The following is the Oct. 11 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.
Welcome to Homeroom!
This weekend you’ll find me not in the Sacramento area, but a few hours north with my soon-to-be in laws at the Jackson County Harvest Fair.
Southern Oregon’s fun. But I always look forward to coming back home to Sacramento (and my cat).
Whether you’re in town or also on a weekend trip, I hope you’re enjoying this long-awaited shift toward fall. So long summer temps!
Speaking of fall, I was recently reminded that Thanksgiving is coming up. For many families that means fall break and figuring out what to do with the kids during that week off of school. Fortunately, there’s several options for camps across our area, ranging in prices.
Simple Summers, a local resource curated by mom Melissa Strong, has a directory to help.
Now, let’s get to it.
READY FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?
Education, parenting and other relevant stories from the Sacramento region you may have missed this week.
🏫 Black students and students with disabilities were more likely to be disciplined at Natomas Unified School District, according to a recent investigation by the California Department of Justice. Discipline discrimination allegations are not unique to this north Sacramento district. Read more here.
💲 The embattled Sacramento charter system Highlands filed for bankruptcy recently. It’s the latest development for the network of adult schools that last year was accused of misspending $180 million. Carolyn Jones from CalMatters has the story.
What else is in today’s newsletter?
I had the chance to speak with several parents of kids with disabilities, and they shared their emotional experiences navigating the world of special education. Their stories are below.
Also, hear from one of Woodland’s first ever student board members about upcoming campus festivities.
HOMEROOM HIGHLIGHT
How parents help one another navigate special education across the Sacramento area
Families from Roseville to Natomas described emotional experiences navigating services for their children.
BY SAVANNAH KUCHAR | skuchar@kvie.org
In short: Parents of students with disabilities often face emotional and overwhelming processes trying to get accommodations in school. Many said starting out was the most challenging and confusing part. Families have come to lean on one another, forming special education PTAs or becoming one another’s advocates in meetings with school officials.
A bit more: School districts across the Sacramento region are typically juggling large caseloads and rising costs associated with special education.
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?
Mallory Vargas-Morales, a senior at Cache Creek High School, gave her report at the Woodland Joint Unified school board meeting Thursday, as one of three inaugural student board members in the district.
| “Next week we will also have our first ever spirit week … Monday, students dress as teachers, teachers dress as students. Tuesday is twin day. Wednesday is ‘white lie.’ Thursday is ‘anything but a backpack’, and Friday is Adam Sandler day.”
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.
🤔 Have questions about this year’s elections and what’s on your ballot (including school board races)? Abridged by PBS KVIE and CalMatters will be at the Belle Cooledge Library in Sacramento 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. It’s free, and there will be food. Learn more and reserve one of the few remaining spots here.
🍬 Put on your costume and get an early start on Halloween with the city of Roseville’s Trunk or Treat Friday, Oct. 16. The Mahany Fitness Center will have decorated car trunks with treats, for free, along with a spooky story walk. Event runs 5-7 p.m. Find details here.
💉 Healthy Community Day in Sacramento is Saturday, Oct. 17. At the Robertson Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., families can find free fresh produce, flu vaccines, health screenings and more. Learn more 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.
Contributor Keyla Vasconcellos profiles feijoas, small, green fruit commonly referred to as pineapple guavas. The fruit is native to southern Brazil and Uruguay but does well in the Sacramento Valley climate. Feijoas are said to taste like a combination of pineapple, guava and strawberry, to smell like perfume or bubblegum, and their leaves might remind tasters of jellybeans or sherbet.
📝 Discussion prompt: Had you ever heard of a feijoa, or pineapple guava, before? Did the story, with all descriptions, make you want to taste the fruit? Why, or why not?
Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated.
