calm demeanor and flexibility, he and his team always figure out a way to solve just about any maintenance or construction problem that comes along.
Under his supervision last year, his dedicated department repaired and put an end to a spate of electrical panel van-dalism. Belmont is the district’s Indoor Air Quality specialist and is often called upon to assist with environmental issues. When the problems are particularly difficult, he leads his team through possible solutions until they find an answer. Belmont also keeps the financial bottom line in mind. When the special education program needed sinks in nine portable classrooms, the bid from an outside vendor was so high, he recommended his team take care of it. They
saved the district more than $10,000. Constance Boyd
Science Teacher, Clovis High Constance Boyd is a dedicated Clovis

High School biology teacher who does things far and above beyond what her re-quired duties are. Let’s start with one of her most selfless acts during her 19 years
of employment at CUSD – she became a foster mother to a student. The student, who has chronic health issues, had been transferred from one foster home and high school after the other and she was frantic. Boyd decided the student needed a stable place to live and to stay at Clovis High, so Boyd went through the process to foster the student.
Another highlight of Boyd’s time at Clovis High – so far – was her readiness to step out of her core content area of life science in order to create a new Physics and Technology course that aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. To do this she took a two-week training course over the summer and integrated the teaching strategies in her lessons. Constance is one of those teachers who offers after-school tutoring, comes in early, helps kids get ready for im-
portant state tests, and makes the classroom fun.

Maureen Clark
Registrar, Clovis West High
As registrar at Clovis West High School, Maureen Clark turns what could be a matter-of-fact transaction into a warm welcome for each incoming student.
She is excellent at her job, but beyond the efficient registering of students and
keeping of the transcripts is Clark’s special care of students and her work with counselors to make sure each has the best chance possible of academic success.As a registrar, she supports teachers by streamlining end-of-semester processes, making it easier for teachers to provide attendance and grade book records, even digitizing the process.
Clark maintains a climate of trust and respect in the

And the Crystals goes to ...

n Kirsten Aguilar, English Teacher, Clovis North Educational Center n Shelley Arakelian, Fourth-Grade Teacher, Garfield Elementary
n Jaime Arredondo, English Teacher, Clovis East High
n Adam Belmont,Maintenance Manager, Plant Operations n Constance Boyd, Science Teacher, Clovis High
n Maureen Clark,Registration Specialist, Clovis West High
n Kelly Dalbec, Student Activities Specialist, Red Bank Elementary n Todd Deck, Principal, Copper Hills Elementary
n Suzi Erickson,Deputy Principal, Reagan Educational Center n Ellen Hansen Gates, School Nurse, Clovis High
n Donna Geil, Second-Grade Teacher, Cedarwood Elementary n Margarita Gonzalez, Math Teacher, Clovis West High
n Stacey Kiehlmeier,Nurse, Clovis East High
n Donna Kohlruss, AB Teacher, Granite Ridge Intermediate
n Tara Lindlahr, Application Development & Support Services Manager, Technology Services
n Sandy Marcelo,Campus Club Lead Instructor, Child Development n Marcos Martinez, English Teacher, Peer Counselor Coordinator,
Buchanan High
n Melissa McKenney,Fourth-Grade Teacher, Freedom Elementary n Susan Mott, Third-Grade Teacher, Clovis Elementary
n Carrie Mueller, Library Technician, Fugman Elementary
n Les Nunes,Music Teacher, Clark Intermediate, Clovis High n Vincent R. Oraze,Math Teacher, Kastner Intermediate
n Christen Otta,Third-Grade Teacher, Maple Creek Elementary n Kendra Pfalzgraff, First-Grade Teacher, Red Bank Elementary n Regina Ponomarenko, Kindergarten Teacher, Fancher Creek
Elementary
n Sharon Rutherford,Campus Catering Supervisor, Tarpey Elementary
n Lori Salazar,Science Teacher, Alta Sierra Intermediate
n Michael Sandoval,School Plant Supervisor, Dry Creek Elementary n Shera Scott, State Preschool Teacher Director, Child Development n Wendy Smith, Kindergarten Teacher, Dry Creek Elementary
n Michael Ward, Senior Business Analyst, Business Services
n Katrena Washington, Second-Grade Teacher, Mountain View Elementary

office and is always a positive force. Even after the devastating loss of her husband, Bart, she thought of the students and created a scholarship in his name for AVID students. Not only that, she volunteered to become a Clovis Support and Intervention mentor and co-leads a group on grief and loss for students. Said one colleague: “Maureen is one of the chambers of the heart of Clovis West.” That pretty much says it all.

Kelly Dalbec
Student Activities Specialist, Red Bank Elementary
Give Kelly Dalbec a task and stand back. Or don’t even mention you want something done, and yet – it gets done – in the most efficient way possible.
Dalbec is a student activities specialist and acts as the registrar at Red Bank Elementary. In her job as registrar she is known for implementing a pre-approval registration process that eliminated hours of waiting and ended with the top district re-enrollment rate at 100 percent for two years in a row. She does everything she can to create a seamless first day. Dalbec, however, is much more than a fantastic registrar. She is called “the glue that holds our school together,” with her constant work to smooth students’ and parents’ daily Red Bank experiences.
Dalbec treats each child like he or she is her very own. She has a very big heart. She often takes the initiative to help students in need, such as a homeless boy who was missing breakfast every day because of a bus schedule, and

a girl from a low-income home who had a dirty spirit uniform and unkempt hair. She helped these – and many other kiddos – out. She truly cares for all students.

Todd Deck Principal,
Copper Hills Elementary
Twenty-nine-year CUSD employee Todd Deck is committed to whatever is best for kids. And one can see it in his actions as principal at Copper Hills Elementary.
Meeting the needs of all students is so important to him that he attends almost every IEP for stu-dents, getting to know their names, needs and ways to help. He started the MinerZ Club two years ago that places general education students as peer helpers in specialized programs with special education kids. It encourages inclusion on campus and brings home the Miner Code theme of “Take Care of One Another.”
Deck hires new teachers who are “all in” with helping every student learn. He works to make a student-centered learning environment through programs like Visible Learning, helping staff reach every last child. The results show in school pride, student confidence and student achievement. Copper Hills state test scores increased 27 percent in the last four years, the greatest growth in the district.
Deck started the Principal Advisory of Student Affairs group, to gain insight from minority students.With an ap-proval rating of 95 percent by his staff and the community, Deck is seen as one who serves the Copper Hills community with outstanding leadership, effectiveness and integrity.

Suzi Erickson Deputy Principal,
Reagan Educational Center
If you need something done, consult Reagan Educational Center Deputy Prin-cipal Suzi Erickson. But don’t expect her to just do it. She will bring all interested parties together and have them solve the
problem. Erickson is a master collaborator. Basing all her decisions on what is best for kids, Erickson models a servant leader. She has an innate knack to make things work, and she is a respected and valued administrator throughout the Clovis East Area. Erickson believes that hiring the best em-ployees is key to students’ success, and she supports new employees at every step of the way. She is a driving force in innovation, encouraging teachers to try new things. She knows it’s the people, not the programs, who make a positive difference in the lives of students.
Erickson embodies what Clovis Unified stands for. She encourages a positive, collaborative working environment. She promotes a culture of professional learning, whether it is through a motivational book, a story from her experience or by allowing opportunities for others to lead. She is everyone’s biggest cheerleader, celebrating others’ wins as if they were her own.
One parent said it’s because of Erickson’s compassion and leadership that her daughter successfully navigated the tragic unexpected death of her father. Said the mom,“Suzi put her arms around my daughter and assured me she’d be OK.”
For 30 years, Suzi Erickson has worked for the district and is dedicated to her students, to the Clovis East Area and to Clovis Unified.

Page 10	CUSD Today	February 2019