The following is the Sept. 27 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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A weekly email with news and insights into Sacramento area schools and how it impacts your students.
Hey there, Homeroom friends!
I always love a good vision board to mark the start of a new season. So now that autumn is officially here, I need to get cranking on my fall bucket list.
I have the staples in mind, like binging classic Halloween flicks, cajoling my fiancé into a couples costume and taking a trip to Apple Hill.
What’s on you and your family’s to-do list this September through November? Anything you’d recommend adding to my list?
Let me know! And in the meantime, take a seat: This is Homeroom.
READY FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?
Education, parenting and other relevant stories from the Sacramento region you may have missed this week.
🚧 The Rocklin City Council recently advanced a new housing development next to a Montessori school. Parents and educators “1,000% disagree” with the decision. Placer County reporter Megan Vaz has the story.
🐎 Did you know just three minutes with a miniature horse or donkey can improve teens’ moods? What’s more, those brief interactions can be as good for animals as they are for people. Intern Annie Biebl spoke with researchers at UC Davis about their findings. Read her story here.
👀 Highlands Charter came under fire in Sacramento County. Now, leaders of the embattled school system are looking for a change in scenery. Carolyn Jones at CalMatters has the latest.
What else is in today’s newsletter?
The election is near. (Side note: Check out the new 2026 Voter Guide from Abridged by PBS KVIE for key dates, voting tips and other info about this year’s races! More to come as we near Election Day!)
In Elk Grove, one school board candidate recently lost a slew of supporters, after his social media posts using slurs came to light.
Also, if you’re on the hunt for things to do with the family, keep reading for more ideas of fun events and happenings across the region.
HOMEROOM HIGHLIGHT
Elk Grove school board candidate loses supporters as slurs in online posts surface
Public officials, including Assemblymember Josh Hoover, walked back their endorsements of Kirk Thomson.
BY SAVANNAH KUCHAR | skuchar@kvie.org
In short: Public officials pulled their endorsements of Elk Grove Unified school board candidate Kirk Thomson after posts by Thomson using derogatory language came to light. In multiple posts on the social media platform X, Thomson repeatedly used a slur for people with disabilities.
A bit more: Thomson apologized for his remarks and said he is not stepping back from the race.
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?
Jacee Plant, a senior at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, earned a passing score on her Advanced Placement Language and Composition course last year. Students received AP scores — ranging from 1 to 5, and 3 or higher is passing — over the summer. The average across El Dorado Union High School District was 4.65, well above the state average of 3.6.
| “If you have the passion and determination, you can absolutely do it … Being able to advocate for yourself and know what you need in order to succeed is really important,” Plant said.
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.
📖 The Friends of the Davis Public Library monthly sale runs Oct. 2-4. Friday through Sunday, you can search through a trove of used books, puzzles and magazines. Kids in eighth grade and younger can pick up a free book and bookmark on Saturday. Find more information here.
🍐 The annual Loomis Fruit Shed Fest is Saturday, Oct. 3. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., find live music, local food, crafts and other vendors at the Historic Loomis Train Depot Plaza. Check here for more details.
🔬 Bodies – The Science Within is coming to Sacramento. The globally touring exhibit offers an up-close exploration of human bodily systems. Here from Oct. 2 until Nov. 29, the showcase can be found at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children. Find 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.
The Delta Breeze is a beloved phenomenon in our region. When rumors that a billionaire-backed development in Solano County might disrupt the cooling pattern, Yolo County reporter Daniel Hennessy asked around. What he heard from scientists and experts: There’s likely no need to worry.
📝 Discussion prompt: What has been your experience with the Delta Breeze? What did you learn from this story about the science behind it?
Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated. Reach out anytime.
(I was serious about those fall bucket list ideas — help a relatively new-to-the-area girl out!)
