➤
Talk with your kids:

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
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FRESNO, CA
PERMIT NO. 398
March 2018

Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 20, No. 8

follow us on	TM               and at CUSD.COM

Character, civic learning awards announced
nGateway named ‘Model Continuation School’

CUSD Today

Character counts in Clovis Unified, and several schools were recognized in March for just that.
Fresno State’s Kremen School for Character Edu-cation and Citizenship gave 10 CUSD schools its Bonner Character Award at its 34th annual conference held at the Fresno Convention Center.
Recipients were Boris, Cedarwood, Clovis, Cole, Gettysburg, Liberty, Maple Creek, Pinedale,Weldon and Valley Oak elementary schools. The awards are presented to elementary and secondary schools in alternating years, and can only receive the award once every four years.
To be named an exemplary school of character, schools must illustrate how they promote core ethical values as the basis of good behavior; how they foster an intentional, proactive and comprehensive approach to its core values in all phases of school life; and how students are provided opportunities for civic learning and service projects tied to curriculum.
Five Clovis Unified schools have learned the Cal-ifornia Department of Education named them as 2018 Civic Learning Award schools. They are Century, Cole, Freedom, Maple Creek and Tarpey elementary schools. These awards celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools. The awards will be presented in May at the CDE’s Central Valley California School Recognition Program.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson recently announced 32 schools designated as Model Continuation High Schools for 2018. Clovis Unified’s Gateway High School will be receiving that award at the California Continuation Education As-sociation’s annual conference in April in San Diego. The schools were selected based on a comprehensive and competitive application process involving effec-tiveness, assessments and data, a peer review panel
and on-site visit.

High Flying Fun!

Harlem Globetrotter turned Granite Ridge In-termediate science teacher and international dunking champion Jonathan Clark has some fun at the African American Student Leadership Middle School Conference at the expense of Clovis North Educa-tional Center Principal Scott Dille. The confer-ence, held in February, featured keynote speaker Clayton Muhammad who gave a challenging message encouraging students to find the “excellence in their DNA,” defined as their “Destiny, Necessity and Achievement.” Many Clo-vis Unified high school students partipated in the African American Student Leadership High School Conference earlier in the month that also featured speakerMuhammad. Other students attended the Asian Student Success Conference held at Clovis East in late February, which had a theme “One Ingredient. A Thousand Dishes.” Clovis City Council Member Vong Mouanoutoua was the keynote speaker sharing a message that education is the ultimate, key ingredi-ent. The Latino Student Success Conference will be held April 6 at Clovis North. Those interested in attending may contact their school counselor.

Foundation honors 16 ‘Students of Promise’

Sixteen remarkable students were honored at the Foundation for Clovis
Schools annual Students of Promise Dinner March 14 at the Clovis Veterans
Memorial Building. Students representing all Clovis Unified high schools walked the red carpet and were honored for their tenacity with their studies while enduring personal hardships.
Each recipient has a unique story, but all share the common experience of persevering through extreme challenges. Chronic medical conditions, overcoming addiction, burdensome home envi-ronments, abuse and neglect are just a glimpse of what they have faced. But these special students do not make excuses and instead have learned to thrive.

➤ Please see Students, Page 6

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb.

School safety is always a priority

Clovis Unified Superintendent
letter to all families and employees
vestigated and prosecuted.
Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., issued a	Please see Page 13 regarding information on keeping campuses safe and a in the district discussing school	reminder that an online threatening post or share by a student will be in-safety following the tragic events
at a Florida high school in Febru-	training to our staffs, and to ensure	ber of different potential safety ary. Educators, she said, feel deeply	a thorough review of our existing	threats to a school campus,” the the responsibility to watch over	safe school plans.”	letter notes.
Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D
Clovis Unified
Superintendent
the safety of students every day.            Every element of the existing          For more information: A The letter read in part:“In Clo-     safety protocols is being re-exam-     brochure summarizing details of vis Unified, we have an extensive     ined to make sure it reflects up-     safety protocols is available online safe school system that is regularly     to-date best practices, she said.         in English, Spanish and Hmong. practiced and reviewed at the          “Each school in Clovis Unified          Also online are suggestions on school site level. In addition, we     has developed a Safe School Plan     how to talk with children about have collaborated with law en-     that carefully outlines steps taken     this topic. Visit: www.cusd.com/
forcement to provide active shooter	to ensure preparedness for a num-	schoolsafety.

Bud Rank student’s Flat Stanley project travels to Olympics

CUSD Today

Clovis Unified was represented at the 2018 Winter Olympics as Bud Rank Ele-mentary second-grader Jake Leath’s “Flat Stanley” traveled to PyeongChang to view the athletic competions. Stanley, with the help of a mysterious friend, sent a postcard to Jake that he shared with his second-grade classmates.
At the start of the school year, students in Theresa Pope’s second-grade class em-barked on a learning adventure. The class read the book “Flat Stanley,” by Jeff Brown, and then each student made Flat Stanley dolls out of construction paper.
Students mailed his or her Flat Stanley to one person with instructions for the recipient: have an adventure with the paper pal, take a picture, write in an enclosed journal about the adventure, mail a postcard to the school and then mail the Flat Stanley

and instructions to someone else.
From the postcards received, the CUSD students’ Flat Stanleys have been having voyages around the United States and parts of the world.A map in the classroom with pushpins and yarn show the many travels.
Jake thinks his Flat Stanley traveled to South Korea with a friend of Jake’s uncle. According to Flat Stanley’s postcard from the Olympics, he and his traveler watched speed skating, snowboarding and hockey competitions.
The instruction sheet with Flat Stanley has one very important request.Whoever receives Flat Stanley in May is asked to re-turn the journal of adventures, the photos and Flat Stanley back to the school so that the package can be returned to the student.“I love this project,” Pope said on the district’s social media post about the clever project. The students do, too.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Bud Rank Elementary second-grader Jake Leath shows his classmates the picture he received of his “Flat Stanley” paper doll attending the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

INSIDE:

ACADEMIC
Closing the achievement gap
Clovis Unified School District hosted Dr. Chike Akua in February who spoke to 80 secondary Clovis Unified teachers. Page 8

COMMUNITY
One post or share can change your child’s life As a school district we are continuing to educate
students about the risks posed by irresponsible use of the internet. Page 13

VISION
Teamwork, trust remain vital in education These are words that have shaped our culture since
founding Superintendent Dr. Floyd “Doc” Buchanan, emphasized them in our school district.Page 5

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Page 2	CUSD Today	March 2018

February 2018	CUSD Today	Page 3

Page 4	CUSD Today	March 2018

VISION

March 2018	CUSD Today	Page 5

Teamwork, trust remain vital in education

By Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D. Superintendent

“
“EDUCATION revolves around teamwork

and trust.” These are powerful and truthful words that have shaped our Clovis Uni-fied culture since our founding Su-
Floyd “Doc” Bu-
perintendent Dr.	Eimear O’Farrell, chanan, empha-             Ed.D. sized them to our community and staff in the early days of our school district.
Lately, I’ve spent a great deal of time reflecting on those words and what they mean to us as an organ-ization in 2018. I believe they are as absolute fact today as they were in the early 1960s, an era as wrought with social and political upheaval as that which many feel we are ex-periencing in the U.S. today. Yet, what do those words look like in action, and what influence should they have on our actions as we navigate together these times in which we live?
Our schools are indelibly linked to our community, and as educators we recognize the tremendous re-sponsibility we have to care for, educate, and prepare our next gen-eration … your precious children. Recent events in Florida, and in our own district around cultural understanding, highlight even fur-ther the value of this partnership of teamwork and, most importantly trust, between a community and its schools.
We build your trust by delivering on our promises, by giving you ways to get involved in your child’s education, and by involving you in our decision-making when it affects your student’s experience. In my 22-plus years of experience in Clovis Unified, I have served at the classroom level, as an admin-istrator at the elementary and sec-ondary level, and have worked with thousands of educators and with

our Governing Board.                        would want us to do anything less over a prolonged period of time With exceptions I can count on for their kids?” That philosophy studying the issues brought before my hand, I have seen everyone guides our decision-making, and us by a concerned group in the work without ceasing to put what it is our fundamental commitment community. We made sure that is best for our students first in their that we make decisions that have a these conversations included input decision-making. That’s another strong rationale based on the best from every single one of our school of our long-standing values, to thinking of a wide spectrum of dif- sites.We made, or are in the process make student success the core of fering viewpoints and input.              of making, updates and refinements every decision we make.                         Our recent work around exam- to our existing systems based on Those decisions may not always ining our current Intercultural and this input and our own self-study.
be popular with everyone, but they Diversity Advisory Council (IDAC) We are committed to a continuing are decisions made based on a wide system to ensure it reflects best partnership from all sides of this spectrum of expertise in education, practices of our time is an example issue to shape our steps into the deep care for our students, and of how we make decisions that at- future as we seek to build school rarely ever in a vacuum. As our tempt to live up to our belief that communities that are mutually re-former Superintendent Dr. Janet “education revolves around team- spectful and welcoming to all. Young often said,“We aren’t perfect, work and trust.”	Some might, from the outside, but we’re trying to be, because who	We spent many days and hours criticize decisions that we make.

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Gettysburg Elementary students Jacob Saldate, left,and Arush Arya enjoy a moment after being recognized at the school’s quarterly awards ceremony.

“Laughter is sunshine. It chases winter from the human race.”

VICTOR HUGO, 19TH CENTURY POET

This rush to judge concerns me, because it reflects an assumption that we are failing to put kids first in our decision-making that is patently false; and it often relies on assumptions and hearsay that can-not be based in fact given the laws of confidentiality afforded to stu-dents and employees of public or-ganizations.
In Clovis Unified, we love our kids, all of our kids, each and every one of our kids. We want them to be successful, and to achieve to their personal best, and we are pas-sionate about the power of educa-tion to change lives. I know this because I see it in action every day as I travel around our school district. I see it in the eyes of our teachers, coaches and advisors as they watch their kids in action. Whether it is writing a paper, competing on the field, or performing in front of an audience, our educational team wants your child to succeed. Just as you watch with joy and antici-pation to see your child achieve his or her dreams, we devote count-less hours to helping them do just that, to soar.
Our calling isn’t simply during the school day either. It spills over into early morning hours on duty before dawn to greet the first child to arrive for a zero period class at our high schools, and extends into the wee hours of the morning after the last student is safely picked up from school activities or transported on a CUSD bus home, and all the hours in between.
As the Superintendent of Clovis Unified, I am proud of the passion and commitment of our close to 6,000 individuals who daily put on a Clovis Unified employee badge and show up physically, mentally and emotionally for our students. I commit to you that we will con-tinue to strive for perfection, and that we will continue to involve you in the decisions that shape our school district, and also the com-munity.And, I commit to doing so all through a lens that puts our kids, every one of our kids, first in our decision-making.

Crystal Award winners make a difference in CUSD

Phenomenal.Amazing. Dedicated. Tenacious. These are just a few of the words de-
scribing the 27 exceptional Clovis Uni-fied employees who are the 2016-17 school-year Crystal Award re-cipients who were celebrated at The Crystals Feb. 28 at the Per-forming Arts Center.
The Crystal Award is Clovis Uni-fied’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 do so without prompting. They lead and inspire others by their humble nature and heart-felt exam-ples.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 on a daily basis.
The following is the second of a three-part series profiling each recipient in alphabetical order.
A complete listing of current and past winners can be found online at www.cusd.com/crystalawards.

By Kathleen Coates Special to CUSD Today

Larry Crayne
Bus Driver, Transportation
Clovis Unified bus driver Larry Crayne could be making more money driving a larger transit bus. But he made the decision not to pursue a license to drive the bigger bus; he prefers driving the smaller one used to transport special education chil-dren. He does not want to lose his special education route because he is dedicated

to the kids he picks up and takes to the Garfield Special Education Center daily.
Crayne knows each child’s disability and the care he or she requires. The children all are nonverbal. But he knows that a child blinking her eyes means “good morning.”
Crayne has received awards for perfect attendance and safe driving all six years he has worked for Clovis Unified. That’s because he is so dedicated to his job, and ensuring the safety of all “his kids.”
Always upbeat, Crayne stays in close touch with students’ families, and they trust him with their fragile children. Parents say their kids look forward to riding with Larry each day. Some consider him an extended family member. As an advocate for students, he invites every new ad-ministrator to ride his bus. One business services adminis-trator said that on her ride-along, Crayne took her to the Garfield Center to show her how important an iPad is to a
child unable to speak or move.
Crayne also takes the time to train new drivers in how to secure wheelchairs and care for the disabled.
As described in his nomination, he is indeed, an “Angel on Wheels.”

Cindy Dailey
Sixth Grade Teacher, Century Elementary
Sixth-grade teacher Cindy Dailey is described as “the bridge between teachers, parents and administration, the person who has an impact on every struggling student at Century Elementary.”
That’s because she is an intervention specialist. Dailey is the key leader in the school’s student-at-risk plan, the Student Study Team coach and the coordinator
of the 504 program, which is a legal plan for making sure all disabled students in the entire school have their educational needs met. She not only makes sure all students are accommodated, but also often requests to have them in her classroom.
Dailey is seen as a model teacher with amazingly im-pressive student test scores, and she is also known for making sure students’ social and emotional needs are

served. More than 90 percent of her kids are involved in co-curricular activities.
Dailey is known to take certain students under her wing, such as one who was a victim of her parents’ drug use. She helped the child improve social skills, peer rela-tionships, and even fed her when needed.When a student’s father died, she helped the family through the tragedy.
This founding staff member of Century Elementary in 2000, Dailey imparts her wisdom to parents of children with special needs, leaving them with a plan to help the child find success.

Denise DenHartog
Math Teacher, Clovis West High
Clovis West High School math teacher Denise DenHartog is called a “competitive perfectionist,” who is dedicated to making sure all of her students learn – no matter what it takes.
To make sure everyone understands difficult math concepts, she holds review sessions before school, at lunch and after school. Besides that, DenHartog has her
class lessons video recorded and posted online. Students can go to the classroom website and review lessons anytime they need to. Not only that, she creates an intervention plan for any student having trouble.
DenHartog leads the team for Math 3, math for non-honors students, discussing teaching strategies and adjusting assignments to prepare students for tests.
She has also been a member of Clovis Unified’s Math 3 Curriculum Design Team since it was formed. Because of her leadership in both groups, as well as long hours spent on her own time, 69 percent of Clovis West Math 3 students passed state assessments; 73 percent in DenHartog’s class alone – the highest rate in the district. Not only that, there was no achievement gap among her students -- both students of color and Caucasian students performed about the same.
In addition DenHartog has created a math team to

➤ 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: 32,500.
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 Charity Susnick Advertising 327-9095 Verna Garcia

Graphic Designer 224-9711

CUSD Governing Board

Jim Van Volkinburg,D.D.S.	Elizabeth J. Sandoval	Ginny L. Hovsepian President                              Vice-President                                 Clerk

299-8994	291-7564	434-8272

.
Sandra A. Budd          Christopher Casado Steven G. Fogg, M.D           Brian Heryford 448-6801                          908-9953                          269-7000                           299-4586

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

explore ways of helping with homework vs.
Clovis West performs
Spring Break
Photo special to CUSD Today.
Partnering for students’
emotional wellness
Woods DI team wins
Page 6	CUSD Today	February 2018

➤ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Homework without tears workshop March 20

Clovis Unified’s Parent Academy offers free, monthly workshops in the evening on topics that are designed to help parents be-come more engaged in their child’s education. The next workshop will be “Homework without Tears. How Do I Help?” on March 20. A free dinner is served from 5:30 to 6 p.m., and the presentation begins at 6 p.m. at the CUSD Professional Learning Center, 362 N. Clovis Ave., Clovis.
Is homework a hassle in your house? Kids are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their home-work. Helping with homework shouldn't mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break.
This Academy Module will discuss ef-fective ways to assist your child(ren) with homework while discussing the reasons for homework. Participants will learn ways to
students, where it belongs. The group will
shift the responsibility of homework to the         From left, Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., Central Unified Interim Superintendent Kelly Porterfield, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino
doing it for them. Presenters will discuss	and Fresno Unified Superintendent Robert Nelson join efforts for students’ well-being. the four main reasons why teachers give
homework: practice, responsibility, extension and time management/organization.
Upcoming Parent Academy Modules are “CUSD Wellness Project: Behavioral Supports & Behavior 101,” April 12; and “Drug,
Alcohol & Gang Awareness,” May 16. All	Clovis Unified has partnered with	informs viewers that every one of the workshops will be held in the CUSD Pro-         neighboring school districts to promote	represented districts’ local schools has fessional Learning Center, 362 N. Clovis         emotional health and wellness resources	mental health resources available and Ave. in Clovis on the corner of Clovis and         for local students.	should be contacted for more informa-Herndon avenues.	Public Service Announcements fea-	tion.
Seating is limited. Those interested in	turing Clovis Unified Superintendent	The PSA aired the week of the March attending may RSVP with Kreig Cirrincione	Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.d., Fresno Unified      13 “Town Hall – Your Voice. Your Future. in the Supplemental Services Department	Superintendent Robert Nelson, Central      Preventing Teen Suicide,” which was at 327-9566 or kreigcirrincione@cusd.com.	Unified Interim Superintendent Kelly      hosted by the Fresno County Suicide Pre-For assistance in Spanish, contact Rebecca	Porterfield and Fresno County Superin-      vention Collaborative and KMPH, and Hernandez at 327-9564; in Hmong, contact	tendent of Schools Jim Yovino aired      held at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Anna Vang, 327-9561.	several times in March on local stations.      Building as a live discussion about local
“Together we’re building healthy kids	efforts and resources.
“Lend Me a Tenor”
and healthy communities in body, mind	Clovis Unified psychologists are a part and spirit,” Yovino says on the PSA that      of the collaborative.
Clovis West High will perform the “Lend Me a Tenor.” The play is filled with comedic
Clovis North performs
“Mary Poppins”
scenes of mistaken identities and mishaps	and May 3-5; matinees will be at 2 p.m. as the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is	April 28 and May 5. Tickets are $10 for stu-preparing for its biggest night in its history	dents and $12 for adults.
featuring a world-famous tenor.	Clovis North High will perform “Mary
Performances will be at the Dan Pessano	Poppins,” the beloved musical about an ex-
Theater in the Performing Arts Center at	traordinary nanny who brings many magical	Clovis Unified students will be on Spring 7:30 p.m. March 22 through 24; a 2 p.m.	experiences to the Banks children, along     Break and school campuses will be closed matinee will be available on March 24.	with her chimney-sweeping friend, Bert.         March 26, re-opening on Tuesday, April 3. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for          Performances will be held in the Mercedes     Clovis Unified’s district office complex at adults.	Edwards Theater at 7:30 p.m. April 26-28     1450 Herndon Ave., in Clovis, will be open.

Choral Spectacular March 22 Clovis Unified’s Visual Arts and Per-

forming Arts (VAPA) department hosts a series of concerts featuring CUSD talent open for the greater community to enjoy.
The performances are held at the Per-forming Arts Center in the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall. Proceeds from the concert series will be used to purchase a Yamaha Concert Grand piano
“We are very excited to showcase our programs, teachers and most importantly our fantastic students in CUSD,” said CUSD Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Dan Bishops.
The remaining Concert Series line up is: ■ March 22, Choral Spectacular, 7 p.m. ■ April 18, CUSD Instrumental Bands
Showcase, 7 p.m.
■ April 19, CUSD Instrumental Strings Showcase, 7 p.m.
■ May 20, CUSD District Pops Concert,

7 p.m. Tickets are $10. They are available at the door on the day of the event or may be purchased online from Etix on the VAPA website.

Native American Indian Family Night April 5

Clovis Unified will hold the fifth annual NativeAmerican Indian Family Night from 5 to 8:30 p.m. April 5. This year’s theme is “The Power to Achieve,” and the event will include dinner, drumming, dancers, activities and prizes.
There will also be a special presentation by master storyteller and cultural consultant Jacque Nunez on “Journeys from the Past.” Nunez, known throughout California, prides herself on preserving and passing her culture along through the oral Native American tradition of storytelling. The event is free and open to the public.An RSVP is required by contacting Donna Post in Supplemental Services at 327-9552 or donnapost@ cusd.com.
Clovis Unified receives ‘Best of Best’ award

Gallagher Benefit Services recently award-ed Clovis Unified School District with a “Best of the Best” recognition for excellence in mitigating rising health care costs and positive achievements in human resources. Clovis Unified is one of only two employers on the West Coast to win the honor.
Each year, Gallagher conducts a survey analyzing how employers manage health care costs over a series of years. It also looks at human resources and how an employer interacts with employees and the satisfaction of employees.
Employers ranking in the Top 25 can earn a “Best of Class” in either category, and those who earn that ranking in both categories is awarded the Best of the Best prize.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

The following upcoming workshops will be offered by the Special Education Depart-ment’s Family Resource Center. For more in-formation or to inquire about an interpreter, please call 327-8455.
■ The 10th Annual Special Education Dinner and Auction will be held March 23 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building, 808 Fourth St., Clovis. Social hour will start at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; auction at 8:15 p.m.; and a live band at 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $40 for one ticket or $70 for two. Proceeds benefit Special Education programs at Clovis Unified schools. Tickets are available online at http://tinyurl.com/cusdsped2018.
■ The Magic of Language, a workshop for parents, staff and the community from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.April 10, at the Professional Development Building, 1680 David E. Cook Way, Clovis. Participants will learn about the developmental stages of language from birth to 5, including what to expect, how to encourage speech and how to alleviate the frustration of not talking. Information is presented by a panel of Clovis Unified speech pathologists. Free. RSVP online at http://tinyurl.com/ML4-10 or call 327-8455. ■ Social Security for Your Student at Age 18: What You Need to Know will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 24 at the PDB, 1680 David E. Cook Way, Room 1, Clovis.A representative from the California Council on Developmental Disabilities, Se-quoia Office, will be presenting. Free. RSVP online at http://tinyurl.com/SSI4-24 or call
327-8455.

Students:

Photo special to CUSD Today. Woods Elementary’s fifth-grade Destination Imagination students placed first in February at Alta Sierra Intermediate in a competition against nine other groups in the area. The team – Oh no! The Feisty Fizzle Maniacs Returned – is made up of Blythe Griffin, Cohen VanBeever, Ella Williams, Grant Davis, Landon Burger and Logan Bowie. Not only did they place first, they also earned another medal for the Renaissance Award, which recognizes those who demonstrate extraordinary amounts of effort and participation in their solutions and understanding skill in engineering, design, or performance.

FROM PAGE ONE Recognized during their
junior year, each Student of Promise will receive a $2,000 scholarship for use in post-secondary education; the gift encourages them to enter their senior year and finish strong. The 2018 recipients

are: from Buchanan, Susie Salgado; from Clovis High, Eliseo Flores, Alondra Kyle and Christopher Welch; from Clovis East, Nicholas Carde-nas, Anthony Vallin Everk, Synthia Ramage and Alejan-dra Rico; from Clovis North, Bre’Aujanae Moore and

James Woolsey; from Clovis West, Adriana Ballesteros, Christian Castanon, Taylor Farmer and Kaleb Nazaroff; and from Gateway, Elizabeth Byrd and Jaqueline Romero. April’s edition of CUSD Todaywill share more about
these incredible students.

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Photo special to CUSD Today.
AROUND

March 2018

THE DISTRICT

CUSD Today	Page 7

Photo special to CUSD Today. Dry Creek Elementary first-grader Brooklyn Lieder makes a self-portrait with crayons under the guidance of art teachers Jeff Conway and Kathy Hannen during Square One Art Night.

Student artists at Dry Creek fundraiser

Dry Creek Elementary hosted its first-ever Square          Teachers and art docents taught art lessons and parent One Art Night in February.                                                   helpers guided students through each step. Students Approximately 250 students arrived at 5:30 for a     used water colors, crayons, markers and oil pastels to pizza dinner and were then divided up into different     create self-portraits, frogs, cartoons, or a landscape. Tara grade level groups to complete an art project for the     Guentz, lead art docent and parent club member, was
school’s Square One Art Fundraiser.	instrumental in the planning of this event.

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Do and Isaac W ng, and eighth-grader Luke Zhao. In in-dividual competition Joshua Lin earned first; Luke Zhao, third;Ananya Vinay, fourth;Lillian Chen, fifth; Isaac     ang, sixth. In Countdown Round, head-to-head single elimination, Joshua Lin took first; Isaac	ang, second; and Lilian Chen, fourth.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Members of Clovis North’s Wind Ensemble visited Chicago and performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic. It was an in-vitation a decade in the making.

Clovis North’s wind ensemble visits the ‘Windy City’

Clovis North High School musicians made history, joining the extremely short list of California high schools to be invited to perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference in Chicago since 1946.
Clovis North High School’s 50-member Wind Ensemble, under the direction of David Lesser, earned the invitation
was one of six selected from 170 applicants. “With the
school SierraVista Elementary.
based on more than a decade of preparation. The group Red Bank Elementary fifth-grader Jocelyn De La Cruz led the students’ hard work and extreme dedication to this vision effort to collect 1,000 books to give to fellow Clovis Unified [of performing at the clinic], we have been able to achieve
this,” said Lesser who has had dream of participating in the Midwest Clinic since Clovis North opened a decade ago.
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The annual event draws more than 17,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries to an unparalleled music conference featuring the newest ideas, talent and performers, from students to professionals. Each performing band/ensemble is unique and offers those at-tending the most up-to-date in musical styles and educational techniques.
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“We were so excited when we found out this fantastic news,” said Wind Ensemble member and trumpeter,Joshua Harris.“We all have a passion for our music and in being the best. This solidifies that we are one of the best and that all of our hard work and countless hours of rehearsing over the years has paid off.”

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AquaBots win awards	Students at Garfield Elementary made alentines that Fugman Elementary’s robotics team AquaBots won three

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awards at the Clovis Stampede Stomp Robotics Qualifiers: the Robot Design Award, Global Innovation Award and Advancement to Central California Championship. The
team is made up of Milo Cazzell,Vasudev Kirshna,Aleena
Munshi,Amelie Norris,Ava Serrato, Samuel Spears. Coaches	dom helps others are Peter Spears and Dan Serrato.

BHS thespian medals                                   first week of February and had great success thanks to the Members of Buchanan High’s Bear Stage drama team     hard work of all students and a special effort by one

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competed at the Lenaea Theater Festival in Folsom. Student Allie West earned a gold medal in the monologue category and a command performance during the closing ceremo-ny.

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Two Clovis Unified mock trial teams faced off in the	Students felt good participating in the collection drive, Fresno County Mock Trial Championship. Clovis North     with some going with their parents to n
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and Clovis West litigated a case in the Federal Courthouse	toting a wagon asking for food donation in downtown Fresno. Both teams did an incredible job,	Dalton Olsen donated lemonade mix an with Clovis North coming out on top by just seven points.	“Thats what you do, help people who ar The Broncos will move on to the state mock trial competition.	“They need food to survive.
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GR MathCounts success	items.l“I like to help otherapeople” she i said. “I felt very
Several students at Granite Ridge had success at the	happy”
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Fresno County MathCounts competition. Taking first in	The non-perishable foods collected were donated to the team competition were seventh-graders Joshua Lin, Linda     Pinedale Good Neighbor Center

Clovis Unified students
in Regional honor music groups

Several Clovis Unified students were invited to participate in regional music groups that performed recently at the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall.
The musicians, who ranged in ages from elementary to high school, auditioned for the invitation to perform with the California Music Educators Association and Fresno-Madera Counties Music Educators Association. The following Clovis Unified students participated:
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2018 Elementary Honor Orchestra, conducted by Janet Grizzell:Violin I – Sonia Rao, Fugman;Atom Paz, Century; Rajbir Longia, Freedom;Emi Besse ,Fort W shington;Lisa Shimmon.Violin II – Emily Chevy, Red Bank;Shaina Luna, Copper Hills;Isabella Titar, Fort ashington;Annika Pando, FortW shington.Violin III – Roma Kundu, Fugman;Alyna Medina-Peralta, Fort W shington. Guest Percussionists – Alisha Aguayo, Clovis High.
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2018 High School Honor Orchestra, conducted by Nicolas aldvogel:Violin I – Raphael Ramos,Clovis North;Isabelle Knittle,Clovis;Lara orres, Clovis;Irene Borshch,Buchanan; Pamella Kay Padilla, Clovis; Aidan Coleman, Buchanan; Brianna Alchoncher Buchanan; Brianne Barrus, Clovis. Violin II – Joshua Haham, Buchanan; Benjamin Pegram, Clovis      est; Sophia Susoeff, Buchanan; Inna Borshch, Buchanan; Hari Subramanian, Clovis North; Alee He , Clovis; Jennifer Siechert, Clovis; Kayley Lee, Buchanan; Aaraam Granera,Clovis est;Christy Nakad, Clovis;Solon Ma,Buchanan. Viola – Nielabjo Maitra,Clovis North;Brian Azali, Clovis North; Jonathan Shelton, Buchanan; Katie Sloan, Clovis est;Kaitlyn Antonio,Clovis;Sophia Medina, Clovis W st. Cello – Shayne Baldwin, Clovis;Karina Howan-sky, Buchanan; Taylor Nguyen, Clovis North; Hayden Nguyen, Clovis North; Jeffrey Shen, Clovis; Bianca Burgos, Buchanan; Hannah Brown, Clovis; Peter Thao, Buchanan; Amanda Jameson, Clovis W st. Bass – Lyell Leap, Clovis; Bryon Bramwell, Clovis; Nicholas Ganuelas, Clovis East; Jonathan Cordova, Buchanan; Bailey Bertao, Buchanan. Flute – Olivia Boling, Clovis East. Oboe –Rebekkah Garcia, Clovis;Sara Bean, Clovis. Clarinet – Zachary Curtis,Clovis North. Bassoon – Reese Curtis, Clovis North. Horn – Austin Hansen, Clovis North;Nicholas Sosa,Clovis est.T umpet – Caleb Brosnac, Clovis North. T ombone – Anthony Sayre, Clovis; Key Poulan IV, Clovis     est. Percussion – Robert Darling, Clovis W st; Brandon Brownell, Clovis North;
Alisha Aguayo,Clovis.
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2018 Intermediate Honor Band, conducted by Erik Leung: Flute – Athena Paz, Alta Sierra; Lauren Linford, Clark;Skylar Hazelrigg, Granite Ridge;T ulaa Jauch, Granite Ridge. Oboe – Amber Depry, Granite Ridge; Kyle Derksen, Kastner; Joshua Thomas, Granite Ridge. Clarinet – Jaren Jamito, Granite Ridge; Kaden Zheng, Alta Sierra; Alexis Garnica, Clark; Kara Statham, Alta Sierra; Mateo Spina, Granite Ridge; Angelina Saldana, Reyburn; Noelle Grace Villaverde, Granite Ridge; Isabella Zabarsk , Clark; Kevin W ng, Granite Ridge;Elizabeth Moua, Granite Ridge;Avery Ramirez, Reyburn; Nia Duran, Kastner Bass Clarinet – Ar-ianna Leon, Alta Sierra; Kyle Derksen, Kastner Bassoon – Alexander	aters, Granite Ridge; Eric Jin, Granite Ridge; Gianna Fierro, Clark.Alto Saxophone – Christopher Basham, Alta Sierra; Jordan De La T rre, Granite Ridge; Andrew Wong, Alta Sierra; Gavyn T pp, Clark. T nor Saxophone – Rodrigo Garcia,Clark. Baritone Saxophone – Broede Mullins, Clark. T umpet – Cole Sheldon, Alta Sierra; Colby Kuyper Alta Sierra;Kyle Jimenez, Kastner;Zachary Holmes,Granite Ridge;Rhiannon Christensen,Granite Ridge;Sydney Leap, Clark. French Horn – Kararina Becke , Reyburn; Sophia Brown, Clark;Zachary Gifford,Clark;Shakina V lle, Clark; Kaylee Ghan, Alta Sierra. T ombone – Brandon Bliatout, Clark;Nathaniel Rocha, Clark. Euphonium – Owen Nessling, Granite Ridge. uba – Koda Hoover, Granite Ridge. Percussion – Ryan Hemman,Clark; ayler Ericksen, Reyburn.
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2018 High School Honor Band, conducted by James Smart: Piccolo – Zen Kyle Belderol, Buchanan; Flute – Ryan Adisasmito, Clovis; Sydney Cook, Clovis North; Eliz-abeth Kim, Clovis North;Arianna Knee,Buchanan;Amanda Mallor , Clovis North; Megan Siechert, Clovis; Cassandra Siechert, Clovis. Oboe – Sara Y mada, Clovis; Lucas Garza, Clovis East. Clarinet – Alan Pham,Clovis North; Madeline Cook, Clovis East; Allison V iga, Clovis; Samuel Bates, Buchanan; Carlo Quitorio, Clovis North; Brooking Becke , Clovis East; Felix Ma, Clovis North; Haley Shah, Clovis North; Emily Mann, Clovis; Raul Chavez, Clovis East; Robert Tyra, Clovis North; Madison Eaton, Clovis North. Bass Clarinet – Noah Blevins, Clovis North. Bassoon – Joshua an Heusen, Clovis North; Allison Bean, Clovis; Faith Blackburn, Clovis W st. Alto Saxophone – Elizabeth Alarcon, Buchanan; Dakota Nolan, Clovis North; Nicholas Archer, Clovis North. Baritone Saxophone – Timothy Childs, Clovis North; Nathaniel Brown, Clovis. T umpet – Joshua Harris, Clovis North; Gunnar app, Clovis; Jonathan Mor-gan-Nishimura,Buchanan;Aj Palacios,Clovis est;Michael DeHaesleer, Buchanan; Emily Craft, Clovis East. French Horn – Carson Kimber Clovis North; Jacob Amorose, Clovis East; Tyler Perkins, Granite Ridge; Aiden Benson, Kastner;Kaitlyn Poulan, Kastner;Emily Gattenlaug,Reyburn. rombone – Jason Datsko, Buchanan; Stephen Gerloff, Clovis; Eric DeHaeseleer Buchanan; Johnathan Osterloh, Buchanan;Jonathan Brosnac, Clovis North;Destin Hahuynh, Clovis North. Euphonium – Brandon Hatch,Clovis. Tuba – Caleb Calderon, Clovis est; Joshua Perkins,Clovis North. Percussion – Juliana Reeves, Clovis; Sebastian Delgado, Clovis East;Ashley Amiott, Clovis North;Lizzie Villalobos, Clovis; Daniel Neufeld, Clovis North; Logan Kuyper,
Buchanan.

By P.J. Lippert
mentary are smiling a bit
national Great Kindness
pus.
“They were encouraged
ementary guidance instruc-
But the week-long na-
Page 8	CUSD Today	March 2018

n
Project provides real-world
experience, ‘client’interaction

	BUILDING CONNECTION

Clovis High students construct shed for Dry Creek kindergartners

unique program in the district and one of the most fully	tracting and the bid process, project management, project developed and recognized programs of its kind in the re-	software, plan creation, AutoCAD, and the overall con-gion. The Construction II class is a second-year class in	struction process.
the pathway offered to sophomores and higher classmen	“Of course the students love the hands on building,” Special to CUSD Today	having a focus on construction management.                        Eichmann said, “but here in CUSD we focus on mind,
The class has been designed to dovetail with the	body and spirit so it is a given that our pathway would Question: What do you get when you cross “a school	Fresno State construction management program and	cover some of the complementary aspects of the physical
program with a need” with “a school program with devel-     similar post-secondary programs. Although a portion       construction process. We like to give our students the oping real-world skills?”                                                    of the class is devoted to building an actual structure,      whole picture – opening their eyes and developing skills Answer:A genuine collaboration that extends beyond      most of the class is dedicated to learning the managerial       in all of the related areas of construction, not just the
teacher-to-teacher and reaches from campus-to-campus,	aspects of the construction trade to include general con-	physical ones.”
connecting students to students.                                                                                                                                                                   Both the Clovis High upperclassmen and Such was the case when Dry Creek Ele-                                                                                                                                         the Dry Creek kindergarten students beamed mentary Principal Aaron Cook reached out to                                                                                                                                         at the big unveiling held at Dry Creek recently. Clovis High Construction Pathway director                                                                                                                                         The mini-ceremony included a gift from the Jay Eichmann with an idea to help solve a                                                                                                                                         kinder kids to the CHS construction students storage issue in the Dry Creek kindergarten                                                                                                                                         followed with the presentation of a signed program.                                                                                                                                                                                                   wall plaque from Clovis High’s Nathan Chang Working closely with Dry Creek, the Clovis                                                                                                                                         to Dry Creek’s student ambassador Peyton
High students and Eichmann created a detailed	Debban.
design crafted in the CHS Construction II                                                                                                                                              Clovis High senior Bryce Hill enjoyed the class to build a shed that not only fit snugly in                                                                                                                                         whole experience.“At first I thought the building the limited campus space, but also accommo-                                                                                                                                         part was great, but when we got to the site and dated all the recreational equipment for the                                                                                                                                         were able to meet the students and interact kindergarten kids at Dry Creek.                                                                                                                                                               with them seeing their appreciation, I realized Eichmann was excited to take on the project                                                                                                                                         that that was my favorite part of the whole
with his class. “It was the perfect project for	process.”
our students,” he said.“It covered every aspect                                                                                                                                              Said Dry Creek Principal Cook,“Our gen-of the design build process from assessing the                                                                                                                                         erous Dry Creek Parent Club provided the customer’s need, to architectural design con-                                                                                                                                         funds to purchase a shed to store the kinder-siderations, to creating and presenting a 3-D                                                                                                                                         garten playground equipment.After researching digital design proposal, to creating an estimate                                                                                                                                         what it would cost to have a shed built by a and materials list, to doing the actual carpentry                                                                                                                                         few local companies and comparing the in-work and ending with a ribbon cutting cere-                                                                                                                                         valuable learning opportunities our CUSD mony with the kids.”                                                                                                                                                                                 students would gain if we worked with Clovis “The shed is fantastic!” Cook said.“We all                                                                                                                                         High School, the decision was easy!” Cook
are impressed with the students’ quality of                                                                                                       Photo special to CUSD Today. said they liked the shed so much, they have workmanship and attention to detail.”               Dry Creek Elementary kindergartners gather round as a new shed built by Clovis High ordered another one to store the school’s
The Clovis High Construction Pathway is a students is unveiled at the elementary campus.	athletic equipment.

Culinary lab inspires students to cook their way to success

Photo special to CUSD Today. Students at Clovis Community Day School prep items to make soup recently in the school’s culinary lab. The training has helped some students get jobs in the food industry.

By Denise Sandifer

Clovis Community Day School

When you walk into the Culinary Arts Room on the Clovis Community Day School Campus, you see stu-dents dicing vegetables, cook-ing chicken, boiling water for noodles – working to-gether to create a fabulous “Chicken Noodle Soup” recipe that is perfect for a cold, crisp day in Clovis.
“Wednesdays are our cooking lab day and today is the soup lab. The students are totally engaged in what they are doing and having fun doing it,” said Kelli Cook-ingham, CTE culinary in-structor.
When asked about the class, most students said that

the class was fun, they loved the cooking and that eating, of course, was their favorite part of the program.
Cookingham shared other insight into this class.
“It is so fun to see students excited about food they haven’t experienced before and then going home and making it for their family. Cooking elbow to elbow with my students is the best way to develop relationships with these at-risk youth.”
She also said the course can lead to greater things in

the future.“The thrill is when students, who may not be college bound, go onto a culinary school or training. I get excited about the stu-dents who have been hired in nicer restaurants because of this course. The entry-level job market for high school students is competi-tive, and this course gives our students an edge on the competition.”
The state-of-the-art Culi-nary Lab and program was established in 2015 and serves several different Alternative

Education Programs includ-ing Gateway High School, Enterprise, Clovis Online School and Clovis Commu-nity Day School.
The class is designed to teach students basic culinary and nutrition skills for per-sonal living, and for career opportunities in the food in-dustry.
One student shared, “I love this class and have learned specific knife skills for chopping vegetables and making different foods. It is really fun.”

Challenge accepted: Be kind to each other

n Lincoln Elementary encouraging messages to takes on National	their classmates around cam-kindness project            To kick off the Great

Kindness Challenge, each
student heard a lesson on CUSD Today	kindness in the classroom

Students at Lincoln Ele-
and then was given a “kind-ness check list” that contained
brighter after taking up the     lots of examples of kind acts.

Challenge. S nce accepting
to check off as man of the
said Ann Castro, Lincoln El-
the challengei during Febru-     suggestions as they ycould,” ary to treat others with more
have brought flowers for of-
out of their way to make
about what the did and how
kindness and care, students     tional specialist, “and then fice and teaching staff, gone     they talked iny their classes new friends, and taken up     it felt.”
sidewalk chalk to write happy, tional challenge wasn’t

Photo special to CUSD Today. Sidewalk chalk messages is one way Lincoln Elementary stu-dents spread kindness. The student body also watched the movie “Wonder” together and heard from anti-bullying speak-er Josh Drean.

enough for the school and so it planned activities through out the month to continue	developing thoughtful actions and com-passionate thought.
That included the Clovis Unified school hosting na-tionally recognized motiva-tional and anti-bullying speaker Josh Drean, the un-veiling of a Buddy Bench, and a school-wide viewing of the movie “Wonder” that models the importance of kindness, compassion and responsibility in life.
“We didn’t just want to talk about kindness. We wanted to show it and en-courage students to take part in it,” said Ann Castro, Guid-ance Instructional Specialist at Lincoln Elementary.
Speaker Drean spoke dur-ing an Anti-Bullying Assem-bly. Drean’s motivational, en-ergetic message engaged chil-dren to handle life’s chal-lenges in a positive manner.
Also at the assembly, a Buddy Bench was unveiled – a bench where children who want to make a new friend or who need a kind word can sit and others will come to help them out. The bench was made possible by community partner, Pizza Factory.
Later in the month, the entire school watched the movie “Wonder” and every student was given a t-shirt that trumpets the message, “I Choose Kindness!” The t-shirts were also made possible thanks to community spon-sors
“The students have really been receptive to the message and kindness activities,” Cas-tro said. “We are excited about how this will leave a lasting effect on our cam-pus.”

EMPLOYEE CONNECTION

March 2018	CUSD Today	Page 9

Secondary teachers hear from expert on closing student achievement gap

By Saul Salinas Coordinator of Community
Relations, Supplemental Services

Employees have ‘Conversation About Race’

Clovis Unified School Dis-trict hosted Dr. Chike Akua in February who spoke to 80 secondary Clovis Unified teachers. Dr. Akua, during his week stay in the Clo-vis/Fresno area also spoke at local community colleges and at the Fresno County Office of Education African American Student Confer-ence.
Akua, who has taught in Virginia and Georgia public school systems and was se-lected as Ebony magazine’s “50 Leaders of Tomorrow,” is considered a leading au-thority on increasing student achievement. He offers a cul-turally relevant approach to-ward closing the achievement gap and is known for dy-namic, interactive presenta-tions.
Clovis Unified pursued Akua with the goal of deliv-ering a professional devel-opment that would give teachers a learning oppor-tunity that is practical, in-teractive, inspirational and solution-centered.
Organizers were eyeing a

Photo special to CUSD Today. CUSD educators who attended a recent professional learning course take a selfie with instructor Dr. Chike Akua who spoke on culturally relevant learning and building relationships.

professional development that mediate action steps that they their own royalty
was standards-based, re- can take following the train-	■ Talk to colleagues about search-driven, and focused ing. The following are some incorporating multicultural on culturally relevant instruc- of their replies:                         perspectives
tional strategies and resources.	■ Connect student prior	■ Read and learn more Akua brought just that in his knowledge to standards in about history of all groups presentation.                             an explicit way	■ Ask more questions of
Akua created a fun, mean-	■ Connect literature and students
ingful environment that in- culture                                           Akua said he was im-cluded, history, hands on ac-         ■ Demand excellence of pressed by the questions and tivities and dialogue that was my kids by who they are, get by Clovis Unified teachers’ collaborative and student ori- to know them through the willingness to learn culturally ented.                                        writings and discussions          relevant instruction.All teach-At the end of the presen-         ■ Build stronger relation- ers received a copy of Akua’s tation, teachers were asked ships                                         book,“Education for Trans-
to give feedback on three im-	■ Helping students find formation.”

Seventy Clovis Unified employees from various de-partments participated in an all-day workshop March 9 titled “A Conversation About Race,” led by speaker Craig Sims. Sims, a
Seattle lawyer who leads the Invictus Project, also spoke recently at stu-dent leadership confer-ences. He has conduct-ed trainings in CUSD for the past five years reaching 822 teachers, administrators and clas-sified employees.
Some of the course’s objectives include to examine beliefs, laws and policies about race, advantage and justice, and how these issues impact organizations and institutions; to better un-derstand ethical obligations and rules; and to increase awareness of institutional racism in laws and public policies.
Sims is gifted at facilitating a conversation with district employees about racism, said Associate Super-intendent of School Leadership Norm Anderson.
“He allows facts about the history of our nation to generate a conversation in the room and amongst the attendees that allows them to be self-reflective,”Anderson said.“The goal is to enable each individual to use this self-reflection to better serve our students, co-workers and our community.”
Based on Sims’ advice and participant feedback after the sessions, the district is looking at expanding these types of professional development opportunities through a variety of site and department trainings.

Awards: 27 ‘difference-making’ employees were honored

FROM PAGE 5
prepare students for competitions. Last year, her teams were regional champs in the Cal-ifornia Math League. At the Fresno State Math Field Day, 14 Clovis West students earned awards.
DenHartog was the top Math 3 teacher in the district, a district that outperformed all but one district in the state in math scores. That makes her the best of the best.

Ray Espinoza Instructional Assistant II
Mountain View Elementary Mountain View’s Ray

Espinoza is far from a typ-ical part-time instructional assistant. According to Mountain View Principal Monica Everson, he is as good with students as any credentialed teacher.
Espinoza is known for advocating for all students, working to con-nect special education and general education students through activities such as recess play, and coaching athletics and skills in-struction. He promotes student success through encouragement and mentoring.
For example, when a special education student showed talent as a naturally fast runner, Espinoza encouraged her to join the cross-country and track teams. He helped her memorize and understand her route, learn about pacing and sprinting, and even about the importance of what to eat in order to fuel her body – it was everything she needed to compete. And she became a medal winner.
Espinoza took the time to learn sign lan-guage and Braille and even learned a unique card game so he could help his classroom charges advance. He promotes inclusion and independence and is a positive male role model. He works with general education teachers to smooth the way for special edu-cation students.
Espinoza regularly volunteers to set up the Positive Behavior Intervention and Sup-port student store. Under his watch, all stu-dents help kids count tickets and issue prizes.
As Principal Everson said, Espinoza “is the epitome of a quality human being” and a deserving Crystal Award winner.

Stephanie Frazier
Guidance Learning Specialist Clovis High
Clovis High Guidance and Learning Specialist Stephanie Frazier doesn’t fool around – she sets a goal and meets it. She col-laboratively formed a com-prehensive guidance lesson format for grades 7-12 in Clark Intermediate and
Clovis High. The lessons are developed around college and career readiness skills. Her goal was that 100 percent of students have a plan for post-high school success. And that goal has been met through this ongoing work.
In her everyday roll, Frazier excels at making connections and helping students reach their highest potential. She is genuine, caring and always has a ready smile. Her newest role is Suicide Prevention Liaison at Clovis High.
Frazier set another goal. To create a com-munity perception that CHS students serve others. She created a text messaging system called SERVE NOW, allowing kids to sign up to be notified when a community service

opportunity comes up. In addition, when a counselor suddenly died, she took over his mentorship of the Interact Club, which par-ticipates in Thanksgiving food drives, crab feeds and other volunteer activities.
As a result, 600 students have participated in 65 community outreach events. And community groups have noticed, compli-menting students for their excellent work at these events.

Kendia Herrington CTE Chemistry Teacher Buchanan High
This is the tale of an enthusiastic and dedicated instructor who translates difficult science and engi-neering concepts so that ALL students can under-stand and get excited, too. Buchanan High’s Kendia Herrington’s classroom les-
sons are project-oriented and hands-on. Herrington worked hard to become cer-
tified in Career Technical Education so she could help support Buchanan’s CTE Energy Academy program that not only would pre-pare students for college, but also have real-world applications.As a result of her efforts and strong, mentoring relationships with students, enrollment is up overall and Her-rington’s sections are filled to capacity, with a wait list to enter the pathway.
One new CTE course she taught intro-duced the principles of chemistry and en-vironmental engineering through an un-derstanding of water and its interactions with the environment. Students could then apply their knowledge to solving global water issues.
In one project students learned how to filter water and wrote their own children’s book on watershed.
In order to drive home her lessons, Her-rington takes students on field trips to a Clovis water plant and the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant. She also partners with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and had an ocean acidification lesson published on its web-site.
Herrington is a leader on and off campus. She is the Buchanan Energy Academy advisor, and works on a district science test committee to align Next Generation Science Standards and lesson plans. She was one of only two local teachers asked to speak at a Teacher’s Summit at Fresno State.
Students and faculty alike are among Herrington’s biggest fans.

Jeff Hodges
Guidance Learning Director Buchanan High
Buchanan High School head counselor Jeff Hodges is described as “the glue that holds Bear Nation to-gether.” He is praised as an efficient, energetic leader who takes charge of or-ganizing students’ sched-ules, helps plan the annual
graduation ceremony and attends numerous site and district meetings.
Hodges, who has worked for Clovis Uni-fied for 21 years, is the epitome of effective-ness, playing a critical role in building the master schedule. As head counselor, he re-placed paper forms with online ones and taught his team of counselors how to send mass emails to communicate with large groups. He trained each counselor how to tap into a specialty to better serve students. But Hodges is not just about efficiency –

he is also about compassion and support. When a counselor had to go part time
for health reasons, he took on the counselor’s 400-student caseload. When changing stu-dents’ schedules to avoid a class overload, Hodges does not simply reassign them. In-stead he looks at EACH student’s classes, asks about their goals, and determines the best course for the student.
Hodges is the counselor who makes time to work with each student. For example, he helped one boy with a learning disability get through his courses to graduate.Another student lauded Hodges for his “invaluable” support getting him through the college application process. He is the role model for students that Doc envisioned.

Andrea “DeeDee”Jett Third Grade Teacher Tarpey Elementary
“It’s because of Mrs. Jett that the rallies are high spirited. It’s because of Mrs. Jett that student council is possible. … The list can go on for miles.” Those are the com-ments of one former stu-dent’s description of third-
grade Tarpey Elementary teacher Andrea “Dee Dee” Jett.
For the past 15 years, Jett has dedicated herself to the education and well-being of her students, helping them stay safe at lunchtime with guessing games, developing student council candidates and building rapport with the community through annual events she created.
On any given day you can find her coor-dinating the drama production, assisting GATE students with robotics or on the mi-crophone at a school rally. She is in charge of Tarpey’s Thanksgiving canned food drive, Marjaree Mason book drive and Patriots Day Celebration for 9/11.
The first year after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, under Jett’s leadership, Tarpey students collected baked goods and gift cards and walked them down the street to share with the men and women at the Clovis Fire Station It’s a Patriot’s Day

tradition that’s still going strong.
Jett also started the Spartan Pal program, training students to be a friend for lonely kids at recess. She is the driving force behind student videos on Tarpey rules, autism awareness, anti-bullying, anti-gossip and self-esteem.

Karen L. Johnson
Guidance Learning Specialist Clovis North Educational Center
As a Clovis North Ed-ucational Center Guidance and Learning Specialist, Karen Johnson is all about monitoring student atten-dance, tardiness and tru-ancy. As such, she meets with families and students to find a way to maintain
attendance and proper behavior. She assists in investigations and student discipline and is a member of the ASSIST team, which works with students who have mental health issues.
In all of her roles, Johnson thinks first of students and how they can learn, excel and graduate. She focuses on their social and emotional well-being as well. Karen never gives up on any student.
One of her innovations was assigning Student Relations Liaisons to student cases to get to the bottom of absenteeism. She also attends Student Success Team meetings to build relationships with parents and assist struggling students.
Because of her hard work, Granite Ridge Intermediate School had the highest atten-dance rate, at 98.2 percent, of any interme-diate school in Clovis Unified last year.And in the past three years, behavior incidents have decreased by 25 percent and suspensions by 15 percent.
Johnson inspires trust and loyalty from students because she genuinely cares about them. She digs into the “why” of behavior and attendance problems and then works to fix the problem. She connects with students who are suicidal, depressed, bullies, even one student who was caught selling drugs. Johnson makes the difference in the lives
of students.

Tri-River Athletic Conference,
ketball.
Elementary
SPORTS

Page 10	CUSD Today	March 2018

➤ SPORTS BRIEFS

Photo special to CUSD Today. Clovis North athletes Hannah Hall, left, McKay Severance, Trent Lindsey and Shomari Somerville celebrate after signing their National Letter of Intent.

Clovis Unified athletes sign letters of intent

n19 students commit to play at collegiate level

Nineteen senior student-athletes in Clovis Unified schools signed Letters of Intent in February commiting to play their sport with colleges across the nation.
Signing ceremonies were held at all Clovis Unified high schools for the following students:
Buchanan High
■ Kyndel Borman, soccer, Masters University ■ Trevor Ervin, wrestling,Air Force Academy ■ Ethan Leake, wrestling, Northern Colorado ■ Alexa Marchini, soccer, Northern Arizona ■ Maesyn Rix, basketball, Sacramento State
Clovis High
■ Megan Dean, track, CSU Stanislaus
■ Chase Dirieto, volleyball, Menlo College Clovis East High

■ Cat Villegas, soccer, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Clovis North High

■ Hannah Hall, soccer, San Jose State University
■ Trent Lindsey, football, Claremont McKenna College ■ Mckay Severance, soccer, Cal Lutheran University
■ Shomari Somerville, track and field, Indiana Institute of Technology
Clovis West High
■ Orian Bar, soccer,West Virginia Wesleyan College ■ Brittney Hahn, soccer, Missouri S&T University ■ Dakota Helms, football, Fort Lewis College
■ Jayden Helms, football, Fort Lewis College
■ Lauren Hudec, soccer, San Francisco State University ■ Ana Maldonado, soccer, University of Nebraska
■ Dusty Schramm, football, Utah State University

Weaver named ‘legend’ Buchanan High cross country/track

and field coach Brian Weaver was recently featured as a California Coaching Legend by Milesplit.com, one of the biggest run-ning websites online. Weaver has been an integral part of Bear Nation since it opened in 1991 and has been head coach since 1999, producing many champions along the way. Weaver also coordinates the CIF State Track and Field Champi-onship annually at Veterans Memorial Stadium and has made that event among the best run meet with top-notch facilities in the nation. The full article can be viewed     at     http://ca.milesplit.com/ articles/231987-ca-coaching-legends-bri-an-weaver.

Wrestling stars
It’s a three-peat for Buchanan Wrestling. The team won their third consecutive state championship earlier this month at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. Coached by Troy Tirapelle, the Bears won two in-dividual titles and eight medals for a total of 219 team points, well beyond any other team. Second-place Gilroy had 180 points and Poway at third had 171.5. Buchanan freshman Maximo Renteria captured the championship for the 113 pound category and senior Anthony Montalvo won his second straight championship at 182 pounds.
Clovis High senior Seth Nevills made history as he became one of just three CIF wrestlers in its 46-year history to win state championships all four years of high school. Nevills, who will wrestle at Penn State next year, won the 285 pound category, and finished his high school career with a 169-1 record.
Other Clovis Unified runner-ups in-cluded Clovis North freshman Carlos Negrete (126 pounds) and Buchanan sen-ior Joel Romero (160).

BHS discus leading nation As of press time, Buchanan High junior

Christian Johnson was leading the nation this season for high school discus with a throw of 191-feet 9-inches made Feb. 23. “Christian is a very determined athlete who has set goals to be the best he can be,” said his coach Brian Weaver.

CHS leading scorer
Clovis High basketball player Anthony Martinez broke the school record this season and is now CHS’ all-time highest scorer. Martinez scored 1,378 points over his career with the Cougars. The previous record was 1,359.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Copper Hills and Valley Oak girls basketball teams faced off for the ele-mentary girls championships.

Winter league champions

Soccer, wrestling, gymnastics	grade boys basketball; Granite and basketball kept Clovis Unified	Ridge, seventh-grade girls basket-school courts and playing fields	ball; Granite Ridge, eighth-grade in motion during the Winter Sea-	girls basketball; Granite Ridge, son.	seventh-grade boys soccer; Clark,
High School                             eighth-grade boys soccer; Alta Sierra, seventh-grade girls soccer;

or TRAC, winners for varsity high
Reyburn, gymnastics.
Granite Ridge, eighth-grade girls school sports were Tri-River Ath-	soccer; Alta Sierra, wrestling; and letic Conference, or TRAC, winners
for varsity high school sports were
Clovis West, girls basketball; Bu-	The Clovis Unified Elementary chanan High, wrestling; Buchanan,     Winter Championships featured girls soccer; and Clovis North,     top-season finishes from the dif-boys soccer. Clovis West, boys bas-     ferent school areas. Championships

Intermediate
went to Valley Oak Elementary for boys basketball, with Maple
In the Clovis Intermediate Ath-	Creek Elementary the runner up; letic League, or CIAL, top varsity	Copper Hills Elementary for girls team finishes were Clark, seventh-	basketball, with Valley Oak Ele-grade boys basketball; Granite	mentary the runner up; and Clovis Ridge and Alta Sierra, eighth-	Elementary for wrestling.

Charger earns wrestling award

Boris Elementary fifth-grad-er Isabella Gonzales recently took first place in the Rumble in Reno Wrestling Tourna-ment.
She competed in the girls 97 pound weight class that fea-tured wrestlers from as far away as Hawaii and Washing-ton. Isabella wrestles with Fear-less Wrestling that practices at Boris and in which many Boris students participate.

Board names Dr. Josh Shapiro principal of Clovis North

By Kelly Avants

Chief Communication Officer

Cast members from the Buchanan High production of the musical “Grease” opened the March 7 meeting of the Clovis Unified Gov-erning Board with a two-person number from the show that was to be per-formed through March 17. The board later approved a resolution declaring March as “Music in Our Schools Month” celebrating the im-portance of music educa-tion.
Later in the meeting, the board approved two property purchases for future elemen-tary school sites. These lo-cations are in the southeast area of the district and will serve the City of Clovis’ Southeast Urban Village. The first is 25 acres east of Locan Avenue and north of Shields Avenue, and the second is 22 acres northeast of the in-

tersection of Fowler Avenue and the McKinley Avenue alignment. The board also approved the appointment of an architect to begin work designing the district’s next elementary school, which will be located on the Lo-can-Shields site.
In other action, the board: ■ Approved the appoint-
ment of Laurel Graves, cur-rently a Learning Director at the Reagan Educational Center, to the position of Deputy Principal at the Clo-vis North Educational Center effective July 1.
■ Held a public hearing on admission preferences outlined in the charter pro-posal submitted to Clovis Unified by the One and Only Charter School petitioners. The district’s review of the charter will be provided to the board before the March 21 meeting.
■ Accepted the annual Citizens’ Oversight Commit-

➤ BOARD BRIEFS

tee Written Audit report in     struction firms for 2019 fa-which zero findings related     cility projects.
to the district’s bond projects         ■ Awarded bids for sup-were identified by the third-     plies and construction in-party auditor.                           cluding office supplies for ■ Accepted the biannual     warehouse items and the elementary physical educa-     Mickey Cox modernization
tion settlement compliance     project.
summary for the first semes-	■ Approved the second ter of the current school year     quarter financial report cer-in which no exceptions to     tifying that the district will the required minutes were     be able to meet its financial identified by auditors.              obligations for the remainder
■ Approved all conference     of the fiscal year.
requests, student trips,	■ Awarded a construction fundraisers, voluntary com-     management agreement for munity recreation programs, the Clovis West Highl mod-change orders, and notices     ernization project to Mark of completion.                          Wilson Construction.
Feb. 22
■ Approved an agreement	■ Accepted the 2018 with Brilliance Project to     school site safety plan sum-provide professional devel-     maries for all schools. opment for teachers.
■ Approved pre-construc-	Three administrative ap-tion management service     pointments were announced agreements to assign con-     at the Feb. 21 board meet-

ing. The trio assuming new positions effective July 1 in-clude:
■ Sonia Torossian, current Deputy Principal at Clovis North Educational Center, is moving to the position of Director of Digital and Mul-timedia Learning.
■ Chuck Sandoval, current Coordinator of Special Proj-ects, will assume the position of Director of Career Tech-nical Education.
■ Omar Hemaidan, cur-rent Learning Director at Clovis High School, will move to the position of Deputy Principal at the Rea-gan Educational Center.
Also recognized at the meeting were three employ-ees recently honored at the Fresno County Employee of the Year awards ceremony. Ellen Youseff, kindergarten teacher at Miramonte Ele-mentary, was recognized as Teacher of the Year; Ray Zavala, plant supervisor at

Pinedale Elementary School, was honored as School Em-ployee of the Year; and Pinedale Elementary Princi-pal Debra Bolls was honored with the Barnett Award for public service. The board and Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., expressed gratitude to the three for their outstanding service far above and beyond the norm. In other action, the board:
■ Approved all conference requests, fundraisers, student trips, voluntary community recreation programs, change orders and notices of com-pletion as submitted.
■ Approved a request for allowances of attendance due to emergency conditions in the wake of a mercury spill at the Reagan Educational Center in January.
■ Authorized the place-ment of a special education student in a non-public set-

➤ Please see Board, Page 12

March 2018	CUSD Today	Page 11

Key Club students put petals to the metal in Rose Parade floats By Carol Lawson-Swezey

Special to CUSD Today

Starting their day at 3 a.m. and working tirelessly in a room filled with the scents of sweet flowers, soil, glue and paint, a group of Clovis East and Clovis North Key Club students got the real Rose Bowl Parade experience.
The students had a significant, although exhausting, opportunity to help in the last minute prepara-tions for the 2018 parade floats.
“Every year we send local Key Clubs (Kiwanis High School kids) to Pasadena to work on Rose Floats and to experience the work and talent involved in building the floats,” said Jim Reed, a Kiwanis chaperone for the event.“Kiwanis International has a float in the pa-rade every year.”
This year, two busloads ofValley Key Club students made the trip south.Although no students from Buchanan, Clovis High or Clovis West attended this year, they have done so in previous years.
Clovis East participants were Mason Owens, Caira Jackson-Brooks,Alessandra (Sandra) Quisa-do, Eirin Trencio and Makayla Lee. Clovis North participants in-cluded Olivia O’Laughlin, Lisa Woo, Brittney Rodriguez, Priscilla Fregoso, Lauren Tacotaco, McKenzie Capps, Emma Manley, Zack Green
and Jerimae Jamito.
Clovis East Key Club President Makayla Lee said the volunteers initially had little direction at the float building facility in Irwindale, but soon the backstage team began to assemble cut flowers into vials to put onto the float. She met many interesting people, including a group of elderly men from a church group volunteering together. One of them had a daughter who taught at Fres-no State.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Members of Clovis East’s Key Club who helped make floats for the Rose Bowl Parade are: Eirin Trencio, Mason Owens, Caira Jackson-Brooks,, Makayla Lee and Alessandra Quisado.

“He wanted to recommend me members to help communities out-to his daughter to help her out at side our district,” said Priscilla, the events at Fresno State,” Makayla Clovis North Key Club president. said. “Our overall experience was “Everyone had roles and jobs. We amazing. We made the best of it were surprised with the precision and were sore and our hands were and dedication that goes into cre-as wrinkly as raisins.”	ating the floats.”
Clovis East junior Sandra Quisa-         Senior Brittney Rodriguez has do said the work site looked “like a been volunteering on the parade beehive” with volunteers scurrying floats since 10th grade. She now from place to place. She was amazed serves as the Lieutenant Governor at the vast quantity of flowers and of local Key Clubs, including CUSD. that the young volunteers were         “This was my third and final given such important jobs.                year attending the trip,” Brittney “I was surprised that they openly said.“Each year was a different ex-took and trusted high school stu- perience and I never knew what to dents and even younger scouts to expect. As a sophomore, they had be part of it,” Sandra said. “We me up in the scaffolding gluing didn’t just get the jobs that no one rice seeds on the side of a roof and wanted or something you couldn’t this year my fellow Key Clubbers mess up on, we actually got to help and I cut and filled water capsules
on the floats and make floral with hundreds of lilies.” arrangements.”	The students joined hundreds
Reed said students were able to of volunteers between Christmas experience firsthand the essential and New Years to ready 39 floats work involved.                                    for the 129th Annual Rose Bowl “The students were able to see Parade in Pasadena. The floats were their hard work pay off on New joined by 20 bands and 20 eques-
Year’s Day when the country, as trian units as well.
well as the world, saw the beautiful         The only cars that appear in the floats as they took to the parade Rose Parade are those that carry route,” he said. “All jobs – from the Grand Marshal, the Mayor of pedal pusher to float builder are Pasadena, the Rose Bowl Game important to even make this hap- Hall of Fame Inductees and the pen.”                                                   Tournament of Roses President. Clovis North Junior Priscilla This year’s theme was “Making a Fregoso was encouraged to go after Difference” and honored actor and hearing what a wonderful experi- activist Gary Sinise as Grand Mar-ence previous Key Club attendees shall for his humanitarian work
had.	on behalf of veterans.
“It was an exciting way for our	The next Rose Parade plans fol-

Photo special to CUSD Today. Members of Clovis North’s Key Club who helped are: Olivia O’Laughlin, Lisa Woo, Brittney Rodriguez, Priscilla Fregoso, Lauren Tacotaco, McKenzie Capps, Emma Manley, Zack Green, and Jerimae Jamito.

low immediately after the prior playing dinosaur, pigs dancing the one ends. The float building process hula, dancing turnips and carrots starts with a specially-built chassis, and a 60-foot-tall talking robot, all upon which is built a framework controlled by computers.
of steel and chicken wire. In a	Although their 15-hour day end-process called "cocooning," the ed with a return home bus trip at frame is sprayed with a polyvinyl 10 p.m., and the Clovis students material, which is then painted in didn’t get to personally see their the colors of the fresh flowers or floats in motion, transforming loose dry material to be applied later. petals into art was an amazing ex-Every inch of every float must be perience.
covered with flowers or other nat-	Clovis North Key Club Adviser ural materials, such as leaves, seeds Sherri Lummis has accompanied or bark. The most delicate flowers her students on previous trips. are placed in individual vials of	“The students team up with water, which are set into the float other branches of the Kiwanis Club one by one.                                         and create community bonds with
Computerized animation has people of all ages and from all over had an enormous impact on Rose California,” she said. “The beauty Parade floats. Recent entries have of the floats and the memories of featured King Kong stomping the experience will stay with our through a floral jungle, a guitar- students for a long time.”

Page 12	CUSD Today	March 2018

Board: FROM PAGE 10

ting as recommended in the individualized education plan. ■ Approved the non-re-election of temporary certifi-cated employees listed in Res-olution No. 3621 as is annually required by Education Code. ■ Awarded bids for supplies and equipment for network equipment, food items for the Sierra Outdoor School, and
technology storage policy.
■ Approved an increase in fees for the district’s Campus Club Program with the start of the summer 2018 full-day program and the 2018-19 school year. More information about the small increase in fees for this program is avail-able from the Child Develop-ment Office.
■ Approved the participa-tion of students from the dis-trict’s comprehensive high schools in the Concurrent Public Higher Education Pro-gram for the second semester of the 2017-18 school year. Feb. 7

Student athletes from seven California Interscholastic Fed-eration (CIF) fall champi-onship teams and their coach-es were congratulated by the governing board Feb. 7. Buchanan High girls and boys cross country (including State Cross Country Champion Corie Smith), and boys water polo; Clovis High girls water polo; Clovis North girls tennis and gymnastics; and Clovis West High’s girls golf teams were presented plaques by the board commemorating their hard work and winning sea-sons.
Earlier in the meeting, the board heard reports on the district’s comprehensive well-ness program, the governor’s proposed budget and its im-pact on Clovis Unified, and the results of the three-month review of the Inter Cultural and Diversity Advisory Coun-cil (IDAC) system.
Members of the CUSD Ad-ministrative Services team up-dated the board on the gov-ernor’s proposal to, for the first time, fully fund the Local

Control Funding Formula, and provide some one-time dollars to California’s school districts to offset increasing costs related to special education services, STRS and PERS expenses, and other educational expenses. Still unanswered by the gov-ernor is how additional dollars earmarked for schools under Proposition 98 will be allo-cated.
Work is already underway to develop the district’s 2018-19 budget, including the Local Control Accountability Plan. There is a great deal of work still to be done in Sacramento before the state adopts its budget for the upcoming year. The governing board will see the Clovis Unified’s prelimi-nary budget proposal in June after the governor releases his May Revise to the budget pro-posal.
Shortly after the budget presentation, the board took action to adopt a resolution commending the Business Services Team for its 20th con-secutive Meritorious Bud get Award. Clovis Unified is the only California school district to receive this award 20 years running.
The 12 components of the IDAC system range from pro-fessional development to com-plaint handling processes, and from closing the achievement gap to acceptance of students and staff with disabilities, and include a 360-degree moni-toring system embedded in the Clovis Assessment System for Sustained Improvement (CLASSI).
Members of the adminis-tration, led by Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., pro-vided an update on planned refinements to the district’s professional development, hir-ing and complaint handling processes.
More information about the IDAC review and on-going work in the district to create an effective system of cultural understanding is available from the Office of the Deputy Superintendent.
In other action, the board:

Appointed	Dr.	Josh Shapiro, current deputy prin-cipal at the Reagan Educa-tional Center, to the position of principal of Clovis North Educational Center. Shapiro will take over from Scott Dille, Ed.D., effective July 1 following Dille’s appointment to the role of Clovis Area Superin-tendent.
■ Approved the recom-mended 2018 Summer School locations and calendar.
■ Accepted the quarterly Williams Act complaint sum-mary in which it was reported that zero complaints were re-ceived by the district in the second quarter of the year.
■ Approved the proposed deferred maintenance pro-gram for the 2018-19 school year.
■ Authorized an agreement with eSchoolView to provide website content management for all school and district web-sites, a mobile app for the district’s schools, and an au-tomated phone, text and email notification system to enhance communication with the com-munity.Work is underway to develop the updated school websites and launch the mo-bile apps in conjunction with the start of the 2018-19 school year.
■ Authorized the purchase of portable buildings needed for the upcoming school year through the use of a piggyback bid through Santa Rita Unified School District.
■ Authorized the district’s participation in the school bus compressed natural gas tank replacement program to replace aging CNG tanks on some school buses.
■ Approved the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) categorical school budgets, and the submission of Part I of the annual Title VII Indian Education Grant.

➤ The next regular meeting of the Governing Board is scheduled for March 21 with open session starting at 6:30 p.m. Complete minutes, agen-das and video recordings of meetings are available online at www.cusd.com.

Budding Piccasos?

Hundreds of young artists’ work now line the hallways of Clovis Unified’s Pro-fessional Development Building just out-side the Governing Boardroom. The collection is for the annual Elementary Art Showcase in which two pieces of art from each grade level at each elementary school is selected to be displayed. Recep-tions for the young artists and their proud families were held in February by school area. Each student got to say their name and grade into the microphone and then received a colorful ribbon from
CUSD Super-intendent Eimear O’-Farrell, Ed.D. The artwork will remain on display until May when the showcase will then feature artwork of in-termediate and high school stu-dents.

ciplinary action.
message to an adult and/ or school staff mem-
Parents:
and your family.
make them uncomfortable.
school staff.
you can make an informed decision of
Privacy setting:
Most social networking site
you can decide if you want your posts to be
March 2018	CUSD Today	Page 13

ONE POST OR SHARE CAN CHANGE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE

Talk to your kids TODAY about the power and danger of social media

Recently in Fresno County, five high school students were arrested

their lives changed forever, after posting threatening images to social media sites. The internet is a growing part of our lives, and we urge parents to take time today to talk to their child about the lasting impact one such post or share can have on the lives of young people and their families.

TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE ONLINE Students:	net activity or online posts/ messages that

ening posts on your online accounts as they
n Don’t make irresponsible, frightening or threat- n Report inappropriate or threatening online will likely result in serious legal and school dis-	content immediately to law enforcement or

threatening post or message that you see or
ations
n
Age restrictions:
monsensemedia.org and net-aware.org.uk a
n Never forward or re-post an inappropriate or	Other considerThink about the age re-receive online. Instead, report that post and/or        strictions on the sites your family uses. Com-re
ber immediately.
great sites to see what other parents think of n Encourage your friends to be responsible inter-	the age rating on different platforms so that
net and social media users.	whether your family should be using them.
Be aware of the consequences legal and
content you share and who you share it with;
n school-based) of inappropriate(use of the inter- n have privacy settings to help you manage thes net, including forwarding or re-posting of inap-
propriate or threatening content, to your child	shared with your online friends and followers
only or with the public.You can also decide n Be familiar with your child’s online activity, in-	who can contact you on sites you use within
cluding all social media accounts. Don’t be	the privacy settings.
afraid to“follow” or “friend” your kids on their	n Block and report:Make sure your children personal social media channels.                              know that they can block or report any user
n Talk to your kids regularly about their use of	that makes them feel uncomfortable online. the internet and social media, and create a safe	Childnet.com has some guidance on how to environment for your children to report inter-	report different websites of concern.

WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO SAY

“Each and every threat that comes to our attention will be taken seriously and investi-gated thoroughly. The consequences for those making these threats will be swift and severe regardless of their age. If someone is old enough to make threats through social media or any other means, they are old enough to be arrested and prosecuted.”
– CHIEF JERRY DYER, Fresno Police Department

"In the City of Clovis, any type of threat that we receive will be investigated thoroughly and treated seriously. Our oficers will do everything in our power to track down social media, or other threats to their source, and will aggressively pursue charges against any-one threatening the safety of our community." - CHIEF MATT BASGALL,
Clovis Police Department

“This is the time in a young person’s life when decisions made today can impact the rest of their lives, especially now with the prevalence of social media. We will take all threats seri-ously and take strong law enforcement action against anyone who threatens those in our community.You may think it is a joke, but it is certainly not funny when you are in front of a judge facing felony charges.”
– SHERIFF MARGARET MIMS,
Fresno County Sheriff’s Department

Page 14	CUSD Today	March 2018