CUSD Update
September/October 2016
6th Annual Turkey Feast
High Number of Graduates
FACILITY UPGRADES CONTINUE AT CUSD SCHOOLS
Track and Field Renovation Projects at Pleasant Valley and Chico High Schools
Marsh Jr. High - Improved Drop Off Location
The CUSD Facilities Department worked with staff at both Marsh Junior High and the City of Chico’s engineering department to improve the safety of students during the busy drop-off and pick-up times. As a result of these efforts, the drop-off location in front of the administrative offices and the Humboldt parking lot has undergone changes in the last few weeks. CUSD is continuing to work with the City on additional forthcoming improvements.
CJHS Science Building and Modernization Project Ribbon Cutting
Junior High Schools Secure
Chapman Elementary Students Enjoy a New Playground and Upgraded Facilities
Chapman Staff sent a thank you to the M&O team for the work they did at their site. The place looks great with all the new paint and everyone is very excited about the completion of the new playground. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday, September 19 and students got to use it for the first time.
Facilities Master Plan - Phase III Discussions
STUDENTS
Students Score Highest Possible Score
PVHS Art Studio Students visit CSUC
On Friday, October 14, 20 Art Studio students visited Chico State to tour the new Arts and Humanities building, watch a glass blowing demo, and hear a presentation by Peter Straus at the Center for Entreprenuership. In the photo below (from left to right), Hailie Frank, Spencer Nelson, and Vanessa Kim pose with the sculptures by the Rose Garden. Supervising the trip were Reta Rickmers (art teacher) and Linda Elliott (PV librarian/teacher) who received a CTA/IFT grant they call “Artreprenuers”. This grant encourages students to think about and experience the business of art.
MJHS Students Are Enjoying the New Facilities Inside and Outside
CHS Engineering and Architecture Students are Busy
Alli Lockwood and Sonia Anthoin are two of Mr. Bruggeman’s Engineering Design/CAD IV students who are responsible for collecting pictures regarding the Career Technical Education program. The first picture below is of two Engineering III students, Jack Sheridan and Rex Wilhelm. They are working on parts in the classroom for a local manufacturer called Boxer Metal. Boxer does custom restoration on antique BMW motorcycles. Jack and Rex are reverse engineering two parts that are no longer available on the open mark or produced in any shop. The parts will be modeled on Solid Works to owner Chris Canterbury’s specifications. The students will then 3D print prototypes for Chris to assemble back at Boxer Metal. If successful, Chris plans to take the parts and the students to Chico State University Engineering to have them mass produced. Integration at its best.
The second picture below is of one of our industry partners, Luke Winter, with two Architecture III students, Jackson Bragg and Camden Dockendorf. Luke Winter is the founder and owner of Woodzee, a local retailer specializing in Wooden sunglasses. Jackson and Camden are helping to design Woodzee’s new retail space in downtown Chico. They meet on a regular basis to take measurements and get input from the Woodzee staff. The students share files digitally for quality assurance of the new store design. Luke plans to have the student help him with retail and production space in his new store. Four other students are currently working on four new sunglass designs for 2016.
Three architecture students are already in internships with RGA Assoc. (Matt Gallaway), Melton Group (Greg Melton) and Donna Rose Architect. Twelve engineering students are working on a combination of client-based projects or working directly with local business. So far Thomas Welding, Westside Research and Woodzee Sun Glasses have partnered. Woodzee (Luke Winter) has been awesome. A team of engineering students will be working on mens' and womens' sunglass designs. Prototypes will be computer generated then 3D printed by our students. Hopefully they will go into production. Luke plans to open a new store in downtown Chico (He founded Trucker Clothing). He wants a team of architecture students to generate a 3D model of the existing building and help his staff work out the interior design details.
Welcome Paul Stephens to the Architecture team at CHS. He is doing a great job. Both IT-1 and IT-6 have just been equipped with 70 inch touch screen digital displays. Special thanks to Michael Deir and the CUSD Tech staff for such awesome tech support. Without their help we would not be able to give our students these awesome experiences.
New Welding Program at Fair View High
9th Largest Scholastic Chess League in the Nation at Neal Dow
The first tournament of the 2016-17 was one of the best ever! Steve said he cannot remember a more smoothly run tournament. There were plenty of people on the floor helping out, and the reminders given at the beginning of the tournament helped keep the noise and chaos to a minimum.
Steve's goal is to move towards having the tournaments held in large multipurpose rooms or gyms like Franklin, Maywood and Chico Jr. High.
Steve would like to give a special shout out to Kelly and Cathy who helped get the tournament ready. A shout out also to Anton for always getting results to us in such a timely manner. And finally, a shout out to Bill who ran the K-3 section with the help, I’m sure, of his wife, Tammie.
Steve thinks it is going to be a great year as it looks like one or more new schools may be joining the league this year! They were awarded for being the 9th largest scholastic chess league in the nation last year by the USCF! Steve would like to shoot for number one!
Steven "Obe" Oberlander
Neal Dow Students Attend "Trapper Camp"
Neal Dow has a group of wonderful teachers, Naomi Fitzstevens, Alyssa Eckert, and Vanessa Godbold, who prepared their students for their "live museum" by taking the students to Red Bluff's Trapper Camp that is put on by volunteers from Sutter's Fort. Here the students got to experience a day in the life of a trapper in California from the year 1946. Included is what the Native American's interactions with the trappers would have been like. The students came back to school to build their own and presented it to other classes and parents who wanted to swing by. Through this experience students not only gained a deeper understanding of a part of California's history, but also got to practice their public speaking skills. The presentations were followed up with a field trip to Sutter's Fort.
OUR AMAZING STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
CUSD Teacher Appointed to State Committee
September Superintendent's Awards
- Hooker Oak Teacher Kellie Steinbach by Principal Brian Holderman
- Citrus Elementary Custodian Doug Alden by Principal Rachel Tadeo
- Community Members Tino Nava and Seth Derish for their work on the Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee by Director Julie Kistle and Assistant Superintendent Kevin Bultema
October Superintendent's Awards
- Chico HIgh School Assistant Principal Reg Govan by Principal Mark Beebe and Assistant Principal Brian Boyer
- Chapman Elementary Office Manager by Principal Mike Allen
Leadership Award
CUSD Presenters at the STEM Conference
Teachers Kelly Coombe and Ray Barber (below left) and Bidwell teachers Bill Battaglia, Annalisa Hansen, Carie Myer, and Judy Hass (below right) represented CUSD as presenters at the Anaheim STEM conference.
Chico News and Review Readers' Picks
LVN/Health Assistant of the Month
Monica Pinckney has worked as an LVN and Health Assistant for CUSD for 17 years. She was the first LVN hired by CUSD to work with our medically fragile students. Monica received her RN degree in India 30 years ago, and moved to America 25 years ago with her husband. She has two beautiful, grown children. Both of her children attended Chico schools and graduated from PVHS. Her daughter graduated from Princeton four years ago, and her son is finishing his degree at CSU, San Jose this year. Monica goes above and beyond with staff, students and families. She does not hesitate to take on new, challenging, complex tasks – and does so with a smile.
Everyday Heroes
Nutrition Services Is Always Busy
Nutrition Services had another great summer feeding program. They served over 30,000 meals this last summer. The team did an amazing job getting the children in our community fed.
The start of the 2016-17 school went very smoothly. The nutrition coordinators did a great job preparing the site managers with all the information they needed to get the year started. The middle schools are seeing a big increase in numbers with the addition of sixth graders. Nice work middle school team!
Fair View Staff
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Districtwide Staff Development a Success!
The October 4 district-wide staff development sessions were a huge success! Staff were able to choose from 31 sessions that focused on transforming teaching and learning through technology. All of the sessions were facilitated by teachers and staff and the feedback very positive! You can view the overall feedback here: https://goo.gl/ctgyQL. I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to the facilitators of the sessions; thank you for your time, energy, and passion for supporting the teachers and students in our district!
· Adelle Harris, Loma Vista · Julia Sanner, Shasta · Randy Gilzean, PVHS · Beth Burton, PVHS · Laura Holman, Hooker Oak · Ray Barber, PVHS · Carol Sylvester, TOSA · Liesl Jones, BJHS · Rochelle Jacks-Garrett, PVHS · Cathy Frost, Sierra View · Lori Sullivan, Tech · Ryan Heimlich, PVHS · Chris Montgomery, CJHS · Michael Peck, PVHS · Sarah Valim, Loma Vista · Christi Bangsund, TOSA · Michelle Oswalt, McManus · Stephanie Cunniff, LCC · Dana Feingold, ELD Coach · Mike Brooks, PVHS · Tammy Janos, Parkview · Jeana Peyton, Loma Vista · Nate Hislop, PVHS · Terri Crawford, ELD Coach · Jenn McCall, District Office · Paige Bush, McManus · Tom Phelan, CHS · Joanna McClellan, BCOE · Pete Pembroke, Parkview · Tracie Connors, Hooker Oak · Rachel Armstrong, MJHS
Special Ed. Training
The special education department sent two people to a CEDR Conference that covered all things SEIS. SEIS is the online Special Education Information System that is used in most of California. Diane Olsen and Mary Kemp returned with lots of ideas and new skills to address legally compliant IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) and prevent state compliance issues. They are excited to help Special Ed. teams at the schools stay in compliance with all laws and regulations.
M&O Staff Receive Mandated Trainings
De-escalation Training
Microsoft Outlook Training
A Microsoft Outlook training was held for any staff member interested in the Large Conference Room on Monday, September 26. Three trainings were scheduled at various times that day. The trainer was Lori Sullivan. The Human Resources Department is considering further training in Microsoft Office and will make sure that all staff have an opportunity to participate, if interested.
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY
$4 Million Savings for Taxpayers
Happy Parents
It's easy to voice our frustration and speak up when we need something. Often during the other times when our kids are good and we are satisfied we say nothing. Tonight I went through my oldest child's last back to school night and met some of the most amazing teachers I've seen. The excitement, support (especially from Mr. Barber who has already met with me and answered several emails) and love for PV was amazing to me. Maybe it's always been there and I took it for granted but tonight I wanted to be sure that you knew that is what I saw in every class I walked into. You have an amazing group of teachers!
Thank you and your staff for that experience!
Jody Alloway
Happy Parents II
I just wanted to send you this link to a picture of our girls in the Chico E-R and to thank each and every one of you for the important role you play in helping our daughter fulfill her potential and love life along the way!
Scott Wolf
Broker, LEED Accredited Professional
Wolf Realty
Shoppers, Chico Mall Collect School Supplies for Students
For several weeks, shoppers and community members dropped off school supplies at Chico Mall to be donated to Chico Unified School District students. A number of boxes filled with backpacks, paper, pencils and more were delivered to the school district office. Helping assemble the donations were (left to right) Ted Sullivan, Chico Unified elementary educational services director; Chico Mall manager Natasha Shelton; mall marketing manager Lynette Myers; Deer Creek general sales manager and advertising manager Jaime Perry and Nichole Shuba; Superintendent Kelly Staley; and Assistant Superintendent Joanne Parsley. The Deer Creek radio station Mix 95.1 helped with the collection too. Thank you to everyone involved!