DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)

‌Learn how to make Gorditas as we Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month‌

September 15th marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. In support of our Core Value: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we are sharing a step-by-step instructional video to make  the Mexican dish known as Gorditas, a corn flour (masa de maiz) based recipe, that is stuffed with fillings such as meat, beans, and cheese.

Watch this video to cook alongside one of our Culinary Arts Pathway students and Nutrition Services staff member.

If you would like to participate in our Feast & Learn series, please fill out this form. For more information about upcoming cultural recognitions, click here.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by Submitting Art

Students who share their painting, drawing, digitally created images, and other art in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, are not only showcasing their talent; they are helping us celebrate Natomas’s rich diversity.

If your student would like to submit their art in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and , please send us a picture of their illustration to [email protected]. The due date has been extended to September 30th. Prizes will be awarded to top winners.

Donned in superhero costumes, Heredia-Arriaga students show their pride in learning how to become bilingual in Spanish and English. The event encouraged the students to look at learning both languages as a super power. The students were also treated to an Aztec dance performance. The event kicked off the school’s celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through September 15th – October 15th.

As the sun was rising Monday, CTE Public Safety students honored the 343 firefighters who died on 9-11. Outfitted in their firefighting gear, the students walked up and down Inderkum High School’s bleachers 65 times, about the same length of the 110 flights of stairs the Twin Towers had.

One student who participated in this 5th annual event said to climb that many steps was challenging but knowing other students were by her side, helped to push her, and helped her gain a little perspective of what the New York firefighters faced, “It just makes us want to push ourselves even more,” a CTE student said in this Tiger Talk video.

CTE Cosmetology Students Perfect Styling Tricks

CTE Cosmetology students have been learning how to keep their work areas organized and professional to serve their future customers. These pictures also show the budding cosmetologists learning how to perfect their skills with tools. To learn more about the CTE programs offered in NUSD, click here.

September is Attendance Awareness Month — Together We Succeed!

September is recognized nationwide as “Attendance Awareness Month,” a time to emphasize the important role that consistent attendance plays in shaping the educational journey of our students. As we build attendance habits in September, we want to highlight the importance of regular attendance during the entire academic year.

Strong attendance is the foundation for academic success, personal growth, and building a strong school community. When students are present, they have the opportunity to engage with their teachers, peers, and the curriculum, leading to a more enriched and fulfilling learning experience.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Starbucks Foundation Donates $1k to Joey’s Food Locker

NUSD’s Joey’s Food Locker, secured a grant of $1,000 from community partner, The Starbucks Foundation. We are grateful to The Starbucks Foundation for the donation that is sure to help us provide meals to the more than 400 families who depend on us weekly when groceries are distributed each Friday. More than 19,000 organizations were nominated and Joey’s Food Locker was one of 1,900 to receive the grant. Families who need help with food can receive free groceries. To learn more, click here.

Suicide Prevention Week –NUSD Staff Provides Helpful Information to Save Lives

Advisory: This podcast discusses suicide. Please take care when listening to this episode of Conversations with NUSD.

Natomas Unified recognizes September 10th – 16th as National Suicide Prevention Week. Our school district continually strives to connect families, students, and staff to resources that will help support them socially and emotionally. In this episode, host Kay Recede, with the Communications and Family Engagement Department (CAFE); sits down with Earl Pavao, Executive Director and Anthony Da Marto, Director; both work in NUSD’s Student Services and Support Department.

The full article, plus the link to the podcast, may be found here.

NUSD Seeks Parent/Guardian Feedback Regarding Student Social-Emotional Well-Being

We’d like to thank all of our families who completed survey #1. Your input is valuable. As a recap, the Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees approved new district goals during the August 30, 2023, Board meeting that will set the direction of the district. Each week over the course of five weeks, we are sending out short surveys  to obtain feedback from our families to help us develop the actions and services for our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and other district initiatives.

This week, you should have received a request from your student’s principal to complete the second survey. This survey is focused on the goal: Cultivate the Social-Emotional Well-Being of Each Student.

Please click here and take a few minutes to provide your input now or no later than Tuesday, September 19, 2023, before the third survey is issued. If you did not have a chance to complete survey #1 that was sent out last week, please click here.