update will start in July
n
CW library expanding,
Without the concern of disrupt-
uction modernization.
ments will also occur in the LMC,
Lecture Hall and East Gym.
begin!
Honor Roll

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

Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 20, No. 11

follow us on	TM               and at CUSD.COM

CLOVIS UNIFIED CLASS OF 2018!

A very big congratulations to all 3,366 Clovis Unified graduates. Commencement ceremonies around the district celebrated our Class of 2018. Proud friends and family cheered as students reached the culmination of their student career with the district. From here, some will continue into higher education and others will enter the workforce.We wish them all the very best!

See Page 5 for excerpts of graduation speeches.

See Pages 6-8 for photos.

Annual student information

Each year Clovis Unified School District requires parents to review the address, contact phone numbers, emergency and health information for their student that is contained in Parent Connect and to review the district’s policies and procedures. This year, the update process will occur online
between July 9 and Aug. 8. Per Clovis Unified policy and student safety, this information must be reviewed and updated before the new school year begins Aug. 20.
The following provides helpful information:
➤
Annual Update Window
July 9 to Aug. 8
■ Parents’ PINs and passwords will not be mailed home this year. PINs and passwords are the same as last year. If you forgot yours, click the “Need
Your Login Information?” link	All student records must on the Parent Connect web-	be updated with current site.	contact and emergency in-
■ Annual Information Up-	formation prior to the start date will open for all parents	of the 2018-19 school year. from July 9 to Aug. 8.
■ Complete information update for all of your CUSD students at one time.
■ Intermediate and high school parents must complete the updates by walk-through registration (Aug. 9 or 10, depending on the school site)
■ Elementary parents please complete the updates by Aug. 8. ■ Use the Parent Connect website: https://qweb.clovisusd.
k12.ca.us/ParentPortal
■ Completion of the Annual Information Update is mandatory for all parents.
Clovis Unified’s Technology Department will have a Parent Connect Help Desk available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursday July 9 to Aug. 8. The phone number is 327-0789.

Photos by Ron Webb CUSD Today

Summer construction starts quality facilities for its students.

Mickey Cox MPR
to be upgraded
CUSD Today
Using the final round of the 2012 voter-approved Measure A funds, Clovis West High, Kastner Intermediate and Mickey Cox Ele-mentary will all see a whirl of con-
and teachers have packed their
things and are happily enjoying
summer break, but that doesn’t
mean activity at CUSD schools has
stopped.
It’s that time of year. Students strClovis West’s library will be ex-panded and remodeled, as will its Lecture Hall. The library will have innovative, operable walls installed and glass partitions that will allow for flexible work spaces. Roofing
ing classroom instruction or daily and heater/air conditioning replace-
routines, summer is the ideal time	Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb.
Please see Starts, Page 13
to carry out construction and main-	Construction is underway at Kastner tenance projects that allow Clovis	Intermediate, where the administration Unified to continue providing high-     ➤	building is getting an extensive update.

Let the
games	CUSD schools on

2018 California Clovis North Unified Soccer is one of a

handful of teams selected to be filmed to document
See Page 10.
the athletes’ road trip and experiences at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. The team, which also includes members of the Northern California Special Olympics team, will travel in vans in late June and arrive in Seattle in time for the Special Olympics USA Opening Ceremony on July 1. Media partner ESPN will air the ceremony live at 12:30 p.m. Soccer competition will kick off July 2. Go Broncos!

Page 2	CUSD Today	June 2018

Secondary art exhibit yields talented works

Photo special to CUSD Today. Buchanan student Kayla Nichols’ painting “Hasnain” was the invitation cover art and earned a Best of School award.

n Paintings, pottery and pictures showcase student art

CUSD Today

Colorful paintings, detailed charcoal sketches, sculptures, pottery, photos and more filled the hallways of Clovis Unified’s Professional Development Building throughout the month of May. A reception was held May 10 for the CUSD Intermediate and High School Art Exhibit, and awards were presented to the talented artists in the Governing Boardroom in front of proud parents, siblings and art teachers.
The following, listed by categories, are this year’s high school award-winning en-tries:
Ceramics – Sculptures:Best of Show – Joseph Rodgers, “Growth,” Clovis North High; Best of School – Pa Houa Thao, “Red Wolf,” Clovis East High; Marcus Shouse,“Al-Laced,” Clovis High; Om Rat-naransy,“Paella,” Clovis North; and Alexa Gutierrez,“The Barren Forest,” Clovis West High.
Ceramics – Pottery: Best of Show – Chloe Swinney, untitled, Clovis; Best of

School – Olivia Lassley, “The First Vase,” Buchanan; Dallin Knudsen,“Ceramic Rev-olution #2,” Clovis East; Chase Lenert Mondou, “Organized Pot,” Clovis; Marc Brioni,“Flourish Twist,” Clovis West.
Drawing: Best of Show – Angel Hieng, “Boundless Gaze,” Clovis East; Best of School – Haley Nichols,“Dad,” Buchanan; William Vue,“Simple Beauty,” Clovis East; Nathan Oliva,“My New Dog Chloe,” Clovis; Alexia Estrada,“Joanne,” Clovis West.
Painting: Best of Show – Allen Bue-naventura, “Dreary Walks,” Clovis East; Best of School – Kayla Nichols,“Hasnain,” Buchanan; Nizeth Santoyo,“Sitting Bull,” Clovis East; Ivreese Tong,“Still Life Study,” Clovis North; Gagandeep Hans,“Songbird,” Gateway High.
2-D Media: Best of Show –Jade Knoblauch, “Emerald Alligator,” Clovis East; Best of School – An Ho,“Aestheticat,” Clovis East.
3-D Media: Best of School – Heavenly Her,“Your Sunset Giraffe,” Buchanan.
Photography – Altered: Best of Show – Patricia Navarro, “Unnoticed Beauty,” Clovis; Best of School – Elise Kurisu,“Man of the Woods,” Buchanan; Christopher

Watkins,“Behind the Boards,” Clovis;Vin-cent Bonaede,“Mini Fresno,“ Clovis North; Ryan Langston,“Strumming,” Clovis West. Photography – Classic: Best of Show
– Anna O’Meara,“The Stretch,” Buchanan; Best of School –Colton McFarland,“Steel Wool Vortex,” Buchanan; Kayleigh Her,“ Cotton Candy Heaven,” Clovis East; Kiley Beardsley,“Everyday,” Clovis; Eden Thom-sen,“Illumination,” Clovis North.
Ceramics – Intermediate School: Best of Show – Ariana Womack, “Colorful Bowl,” Reyburn Intermediate; Best of School, “Brooklyn Bowen, “Purple Coil Pot,” Reyburn.
2-D Art – Intermediate School:Best of Show – Sophia Gunlund,“Cumberbatch,” Kastner Intermediate; Best of School – Anniesa Ortiz, “Personal Portrait,” Alta Sierra Intermediate;Aiden Fitzgerald,“After the Climb,” Clark Intermediate; Julie Harris, “Bloom,” Granite Ridge Intermediate; Olivia Su, “Leopard,” Kastner; Cadence Cunha,“Tropical Paradise,” Reyburn.
3D Design – Intermediate School:Best of Show, Taylor Smith,“Midnight Stallion,” Clark; Best of School – Desiree Aldana, “The World of Art,”Clark.

June 2018	CUSD Today	Page 3

Theater talents celebrated Academy-Award style

n CN’s ‘Mary Poppins,’ BHS’‘Noises Off’ get Danny Awards

CUSD Today

Clovis Unified's hundreds of theater stu-dents celebrated the district's five high schools' 2017-18 musicals and plays in grand

style in May at the 47th Annu-al	Danny Awards.
The awards, named     after former Clovis Unified teacher and local the-ater icon Dan
Pessano, recognize the top talents within the district for the year.
The recipients are determined by a panel of anonymous judges who are professionals in the local theater arts community and are hired as consultants to attend every CUSD show of the school year.
Arriving in limousines and dressed in gorgeous gowns and stylish tuxedos, more than 60 nominees were introduced to a sea of cheering fans lining the red carpet that took nominees into the Mercedes Edwards Theatre.
Just like at the Academy Awards, these celebrities paused for the cameras and waved to the crowd.
Clovis North High’s “Mary Poppins” was announced the year’s winner for Best Musical,

and Buchanan High’s “Noises Off” won Best Play.
The awards show featured lively numbers from each high school musical, and Clovis Unified performing arts alumni served as presenters in announcing the Danny Award winners and nominees.
The 2018 Clovis Unified Danny Award winners are as follows:
■ Best Musical: “Mary Poppins,” Clovis North High
■ Best Musical Actor: Erik Olson (Bert, “Mary Poppins,” Clovis North)
■ Best Musical Actress: (Tie) Ellen Haux-hurst (Mary Poppins,“Mary Poppins,” Clovis North) and Mikayla Rockwell (Mary Poppins, “Mary Poppins,” Clovis North)
■ Best Featured Musical Actor: Michael Judge Ferrer (Piraguero-Piragua Guy, “In the Heights,” Clovis East High)
■ Best Featured Musical Actress: Erika Balakid (Daniela, “In the Heights,” Clovis East)
■ Best Supporting Musical Actor: Luke Colvard (Harry MacAfee,“Bye Bye Birdie,” Clovis High)
■ Best Supporting Musical Actress:Syd-ney Ennis (Winifred Banks,“Mary Poppins,” Clovis North)
■     Best Play: “Noises Off,” Buchanan High
■ Best Actor: Bryant Howard (Lloyd Dallas,“Noises Off,” Buchanan)
■ Best Actress:(Tie) Grace Pennell (Dotty Otley,“Noises Off,” Buchanan) and Serena Myers (Tansy McGinnis, “The Nerd,” Clo-vis)
■ Best Featured Actor: Isaac Gudino (Warnock Waldgrave, “The Nerd,” Clovis) ■ Best Featured Actress:Khadija Ahmed

(Maria, “Lend Me a Tenor,” Clovis West High)
■ Best Supporting Actor: Luke Colvard (Rick Steadman, “The Nerd,” Clovis) Best Supporting Actress: Autumn Anderson (Clelia Waldgrave,“The Nerd,” Clovis)
■ Director’s Awards: Kay Ferry, Kristin Macom, Sunshine De Castro,Abigail Nichol-son, Emelia Cameron, Kyra Smith, Cameron Barger, Kamryn Hemaidan, Caitlin Mosesian and Caleb Arizmendez
■ Technical Achievement Awards: Matthew Barile, Anyssa Chua, Kay Ferry and Ismael Serrano
■ Outstanding Contribution to CUSD Drama: Dave Berardi
■ Lifetime Achievement Awards:Dennis Runge (retiring from Mercedes Edwards Theatre)

Page 4	CUSD Today	June 2018

VISION

June 2018	CUSD Today	Page 5

Class of 2018 ready for tomorrow

Editor’s note: The Clovis Unified School District graduated 3,366 students in the Class of 2018. The following are excerpts from the class speakers at the graduation ceremonies.

Buchanan Jared Ruiz Nunez

Kermit the Frog once said,“Yeah, well, I’ve got a dream too, but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. That’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with.” Class of 2018, commit
to your dreams, goals and aspirations, but make your legacy have an impact on the people around you.
One of the greatest sufferings of the human being is being nothing to anyone.
Dream those dreams, reach those goals, aspire to be something greater than what you could ever imagine, but remember there’s more to it than stacks of Benjamin’s in your pocket.
Leaving a legacy doesn’t have to just be a metaphor.
…Embrace education, not only as a means to a successful life, but as a doorway to tol-erance, acceptance and as the tools necessary to steer a broken world towards love and compassion.
And most importantly, let the way you live change the lives of the people around you.

Clovis High Jordan Woolman

Here at Clovis High we have made many memories that will never be forgotten. … This unforgettable staff and campus will always be home because once a Cougar, (class says) always a Cougar.
Now despite all the obstacles throughout our time here – senioritis, acne, the teachers that refuse to round your 89.9 percent – we still managed to be here today. Standing here, I am so proud to be a part of this in-credible class, a class I am certain is well prepared to succeed. … We worked hard these four years and yes right now we are just receiving this empty diploma case, but that case is soon going to hold our future and is how we show that we truly are thankful for everyone who has helped us along the way.
Even though our journey together is com-ing to an end, let us be reminded of what the incredible Dr. Seuss once said: “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it hap-pened.”

Clovis East Lea Davila

The thing about the Clovis East graduating class of 2018 is that we are truly a pack.When you first start high school, nobody tells you that you will spend so much time here that you will know the campus even more than you do your
own house. For better or worse, Clovis East is home away from home, and administrators, teachers, staff, and most of all, our classmates, in just the same way, are our second family. We have supported each other, leaned on each other, celebrated birthdays together, celebrated holidays together, and loved each other, through good times and bad times. I don’t know where else you’ll find classmates like these who will cover for you as you walk out of seventh period just a tad bit too early, who will bring pizza into sixth period and offer it to the whole class, who will give
so much to their school and their peers. We may have started as strangers, but
you will never find a family as tight-knit, compassionate and kind as the Clovis East Class of 2018.

Clovis North
Ani Basmajian, Pooja Heragu, Michael Jia, Nolan Long and Estefania Martinez-Pardo
Estefania:…ready or not, we were board-ing the flight we know as high school, unaware of the adventure we were about to experience.

Michael: There were thunderstorms freshman year, a blizzard during our junior year. And yet, our dear flight attendants, our teachers, were there to keep us calm, keep us focused, and to remind us that tur-bulence in life comes and goes
Estefania: And then there are the passengers. Us. Together. On the same aircraft for four years.You can always count on learn-ing something interesting from the person who sits next to you on a flight.
Pooja: These were our friends -- ones who stayed up with us the entire flight, who made us laugh till we cried, and who were there for us during turbulent seasons in life.
Estefania: This leg of our journey is coming to an end. … It’s a big world Clovis North. So which gate do we choose? … The answer is… it doesn’t mat-ter which gate we choose because EVERY journey is unique and special. It’s what we do on the journey that’s important.
Ani: Class of 2018, ex-plore every corner, visit every cafe, and savor the sights, sounds and flavors of your new destination.
Michael:And realize that the best part of any journey is the unexpected.

Clovis West
Maya Mullen
Over the past four years, it was expected that we would learn something, and we did, but not in the way you all may think.We thought we would merely be taught new math equa-
tions, essay strategies, and possibly even get a glimpse of what the adult world would look like. But the lessons that we could not have predicted, or rather the lessons learned that were most important of all, were those of friendship, love, endurance and dedication. We didn’t learn this on our own, though.
It was our teachers who sat us next to different students which created the perfect means for a new friendship. It was our coaches who taught us to never give up and push ourselves to the limits. Lastly, it was our faculty who inspired us to soar high, and stay golden.
… There's an African proverb that says, "Smooth seas do not make skilled sailors.” ... The clouds that once ushered rain and darkened our sky will now bring color to our sunsets. … Individually, we may struggle like a single sailor on a ship without a crew, but together we are able to ride the waves into tomorrow where we will make the world a better place.

Gateway/Enterprise/Clovis Community Day School Emily Beckmann
Enterprise High
The first day of school, I met my current teacher, Mrs. Teevens. After being at school, I started to slack off and really butt heads with my teacher.When the work got hard, I started to give up and underestimate
myself, not thinking of the consequences of my behaviors.
Once I finished my junior year, we had a group meeting and I was told that it was going to be almost impossible for me to graduate on time.
I started to work my tail feathers off. While I was doing this, I began to become very close with my teacher. She believed in me and wanted to see me succeed and I sensed that in her. Awhile after that I became very sick again and landed myself in the hospital multiple times. Stressing over the fact that I was behind in credits and not knowing if I would graduate on time, we

called my teacher. She came up with a plan that she would come to the hospital and give me my tests and work. Never did I expect my teacher to do this, but I am so grateful she did.
…I would really like to thank Mrs. Teevens for believing in me and giving me hope when I could not believe in myself. Elizabeth Batta
Enterprise High
Can you guys believe it? We made it!
We struggled with the thought that we were not going to make it. The ones that did not or did believe in us, they motivated, en-
couraged, challenged and inspired us.
We all have a different past that has brought us here together.
My story begins as a young child who had issues with being impulsive. I always struggled with school, was extremely sensitive, and therefore would become easily upset.
.... Then I discovered I had [a medical situation]. I was not eating or sleeping. I did not have the energy to be around anyone. Luckily, that is when I transferred to En-terprise. I was delighted that I made that
choice.
…Graduation marks the end of yet an-other chapter closed in our lives. I am certain that many of us are already anxious about starting the next one because unlike an Eng-lish book, we cannot skip through the pages of life to see how long the next chapter is going to be. We all have our own book of life that has not yet been written, and every day that passes is another page we write ourselves.
Zachery Morris Gateway High
I started my high school career at Buchanan, and I made decisions early on that would change my high school days. … I ended up at Community Day School, and because of my mom’s
constant support, I met all the requirements to go back to Buchanan. Instead, I decided to attend Gateway. It was the best decision of my life.
I actually looked forward to school every day, and I got involved with everything that I could. I joined PASA, the Principal’s Advisory for Student Affairs, and was elected to be a member of the school site council. My coun-selor at the time, Mrs.Valdivia, knew about my interest in welding, so she put me in an ROP welding class at Clovis East.
Another class I really enjoyed is Orna-mental Horticulture with Mr.Voelz. I cannot think of anything better than starting my day in a beautiful garden. …
Fellow graduates, it has been an honor to be your classmate, and I hope all of you remember what we have learned here at Gateway: Acceptance of differences is good, choices matter and hard work pays off.

Clovis Online Selena Tejeda

When you end up preg-nant in high school, most people automatically give you a funny look and place you into a category and can almost see them think-ing “Oh she’s pregnant…
she won’t finish school…she ruined her life at such a young age…I feel bad for the baby not the mom.”
Being a parent is hard enough. Throw it into high school, boyfriend/girlfriend drama, hormonal changes, and all that good stuff, and parenting becomes harder than you can imagine. There were many times where I would cry at night while everyone else was asleep because I only felt like I failed.
As time moved forward, I decided my mindset had to change. I told myself that I will do everything in my power to give my daughter everything, no matter what it takes. I decided to leave my high school for Clovis Online, deciding that it would allow me the chance to complete high school and keep reaching toward my goals.
...Class of 2018, I would like to say to you, never give up, even when your life takes a turn you weren’t expecting. Keep your head high and keep going because a wise man always told me “It’s not about how you

start….it’s about how you finish.” Ireland Aivazian
Being at Clovis Online has opened up so many doors for me. I have been given opportunities that I would not have been able to do if I were in a tradi-tional high school. I have
been able to participate in a volunteer work, about 25 hours a month, teaching people in my community about the Bible. I have also been able to hold an internship for a year doing clerical work for a certified financial planner and then this past January I became a hired employee.
At Clovis Online, two electives I took were Computer Applications and On Your Own. The knowledge I gained in these classes has helped me in the job I have now.Another door that had opened for me was during my sophomore year, when I was able to take a class at Clovis Community College through the High School Enrichment Program. Lastly, one of my electives this year was Pharmacy Technician. Through the knowledge I gained in this class, I am able to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.
It took a lot of effort to get to this point. Clovis Online’s school work is not easy by any means. Even though my work pace is quick and faster than others, I had to really think, which is how school work should feel. We work extremely hard to get to the finish line. To be standing here in front of you all feeling accomplished, it was worth it.
Elizabeth Xiong
Clovis Online gave me a starting point, a beginning to my new life and some-where I was comfortable. I was able to learn at my own pace, and I didn’t feel embarrassed when I needed
to ask for help. I had options fitted for my unique situation, helping hands that would reach out to me.
Even though I did most of my learning independently, I was never by myself. Going to science labs and monthly meetings let me interact with my peers. It was like for the first time, I was able to stop and catch my breath. Clovis Online School returned my confidence back to me, and I know that it will continue to be a safe haven for others. … We all have our stories, we all have our injuries. We all know just how much being afraid can hold us back. And yet here we all are.We made it! Today is our day, and as I wish you all the best in the future, I say to you the words of Dr. Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any way you choose.You’re on your own.And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll
decide where to go.”

Clovis Adult Education Juan Arteaga
At 54 years old, I had no idea that I would be graduating and receiving my diploma from Clovis Adult, but here I stand – a graduating miracle!
What prevented me from finishing school was
a lack of confidence, as I struggled with reading and writing. I remember an English teacher saying to me that “you are a grammar teacher’s worst nightmare.” It was crushing, and I shut down, afraid to turn in any writing assignments. …
As time and years went by, however, something was missing. … While searching the internet, I came across Clovis Adult Ed-ucation. I jumped at the opportunity and enrolled immediately. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
It has been a joy coming to campus every day. The faculty and staff have been amazing, friendly and helpful. I would like to ac-knowledge three outstanding educational personnel: Ms. Reitz, Mrs. deCordova and Mrs. Nevills. … I am so grateful for these outstanding teachers who are forever in my heart. Without teachers like them, I wouldn’t be standing here.

➤ Please see Speakers, Page 8

— ABOUT US —

CUSD Today,Clovis Unified’s good news publi-cation, is sent directly to the homes of all CUSD parents and staff, as well as district supporters. In an effort to unify the CUSD community, the news-paper highlights the achievements of Clovis Unified students and staff; profiles new and updated Gov-erning Board policies; and shares general news and information happening within the district.
Circulation: 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

Graduation 2018
Page 6	June 2018

Clovis High School

MAY 30, 2018 | LAMONICA STADIUM | 691 GRADUATES

Valedictorians Yasser Abdul Bagi Narayana Adisasmito Smith
Danae Boydstun Sarah Chang Timothy Chang Megan Dean Jaden Devore Brandon Hatch Julie Hunter Christine Johnson Jared Lemon McKenna Lewis Sisi Li
Jim Malalis Kiana Reyes Kendra Salinas Jennifer Siechert
Rebecca Thiessen

Salutatorians Audrey Baumheckel Abraham Chavarria Elena Chittum
Coral Conroy Alyssa Domoto Alyson Goms Tyler Hensel Nicolas Keil Andrew Kelton Yimeng Li Jarett Massey
Abigail Nicholson

Advanced Studies Scholars of Distinction Yasser Abdul Bagi Narayana Adisasmito-Smith
Audrey Baumheckel Sarah Chang Abraham Chavarria Kelly Crouch Megan Dean Manuvir Dhaliwal Eric Figueroa Mason Fraser
Tyler Hensel Samantha Kandarian Nicolas Keil
Andrew Kelton Jared Lemon McKenna Lewis Sisi Li
Yimeng Li Diego Lopez Jarett Massey
Liane Matsunaga Brenda Carolina Mejia Es-
pinoza Caiu Moua
Abigail Nicholson Jordyn Ohashi Cooper Pendergast Katelyn Reeves Brooke Sauceda Jennifer Siechert Chloe Swinney Alexa Van Hooser Lucy Vasquez Isabella Xiong

Clovis East High School

Valedictorians Brooke Bahn Anmol Cheema Jeffery Dinh Jared Falcone Mya Felder Simran Marok
Noah Morgan Martinez Emily Saechao
Helen Schmidtke Quan Tran
Pa Zong Yang

Salutatorian Noah Yang

MAY 31, 2018 | LAMONICA STADIUM | 556 GRADUATES

Academic Scholars of Distinction
Sierra Cantu-Gutierrez Anmol Cheema
Casey Durham Kendall Eaton Areli Enriquez Jared Falcone
Marc Alexis Fernandez Eliza Gabito
Jaskirat Khehra Simran Marok
Noah Morgan Martinez Samantha McGinnis Zaiah Padilla
Yailin Romo Reynoso Emily Saechao Helen Schmidtke Anuvir Sekhon
Quan Tran Garrett Wamhof Kaelyn Xiong

Clovis Adult Education

JUNE 2, 2018 | MERCEDES EDWARDS THEATRE | 225 GRADUATES

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb | More photos at http://clovisunified.zenfolio.com/18cusdgraduations

Graduation 2018
June 2018	Page 7

Valedictorian Emily Laing

Salutatorian Brooke Higgins Rachel Vandevelde

Clovis Online School

JUNE 2, 2018 | MERCEDES EDWARDS THEATRE | 115 GRADUATES

Academic Scholars of Distinction
Joshua Alonzo Makena Henley Emily Laing Graziana Marziliano Zachary Rickard

Alternative Education

JUNE 4, 2018 | MERCEDES EDWARDS THEATRE | 52 GRADUATES

GATEWAY HIGH, ENTERPRISE HIGH, CLOVIS COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL

Valedictorians Tanzila Alam
Daniela Aurora Alvarez Zachary Bump
Ava Folland Jayda Fortney Conner Grannis Aeknoor Heer Pooja Heragu Andonios Karas Heesu Kim Ashley Lum Neilabjo Maitra Harnoor Mann Evan Omi
Christine Pambukyan Shelby Rosenfeld Katherine Shin
Mia Shokry Layal Suboh Lyndsie Wong
Grace Younglund

Salutatorians Morgan Curtis Tyler Deis Matias Ilic Maram Kiran
Estefania Martinez Pardo Camryn McGuire Christian Reta
Charysa Santos Kaitlyn Vance

Academic Scholars of Distinction
Daniel Adam Ashtyn Adams Tanzila Alam
Daniela Aurora Alvarez Caleb An
Joaquin Andrade Tuesta Graciella Angeles
Jon Kal-El Angeles Amira Aoude Alyssa Aprile
Evan Belli
Rachel Billington Joshua Boele Azaad Brar
Ashley Christensen Rehet Chugh Morgan Curtis Sahil Dang
Tyler Deis Blayney Dolan Dane Dormedy Aditya Dwivedi

Clovis North High School

JUNE 5, 2018 | VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM | 580 GRADUATES

Andrea Ferri Ava Folland Jayda Fortney Nathan Futoran Simran Ghuman Ranpreet Gill Hannah Gonos Harika Gopi Conner Grannis Elizabeth Grubb Taylor Heaton Aeknoor Heer Pooja Heragu David Hoffman Matias Ilic Madison Isaak Michael Jia Andonios Karas Heesu Kim Sophie Lewis Trent Lindsey Nolan Long Ashley Lum Michelle Lum Neilabjo Maitra Harnoor Mann Meher Mann
Estefania Martinez Pardo Hannah Mcmills
Gun Ho Moon Sean Mount Evan Omi Mark Padilla
Christine Pambukyan Eshani Patel
Alan Pham Georgia Phillips Sagar Pyreddy Christian Reta
Santiago Rodriguez Shelby Rosenfeld Jujhar Sandhu Charysa Santos Jacob Schoenburg Palveen Sekhon Muhammad Shaikh Dustin Shin Katherine Shin
Mia Shokry Brianna Stanley Layal Suboh Zohaib Suhail Gabriella Taglione Camille Utleg Kaitlyn Vance James Winton Lyndsie Wong Grace Younglund

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb | More photos at http://clovisunified.zenfolio.com/18cusdgraduations

Graduation 2018
Page 8	June 2018

Clovis West High School

Valedictorians Montaser Ahmad Orian Bar
Nicole Beach Jordan Bouskos Hadley Daniels Brittney Hahn Karsten Kolbe Brock Lowe Adriana Maldonado Andrew Pouzakov Kenna Scott

Salutatorians Yusuf Ahmad Lauren Holtermann Elaine Kodama Amira Ringgold Dustyn Schramm Dylan Schramm Christina Vang Julius Velasco Malia Yamamura

JUNE 6, 2018 | VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM | 498 GRADUATES

Scholars of Academic Distinction
Sara Abdel-Magied Montaser Ahmad Yusuf Ahmad Nicole Beach Jordan Bouskos Michelle Cha
Tzu-Lin Chen Hadley Daniels Neena Dosanjh Aya Enkoji Caroline Fanelli Nastasja Gularte Brittney Hahn Mason Harris James Ikemiya Elaine Kodama Karsten Kolbe Janet Lin
Brock Lowe Larissa Mitsuyoshi Hannah Nii Madison Nii Juliette Owada Andrew Pouzakov Jenna Webb
Alya Wilkinson-Hayat Malia Yamamura

Perfect Attendance K-12 Lindsey Crownover Michael DeHaeseleer Victoria DeHaeseleer

Valedictorians Elizabeth Alarcon Jacob Baker Joshua Bartel Andrew Bronson Shelby Brunzell Arthur Carlos Matthew Clark Kathryn Colburn Jason Datsko Sydney Fox
Tyler Hall Komal Hombal Jamin Jones
Samantha Lynes Joseph Malcolm Joy Manion Colton McFarland Zachary Menz Molly Millar Nicholas Moore Payton Nance Haley Nichols Emily Nieman Katie Nili
Anna O’meara Elizabeth Pedersen Jayasuriya Senthilvelan Alysha Mercedes Spires Emily Varney

Salutatorians Bianca Burgos Clare Hernandez Grace Ann Peterson
Omar Yehia Radwan Daniel Stephen Trejo

Academic Scholars of Distinction
Elizabeth Alarcon Alyssa Arnold Jacob Baker Carsen Beckwith Eryn Berger Madison Braum Andrew Bronson Shelby Brunzell

Buchanan High School

JUNE 7, 2018 | VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM | 649 GRADUATES

Arthur Carlos Matthew Clark Cade Coelho Kathryn Colburn Jason Datsko
Victoria DeHaeseleer Kelsey Ewing Sydney Fox
Lasya Priya Gudipudi Hayden Hansen Spencer Heimerdinger Clare Hernandez Nolan Hesler
Allison Hodge Komal Hombal Alexander Inouye Pavneet Kaur Crystal May Le Melanie Leon Evan Li Samantha Lynes Joy Manion
Rae Melencion Manzano Madelyn Mason
Colton McFarland Zachary                   Menz Molly Millar
Nicholas Moore Payton Nance Ethan Nguyen Trina Nguyen Kayla Nichols Emily Nieman Katie Nili
Anna O'Meara Jason Paul Jaclyn Perales Grace Peterson Gavin Poulsen Omar Radwan Micarah Roseno
Banjot Singh Saini Morgan Sakomoto Jayasuriya Senthilvelan Puneet Kaur Sidhu Anthony Tolbert Megan Torres
Jesse Traskin Emily Varney Seth Williams Seonghwa Yook
Mariela Zarate Mendoza

Photos special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb | More photos at http://clovisunified.zenfolio.com/18cusdgraduations

Speakers:Students celebrate earning CUSD diploma

FROM PAGE 5
Christian Hinojosa-Silva
Having to live on my own at 17, I didn’t have the resources or a stable home so I could attend high school. As a 17 year old, I was forced to get a job and stay on the streets for two months. …
But I had to work every day, no exceptions. I had to pay rent and buy my own food. Luckily, I met the love of my life and now we have four beautiful children together: ages 3, 4, 7, and 10. I live for my kids. They are my world.
One day I said to myself,“I have to make a change - not for me, but for the future of my family.” I want to show them that I can become someone important in my com-munity, and that even when faced with

struggles, you can always come out on top! … My ambitions are to continue going
to college and to continue into the police academy and becoming a law enforcement officer. I will succeed and I will go on with my life and become the best person I can in this world.
Crystal Espinoza
Becoming a teenage mother was a life-changing experience. I had to quickly grow up and become re-sponsible. … I started my career as a stylist and also worked a second job so that I could support my
family.
…Like many people, I have been through some difficult times in my life: marriage at a young age, suffering from domestic violence for almost 10 years, going through a divorce,

and losing family members, including my own child. Overcoming all of these things made me realize that going back to school and earning my diploma was something that I could accomplish, so I enrolled at Clovis Adult in 2017.
…The Clovis Adult faculty and staff have supported and encouraged me throughout this process and they have equipped me with the tools I need to have in order to be successful, not only in academics but in life. ...As I’ve attained my initial goal of earning my high school diploma, it’s now time to chase new goals. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their
dreams.
Mark Downs
I had just turned 18, and I thought I had all the answers in the world. So I did like any good 18 year old who had all the answers would do, I quit school!

… At the age of 50, I was ready to make a commitment to go back to school, complete my credits, and earn my high school diploma. I enrolled in Clovis Adult School,April 2014, de-termined and dedicated to finish this time. …
March 13 of this year I took my final test, and today I stand here proudly, as a graduate of the Class of 2018.
…As I look back at the last four years, I feel so proud that I have achieved my goal with all the glory going to God. My experience here has given me the confidence to further pursue my education in order to improve my work opportunities.
The moral of my story is, never give up on your dreams.

June 2018	CUSDToday	Page 9

CUSD students earn the seal of biliteracy

By Supplemental Services CUSD Today

Clovis Unified School Dis-trict’s Class of 2018 increased the number of student earn-ing the State Seal of Biliteracy this year. The biliteracy pro-gram recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing one or more languages in addition to English.
This year, Clovis Unified had 135 graduates earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. This is an increase of 32 students from last year. Forty-five of these students are former English learner students. Stu-dents became proficient in Chinese, French and Spanish

as well as English.
Students were recognized at their high school gradua-tion ceremonies with the State Seal of Biliteracy Medal-lion and Certificate.
Alyssa Perkins, senior at Clovis North High School shared;“I think the biliteracy seal is an important asset because I hope to travel to French speaking countries to help teach English. Being fluent in French will help me achieve these goals and help those kids learn Eng-lish.”
Other purposes of the biliteracy program are to en-courage pupils to study lan-guages, provide employers with a method to identify people with language and

➤ State Seal of Biliteracy CUSD Class of 2018

Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 German . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Chinese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

biliteracy skills, strengthen     “For the scholarly student intergroup relationships and     who would like to continue affirm the value of diversity, with their education in col-and honor the multiple cul-     lege, a minimum two years tures and languages of a com-     of a World Language is re-munity.                                     quired. However, for those “As we propel high school     ready to enter the work force, graduates toward career and     they’ll receive a certificate college readiness, the State     that recognizes them as a Seal of Biliteracy helps district     bilingual and biliterate person achieve this goal,” said MiaYia     qualified to impact the world. Moua, teacher on special as-     This prestigious award sets signment for English learners. graduates apart from their

peers, certifying them as pro-ficient in two languages.”
Participation in the state biliteracy program continues to be voluntary.While fluency in more than one language has always been an admirable skill, biliteracy is increasingly important to employment in an international and global context. Earning the State Seal of Biliteracy requires students to meet several rig-orous criteria as outlined by the California Department of Education.
Vicky Xiong, Ed. D., a Hmong teacher at Buchanan and Clovis high school sees great value in students pur-suing the seal.“As a Hmong language teacher, I would like to extend an invitation to

any student who is interested in the learning the Hmong language and culture to come and join us next year by en-rolling in Hmong 1 at Buch -anan or Clovis High. They do not have to be Hmong to enroll in the Hmong classes. It is a language that is in de-mand in the Fresno/Clovis area and taking it for two years satisfies the foreign/ world language requirement to go to college.”
Hmong is also offered at Clovis East High as an option for foreign language.
Clovis Unified is commit-ted to honoring students and their families in meeting the demands of the SSB and con-gratulate each of the honorees and their families.

Students excel at first-ever Hmong Academic Decathlon

Photo special to CUSD Today. Sandy Thao (first place: traditional talent), teacher Xiong-Lor (third place Clovis High), Michelle Vue (third place writ-ten translation), Kylie Her (third place speech winner).

Photo special to CUSD Today. Marathon winners Kyle Yang, Benjamin Chang, Johnathan Vang, Daniel Yang, Sherina Lee.

Photo special to CUSD Today. Speech winners: Kylie Her (Buchanan third place speech winner), teacher Xiong-Lor, Nouchia Lee (Clovis High first place speech winner).

n Event showcases traditional and modern culture

CUSD Today

Three Clovis Unified high schools took part in the first-ever Hmong Academic De-cathlon held recently in Fresno, with Clovis High’s team earning third-place overall and several CUSD students earning medals.

More than 200 students took part in the event that featured competitions in categories ranging from Hmong culture and history to traditional talents and story writing. The Fresno Center hosted the decathlon and was assisted by volunteers with the Southeast Asian Task Force and the Hmong commu-nity.
Teams from Clovis East, Clovis and Buchanan high schools participated along with nine other schools from around the

Central Valley. Hmong language teacher Vicky Xiong took 12 Buchanan students and 17 Clovis High students; instructor Ken Lee brought 14 students from Clovis East. “The decathlon paints the overall foreign language in Hmong better, adds more value and shows that we care about what our stu-dents are learning in our world language classes,” Lee said. “Best of all, students get to meet other students in the Central Valley and know that there are many Hmong
classes out there, too.”
Awards earned by Clovis Unified com-petitors include:
From Buchanan:
■ Ryan Her, third place for essay.
■ Sandy Thao, first place for traditional talent.
■ Michelle Vue, third place for Hmong translation.
■ Kylie Her, third place for the speech on the Hmong bride price; earned $500 scholarship.
From Clovis High:
■ Clovis High placed third as a school,

and will receive $500 to use in the class-room.
■ Chali Lee, second place for essay.
■ Daniel Yang, Kyle Yang, Sherina Lee, Benjamin Chang and Johnathan Vang, first place for the Hmong marathon.
■ Nouchia Lee, first place for speech and will receive $1,500 in scholarship. Her speech was on using education as the key to getting families out of poverty.
From Clovis East:
■ Pa Houa Lee, second place, for trans-lation (writing).
■ Vichai Thao, second place, for modern talent.
■ Alissa Yang, Thomas Xiong, Cha Yang and Amy Moua, second place, Hmong Aca-demic Bowl.
The event was sponsored by Fresno State, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Fresno City College, The Fresno Center, Granville Homes, Community Medical Cen-ters, Doughboy Donuts, Clovis Unified, Fresno Unified, Central Unified, Sanger Unified, and Misty and Phong Yang.

Robotic awards for BHS, CN

The Buchanan Bird Brains competed at the Robotics Central Valley Regional Qual-ifier and won three awards at the competition: The Pit Safety	Award,	the Judges’Award and the Wood-ie Flowers Finalist Award.
The Clovis North Robotics team,“6305 Stable Circuits,” won the Safety Award and the Gracious Professionalism Award at the event.

cket is available online.
Feb. 2, 2019, or whose children will be 5 years old between
For information or assistance, please call (559) 327-
Clovis Unified summer hours
The camp offers 10 hours of instructions over four days
Registration is due by July 12.
Re-apply for no-cost meals
Page 10	CUSD Today	June 2018

➤ ANNOUNCEMENTS

Clovis Unified summer public swim schedule

Looking to cool off this summer? The pools at selected	■ June 19-21, Clovis West and Clovis High
Clovis Unified schools will be open to the public most	■ June 25 and 27, Buchanan and Clovis High (excludes Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 19     June 26)
through Aug. 2.	■ July 3-5, closed for Fourth of July Week Public open swim is from 1 to 3 p.m. and the cost is $3	■ July 10-12, Clovis West and Clovis High
for adults and $2 for children.	■ July 17 and 19, Clovis West and Clovis High (excludes Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.     July 18)
A lifeguard will be on duty.	■ July 24-26, Clovis West and Clovis High The schedule and pool locations are:	■ July 31-Aug. 2, Buchanan and Clovis High

Preschool registration goes online	has about 80 members.

For the first time, Clovis Unified’s preschool registration     Laptop Camp set Aug. 6-9
CUSD Laptop Camp will be eld Aug. 6 to 9 at Alta
pa Families whose children will be 4 years old on or before     Sierra Intermediate for studentshentering sixth through

Clovis Unified’s preschool programs.
seventh-graders as they will be participating in Clovis
Sept. 2 to Dec. 2, 2018, are eligible to enroll those children     eighth grade. The course is especially beneficial to incoming in To register, go to www.cusd.com, select “Parents,” then     Unified’s laptop program at their schools in the fall.
from the menu on the left; read i struct ons; click the
corner; and begin.
Excel and the internet.
“My Student” and then “Preschool.n Open i“Registration” and provides hands-on instruction using Word, PowerPoint, orange “Online Registration” button at top right-hand         Students use their own computers and will need wireless capabilities to participate; a limited number of loaner com-
9180.
puters are available and can be requested when registering. There are two sessions offered, one in the morning from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and the other in the afternoon from 12:30
Clovis Unified School District’s Administrative Offices     to 3 p.m. The camp costs $70.
hours now through Aug. 3.
at 1450 Herndon Ave. in Clovis will be operating on summer         To register online, visit cusdlaptop2018.eventbrite.com. The District Office will be open Mondays through         For more information, visit www.cusd.com/laptops.
Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The District Office will
closed on July 4 in honor of Independence Day.
Patriotic Concert June 29
they will need to reapply for the 2018-19 school year.
be closed on Fridays during the summer. It will also be         Parents or guardians of students who received free and Regular business hours will resume Aug. 6 with offices     reduced-price meals in the recent school year are reminded open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.                              Those families receiving a letter prior to the start of school stating that their child is eligible for no-cost meals
The Clovis Community Choir will hold a free Patriotic     based on the household’s eligibility for CalWORKS, CalFresh, Concert at 7 p.m. June 29 at the Paul Shaghoian Concert     or FDPIR will not need to fill out a 2018-19 application. Hall, located on the Clovis North Educational Center Cam-     However, if there are other children in household for whom pus.                                                                                             they have not received a letter, they should call Clovis The choir is part of the Clovis Community Education     Unified’s Campus Catering with those names so that those
Department at Clovis Unified’s Clovis Adult Education and     students may be qualified as well.

No-cost summer breakfast, lunch program begins June 18

All children in the Clovis Unified community may take part in the no-cost USDA Summer Breakfast and Lunch Program. The program offers a no-cost breakfast and lunch to children 1 to 18 years of age. Anyone over age 18 can purchase breakfast for $1.75 and lunch for $3.50. All meals are served Monday through Thursday in the cafeterias of Miramonte, Jefferson, Pinedale, Moun-tain View, Weldon and Tarpey elementary schools; Reyburn Intermediate; and Clovis Community Day School. There is no registration required. Students do not need to attend summer school to take advantage of the no-cost meals.
Meals will not be served on July 4, and at some sites, will not be available on July 5 (as noted below); meals are not served on Fridays.

Dates and times for the program are as follows:

■ Jefferson Elementary
Dates: June 18-July 12 (closed July 4-5) Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 to 11:30 a.m.
■ Miramonte Elementary
Dates: June 18-July 12 (closed July 4-5) Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to noon ■ Pinedale Elementary
Dates: June 18-July 12 (closed July 4-5) Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 to 11:30 a.m. ■ Tarpey Elementary
Dates: June 18-July 12 (closed July 4-5) Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 to 11:30 a.m.
■ Mountain View Elementary Dates: June 18-July 12 (closed July 4-5) Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11 to 11:30 a.m. ■ Weldon Elementary
Dates: June 25- July 26 (closed July 4) Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ■ Reyburn Intermediate
Dates: June 18-July 26 (closed July 4) Breakfast: 8:30 to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ■ Clovis Community Day
Dates: June 18-July 26 (closed July 4-5) Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to noon

A student’s eligibility status from the 2017-18 school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 op-erating days or until a new determination is made. When the carryover period ends, students will be charged the full price for meals unless the household receives a notification letter for free or reduced price meals. School officials are not required to send reminder or expired eligibility no-tices.
Please note that parents may apply any time during the school year; if an application has been denied and the household size increases or the income goes down, or if one becomes eligible for CalWORKS, CalFresh, or FDPIR, parents should reapply.
Applications will be available online in July. Paper ap-plications will be mailed to all Clovis Unified households in August and will be available at all school sites as well as in the Campus Catering office.
Details: Campus Catering at 327-9140.

District schools earn place on California’s honor roll

CUSD Today

Clovis Unified School District is one of 24 districts in California and the only district in the Central Valley to be recognized this year as a California Honor roll School District.
The announcement was made recently when it was also learned 22 CUSD schools have earned a place on the 2017-18 Cali-fornia Honor Roll for high-performing schools by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) and Educa-tional Results Partnerships (ERP).
The annual Honor Roll is part of a na-

tionwide effort to recognize schools leadint the way in helping stu-dents achieve at the highest academic levels. It recognizes public elementary, inter-mediate and high schools
that demonstrate consis-tently high levels of student academic achievement, im-provement in achievement over time, and reduction in
achievement gaps. For high schools, Honor Roll recognition in-
cludes high college readiness in students. This year, the California Honor Roll

recognized 1,798 higher per-forming schools that are dis-tinguished for their aca-demic achievement and closing achievement gaps. Clovis Unified schools
receiving the honor are: Elementary: Boris, Clovis, Cole, Fancher Creek, Fort Washington, Gettysburg, Jefferson, Lin-
coln, Mickey Cox, Miramonte, Mountain View, Oraze, Sierra Vista,
Tarpey, Temperance-Kutner and Weldon Intermediate: Clark, Kastner, Granite

Ridge, Reyburn
High School: Clovis and Clovis West In determining the recipients, ERP and
CBEE looked for a common set of success factors including having clear, specific learn-ing objectives aligned to college and career readiness, along with evidence-based in-structional practices; establishing a system-wide mission of college and career readiness for all students; investing in human capital; maintaining data and assessment systems to monitor school and student per-formance; and deploying resources and guidance to support schools’ efforts to pre-pare all students for college and career.

Clovis West athlete wins Errotabere
SPORTS

June 2018	CUSD Today	Page 11

Spring championships around the district

Elementary
The Clovis Unified School District Elementary Track and Field Championships closed out the elementary sports season with top com-petitors from each district area competing May 25 at Clovis East High.
Overall combined team scores put Mickey Cox Ele-mentary (130) on top, fol-lowed by Fugman Elemen-tary (123), Cedarwood Ele-mentary (120) and Copper Hills Elementary (118).
The grade-level team re-sults were the following:
Fourth grade: girls, first Cedarwood Elementary, sec-ond Tarpey Elementary; boys, first Copper Hills Ele-mentary, second Mountain View Elementary.
Fifth grade: girls, first, Freedom Elementary, second Boris Elementary; boys, first Maple Creek Elementary, second Dry Creek Elemen-tary.
Sixth grade: girls, first Fugman Elementary, second Cedarwood; boys, Mickey Cox Elementary, second Copper Hills.
The district’s Spring Ele-mentary Championships were held the end of April for spring sports. Baseball, softball and boys volleyball teams representing season winners and wildcards from each of the district’s five school areas met at the ball-fields at Buchanan High.
Riverview Elementary boys volleyball won the championship game against runner-up Reagan Elemen-tary.
Dry Creek Elementary took the softball finals against

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Clovis Unified’s Elementary School District Championships were held at the Reagan Educational Center track facilities. Mickey Cox Elementary’s squad came in with the highest combined team score.
Nelson Elementary in a com- eighth grade, Granite Ridge, petitive game.                           Reyburn and Clark Interme-In baseball, three co- diate (tie); boys tennis, Gran-cham pion awards were ite Ridge; boys track, Clark; earned. Garfield Elementary girls track, Granite Ridge; beat Fort Washington. Fug- girls swimming, Granite man Elementary defeated Ridge; boys swimming, Kast-Freedom Elementary. And ner; boys golf, Granite Ridge; Boris Elementary topped Red and girls badminton, Granite
Bank Elementary.	Ridge.

Intermediate	High School
The CIAL varsity cham-	The Tri-River Athletic pions for the spring are as League spring champions are follows: boys baseball, seventh as follows: badminton, grade Alta Sierra Intermedi- Buchanan High; baseball, ate; boys baseball, eighth Clovis West High; boys golf, grade,Alta Sierra and Kastner Buchanan; softball, Clovis Intermediate (tie); girls soft- High; boys swimming, Clovis ball, seventh grade, Granite North High; girls swimming, Ridge Intermediate; girls soft- Buchanan; boys tennis, Clovis ball, eighth grade, Clark and North; boys track, Clovis Alta Sierra; boys volleyball, North; girls track, Buchanan; seventh grade, Reyburn In- and boys volleyball, Buch-termediate; boys volleyball, anan.

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Rene Errotabere Scholarship Most Competitive Athlete Award finalists are, from left,An-thony Montalvo, Jared Aguilar, Tykee Woods (winner), Trent Lindsey and Tori Mueller.

Clovis West’s Tykee Woods won Clovis emplifies the award namesake – late Clovis Unified’s Rene Errotabere Scholarship Most Unified administrator and coach Rene Er-Competitive Athlete Award in May. Woods, rotabere – with his determination and hard who has signed to play football for Sacra- work.“No matter what the odds are, never mento State in the fall, is a three-year give up,” was a favorite piece of advice of Clovis West varsity player in football, vol- Mr. Errotabere.
leyball and track. He is also a three-year        Tykee received a $2,500 scholarship and scholar athlete earning a 3.5 GPA and semi-finalists of the award received a $500 above.                                                            scholarship. Semi-finalists are Anthony Tykee overcame adversity in his youth Montalvo, Buchanan High, Tori Mueller, and said his life turned around when he Clovis High, Jared Aguilar, Clovis East came to Kastner Intermediate in seventh High, and Trent Lindsey, Clovis North
grade. The selection panel said Tykee ex- High.

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Hundreds of California’s fastest high school swimmers competed at the 2018 CIF State Swim and Diving Championships held at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex.

CUSD swimmers place at state

Clovis Unified aquatic athletes competed	fourth, 1:23.22
against some of the best at the 2018 CIF	■ Boys 100 back: Austin Lane, Clovis State Swim and Diving Championships held     West, seventh, 49.64
May 18 and 19 at the Clovis Olympic Swim	■ Boys 400 free relay: Clovis North, Complex at Clovis West High. Thousands     eighth, 3:07.09
watched the competition that brought to-	■ Girls 100 free: Abby Samanski, Clovis gether California’s top high schools swimmers     West, sixth, 49.99
and divers. Clovis West’s girls swim team	■ Girls 200 free: Abby Samanski, Clovis finished eighth and Clovis North’s boys     West, fourth, 1:48.53
team finished 11th. The following are Clovis	■ Girls 500 free: Averee Preble, Clovis Unified’s competitors who medaled and     High, third, 4:48.93
placed in the state’s top eight:	■ Girls 200 free relay: Clovis West, tied ■ Boys 200 free: Benjamin Forbes, Clovis     for third, 1:34.21
North, eighth, 1:39.22	■ Girls 400 relay: Clovis West, sixth, ■ Boys 200 free relay: Clovis North,     3:26.87.

Photo special to CUSD Today by Ron Webb. Clovis North long jumper Caleb Foster captured fourth-place in the 2018 CIF State Track and Field Championships.

Clovis North fifth in state track

The state’s fastest racers, highest jumpers	■ Boys long jump: Clovis North’s Caleb and farthest throwers thrilled fans at the     Foster, fourth, 23-07.00; Clovis North’s 2018 CIF State Track and Field Champi-     Christian Wood, sixth, 23-01.75
onships held June 1-2 at Clovis Unified’s	■ Boys triple jump: Clovis North’s Jared Veterans Memorial Stadium, with more     Whitt, third, 48-07.00
than 17,500 people attending the two-day	■ Boys shot put: Buchanan’s Christian event. Clovis North’s boys team earned fifth     Johnson, ninth, 54-05.00; Clovis North’s place with several standout performances     Tobin Phillips, tenth, 53-03.50
by its athletes, including a second-place	■ Boys discus: Buchanan’s Christian John-finish for the boys 400m relay team with a     son, eighth, 180-00
time of 41.14.	■ Boys mixed 200-dash wheelchair: Clovis’ Here are other top-10 results of Clovis     Shawn Vanaman, 43.20
Unified participants:	■ Boys mixed 400-dash wheelchair: Clovis’ ■ Boys 3200 meter: Clovis North’s Isaiah     Shawn Vanaman, first, 1:22.14
Galindo, ninth, 9:05.80	■ Girls 1600 meter: Buchanan’s Meagen ■ Boys 110 high hurdles: Clovis’ Jake     Lowe, ninth, 4:52.10
Woods, fifth, 14.22; Clovis North’s Caleb          ■ Girls 3200 meter: Buchanan’s Meagen Foster, seventh, 14.62                                        Lowe, seventh, 10:26.32; Buchanan’s Corie
■ Boys 300 intermediate hurdles: Clovis’     Smith, eighth, 10:29.17
Jake Woods, fourth, 37.57                                      ■ Girls shot put: Buchanan’s Maren Butler, ■ Boys 400 meter relay: Clovis North,     43-02.25; Clovis North’s Jordan Williams,
second, 41.14	ninth, 41-05.00

Clovis North athlete earns B’nai B’rith

The 2018 B’nai B’rith Stu-	munity and school involve-dent Athlete Award was pre-	ment. Phillips received a sented to Clovis North High	$2,500 scholarship for her senior Georgia Phillips, who	selection. Each nominee has a 4.3 grade point average,	earned a $500 scholarship. is a standout in water polo	The other nominees from and swimming. She is a three-	Clovis Unified schools are year varsity letter winner in	Trever Ervin, Buchanan High, both sports, a three-time	football and wrestling; Seth scholar athlete award winner	Nevills, Clovis High, wrestling and three-time defensive	and football; Noah Martinez, MVP. She holds the school’s         The B’nai B’rith awards Clovis East High, basketball; record for most blocked shots students annually for their and Rodney Wright, Clovis (goalie). Phillips plans on at- athletic     and     academic West High, football and base-tending UCLA in the fall.         achievements, as well as com- ball.

Gift to Bud Rank’s library
BHS student earns national scholarship
The Clovis East college and career classes participated

	PHOTOS:“around – f

FC Multicultural Fair In late spring, Fanche
Fair featuring a variety of performances representin
	c

r                                                   l d
g	y

			

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Page 12	CUSD Today	June 2018

Photo special to CUSD Today. Five CUSD students selected as AMAE scholarship recipients are: Cheyne Sauceda, Daniela Lupercio Hernandez, Mark Padilla, Elizabeth Alarcon and Diego Lopez.

Eight honored with AMAE awards
The Association of Mexican American Educators of Fresno honored eight Clovis Unified students and educators at its annual “Dia del Maestro” and Student Scholarship Awards Banquet in May.
Five outstanding Clovis Unified students were selected as $1,000 scholarship recipients: Cheyne Sauceda and Da-niela Lupercio Hernandez,Clovis West High;Mark Padilla, Clovis North High; Elizabeth Alarcon, Buchanan High; and Diego Lopez, Clovis High.
Three educators from Clovis Unified School District were selected as educators of the year: Nick Gonzalez, in-structional aide, Red Bank Elementary; Richard Delgado,stu-dent relations liaison, Clovis West; and Aprille Meza, Student Services and School Attendance assistant director.
The Pinedale Elementary School’s Folklorico performed during the banquet.
AMAE awarded $30,000 in students scholarships this year and had over 400 people in attendance. Johnny Baltiera,AMAE’s current president, said this year’s scholarship and banquet attendance was a record and thanked the community and sponsors for all their support.
The mission of the Association of Mexican American Educators, Inc., is to ensure equal access to financial resources for a quality education for Mexican American/Latino students at all levels, validate and affirm cultural and linguistic diversity, advise local/state boards, legislators, ad-ministrators, and faculty on educational and financial policy, work in partnership with parents and communities for the benefit of our students and advocate for ongoing recruitment, retention, support, and development of Mexican American/Latino educators, and others committed to a top quality education in the 21st century for students.

Treats with Mom
Students at Freedom Elementary started out their day recently sharing time and treats with someone near and dear to their hearts -- their mom! The Parent-Teacher Club held its annual event "Muffins with Mom" and had close to 700 participants enjoying around 48 dozen muffins.
Students and moms visited with friends, had their picture taken together and, of course, ate a muffin. “It's fun to interact with my mom and hang out with her,” said Madelyn, a fifth-grader.
“First I took a picture. Then I ate my chocolate muffin. I felt great because I was having so much fun. I like muffins a lot,” said kindergartner Tanner.
Fellow kindergartner Katarina agreed it was a lot of fun. “It is really special because I went with my mom.”

Music honors
Clovis High students Lyle Leap and Gunnar Tapp each received $600 scholarships to attend Fresno City College next school year based on their performances at the recent Fresno City College Jazz Festival.
The Clovis North Bronco Chamber Choir competed at the Worldstrides Heritage Festival in Anaheim recently, earning first place in the Gold Large School Concert Division and the top choir score overall.

Science Fair returns in big way at
Fort Washington

Photo special to CUSD Today.
Clovis West Area Science
Fair Grand Sweepstakes
Winner Baylee McPher-
son.
Fort Washington Elementary put on its first Science Fair in more than 20 years. All fifth-graders participated and began working on their projects in Sep-tember with research and planning. The school science fair advisor, Jennifer Puentes, organized ma-terials, created a calendar for proj-ect deadlines to help students learn self-management skills and created a website students could find additional science fair help.
Students worked hard, learning the scientific method and effectively researching their project, with guiding in-

Photo special to CUSD Today. Racing through tires was one of the obstacles on the 1.25 mile course in the Fresno County Pentathlon Adventures. Nelson Elementary won second place in the fifth-/sixth-grade division.

Nelson earns second at Pentathlon

Nelson Elementary competed in the 20th Annual     to Arianna Aguirre, Zariah Cortez Monroy, Marshall Fresno County Office of Education Pentathlon Adventures     Kvien, Julian Wheeler, Andrew Jones, Adrian Phillips, Health and Wellness competition.	Leala Salas and Syrinady Vassar.
It was Nelson’s 20th year of participation. Nelson stu-	The competition required teams consisting of both dents and families participated in the very first Pentathlon     boys and girls to run around the 1.25 mile track at the at Radcliffe Stadium in 1998. As word of this positive     Fresno Fairgrounds. Along the way, teams must stop to and fun experience spread, more and more students par-     complete challenges and conquer obstacles that include ticipated, eventually causing the event to be moved to     jump rope, crawl, flipping tires, wall climb, walking a the Fresno Fairgrounds. Nelson Elementary sent five     balance beam, toss objects, and design a healthy meal. teams to the pentathlon this year, and for the 20th year     Teams compete by grade level in the 5/6 division or the in a row, had a team finish in the top three against 33     7/8 division.
other teams.                                                                                Nelson Elementary teams are coached by Monica The Nelson Green Team won second place in the 5/6     Brewer and parent volunteers. This year’s parent volunteers Division, with the third fastest time overall, even among     were Katherine Dresick,Vivian Jones, Jadine Romagnoli,
the seventh- and eighth-grade teams. Congratulations     and Coral Stoeckle.

struction from fifth-grade teachers Karen Gonzalez, Kim     Estes, Rohan Hadavale, Levi Hull and Parker Wyatt, third Cole and Nicole Ingraham.                                                       place, PSA “Alone.” All submitted films can be viewed at The top 12 projects at the Fort Washington Science Fair     https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzNvKSH9ODMn-
were advanced to the Clovis West Area Science Fair. There, VYKCywPVsDZKiBhtNcYPd. Fort Washington students earned a total of 17 awards, in-
cluding fifth-grader Baylee McPherson earning the Grand
Sweepstakes Award for her project “The Cycle of Life.”                                                         Kelsey Ewing, a senior and pres-ident of the National Honor So-

ciety (NHS) at Buchanan High, To celebrate Librarian Day, Bud Rank Elementary students	was named one of only 25 national
Emma O'Neil, Kyrah Haderlie and Maya Diaz presented a                                             finalists in the National Honor mobile library return book box they helped make to school                                             Society Scholarship program. librarian Crissy Abirached.                                                                                                Kelsey was chosen from more than The girls spent time developing their idea, talking with                                             11,000 applicants nationwide and the student council and principal, and creating two cardboard                                             will receive a $5,150 scholarship. models before selecting the best design.                                                                                 National finalists are selected Emma's family helped to build the box, and she and her                                             on the basis of leadership skills; little brother Ethan painted the school logo on it.                                                             participation in service organiza-The school staff was impressed with the students’ great     tions, clubs, and other student groups at school and in the
example of caring and of school pride.	community; and their academic record.
Kelsey has been a member of the World Champion BHS Robotics Team #1671, the national award-winning BHS National History Day Team, the BHS Math Team, the BHS National Science Bowl Team, the BHS Softball and Girls Basketball Teams, BHS Athletic Leadership, California Schol-arship Federation, International Key Club, Principal’s Advisory on Student Affairs (PASA), BHS School Site Council, BHS Energy, Environmental and Engineering Re-search Academy, and BHS Science Fair. Kelsey is also currently the president of the Physics and Engineering Club, the Women in STEM Club, and the Computing and Technology Club.
Kelsey founded, directed, and taught a Computing and
Photo special to CUSD Today.	Technology (CaT) for Girls Program to teach girls in grades Alta Sierra winners in Picture the Valley are, top row, left,	7-11 basic computer programming and game design skills. Malahni Cowan, Emily Thomas, Catherine Nardella, Lori	Her personal mission is to encourage girls to enter STEM Agazarian, Rohan Hadavale, Claire Evans, Levi Hull, El-	fields in order to decrease the gender gap that currently lianna Sandoval; and bottom row, left, Temitayo Akande, Hai-	exists in these fields. She plans on attending Fresno State’s ley Ferris, Daphne Person, Simran Longia, Chloe Yang,	Lyles College of Engineering Honors Program to double Gabriel Munro, Braden Estes.	major in Computer Engineering and Biology with minors
ASI broadcast students win	in Biomedical Physics and Mathematics. Alta Sierra Broadcasting class submitted a variety of     CE students get job interviews
films to the Picture the Valley’s annual film festival and
won several awards that were presented in April at an event     in a lesson on interviewing for a job. The goal was to held at Maya Cinemas.                                                              prepare students for a real-world interview and to provide Lori Agazarian, Claire Evans, Temitayo Akande and     them with important interviewing skills for the future. Malahni Cowan earned the highest award – the Superin-     Each student spent approximately two weeks in class
tendent’s Sweepstakes Award. Their film,“Molly Day,” is a     preparing resumes, completing job applications, creating documentary about a daughter’s tragic death and how the     letters of introduction and more. Additionally, as part of family, friends, and city have come to celebrate her life.           their preparation for their upcoming final interview with Additional awards include: Gabriel Munro and Simran     the REC Counseling staff, they practiced mock interviews Longia, first place, documentary “Kenpo;” Catherine     with their fellow classmates. When the final interview took Nardella, Hailey Ferris, Gabriel Munroand Simran Longia, place, students dressed in professional attire and shared a first place, personal narrative “Pressured;”Ellianna Sandoval, packet of the documents they had created and answered
Emily Thomas, Chloe Yang and Malahni Cowan, third     questions about career plans and life goals.
place, personal narrative “Behind the Screen;”and Braden
+++

June 2018	CUSDToday	Page 13

■
Clark Intermediate
■
Clovis Elementary
■
Clovis High School, Phase I & II
■
Clovis East Secondary Complex, Phase I & II
■
Clovis North High School
■
Clovis West High, Phase I & II
Kastner Intermediate, Phase I
■
Liberty Elementary, Phase I & II
■
Maple Creek Elementary
library, multipurpose) to older schools.
■
Mickey Cox Elementary
ar arrays at 23 added sites.
Message
Citizens’ Oversight
Committee
lowing members to serve on the Citizens’ Oversight
Committee for the expenditure of Measure A Bond
Funds:
Burke Jones,
Chairperson
Darrell Copeland,
Co-Chairperson
Samantha Bauer | Hugh Awtrey III
David Fey | Matthew Grundy
Kyla Rose
Clovis North Complex: Upgrades to amphitheater seating,
benches, trees and drainage, remodeling of the counseling
center, add classroom AV systems and at LMC, selected
classrooms, multipurpose rooms and music rooms.
of Administration Building including a new conference
sprinkler system, snack bar restroom upgrades and flooring.
Reagan Elementary: Reading area – library storage and
reconfiguration, minor lighting upgrade, computer lab up-
Woods Elementary:Upgrades to AV systems in classrooms,
library, multipurpose room and computer lab, reading room

	C L O V I S	U N I F I E D	S C H O O L	D I S T R I C T

Bond Measure Annual Report

2017-18 projects funded through CUSD’s school facility from the	Measure A bond, passed by voters in 2012 Chairperson

By Burke Jones Chairperson
Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee

I want to report to you on the status of the capital improvements approved under Measure A, the $298 million bond measure passed by voters in 2012.
On June 5, 2012, the citizens of Clovis Unified School District passed Measure A.With the approval of Measure
A, CUSD has been able to maintain the high facility
standards established by our community.We are currently	Buchanan High School: Remodel of the Career & Coun- Clovis Elementary:New classroom AV systems, MPR sound in the seventh year of a capital facility improvement	seling Center, flooring upgrades, interior door locks at class- equipment, data room expansion, addition of reading area plan, with local funds being used to modernize our	rooms and AV system upgrades. Pool renovation, addition at library, replacement of fire alarm, clocks, PA, EMS system schools by upgrading classrooms, science labs, vocational	of pool restrooms, and upgrades to ADA accessibility,ADA and replacement of classroom HVAC units. Upgrades to Ad-education programs, fire safety systems, libraries; we	drinking fountains, library remodel, locker room enhanc- ministration Building, conference room and storage room. have fixed leaking roofs, deteriorating plumbing and	ments and landscaping/irrigation improvements.
bathrooms, and handicapped accessibility to ensure that all of our schools meet district facility standards. Additionally,Virginia R. Boris Elementary School opened for students on Aug. 22, 2016. Boris Elementary is located at the southeast corner of Temperance and Clinton avenues at 7071 E. Clinton Ave. in Fresno.
I am proud to report that the district began completing projects immediately after the bond measure passed in June 2012, with 38 modernization projects completed at the following schools from 2012 to 2016:
■ Alta Sierra Intermediate
■ Buchanan High School, Phase I ■ Bud Rank Elementary
■ Cedarwood Elementary
■ Century Elementary	District Office: District Office West - expansion of lobby and reception desk, remodel of restrooms, office configura-tions; District Office East – reconfiguration of lobby and re-ception desk, flooring upgrades; Student Services Building – flooring, lighting upgrades; Professional Development Building – remodel Boardroom; Maintenance/Transporta-
■ Clovis West High School Career Technical Education,	tion – restroom upgrade and reconfiguration of offices. Banking & Finance
■ Cole Elementary, Phase I & II ■ Community Day School
■ Copper Hills Elementary ■ District Office Complex ■ Dry Creek Elementary
■ Fancher Creek Elementary, Phase I & II
■ Fort Washington Elementary, Phase I & II ■ Freedom Elementary
■ Fugman Elementary ■ Garfield Elementary ■ Gateway High School
■ Gettysburg Elementary
■ Granite Ridge Intermediate
■ Jefferson Elementary	Lincoln Elementary: Classroom upgrades,Administration
■	Building – Expansion and remodel of the MPR, expansion Lincoln Elementary:Multipurpose Room – HVAC, ceilings, ■ Lincoln Elementary, Phase I & II	room, and lobby reconfiguration, textbook storage, nurse’s walls, sound system, AV controls, lighting, restrooms, fire ■ Miramonte Elementary	office, lighting and roof replacement.
■ Mickey Cox Elementary
■ Mountain View Elementary, Phase I & II ■ Nelson Elementary, Phase I & II
■ Pinedale Elementary ■ Reagan Elementary
■ Riverview Elementary
■ Sierra Outdoor School Phase I & II ■ Sierra Vista Elementary
■ Solar power system at 19 school sites ■ Tarpey Elementary
■ Temperance-Kutner Elementary ■ Valley Oak Elementary
■ Weldon Elementary ■ Woods Elementary
Generally, these projects consisted of upgrades to HVAC systems, technology infrastructure, lighting, floor-ing, roofing, restrooms, irrigation systems, landscaping,
video security system, and some additions (administration,	grade, new casework for textbook storage, and added new addition, workstation in nurse’s office and new casework for Modernization projects for 2018 have been designed	AV systems in classrooms, library and computer lab.	book storage.
and are either under construction or are set to begin
once the 2017-18 school year is complete. These projects        cents per kilowatt, saving the district on additional $1 are at the following schools:                                                    million per year in operational costs. A total of 1.75 ■ Clovis West High School                                                 megawatt battery storage systems are being installed at
■ Kastner Intermediate	all CUSD high schools as well as the 10.9 megawatt
In addition, a 5.86-megawatt solar production system	solIn closing, the committee would like to thank Facility	The CUSD Governing Board appointed the fol-that includes solar parking lots and play area shade	Services Assistant Superintendent Kevin Peterson; Facility
structures was constructed on 19 school sites around        Services Administrator Denver Stairs; Senior Accountant the district. This project was completed during the        Cherie Larson; and Facility Services Administrative As-2013-14 school year and is saving the district more        sistant Lussy Vang for their organized and forthcoming than $2.5 million per year in operational costs.                      presentations at our meetings. With their assistance Recently, CUSD agreed to a Power Purchase Agreement        and guidance, we have been able to fulfill our responsi-(PPA) in order to continue its efforts to save operational        bilities of overseeing these many projects on behalf of
dollars. This agreement provides power at a cost of 15.5	you, the voters of our district.

	P H O T O S S P E C I A L T O C U S D T O D AY

Starts:Many changes coming to Kastner administration building

FROM PAGE ONE
Kastner Intermediate will have its Ad-ministration Building expanded and mod-ernized, with upgrades to the nurse’s office, psychologist’s office and athletic offices.
It will be a complete facelift to the building and when finished offer a better flow for the general public. Parents will notice a new school spirit wall that will include the Thun-derbird mascot and wings that extend into shelving for trophies and awards.
Classrooms will have tack board replace-ment, and doors and window frames will be painted. Lighting will be switched to LED schoolwide, ceiling tiles replaced in the MPR and art classrooms, and the fence around the tennis courts replaced.
Mickey Cox Elementary will have its multipurpose room remodeled, and there

will be minor roofing repairs. Students will notice the upgrades to the MPR right away as it also will include a polished concrete floor with the Cowboys’ logo embedded in it.
Throughout the district there will be sev-eral deferred maintenance projects at the following sites:
■ Bud Rank Elementary: paving, parking lot seal and stripe, portable replacement
■ Cedarwood: paving, play court over-lay
■ Century Elementary: paving, parking lot work, portable replacement
■ Clovis Elementary: painting, paving play court, seal and stripe
■ Clovis East High: paving, parking lot work
■ Clovis High: paving, parking lot seal

and stripe
■ Dry Creek Elementary: portable re-moved
■ Fancher Creek Elementary: Paving play courts and all parking lots
■ Fugman Elementary: portable replace-ment
■ Garfield Elementary: portable removal ■ Gettysburg Elementary: paving, parking
lot work
■ Jefferson Elementary: portable replace-ment
■ Liberty Elementary: paving parking lot seal and stripe
■ Lincoln Elementary: paving play court and parking lot
■ Maple Creek Elementary: portable re-moval
■ Miramonte Elementary: paving, play

court overlay
■ Mountain View Elementary: portable removal
■ Oraze Elementary: portable replace-ment
■ Pinedale Elementary: portable replace-ment
■ Reagan Elementary: paving play court and parking lot, portable replacement
■ Reyburn Intermediate: portable re-placement
■ Riverview Elementary: portable re-moval
■ Sierra Vista Elementary: replacing car-pet
■ Temperance-Kutner Elementary: paving, play court overlay
■ Weldon: paving parking lot, seal and stripe

Page 14	CUSD Today	June 2018

	BOARD BRIEFS

2018-19 budget,
Governing board honors CUSD retirees

n
and budget
■ A public hearing and later approval of LCAP approved	the annual .Special Education service plan

By Kelly Avants	May 23
Chief Communications Officer	The Governing Board opened their May
23 meeting honoring close to 400 students Employees retiring from Clovis Unified	for academic achievements at the county,
were honored before the start of the June     state and national level. Each year the board 13 Governing Board meeting with a recep-     spends time during meetings in May to tion. This year, more than 100 individuals     publicly recognize the effort and expertise retired after serving the students of Clovis     applied by students in areas such as Science Unified for a combined 2,550 years.                 Fair, History Day, Robotics, Academic De-Following the reception, the board acted     cathlon, Mock Trial, Math Counts! and
upon a number of business items on their	many other academic competitions. agenda. Highlights of the meeting includ-          Just before the start of the meeting, the ed:	board also spent time talking with seniors
■ Passage of the proposed 2018-19 CUSD     who are part of the graduating class of 2018 budget, a copy of which is available from     about their experiences in Clovis Unified. the district’s Business Services Office.              The conversations, paired with a report on ■ Passage of the Local Control Account-     results of this year’s annual Senior Voice ability Plan (LCAP) outlining how the district     survey of the graduating class, provides will meet the needs of at-risk students during     members of the Governing Board with a the coming school year. The LCAP is available     chance to hear from our students what is online at cusd.com.                                           going well and how we can improve as a
■ Approval of an increase to the daily	school district.
rate for substitute teachers and an increase          During the regular portion of their meet-to the district’s salary schedules of 3%.            ing the board also heard from members of ■ Approval of Rob Barnes to the position     the Inter School Council, whose end of the
of Director of Information Technology, ef-	year report focused on results of a survey of fective Aug. 1. Ben Clement to the position	business owners who affirmed the current of principal, Clovis Online School; and	off campus policy, and a general endorsement Courtney McMahon to the position of learn-	of the current dress code.
ing director, effective July 1.	In other action, the board:

Photo special to CUSD Today. The Electric L.E.G.O.S. robotic team – made up of five eighth-graders from Alta Sierra Intermediate – competed in the World Festival in Houston. Team members include Cam-den Kirk, Nolan Peredia, Ezekial Swayne, Ethan West, Parker Wyatt and coaches Ken and
Layne Kirk.
Alta Sierra Intermediate
robotics goes to World

■ Approved the appointment of Ed Schmalzel to the position of principal at Clovis Adult Education. Schmalzel, a learning director at the school, will assume the position from retiring Principal Kevin Cook-ingham effective July 1.
■ Approved all conference requests, fundraisers, voluntary community recreation programs, and the annual Sierra Outdoor School student trips as submitted.
■ Held public hearings on the proposed budget and Local Control Accountability Plan.
■ Approved the triennial secondary district plan and application for work experience education, which allows an opportunity for the district to provide work study opportu-nities.
■ Authorized the application for annual Carl D. Perkins vocational education grant dollars.
■ Approved an agreement with the Central Valley Regional Center to provide services to students in the district’s Special Education programs during the coming year.
■ Authorized the disposal of obsolete in-structional materials and some records as allowed by Education Code.
■ Adopted a resolution calling on the California legislature to work to fund the state’s schools at a level commensurate with other states in the nation. California currently ranks near the bottom of U.S. states in its level of school funding.
■ Approved several construction and purchasing related items, including use of a piggyback bid through Hemet Unified for buses, parts and accessories; the appointment of project inspectors for the 2018-19 con-struction projects; an annual agreement with School Facility Consultants to provide assistance with the district’s facilities program; and awards of bids for fuel, parking lot/play-court resurfacing and billing services for Medi-Cal.
■ Approved the appointment of members of the Community Advisory Committee, a group of employees and parents who meet to support the district’s Special Education programs.
■ Adopted a new textbook for use in AP Chemistry classes.
■ Approved the annual declaration of need for fully qualified teachers, as well as a provisional internship permit for one teaching candidate.
■ Approved the triennial Cooperative Contract with the Department of Rehabili-tation Transition Partnership Program to provide vocational rehabilitation services for district students.

May 9
The May 9 meeting of the Governing Board also opened with a celebration of student success, with close to 500 students congratulated on their outstanding achieve-ments in visual and performing arts.
The board also announced the appoint-ment of current Director of Information Technology Raj Nagra to the position of Chief Technology Officer, effective Aug. 1. Nagra will assume the role following the re-tirement of current Chief Technology Officer Dan Resciniti.
In other action, the board:
■ Approved all fundraisers, conference requests, student trips and voluntary com-munity recreation programs as submitted. ■ Approved the annual Migrant Education District Services Agreement to provide re-
sources for qualifying families.
■ Approved revised starting and ending times at six schools for the upcoming school year. A complete list of all school starting and ending times is available online as board Policy Exhibit No. 1302.
■ Authorized the submission of a funding application for state and federal categorical programs for the 2018-19 school year.
■ Awarded a lease-leaseback pre-con-struction management and construction services agreement for construction of the new elementary school at Shields and Locan avenues in Clovis to Mark Wilson Con-struction.
■ Awarded a bid for charter bus services to various providers for use as needed during the upcoming fiscal year.
■ Accepted the Williams Settlement Report for the third quarter in which the District received zero complaints related to the areas covered in the Williams suit.
■ Accepted the third quarter financial report in which the district certified sufficient funds available to meet all expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year.
■ Approved the calendar for the Clovis Adult School. The calendar mirrors the cur-rent year calendar.
■ Reappointed Clovis Adult Education Learning Director Ed Schmalzel as CUSD’s representative and GLS Crystal Rodriguez as the alternate to continue serving on the State Center Adult Education Consortium Executive Board.	❑
Complete minutes and agendas of all meet-ings of the Governing Board, as well as videos, are available online at www.cusd.com. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Gov-erning Board is set for July 18 at 6:30 p.m. at 1680 David E. Cook Way in Clovis.

The Electric L.E.G.O.S. (Legitimate En-gineering Geniuses Of Science) – a fifth-year robotics team of five eighth- graders at Alta Sierra Intermediate – competed at the World Festival in Houston in April. Team members are Camden Kirk, Ethan West, Ezekiel Swayne, Nolan Pereida, and Parker Wyatt; the team is coached by Ken and Layne Kirk.
The team explored problems with the human water cycle as defined by the Hydro Dynamics theme set by FIRST LEGO League. After researching and meeting with many water experts, the team tackled the issue of water waste as it pertains to home shower use.
The team conducted a survey of over 400 participants and discovered that many shower users waste a lot of water while waiting for the shower water to warm up, and many users take showers that are too long in duration. The team's solution is a product they call HydroHelper.
The product is an extension pipe with a thermometer that attaches to a standard shower pipe. The thermometer relays data to a control panel. The user sets a desired target temperature. Once that temperature is reached, a blue LED light (indicating cold water) turns off and a red LED light turns on indicating the shower is ready for the user.
The control panel also plays an audible tone to alert the user to get in the shower.Also, once the desired temperature is reached, a count-down timer begins with a time set by the user. Once the time is up, another tone is played alerting the user to finish with the shower. The goal is for a user to begin showering immediately after the desired temperature is reached and keep the time spent in the shower to a minimum, thus saving many gallons of

water. The team's research included the average total gallons used per shower, how much a gallon of water costs in Clovis, and how much water could potentially be saved with the use of the team's product. The team also learned how to program
in C++, design a 3D object using CAD software, and how to 3D print to make a working prototype of HydroHelper. The team's working prototype wowed judges with its crisp computer display, LED lights, alert tones, and carefully crafted 3D printed case.
The team has been able to share their project not only with competition judges, but also other robotics teams from around the globe, the City of Clovis Department of Utilities, Center for Irrigation Technology at Fresno State, and many others.
The team received the First Place Cham-pions award at a regional qualifier in De-cember, which is awarded to the team that performed well in all areas of the compe-tition: robot design, robot performance, thematic project, and core values (how they work together as a team, represent the program, support other teams, etc.). They then competed at the Central Cal-ifornia Championship hosted by Central Valley Robotics at Alta Sierra Intermediate for the top 60 teams in the region. The Electric L.E.G.O.S. was named First Place Champions at that event and awarded the region's sole spot to attend the World Fes-
tival in Houston.
Said coach Layne Kirk of their time in Houston,“They always supported one an-other, had great attitudes, and never gave up.
Each member was awarded a medal at an exciting ceremony, complete with the longest high-five line in which any of us had ever participated or seen!”

Society names her
June 2018	CUSD Today	Page 15

Photo special to CUSD Today. Clovis West’s Mackenzie Ruof – seen with her parents Ninie and Mark Ruof – was named the Leukemia & Lymphomia Society student of the year.

CW junior raises $130k for cancer-fighting nonprofit

n Leukemia & Lymphoma

Student of Year

“Have you been touched by cancer? I have and I’m doing something about it.” …Mackenzie Ruof

By Carol Lawson-Swezey Special to CUSD Today

And indeed she did.
Mackenzie “Kenzie” Ruof, 17, spent seven weeks campaigning to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and in the process amassed $130,000 in donations and was named the LLS Student of the Year.
The Clovis West junior broke the record for funds previously raised in the student campaign.
Kenzie raised the money by soliciting corporate and personal donors and holding several fundraisers. She held a street corner campaign, with help from about 90 Clovis West leadership students, and a restaurant fundraiser at the Field House, where owner Louis Brosi, matched the pledged 25 percent proceeds from the event.
The LLS Student of the Year awards rec-ognize students for their outstanding fundraising efforts for the nonprofit organ-ization. Eleven teams or individuals (total

of 19 students) from throughout the Valley worked diligently this year to raise a total of $323,715.43 with the top fundraisers earning scholarships.
Kenzie received a $1,500 scholarship with $500 scholarships going to teams Triple Threat, comprised of Clovis North High students Brynn Mcilhatton, Ryann Reinhardt and Kennedy Uehling and a team from San Joaquin Memorial High School.
The campaign honored its Patient Heroes, Chandler Banta and Emily Ledesma, who are still undergoing cancer treatment.
“Our vision is a world without cancer,” said Chandler Jameson, LLS campaign man-ager of the Students of the Year. “Funds raised are used for research, co-pay assistance programs, family support groups, First Con-nection programs, and education programs.” Making a difference runs deep in the Ruof family. Dad, Mark, a financial advi-sor for RBC Wealth Management, volunteers for the Leon S. Peters Foundation, Pete P. Peters Foundation and is a member of the Fresno State Board of Governors. Mom, Ninie, works for Vie-Del Company, a winery, distillery and fruit juice processing business. She volunteers for the Foundation for Clovis Schools, Clovis West Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors of the Fresno State Agricultural Foundation and is Vice-Chair of the CSU Fresno Industry Advisory Board for the Viticulture and Enology Department. Kenzie has two older brothers, Nick and

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Page 16                                                                                                         CUSD Today                                                                                                        June 2018 CART partners with Kaiser Permanente to develop, teach health lessons

nBiomedicine students teach program to elementary kids

By Meredith Murillo, Kaiser Permanente Special to CUSD Today

Getting first-grade students to choose water over juice or to choose an outdoor activity over screen time may seem like in-surmountable tasks, but those health lessons were core teachings this school year in The Permanente Medical Group CART Pro-gram.
This recent eight-week partnership be-tween Kaiser Permanente Fresno and the Center for Advanced Research and Tech-nology (CART) was funded by a $5,000 KP Fresno Community Relations grant.
CART is a high-tech hands-on learning school for juniors and seniors and is operated jointly by Clovis Unified and Fresno Unified school districts. Under the partnership, CART students were taught health lessons that they then taught to elementary students. Kaiser Permanente Service Area Director of Health Education Lisa Huiras created the curriculum, which included topics like "Serving up MyPlate," "Fast Food Frenzy," and "Rethink Your Drink." She collaborated with CART biomedicine teacher Lindsey Johnson and taught the lessons to senior biomedicine students.
The high school students then taught the healthy curriculum to first-graders at Clovis Unified’s Tarpey Elementary and Fresno Unified’s Vinland Elementary.
“I loved the opportunity I had to work with the kids, and I think the program helped me as much, or more, than it helped the kids,” said Clovis North High CART student Noah Greenlaw.
Classmate Amira Ringgold of Clovis West liked making a positive impact on younger

Photo special to CUSD Today. Students from the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, or CART, teach health lessons to children at Tarpey Elementary thanks to a partnership with Kaiser Permanente Fresno.

’
”
,
’
.
students.“Educating tomorrows youth on     were healthy or unhealthy It even affected good choices that will keep them healthier     choices some of the teachers made at lunch and happier was extremely fulfilling, he     about where to eat or about whether to said.                                                                   spend the time taking a walk," Huiras said. Huiras said students were challenged by          Johnson said the program got the CART the program to develop healthy life-long     students thinking about their own choices habits. “Its easier to teach a child the im-     and aiming toward better ones to maximize
portance of good health rather than to	their wellbeing.
”
repair an unhealthy adult.                                     “The lesson that hit home the most for The program had a "ripple effect," Huiras     me and my students was about mindfulness," said. For example, as the high school students     Johnson said. "The students have a lot of started learning the "Unplug and Play" mod-     stress and some of the techniques they ule, they also became aware of their own     taught the elementary students are just as screen time and the need to balance that     useful for them like 'popping the mind bub-
with activity and exercise.	bles' and 'shaking glitter jars.'"
"The first-grade students were starting a          The curriculum included a classroom culture change and pointing out things that     lesson, an interactive activity and homework

for kids to take home and engage their fam-ilies. Fresh produce was often served.
"When the CART students started the MyPlate lesson, many of the first-graders couldn't name a vegetable," Huiras said. "At the end of the lesson, they understood the difference between an adult and child-sized plate, what the different food groups did for their bodies, and why it's important to eat fruits and vegetables."
Administrator and teacher feedback at the elementary schools was overwhelmingly positive for the program. One teacher said, "The lessons were very engaging for my class. They enjoyed the hands-on activities and the healthy food." Another teacher added, "The information was very valuable. I learned new things too."
Wellness-check questionnaires were sent to the first-grade students' parents before and after the program to gauge its success. Plans are in development for expanding the program in 2018.
"It was amazing to be in the elementary classrooms each week and watch the lessons come to life. I could feel the energy," Johnson said. "The first-grade students were so excited to see the CART kids walk through the door every week and were eager to learn more about healthy choices."
The program was made possible through a collaborative partnership between KP, Fresno Business Council, Food Commons Fresno and CART. KP Physician in Chief Smita Rouillard, MD, is a member of Fresno Business Council's Executive Committee.
"This project is something I have wanted to do for a long time," Dr. Rouillard said. "The ripple effect of taking our organizational knowledge into the community had an im-pact with students, teachers, parents and administrators. It was impressive to see our KP brand in action."

Ruof: Teen raises $130k for charity with calls, social media, events

FROM PAGE 15
Michael, who are both engi-neers, and a sister,Alicia, who is a business communications major.Although her parents helped with introduction let-ters to some of their business contacts, it was all Kenzie as she blasted her social media network with flyers, wrote and mailed request letters and personally met with cor-porate sponsors to ask for funding.
“I didn’t get one rejection from our corporate asks,” Kenzie said.
“You never know until you ask, but this was an easy

ask,” Ninie said.“When you’re talking cancer – everyone’s been touched.”
Raising funds for the LLS was a personal passion for Kenzie; who dedicated her campaign to her own patient heroes: Quinn Stephenson, a relative, and Kenneth “Butch” Peters, a family friend and nephew of Leon S. Pe-ters.
Although she exceeded her fund-raising goal, the biggest payoff for Kenzie was the loving and heartfelt notes she received along with the donations from cancer sur-vivors sharing their challenges

and struggles, family mem-bers of those who lost or won the fight and supporters. She received two $15,000 pledges as well as hundreds of other donations.
Ninie said that Kenzie has always been a go-getter, the top seller of cookie dough in her classes and always striv-ing for excellence.
Kenzie is a perpetual whirlwind and goal setter. She has served as Freshman Class President, Sophomore Class President and is cur-rently the Associated Student Body Historian. She serves as Parliamentarian of the Na-

tional Honor Society and President Elect for the 2018-19 school year. Recently she was accepted to the ISC (In-terschool Council), a group of 30 CUSD students chosen to represent their peers at the District Governing Board meetings and Leadership Camp.
She is also a member of the CW Varsity Tennis Team and Varsity Competition Pep Team that was crowned the USA National Champion in February as well as Valley Champions in March.
She serves as Treasurer of Assisteens, a philanthropic

organization for high school students, which is affiliated with the Assistance League, and has also volunteered at the Poverello House, Nazareth House and Bargain Boutique. As part of the Clovis West Leadership team, Kenzie’s next project will be the La Bella Vita Fashion Show, a two-day event to benefit the Pinedale Boys and Girls Club. Fundraising for LLS has
been life altering.
“I’ve always been passion-ate about wanting to make a difference but now I’m truly aware of how life-changing this campaign could be and

it makes me more passion-ate,” Kenzie said.
“We’ve seen the change in her awareness of the im-pact an individual can have,” Ninie said. “As parents we are so proud of her achieving such a lofty goal, grow as a young lady and come out of her shell.”
Kenzie said the fundrais-ing was truly a group and community effort.
“I want to thank all those who supported me and con-gratulate all others in the campaign,” Kenzie said.“LLS has a motto:‘Everybody wins when cancer loses.’”

June 2018	CUSD Today	Page 17

‘Winning’ is everywhere

Inspiration Park brings smiles to special ed students

By Ron Webb CUSD photographer

I HAVE witnessed and photo -graphed some of the most amazing stu-

dent accomplishments during my 38 years with Clovis Unified School District. I have marveled at how teachers, advisors, coaches, trainers, creative directors, men-tors and support staff have taken ordinary kids and elevated their raw potential to excel in a multitude of local, state, national and international competitions and per-formances.
We have become a model of public school achievement at the highest level. We have been recognized for academic, athletic, artistic, agricultural and co-cur-ricular excellence at all levels. Needless to say, building this type of winning tra-dition takes a tremendous level of selfless commitment and work by a multitude of people willing to help kids rise to the challenge of “being the best they can be in mind, body and spirit.”
Our kids are being positively placed in the public limelight and their spirits are soaring.
Near the end of the school year, I was exposed to a different kind of achievement. I was asked to photograph our district’s most physically, emotionally and mentally fragile children as they came together for a Special Education playday at Inspi-
ration Park in West Fresno. The park	CUSDToday Photos by Ron Webb

was specifically designed to offer safe recreational opportunities for the disabled. What I saw, on the surface, was kids experiencing and expressing pure joy. They, like their regular education coun-terparts, were having an opportunity for
their spirits to soar.
The longer I stayed and observed, the more I became aware of a remarkable team of people who were making every effort for these kids to experience a sense of being in the limelight of success.
I saw teachers, aides, bus drivers and support staff unselfishly pouring them-selves into meeting every need of every child. I heard soothing words of encour-agement coming out of their mouths; words that could only originate in a kind heart. I saw arms, legs, feet and hands straining to support and comfort every child, every second they were together.
I gazed into gentle eyes that looked beyond the impossible and saw the pos-sible. I sensed the “winning” these em-ployees were imparting upon their chil-dren was the same “winning” I had ob-served for the past 38 years. Thank you for opening my eyes to your extraordinary gifts of patience, compassion, and self-lessness.

q Editor’s note:
Ron Webb’s photographs have appeared in every issue of CUSD Today since it began in 1998.

Clockwise from top: Clovis East’s Jayda Salas and John Gauer show one’s never too big to swing in the breeze. Clovis Elementary’s Samuel Weaver and his mom Andrea have some fun. Garfield Center’s A.J. Franco and aide Rosa Siechert make music; and Garfield Center’s Nathan White and aide Rebecca Nieves play on the mushroom bell.

Page 18	CUSD Today	June 2018