I am energized by all that is happening at our schools! Our staff and students are busy learning as they continue to build our “Ecosystem of Carino/Systems of Care” while simultaneously engaging in training and programs to improve our students’ reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency across the district. Faculty professional development through LETRs training and math coaching are just two ways our staff continue to hone their craft, read about other ways below. We are fortunate to have staff and students who are willing to invest in programs that research shows improve our students’ experience and boost student achievement.
Along that vein, we have begun to engage in robust strategic visioning and planning. Last week we kicked off our first large-scale, student-centered event, called the Student Summit. The event was a key milestone in our strategic visioning journey as over 260 students from every TK-8, Middle, and High School gathered at Napa Valley College to reimagine what their school experience can look like. Through a series of activities, they provided feedback about what they want to be true for future students in NVUSD. The research collected from this event will inform another group of contributors, our Guiding Coalition. To learn more about or to get involved in the strategic visioning process, visit https://www.nvusd.org/about/strategic-planning.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful fall athletic, arts, and enrichment events underway right now. Please check out our Parent Learning Series and our Coffee with the Superintendent events. I encourage everyone to get as involved as they can and experience our inclusive, fun, and engaged learning community.
Sincerely,
Students Reimagine NVUSD’s Future
Napa Valley Unified welcomed 260 students from every TK-8, Middle, and High School to our Student Summit. Their task was to reimagine what the school experience can look like. Through a series of activities, they provided feedback about what they want to be true for future students in NVUSD. We asked them what do students need to know, be, and be able to do by the time they graduate. We also asked them what they believe adults need to know, be, and be able to do to help our future students evolve into the future graduates they described. To learn more about the Strategic Visioning process visit www.nvusd.org/about/strategic-planning.
Reading, Writing, and Math Professional Development = Student Success
NVUSD continues to invest in building strong systems to support learning and achievement. This is critical for establishing Ecosystems of Cariño. We must have both safe and supportive environments and high expectations for learning and achievement. To have both, we need strong systems that provide our students support as they strive for success.
To support staff in this work, we are engaging in Learning Sprints--a method of continuous improvement cycles. Read more in the NVUSD News.
Parent Learning Series - Classes are Registering Now
NVUSD and Fresno State Parent University have partnered to provide courses for you, our parents, in both English and Spanish! Parents can choose from the following course offerings:
Digital Literacy (I, II, III & IV)
Financial Literacy (I & II)
Social and Emotional Wellness
English Conversation (I & II)
Spanish Conversation (I & II)
Pathway to College
Health & Wellness
Parenting Skills
Course information, registration link, and registration QR Code are below.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Moves Forward
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee met yesterday to advance inclusion efforts. The Committee provided input on what they believe students, their families, and our entire community need to do and be in order for students to be successful in school. The Instructional Support Team also provided information on changes to the curriculum that align with our DEI focus. One exciting change is the inclusion of more student voices. The Team created a Student Advisory Council with representatives from each of our six high schools. The council will provide input on local instructional plans each year. More to come in our next Family Newsletter.
Coffee with Superintendent Dr. Rosanna Mucetti: Join Us This Fall!
This Fall, Superintendent Dr. Rosanna Mucetti is hosting two in-person meetings from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. with parents throughout the district. She will host the first at Napa High on Tuesday, October 24. On Tuesday, November 14 she will host the event at Donaldson Way Elementary School. These meetings are open for all to attend. Let us know what you would like to discuss and when you plan to attend by filling out this Google Form.
Book Breaks: Bringing Bestselling Authors to District Schools
The "School Speakers Consortium" launched an awesome program called "Book Breaks" for students. Through this, kids get to meet and chat with famous children's book authors. In the very first session, 11 schools from our district, including West Park Elementary, joined in.
The special guest was Peter H. Reynolds, who wrote a popular book named "The Dot." During the Q&A part of the talk, West Park Elementary had a big moment: one of their questions was answered by Peter himself! Every month, there will be more sessions with different authors, and students will get the chance to learn about their favorite books and even ask questions. Besides the live talks, "Book Breaks" offers short video lessons to help teachers and parents. With fun chats and cool lessons, "Book Breaks" is making reading and learning super exciting for everyone!
Ecosystems of Cariño in Our Schools - Forming Systems of Care and Kindness
One hundred and seven parents enjoyed lunch on the quad at Napa High last Friday! Believe it or not, their kids invited them as part of the second Bring Your Parent to Lunch Day. As the pictures below show, parents and students alike had a blast together!
Another example of community spirit took place at American Canyon Middle School on Tuesday Night in the new quad built by Measure H funds. Students, families, and community partners gathered to celebrate back-to-school night and ACMS' 25th year as a middle school. The event highlighted how important community is to a thriving school environment!
Inclusion Spotlight
Parents of students eligible for special education services within our community, we have two exciting opportunities to check out!
Our Special Education Parent Advisory Committee is forming for the 2023-2024 school year. The group meets five times throughout the school year with the Executive Director of Special Education, the Coordinators of Special Education Services, and the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. We want your insight and feedback! Share your experience with the implementation of special education services throughout the school district. This year, three meetings are in person at the Ed Center in Napa and two are virtual. We are looking for ONE parent representative from each school site. Are you interested? If so, please reach out to your site administrator by Monday, September 25.
The Napa County Special Education Plan Area (SELPA) also has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that meets monthly via Zoom. The Napa County SELPA CAC is open for everyone to attend. Join us to share your insight and feedback about the implementation of special education services in Napa County. Meetings are on Monday nights via Zoom. For more information, you can email Napa County SELPA Director, Kelsey Petithomme at kpetithomme@napacoe.org. The next meeting will be on Monday, October 16 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
STAR Assessment Reports Available the Week of October 2
Students recently took the STAR assessments (Star Reading or Star Early Literacy and Star Math) in all grade levels. The week of October 2nd, you will receive a report summarizing the test results. We will send the reports through ParentSquare using the Secure Documents feature. If you have any questions about your student’s results, please direct them to your student’s teacher.
ParentSquare Secure Documents feature enables us to send individualized reports to you as a PDF attachment. You must log in to your ParentSquare account to access the report. Read these directions to learn how to log in.
What Did You Have for Lunch Today?
Chicken pozole!
BBQ chicken drumsticks!
Bean and cheese pupusas!
Carnitas burrito!
…and a favorite, beef hamburgers!
Each day students across the District eat free, hot lunches. Last year, NOSH Food Services made 680,000 lunches using the “scratch” cooking model. In this model, our kitchen staff use fresh, raw, local ingredients to prepare lunch. And, we only incorporate premade or precooked items when necessary. Learn more in the NVUSD News.
