Website   | Contact  |  Español
Sept. 19, 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 21





Oct. 7


2016 Science Blast
Oct. 10
through Oct. 14

Fall Break, No School
Nov. 1, 8, & 15





Nov. 3, 10, 17 & Dec. 1, 8, 15
 
PARENT  TIP
3 Ways to Get Involved
1. Parents wanted!!!
The School Site Council, Parent Advisory Committee and PTA are key organizations. Being a part of any of these groups will help you to understand the school culture and connect you with other parents. Call the school secretary for meeting dates and times.
 
2. Expand your knowledge.                    
Plan to attend a parent workshop or training. Education is ever evolving and learning is key in preparing for your student's future. Visit the Parent/Community Empower website for upcoming parent trainings: www.stocktonusd.net/pce
 
3. Partner with the teacher.
Meet with your child's teacher early in the year. Create a yearly educational plan to support your child's academic success. Promote reading at home, by ensuring that your child is reading a minimum of 20 minutes per day. Last, check your child's homework each night. 
PHOTO GALLERIES
Stockton Police Officers' Association Donates to McKinley




For the sixth year in a row, the Stockton  Police Officers' Association donated school supplies to McKinley Elementary teachers and students. Thank you for your donation, SPOA! 



Stockton Public Safety Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony




The Stockton Public Safety Academy is officially open for business! Thank you to all who joined us for this special ribbon cutting ceremony.


Welcome New Administrators!
Congratulations to SUSD's new Director of Language Development, Pittman Elementary Principal Adrienne Machado, and to three new SUSD principals!

Machado has been principal at Pittman Elementary since the school opened ten years ago. At Pittman she developed a highly successful dual immersion program, was named Distinguished Administrator of the Year from the California Association for Bilingual Education and worked to develop programs helping to advance English language learners.

She previously served as a principal at Montezuma Elementary, vice-principal at McKinley Elementary and teacher at Taylor Elementary. She has been a bilingual teacher and specialist and instructor for California State University, Stanislaus. She received her teaching credential at the University of California, Riverside, Masters of Arts from California State University, Sacramento and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Davis.

Keri Van De Star has been named principal at Van Buren Elementary. Van De Star has been a principal in the Byron Union, Cupertino Union and Lammersville  school districts. Her schools have been recognized for API gains and academic achievement. She has been a vice principal and an elementary teacher. She received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Hawaii and her Masters in Educational Leadership from California State University, Hayward.

Jana Brooks, former assistant principal at Rio Calaveras Elementary, is now principal at Taft Elementary. She has served as an assistant principal both at Rio and Tyler Elementary. She taught at King Elementary prior to joining administration. She received her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Sacramento and Bachelor of Arts from California State University, San Francisco.

Brittony A. Billingslea is now principal at Pulliam Elementary School. Billingslea was formerly assistant principal at Edison where she oversaw development of the school-wide professional development of AVID strategies resulting in Edison becoming an AVID national demonstration school. She was also an assistant principal at Stagg High School. She started with SUSD as an English teacher. Billingslea received her Masters in Cross Cultural Education from National University and Bachelor of English from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Congratulations to Adrienne Machado, Keri Van De Star, Jana Brooks and Brittony Billingslea!  

Taylor Fourth Graders Go to Notre Dame

For Allison Silva's Taylor fourth graders, this year's trip to Notre Dame University is likely to be the first time most have stepped onto a college campus. But they know just about everything about their adopted school.They know the dorms they want to see, the church, the buildings.

The students have studied Notre Dame for two years, following the football team, learning the historic landmarks and embracing the Fighting Irish culture to the extent they now call themselves the ND "Class of 2029."

Last year Silva was invited back to see the campus and attend a football game. She visited every building or green the students wanted to see and photographed them for the class. On September 24 the students themselves get that chance: The university alumni are flying the entire class back to tour the school, meet with the Notre Dame Dean of Admissions and, yes, cheer on their Notre Dame football team against the Duke Blue Devils.

Orchestrated in part by  Don Smail, president of the San Joaquin County chapter of the regional Notre Dame Alumni Association, the all-inclusive trip is part of the university's efforts to reach out to communities that may not have college-going communities. " I think being able to see the possibilities is an important thing," Smail, a member of the ND Class of 1978 said in an interview with The Record.

Silva and her fourth graders are part of Notre Dame's "First Time Fans" documentaries and many of her students say they definitely plan to attend the university. For now, the students will fly to South Bend, Indiana courtesy of Delta Airlines. They'll stay at the South Bend home of an alumni, a former Notre Dame class president.

Thank you Notre Dame and well done Allison Silva and her Taylor fourth graders! Go Irish!
Congratulations HCA
SUSD's Health Careers Academy has been named to the 2016 Newsweek Magazine's "Beating the Odds" list of outstanding high schools nationwide for overcoming obstacles of poverty that impede academic success.

The 500-student high school opened in 2011 to focus on career pathways in health care and has developed significant partnerships with medical organizations in the community who have contributed to the school's success. HCA has high graduation rates and very specialized training that includes field experience. Students leave HCA with very clear goals.

Students wear medical scrubs and white jackets, just like they will eventually be wearing for their chosen professions. They learn what the medial field jobs are, what hospital wards look like and how health care operates. It's a big advantage when they leave school.

HCA is one of five SUSD schools already recognized as U.S. News and World Report's top high schools in the nation. "What this means to us is we're producing students that make an impact in the community," said founding Principal Traci Miller. "That's what this place is about."

Congratulations HCA for another outstanding showing!
Weber Student a Future Physician
Great work by Weber Institute sophomore Marissa Casas, who represented Weber at the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Sciences in Boston over the summer.
Casas was able to watch live surgeries via technology and then interact with the surgeon in real time. She is interested in becoming a neurosurgeon or an obstetrician and the trip only strengthened her dream of becoming a doctor.

With her sights set on Stanford University, Casas is planning to return next summer. Weber Principal Katrina Leon said she was thrilled that Casas, who is studying community health at Weber, participated in the program. The National Academy was founded to honor and reward high achieving students dedicated to the medical profession.

Congratulations Weber and Marissa Casas!

SUSD SPOTLIGHTS
Photo by the Stockton Record.
Mel Suguitan Inducted Into Mexican American Hall of Fame

Edison music teacher and Stockton Unified's founder of student mariachi Mel Suguitan was inducted last  month into the Mexican American Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to students and music.

View full story & photos >
SUSD Bus Driver Naghina Khan Fixes Students' Shoes

SUSD bus driver Naghina Khan has been fixing, patching up and cleaning shoes for the students who ride her bus.

"What started as a simple gesture for one boy during the second day of classes has turned into a bigger effort aptly called Laced With Love now benefiting dozens of children." - Stockton Record

View full story >

Parent Empowerment Barnes & Noble Book Fair

The Parent/Community Empowerment department would like to thank all of the parents who participated in the Barnes & Noble book fair. We would like to extend a very special thank you to our guest readers: SUSD Board member Gloria Allen, VAPA Coordinator Cynthia Wildman, PAC President Selena Johnson, and PAC Member Jesus Garcia. Each week included an interactive theme such as the Great Scavenger Hunt, Are you smarter than a 3rd grader? (Game Show), Family and Superhero Nights.
W ant your news in the next issue of SUSD Connects? Email your stories and events to the SUSD Connects team at  [email protected] ! Due to space limitations, we may not be able to share all of the news we receive, but we will do our best to share it with as many people as possible. Thank you!