The following is the Aug. 9 edition of the Abridged by PBS KVIE Homeroom email newsletter, by reporter Savannah Kuchar. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
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Coming soon: A weekly email with news and insights into Sacramento area schools and how it impacts your students.
Welcome back to Homeroom and a new week!
In conversations with parents and teachers lately, I’ve heard iterations of the same comment: Summer really flew by!
Exact calendars vary district to district or school to school, and some families still have a few more weeks of break before the first day arrives. But it’s safe to say that for much of the region, we’re in the thick of back-to-school season.
This time of year brings a lot of emotion, from excitement to anxiety. I, for one, was the kid who couldn’t wait to pick out a fresh set of notebooks, pens and highlighters.
If you’re looking for a space to talk about how the start of school has you feeling or what’s on your mind in education — or just somewhere to connect with other parents and caregivers — you can join me and others from Abridged by PBS KVIE this Thursday. We’ll be at Tandem Coffee & Wine in East Sacramento for a listening session, starting at 6 p.m. Aug 13.
Hope to see you there!
READY FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?
Education, parenting and other relevant stories from the Sacramento region you may have missed this week.
💲 There was a lot of news to come out of Sacramento City Unified last week. School board members are in a power struggle with the county office of education in the race to keep the district afloat financially. Catch up on our stories here.
🍎 Soggy hot dogs and frozen pizzas are a thing of the past for school lunches. Across the region, students are getting treated to barbecue ribs, kale Caesar salad, mango lassi, homemade tortillas, pupusas and more, thanks to the state’s Farm to School program. Read more here.
What else is in today’s newsletter?
Get a peek into Roseville’s newest elementary school and hear from a pair of classmates about what they’re most excited for at their new school.
And we’ll get a little existential, with a story to share with your student about where joy comes from and how to find it in the day to day.
HOMEROOM HIGHLIGHT
Roseville adds new elementary school amid population and enrollment growth
Winding Creek Elementary, with about 470 students, kicked off its first school year this week.
BY SAVANNAH KUCHAR | skuchar@kvie.org
In short: Winding Creek Elementary School in Roseville opened its doors Thursday for its inaugural school year. The school opening comes as Roseville experiences rapid population growth and the city’s school districts work to keep up with the influx.
A bit more: Roseville City School District, which covers transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, is anticipating another new campus in the coming years.
It’s a routine question on the car ride home or sitting around the dinner table. I want to hear more than “fine” from students across the region: How was school? What did you learn? Did something interesting happen?
Tanya Alsalihi, third grader at Winding Creek Elementary School in Roseville, on her favorite part of being at a brand new school:
| “I’m excited to go to the recess and test it out … like, the playground.”
Her friend and fellow Winding Creek third grader Quinn Ashmore on getting to attend the district’s first two-story elementary school:
| “I’m excited to meet my teacher. I’m also excited for, like, being on the top, because we’ve never been on the top before.”
Parents, feel free to share any tidbits from your student about their day by sending me a message at skuchar@kvie.org.
FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Things to do with (or without!) the kids this week.
🎒 It’s My Hair Salon & Crown Connection are hosting a Back-to-School Block Party from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 at the Roberts Family Development Center in Sacramento. There will be a backpack and supply giveaway, games and face painting, food and free haircuts (spaces limited). More information here.
🐝 The Folsom Zoo is celebrating National Honey Bee Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14. Come for bee-themed activities and lessons — including live demonstrations — and stay for the honey tastings. The event is free with the price of zoo admission ($10 for everyone 2 and older). More information here.
🍷 For a night without the kids, check out Starfield Vineyards in Placerville. The winery’s latest summer concert is Friday, Aug. 14, starring acoustic cover band Acusta Gruve. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. Attendees can bring their own food or check out the winery’s pizza menu. Tickets are $25 for non-members. More information here.
Want an event to be featured in our next newsletter? Submit it to our community events calendar here.
A STORY TO SHARE
News isn’t just for the adults — each week, I’ll highlight a piece from myself or one of my colleagues that you can share with the student in your life. Hopefully they can find interest or insight in the hyperlocal, community-focused stories. To fuel conversation, check the discussion prompt below.
In this latest installment of The Great Joy Hunt, former poet laureate of Sacramento Andru Defeye gives insight into “the pillars of a more joyful life.” He identifies belonging, agency and meaning, writing that without each, “our joy cannot fire on all cylinders.”
📝 Discussion prompt: Where do you find each of these pillars — belonging, agency and meaning — in your life, and what brings you joy?
Thanks for being here! Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated.
And a reminder that you can share those thoughts or feedback in person later this week.
Join us at Tandem Coffee & Wine at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. This is a great chance to help inform our education coverage at Abridged. We’ll be there to listen, facilitate discussion and toast to a new school year. RSVP to save a seat here.
