This is a funny introduction to a difficult transition for the Northside Family. This month we bid our colleagues and students in 7^thand 8^thgrade farewell as they move on to the high school through promotion and as they move to the new Junior High site located near Golden Sierra. Either way part of our family is leaving the nest and we are anticipating the pangs and pride of our loved ones moving on.

Growing great students, one child at a time!

Additionally, we are launching new programs at Northside that are an outcome of staff training in Highly Effective Teaching. The most significant of these is the “Seeds of Change” –Northside Garden Program. It is our hope that by Thanksgiving next year, each student in our school will have a better understanding of food, gardening, and healthy eating as they relate to the life and earth science.

Community, Connections, Critical Thinking

Introduction and training in technology with our new I-Touch class set, wireless access points, and web-based instruction moves our students towards the 21^stcentury learning skills they need to be productive citizens. A new spelling and handwriting program, garden curriculum and this summer’s teacher training with Marilyn Burn’s Math Solutions will give us the opportunity to demonstrate fine motor skills, healthy habits and mathematical thinking.

We Need YOU!

Parents play a necessary and important role in education. The partnership between teacher and parent is supported through research. There are so many ways for parents to volunteer, whether your interest is sharing garden expertise, technology innovations, supporting individual student learning or traveling with classrooms as they explore the world beyond we have a place for you!

Congrats to the Seeds of Change team for being awarded another grant from the California Fertilizer Foundation! This money will be added to our grant fund to support purchases of seeds, lumber, soil testing and curriculum!