CENTER LINE
December 2014
Center Aim
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” The quote leads me to reflect on the daily efforts made by our teachers, classified staff and administrators to provide opportunities that ensure the children of Antelope receive an education rich in academics as well as opportunities to find their passion, excel in extracurricular activities and give back to their community. I’d like to recognize the philanthropic opportunities made possible through the efforts of our dedicated CJUSD staff.
The holidays are a time for charitable acts. I am proud of the tradition of giving that starts at our elementary schools and continues through high school. These efforts make the holidays a little brighter for those in need and teach compassion while giving students the chance to experience the satisfaction of giving to others while expecting nothing in return.
Each year CHS Student Government and Student Leadership classes balance three charitable activities during November and December; Canned Food Drive, Dear Santa and Operation Santa. The Annual Canned Food Drive brought in 2,600 non-perishable food items this year. These donations were delivered to the Sacramento County Food Bank, Placer County Food Bank and Wilson Riles Food Closet. Through Dear Santa, student government and leadership students provide Christmas for families in need, including food and gifts. Through Operation Santa, leadership and government students spend the afternoon with selected elementary students. Together they make crafts and the children leave with a wrapped gift.
The CHS Football Program is doing a Toy and Book Drive benefiting the Sacramento chapter of WEAVE, Women Escaping a Violent Environment. The toy drive will ensure children whose families have received WEAVE services will have gifts under the tree.
The McClellan High School Leadership class and MHS Staff established a site food bank that will support the needs of MHS families throughout the holidays and into the new year. Each year the MHS Staff partners with the Antelope Lions Club to provide Thanksgiving meals through the Feast for Families program. In December, the staff partners again with the Antelope Lions to provide a special gift to two MHS students through the Christmas for Families program. Each of the selected students will receive a $100 gift card from Walmart, generously donated by the Antelope Lions Club.
Each year students and staff at Oak Hill Elementary and North Country Elementary generously donate canned goods and non-perishable food items to the Kids Can Food Drive, benefitting families throughout the Sacramento area. North Country completed their drive with a donation of 2,438 cans.
Dudley Elementary is re-establishing the "Spirit of Giving" Fridays throughout December with two separate projects for students and staff to participate in. December 1st-5th, Dudley will have a canned food drive to support the Community Food Closet at Wilson Riles Middle School. December 8th-12th Dudley will have a blanket, hat, mitten and sock drive to support "Highways and Biways Street Outreach".
I am proud of the CJUSD staff and their dedicated efforts to support the children and families in the Center community while teaching compassion and the spirit of giving. I wish all of the families of Antelope a safe and happy holiday and best wishes for a prosperous new year.
PLTW is Leading the Way to Careers in Engineering
Center High School's PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) is a multi year program exposing students to post high school careers in engineering and the medical field. Through the Principles of Engineering course, CHS students tested the vehicle each student designed and built in the DragDozer BullRacer Challenge. Teacher Ben Klatt explained the purpose of the activity, "First, they are applying the design process to solve a problem. Second, within the problem is application of previously-gained knowledge about how to maximize the power and efficiency of an electric motor and about gear ratios. The combination of those two things are used to make the most powerful vehicle. Finally, students are practicing working with the VEX kits in preparation for more complicated automated systems (aka robots) later."
Second year PLTW student and aspiring naval engineer, Andrew Pacheco, explained what he learned, "Gear ratio really does matter. If I had calculated the gear ratio I would have done better."
Mr. Klatt enthusiastically reflects on the lesson and student engagement, "Students have learned that a power source (in this case batteries) in series will produce voltage at the number of sources times the individual voltage. Using this power, they can determine the maximum (stall) torque for the motor. Using this information, they can then get the most power from the motor (the motor's "sweet spot") by having it operate at half it's stall torque and then dividing the known torque by the estimated required torque--this gives an optimum gear ratio, which is defined as applied torque (in force times distance)/output torque (in force times distance). Sound complicated? Maybe a little, but my students know exactly what that means--that's what makes the course so cool."
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Tis' the SEASON....
Dudley Dragons give back
McClellan High Food Closet
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Oak Hill Visits the State Capitol
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Strong & Fit
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Now Hiring
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A Pictorial Journey through CJUSD
MHS Talent Show Winners
Author Day at Oak Hill Elementary
Out with the old....
Look WHO dropped by CHS!
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An Hour of Code
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ROAD TRIP! North Country experiences Sutter's Ford
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Riles Middle School Spelling Bee
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LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
MIKE JORDAN, Center High School Principal
What year did you start at CJUSD?
I started teaching in 1988 in Fort Worth, Texas. I then spent ten years teaching in Oregon and began in the CJUSD in 2000.
What positions have you held?
· Coordinator - CONNECT - Basic and Work Skills Program (Job Training Partnership Act). This was a program for 14/15 year old at-risk students in the low-income housing projects in Fort Worth, Texas.
· Academic Coordinator/teacher - Upward Bound Program at Portland State University. Upward Bound is a year-round, federally funded program for at-risk, first generation college bound, high school students.
· Social Studies teacher
· Corrective Reading teacher
· Vice-principal, Center Junior High
· Principal - Dudley Elementary School
· Principal - Center High School.
Did you have a mentor or anyone who inspired you to go into education or to move into admin?
I spent my first two years at Texas Christian University as a business major. During that same time period I worked as an academic tutor through the YMCA in the Butler and Ripley Arnold low-income housing projects. It was that experience that made me decide to switch majors and become a teacher.
Best/funniest/most embarrassing memory as classroom teacher?
My funniest moment as an administrator was being chased down the hallway at Dudley Elementary School by a skunk as I held out an umbrella thinking that it would somehow protect me. The skunk sprayed at me and I ran faster than I have ever run in my life. The kindergarteners and first graders watching through the classroom windows thought it was pretty hilarious.
What are you most proud of with regard to the opportunities for students at CHS?
During the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, with funding for education falling each year between 2009 and 2013, CHS was able to add many programs/opportunities for students. These programs included: Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences, Project Lead the Way Engineering, 911 Dispatcher/Call Center/Customer Service Program, Pharmacy Technician Program, English and math intervention classes, AP English, AP Psychology, Geometry and Construction (2015-16). Most of the dollars to fund these programs came through partnering with the College Board (CAPE Program) and the Sacramento County Office of Education. These new programs, combined with an already solid academic program and the Media Communications Academy (MCA), provide for a great academic experience for CHS students.
In addition to academics, CHS offers outstanding opportunities in both athletics and extracurricular activities. The sports teams are consistently competitive and CHS homecoming, Sports-O-Rama, dances, etc. are all top-notch events. There are also a number of different student run clubs from which to choose.
Outside of Center High School, Mr. Jordan enjoys sailing, camping and spending time with his wife of 21 years and their two children.
Center Joint Unified School District
Email: superintendent@centerusd.org
Website: www.centerusd.org
Location: 8408 Watt Avenue, Antelope, CA, United States
Phone: (916) 338-6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerusd
Twitter: @centerusd