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TTUSD District Update
August 2023
![TTUSD District Update August 2023](https://cdn.smore.com/u/1948/4c0ad1b209f554eff2b12d4c62b0f6b2.jpg)
In this Month's Newsletter
A Message from the Superintendent
District Strategic Plan Roadmap
Academic Achievement
TTUSD Launches Math Curriculum Pilot Program
Academic Achievement Tip | Academic Discourse
Support Systems
September is National Attendance Awareness Month
Facilities Master Plan Community Survey Open
Cold and Flu Season is Around the Corner
Wellness Tip | Growth Mindset
Community Connections
Placer & Nevada County Library Cards for TTUSD Students
Excellence in Education Awards Highlight TTUSD Superstars!
Dining for Schools Cards are Now Available
Community Partner Spotlight | Excellence in Education
Digital Community Flyers Through PeachJar
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear TTUSD Community,
The 2023-2024 school year is officially underway, and I must say, it’s been a fantastic start!
Our schools are not just buildings but vibrant communities of learners, dreamers, and achievers. Seeing the halls and classrooms buzzing with our students' infectious energy and laughter warms my heart. I’ve been impressed with how quickly our TTUSD learners have eased back into their school-year routines, which I know can be attributed to our families' efforts to make sure students arrive at school on time and prepared to learn. It’s truly a team effort, so thank you! Check out the Welcome Back video, which gives you a peek into the excitement we experienced on the first day of school!
Please see the section below that highlights our Strategic Plan Roadmap. This roadmap outlines the actionable steps we’ll focus on throughout the year to bring us closer to achieving the goals we set in our Strategic Plan Framework.
As we move forward with these actions, your feedback, ideas, and involvement in our educational community will be highly valuable. By working together, we can overcome challenges, celebrate achievements, and foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all.
Welcome back, everyone! Let's make the 2023-2024 school year an extraordinary year of learning, discovery, and success!
Sincerely,
Kerstin Kramer
Superintendent Chief Learning Officer
District Strategic Plan Roadmap
At the September 20th TTUSD Board of Trustees meeting, which can be viewed here, staff presented the districtwide Strategic Plan Roadmap to the School Board.
Throughout the summer, TTUSD district staff and administrators worked to identify two to three specific actions for each priority focus within the Strategic Plan. These actions have been chosen to help our district progress toward achieving our goals. The Strategic Plan Framework was approved as the TTUSD roadmap for the next three years, so consequently, each year, we’ll assess our progress and outline the next steps to ensure we continue making significant headway.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the actions associated with each Area of Strategic Focus: Academic Achievement, Support Systems, and Community Connections. School sites and departments will also have action items supporting the broader district-wide initiatives.
Our staff is committed to providing the TTUSD Board of Trustees with frequent updates on our progress. We’ll also make sure this information is shared with our wider community for transparency and engagement.
TTUSD Launches Math Curriculum Pilot
During the first week of the school year, you should have received a letter announcing an exciting development - all grades and classes in the district, from kindergarten through high school, are participating in a pilot of new math curricula.
The robust selection process began last year to identify which curriculum would best serve our students and teachers. After attending workshops, holding committee meetings, analyzing options, and testing materials in classrooms, the participating committees recommended Eureka for grades K-5 and Carnegie Math Solutions for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
This math pilot will last at least six weeks at each grade level. After the pilot period, teachers will provide feedback on how their students respond to the new curriculum. Then, the Math Steering Committee will decide whether to adopt these materials officially. School sites will continue to keep you updated and will offer an opportunity for families to share their feedback. If you wish to provide feedback beforehand, please don’t hesitate to contact your student’s math teacher with comments, questions, celebrations, or any possible concerns.
We are grateful for all the time and energy the dedicated Math Adoption and Steering committees put into this lengthy process. We are eager to see how these curricula meet the needs of our students. If you’d like to learn more about the process, please feel free to contact your school’s administrative team.
September is National Attendance Awareness Month
September is "Attendance Awareness Month," a time to focus on the crucial role that consistent attendance plays in shaping students' educational journey. As we build attendance habits in September, we want to highlight the importance of regular attendance throughout the academic year.
Strong attendance is the foundation for academic success, personal growth, and a strong school community. When students are present, they can engage with their teachers, peers, and the curriculum, leading to a more enriched and fulfilling learning experience.
Throughout September, we encourage you to join us in celebrating Attendance Awareness Month by:
Making Attendance a Priority: Emphasize the importance of attending school every day. Regular attendance ensures that your child gets all important lessons, discussions, and activities that contribute to their overall development.
Setting a Positive Example: As parents and guardians, your involvement is essential in motivating your child to attend school consistently. Your commitment to attendance sends a powerful message about its importance.
Creating a Routine: Establish a daily routine with enough time for rest, preparation, and travel to school. A consistent routine helps students transition smoothly into their learning environment each day.
Open Communication: If your child faces challenges that might impact their attendance, please don't hesitate to contact your school's administration and staff. We are here to support and work collaboratively to find solutions.
Celebrate Success: Recognize your child's achievements and milestones in attendance. Positive reinforcement can go a long way.
Thank you for being an integral part of our school community. Let’s celebrate our students’ potential together and ensure that September Attendance Awareness Month sets a positive tone for the school year ahead.
Facilities Master Plan Community Survey is Open
The TTUSD Facilities Master Plan is a 5- to 7-year roadmap outlining long-term strategic goals to develop and enhance TTUSD’s physical infrastructure. This plan will establish a path forward by identifying our most critical needs, complete with steps, timelines, and projected costs. Utilizing the completed planning document will empower our district staff and the Board of Trustees to make well-informed decisions on feasible, actionable steps aligned with our long-term vision.
Beginning last spring, staff and a specialized consultant began collecting partner and school site feedback through targeted input sessions. The next step in this process is to hear from a broader audience through the survey and district-wide in-person community meetings, which will take place this fall.
The survey will be open through Friday, September 29, 2023, so we encourage you to participate and provide your input!
Cold and Flu Season is Around the Corner
With fall around the corner, cooler temperatures and falling leaves are on their way. However, that also means we’re getting into cold and flu season. In an effort to keep everyone healthy at school, please remember to keep your student(s) home if they are sick. We recommend that your child stay home if they are experiencing illness symptoms, and we’ve provided a few guidelines below to help you make the decision.
Please keep your child at home for treatment and observation if they have any of these symptoms:
Fever greater than 100ºF - Your child should stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Vomiting - Your student may return to school after 24 hours without vomiting.
Cough and Cold Symptoms - Please keep your students home if they have worsening cough and cold symptoms.
To help prevent the flu and illness, we encourage you to teach your child good hygiene habits:
Wash hands frequently, for 20 seconds, with soap and water.
Avoid frequently touching the eyes, nose, or mouth (the T-zone).
Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. Use a paper tissue, throw it away, and wash your hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keeping a sick child at home will help minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.
Remember to get your flu vaccine!
Please see the following links for symptoms and guidelines for common illnesses:
Thank you in advance for helping to keep our schools healthy!
Placer & Nevada County Library Cards for TTUSD Students
Did you know reading for 20 minutes a day exposes a child to approximately 1.8 million words in a school year? And now, it’s easier than ever for our TTUSD students to cozy up with a good book as Placer County Library and Nevada County are committed to providing library cards for all TTUSD students, no matter where they live.
TTUSD students can visit any library within district boundaries (Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach) and check out physical books, digital books, and media resources.
Digital materials can be accessed through the platforms Libby (grades 6-12) and Sora (grades TK-5) and can be installed on student Chromebooks through the Google Play Store or home devices using their device's app store.
Student library card numbers at both library systems are TTUSD followed by the student's full student number. So, for a student with ID 806297, their library card number is TTUSD806297. The PIN is the last four numbers of their student ID (6297 in the example above).
Thanks, Placer and Nevada Counties, for your wonderful partnerships! Have fun reading!
Excellence in Education Awards Highlight TTUSD Superstars!
On August 25th, our valued partners, the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation, celebrated exceptional teachers and classified employees from our district who positively impact students’ lives by providing outstanding educational experiences and support.
Nominated in the spring by parents, teachers, students, and community members, these employees embody the qualities of creativity, dedication, and innovation that make learning an exciting and positive experience for our students.
The Linda Brown Fellows recipients were Rachel Barker, North Tahoe High School; Allison Everist, Tahoe Lake Elementary School; Ashley Perkins, Truckee Elementary School; Katie Ravey, Truckee Elementary School; and Natalia Tomasello, Alder Creek Middle School. Each received $1,000 for personal use and a $2,000 grant to enhance their classroom or school.
The Star Award recipients were Pedro Apolinar, Alder Creek Middle School; Hugo Najer-Rivas, Transportation; Danita “Dani” Saraceno, Food Services; Juana Torres, Food Services; and Becca Wing, Student Services. Each recipient was awarded $1,000 for personal use.
Congratulations to all of our 2023-2024 Linda Brown Fellows and Stars! Your contributions to our educational community are genuinely valued and appreciated!
Dining for Schools Cards are Now Available
If your family enjoys dining out at our local restaurants, you won’t want to miss getting one of Excellence in Education’s Dining for Schools cards that are now available for purchase. It’s a fantastic way to not only support our beloved Tahoe Truckee businesses but also to support TTUSD educational initiatives!
The 2023-2024 cards are available online, or starting September 21st, you can purchase them at Mountain Hardware, Safeway (Truckee & Kings Beach), and SaveMart (Truckee & Tahoe City). With Dining for Schools cards, you’ll enjoy 50% off any individual dinner entree at participating restaurants during the program dates outlined on the Excellence in Education website.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the community restaurants participating in this program each year and to all the cardholders who make it a success!
Community Partner Spotlight | Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation
This month, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on our exceptional partners, the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation. As you may have read earlier in this newsletter, Excellence in Education plays a vital role in supporting TTUSD and is deeply ingrained in many aspects of what we are able to offer our students to enhance their learning experiences. Did you know they played a crucial role in ensuring every TTUSD student has access to a Chromebook? They did!
The Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation is a non-profit foundation committed to enhancing public education and strengthening student learning experiences within TTUSD. Year after year, Excellence in Education collaborates with local businesses and our community to raise funds and provide over $250,000 in classroom grants, resources, and partnerships that greatly benefit our students, teachers, and staff.
This organization works tirelessly to raise funds for these grants through various programs, including Dining for Schools, Golfing for Schools, Skiing for Schools, and through the generous contribution of individuals via their Foundation’s Friends of Education program.
Moreover, they facilitate a summer reading program in targeted neighborhoods across our community to offer students valuable reading time, lessons, and access to a wide range of books.
The Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation embodies the spirit of community support and dedication to enhancing education in our district. We are immensely grateful for their ongoing commitment, resourcefulness, and contributions. To learn more, please visit their website, ExinEd.org.
Digital Community Flyers Through PeachJar
In our Tahoe Truckee Community, we have a range of programs and resources available for families. One way we, as the school district, aim to make this information easily accessible is through our digital flyer program. A few years ago, we switched from distributing paper flyers to digital flyers to support our ongoing dedication to environmental sustainability and to simplify things for our teachers and students. It's a win-win!
So keep an eye out for these flyers in your email, and know that you can always visit our website to see any distributed flyers that are still relevant.
Upcoming Important Dates
September 21 | Donner Trail Elementary Back to School Night
September 21 | Truckee Elementary Back to School Night
September 26 | North Tahoe School Back to School Night
October 5 | District English Learner Advisory Committing (DELAC) Meeting
October 23 - 27 | Elementary and Middle School Minimum Days for Conference Week
October 25 | All Schools Minimum Day
November 8 | North Tahoe High School Open House
November 10 | Veteran’s Day Holiday, No School
November 14 | Sierra High School Credit Updates
November 22 - 24 | Thanksgiving Break, No School