Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Introducing: NUSD’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Web Page
To share our efforts and actions towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we are proud to share the launch of our new DEI section, located on the NUSD website. We invite staff, families, and community members to check out the DEI section to see what we are doing, what’s planned for the near future, and some examples of our work in action!
NUSD Strong
Natomas Unified Departments Spread Holiday Cheer through Adopt-a-Family
Several NUSD departments participated in this year’s Adopt-a-Family. Our employees were linked up with families in need, and provided with their wish list! Like Santa, our generous staff provided gifts for the families to enjoy. From toys, to games, to warm blankets and more, our staff showed the true meaning of the holiday season. Thank you to all NUSD employees who donated and helped bring holiday cheer.
A Heartfelt Thank You to All Who Donated to NUSD’s Toy Drive
We are amazed by the number of donations for the 2023 Toy Drive! Thanks to the Natomas Unified community, hundreds of students received gifts this holiday season!
Superintendent’s Corner
Superintendent Dr. Robyn Castillo wishes Natomas Unified families and staff a restful, warm, and safe winter break. Here’s a holiday card featuring a few of her visits to various NUSD campus sites, interacting with students, and seeing what they’ve learned. Dr. Castillo also shared well wishes to the community in a recent holiday message that can be viewed here.
To follow along with her on Instagram, click here and hit “follow”.
Happy Holidays and Have a Restful Winter Break
As Natomas Unified approaches its winter break, staff members want to wish you and yours happy holidays! Here are some holiday and winter break cards from various departments and school sites.
Literacy
Student Performers Sing About Literacy
Students at Witter Ranch Elementary learned the literary elements through song and dance during the production of the Beauty and the Beast Tell All. Student performers say being a part of the musical helped make learning about literacy fun. Watch this video to sing along with some of the music and hear from teachers Bret Greenfield and Jennifer Farias about what the students learned and retained.
LEAP Academy
Students Get Crafty at Arts and Crafts Night
LEAP Academy students and their families enjoyed Arts and Crafts Nights at American Lakes School last week. Activities included creating ornaments, reindeer ears, and taking pictures with Santa Claus. Families were also treated to a holiday choir. Check out this video of some of our early learners singing and dancing to the classic tune Frosty the Snowman.
Student Chefs Show off their Cooking Skills
Budding chefs at American Lakes showed off their cooking skills during the preliminary rounds of LEAP Academy’s Chopped Challenge. The cooking challenge is one of a variety of engaging enrichment activities that students have access to through the LEAP program.
The winning chefs from this round will compete against students from other schools in mid-January for the final LEAP Academy Chopped Challenge.
Career Technical Education (CTE)
A Feast for the Eyes and Palate
CTE Hospitality Students Create Custom Grazing Tables
CTE Hospitality students at Discovery High got a taste of how to put together custom grazing tables as presented by the Sacramento-based company, Culture & Crumb. Jeremy Patin, the owner of the company, says he was eager to teach the budding chefs about grazing tables because food brings people together. Watch this video to check out some of the creations the student chefs made.
Parents as Partners
Resources for families
Register for the Raising Resilient Girls Parent University Session
Learn how to build emotional wellness together with your student. This free session is being sponsored by our partner Girls Leadership Inc. For more information and to register, visit girlsleadership.org/parent-education
Monday January 22, 2024
5 – 6:15 PM Pacific
Love and Logic Parent University
Parent University is a resource for families to aid in supporting their students. Parenting the Love & Logic Way will be back in January, by popular demand. This is a five week parenting program where families learn to raise self-confident, motivated, and resilient children. Dinner and childcare will be provided starting at 5:30 pm. Class sessions are from 6 to 7:30 PM. Space is limited, register as soon as possible for this free series of classes. The classes are open to all families in our district. Please select the dates and location that best suits your needs.
- Natomas Park Elementary – 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, & 2/13
- Jefferson School – 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, & 2/15
- Bannon Creek School – 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, & 3/26
- American Lakes School – 2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, & 3/28
- Paso Verde School (This series will be conducted in Spanish) – 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22
Tips and Tricks for Parents on ParentSquare
ParentSquare is hosting Training for Admin, Staff & Teachers – Live Webinars. Check out this link to see the list of sessions, and dates starting tomorrow and going until March!
Staff Stars
Throwback Thursday: Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer & Christina Huth, Chief of Staff
Every week, we share a wayback/flashback/throwback photo(s) of our staff members, share a little bit of their story, and why they love working for NUSD.
This newsletter features Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer, & Christina Huth, Chief of Staff.
Christina
Question: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Christina: A dancer
Question: Why do you like working here at NUSD?
Christina: I love coming to work every day and being a part of an inclusive, innovative organization that consistently puts the needs of our students first.
Angela
Question: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Angela: A TV star.
Question: Why do you like working here at NUSD?
Angela: We are committed to doing our best for kids while learning from prior experience to improve our practices.
If you would like to see the latest career opportunities at Natomas Unified, visit natomasunified.org/human-resources.
Children 18 and Younger Eat for Free this Winter Break
During winter break, our Nutrition Services Department will provide free breakfast and lunch to anyone 18 and younger. Meals will be served in the cafeteria at the sites listed below. Breakfast is from 8 to 8:30 am, lunch may be eaten from 11 to 11:30 am. Students must be present to receive the meal, food must be eaten on-site. School sites offering free meals:
American Lakes School
Bannon Creek School
Natomas Middle School
Two Rivers Elementary
Natomas Park Elementary
Witter Ranch Elementary
Winter break meal service begins this Friday, December 22nd and ends January 5, 2024. Please note that service will be closed December 25th – 26th, and January 1, 2024. For more information, call: (916) 567-5472.
NUSD’s break starts December 22nd and ends January 5, 2024. Please note that all NUSD sites will be closed to the public during this time. Students are set to return to class Monday, January 8, 2024!
In Case You Missed It (ICYM)
Invitation to Upcoming Forward 5 Regional Meetings
Natomas families are invited to take part in NUSD’s Forward 5 Regional Meetings. Your input matters! Food, childcare, and interpreters provided.
Click here to register.
NUSD Newsroom Hub
The NUSD Newsroom Hub web page is a dedicated place to access current and past NUSD media such as news articles, Board Highlights, newsletters, Last Week’s Wrap Up, videos, and podcasts all produced by the district’s Communications and Family Engagement team known as CAFE. Check out our new page here.
