March 16, 2016
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Mar. 21 - Mar. 28
Spring Break - no school
Apr. 5, 12, 19, 26 & May 3, 10
Realizing the Academic Dream (R.A.D.) Parent Academy; registration required
Apr. 8
Stagg High School Powder Puff Game
Apr. 23
March of Dimes' March for Babies
Apr. 23
Kennedy Games
May 7
Young Authors' Faire at Barnes & Noble; 10am-1pm

Save the Date for SUSD Art
The annual McKee Student Art Contest and Exhibition will be held at the Haggin Museum March 17, 2016 - May 8, 2016. All of our schools have received invitations to submit work and so far over 200 pieces have been submitted for the exhibit! Support your students, schools and the Haggin Museum, 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton, and plan a visit to the exhibition this March!
Parent/Community Empowerment
On February 22, 2016, the Parent/Community Empowerment Department along with the Cesar Chavez Library hosted a fun-filled family literacy event, "Families Reading Together", for SUSD parents and students. The evening started with an exciting, yet entertaining read aloud book from Suzy Daveluy - City Librarian. If you have never heard Suzy read, then you are missing out on an awesome treat! Parents were provided with strategies and a literacy gift bag filled with resources to support at home reading. Each student received a free book to read and share with their family. The event ended with a SPLASH! That right, Stockton Ports Mascot - Splash attended the event to help promote literacy.  Thank you to both the Cesar Chavez Central Library and Stockton Ports!
Consider Signing Up for a R.A.D. Parent Academy
Here's what parents are saying about the R.A.D. Parent Academy.

"What I got out of the R.A.D. Program was that as family we need a plan for our child to make it to college."
-Jesus Garcia, Primary Years Academy Parent

"The Anti-Bullying training gave a lot of helpful information and informed me of terms that I wasn't aware of."
 -Amanda Jurado, Pulliam School Parent
 


"The ParentVue training was good because I can check my child's grades at home. After the meeting, I went home and checked my daughter's grades again. After leaving the training, I felt more confident using the computer for other things such as ST math and other academic programs." 
- MaryJane Elew, Hazelton Elementary School Parent

"The presenter was great. When we had questions he would take time out to answer them. The way the information was distributed to the parents made it interesting.  I was familiar with some of the information that was given so I also provided feedback to the parents in the room about bullying." 
- Alyssa Johns, Pulliam School Parent


Deadlines for Seniors
Testing deadlines are fast-approaching for the ACT and SAT! Be sure your junior or senior students sign up for these tests to ensure they are prepared for college applications!

Test Date
Register By
Late Fee Required
Jun. 11, 2016 May 6, 2016 May 7-20, 2016







Test Date
Register By
Late Fee Required
May 7, 2016 Apr. 8, 2016 Apr. 26, 2016
Jun. 4, 2016 May 5, 2016 May 25, 2016

Cortopassi Vocational Scholarships Open
The Cortopassi Family Foundation is offering $2,500 grants to high school seniors who commit to attend a community college and enter a vocational training program. These grants provide students $500 per month for the semester and are renewable for up to $10,000.

This is a wonderful opportunity for high school seniors looking to enter vocational certificate programs at San Joaquin Delta Community College.  There is no GPA requirement, however, to qualify students should have economic need and have overcome adversity, large or small. Last year 31 Cortopassi vocation awards were distributed, including several to SUSD students.

Don't miss out-  click here to apply online today! This is a very generous award that can help students manage college and a vocational training program! For more information, call Frances Richardson, VCP Applications Manager, at 209-365-4531.
Common Core Tip
Remember the ABCs of homework success

Homework success can be as simple as ABC (and D and E)! A is for Attitude. Model a positive attitude toward learning for your child. B is for Breaks. Break up long study sessions into smaller chunks. C is for Choice. Let your child choose what to work on first. D is for Directions. Your child should read them carefully, and then restate them. And E is for Encouragement. Find positive things to say about your child's efforts. 
-Parent Institute
Weber Artists Downtown
Take a look at the Dave Brubeck-inspired banners downtown this spring: They were created by Weber Tech students whose art won the University of the Pacific Brubeck Institute contest.
Congratulations and well done to winners Ana Diaz, Josue Marquez, and Diana Guerra, whose work too top prizes in the citywide contest. The winning pieces were copied to banners and then hung along Channel Street.

Weber's award winning art teacher Luz Lua said the idea was to create art that reflected the work of famed jazz musician and UOP icon Dave Brubeck, who will be celebrated by the Brubeck Institute at a series of events this spring.The work was selected by the Downtown Alliance in partnership with the institute.
Franklin Goes to State Olympiad- Again
Congratulations to Franklin High School's Science Olympiad team which came in 2nd place in last weekend's countywide competition. This marks the second year in a row the team will be entered into statewide competitions.

The Franklin Chlorine Team came in close behind overall winner Tokay Purple and ahead of Lincoln, Lodi and other high schools from throughout San Joaquin County. The competition consisted of rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that included both individual and team events. 

Great work by Franklin Science Olympiad coaches Eric Merlo, Martin Wong and other Franklin volunteers! 

And big congratulations to the student rocket scientists from Franklin: Edgar Tellez, Liz Gonzales, T.G. Roberts, Mariel Montes, Owen Cardosa, Erika Mendez, Leonardo Montes de Oca, Luis Lopez, Hector Carvajal, Hernan Soto, Jesus Perez, Annalisa Manabat, Jolene Friend, Elissa Apiag, Alexa Camacho, Alvaro Cardenas, Shi Lo, Markie Vialpando, Maryanne Lopez, Gurleen Kaur, Anthony McCormack, Collin Turner, Gaberiel Rojas, Reyna Cabrera, Alejandro Malanche, Nick Yang, Princess Vongchanh, and Julianna Foster!

Good luck in your next competition!
SUSD Relaunches 1852 Foundation: Join Us!
We are pleased to announce the re-launch of Stockton Unified's charitable 1852 Foundation. This non-profit fundraising organization has joined Community Foundation of San Joaquin and refined its purpose to provide funds for academic advancement that fall outside the general fund. These opportunities include participation in academic events, including pentathlons, decathlons, Mock Trial competitions, science/STEM  tournaments or literary contests.

It will work like this: Stockton Unified teachers will submit requests for small grants to pay for student participation in academic programs that have fees many students cannot afford. The district has been successful at events, such as the county, state and national MESA competitions and Science Olympiad, when schools are able to participate. This program will enable more schools to take part in activities that stimulate and reward academics.

We are asking you to help us. We know you share our view that Stockton Unified students play an integral part in the fabric of our city and we invite you to help us give them the best possible chances at success.

The 1852 Foundation is so named after the district's founding year. Today Stockton Unified serves more than 39,000 students. We have nearly completed an ambitious building campaign that has transformed our campuses. We've reduced the district dropout rates to below 10 percent and raised our graduation rate to 80 percent plus. We believe the district is well positioned to re-launch this very important fundraising organization.

To contribute, visit our 1852 Foundation website at www.stocktonusd.net/1852foundation.

We hope you will contribute as generously as possible. Questions? Call 209-933-7025.

Fremont Plays the Capitol
Huge congratulations to the Fremont Elementary School Mariachi Los Toritos Band which performed by invitation in Washington, DC for major arts and educations groups last month! The group also participated a very special workshop at the White House that included First Lady Michelle Obama, rock star Demi Lovato and television star Jussie Smollett. 
 
Eleven fifth- through eighth- graders, directed and coached by Chavez High School music instructor Luis "Tito" Talamantes, were invited as part of the Turnaround Arts Project in California, which is a project of the  President's Committee on the Arts, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts and other partners.
 
While in DC, the students saw the sights, performed for the National Endowment for the Arts among other groups, and even got a behind-the-scenes look at the National Museums and a ttended an interactive student workshop about Ray Charles!
 
The students joined the other 130 students from Turnaround Arts schools throughout the country for a workshop led by the First Lady and featuring GRAMMY museum director Robert Santelli, Lovato, Smollett and singers Andra Day and Leon Bridges and Gospel singer Yolanda Adams. The students were given the opportunity to interview the stars and then present to the full group on what they learned.
 
Fremont is one of 10 Turnaround Arts in California and among the 49 nationwide. The program supports measurable positive impacts on high needs schools by increasing student engagement and narrowing the achievement gap. Fremont became a Turnaround Arts school in 2014.
 
The D.C. trip marked the first time most of the Fremont students had traveled out of the state. They were thrilled to meet the dignitaries and see the nation's capitol. Special thanks to Fremont Principal Joseph Martinez, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Cynthia Wildman, arts teacher Shelese Douglas and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Dodge who helped make this spectacular trip possible for SUSD students!

Edison AVID Demonstrates Success
M ore than 50 school officials from around the state came away from this month's AVID showcase at Edison High School full of ideas about how to start their own academic success program. Edison, one of only nine AVID demonstration schools in the country, will hold two such showcases this year to let other schools see how the program helps students get to college.

AVID, Advancement via Individual Determination, is a highly structured program aimed at putting students whose parents did not attend college on a path to higher education. At Edison, students say the program has made all of the difference in their grades, achievement and dreams. "AVID focuses on all the classes that help for A to G courses for college," said Sienna Meli. Then, she said, "AVID gives you instruction about college applications and deadlines."

Meli and other Avid students led administrators, teachers and board members from other school districts on a tour of their program, giving guests a chance to observe instruction in critical reading, inquiry, collaboration and organization. They heard from panels of students and AVID teachers who explained what works best about the program and how it engages students.

AVID Athlete Elective teacher Gina Atad talked about the huge success she saw in this year's men's varsity basketball team: "They were greeting me at the door with their cellphones to show me their grades...They are improving and proud. The feeling is contagious."

AVID is currently at 35 SUSD schools, including all four comprehensive high schools, and the district will add seven more schools next year. For more information about AVID please contact AVID District Coordinator Kyle Dei Rossi at [email protected].
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!