The purpose of the District English Learner Advisory Committee is to have communication between the district office, schools, parents, and families to support our English learner students.

Our DELAC members are the voice for how we serve English learners in NUSD. We value the input of our families and community members and invite you to attend our meetings. Food and child care is provided at each meeting.

It’s that time of year when we assess the language abilities of our students through the English Learner Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC). This test evaluates four key domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

Our goal is for all of our English Learners to demonstrate improvement on the ELPAC. We recommend sitting down with your student to review last year’s ELPAC results. If you don’t have access to this data, please reach out to your child’s teacher for assistance. Secondary students can also find their results in the assessment portion on Infinite Campus. Together, you can set realistic goals to motivate and encourage them to do their best. Keep in mind, it takes an average of 5-7 years to learn a new language; be patient and encourage them to try their best.

Students must earn a 4 on the ELPAC to be considered for reclassification. Once they are reclassified, they will no longer take the ELPAC assessment.

Depending on the school your child attends, ELPAC testing will happen between February 3rd and March 31st.

Scores will be mailed home during the summer months to families. We are proud of the hard work our students have been putting forth and we look forward to seeing the progress they’ve made!

In an effort to strengthen our district and provide more opportunities for engagement, the Human Resources department is focusing on recruiting NUSD parents, guardians, and other family members within our community to join the NUSD workforce. As parents, you bring valuable perspectives, commitment, and a strong connection to our schools, which can enrich our teams and enhance student experiences. By working together, we can build a stronger district where our parents/families play an even more active role in our school communities.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday was celebrated on Monday, January 20th, students at Two Rivers Elementary were learning about his legacy. These highlights include the importance of his life and the unwavering dedication he had for the advancement of civil rights. Scholars are learning with meaningful activities including literature about his life and impact. In Ms. Souza’s 3rd grade class, students read Martin’s Big Words written by Doreen Rappaport. The story was engaging and sparked discussion. Students shared that they understood the courage it took for Dr. King to lead in the face of adversity, a skill that is relevant to today’s world. Students understood and appreciated the growth, courage, and changes that were set in place for us and strive to be champions in Dr. King’s vision and voice.

In Mrs. Farbstein’s 2nd grade class, students read age-appropriate literature and also enjoyed watching various videos to further their understanding of his message. Students wrapped up their lesson with a direct drawing activity which allowed them to express their understanding creatively, reinforcing the significance of his work in a hands-on and memorable way. These activities helped foster appreciation for Dr. King's contributions and inspired scholars to embrace his values in their own lives. They helped elicit conversations, and it is through language that students developed thought.

We encourage our families to ask your scholars what they know about the contributions of Dr. King; engaging them in conversation of their learnings will show them you are invested in their education.

Natomas High School and Jefferson School are aligned with the four pillars model, defined

in statute as a school with “strong and intentional community partnerships ensuring pupil

learning and whole student and family development”. The four pillars include: Integrated Student Supports, Expanded and Enriched Learning Times and Opportunities, Active Family and Community Engagement, Collaborative Leadership and Practices.

Overall, a community school approach can significantly improve the educational experience for ELL students by addressing their linguistic, cultural, and social needs through strong community partnerships and a focus on family engagement.

Natomas High School and Jefferson School's Community Schools Steering Committee is

dedicated to creating a nurturing and supportive environment where students, families and

the community can thrive together. Join us in fostering a vibrant, connected and successful future for all at Natomas High School Community School and Jefferson Community School.

For more information about the roles of community schools, watch the video linked below and/or feel free to reach out to the community schools coordinators.

Contacts Community school, Coordinators

Natomas High School Dr. Cervantes

cyvonnecervantes@natomasunified.org

916-279-4120

Jefferson -Dr. Antonieta Avila

maavila@natomasunified.org

Ph. (916) 279-4369

Parent University has some exciting sessions planned for February. There will be informational events, workshops, and fun family activities to provide parents and students with resources, support, and opportunities to learn and engage. Take a look at the schedule below to see what is being offered, and register now to save your spot.

• Screenagers - Join us on February 13, 2025 at Heron School from 6-7:30 PM for a showing of “Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing, Vaping, Drugs and Alcohol.” Learn how social media is used to target and influence students. Hear from high school students on their perspectives of the subject during a panel discussion following the showing. Space is limited so register early to reserve your spot. Sign up through this link here.

• Empowering Families, Fostering Understanding - Join us for a special zoom session on February 18, 2025 from 6-7 PM. This session is designed to help families understand how to support LGBTQ+ students. Learn about the challenges LGBTQ+ youth may face, gain insight into respectful language and communication, and explore resources that can help you foster a supportive and inclusive environment at home and school. Register here to receive the Zoom link.

• Community Colleges & 4-Year Universities - Sacramento State University, American River College, and ScholarShare will be joining us for an informational presentation on February 20, 2025 from 6-7 PM via Zoom. Get information on tuition, financial aid, certificate and degree programs, student services and supports, and admission requirements for community colleges and CSUs. Also hear from ScholarShare about saving opportunities to help your students prepare for the cost of college. Register for here to receive the Zoom link.

• Parenting the Love & Logic Way - A 6-week parenting course to learn to raise self-confident, motivated, and resilient children. Classes will begin 2/20 and meet every Tuesday through 3/27 at Natomas Middle School from 6:00-7:30 PM. Childcare and dinner will be provided starting at 5:30 PM. Space is limited, so register now to secure your spot. Registration is required to attend.

• Family Game Day - Join us to cheer on the Sacramento Kings as they take on the Charlotte Hornets at 7 PM on February 24, 2025, at the Golden 1 Center. Enjoy exclusive discounted tickets for Natomas Unified School District families as part of Parent University’s Put Your Device Away Series. Each ticket comes with a complimentary hat to be redeemed at the game. Discounted tickets can be purchased through this link.

• Legal Options for Adult Students (ALTA Regional) - for students who are a current ALTA regional client. We will be hosting an informational session on February 26, 2025 at Natomas High School in the library. Come learn about the legal rights of adult regional center students. Information will be provided on the process of conservatorship and alternatives to conservatorship. Get your questions answered by ALTA regional representatives. Register here to join us.

Natomas Unified's most recent DELAC meeting was held on December 5th. At the meeting, participants learned about teacher and instructional assistant requirements to support English learners, supports for our EL students with IEPs, and information about the English learner pathway, from identification through reclassification.

For more details regarding DELAC, please see the Multilingual Learner Services page on the district website. The DELAC tab includes agendas, minutes, and our DELAC schedule.

Our next DELAC will be on February 6, 2025 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. at 1901 Arena Blvd. We encourage all English Learner families to attend. Translation, dinner, and child care are provided.

When your student is a senior in high school. they have the opportunity to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy(SSB). The SSB recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages, in addition to English. When earning the SSB, a graduating senior earns:

• Gold medal to wear a graduation, for each language that the student is biliterate in
• Gold embossed insignia affixed to the student's diploma, showing that the student has been awarded a State Seal of Biliteracy

• Sacramento County Office of Education Seal of Biliteracy Certificate
• Opportunity to participate in a Sacramento County recognition ceremony
• Invitation to NUSD's Multilingual Student Celebration

Earning the State Seal of Biliteracy provides many opportunities for your student's future. It provides an opportunity for students to apply for scholarship programs or study abroad, to earn college credits, to access greater employment opportunities, and to qualify for higher pay differentials.

This flowchart (Spanish version) shows the requirements for students to earn the SSB.

You can help your child earn the SSB by maintaining their use of your native language throughout their childhood. Teach them how to read and write in the primary language. Researchers have found an increase in cognitive flexibility, social-emotional benefits, and academic benefits in students who know multiple languages verses students who only speak one language.

Parents play a key role in helping their children succeed, especially when learning English as a new language. You don’t need to speak English fluently to make a big difference in your child’s learning. Research has shown that students who have strong first-language skills can develop their second-language skills more easily, due to language transfer.

All students are expected to read and write narratives, or stories. It helps when students understand the structure of stories.

All stories usually include characters, sometimes including an antagonist who is the problem creator and a protagonist that solves problems. Each story also has a setting, where or when the story takes place, a problem or two, and how the problem is solved. Stories include details and often a sequence of events.

Home and school languages may be different, but the structure of stories are the same. Here are some simple, effective ways to support your child's learning.

• Tell Stories: Whether orally or from a book, real or imagined, English or home language, sharing stories with your children exposes them to the story structures. Encourage your children to make up their own stories.
• Encourage children to talk about what they learned in school, what their friends are like, or what they notice and wonder about. Have them practice language by describing their experiences in detail.
• Sing songs: This helps students with building language and memory skills.
• Participate in activities together: Whether you are cooking a meal or building a birdhouse, encourage your children to engage in language. Students can write about the steps to follow or the sequence of events needed to complete the task.

Building your child’s language skills in your native language gives them a strong foundation for learning English.

We are thrilled to welcome our new English Learner Teacher on Special Assignment (EL TOSA), Ms. Lan Lawrence-Orr. Our EL TOSAs play a vital role in supporting English learners (ELs) throughout the district. They work in classrooms to support teachers with instruction that best supports our ELs, they provide professional development opportunities for our teachers, and they present information to parents and students. With 31 years of teaching experience at the elementary and middle school levels and a demonstrated commitment to supporting English learners, Ms. Lawrence-Orr brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role.

As our new EL TOSA, she is committed to supporting English learners at all levels and collaborating with staff to develop differentiated instructional strategies and rigorous lessons. She plans to utilize evidence-based practices to help students meet and exceed grade-level standards, ensuring that every English learner has the opportunity to thrive. Her extensive experience with our district’s curriculum and supplemental platforms will further enhance her ability to support teachers and advance student learning.

Please join us in welcoming her to this important role. We are confident that her passion, dedication, and wealth of experience will make a significant impact on our students, teachers, and the entire district community.

Happy Holidays!

As we approach the two-week break, we want to wish all of our families a break filled with happiness and love. This is a wonderful time to relax, recharge, and spend quality time with your children. Whether it’s sharing stories, cooking meals together, or simply creating memories, these moments matter most.

Take time to rest, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year, refreshed and ready for 2025.

Warmest wishes from the Multilingual Student Services Team: Lisa, Gisela, Jinder, Lan, & Rita.

PLEASE ANSWER THE POLL QUESTION TO PARTICIPATE IN NOVEMBER'S RAFFFLE

As a parent, there are many ways you can help your child succeed every single day! Here are some tips to help your child succeed in school, develop as readers, and learn a new language:

• Validate your child’s feelings. Your child may not fully understand why the decision was made to move to another country. He or she may be feeling sad or frustrated to have left friends, family, and their home. Many experience culture shock and loneliness at school due to cultural differences and language barriers. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and give your child reassurance that schools are safe places to learn and teachers are here to help.
• Continue developing your child’s home language literacy. Being bilingual is good for your child's brain, makes communication with family easier, and is an advantage for finding jobs in the future. Developing literacy - that is, language proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening - in their home language is critical for an English Learner to develop literacy in English or any other second language.
• Help your child develop their reading skills by listening to them read or by reading along with them daily. Provide a variety of reading materials and create a quiet place to read. Setting aside a certain time each day to study and do homework, with family members available to help, is also very important.

• Visit the public library! Your local library is one of the most important resources in the community, and anyone can use it. You and your family will find books, videos, music, newspapers, computers, and much more for kids and adults — for free!

North Natomas Library is located at 4660 Via Ingoglia

South Natomas Library is located at 2901 Truxel Road

• Turn everyday activities into language lessons. Talk with your child about what you see, feel, experience, wonder and dream about. Consider moving back and forth between your home language and English to share ideas, tell a story, or to express feelings and emotions. The more learners use English, the more language they’ll develop and the more progress they'll make.

Natomas Adult Education exists to eliminate barriers and enhance opportunities for learners’ lifelong growth in their academic, professional and personal endeavors.

NUSD’s ESL classes are free to all adults over the age of 18. The course runs from August through May on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 PM. Classes are held at Discovery High School located at 3401 Fong Ranch Road, just up the street from Natomas High School. Childcare is free and available for children 5 years and older. Although registration opens in August, there is a wait list and ongoing availability for new learners. At NUSD, we’re excited to help provide our English Learner families with new opportunities!

To register for a class or if you have any questions about our program, please contact Marlene Tucker at mtucker@natomasunified.org or call (916) 928-5220.

An opportunity for your students (find the flyer attached): Spanish-speaking, high-achieving students in their junior or senior year of high school—we find that such "near-peer" tutors are powerful motivators for our students. Do you know of such students who might be interested in working with us as a paid tutor? Tutors can work with us 2-10 hours per week, choosing their hours from our tutoring session times (Monday-Fridays 6-8pm). Furthermore, bilingual tutors are eligible to be paid $17.50/hour. If you know of such students, we would very much love to connect with them! If you would like a flier to share about this position, I have attached one. Link: https://wwtutoring.club/become-a-tutor.html

The Education Office of the Consulate General of Spain and the California Department of Education would like to invite all California students to participate in the 2024–2025 “Escribo en Español” writing contest. “Escribo en Español” encourages students in grade three through grade twelve to further their Spanish writing skills by providing awards for the best prose and poetry. The theme for this year’s contest is “El planeta en peligro". All the necessary documents to participate can be found at https://bit.ly/EEE25. Teachers or administrative staff can enroll students at https://tinyurl.com/EEE2425. If you have any additional questions, please direct them to Sonia Cabrerizo Diago e Inés García Sal by email at escriboenespanol@educacion.gob.es. Essay Submission deadline is February 28, 2025.

We are excited to announce our raffle winner for last month's survey question and we thank everyone for participating in the survey, as they help us improve family & school connection.

Winner:

salehaazizi624@gmail.com

A $10 Starbucks Card will be sent via email.

Please look for the next survey in our November Newsletter!

The LEAP Academy Program provides extracurricular enrichment and academic support to students after school until 6:00 pm every school day.

Enrollment priority is given to the following students:

•Foster Youth

•Students Experiencing Homelessness

•English Language Learners

•Students receiving free/reduced price lunch services

Students in addition to these priority groups will be placed as space is available.

Welcome to the Natomas Unified School District ParentSquare! We are excited to have one primary single communication platform to connect and engage with our families throughout the district. Our families expressed a desire for the district to simplify its means of communication to help them keep up with all the communications received from their school sites, teachers, and district office. To better meet the needs of all of our families, Parent Square is able to translate communications in over 110 languages!

Login or Create Account Here

Natomas Unified's first DELAC meeting was held on October 3rd. At the meeting, families and staff came together and had opportunities to share community events, student strengths, successes, and areas of growth.

DELAC training as well as roles and responsibilities were reviewed, and our 2024-2025 DELAC officers were elected.

Congratulations to:

Zainab During, parent, H. Allen Hight - Chairperson

Cynthia Mercado, parent, Bannon Creek - Co-chairperson

Gisela Gutierrez - Secretary

For more details regarding October's DELAC, please see our DELAC Minutes.

Our next DELAC will be on November 7, 2024 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. at 1901 Arena Blvd. We encourage all English Learner families to attend. See details below.

2024-2025 DELAC Meeting Schedule

Spanish: Meeting Schedule

Urdu: Meeting Schedule

Russian: Meeting Schedule

Punjabi Meeting Schedule

Hindi: Meeting Schedule

Connect to:

Ongoing, no-cost primary care and health screenings.

Important health information and resources.

Laboratory services and tests, free of charge.

Affordable prescription options.

Navigating Health Coverage:

Starting January 1, 2024, all low-income adults aged 26 to 49 years old can get full-scope Medi-Cal coverage.

Let us guide you through the entire enrollment process, including help with:

Applying for Medi-Cal and clarifying any eligibility criteria.

Understanding your rights under Medi-Cal and other various programs.

Solutions to overcome barriers in getting the care you need. And more.

Natomas Unified is proud of the hard work our students have demonstrated. The first step in achieving this goal was to score a 4 on the Summative ELPAC. At NUSD, there are 159 students who have scored a 4 in 2024. We are happy to state, so far this year, 141 students have met all criterion and have reclassified from English Learner to Fluent English Proficient. Teachers and staff will continue working with the remainder of our students who have a 4 on the 2024 ELPAC to help them understand and achieve reclassification.

Students or caregivers receive their ELPAC results by mail during the summer. If students or caregivers would like to access those reports, they are available on the Infinite Campus portal. Open the Infinite Campus app and click on the three lines to access assessments. Click the preferred language and click generate.

Families can also always reach out to their home school or teachers for a copy of the ELPAC report.

The Multilingual Student Services Department would like to introduce IRC to our immigrant families. NUSD does not play a role in programs offered at IRC, however we believe it is important to connect our families to outside resources that may benefit our community.

The IRC in Sacramento is an organization that dedicates themselves in helping thousands of immigrants, newcomers, and refugees in Northern California. At the moment, workshops are available in Dari. Please see the attached flyer for more details and contact information.

This year, NUSD is updating its English Learner Master Plan (ELMP). This plan outlines our systems and processes for serving all students learning English, from identification to reclassification and beyond! As part of the process, we would like to invite you to be part of the workgroup, which will meet four times this school year. The meetings will be from 3:45 - 5:00 p.m. on the following dates: October 8, November 5, December 10, and January 7. Parents will be able to provide ideas and voices regarding our EL Master Plan.

If you are interested in being part of the ELMP Work Group, please complete this form and you will be added to the calendar invites.

Next Thursday, October 3rd, is our first DELAC meeting of the year, and we would like to invite you to join us! Our DELAC meetings provide parents with valuable information and an opportunity to share their voices about how we can best support students.

Childcare and dinner are provided! Please join us at 4:30 p.m. at the district office, 1901 Arena Blvd. We hope to see you there!

September is attendance awareness month. Even in the early years, school is critical to building a strong foundation for learning that will help your child succeed today and beyond. Too many absences, whether excused or unexcused, threaten your child’s achievement:

• Missing just 2 days per month can make learners fall many days behind

• A student cannot make up for the loss of learning opportunities with extra homework or take-home assignments.

• Too many absences mean falling behind in reading, writing, and math.

• Too many absences make learners less likely to graduate from high school.

A recent article published by an education research group reports that only 10% of English learners were chronically absent in 2019, but by 2022, that rate had more than tripled to 34%.

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. Help your child succeed in the future. Make sure they are in school every day!

At Natomas Unified, we value the learning and achievement for each of our students. Our goal is to provide English learners with language rich learning that leads them to reclassification. On average, it takes five years to master a language. When students reach reclassification status, it means that they no longer need language supports. NUSD has a 4 step reclassification criteria. 1. Students must pass the ELPAC test, given once a year in the spring, with a four. 2. Students must either pass the SBAC or the district universal screener with a 2 or higher. 3. English Language Arts grade of a 2/C- or higher. 4. Parents are consulted and informed of the reclassification process.

NUSD hosts an annual multilingual celebration to recognize our reclassified students every May.

Research shows that building a strong partnership between home and school can make a world of difference in your child's success. This may not always be easy. Support your child as they begin the year by following some of these steps:

• Learn about your school, including its policies and procedures, bell schedules, calendar, classroom locations, and school staff. The school handbook, classroom newsletters, and a class overview or syllabus are great ways to get to know your school.

• Create a pick-up and drop-off plan so that your child/children understand the routine. Make sure they have your contact numbers and know who is (or is not allowed) to pick them up from school.

• Communicate with your child’s teacher openly and often. Try to take the time to have a brief chat, email, or phone call with the teacher, so you can share important information about your child’s needs, interests, or concerns that might affect their learning, including those outside of school. Remember, starting off a conversation in a positive way helps build a relationship with school that truly supports student success.

• If issues arise, work together with teachers, administrators, and/or school counselors to find solutions. Whether you are in need of supplies, facing academic struggles, or have social concerns, a team approach is often most effective.

• Join the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), the English Learner Advisory Committee meetings (ELAC), or attend School Site Council meetings. If you are attending any of these meetings and are in need of translation services, let your school know, so they can prepare in advance.

• Support and acknowledge your child's progress and successes and do it often. Nurturing internal motivation helps drive our learners to succeed and boosts their confidence and self-esteem.

• Create a time and dedicated space for homework and study at home. Encourage a regular routine and be available to help or check in on school work. For English Learners, ask them to read some of their work to you, as this daily routine can help further their language development.

At Natomas Unified, we value our families as partners in the education of their students. Your involvement in your child's education is invaluable, and together, we can create a supportive and enriching environment that nurtures their continued growth and success.

To enhance customer service to support family engagement, the Natomas Unified School District has opened a Welcome Center to streamline services and resources for families. The new Welcome Center is located at 1931 Arena Blvd. At the Welcome Center, families are able to access:

• Enrollment needs
• Transportation
• Health
• Translation services
• Attendance
• Parent education
• Volunteer opportunities
• Community resources

Heredia-Arriaga opened its doors for the 2023-2024 school year as the district’s first Dual Immersion school where students will learn in English and Spanish simultaneously to eventually speak, read, and write in both languages. The school will increase a grade each year to become a TK - 8th Grade school site. The school is named in honor of Dr. Susan Heredia, a more than 25 year NUSD Board Trustee, and her family for their timeless commitment to advocating for students and bilingual education.

We are excited to have a single communication platform to connect and engage with our families throughout Natomas Unified. In past conversations, our families expressed a desire for the district to simplify its means of communication to help them keep up with all the information and contacts received from school sites, teachers, and district office. This page is dedicated to all things ParentSquare including training, how-to guides, frequently-asked-questions, videos, handouts, printed documents, and more.

IET classes are for adults who were born outside of the United States and are/were second language learners. These free workshops will train adult learners for employment as a pharmacy clerk. This 9 week course is 5 days a week beginning September 23. Please see attached flyer for more details.