At CJUSD our mission is to provide your children with the opportunity to realize their dreams by developing communication skills, reasoning, integrity, and motivation through academic excellence, a well-rounded education and being active citizens in our diverse community. We can achieve this when schools, teachers, administrators and families work together. As a district we are guided by the goals in our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). We believe these goals provide the framework to ensure we are meeting the individual needs of our students and families while preparing students to successfully move through the grade levels and graduate ready to pursue college or career options. Our 2016-17 district wide LCAP goals are as follows:

• CJUSD students will be challenged and supported to achieve academic success in a clean, safe environment through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
• Through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, CJUSD students will be College & Career Ready
• CJUSD students and families will be engaged and informed regarding the educational process and opportunities by way of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

This summer CJUSD launched a districtwide beautification campaign led by the Maintenance and Grounds Departments. The front office at Spinelli elementary was painted and murals were added on the Multi-Purpose room and the B-wing facing Scotland Drive. A new flag pole, electronic sign, and front landscaping welcomes Spinelli students and families each day. At Oak Hill Elementary all the permanent buildings were painted and an esthetically pleasing wrought iron fence was installed to secure the campus. Dudley has some re-roofing in the C wing. Beautification at Riles Middle School can be seen from all directions with large letters and a mural greeting students and families coming from the east and the same when approaching from the west. Large “Home of the Huskies” lettering and logos adore the front of the campus and with new paint and lettering throughout the campus. Banner mounts were installed on the Media Center and the east side of the Multi-Purpose room. At Center High the gymnasium underwent major renovation which included painting the interior, resurfacing the gym floor and redesigning the entry into the gym complete with a mural of the logo to welcome the home crowd and visitors. The CHS student parking lot was seal coated and re-striped. The District Office expanded facilities by moving the Curriculum and Instruction Department and the Special Education Department to the campus at the end of Center Court Lane, now referred to as the District Office Annex.

In August CJUSD welcomed over 70 new employees filling classified, certificated and administrative positions. Julie Opher, a long-time employee who has served many roles in the district, was selected as the new Principal at Spinelli Elementary. Jerald Ferguson, left his position at Woodland High School to take on the role of Center High School’s new Principal. Mike Jordan left his post as Center High’s Principal, taking on a new role as Director of Curriculum and Special Education at the District Office.

We are focusing efforts on expanding our communication with families through our new website www.centerusd.org and various social media formats. Please follow Center USD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

The best way to support your child’s educational experience is to get involved; join the PTA or Booster Club, attend activities such as movies nights, take the family to the high school sporting events, check your child’s backpack for newsletters and announcements from school, check school and district webpages, attend conferences, utilize your Parent Portal Account, volunteer your time and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

I am proud of the quality academic and extracurricular programs that are available to children and families throughout the district and excited for the 2017-18 school year and all that awaits.

Jerald Ferguson graduated from Skyline High School in Oakland, California and attended Cal Poly SLO and Sacramento State. Throughout high school and college, he was a student athlete excelling in lacrosse. Sports is still a passion. Mr. Ferguson is an avid soccer fan, cheering on the Arsenals, a team in the English Premier League. He stays in shape playing indoor soccer on an over 30 co-ed team and jogging with his son in a stroller around the open spaces near his home. Mr. Ferguson and his wife, a Center High School alumni from the class of ’93, just celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary. They have a son who will be three in November. Mr. Ferguson enjoys landscaping and doing remodels and repairs around his home.

Mr. Ferguson’s vision for Center High School is to continue the amazing programs that have been started and to show the local community that Center High School is the flag ship high school of the area. I would also like to work closely with the counselors, CTE teachers, and community to build the CTE pathways to improve students' access to industry level skills and job opportunities.

Why does each class have a mission statement at North Country? As a FranklinCovey Leader In Me school, each class from TK to 6th grade works together to decide upon and write a mission statement which is publicly posted in the classroom.

A classroom mission statement allows class members to review values and ensures a common language on a daily basis. In aligning a mission statement, students, as well as teachers, are able to create a clear focus for who they are, who they strive to be, and what actions need to be taken in order to reach their goal(s).

A mission is not a destination, but a reason for the journey. When there is an issue or disagreement in the class, the mission statement is revisited and reminders given as to what the class agreed on in the beginning for who or what they represent. This is a Tier I structure for appropriate behavior which is strengthened by integrating the seven habits during the school day with the hope that these principles are carried home and become a part of students’ daily lives.

Following are some examples of this year’s mission statements:

Mrs. Tricomo’s 5th grade class-

We will all strive to achieve

PRIVATE VICTORIES

which will give us the ability to become

Independent Learners.

This in turn will lead us toward synergizing teamwork because

we are ALL in this TOGETHER.

Mrs. Martin’s 1st grade class-

This year we will:

-act with kindness

-be bucket fillers

-learn for ourselves….it is not a competition with others

-have fun

Mr. Ybarra’s 1st grade class-

Our Mission

We are proactive students.

We are kind to others.

We are responsible learners.

We are a team.

Mrs. A. Johnson’s 2nd grade class -

We the kids of Cedar 2,

will lead and help each other learn.

In this classroom we are happy. We will be leaders every day.

Mrs. Hare’s 6th grade class built their mission statement off of the idea of their classroom being HOMECOURT:

• Honest

• Observant

• Motivating

• Encouraging

• Collaborating

• Organized

• Unique

• Respect

• Teamwork

Inspiring and encouraging others is what every teacher hopes for with the students in their classrooms. Revisiting mission statements often, points students toward this purpose.