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February 24 Community Update
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A Message from Superintendent Tom Reusser
January has come and gone, and we are back in full swing after the holiday season. Our departments are busier than ever attending to the needs of our local Sutter County districts, charters, staff and students. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
There are several things at SCSOS we are so proud to have happening. First, our Shady Creek Outdoor School director, Christopher Little, is heading to Tokyo, Japan next month! Our very own outdoor school in Nevada City has been selected to present at the 2024 Japan 10th International Outdoor Education Research Conference. Christopher will present the wonders our staff is doing for students on a world stage. And second, we are excited to announce three of our cosmetology graduates have passed the State of California Licensing Examination and are officially cosmetologists. They are planning on opening up a salon together and we couldn’t be more proud of their hard work. Please read more on their story below.
I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to not only our amazing staff who work so hard to support our educators, but to you in the community. Thank you for trusting us with your children at Shady Creek, trusting us to help you pursue new careers through our many programs including dental assisting, medical assisting, cosmetology and more. And most importantly, thank you for allowing us to pursue our mission of doing what’s best for students. This year has already started off great; I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2024 has in store.
February is Black History Month
"Black History Month, a federally recognized celebration, was created nearly a century ago to recognize the “the countless Black men and women who had contributed to the advance of human civilization,” according to the Association for the study of African American Life and History"
To learn more about Black History Month, click HERE.
Cosmetology School Success Story!
What happens when you combine three ambitious young women? You get three licensed cosmetologists with an entrepreneurial spirit!
In October 2023, Ally Zamagni, Erika Zavala and Gina Becerra graduated from the brand new Sutter County Cosmetology Program. They are the first graduates to have passed the State of California Licensing Examination. They are now legally ready to offer cosmetology services to the community and plan to do it together in their new shop: Diva’s Salon.
Previously a clothing boutique, Gina has owned the business for some time. Now that she is a licensed cosmetologist, Gina says it’s time to expand the space to include salon stations, sinks and more. The three Yuba City natives plan to offer everything for your hair and skincare needs. Ally will offer haircuts, hair color, braiding and manicures. Erika specializes in waxing, facials using Korean skin care and lash extensions. Gina will offer all things hair related, facials, waxing and teeth whitening.
“We plan to host events at our salon as well,” Gina said. “Ladies’ Night as well as perhaps something for Valentine’s Day. All food and drinks will be complimentary.”
Ally, Erika and Gina expressed how grateful they are to their families for the support they received throughout their time in the cosmetology program. They said they could not have succeeded without them.
If you are interested in a day of pampering, Diva’s Salon has everything you need! The shop is located at 554 Second Street in Yuba City. The women are planning a grand opening in mid-February.
Feel free to reach out to any of these three amazing professionals for scheduling and details:
Ally Zamagni: (530) 844-0338
Erika Zavala: (530) 218-7497
Gina Becerra: (530) 216-3706
Shady Creek Outdoor School
Message from Shady Creek Director, Christopher Little
"It brings me so much joy to announce that 2024 has started off better than ever!! Who would have guessed? The students are having the time of their life and so am I! Whether it’s on trails, around the cabins, at meal times or during any form of music, the feeling of wonder and connection is everywhere! I have provided below some fun videos, photos and heartwarming student letters that help drive this point, it’s simply the best.
Story Time
Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure to host the amazing students of April Lane and Andros Karperos schools in Yuba City. The setting is Wednesday afternoon: music time. The kids are pumped up and so are the Naturalists. My tag line this year has been that I will provide a Metallica/Rock and Roll experience every time I have the chance, no matter what. Usually this entails of breaking several guitar strings, shredding drumsticks, tossing my drum kit off stage and throwing out memorabilia whenever I have the chance. If you weren’t aware, I LOVE MUSIC! This “acoustic” concert was jamming along at maximum energy all the way to the big closer: “Banana Slug”. I will shake my hair, provide some enthusiastic leg kicks and I have a mean power stance. But this time I thought, maybe I can throw the guitar over my head? Well, it didn’t work! Instead, I bonked myself mid song on the forehead and finished out with the inner pain that I failed my ultimate guitar hero move. What I didn’t know was, that the blow to my face drew blood and the next thing I know I have the whole camp’s undivided attention. Of course, I loved hearing this news and reminded everyone of my promise of a Metallica/Rock concert and the crowd went into a frenzy! I love my job!
Lastly, I want to share my gratitude to all of you! Thank you so much for supporting Shady Creek Outdoor School. Thank you for your kind words, emails, donations, community support and so much more. This program has been a beacon of light for communities in the valley for almost 70 years and it’s only getting brighter. Shady Creek has been widely regarded as a premier California Outdoor Education Program, but come this March we will be recognized as a premier International Outdoor Education Program. All of this couldn't happen without your support. The calendar year of 2024 is destined for greatness at Shady Creek. I believe that same greatness is destined for you as well!
BOOMSHAKALAKA!"
It’s official. Shady Creek Outdoor School will be represented at the 10th annual International Outdoor Education Research Conference in Tokyo, Japan!
“This all began 10 years ago,” Shady Creek Director, Christopher Little, reminisced. Prior to becoming director, or even part of Shady Creek at all, Christopher and his twin brother, Jason, were naturalists at Woodleaf. Not originally planning on dedicating themselves to outdoor education, the two fell in love with the school, students and opportunities they discovered along the way. However, after some years, Jason felt led to pursue other career opportunities. He left the outdoor school and went on to earn a double bachelors at CSU Monterey Bay. After graduating, he wanted to continue his education in grad school. He soon found himself at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey (MIIS). MIIS is an extension of the Middlebury College in Vermont and generally only accepts international students, however, due to COVID the school accepted a handful of locals. Jason being one of them.
After being accepted into the program, Jason went on to earn a double masters in International Administration. During his last year at MIIS, he focused his capstone project on an organization close to his heart: Shady Creek. Not only was it exciting to focus on the outdoor education program he had loved so much, but he also had the opportunity to work alongside his brother who is now the schools director. The goal was to create an evaluation guide to show what Shady Creek is and where they are projected to go. After two long years of work, the project ended up being so impressive, Jason’s professor submitted it to the Outdoor Education Research Committee. Out of all the applications submitted, Jason’s project was selected to be one of the presentations at the Tokyo conference. The conference will consist of presenters from all around the world sharing their research on outdoor education in places like Iceland, Quebec, Australia and more. Christopher and Jason will be there to learn as much as possible, as well as share their evaluation guide, as well as discuss all the wonderful things happening at Shady Creek.
The goal moving forward is to begin collecting raw data starting next year. This data will be taken from all educational partners of Shady Creek, including staff, students, teachers, volunteers, SCSOS staff, and anyone else who comes into contact with the outdoor school. Not only will the data be used to improve the school, but to show the actual impact of what is being done for kids.
“This wouldn’t have happened without Sutter County Superintendent of Schools. They are the ones who made this possible,” explained Christopher with pure excitement. He’s overjoyed to showcase Shady Creek on a world stage alongside his brother. “When we’re in Japan, not only are we going to be documenting and posting on social media, but I want everyone who is affiliated with Shady Creek to feel like they are there with us. This isn’t just a win for the school, this is a win for everyone at our county office and our community.”
The 10th annual International Outdoor Education Research Conference will be held from March 4th through the 8th. Be sure to keep an eye on Shady Creek and SCSOS social media platforms for updates!
"Conrad’s Closet, Shady Creek’s newest resource is ready for your donations. Already, in its first few weeks of operation, they have helped so many students help fill a need while at camp. Thousands of students will visit Shady Creek this season and not all always have what they need to spend the week away from home. Please consider a donation to this amazing program! I am happy to pick up items from you if you are unable to drop off. Boomshakalaka!"
- Kristi Johnson, SCSOS Senior Director of Educational Services
Student Support and Outreach
National School Counselors Week begins Monday! Be sure to thank a counselor for all their hard work and their contribution to the educational success of our youth!
Tri-County Induction Program
Do you have a preliminary administrative credential that you need to clear? Join us at Sutter County Superintendent of Schools! For more information, contact rachelm@sutter.k12.ca.us
Sutter County Adult Education
Looking to further your education, skills and more?
Call Sutter County Adult Education at (530) 822-5810 or visit us at 990A Klamath Lane in Yuba City!
Sutter County Career Training Center
Sutter County One Stop
Family Soup Upcoming Events
Local Events
Have a Heart for Kids 5K Run/Walk
The Have a Heart for Kids 5K Run/Walk is a fundraiser for the Yuba City Education Foundation. The proceeds benefit students and their families within the YCUSD community.
When: Saturday, February 24, 2024
8:45am warm up, 9am start
Where: River Valley High School Track
801 El Margarita Road, Yuba City
Breakfast will be served at 9:30am and awards at 10:00am.
Registrations are open until the day of the run, however T-Shirts are not guaranteed if registrations are after Friday, February 09, 2024.
For more information about this event, click here!