Lodi USD Newsletter 1.22.25

Below are images of the Bartam and Hieb School Garden at Millswood Middle School. The garden was named in honor of two Lodi Unified School District employees: Lisa Louise Thompson Bartam and Bobby Hieb.

The garden features a variety of vegetables, including carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes, and squash. It is maintained by the Millswood Cooking & Gardening Club, under the guidance of club advisor Mr. Leach, alongside co-advisors Mr. and Mrs. Sell.

At the January 14 Board Meeting the following Board Policy and Bylaw revisions were approved.

Below are the final copies reflecting the revisions.

Policy: 2000 - Concepts and Roles

Policy: 2110 - Superintendent Responsibilities & Duties

Policy: 2111 - Superintendent Governance Standards

Policy: 2140 - Evaluation of Superintendent

Policy: 2210 - Administrative Discretion Regarding Board Policy

Bylaw: 9250 - Remuneration, Reimbursement, and Other Benefits

Bylaw: 9150 - Student Board Representatives

Please visit Board Policies Library to review all Policies, Rules, Exhibits, and Board Bylaws.

To view strikeout changes and additions to policies/rules/bylaws before the final version, please visit Lodi USD Electronic School Board, click on the agenda date it was revised.

Good afternoon, Lodi administrators!

We are on the cusp of a busy recruiting season as we begin to prepare for staffing in the 2025/2026 school year. Shared participation is a key ingredient to the success of selecting our future educators. Please click on the link below to see a list of job fairs that we are currently signed up for in the coming months. There may be more to come soon, and when we have those registered, I will add them to the list. Our first one will be coming up on Saturday, February 8th (Stanislaus State).

Again, for a successful hiring season, we will need administrators from all areas in special education, secondary, and elementary. If you are able, then please consider signing up and it is much appreciated!

Please note that a separate email will be sent regarding our own district job fair. For planning purposes, however, it is on Saturday, March 8th.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EzHj14QSlAt1MpK-XgtI3yqlh3HVI4eJaQJQewUEDx0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Good afternoon!

Personnel is resending the link to the Google Doc referencing interview pool dates and sign-ups. Only a few principals have signed up, but we do have about 2 months. Personnel is resending it because, there were two time/date conflicts with two of the dates:

• Thursday, January 30th was moved to Friday, January 31st. (CSEA Negotiations are on Thursday, the 30th)
• Tuesday, February 11th was moved to Monday, February 10th (there is a principals meeting on Tuesday the 11th)

Interview Pool Dates/Sign-Up

Budget Planning

As we quickly approach fiscal deadlines, it is crucial to review and plan the use of all available budget sources to maximize resources for your school. Effective and strategic use of funds will ensure that your students and staff receive the support and opportunities they need.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Please note the following important deadlines for requisitions:

1. March 21, 2025: Deadline for Title I (3010) and SAS (0290) requisitions.
2. April 1, 2025: Deadline for all other funding source requisitions.

These include not only purchases but also contracts, field trip buses, and entrance fees.

Action Steps

1. Review Budgets: Ensure funds are allocated effectively and align with site goals.
2. Submit Requisitions Early: Avoid delays by entering accurate requests well before deadlines.
3. Monitor Expenditures: Track requisition statuses and follow up as needed.

Dear Site Administrators,

This is reminder that ARE has provided some very informative reports for iReady MOY. Below are the links:

• Summary Results Page: provides performance level results.
• Reading BOY to MOY Growth: provides reading growth results.
• Math BOY to MOY Growth: provides math growth results.
• Longitudinal Results Page: multiple year performance level comparisons.

If you have any questions, please contact the ARE Department at 331-7024.

Dear Site Administrators,

The message below has been sent to your students' parent/guardians via email and text. Please feel free to forward this communication as well if needed.

******************************************************************************************************

Dear Lodi USD Parent/Guardians,

Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support. Your child may be taking one or more of the following:

• California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)
• English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)
• Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

To see the full information on the above assessments, please visit our Assessment, Research, and Evaluation (ARE) Department website. Please select the Annual Notification of Testing, 2024-2025 link.

Click on the link below for the flyer (English):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XTr_Et-ctKVv_0YxPlinRve8nOuVJHGj/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the flyer (Spanish):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JqJBSkS2CzdcD7RQ22bjrFAj9jHFb5C6/view?usp=sharing

Free Life Guard Classes for ages 15+

Click on the link below to access the flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bEIiZm8C2n9sMOqol6-S8MIBdQp5hdKy/view?usp=sharing

(K-8 Principals, please include this message in your Sunday weekly newsletter to your community.)

We are excited to inform you that your children have recently completed reading and math diagnostics through i-Ready, an adaptive assessment program by Curriculum Associates. These diagnostics are designed to identify your child's strengths and areas for growth in these crucial subjects. We believe that this valuable data will help us tailor our instructional approach to better support your child's academic journey.

To review your child's data and gain insights into their performance, we invite you to access the flyer provided at the following link:

Click on the link below for the English flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13kSSSr9OQNGNBBzQrlgwgkGo6y_gYgkT/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the Spanish flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K5ogDoOktAJghcNgRcjnbYMQZq5nZaLO/view?usp=sharing

This flyer will provide you with detailed instructions on how to navigate and interpret the i-Ready diagnostic results. Your active involvement in this process is greatly appreciated and will contribute to your child's educational success.

(K-12 Principals, please include information in upcoming site bulletin)

We want to inform you about the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a new, free, 24/7 helpline for anyone in emotional distress or facing a mental health crisis. If you or your child ever need support, simply call or text 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 to connect with trained professionals who can help.

This is an important resource for your family’s well-being. Please save this number.

Hello Colleagues,

It is once again time to start considering who you would like to nominate for the Every Student Succeeding Awards Program.

This year’s recognition will take place on Friday, February 7, 2025, in the Wentworth Education Center at the San Joaquin County Office of Education.

Please include with your nomination form 2-4 photos of your student. Student's photos should be named with the school and student name (for example East Union HS - Annie Cunial).

Please see below for the number of nominees allowed per district, based on size:

• Banta, New Hope, New Jerusalem, and Oak View may nominate ONE nominee.
• Escalon, Jefferson, Lammersville, Lincoln, Linden, Ripon, and SJCOE may nominate TWO nominees.
• Lodi, Manteca, Stockton, and Tracy may nominate THREE nominees

ACSA believes every student deserves equal opportunity to succeed. Every school day throughout California, dedicated educators and courageous students overcome tremendous obstacles to reach their goals of academic excellence. Their success is our success; their powerful stories are our inspiration.

You can find more information, including purpose and eligibility on the ACSA website. You and your students will receive formal invitations and RSVP instructions in early January 2025.

Click on the link below for the nomination form:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16AKhQSLVkv8RUf-9Lb6E4qmffFT8c3Hl/view?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, contact Annie Cunial at 209-292-2886.

Sr Walk will be 5/20 for Area 2 and 5/22 for Area 1. Exact details are not available as far at time, we are waiting on transportation to create the schedule, but it is our intent to have all Sr. convene at a specific spot at their high school at 9am to be picked up or walk together.

Administrators, please add this to your site calendars and communicate with staff.

(7-8 Principals, please share the information below in your site Sunday weekly bulletin.)

This is a free program for middle school students. Free while on spring and summer breaks that offers great opportunities.

Click on the link below for the flyer (English):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tKRV-BAyBqVzKKwT00KpRITmgTAHA2Bi/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the flyer (Spanish):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1raz_CS8TwlP8By0BWwi_RyOQEfR-eyfp/view?usp=sharing

We’re excited to announce a new initiative to highlight the incredible visible learning happening across our schools. By January 31, 2025, all principals are required to submit 3-5 examples of visible learning evidence using this link. Evidence could include pictures or PDF scans of teacher and student work, such as chart paper, classroom samples, learning intentions, success criteria, models, and exemplars.

For inspiration, check out the outstanding examples shared by:

• Elementary Principals:
  • Jamie Moso, Heritage Elementary Principal (link)
  • Joe Ward, Westwood Principal (link)
  • Michelle Brown, Julia Morgan Principal (link)
  • Cassandra Sotelo, Oakwood Principal (link)
  • Benjamin Koh, Vinewood Principal (link)
  • Julie Vaz, Reese Elementary Principal (link)
• Middle School Principal:
  • Brad Watson, Delta Sierra Middle School Principal (link)
• High School Principal:
  • Julie Hummel, Bear Creek Principal (link)

These exceptional leaders have set a high bar with their detailed and creative submissions—let’s aim to follow their lead!

We look forward to seeing your submissions and celebrating the incredible efforts happening in classrooms across the district. Together, we can shine a spotlight on effective practices and drive student success!

Farm to Fork Immersive Agriculture Field Trip for TK-1st grade will be starting up this March at San Joaquin County Historical Museum. Below is the information sheet to share with teachers who teach TK-1st grade. It is a wonderful program that is interactive for younger children and teaches the economics of farming in a simple way.

If you have any questions, contact Carole Pinnell at 209.331.2055 or visit www.SanJoaquinHistory.org.

Click on the link below for the Farm to Form flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-MAdeMqDHJhBQyjU_v4AkAD6edfuIGsU/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the Farm to Fork Sign-Up Form:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fvmQlqIzV54FDvvCd6sHdsqtCLYavtoG/view?usp=sharing

With testing window for ELPAC opening on 02/01/25, we’d like to make sure that you have enough earbuds available for your students. This order should only be for ELPAC testing, you’ll have an opportunity to order additional earbuds for students (Gr.3-11) for CAASP in a separate order form.

The earbuds amount you order for ELPAC will be subtracted from your projected CAASP

(Gr.3-11) testing needs.

https://forms.gle/AsMFjXH72ZgEFircA

If you have any quesrtions, please contact Gabriela Vazquez.

Dear Site Administrators,

Foster/Homeless Survey Results are now available. This survey report aims to provide insight into the needs of our foster youth and students experiencing homelessness. The survey report enables you to review your site-specific data and identify the unique needs of each student. Please take time to review the data with your mental health, counseling, and teaching teams who support these students. Together, by connecting our students with the essential resources they need, we can profoundly impact their success and well-being in a magnificent way.

Report Navigation Helpful Hints:

Tabs at the top of the report provide a variety of viewing options:

• Overall How? These are the items that begin with "How" and allow the respondent to answer only one of the response choice options.
• Overall What? These are the items that begin with "What" and allow the respondent to answer multiple response choice options.
• Academic: Items of any question type related to the topic of academics.
• Behavioral: Items of any question type related to the topic of behavior.
• Social-Emotional: Items of any question type related to the topic of SEL.
• Filtered by How: Student group and site results for the How items.
• Filtered by What: Student group and site results for the What items.
• Opinion & Feedback: Results of the student support item as well as word clouds and phrases from the Other response choice option and the open-ended response item.

Additional filters, such as site, gender, grade, race/ethnicity are also available. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ARE office at 331-7024, or Kelly Collins at: 209-269-0548.

Ag Venture will take place on March 6th at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds. This event is specifically for 3rd-grade students; however, combined classes (such as 2/3 or 3/4) may send their entire class.

Further details will be provided as the event approaches. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Maria Baez.

The Raymus Foundation Grant opened Jan. 1 and will close on Feb. 28, 2025.

We encourage all schools to apply, as the Foundation has been very generous in funding Lodi Unified projects in the past.

In order to apply, please make a copy of this grant outline and fill out the appropriate information. Then send it to Chelsea so she may submit the application for you.

If you have any questions, please contact Chelsea Vongehr.

(8-11 grade Principals, please share the information below in your site Sunday weekly bulletin.)

We are pleased to announce that the University of the Pacific Summer High School Institute will be taking place on June 2-12 and June 17-27. For eligible 8th - 11th grade Lodi Unified School District students, the tuition and registration for one 2-week session is 100% sponsored by the school district. Attendance, grades and behavior will be taken into consideration for eligibility. See details below:

· Click here for more information: Pacific Summer Institute LodiUSD 2025

· Fill out this Pre-Registration form by Jan 31st

· Attend an optional virtual meeting via Zoom on January 23rd to learn more and ask questions: https://pacific.zoom.us/j/93708656379

· Educational Services staff will send an email notification by the end of February regarding eligibility, waitlist status, or denial

· Questions? Email pacificsummer@lodiusd.net

Click on the link below for the Parent Information Meeting Flyer (English):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14mihw_qHPRTz2S32waHpvAJKBWl7jfGP/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the Parent Information Meeting Flyer (Spanish):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15B1paZDpOQ0eN8sFWNjrLDCOwNULePOs/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the Pacific Summer High School Institute flyer (English):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ARjjbVP9859_xC7czen5EJGvTkXyIRT_/view?usp=sharing

Click on the link below for the Pacific Summer High School Institute flyer (Spanish):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QobJyF_T79XbvmcIySppdsDKxFc-4Wtr/view?usp=sharing

WestEd On-Site Visits – Thank You & Next Week’s Reminder

Thank you to all the schools that hosted the WestEd on-site visits this week! We appreciate your collaboration and support.

For our schools scheduled for next week—Creekside, Davis, Lawrence, Live Oak, Needham, Wagner-Holt, Washington, Westwood, and Lodi Middle—you should have already been in contact with your WestEd lead regarding the visit schedule, the Call Survey for staff, and the self-assessment. If you have any questions or need additional information, please reach out directly to your WestEd lead. If you need help connecting with your WestEd lead, please contact your Area Title 1 Coordinator for assistance.

Thank you again for your partnership. We are very proud of all of you and the work you are doing to ensure a successful visit.

Title 1 January Activities-

• West Ed on-site visits begin- Comprehensive Needs Assessment work
• 90% Funding spent down
• Program Evaluation Continued…
• Begin Comprehensive Needs Assessment
• SSC Meeting Essential Agenda Items:
• Review and Update the 25-26 School-Level Parent & Family Engagement Policy
• Review and Update the 25-26 School-Parent Compact

Click HERE for updates

Click on the link below for directiona on how to access survey:

simplified directions

Click on the link below to access the flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ixeqUEwgaDBDibep6MfRdZwBTVt4og4J/view?usp=sharing

Administrators, please include this in your next bulletin.

Click on the link below for the flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Votq7Ybt0c2PSy8x0o67NiEtGKqcQ-KE/view?usp=sharing

Click the link below for past SMORE Bulletins. You will have to log into Staff Portal to view.

https://www.lodiusd.net/staffportal#deptNotifications

Principals, please include the message below in your weekly smores update.

CALIFORNIA'S DAYLIGHTING LAW AB 413

We are excited to announce our collaboration with the City of Lodi to help raise awareness about California’s new traffic law, AB 413. This legislation introduces important changes at improving road safety and ensuring responsible driving practices across the state.

As a community, it’s vital that we stay informed about laws that impact our daily lives. AB 413 prohibits the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension/bulbout is present, whether or not the curb is painted red. This is a safety measure known as “Daylighting”. Effective January 2025, the rules will be applied whether or not the curb is painted red.

Please use the link below to learn more about California’s new Daylighting Law AB 413.

https://www.lodi.gov/1417/Californias-Daylighting-Law-AB-413

Make sure to check out the PDF link below for the latest scoop on what's happening with our site facilities projects. It's a quick and easy way to stay in the know about project updates. Your input and engagement are vital to the success of these initiatives. Thanks for keeping an eye on our school facilities!

Shelie’s Site Project List:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wlnEYbOlck_klgaC-OXtbL0rQi5ZQDxd/view?usp=sharing