Opening Day!
Welcome back, students, it’s great to see you.
Happy smiles, cheerful greetings, welcome-back banners, colorful backpacks, family photos, questions galore – even some sad goodbyes from parent to child. Plenty of emotions were on display today at school after school.
Summer recess officially is over, replaced by bells, books, homework, and getting reacquainted with friends.
The spirit of the day was reflected in a classroom poster at American Lakes School: “Make Today the Day to Learn Something New.”
Natomas Unified lifted the curtain on a new North Natomas school, Paso Verde, which will serve Transitional Kindergarten through 5th grade students this year, then expand to K-8 within three years. The school’s mascot is the Puma, and its curriculum will focus on STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
To create more intimate learning environments, three South Natomas campuses – Jefferson, Bannon Creek and American Lakes – have added another grade level. Last year, they taught K-5. This year, 6th-graders will be served as well.
Jefferson, Bannon Creek and American Lakes will grow to K-8 within three years, allowing students to nurture relationships with students and staff from their earliest grades until high school.
Other positive changes made by NUSD this year to support 21st century learning include:
1) Implementing new English Language Arts textbooks that align with California’s rigorous content standards
2) Providing more than 3,600 hours of professional development for hundreds of teachers this summer
3) Enhancing alignment of our instructional system to help keep students on track for meeting state content standards
4) Using the newly adopted “The Next 5” Strategic Plan as a five-year compass toward meeting 28 targets for enhancing student success
We look forward to working with you, families, toward meeting NUSD’s Board-approved Vision that, “All NUSD students graduate as college and career ready, productive, responsible, and engaged global citizens.”
