School Days!

SCHOOL DAYS It’s back to learning, friends and books for the 2018-19 school year. Here’s all you need to know before the first bell rings.

Fall 2018

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3 Upgraded facilities

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4 Test scores are in!

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7 Keeping students on track

Superintendent’s Message

Signs of Success GRADUATION RATE*:

DROPOUT RATE:

83.6%

5.9%

(exceeds county and state average)

(below county state average)

BACK TO

SCHOOL

Twin Rivers looks forward to building upon success STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS Other:

Asian:

9%

10% Latino:

African American:

46%

15% Caucasian:

20%

T

his is by far my favorite time of the year.

Students and staff are returning for the start of school, and there is much to celebrate in our district. We have received the fi nal SBAC test scores from the California Department of Education (CDE). Gains were made in both English language arts (ELA) and Math, and we are excited and proud of the outstanding work teachers, schools, support staff and families are doing to improve academic outcomes for all students.

Several schools saw double-digit gains in both ELA and Math.

In fact, test results show that the 20172018 school year was one of many fi rsts: • Dry Creek Elementary, our first 50/50 school — 53 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency in English language arts (ELA) and 51 percent in Math;

GRADUATION RATES (BY DEMOGRAPHICS) 90%

• Hazel Strauch, Regency Park, Westside, Ridgepoint and Frontier are schools that had 40 percent or more students who were proficient in both ELA and Math; • Several schools exceeded the district’s overall average growth of 4 percent in ELA, including Dry Creek (17 percent), Woodlake (15 percent), Hazel Strauch (14 percent), Grant (12 percent) and Foothill Oaks (10 percent);

65% 2014-15

2015-16

African American students English-learner students

2016-17*

The data is encouraging and speaks volumes.

We are seeing the results of our three-pronged approach to improve student achievement: • Professional development that significantly impacts instruction; • Implementation of new and additional ELA and math curricular materials; • Direct intervention services (Multi-Tiered System of Support) for students in need of additional support in a small group setting.

The initiatives work together in the best way possible for our students, and we fully expect our schools to continue to make significant progress. We have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, but by effectively working together, we will get to where we need to be for all students.

— Dr. Steve Martinez, Superintendent of Twin Rivers Unified School District

• Several schools exceeded the district’s overall average growth of 3 percent in Math, including Pioneer (11 percent), Rio Linda High (9 percent), Ridgepoint (9 percent), Allison (8 percent) and Hazel Strauch (9 percent).

Latino students Caucasian students

*New federal requirements changed graduation rate calculations, resulting in a possible two to three percent decrease in graduation rates, according to the California Department of Education.

2 | Twin Rivers Unified School District | We Are TR!

Cover photo by Anne Stokes

The area in front of Babcock Elementary School is prepared for paving as part of work being done on Twin Rivers campuses over the summer.

Photo by Roman Rykun

News & Happenings YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK Summer 2018 projects

BABCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • New parking lot plus expansion • Perimeter fencing

DRY CREEK ELEMENTARY • New paint

F.C. JOYCE ELEMENTARY • Restroom upgrades

SCHOOL FACILITIES

FOOTHILL RANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL • New roofs on four buildings (completed in September)

GET SOME TLC

GRANT HIGH SCHOOL

By Rodney Orosco

HILLSDALE ELEMENTARY

Upgrades include new paint, new bleachers and a place to stay cool

W

hen students return to school in August, Instead of spending time and money on they will notice a few changes. At Dry Creek “emergency” maintenance issues, Herrera’s goal is Elementary there will be a new coat of paint to invest in projects that are meant to last. “How on the walls, Pioneer Elementary will have a new responsible is it to throw maintenance money at roof, and Grant Union High School will have new things that [really just] need to be replaced?” bleachers and a shade structure to keep he said. spectators cool.

While routine maintenance will always be These projects and many others were all part of a necessary in a large school busy summer of construction district, Herrera’s philosophy “We took a hard look at on school facilities is driven throughout Twin Rivers Unified School District. our schools and decided by a simple rule: “We want “We took a hard look to keep kids warm, dry, safe now is the time to tackle and to create a great learning at our schools and decided these improvements,” now is the time to tackle environment,” he said. these improvements,” said All in all, the district has Perry Herrera Director of Construction & Engineering Perry Herrera, Director of invested $6.5 million into at Twin Rivers Construction and Engineering upgrades that will be completed at Twin Rivers. during this school year.

Many of the projects are “These projects are much the result of normal wear and tear on items that have needed,” said Bill McGuire, Assistant Superintendent an expected life span. “A roof is a 20-year roof. [Air at Twin Rivers, “and there are hundreds of millions of conditioning and heating units] are 15-year items,” dollars of projects that still need to be completed.”

Herrera said.

• Shade structure • New bleachers • Greenhouse

• Landscape wall

KOHLER ELEMENTARY • Lighting upgrade • Camera install

MADISON ELEMENTARY • New fencing • New cameras • Concrete walks

ORCHARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • New fencing • Lighting upgrade

PIONEER ELEMENTARY • New roof

RIO LINDA HIGH SCHOOL • Greenhouse

Fall 2018 | www.twinriversusd.org | 3

News & Happenings

THESE 3 SCHOOLS ARE MAKING THE GR ADE Results from the California Department of Education show several Twin Rivers schools have improved their scores.

Here’s a look at three schools and what their principals say is leading to academic improvement.

RIO LINDA HIGH SCHOOL

R

io Linda High School Principal Paul Orlando made his feelings about his school’s math scores going up 9 percent very clear — “They nailed it!” he said with pride.

However, it took a lot of work from students and teachers — and a willingness to try new ideas.

Last year, the school adopted a new math program, which meant new books and new teaching methods. Students worked in groups and lessons were geared toward real-life relevancy. Teachers were excited and felt that they were onto something good, Orlando said.

“I told them to trust me and the results will come,” he recalled.

Diedre Barlow credits teacher collaboration with the district’s English and math scores improving over the previous year.

Photo by Roman Rykun

The results came in and “the teachers were all smiles from ear-to-ear,” Orlando said.

Some students will get to show their pride courtesy of Orlando, who will buy about 100 T-shirts for every student who scored proficient or advanced on the test.

While the current excitement and enthusiasm are great, “We come back in August and it’s back to work,” Orlando said. “We don’t want to live in yesterday’s headlines.”

“They nailed it!”

Paul Orlando Principal, Rio Linda High School

Photo by Roman Rykun

NORWOOD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

A

t Norwood Junior High School, improving test scores is a tradition. For the past five years, scores at the school have gone up.

This year was no different — the students increased their English test scores by 9 percent and their math scores by 4 percent.

“The hard work everyone puts in, year after year, pays off,” said principal Diedre Barlow.

That hard work started with teachers, who used test scores to customize their instruction.

“Our teachers last year were so focused on collaboration and it paid off.”

Diedre Barlow Principal, Norwood Junior High School

4 | Twin Rivers Unified School District | We Are TR!

Paul Orlando, Principal at Rio Linda High School, is celebrating his students math scores going up by 9 percent.

“Teachers looked at individual student scores and worked on what the students needed,” she said.

Even while teachers are focusing on their individual students, they are looking outside their classroom for ideas and help.

“Our teachers last year were so focused on collaboration,” Diedre said, “and it paid off.”

The future is bright, but Barlow will not let the school rest on its success. “There are some things we have to tweak,” she said. “We have to continue to move forward.”

For the students, working hard and exceeding expectations means being part of a great tradition: Those who meet or exceed standards get to go on a trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

The lesson for kids is clear — with hard work comes great rewards.

DRY CREEK ELEMENTARY

A

But the key to her TK-4 grade school’s t the beginning of the last school academic success isn’t limited to the year, Dry Creek Elementary’s new classroom: Parents play a big role, too. principal, Amanda Forde, was “Our parents want determined to make her to be involved,” she fi rst year count. said. “They want to “We were going to know how they can focus on analyzing data “The teachers help their kids.” to make sure it drove here are so Part of the school’s our curriculum and our parent outreach is to instruction,” she recalled. amazing!” discuss test scores with Another goal she set for the Amanda Forde parents and then set school? Raising its test score Principal, Dry Creek Elementary goals with the teachers, expectations.

Forde explained.

The school met her “We keep challenge, with results families involved and showing a 17 percent informed,” she said. increase in the school’s English test scores The result? Informed parents make and an 8 percent increase in math scores. better students, she said.

Forde knows where to credit the And, “Our parents are amazing.” students’ success. “The teachers here are so amazing,” she said. “They work great as a team and I just want to keep supporting them.”

STANDOUT TEST SCORES While 2017-2018 data shows overall standardized test scores in Math and English language arts (ELA) rose across the district, there were some standout schools that showed significant improvement. Here are the results:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS Percentage of students who meet/exceed standards

2016-17

2017-18

INCREASE

Dry Creek Elementary

36%

53%

17%

Woodlake Elementary

21%

36%

15%

Hazel Strauch Elementary

40%

54%

14%

Grant Union High School

34%

46%

12%

Foothill Oaks Elementary

36%

46%

10%

2016-17

2017-18

INCREASE

Pioneer Elementary

26%

37%

11%

Rio Linda High School

25%

35%

9%

Ridgepoint Elementary

37%

46%

9%

Allison Elementary

17%

26%

8%

Strauch Elementary

33%

42%

9%

Principal Amanda Forde at Dry Creek Elementary said teachers, students and parents played a part in helping the school achieve a 17 percent increase in English language arts scores — the highest increase achieved in the district.

Photo by Roman Rykun

MATH Percentage of students who meet/exceed standards

Fall 2018 | www.twinriversusd.org | 5

SWUN MATH ADDS UP

News & Happenings

Teachers and students are giving positive feedback on first year of new math program

By Rodney Orosco

L

A teacher discusses a math lesson with a student using Swun Math teaching principles.

Photo by Anne Stokes

“The program is a comprehensive model of ast year, Twin Rivers teachers said students support for teachers,” she said. “We have heard were more excited about math than they teachers are so thankful of the support. They had ever been before. This year, teachers are love the lesson design and they love the Swun hoping to build on the success of Swun Math, coaches.” the district’s supplemental math curriculum In addition to collaboration, the program that was adopted last year and implemented in focuses on lesson demonstration. A Swun K-8 classrooms.

Math coach visits school sites monthly and “Thanks to teachers and Swun coaches, demonstrates lessons to teachers. If the teacher our kids are showing real success in math,” misses a lesson, or wants to review past lessons, said Lori Grace, Associate Superintendent of the teacher can fi nd a video of the specific Educational Services at Twin Rivers Unified lesson online.

School District.

Supporting teachers Swun Math was implemented is only part of the last year to address concerns: “We are seeing kids program. “We also train Elementary school math really enjoy math — the parents,” Swun said. scores weren’t improving and it is exciting!”

This is accomplished teachers said they needed more through a lesson math support to help students Dr. Lori Grace Associate Superintendent of Educational Services newsletter sent out to struggling to grasp the new parents prior to a Common Core curriculum. The new unit. school board took bold action And the students? and adopted this new program.

“The lesson design captures the kids’ Swun Math focuses on teacher professional attention,” Grace said. “We are seeing kids development — the key to improving a really enjoy math — it is exciting!” student’s understanding in math is to ensure Swun Math will return for the 2018teachers have the tools to effectively teach math.

2019 school year with several teacher “Our job is to collaborate with teachers in recommendations that will be implemented teaching math,” said Si Swun, the program’s creator. “We want to give teachers confidence to into the program, such as a peer-to-peer teacher observation component and a deeper delve into teach the new Common Core standards.” data evaluation.

Teachers are praising Swun Math for “It is all about supporting our teachers and giving them tools to be more effective in the students,” Grace said. classroom, Grace said.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT SWUN MATH Teachers and administrators are praising Swun Math. Here are just some of the things they are saying, taken from a focus group of Twin Rivers teachers and staff: Focus group findings

Focus group quotes

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Teachers reported having a deep desire to continue getting coached by Swun instructors.

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“Swun Math was the best training I have ever had.”

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Swun was the most beneficial program implemented in the District in the last four years.

•

“Our trainer was amazing.”

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“Oh, my gosh, this is working!”

•

Teachers loved the Beyond the Basic Facts program Swun offered.

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“The most beneficial professional development provided by the District.”

•

At Twin Rivers, it was all hands on deck for the program.

6 | Twin Rivers Unified School District | We Are TR!

News & Happenings KEEP IN THE KNOW Staying informed with what is going on in the Twin Rivers Unified School District is easy. With a variety of communications tools available to the public, knowing the who, what, where and when at any school is a click or phone call away.

SOCIAL MEDIA Twin Rivers educators will be implementing new classroom management techniques in the upcoming school year that will maximize instructional time and prevent classroom distractions.

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Visit the TRUSD Facebook page at Facebook.com/twinriversusd and click “like” to stay up-to-date on emergency information, important announcements, upcoming events, student achievements and photos of school/district activities.

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The district is on Twitter @TwinRiversUSD.

Photo by Anne Stokes

PRODUCTIVE CLASSROOMS

WEBSITE •

For emergency messages, news and announcements, and links to all school websites, visit the District’s website at www.twinriversusd.org.

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School websites are also a great place for information.

New classroom management program keeps kids focused

T

he phones are out, the kids are not in their seats, homework is “left” in the locker, someone is eating their lunch. Then the bell rings, and the teacher is ready to engage this class — a task for which the teacher has received the proper training through a districtwide behavior management program called CHAMPS, which is part of the Safe and Civil Schools Program. The goal is to ensure that all learning environments are productive, safe and respectful.

According to Laura Lofgren, Director of Curriculum & Instruction and Professional Development at Twin Rivers, the CHAMPS classroom management system is designed to maximize instructional time by preventing classroom distractions.

This summer, a team of Twin Rivers principals and counselors attended a Safe and Civil Schools Program conference in Portland where they got a preview of the system before its implementation in the 2018-19 school year.

The CHAMPS system helps educators take proactive measures — like establishing daily routines and setting clear behavior expectations — to provide structure for students, ideally resulting in fewer reactive disciplinary measures, like office referrals and suspensions.

“It’s all about making sure that we’re doing what we need to do as professionals to support students.”

Laura Lofgren Director of Curriculum & Instruction and Professional Development at Twin Rivers Unified School District

“The idea is that if students know what the expectations are and responses from teachers are logical and fair, they’re going to be more motivated to want to learn and it will improve student achievement,” Lofgren

said. “It’s all about making sure that we’re doing what we need to do as professionals to support students and helping them to be their best socially, academically and emotionally, too.”

Positive behavior intervention helps reduce the number of students who disrupt the classroom. Keeping students in the classroom and on task not only improves academic achievement, it promotes confl ict resolution and overall safety of schools.

“Helping teachers with classroom management is really working to support student achievement,” said Christine Moran, Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Coordinator at Twin Rivers who attended the Safe and Civil Schools Program conference.

“The CHAMPS training provides a structure and process for educators to achieve high-functioning classrooms through developing a classroom management plan that is proactive, positive and instructional. It’s about making the classroom inclusive and welcoming.”

PHONE •

Automated phone calls are used for emergency information, important dates and other timely news and updates about the district. Please make sure your contact information (home and cell numbers) are up to date at your child’s school.

E-NEWSLETTER •

The “Around TR” e-newsletter provides brief news from the District (sent using email contact information you have supplied to your school).

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE •

Mail is occasionally used for important District notices/letters.

Fall 2018 | www.twinriversusd.org | 7

Twin Rivers Unified School District 5115 Dudley Blvd.

McClellan, CA 95652 916-566-1600 Visit www.twinriversusd.org for:

List of schools

District news

Parent resources

GIVING THE COMMUNITY A VOICE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION For the 2018-2019 school year, Twin Rivers plans to create a new plan for special education services, called a SELPA. Find out what this means for students and families.

WHAT IS A SELPA? County offices of education and school districts are required to have a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), which manages resources and provides oversight for its students’ special education services.

HOW MANY STUDENTS USE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES? In Sacramento County’s SELPA, approximately 8,000 students receive services. In Twin Rivers schools, approximately 4,300 students receive services, making it the largest of the county’s nine member districts.

WHAT IS CHANGING? Currently, TRUSD students are served under Sacramento County Office of Education’s SELPA. Starting in 2019, Twin Rivers will adopt a single-district SELPA. Special education services and programs will still be determined by students’ individual education plan (IEP).

That process will not change. What will change is the District’s ability to respond to students’ needs in a more timely fashion. In addition, parents and employees will have increased influence in shaping and evaluating services to students.

HOW TO JOIN Through the District’s Community Advisory Committee, parents, staff and even students can give their input and discuss the needs of Twin Rivers students and families.

For more information, visit www.twinriversusd.org/Academics.

TWIN RIVERS 2018-2019 STUDENT CALENDAR AUGUST 2018 8/20

First Day of School!

SEPTEMBER 2018 9/3 Labor Day

NOVEMBER 2018 11/12 Veterans Day 11/19-11/23

Thanksgiving Break

11/26-11/27

TK-6 Parent/Teacher Conference Days (no school)

11/26-11/27

7-12 Professional Development (no school)

DECEMBER 2018 12/21 12/24-1/4

Minimum Day (K-12) Winter Break

KEEP TRACK OF ALL IMPORTANT TWIN RIVERS DATES AT: www.twinriversusd.org/calendar

JANUARY 2017 JANUARY 2019 1/17-1/18 Finals/Minimum Days (secondary only) 1/21

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

FEBRUARY 2017 FEBRUARY 2019 2/15 & 2/18

Presidents Day

MARCH 2019 3/1 TK-6 Shortened Day

APRIL 2019 4/15-4/22

Spring Break

MAY 2019 MAY 2017 5/27

Memorial Day

JUNE 2019 6/5-6/6 6/6

Finals/Minimum Days Last Day of School (minimum day)