The Natomas Unified Podcast Channel

NUSD’s Literacy Efforts, Part 2: Breaking Down Rubrics from the ’Main Topic’ to Grammar

NUSD continues to share our efforts to improve our students' literacy skills with guests Lan Orr and Juliane Link-Oberstar, both teachers on special assignment.

From the "main topic" to punctuation and grammar, Orr and Oberstar explain how each rubric will help elevate a child's reading and writing skills, and how these lessons can help families engage with one another. 

More Resources: 

https://natomasunified.org/literacy-series-update-what-is-a-writing-rubric-and-how-it-is-helpful/

NUSD Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

November is recognized as "Native American Heritage Month" and NUSD is proud to celebrate our community members of Native American descent. Fun fact: Natomas is a Maidu word which means "north place" or "upstream people".

 

In this episode we speak with Crystal Blue, an NUSD parent, of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians; Raquel Gonzales of the Shingle Springs Rancheria Band of Miwok Indians; and parent/staff member Isaac Bojorquez, of the KaKoon Ta Ruk Band of Ohlone-Costanoan Indians of the Big Sur Rancheria, from Monterey County.

 

The trio shares a little bit of history of the tribes around Sacramento, the work to reawaken Native languages, and how community members can learn more through events such as "Big Time". 

 

More resources: 

Sacramento Native American Health Center

Native Land Map

State Indian Museum

Native American Heritage Commission

California Indian Heritage Center (in development in west Sacramento)

NUSD’s Literacy Efforts, Part 1: Focus on Informational Writing

NUSD is committed to improving all of our students' literacy skills. Mark Bornstein, an NUSD Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), explains how we use rubrics - which is a way we evaluate a child's writing - and use those measurements to help a child in areas they may need support. 

A group of NUSD teachers reviewed and discussed student writing levels and agreed on five key scoring elements of writing that a student’s writing is scored on. Breaking the writing into five elements helps to identify specific areas of strength and areas for growth. These  five scoring elements are as follows:

• Topic or Main Idea (K-5) /Thesis Statement (6-12)
• Development
• Organization
• Use of sources (K-5) and Selection and Citation of Evidence (6-12)
• Standard English Conventions

This is part one of a two part series focusing on our literacy efforts.

Meeks Academy - Taking Virtual Learning to the Next Level

Larry G. Meeks Academy is a great program for scholars in need of a more flexible schedule. Scholars throughout Sacramento and in counties near Natomas, are encouraged to enroll.

 

Listen as Dr. Esther Perez, Meeks Academy's executive director, and Sunny Bun, a Meeks Academy teacher, explain the benefits of enrolling at the school as they take virtual learning to the next level. 

 

Click here to learn more about enrollment.

Learning Recovery - How Parents may use this Resource to help their child

NUSD's "Learning Recovery Intervention Guide" helps parents navigate the academic needs their child may have. Parents recently received a guide.

 

Listen as Steven Fong, Executive Director in the Chief Academic Officer department, explains how to use the guide and how it may help tackle a child's learning challenges and how to help them thrive.

 

More information may be found here: https://natomasunified.org/learning-recovery-and-intervention-guide/

NUSD Professional Development Training: Examining Implicit Bias

Natomas Unified staff members are dedicated to become leading examples of committed, collaborative, caring and exemplary examples in the community. As part of NUSD’s 3-year professional development plan, staff members have recently participated in anti-racist, anti-bias training. These training sessions teach staff members about cultural relevancy and situational awareness inside of NUSD schools, urging staff members to examine their own implicit bias. 

 

Listen as Tonja Jarrell, NUSD’s Associate Superintendent, discusses these trainings and why our first thoughts about people can't be our last. 

 

Next training for staff members is scheduled for October 10th with the organization, Culturally Responsive. 

 

Click here for upcoming professional development trainings: https://natomasunified.org/pd-opportunities-catalogue-2021-2022/

NUSD Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Literacy with Author Leticia Ordaz

Join NUSD this Friday as we learn more about Leticia Ordaz’s whimsical journey to becoming an award-winning author and the importance of reading stories in multiple languages. 

 

Sacramento-based news anchor, Ordaz, wanted her young children to read about strong, diverse characters. When she noticed the lack of diversity, she began writing about positive/STEM related stories, with Hispanic protagonists. 

 

Ordaz will also read her newest book, “The Carousel King and the Space Mission,” this Friday, September 30th, 6 pm, during NUSD’s “Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month Through Literacy” Event at Bannon Creek School. 

 

NUSD will also provide food, folklorico dance, and a workshop on piñatas!

 

To register for the event: natomasparentuniversity.com

El Programa de Inmersión en Dos Idiomas de la Escuela Primaria de Heredia-Arriaga y cómo inscribirse

Bienvenidos de regreso a la escuela y gracias por acompañarnos una vez más en el podcast "Conversaciones con NUSD".

En este episodio hablamos de la nueva escuela primaria de NUSD, Heredia-Arriaga, que se inaugurará en el 2023-2024. Esta escuela ofrecerá un programa de inmersión en dos idiomas que ayudará a los niños a aprender tanto el español como el inglés.

Escuche cómo la directora de la escuela, Liz Aguirre, y la maestra, Lina Bornstein, repasan los beneficios de un programa DLI y cómo puede inscribir a los estudiantes de kínder de transición y Kinder.

Presentado por:

Kay Recede, Coordinadora III del C.A.F.E. (Departamento de Comunicaciones y Compromiso Familiar) del NUSD

Invitados:

Liz Aguirre, Directora, Escuela Primaria Heredia-Arriaga

Lina Bornstein, Maestra, Escuela Primaria Heredia-Arriaga

Para más información:

https://natomasunified.org/heredia-arriaga-school/

Enroll Soon! New Dual Language Immersion School Offers Students a way to Become Bilingual

Please scroll down to the bottom of the screen to click on the link to listen.

 

In this episode, we discuss NUSD’s newest elementary school, Heredia-Arriaga, which is set to open in 2023-2024. This school will offer a dual language immersion program that will help children learn both Spanish and English. 

 

Listen in as the school’s principal, Liz Aguirre, and teacher, Lina Bornstein, go over the benefits of a DLI program and how you may enroll your transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students. 

 

Hosted by: 

 

Kay Recede, Coordinator III of NUSD’S C.A.F.E. (Communications and Family Engagement Department)

 

Guests: 

 

Liz Aguirre, Principal, Heredia-Arriaga Elementary School

Lina Bornstein, Teacher, Heredia-Arriaga Elementary School

 

For more information: 

 

https://natomasunified.org/heredia-arriaga-school/

Segment 3 of 3: A Conversation with NUSD Nutrition Services and Dairy Council of CA Discussing Strategies to Elevate School Meals

In this final segment of "How do school meals support students' health and well-being," we will continue to dive into school meals by discussing how nutrition education can increase the acceptability of healthy foods and share strategies to support nutrition education. NUSD Executive Director of Nutrition Services & Warehouse, Vince Caguin will share his perspective on this topic, talk more about how NUSD is elevating nutrition, promoting Universal School Meals, and how his dept/team are committed to serving students high-quality, nutritious foods at school. 

Guests:

Sonia Fernandez Arana, Program Manager, Let’s Eat Healthy 

Vince Caguin, Director of Nutrition Services and Warehousing