The following is the Aug. 2 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 to Homeroom!
If you aren’t a regular Abridged by PBS KVIE reader and haven’t already met me over in the morning newsletter: Hi, I’m Savannah 👋 I cover education news across the Sacramento region.
And starting this weekend, I’ll be your regular host of Homeroom, a newsletter for parents, caregivers or anyone with an interest in the upcoming generation.
For full disclosure, no, I am not myself a parent. But I hope that won’t deter you, as we as journalists regularly cover topics, lives and worlds we aren’t part of personally. Also, even if I were a parent, this isn’t about me or my opinions.
It’s about connecting you with thoroughly reported news, community resources, fun events, snippets of students’ lives and more.
Without further ado, take your seats!
This is Homeroom.
READY FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?
Education, parenting and other relevant stories from the Sacramento region you may have missed this week.
🚲 Washington Unified in West Sacramento just updated its e-bike regulations. Make sure to check your local district’s policies before the start of school.
🏊♀️ E. coli levels are down at Lake Natoma — good news for the hundreds of kids bound for Sac State Aquatic Center camp or any families wanting one last summer lake visit.
📝 Homeschooling is increasingly popular across the Sacramento region, and many parents find their footing with online resources and credentialed help. The question remains, do homeschooled students do as well as others?
What else is in today’s newsletter?
Hang with me until the end for the latest on Sacramento City Unified School District’s budget, a sixth grader’s aspirations for the year ahead and things to do with (or without) your kids.
Plus, I’ll share a story I hope is a conversation starter for you and your student.
HOMEROOM HIGHLIGHT
Sacramento County blocks district deal with teachers after board approval
District leaders had touted the deal as a key piece to a new and improved recovery plan.
BY SAVANNAH KUCHAR | skuchar@kvie.org
In short: Sacramento City Unified leaders said they were on track to get out of a $135 million hole, in large part due to a new deal between the district and teachers union. Officials from the Sacramento County Office of Education, though, announced Friday that they are rescinding the agreement.
A bit more: The union is encouraging the board to appeal the county’s decision to state Superintendent Tony Thurmond, the union president said.
HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY?
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?
Laylah Roots, sixth grader at New Joseph Bonnheim Elementary School in Sacramento, when asked what she was looking forward to this school year:
| “I want to focus more on my school work. I do want to hang out with my friends. And that’s really it.”
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
Upcoming things to do with (or without!) the kids.
✨ The Crocker Art Museum’s final Summer Family Friday of the season takes place from 10:15 a.m. to noon on Friday, Aug. 7. The event includes hands-on activities and live performances. Tickets are free for museum members or included in the cost of admission for non-members (up to $15 per adult).
✨ It’s autumn in August in West Sacramento. Dave’s Pumpkin Patch is hosting Summerween from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Free entry for live music, pony rides, BBQ (for purchase) and other activities. Costumes are welcome.
✨ Come share what’s on your mind in education and hear from other parents during a listening session, hosted by Abridged by PBS KVIE on Thursday, Aug. 13. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the free event will run from 6:30-8 p.m. at Tandem Coffee & Wine in East Sacramento.
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 story, community reporter and recent high school graduate Grace Gollihur shares how she and classmates interacted with artificial intelligence while attending El Camino Fundamental High School in Arden Arcade. The explosion of AI has touched almost every corner of life — including education. But acceptance of or rules around the technology vary classroom to classroom, school to school.
📝 Discussion prompt: What ways do you use AI at school? How do you see the technology fitting into your school day?
BEFORE I GO,
How did you like this first edition of Homeroom? Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated — and I want to personally invite you to share it with me and my colleagues at our upcoming News & Brews event.
Join us at Tandem Coffee & Wine on Thursday, Aug. 13, starting at 6:30 p.m. This is a great chance to help inform our education coverage at Abridged. We’ll be there to listen, facilitate discussion and cheers to a new school year. RSVP to save a seat here.
