The Record
FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR
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Make the Grade
LETTER FROM THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
A child’s future begins today By James Mousalimas San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools
As the anticipation grows for the start of another school year, we are reminded that educating and nurturing our children is essential to the strength of our community, now and in the years to come. Our children are our future. It is our responsibility to provide them with every opportunity to succeed, including a quality education. They will have the best chance for success in school with support from all of us. And that support should begin as soon as possible in a child’s life. Brain research has helped us better understand the social, emotional and cognitive development of children. Eighty percent of a child’s brain capacity is developed by the age of 3. Ninety percent by the age of 5! By the time they are 3-years-old, children’s brains have formed 1000 trillion connections between neurons. A child’s development from birth to 5 years old sets the foundation for success in school and life. Parents, siblings, grandparents and caregivers are a child’s first teachers. The positive interactions a
James Mousalimas [COURTESY]
child receives during that perior, while the brain is developing at an extraordinary rate, is essential to development. As parents and caregivers, we should read, sing, talk and play with our infants and toddlers. Early-childhood education programs are helping families learn how to best support their children. One tool that is helping parents is the Ready4K textmessaging service. The free, research-based program developed by ParentPowered in collaboration with Stanford University and offered to families throughout San Joaquin County sends out facts and tips to help turn everyday activities into a time to teach and learn. To sign up to receive tips for your 3-year-old, just text “R4KSJ3” to 70138. For your 4-year-old,
text “R4KSJ4.” For kindergarteners, text “R4KSJ5.” Education begins long before the start of kindergarten, and parents and families should stay actively involved in their children’s education throughout their elementary, middle and high school years. Our educational system is most effective when parents, teachers and the school are all working together to meet the individual needs of each child. Our community is committed to improving early childhood education in San Joaquin County. Organizations and programs including University of the Pacific’s Beyond Our Gates and First 5 San Joaquin focus on improving literacy and health of all children in the county. Head Start San Joaquin—a partnership between the San Joaquin County Office of Education, Stockton Unified School District, Lodi Unified School District, Child Abuse Prevention Council and Creative Childcare, Inc.—provides educational and health services for children and families from pre-natal to five years old. The importance of educating and supporting our youngest children is a
priority in San Joaquin County and clearly evident when Stockton recently received the distinction of being an All-America City due to its commitment to children. Stockton received this honor in large part due to the work done by UOP’s Beyond Our Gates to improve childhood literacy. Preparing students for their futures has long been the goal of public education, but in recent years there has been a renewed focus on career and job readiness. Rigorous standards promote the teaching of problem-solving and critical thinking and there is a clear connection between what students are learning in the classroom and what awaits them after graduation. In school districts across San Joaquin County, this is evident in dynamic career and technical education courses and apprenticeship programs preparing students to join the workforce. It can also be seen in the innovate curricula and programs preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow. All students, no matter what their circumstances, deserve the opportunity for an effective education preparing them for their
futures. In an everchanging world driven by advances in technology, what awaits our students in their future cannot be fully known. But we can provide students with the skills to prepare them for whatever is to come. Students are learning 21st-century job skills in all subjects. In particular STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs are thriving in schools and districts across the county. These courses teach students how to solve problems, think critically, work together in teams, and communicate to others what they’ve learned. These are valuable skills to learn for all students, whether or not they pursue a STEM-related field as a career. For the students heading to STEM careers, these programs start providing that foundation at ever-younger ages. The need for workers in STEM fields is growing. By 2022, California is projected to have 1.4 million STEM-related jobs. These jobs will be not only in the technology industry, but also in agriculture, manufacturing, engineering, etc. Through its STEM Programs Department, the San Joaquin County
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S A2 Letter from the superintendent A3 Teacher of the year A5 Advice from a recent high school graduate A6 How a school got its name
A8 Money smart: budgeting for school expenses A9 Changes: how do deal with school year changes A10 School contact list
Office of Education (SJCOE) provides support for this innovation, providing training for teachers and opportunities for students. SJCOE has recently opened its new Engineering and Design Center providing access to computers, 3D-printers and other leading-edge technology to help students learn about science, engineering, and robotics. Schools and districts throughout the county are offering outstanding STEM programs for students starting in elementary school. Contact your child’s school to find out what they are offering in STEM education. Preparing our children for the future is important for all of us. They will be the leaders of our communities and drive the economy of tomorrow. We all play a part in getting them ready. It is never too soon to start. For parents of infants born this year, it might seem like that first day of school is a long way off. But don’t wait for kindergarten to begin your child’s education. You can start preparing your child today, and there are programs and educators ready to help you. Don’t wait, because your child’s future begins today.
The Record
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EDUCATOR
Teaching runs in the family Teacher of the year Peter Gallegos comes from a long line of educators By Nicholas Filipas Record Staff Writer
STOCKTON — When Peter Gallegos arrived at a dinner to announce the 2017-18 San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year this spring, he didn’t know such a thing existed. And when the Harrison Elementary School educator's name was announced, he didn’t have a speech prepared. “I showed up and thought, ‘This is pretty big.’ I was thinking that I was just nominated and that’s as good as it gets,” Gallegos recalled. “I was flabbergasted.” He took home the distinction as the county's top educator, credited by the San Joaquin County Office of Education with helping transform how Harrison Elementary, in east Stockton, teaches engineering and science, as well as for leading implementation of new curriculum and getting colleagues and parents to embrace it. “I’m still in shock,” Gallegos, 37, said outside his home in southwest Stockton in early July. “It’s all coming to me now that this is real.” This year will mark Gallegos’ 14th year of teaching, all in Stockton Unified at Harrison Elementary, a career choice that in the beginning he felt no special connection toward. Everything in his life was about playing or coaching baseball. Or if that didn't work out, going into computer graphics to work behind-the-scenes for film companies such as Pixar or Industrial Light and Magic. But that would’ve meant
Peter Gallegos, the San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year, stands with his children Emily, 14; Eliza, 8; Aidan, 7, and Alexander, 11. [CLIFFORD OTO/THE RECORD]
becoming the black sheep in his family of educators. His parents, three sisters and scores of aunts and uncles were educators in some form. His father taught at Edison High School for 36 years. One sister, Valerie Standridge, is principal at Huerta Elementary in south Stockton. He would go on to graduate from California State University, Stanislaus, then receive his masters taking online courses at Grand Canyon University. While enrolled in child development classes at Stanislaus and coaching during his free time, he developed a love for teaching and shaping young people into productive members of the community. "I just love kids," said Gallegos, who has
four children Emily, 14; Alexander; 11, Eliza, 8, and Aidan, 7 with his wife Megan. "Where they can go and what you can do for them is amazing," Gallegos said. "I found a love when I was not expecting to fall in love with it." One-half of his classroom is described by the SJCOE as a “science and engineering lab,” where his seventh- and eighthgrade students learn to collaborate on projects, such as building robots. The other half contains an arena for robotics competitions to test their creations. The result is a classroom full of students engrossed in learning. “The engagement level in Mr. Gallegos’ class is among the highest I’ve seen as an educator,” former Harrison Principal
Dan Wright wrote in his nomination for Gallegos. “He is a true believer in the ability of his students and pushes them hard to meet and exceed their goals.” Gallegos has also taken full charge of implementing Stockton Unified’s science standards in Project Lead the Way. In 2015, he took part in intensive training to prepare to teach automation and robotics classes, and collaborated with STEM instructors from both Harrison Elementary and across the state. The Project Lead the Way program focuses primarily on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for all grade levels and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Twelve schools
in SUSD, among them Chavez and Edison high schools, use the program with the hope of expanding to 15 schools. It's work and problem solving that is quite different from simply assigning kids to finish 30 math problems, Gallegos said. Electronic devices are his biggest obstacle as he works to keep students focused on math and science. "I'm competing against cellphones, YouTube and tablets," he said. "Every teacher wants their students to do well … we all want success for our students and I'm trying to get that tablet to not interfere with my students' learning when they go home." That's where the fun factor comes in. Keeping students focused on challenging concepts can be difficult. Gallegos uses stories, silly language and humor to grab students' attention. Some stories don't make sense, and they don't need to, he said. "I need to bring laughter to the classroom. I need to bring something that gets them laughing but excited about what we’re learning," Gallegos said. Gallegos added: "I don’t think it's very different than what any other teacher would try to do. I found that works for me." Gallegos’ application will now be submitted to the state for consideration as the California Teacher of the Year to be determined later this fall. Contact reporter Nicholas Filipas at (209) 546-8257 or nfilipas@recordnet. com. Follow him on recordnet.com/filipasblog or on Twitter @nicholasfilipas.
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LOOKING BACK
Advice from a recent graduate: Get involved at your school By Nicholas Filipas Record Staff Writer
STOCKTON — Seventeen-year-old Valentino Silva is still not quite used to the fact that his high school career is officially over. It's only a bit more than a month since he threw his cap in the air and celebrated his graduation from Health Careers Academy. In the short time since, he's split his summer working at an east Stockton Starbucks and enrolling in online courses at Arizona State University. Speaking to The Record, Silva discusses what he would change if he could do high school all over again, and offers advice to the incoming Class of 2018. Edited for space and content. Question: What was graduation like for you? Answer: At first, at practice, I was nervous. We were practicing walking the stage — who’s sitting next to who — but then when the moment came, I remember being in that hot little room and they’re like, "It’s time to go," and I’m, like, "Uh, OK." Every time I blinked, 30 minutes passed by and the next thing you know, it was already over. It’s like, wow, four years just to walk the stage for about five minutes and that’s it. Q: In the time since you received your diploma, has it finally sunk in that you’re not a high school student anymore? A: Not really. I’m still very connected with friends, but I’m, like, I don’t have any summer homework. At HCA, you could email your teachers and see if you have any assignments you could do over the summer, and I was reminiscing over freshman year looking at those
Valentino Silva recently graduated from Health Careers Academy and offers advice for current high school students. [CLIFFORD OTO/THE RECORD]
messages. I don’t need to email them anymore. It’s kinda hard to believe I’m not going back. Q: How was your overall experience at HCA? A: Freshman year was very different type of experience. (Former principal) Traci Miller, she’s been nothing but super supportive. I know that I have a lot of support because it is a challenging school. A lot of those students are going there for a reason. At first it was frustrating because I didn’t get what they were teaching, and by sophomore-junior year it was getting better. Senior year, I was like OK, it’s not that bad — it got simpler. Q: Compare yourself from freshman to senior year and how are they different? A: Freshman year, my characteristics were very shy, timid, very quiet, kind of just going with the flow. By senior year, I found
myself trying to engage other students who I saw were acting like me when I was a freshman and I would say “Listen, it’s just high school, over time you’re going to sweat it off.” Q: What will you miss most about high school? A: HCA is a very special school because teachers weren’t only there for academics but they were also there for personal issues and support. It was that family bond and they told the senior class, "We’re going to always be there for you, but you’re going to have to go and experience the world on your own," so it's breaking that bond that hurt me a little bit. That’s something that I will really miss. Q: Was there anything during high school that you regret you didn't do? A: I definitely should’ve participated more. I really wish I (had gotten involved) in student leadership my freshman
year so I could say I’ve been there all four years. However, it took me to my sophomore year to build that kind of self-esteem, that confidence to join student leadership. Q: What kind of advice would you offer to incoming juniors and seniors this year? A: Just go out there and don’t be ashamed, don’t be afraid. Get a mentor — get multiple mentors — there are plenty of people out in the community that want to help; plenty of people that have connections that you never know that you may need in the future. Volunteer and keep yourself busy; you build that stamina in yourself so when it's time for college, you already have that foot in the door that you know how to network and work with people. Q: You're working with Kathy Garcia, trustee of Area 3 in Stockton Unified, to run for her seat in
2020. You'll be 21 years old by that time, so what would you hope to accomplish if you are elected to serve as a trustee? A: I love HCA because I wish we can just copy and paste it into other schools, and so something that I’m really engaged on is (community involvement) that provides volunteer services for students. Something else is parent engagement because I know that my parents are really involved and if it wasn’t for them pushing me — even though teenagers are hard-headed — parents do what they do for a reason, and I believe that schools should have more board members that do the same things. Contact reporter Nicholas Filipas at (209) 546-8257 or nfilipas@ recordnet.com. Follow him on recordnet.com/ filipasblog or on Twitter @nicholasfilipas.
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Make the Grade
FACILITIES
Some obvious, others not so much:
The people behind the school names The Record Presidents • Washington Elementary, Stockton Unified and Lodi Unified: the nation’s first president. As a commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and a Founding Father, Washington was admired for his leadership. • John Adams Elementary, Stockton Unified: John Adams was the second president of the United States. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and became the nation’s first vice president under George Washington. • Madison Elementary, Stockton Unified: James Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution. • Monroe Elementary, Stockton Unified: James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States. While president, he oversaw the acquisition of Florida from Spain and the Treaty of 1818. • Van Buren Elementary, Stockton Unified: Martin Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States and was constantly blamed for economic challenges, among them the Panic of 1837 and the depression that followed. • Harrison Elementary School, Stockton Unified: William Henry Harrison was the ninth president of the United States in 1841. On his 32nd day in office, he got a cold that developed into pneumonia and died, becoming the first president to die in office. • Tyler Skills Elementary, Stockton Unified: John Tyler was the 10th president of the United States. Tyler is the first vice president to succeed to the presidency after the death of his predecessor. • Taylor Elementary, Stockton Unified: Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of the United States. Before becoming president, Taylor was an officer in the U.S. Army and rose to major general.
• Fillmore Elementary, Stockton Unified: Millard Fillmore was the 13th president of the United States. Fillmore is the last president to not be affiliated with either the Democrat or Republican parties. • Lincoln Elementary and Lincoln High School, Manteca Unified and Lincoln Unified: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, is best known for his leadership during the Civil War, preserving the Union, which was deeply divided over slavery and states’ rights. • Cleveland Elementary, Stockton Unified: Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States and was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War in 1885. • McKinley Elementary, Stockton Unified: William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States. During his time, McKinley led the nation to victory during the SpanishAmerican War, with Spain eventually ceding the colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the United States. McKinley also saw Hawaii become a U.S. territory in 1898. • Roosevelt Elementary, Stockton Unified: Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, also was an author, explorer and soldier, and was seen as a “cowboy” for his masculine pursuits, such as hunting wild game in Africa. • Taft Elementary, Stockton Unified: William Taft was the nation’s 27th president. He is the only president to later serve on the Supreme Court. • Wilson Elementary, Stockton Unified: Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States. In his two terms, Wilson passed laws that prohibited child labor and brought eight-hour workdays to railroad workers. • Hoover Elementary, Stockton Unified: Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the
United States. Although the policies that set in motion the stock market crash of 1929 and the following Great Depression were already in place by the time he was elected, Hoover was widely blamed for the economic crisis. • Kennedy Elementary, Stockton Unified: John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. Kennedy challenged the American people to land on the moon, dealt with civil rights legislation and averted nuclear war with the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis. • George W. Bush Elementary, Stockton Unified: George W. Bush was the 43rd president of the United States, serving two terms, from 2001 to 2009. Eight months into his presidency, the nation was attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, starting the War on Terror and the eventual invasion of Iraq in 2003. Founding Fathers • Hamilton Elementary, Stockton Unified: Best known as an American patriot, Alexander Hamilton was a chief staff member for President George Washington and founded our nation’s financial system and Coast Guard, among other things. • Franklin High School, Stockton Unified: Benjamin Franklin was an author, printer, postmaster, scientist, inventor and politician. Franklin is best known for his work in electricity and even created the nation’s first fire department. Historical figures • Marshall Elementary, Stockton Unified: John Marshall was the nation’s fourth chief justice of the Supreme Court. He is the longest-serving chief justice and the fourth-longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history. • Montezuma Elementary, Stockton Unified: Also known as Moctezuma II, he was the ninth ruler of Tenochtitlan, an Aztec city-state located on the island of Lake Texcoco, which is now the site of Mexico City.
• Nightingale Elementary, Stockton Unified: Florence Nightingale is the face of modern nursing. In 1860, she founded her own nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, which was the first of its kind in the world. • Ansel Adams Elementary, Lodi Unified: Ansel Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist. • Julia Morgan Elementary, Lodi Unified: Julia Morgan was an American architect in California and designed more than 700 buildings. • John Muir Elementary, Lodi Unified: John Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist, author and lover of nature and the wilderness. His writings were enough to convince the U.S. government to preserve areas such as Yosemite Valley, the Grand Canyon and Sequoia as national parks. • Jenny Lind Elementary, Calaveras Unified: Johanna “Jenny” Lind was a famous 19thcentury Swedish opera singer often known as the “Swedish Nightingale." • Huerta Elementary, Stockton Unified: Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is a labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez. • King Elementary, Stockton Unified: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist who had an immense impact on race relations. • Cesar Chavez High School, Stockton Unified: Cesar Chavez was a well-known American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who cofounded the UFW with Dolores Huerta. • Edison High School, Stockton Unified: Thomas Edison, an American inventor, holds 2,332 patents around the globe, 1,093 of them in the United States. Among his inventions were the motion picture camera, the incandescent light bulb and sound recording.
• Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Lodi Unified: Christa McAuliffe was a teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, and was one of seven crew members aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded on Jan. 28, 1986. • McNair High School, Lodi Unified: Ronald Ervin McNair was a physicist and NASA astronaut, also one of seven crew members killed in the Challenger explosion in 1986, as the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launch. • Bret Harte Union High, Bret Harte Unified: Bret Harte was an American writer, poet and journalist best known for his work detailing the California Gold Rush. • Weber Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Stockton Unified: Capt. Charles M. Weber, a German immigrant, founded Stockton in 1849 when he purchased more than 49,000 acres of land through a Spanish land grant. Military heroes • Brock Elliott Elementary, Manteca Unified: Brock Elliot was the first man from Manteca killed in action during the Vietnam War. He was a lance corporal with the Marines and had been serving his country for only 11 months when he was killed. • Fremont Elementary, Stockton Unified: John Fremont, born in 1813, was a pioneer, leading four expeditions to California and the American West during the 1840s. • Clyde W. Needham Elementary, Lodi Unified: Clyde Needham was the first man from Lodi to be killed in action in World War I. Needham died in France on July 27, 1917, after a German shell hit the top of a trench he was in. • Pittman Elementary, Stockton Unified: Master Sgt. Richard Pittman was a retired U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor in July 1966 for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War.
The Record
• Duncan Russell Continuation School, Tracy Unified: One school is named after two men. Richard W. Duncan and Donnie H. Russell were the first two Tracy residents killed during the Vietnam War. • Stockton Skills School, Stockton Unified: Robert Field Stockton was a U.S. Navy commodore and was considered a key figure in the capture of California during the MexicanAmerican War. Prominent local citizens • Beckman Elementary, Lodi Unified: Named for the prominent Beckman family that once farmed the land, Henry and Christopher Beckman settled in Lodi in 1859, and Henry bought a ranch south of where Kettleman Lane is today. • Joshua Cowell Elementary, Manteca Unified: Named for the founder and first mayor of Manteca, Joshua Cowell. • Davis Elementary, Lodi Unified: Davis Elementary School was established in 1958 in the “Davis School District” that was merged into Lodi Unified in 1967. • Kimball High School, Tracy Unified: John C. Kimball was a doctor in Tracy who for decades had volunteered as the Tracy High School team physician. • George Komure Elementary, Manteca Unified: George Y. Komure was a longtime French Camp-area farmer who also was a public servant in several capacities. • Merlo Institute, Stockton Unified: Edward C. Merlo was an architect and is best known for saving the Bob Hope Theatre from closing its doors in 1973 due to poor attendance. • Lawrence Elementary, Lodi Unified: The first school in the Salem District was built in 1858 on the land of Ezekiel Lawrence. The doors, windows, sash and furniture for the schoolhouse were made by Lawrence, who was a carpenter. The Lawrence family was prominent in Lodi history. • George Lincoln Mosher Elementary, Lodi Unified: George Lincoln Mosher once owned land where the school which bears his name was built. • One.John F. Cruikshank Court School, San Joaquin County Office of Education: John Cruikshank was San Joaquin County’s first black attorney and judge, retiring from San Joaquin County Superior Court in 1996.
• Peyton Elementary, Stockton Unified: Valentine Peyton, a Stocktonian and council member in fall 1852, started funding that would eventually lead to the creation of the Stockton Unified School District. • Don Riggio Elementary, Lincoln Unified: Don Riggio, a Stockton attorney, served on the Lincoln school board for 24 years, the second-longest stint in the district’s history. • Joe Serna Jr. Charter, Lodi Unified: Joe Serna Jr. was a civil rights activist and mayor of Sacramento from 1992 to 1999. • Manlio Silva Elementary, Lodi Unified: Named after pharmacist, violinist and conductor Manlio Silva, who founded the Stockton Symphony in 1926. • Alex G. Spanos Elementary, Stockton Unified: Born in Stockton in 1923, Spanos is a real-estate developer and self-made billionaire who attended University of the Pacific and founded the A. G. Spanos Companies. • Stagg High School, Stockton Unified: Amos Alonzo Stagg is often considered the father of modern football. Stagg coached at then-College of the Pacific in Stockton from 1932 to 1946. • John Vierra High School, Bret Harte Unified: John Vierra was a longtime area rancher, businessman and community volunteer. • Wagner-Holt Elementary, Lodi Unified: Benjamin Holt was an American inventor who patented and manufactured the first tractor and established the Holt Manufacturing Co. Jacob Wagner established the Pacific Tannery where today, the Pacific Storage Co. is still located. • Williams Middle School, Tracy Unified: Earle E. Williams was a California historian who wrote articles, pamphlets, essays and biographies focused on the region around southwest San Joaquin County and Tracy. • Walter Woodward Elementary, Manteca Unified: Walter Woodward was Manteca’s first Realtor and an early advocate of irrigation. Local educators • Mable Barron Elementary, Lincoln Unified: Mable Barron joined the Lincoln School District in 1948 and became its first superintendent in 1951. • Bohn Elementary, Tracy Unified: Louis Bohn wore many hats, including teacher, principal, educational adviser, director
of instruction, assistant superintendent for instruction, acting superintendent and assistant superintendent for personnel during a five-decade career. • Lois E. Borchardt Elementary, Lodi Unified: Lois Borchardt was a teacher at the district for more than 30 years. She also was one of the founders of the Lodi Women’s Center. • Stella Brockman Elementary, Manteca Unified: Stella Brockman was a fifth-grade teacher and eventual principal at Yosemite School. • Jane Frederick Continuation High School, Stockton Unified: Jane Frederick served as a teacher of Japanese-American students who were interned in a camp in Arizona. • Freiler Elementary, Tracy Unified: Art Freiler was a former teacher at Clover Middle School and Central School. He retired in 1985 after teaching 23 years in Tracy Unified. • Grunksy Elementary, Stockton Unified: Lottie Grunksy was a pioneer Stockton teacher and one of only three members of the first graduating class from the then-new Stockton High School in 1870. • Neil Hafley Elementary, Manteca Unified: Neil Hafley is a former assistant county superintendent of schools and Manteca Unified administrator. • Hazelton Elementary, Stockton Unified: Dr. William T. Hazelton taught in Stockton during the 1890s. • Henry Elementary, Stockton Unified: Wilhelmina Henry became the first black teacher in the district, retiring in 1994. • Henderson Community Day, Lodi Unified: Named for Thomas J. Henderson, the first school census marshal. Before it was the school it is today, there was a Henderson Elementary School that closed in 2000. • Hirsch Elementary, Tracy Unified: Wanda Hirsch was a teacher at Central School for more than three decades. • Hong Kingston Elementary, Stockton Unified: Stockton native Maxine Hong Kingston is a Chinese-American author and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. • Jacobson Elementary, Tracy Unified: Melville S. Jacobson is a former school board member. A violinist, he was also passionate about promoting the arts. • Kelly Elementary, Tracy Unified: George Kelly was the principal at Central School for 23
years when he retired in 1987. • August Knodt Elementary, Manteca Unified: August Knodt was a Manteca Unified School District trustee. • Tully C. Knoles Elementary, Lincoln Unified: Tully Knoles moved College of the Pacific from San Jose to Stockton in 1924. • Kohl Open Elementary, Stockton Unified: Herbert Kohl is an education theorist and perhaps best-known for his advocacy for alternative education. • Claudia Landeen Elementary, Lincoln Unified: Claudia Landeen was a teacher in Stockton Unified, and she was the first woman to serve on Lincoln’s Board of Trustees. • Ellerth Larson Elementary, Lodi Unified: Ellerth Larson was Lodi Unified’s second and longest-tenured superintendent to date, serving the district for 11 years. • Richard P. Lopez Performing Arts Magnet at Fremont Elementary, Stockton Unified: Richard P. Lopez spent more than 30 years fighting for the rights of minorities and the poor throughout Stockton. • George McParland Elementary, Manteca Unified: Named for longtime district administrator George McParland. He served as principal at French Camp School for Manteca Unified. • Leroy Nichols Elementary, Lodi Unified: Leroy Nichols served as a Lodi Unified superintendent for 20 years. • Gladys Poet-Christian Elementary, Tracy Unified: Gladys Christian was a lifelong Tracy resident. She was a clerklibrarian for 25 years for the Tracy public schools. • Pulliam Elementary School, Stockton Unified: Named for
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former district superintendent Nolan D. Pulliam. He also served as state superintendent of public instruction for schools in Arizona. • Reese Elementary, Lodi Unified: Erma B. Reese was a teacher in the Woods District (which later merged with other districts to become Lodi Unified) from 1927 to 1933 and then she served the district as superintendent from 1934 to 1947. • Stein Continuation High, Tracy Unified: George Stein Jr. was a longtime school board member, and his wife, Evelyn Stein, was a kindergarten teacher at Central Elementary School for three decades. • Villalovoz Elementary, Tracy Unified: Louis Villalovoz was a school board trustee for the Tracy Unified School District. • Walton Special Center, Stockton Unified: Roger M.V. Walton was an administrator with the district for 28 years. Having spent more than 40 years in education, he helped fund a community-based program for multi-handicapped minors. • West High School, Tracy Unified: Merrill Francis West was a native of Laurel, Iowa, who moved to Tracy in 1936 to farm produce crops and walnuts. He served as a Tracy Unified School District board member for 11 years (19541965), four of them as president. • Joseph Widmer Elementary, Manteca Unified: Joseph Widmer served for 25 years on the Manteca Unified School District Board of Trustees. • John R. Williams Elementary, Lincoln Unified: John R. Williams served as superintendent of schools for San Joaquin County from 1931 to 1954.
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Make the Grade
BUDGETING
PIXABAY.COM
box of pencils that can be used? You might already have essentials such as rulers, scissors, pencils and paper on hand. Needs over wants Just because you have a coupon for an item doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Stick with what your child needs rather than what your child wants. The required list of school supplies and new gym shoes to fit growing feet are needs. A new backpack is a want if last year’s is still in good shape. Let kids help
MONEYSMART
Back-to-school shopping is an opportunity to teach kids about budgeting. Take an envelope with cash and let kids see the money disappear as it is exchanged for goods. When it’s gone, shopping is over. If a child wants trendy clothing brands or upscale supplies, let them cover the difference themselves. Use tools
How to budget for school expenses
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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ack-to-school shopping is expensive, but budgeting on backpacks and school supplies can make your dollars go further. The National Retail Federation estimated that families with students in kindergarten through high school spent $630 per child in 2015, down from $669 in 2014, for a grand total of $29 billion. “Every family needs to budget for back-to-school spending no matter what their financial outlook,” said personal finance expert Rachel Cruze, co-author of “Smart Money Smart Kids.” From trendy school clothes to nifty pencil bags and binders, it’s easy for parents to overspend. “Budgeting is key. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll end up
spending too much,” Cruze said. Some people “hear the word ‘budget’ and cringe, but a budget doesn’t limit freedom, it increases your freedom so you can control what you spend,” Cruze said. Budgeting has to be intentional, and back-to-school spending needs to be a part of the household budget, Cruze said. “List all the categories your money is going to: bills, mortgage, rent. That’s your household budget. What’s left after bills can be saved or set aside for things like back-to-school spending. You know school is coming. Plan ahead and you’ll have a nice little fund for shopping,” Cruze said. Here are some more tips from Cruze, whose latest book is “Love Your Life, Not Theirs”:
Plan it Start smart by making a list of everything you’ll need so you can budget the money you have to cover your expenses. Without a list, you’ll spend blindly and spend too much. Don’t shop without your list. Think ahead Some states have tax-free shopping days before school starts. Comparison-shop and look online to find the best prices. Take advantage of retailers who slash prices at the end of the season. Make sure you need it Check what you already have. Does last year’s school uniform still fit? Is there an extra
In addition to paging through weekly circulars and researching deals online, use an app to help with budgeting and couponing such as EveryDollar, SnipSnap, shopkick or YNAB (You Need A Budget), as well as apps from retailers you frequent. Think about school-year expenses now “It’s likely that you’ll have fees due throughout the school year, some expected and some unexpected. Too many parents get caught off guard because they weren’t planning for these fees and don’t have the extra money to pay for them,” Cruze said. “Create a line item in your budget for miscellaneous school expenses and start setting money aside. This will allow you to have the money readily available for when the fees come due and prevent you from going into debt or feeling stressed.
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CHANGES
KEEP IT POSITIVE Help your child deal with school year changes By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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hange is hard for everyone. Entering a new school is one of the biggest changes a child may encounter in his young life. Parents can help smooth the transition and make it less traumatic. “A lot of parents may feel anxiety about a change of school, but they should be careful not to project those feelings on their kids. Their child may not be feeling the same thing,” said parenting expert, blogger and author Richard Greenberg,
who shares an analogy: “If you got in a taxi and said to the driver, ‘Take me to the airport’ and he said, ‘I don’t know how to get there,’ you wouldn’t feel too good about it. Kids are in the back of our cab. The key is to project confidence.” Put yourself in their shoes and try and remember how it felt to be a kid in a new situation, he added. “Let them know you’re part of the process. Project that this is going to be great. They’re going to have fun. Change is a part of life. It’s a part of growing up. Tell them that you’re proud of them. Use the power of positive thinking,” Greenberg said.
More advice Here are some more tips: • Visit the school’s website. Take a virtual tour and download a map of the school if possible. Check the school calendar and read the school rules and dress codes. • If possible, visit the school and talk to the teacher or an administrator before classes begin. • Practice your introductions. Have your child come up with a short conversation-starter: “Hi! My name is Mike. I just moved here from Baltimore and I play baseball.” That way he’ll be ready with something to say to new acquaintances. • Remind your child that it’s normal to feel anxious and let them know you’re there for them if they have questions. • If your child is concerned about riding the bus, brief your child on safety rules and visit the bus stop in advance. Point out familiar landmarks and reassure your child that an adult will be on hand when they disembark at the school. • Parents can contact the school’s parent teacher organization, which can provide information about the new school. Volunteering is a great way to become a part of a new community and make new friends for both parent and child. • No matter how anxious you are when dropping off a child at a new school, don’t linger, Borba said. That will only increase their anxiety.
Make a friend early “Friends play an enormous part of success in school,” said educational psychologist and parenting, bullying and character expert Dr. Michele Borba, author of “UnSelfie.” “Friends keep kids happy. They make a child want to go to school. They are a support system.” If you can connect your child with one friendly face before school starts, it can ease the process of changing schools. “Walking into a new school without knowing someone is stressful,” Borba said. “The goal is to make your child feel secure in dozens of ways. Whatever you can learn and discuss ahead of time will reduce their anxiety.” Look for opportunities for your child to meet neighbors and potential classmates over the summer. Check out library and park district programs and the local newspaper to see what’s happening in your area.
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Make the Grade
REACHING OUT
How to reach San Joaquin, Calaveras area schools, districts The Record Banta Elementary School District • First day of school: Tuesday, August 8 • Superintendent: Albert Garibaldi • Website: bantaesd.sharpschool.net Schools: • Banta Elementary: (209) 229-4650 • Next Generation STEAM Academy: (209) 229-4736 Bret Harte Union High School District • First day of school: Wednesday, August 16 • Superintendent: Michael Chimente • Website: bhuhsd-ca. schoolloop.com Schools: • Bret Harte Union High: (209) 736-2507 • John Vierra High: (209) 736-8322 • Vallecito High: (209) 736-8340 Calaveras County Office of Education • First day of school: Monday, July 24 • Superintendent: Kathy Northington • Website: ccoe.k12.ca.us Schools: • Building Bridges State Preschool: (209) 785-8741 • Calaveras River Academy: (209) 754-1996 • Oakendell Community School: (209) 754-1961 Calaveras Unified School District • First day of school: Monday, July 24 • Superintendent: Mark Campbell • Website: cusd.custudents.net Schools: • Calaveras High: (209) 754-1811 • Gold Strike High: (209) 754-2123
• Jenny Lind Elementary: (209) 754-2168 • Mokelumne Hill Elementary: (209) 286-1462 • Rail Road Flat Elementary: (209) 754-2275 • San Andreas Elementary: (209) 754-2365 • Sierra Hills Education Center: (209) 754-2328 • Toyon Middle: (209) 754-2137 • Valley Springs Elementary: (209) 754-2141 Escalon Unified School District • First day of school: Wednesday, August 9 • Superintendent: Ron Costa • Website: escalonusd.org Schools: • Collegeville Elementary: (209) 941-2007 • Dent Elementary: (209) 838-7031 • El Portal Middle: (209) 838-7095 • Escalon High: (209) 838-7073 • Farmington Elementary: (209) 886-5344 • Gateway Academy: (209) 838-7177 • Van Allen Elementary: (209) 838-2931 Jefferson Elementary School District • First day of school: Tuesday, August 8 • Superintendent: James Bridges • Website: jeffersonschooldistrict.com Schools: • Anthony C. Traina Elementary: (209) 839-2379 • Jefferson School: (209) 835-3053 • Monticello Elementary: (209) 833-9300 • Tom Hawkins Elementary: (209) 839-2380
Lammersville Joint Unified School District • First day of school: Thursday, August 10 • Superintendent: Kirk Nicholas • Website: lammersvilleschooldistrict.net Schools: • Altamont Elementary: (209) 836-7240 • Bethany Elementary: (209) 836-7250 • Lammersville Elementary: (209) 836-7220 • Mountain House High: (209) 836-7460 • Sebastian Questa Elementary: (209) 836-7230 • Wicklund Elementary: (209) 836-7200 Lincoln Unified School District • First day of school: Wednesday, August 16 • Superintendent: Tom Uslan • Website: www.lusd.net Schools: • Brookside Elementary: (209) 953-8641 • Claudia Landeen Elementary: (209) 953-8660 • Colonial Heights Elementary: (209) 953-8783 • Don Riggio Elementary: (209) 953-8753 • Independent Learning Center: (209) 953-8432 • John R. Williams Elementary: (209) 953-8768 • Lincoln Elementary: (209) 953-8651 • Lincoln High: (209) 953-8920 • Mable Barron Elementary: (209) 953-8795 • Sierra Middle: (209) 953-8748 • John McCandless STEM Charter: (209) 888-0160 • Tully C. Knoles
Elementary: (209) 953-8776 • Village Oaks High: (209) 953-8740 Linden Unified School District • First day of school: Friday, August 11 • Superintendent: Rick Hall • Website: lindenusd.com Schools: • Glenwood Elementary: (209) 931-3229 • Linden Elementary: (209) 887-2020 • Linden High: (209) 887-3073 • PRIDE Continuation High: (209) 942-2695 • Waterloo Middle: (209) 931-0818 • Waverly Elementary: (209) 931-0735 Lodi Unified School District • First day of school: Monday, July 31 • Superintendent: Cathy Nichols-Washer • Website: lodiusd.net Schools: • Ansel Adams Elementary: (209) 953-9601 • Bear Creek High: (209) 953-8234 • Beckman Elementary: (209) 331-7410 • Christa McAuliffe Middle: (209) 953-9431 • Clairmont Elementary: (209) 953-8267 • Creekside Elementary: (209) 953-8285 • Davis Elementary: (209) 953-8301 • Delta Sierra Middle: (209) 953-8510 • Elkhorn Elementary: (209) 953-8312 • Ellerth Larson Elementary: (209) 331-8391 • George Lincoln Mosher Elementary: (209) 953-9298 • Henderson Community Day: (209) 331-7331 • Heritage Primary Elementary: (209)
331-7334 • Houston Elementary: (209) 331-7475 • Joe Serna Jr. Elementary: (209) 331-7809 • John Muir Elementary: (209) 953-8106 • Julia Morgan Elementary: (209) 953-8453 • Lakewood Elementary: (209) 331-7348 • Lawrence Elementary: (209) 331-7356 • Liberty High: (209) 331-7633 • Live Oak Elementary: (209) 331-7370 • Lockeford Elementary: (209) 331-7214 • Lodi Middle: (209) 331-7540 • Lodi High: (209) 331-7695 • Lois Borchardt Elementary: (209) 331-8212 • Manlio Silva Elementary: (209) 953-9302 • Millswood Middle: (209) 331-8332 • Middle College High: (209) 954-5790 • Morada Middle: (209) 953-8490 • Needham Elementary: (209) 331-7375 • Nichols Elementary: (209) 331-7378 • Oakwood Elementary: (209) 953-8392 • Parklane Elementary: (209) 953-8410 • Plaza Robles High: (209) 953-8068 • Podesta Ranch Elementary: (209) 953-8543 • Reese Elementary: (209) 331-7424 • Ronald McNair High: (209) 953-9245 • Sutherland Elementary: (209) 953-8999 • Tokay High: (209) 331-7915 • Victor Elementary: (209) 331-7441 • Vinewood Elementary: (209) 331-7445 • Wagner Holt Elementary: (209) 953-8407
• Washington Elementary: (209) 331-7451 • Westwood Elementary: (209) 953-8333 • Woodbridge Elementary: (209) 331-8160 Manteca Unified School District • First day of school: Monday, August 7 • Superintendent: Jason Messer • Website: mantecausd.net Schools: • August Knodt Elementary: (209) 938-6200 • be.tech Academies: (209) 858-7460 • Brock Elliott Elementary: (209) 858-7260 • Calla High: (209) 858-7230 • East Union High: (209) 858-7270 • French Camp Elementary: (209) 938-6370 • George Komure Elementary: (209) 938-6320 • George McParland Elementary: (209) 858-7290 • Golden West Elementary: (209) 858-7300 • Great Valley Elementary: (209) 938-6300 • Joseph Widmer Jr. Elementary: (209) 938-6340 • Joshua Cowell Elementary: (209) 858-7310 • Lathrop Elementary: (209) 858-7250 • Lathrop High: (209) 938-6250 • Lincoln Elementary: (209) 858-7320 • Manteca Adult School: (209) 858-7330 • Manteca Community Day: (209) 858-7380 • Manteca High: (209) 858-7340 • Mossdale Elementary: (209) 938-6285 • Neil Hafley Elementary: (209) 858-7215
The Record
• New Haven Elementary: (209) 858-7360 • New Vision High: (209) 938-6225 • Nile Garden Elementary: (209) 858-7370 • Sequoia Elementary: (209) 858-7440 • Shasta Elementary: (209) 858-7400 • Sierra High: (209) 858-7410 • Stella Brockman Elementary: (209) 858-7200 • Veritas Elementary: (209) 858-7390 • Walter Woodward Elementary: (209) 858-7430 • Weston Ranch High: (209) 938-6245 New Hope Elementary School District • First day of school: Thursday, August 17 • Superintendent: Janet Stemler • Website: nhesd-ca.schoolloop. com School: • New Hope Elementary: (209) 794-2376 New Jerusalem Elementary School District • First day of school: Monday, August 14 • Superintendent: David Thoming • Website: njesd.net Schools: • Delta Charter: (209) 830-6363 • New Jerusalem Elementary: (209) 835-2597 Oak View Union Elementary School District • First day of school: Thursday, August 17 • Superintendent: Beverly Boone • Website: myoakview.com School: • Oak View Elementary: (209) 368-0636 Ripon Unified School District • First day of school: Wednesday, August 9 • Superintendent: Siegrid “Ziggy” Robeson • Website: riponusd.net Schools: • Colony Oak Elementary: (209) 599-7145 • Harvest High: (209) 599-5009 • Park View Elementary: (209) 599-1882 • Ripona Elementary: (209) 599-4104 • Ripon Elementary: (209) 599-4225 • Ripon High: (209) 599-4287 • Weston Elementary: (209) 599-7113
San Joaquin County Office of Education • Superintendent: James Mousalimas • Website: sjcoe.org Schools: • Career Academy of Cosmetology: (209) 953-3401 • Discovery ChalleNGe Academy: (844) 633-3301 • one.Program: (209) 468-4847 • River Islands Technology Academy: (209) 229-4700 • San Joaquin Building Futures Academy: (209) 468-8140 • Teachers College of San Joaquin: (209) 468-4926 • Venture Academy Family of Schools: (209) 468-5940 • YouthBuild San Joaquin: (209) 468-9246 Stockton Unified School District • First day of school: Tuesday, August 8 • Superintendent: Eliseo Davalos • Website: stocktonusd.net Schools: • John Adams Elementary: (209) 933-7155 • August Elementary: (209) 933-7160 • Bush Elementary: (209) 933-7350 • Cesar Chavez High: (209) 933-7480 • Cleveland Elementary: (209) 933-7165 • Commodore Stockton Skills Elementary: (209) 933-7170 • Edison High: (209) 933-7425 • El Dorado Elementary: (209) 933-7175 • Elmwood Elementary: (209) 933-7180 • Fillmore Elementary: (209) 933-7185 • Franklin High: (209) 933-7435 • Fremont/Lopez Elementary: (209) 933-7385 • Grunksy Elementary: (209) 933-7200 • Hamilton Elementary: (209) 933-7395 • Harrison Elementary: (209) 933-7205 • Hazelton Elementary: (209) 933-7210 • Health Careers Academy: (209) 933-7360 • Henry Elementary: (209) 933-7490 • Hong Kingston Elementary: (209) 933-7493 • Hoover Elementary: (209) 933-7215 • Huerta Elementary: (209) 933-7220 • Jane Frederick High: (209) 933-7340 • Kennedy Elementary: (209) 933-7225 • King Elementary: (209)
933-7230 • Kohl Open Elementary: (209) 933-7235 • Madison Elementary: (209) 933-7240 • Marshall Elementary: (209) 933-7405 • McKinley Elementary: (209) 933-7245 • Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology: (209) 933-7190 • Monroe Elementary: (209) 933-7250 • Montezuma Elementary: (209) 933-7255 • Nightingale Charter: (209) 933-7260 • Pacific Law Academy: (209) 933-7445 • Peyton Elementary: (209) 933-7420 • Pittman Charter: (209) 933-7496 • Primary Years Academy: (209) 933-7355 • Pulliam Elementary: (209) 933-7265 • Rio Calaveras Elementary: (209) 933-7270 • Roosevelt Elementary: (209) 933-7275 • San Joaquin Elementary: (209) 933-7280 • Spanos Elementary: (209) 933-7335
• Stagg High: (209) 933-7445 • Stockton Early College Academy: (209) 933-7370 • Stockton High: (209) 933-7365 • Stockton School for Adults: (209) 933-7455 • Taft Elementary: (209) 933-7285 • Taylor Elementary: (209) 933-7290 • Tyler Elementary: (209) 933-7295 • Van Buren Elementary: (209) 933-7305 • Victory Elementary: (209) 933-7310 • Walton Special Center: (209) 933-7315 • Washington Elementary: (209) 933-7320 • Weber Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology: (209) 933-7330 • Wilson Elementary: (209) 933-7325 Tracy Unified School District • First day of school: Monday, August 7 • Superintendent: Brian Stephens • Website: tracy.k12.ca.us Schools: • Art Freiler School: (209) 830-3309 • Central Elementary: (209)
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830-3303 • Duncan-Russell Continuation High: (209) 830-3357 • Earle E. Williams Middle: (209) 830-3345 • George and Evelyn Stein High: (209) 830-3395 • George Kelly School: (209) 830-3390 • Gladys Poet-Christian School: (209) 830-3325 • John C. Kimball High: (209) 832-6600 • Louis A. Bohn Elementary: (209) 830-3300 • Louis J. Villalovoz Elementary: (209) 830-3331 • McKinley Elementary: (209) 830-3319 • Merrill F. West High: (209) 830-3370 • Melville S. Jacobson Elementary: (209) 830-3315 • Monte Vista Middle: (209) 830-3340 • North School: (209) 830-3350 • South/West Park Elementary: (209) 830-3335 • Tracy Adult School: (209) 830-3384 • Tracy High: (209) 830-3360 • Willow Community Day School: (209) 830-3357 • Wanda Hirsch Elementary: (209) 830-3312