Dream Big, Work Hard and Believe! ✳ Be Courageous!

Foundation for Sanger Schools - Sanger Unified School District - 1905 7th Street - Sanger, CA 93657 - (559) 524-6521 ✳ Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, SchoolWay App, and at www.sanger.k12.ca.us

SUSDAt a glanceDecember 2016/January 2017

INSIDEthis issue:

Human ResourcesAdult Education Offerings

Civic Learning - John WashLiteracy Night - Sequoia

Foundation UpdateNew Robotics Facility

New EmployeesUnsung Hero

Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!

Happy Holidays!

Imagine trying to walk up three flights of stairs with a broken leg, or using a stroller while holding the hand of a toddler, or coming to a curb in a wheel chair. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) sets out to eliminate these barriers and challenges. It is meant to produce environments that are inher-ently accessible to all people, those with and without disabilities. Walking down the street, entering and exiting buildings, or accessing dif-ferent levels of buildings, the power of accessibility by using universal design is evident. That curb now is sloped to allow for safe use of a wheelchair. UDL can also be applied to the class-room environment. Breaking down learning barriers through univer-sal design is being created throughout classrooms in our district. Just as a curb is an obstacle for a wheelchair, students who have difficulty focusing benefit from different classroom furniture options. When you walk into a universally designed classroom you will notice different seating and learning spaces for students. This may in-clude exercise balls that allow students who need to move the option

of a seat that allows for movement without being a distraction in the learning environment. Standing desks are provided for students who work better while standing or may need to stretch their legs as they work.

Small collaborative work spaces, in which students are free to talk and discuss their learning, is another example of providing options to our students and supporting how they learn best. According to Debbie Neal and Gloria Robles, teachers at Del Rey, “The items in our classroom have definitely made an im-pact on our students. They are used daily by multiple students. They provide options for our students that help them stay fo-

cused and able to complete their work. Thank you for providing these items for our classrooms!” Sanger Unified is committed to its vision that “All students will have the options to demonstrate what they learn and the opportuni-ties to be successful and achieve their dreams.” UDL provides these options for our students.

“Using standing desks and exercise balls al-lows students to have options in the classroom and engage in learning in the most comfort-able way possible, while removing barriers to

learning opportunities.”

Del Rey Principal Pete Munoz

Environment for LearningContributed by Amy Williams

On October 12, Madison Elementary hosted the District’s 4th Annual New Teacher Reception. Of the 77 new teachers, 60 were in attendance for dinner and enjoyed conversa-tion with colleagues, administrators, and Board Trustees. Superintendent Matt Navo closed the evening with some inspirational words. This is the first of two District-hosted events welcoming new employees. The second event will be in May for all new classified employees. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Kuraspediani

Aaron Perez and Anthony Viera Yepez, 2nd GradersPhoto courtesy of Debbie Neal

Genesis Torres Rios, 2 nd Grade

Photo courtesy of Debbie Neal

Alex Pacheco, 2nd Grade

Photo courtesy of Gloria Robles

Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!

AdministrationMatt Navo - Superintendent

Eduardo Martinez - Associate Superintendent, Administrative ServicesAdela Jones - Associate Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction

Jon Yost - Associate Superintendent

Board of TrusteesArea 1 - Tammy Wolfe; Area 2 - Peter R. Filippi, President; Area 3 - James D. Karle

Area 4 - Marcy Masumoto, Vice President; Area 5 - Ismael Hernandez, ClerkArea 6 - Kenneth R. Marcantonio; Area 7 - Jesse Vasquez

No Board Meeting on December 27, 2016 The District is governed by a seven-member Board of Education elected by trustee areas

Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month

Early release forALL schools on

Friday, December 16

School closed December 19, 2016thru January 6, 2017

Del ReyGregorio Gutierrez

Custodian

MaintenanceVicente Cardenas

Groundskeeper

Pupil Personnel ServicesTaylor Bledsoe

Speech Therapist

TechnologyStephen RamirezTechnical Support

Specialist

WAMSLilia GervacioPara Educator

Edgar AcebedoMath Teacher

School District Foggy Day Procedure

When buses are running late due to fog or bad weather, announcements will be made, starting at 6am on TV Channels 18, 24, 30, and 47, and on Radio Station KMJ-AM 580.

• If Plan A is announced, there will be a two-hour busy delay

• If Plan B is announced, there will be a three-hour bus delay

• If Plan C is announced, all home-to-school transportation is canceled for the day

Under Plans A, B, C, buses will follow the regular schedule in the afternoon to take students home.

Parents are reminded that although buses may be delayed on foggy days, classes at all school sites begin at the regular time. Parents may wish to take their children to school.

Foggy Day Driving Reminders

• Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more.

• Reduce your speed and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual il-lusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding.

• Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little to hear better.

• Use wipers and defrosters as neces-sary for maximum visibility.

• Use the right edge of the road or paint-ed road markings as a guide.

• Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.• Do not stop on heavily traveled streets.• If your car stalls or becomes disabled,

turn your vehicle’s lights off, and take your foot off of the brake pedal. Peo-ple tend to follow taillights when driv-ing in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury.

• Watch for children walking to and from school, waiting for buses, and enter-ing or leaving buses.

Happy Holidays to All From Sanger Adult SchoolContributed by Lori Hawkyard Sanger Adult School is anxious to jump into the New Year. We have some exciting events to start off 2017. The first one is our annual Career Fair in the Sanger High School Library on January 31, 6:00-8:00pm. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend and explore career training and educational opportunities that are available in our area. Representatives from apprenticeship programs, career training schools, community colleges, and local funding agencies will be available to tell you about their programs and answer your questions. Mark your calendar today and plan to attend our Career Fair on January 31. We will also undergo the Western Area of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation process in 2017. It will mark our 3rd WASC Accreditation. The accreditation lets the public know that students receive a top-notch education in all of our programs. Our High School Diploma, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Career Technical Education programs serve adults from Sanger and the surround-ing communities. We have had many students come from as far away as Visalia and Mendota to attend. Our office is in the main office at Sanger High School, and our office hours are from 10:00am to 6:00pm, Monday thru Thursday, and on Fridays it is 8:00am until 4:00pm. We offer classes at the high school, Wilson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and Del Rey Elementary campuses. Online courses are also available for our High School Diploma Program. You may also find us on the Internet. We are proud to announce the rollout of our new website. You can do a Google search for Sanger Adult School or visit http://sangeradult.sanger.k12.ca.us/ to learn more about our school and the career training courses available for the Spring Semester. The New Year is a great time to create new goals and explore new opportunities!

Members of the community who attended Career NightPhoto courtesy of Nancy Penny

The New Sanger High School Robotics Facility Contributed by Andrew Popp Sanger High School opened the newest addition to its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiative with the transformation of an old bus garage into a new robotics facility this past August. The building hosts Sanger High’s new Robotics Engineering elective course and is also home to their world-class robotics team. The program was launched in 2015 as part of SUSD’s vision to increase STEM opportunities for students. Within their first year the team was recognized in elite competition as a Rookie All Star. They then qualified for the world championship in St. Louis! Because of the need to provide the team with a better place to practice and support the District’s STEM initiative, the decision was made last June to turn the bus garage at the south end of the Tom Flores Stadium (WAMS) into a state-of-the art robotics engineering facility. SUSD’s maintenance staff and robotics students worked tirelessly all summer long converting the building into one geared for STEM learning! The complex houses five separate rooms and a large industrial work area. This will enable students to engage in meaningful hands-on learning. It will also provide our students the opportunity to earn college credit while preparing for career tech and college readiness. This move will enable Ramon Cuevas (Robotics Team head coach and Project Lead The Way Engineering Pathway teacher) to more effectively enhance the curriculum through collaboration and problem-based experiences. The new facility will also be used for outreach to other district sites. In October, principals and stu-dents from all SUSD sites toured the building and witnessed first hand some of the opportunities now available to our students.

Assistant coach Jason Boyer (far left), Robotics head coachRamon Cuevas (third from right) with the team

Photo courtesy of Andrew Popp

We’re Here to Serve!Contributed by Karina Ledezma The opportunity to assist and help all of the employees of the Sanger Unified family is the primary focus of the Human Resources department. We work with over 1,500 employees, classified and certifi-cated, contracted and non-contracted. We have four employees in this department and each have their own assignments. Each and every day, we walk thru the door with our own respective plan to successfully complete pending tasks that affect all employees throughout the district. However, our plans quickly take an unexpected turn with the first phone call of the morning or a visit from an employee. Our business motto is: “We’re here to serve!” So, whether or not we fully execute the original plan for the day, rest assured we will respond as quickly as possible to each and every inquiry that comes our way. Human Resources is the hub of the district when it comes to employee relations. Our job is to assist everyone with questions, issues, and pending matters, and to model what a great Human Resources department should be like. We also know how to appreciate and celebrate our employees. At the beginning of October, we honored 63 teachers who earned Tenured status by inviting them to be recognized by the Board of Trustees, followed with a dessert reception. Also in October, we hosted our 4th Annual New Teacher Dinner, welcoming 77 new Certificated staff members into our district. In May we will do the same by honoring all classified employees hired in the past year with a cel-ebratory dinner. We take pride in our department and the relationships we foster with colleagues and employees alike. Human Resources can be a demanding department to work in; however, we strive to ensure everyone’s concerns are taken care of in a timely manner.

Left to right: Gayle DiGiorno, Araceli Pina, Stephanie Kuraspediani, Karina LedezmaPhoto courtesy of Evelyn Arroyo

Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!

FFSS Garners $38,512 in 2016 Home of Hope RaffleTop Ticket Seller Lone Star Elementary Awarded $2,500!

Thanks to generous supporters of the Foundation for Sanger Schools who purchased $100 raffle tickets for a chance to win Granville Homes’ Home of Hope tickets, there were several happy people at a recent meeting of the Sanger Unified School District Board of Trustees. The first was Lori Welch, Lone Star Principal. While she was waiting for another agenda item to be heard, she was surprised to hear Cary Catalano with Catalano Fenske and Associates reveal to trustees that the Foundation was awarding $2,500 to Lone Star because they sold the most Home of Hope raffle tickets for the year. Welch said, “This comes as a total surprise!” She added that she’ll get together with her leadership team right away so they can decide what to buy for the school with their winnings. Pete Filippi, school board and Foundation president, was the second happy person. Moments earlier he had accepted a check from Granville Homes on behalf of the Foundation for $38,512 for the non-profit’s portion of ticket sale proceeds. “It’s the largest amount we’ve ever received from this event,” said Filippi.

Take the Pledge!Certificated and classified employees of Sanger Unified School District can Take the Pledge and sup-port the FFSS, plus help their school site or department receive funding for special projects. Even better, individual employees also have the chance to win a $500 VISA gift card by donating a mini-mum of $5/month ($60 annually) via payroll deduction or a one-time payment to the Foundation.

Employees who have taken the pledge in past years are asked to consider increasing their existing donation amount by 10%. When a school site or department reaches 70% employee participation, the Foundation will return 50% of ALL proceeds directly back to the department or school site during the General Session in August 2017. Plus, one person who donates a minimum of $60/year will win a $500 Visa gift card to be awarded in December 2017. But, you need to act fast. Payroll deduction forms must be received by Tuesday, December 6, 2016, to qualify for all benefits. If you have any questions, please call Cary Catalano, Foundation Coordina-tor, at (559) 320-1120, or email him at Cary@cfanda.com. Your pledge donations help provide the Foundation with additional funds to increase grant sizes and student scholarships.

Standing left to right:Gary Catalano, Pete Filippi,

and Veronique Werz ofGranville Homes

Seated left to right:Cathy Padilla, Coordinator

of Grants/Program Develop-ment, and Lori Welch

John Wash 3rd Graders Put Academics into ActionContributed by Rachel Buhr John Wash 3rd graders have embarked on a new academic journey. They have begun their civic learning project in which their voices drive the project. Students have just finished a community needs assessment in which they took pictures around their community. Then students used their science skills of observation to notice and record trends. They also used their newly learned graphing skills to represent the data they collected in order to analyze the data. This led students to a discussion, and soon a decision on the issue of need in the community on which they wish to focus. From now through December, the 3rd graders will continue to combine their academic standards and learning with the real world. They will learn about the community issue, partner with community stakeholders to come up with a solution, and develop an action plan in order to implement their solu-tion. Throughout this process, students are also learning about the structure of government and the pro-cess of electing government officials. On October 21, students were excited to welcome Assemblyman Jim Patterson to John Wash Elementary. He spoke to the students about the structure of government and the right and responsibility of citizens to vote. Students then had an opportunity to ask him ques-tions ranging from how much he liked his job to how a person gets elected. Beginning in January, students will put their plan into action. Our 3rd graders are excited to be agents of change in their community. They are also excited about taking their learning to a new level as they use their math, reading, writing, social studies, and science skills to create positive change in their community.

The 3rd grade classes of Rajvinder Chhina, Shelby Hazelton, Stephanie Walbridge,and Rachel Buhr listened intently to Assemblyman Jim Patterson

Family Literacy Night a Huge Success

With the help of ten staff and six LEAP volunteers, Sequoia produced a night full of movie themed reading and writing activities aimed at giving families strategies to use at home. Their recent event was aimed for parents and students from preschool thru 3rd grade, encouraging them to participate in the various station-to-station activities. Upon arrival, approximately 100 attendees were greeted with red carpet treatment. Guests signed in, received a folder to collect resources at each station, filled out a family reading pledge that was en-tered in a book bag drawing, got their ticket for free popcorn and water, and also a ticket for one turn at the book walk. As they participated in each of the stations, which included word work, working with letters, sight words, comprehension, writing, reader’s teacher, technology (Lexia, AR, QR codes), and the princi-pal’s information station, they earned additional tickets to play the book walk. Parents even took part in this game and had a great time going on the Walk of Fame with characters like Skippyjon Jones, Froggy, and Clifford. Sequoia set up the stage with carpets, pillows, and stuffed characters for Red Carpet Reading, which the families gravitated to. And the students who attended earned a free homework pass, since they were engaged in literacy activities for an hour. Congratulations to Sequoia for producing a wonderful, educational experience for all who attended!

Left to right, back row: Audra Soto, Michelle Yost, Janay Larson, Marisol Tovar, Katie Worman front row: Chad Standridge; photo courtesy of Jose Soto

CSP Michelle Yost and Brittaney Preciado, 4th grade teacher

Transitional Kindergarten teacher Marisol Tovar and TK student Paige Soto

1st grade teacher Sandra Prewitt and

Joshua Standridge, 3 rd grade student

Photos courtesy ofAudra Soto

Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes!

Happy Holidays!

Bruce Mansy with school friends Zach Lee,Keanu Lee, and Thaying VangPhotos courtesy of Lori Welch

An Unsung HeroMessage from Superintendent Matt Navo

Last year’s December issue had an Unsung Hero article about Jesus Soto and his mother. Jesus passed away due to complications related to his disability on July 27, 2015. He was 24 years old and the article was dedicated to his memory. The feedback from our SUSD readers on that story was amazing! We received let-ters, emails, and phone calls, thanking us for writing the article and asking for even greater detail on how to help Jesus’s mother. I was humbled, once again, by our com-munity’s outpouring of generosity and support for Jesus and his family. This year’s Unsung Hero dedication goes to a 2nd grader at Lone Star Elementary, Bruce Mansy. He is my hero and here is his story.

Bruce was involved in an accident the week-end of September 17, 2016. After dropping off his oldest brother, Samson (15 years old), at Sanger High School, Bruce and his siblings (3-year-old Carrie and 10-year-old Jacob) were on their way home with their father, Samuel, when their car was hit. Although his family members sustained minor inju-ries, Bruce’s spine was severely damaged, to the point where walking again is not an option at this time. I’ll never forget the look on his face as I walked into his room at Fresno Community Regional Medical Center. He was so small and looked somewhat confused. His mother, Lyhoy Tang, sat close by his side, thankful that Lone Star School Principal Lori Welch was there to comfort Bruce. He looked at me for just a brief moment, then he quickly turned his attention back to Jurassic Park, which was on TV. I could only imagine how slowly time must be passing for him as he waited to see if feeling would return to his legs. His mother, both nervous and concerned, showed such strength. “Thank you so much for being here,” she exclaimed.

I let her know that all of us at Sanger Unified had him on their minds and we were pulling for him to have a speedy and healthy recovery. As Ms. Welch spoke with Bruce, I leaned over and asked his mother what the prognosis was for him to walk again. She shook her head with a somber look and said, “Not good.” It was at that moment that I realized how incredibly strong she was; what extraordinary strength she must have for her son. This young man’s life had changed immediately when the accident occurred! His parents’ lives changed forever, but it was the strength of this family’s faith and the care from his school that moved me. Bruce received lots of visits, cards, letters, and pic-

tures full of get well wishes and encouragement from his classmates and staff. After recover-

ing from surgery, with a courageous spirit Bruce worked extremely hard in physical

therapy. He was absolutely determined to get back to school and to see all of his friends. On October 26, just a few weeks af-ter his accident, Bruce returned to Lone Star in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle green wheelchair. His Valley Children’s

Hospital rehabilitation counselor, Brent Poppen (paralympian bronze medalist) was

at his side. His father was also there to watch the school welcome him back.

I had a hard time keeping my composure as I ad-mired how much strength, faith, and love it must have taken to keep such a positive outlook on things, consid-ering the tragic accident at such a young age.

I am reminded during this time of holiday season, it’s not about what you own, whom you know, or what you have accomplished, but rather about family, faith, and loved ones. In times like the one Bruce faced, that’s all that matters! Bruce is a perfect example of why we always need to Be Courageous! Dream Big, Work Hard and Be-lieve! Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it Takes! I wish each of you a safe and blessed holiday!