Street renamed after
among 14 selected projects
way.
Intermediate	student

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
FRESNO, CA
PERMIT NO. 220
Clovis Unified School District
1450 Herndon Ave.
Clovis, CA 93611
September 2021 Clovis Unified School District — WHERE CHARACTER COUNTS!	Volume 24, No. 2

follow us on	TM               and at CUSD.COM

2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR Great to see you!

Foundation awards $130,000 in grants

■ Digital art, science toolkits

By Sara Almaraz Foundation for Clovis Schools

Photos by Darren Grubel, Rob Lambert and P.J. Lippert/CUSD Today Clovis Unified students started the 2021-22 school year back on their campuses for full day in-person instruction. Reports across the district were that students and staff were excited to be back and for the increased engagement found when all students are on campus. The new year was kicked off by the tra-ditional Jefferson Bell Ringing Ceremony at Jefferson Elementary – the location of first Clovis Unified Superintendent Floyd“Doc” Buchanan’s office – with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Scott Dille swaying the bell.At schools around the district, a combination of signs, balloons, cheer squads or mascots greeted freshly arriving students. For more on opening day and school year plans, see Superintendent Dr. Eimear O’Farrell’s column on Page 5. For parent-submitted first-day photos, see Page 9.

Approximately $130,000 in grants for classroom, school and emotional wellness projects was infused across Clovis Unified recently as part of the
Foundation for Clovis Schools Classroom and School Grant pro-gram.
Projects supporting math mindset, next generation science standards, literacy and ag pro-grams are all underway for the 2021-22 school year. The foun-dation awarded 14 classroom grants and four social emotional wellness grants to support wide-ranging, innovative projects.
Photo special to CUSD Today
A grant will support dig-
ital art like this by Clark
Each year, the foundation in-vites teachers and schools across the district to submit proposals for projects that enhance learning
in a creative and motivational Na dine Bartolome.

“As a team of volunteers, we
raise funds to support Clovis Unified schools, teachers and programs how we can, and that’s especially important now due to the challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Foundation for Clovis Schools Chairperson Michael Fennacy, who’s a partner at Darden Architects.
One of the new projects this year provides technology to students enrolled in art elective courses at Clark Inter-mediate. In addition to the typical art curriculum, new Chromebooks will allow students to learn and engage through Google Draw, a computer graphics program. The program was first piloted in the 2020-21 school year during distance learning and allows students to digitally create collages, landscapes, portraits and still lifes to sup-plement their traditional lessons. The Foundation grant provides the laptops necessary to continue the digital Art curriculum at Clark.

POLICY REVIEW

Bell schedules, dress code get close look

➤ Please see Grants, Page 6

Olympian Jenna Prandini returns to hometown stadium

This school year, Clovis Unified is conducting a Dress Code Review and a Bell Schedule Review, and we encourage you to get involved. Every school will be holding meetings for parents, staff and students to
learn more and offer comments. Feedback will be processed in the fall, and recommendations will be made for any updates or
changes later this year.
Families and staff will again have the opportunity for input before final recommendations are made to the CUSD Governing
Board. The Board is anticipated to take action in January 2022 to adopt any changes.

Why now?
Bell Schedule–State Legislators passed a law regarding later start times for secondary schools that will take effect in the fall of 2022. Clovis Unified will need to make changes to the start and end times at nearly all school sites to meet the operational supports and requirements to comply with this law.
Dress Code –In May, students with the district’s Inter-School Council asked for a review of the CUSD Dress Code, especially in terms of leggings and enforcement, and the Governing Board and administration made plans to conduct a thorough review to be held this school year.

Get involved:
■ Attend your school’s meetings. Times and dates can be found on your school’s website.
■ Background information about both policies, study parameters, answers to frequently asked questions, a com-ment form and any new updates can be found at www.cusd.com/2021review.

■ Class of 2011 graduate

By P.J. Lippert CUSD Today

Clovis High graduate and Olympic medalist Jenna Prandini learned while at a recent Cougars’ football game that the street bordering her alma mater on the north has been renamed “Jenna Prandini Drive.”
Clovis Mayor Jose Flores made the surprise announcement on the field with Prandini during the game’s halftime show, and the fans erupted in cheers – and a few “We love you Jenna!” – as he handed her a copy of the sign that will replace what was formerly Wrenwood Avenue.
Clovis Unified School District Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent NormAnderson, Clovis High student represen-tatives, and the Cougar mascot, also joined Pran-dini on the 50 yard line and gave her congratu-latory words and mementos including a plaque reading “Once a Cougar,Always a Cougar,” from the CHS students.
“It’s so amazing being able to spend this special night with you guys,” Prandini said ad-dressing the crowd,“thank you so much for all of this.”
“From [Mickey Cox] Elementary School to Clark [Intermediate], all the way to Clovis High, my family, my teachers, my coaches, my teammates have all pushed me to get this Olympic medal,

➤ Please see Olympian, Page 3

Top: Clovis HighASB Vice President Owen Lachs presents fellow Cougar Jenna Prandini with a special plaque from the student body. Left: Mickey Cox Ele-mentary cheerleaders are thrilled to meet the Olympian, who at-tended their elementary school when she was a girl.
Photos by P.J. Lippert/

CUSD Today

INSIDE:

ATHLETICS
Hall of Fame inductees named
.
Clovis Unified will induct its Fifth Athletic Hall of Fame Class in a showcase event planned for October Page 3

EMPLOYEES
Governing Board honors retirees Congratulations to 131 Clovis Unified School
District employees who retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Page 8

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
Team gives all to keep campuses open Our students belong at school. The pandemic
has thrown a lot at us, and battling our way back to campus has not been easy. Page 5

hands-on STEM (Science,
■
Instructional Aide Te-
in the classroom, in Google
■
Technology to Support
nology within the English
der for them to show con ent
Clark Intermediate
■
Learning for Lions –
multicultural books.
tion.
Nursing Services/
Generation Science Stan-
Reyburn
Discovery of Science
ence department by provid-
ing iPads to help students
ence standards while com-
■
Precision Agriculture-
Farlane-Coffman Ag Cen-
Learn more: Foundation-
CUSD Chief
The Clovis Unified Gov-
who have assumed new roles
es, advisors and many more.
“The buzz is back,” said one
students back on campus.
impacts on campuses.
ligation bonds.
■
Approved Resolution
graduate of Clovis High, for
Aug. 11
rations for the upcoming
to pro es thousands of re-
sional development prepa-
2021-22 school year.
The next regularly scheduled
Page 6	CUSD Today	September 2021

Grants: Class to build bikes

FROM PAGE ONE
“Going back to [in-per-son learning] without com-puters [would have] felt like a step backwards,” said Melis-sa Fritsch, Clark Interme-diate art teacher.“We are so excited to receive new lap-tops for the art room and continue bringing technol-ogy to art.”
Descriptions of the Class-room and School grants fol-low. Descriptions of Social Emotional Wellness grants (funded in partnership with Kaiser Permanente) will be published in an upcoming edition of CUSD Today. Boris Elementary

■ Library Makerspace, Agricultural and CTE Proj-ects–Provides opportunity for reading, writing and crit-
in K-6 students through
ical thinking development                                                                   Photo special to CUSD Today Clark Intermediate art student Marcus Franz created this dig-
for Clovis Schools grant.
Technology, Engineering,	ital image using technology supported by a recent Foundation and Math) based projects.
Buchanan High
Lincoln Elementary             ■ Hands-on Minds-on Next Generation Science –
experience with the Next
chnology – Provides com-	Helps increase literacy of	Provides a hands-on learning puters for instructional aides	TK-2 students by continuing
so they can support students	to build lending library with	dards for fourth grade stu-
Classrooms, and provide
Miramonte
Elementary
tivities.
dents by using current ex-timely feedback to Special	periments, models and ac-Education case managers.             ■ Fountas and Pinnell
tion Kits – Supports first-
Student Creativity, Equity,	Leveled Literacy Interven-	Intermediate/ and Mastery–Expands tech-	through third-grade strug-	Clovis East High
Department to provide ad-
iPads – Supports REC Sci-
gling readers by providing	■ ditional assessment options	leveled, sequential interven-
for students of various back-
grounds and abilities intor-	Special Education	master Next Generation Sci-

mastery based on their in-
■
to Enhance NGSS Ed-
■
SPOT Vision Screener
Provides a SPOT vision
assessment questions, and
discoveries.
dividual learning strengths.	for PS-6 SPED Students –	pleting labs, practicing state ogy Using Vernier Technol-	screener to quickly and easily	researching new scientific ucation and Lab Experiences	detect vision issues for stu-
Expanding WiFi to the Mc-
in Our Science Classes –	dents in Special Education Engages science students in	programs.
and NGSS-centered lab ac-
ing sensors and technology
from Vernier.
Minds for the Future–Pro-
most current technologies
dents the concept of Preci-
sion Agriculture.
inquiry-based, data-driven,      Red Bank Elementary      ter – Provides the McFar-tivities and investigations          ■ STEM Bins: Building      lane-Coffman Ag Center the using advanced data-collect-      vides boxes filled with a va-      available, and teaches stu-riety of engineering manip-ulatives and task cards to
and problem so ve.
■ Google Draw Technol-	inspire studentslto engineer	ForClovisSchools.com. ogy_ Provides Google draw
technology and digital art resources to the art depart-ment at Clark Intermediate and Clovis High.

Gateway High and all Elementary Sites

■ Gateway Bicycle Build-ing Community Project – Funds a project at Gateway that connects students with community by assembling one bicycle for each CUSD elementary school. Jefferson Elementary

■ Transforming Math Mindset at Jefferson Ele-mentary–Promotes positive mindset, creativity and growth in math instruction for fifth graders by supple-menting traditional methods with tools that facilitate ac-tive engagement through kinesthetic and collaborative learning.

Board hears update on school opening By Kelly Avants	➤ BOARD BRIEFS Communications Officer

Aug. 25
heard from staff about cur- of COVID Assistant to aid rent challenges schools are in contact tracing, testing facing in connection with and other related needs to
erning Board enjoyed a mov-	positive tests that lead to help support school sites. ing performance of“We Will	contact tracing and potential
During their meeting on
Aug. 11 the board heard a
report from staff on prepa-
Rise Up Together” by the quarantines. The district is Clark Intermediate Choir to continuing to refine practical begin its Aug. 25 meeting. implementations of mandat-Next, the board was intro-	ed guidelines and best prac-
duced to two administrators	tices in efforts to minimize school year, including work
comin school year
■
Authorized the purchase
in the g district for . the up-         In other action, the board: quests ctos transfer into the The introductions were     via piggyback of park, play- school district, and profes-
followed by reports from 17 ground, recreation and shade
school area and department structure items with the rations for employees from administrators about the first League of Oregon Cities Mas- bus drivers to new teachers. days of the 2021-22 school	ter Agreement needed in the Also included in the report year.A smooth opening was District at sites/programs, was information about the reported around the district	and the Board recognized it finalized updates to the dis-thanks to the tremendous is in the best interest of the trict’s COVID-19 Safety Plan efforts and pre-planning	District to make purchases detailing the multiple health work by all staff including without advertising for bids. and safety measures in place teachers, counselors, nurses,         ■ Approved Resolution in the district during the administrators, bus drivers, No. 3828 authorizing debt
❑
custodians, grounds workers, service estimate to be pro-Campus Catering staff, tech- vided to the County of Fresno
nicians, classified staff, coach- respecting unsold general ob- meetings of the Clovis Unified
School District Governing Board
room at 1680 David E. Cook Way
administrator of the enthu-     No. 3831 recognizing 2020 are Sept. 8 and 22 in the board-siasm and energy felt among Olympian Jenna Prandini, a in Clovis. The public portion of
During an update about
the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. her athletic achievements.	and minutes, agendas and videos
CUSD’s continued response	■ Approved the new clas- of meetings are available online to COVID-19, the board     sified short-term job position at www.cusd.com.