2015 State of the District Report to the Community

District Focuses on Technology

We are in the midst of a very exciting time in education! Our students are learning

to be problem solvers, critical thinkers, and productive communicators, which will

enable them to be competitive in a global marketplace. Our students will apply for

jobs in the future that have not yet been created. The new standards have helped to

address these needs by including technology, presentations, and using evidence for

reasoning.

Hughson Unified is excited to announce we are ready for our students to go 1:1

next year! This means all students will have access to a computer every day. To get

ready for this great shift, we have the privilege of working with an expert instructional

technology coach. Before giving the students complete access, we provided

professional development to our instructional staff so they are ready to use technology

as an instructional tool. To make this happen, we contracted with Stanislaus County

Office of Education to have Luke Hibbard in our district for over 100 days of

professional development.

Site leaders used the Late Start Wednesdays as a forum for our staff to receive state

of the art training on the use of technology in the classroom. After receiving a lesson,

teachers had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Hibbard one-on-one to practice the skill and plan ways to use it in the

classroom. What we have seen in just a few months has been amazing! Our staff has taken on the challenge and our students

have benefited greatly from the experience.

Some of the marvelous things happening in the classroom are group

presentations, teacher created math videos to help students with their

assignments at home, student created videos for assessment, and the use of

iPads for small group instruction in the primary grades. Our teachers have

been creative and open to new ideas regarding using technology to help

teach their subject matter and assess our students. With Mr. Hibbard’s help,

their creativity has come to life. Some teachers have gone completely

paperless and taught students how to organize their files, email assignments,

and collaborate on documents through Google Docs.

For the 2016-17 school year, our 6th – 12th grade students will be

assigned a Chromebook device they can take home and use at school. This

is extremely exciting, as this is very similar to the type of instruction they

will receive in college and the way they will be expected to work in their

careers. Our K-5 teachers will have access to Chromebook carts to be used in the classroom on a daily basis. This will enable

our elementary students to attain the foundational skills they will need in middle school and beyond. We will also continue

our contract with Mr. Hibbard, our instructional technology coach.

This is an exciting time indeed! We are looking forward to the future and all of the amazing things our students will be

able to achieve.

2015 State of the District

Report to the Community

What’s Inside……. Superintendent’s Message ..................................................... 2

District Facts ........................................................................... 2

Hughson High School ............................................................. 3

Hughson High School Accomplishments ................................ 4

Emilie J. Ross Middle School .................................................. 5

Fox Road Elementary School .................................................. 6

Hughson Elementary School ............................................... 6-7

Hughson Education Foundation ............................................. 7

2015 State of the District Report to the Community 2

The State of the District Report contains meaningful

information about how Hughson Unified School District

provides educational experiences, which allow students to

thrive and succeed.

HUSD offers a wide range of academic programs, including

numerous advanced placement courses, agriculture, career

technical education coursework, and numerous opportunities

within athletics, the fine arts, and clubs.

An exciting change in HUSD is the digital transformation of

our schools. Students in all grades have been provided new

technology to ensure learning environments more accurately

reflect the world beyond the school walls. This new technology

is accompanied by extensive training for our staff and new

learning opportunities for students who desire and need to use

technology on a daily basis. These new tools and training for

students and teachers will lead to more highly engaged

classrooms, an increase in student achievement, and a more

sustainable education model.

HUSD is one of the top performing districts in the Central

Valley. This is a direct reflection of our instructional staff’s

exceptional work with our students and their academic

achievement.

HUSD remains fiscally sound. Through carefully thought

out financial planning, HUSD has been able to make the

necessary adjustments and sustain the quality of instruction,

staffing, and facilities that the residents of Hughson expect of

their school district.

HUSD continually demonstrates excellence through student

achievement, financial management, and innovative

educational practices.

Please join us as we continue to fulfill our mission to

provide rigorous standards-based programs in a safe and

supportive environment, and preparing all students to be

productive and socially responsible community members.

Superintendent Brian Beck

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE:

M i s s i o n S t a t e m e n t Hughson Schools are committed to providing rigorous standards-based programs in a safe and supportive

environment. All students will be prepared to be productive and socially responsible community members.

Goals of the District

Curriculum and Instruction: Design, implement,

evaluate, and improve instructional programs to ensure

every student meets or exceeds district standards.

Educational Options: Design, implement, evaluate, and

improve quality educational options for students, parents

and the community.

Facilities: Provide a model environment that is safe,

efficient, clean, comfortable, and attractive that promotes

learning and fosters student, staff, and community pride.

Parent and Community Involvement: Design,

implement, evaluate, and improve partnerships and

stakeholder input opportunities that support the goals and

objectives of the District.

Personnel: Recruit, select, educate, evaluate, retain and

support the highest quality staff.

Strategic and Financial Planning: Design, implement,

evaluate, and improve a process to ensure that human and

financial resources are allocated in alignment with the

strategic plan. To support the Local Control Accountability

Plan (LCAP) goals and long range District priorities.

Student Support Services: Design, expand, implement,

evaluate, and improve programs and services to support

success for all students.

Technology: Design, implement, evaluate and improve

the expertise and use of technology by staff and students.

Be prepared for Smarter Balance Assessments (SBAC).

District Facts — October 2015

Enrollment ....................................................................... 2146

Credentialed Staff .............................................................. 110

Classified Support Staff ........... Confidential: 4 / Classified: 92

Site/District Admin Staff .......... Classified: 6 / Certificated: 13

Hughson High School Graduation Rate ...........................96.1%

English Learners ................................................................27%

Socio-Economically Disadvantaged ...................................54%

FFA NATIONAL CONVENTION AWARD

Congratulations to Mark Borges, senior at Hughson High

School! He skillfully represented the Hughson FFA Chapter, the

Hughson community, and California at the National FFA

Convention in Louisville, Kentucky

while participating in the National

FFA Job Interview Career

Development Event (CDE) contest.

He competed against 41 other

competitors from around the United

States in several intense rounds of

interviews, social networking

activities, and other job skill

simulations. After several days of

competition, Mark was named the

National FFA Job Interview CDE

champion! This is Mark’s second

year earning a National FFA title –

which has never happened before! He is an outstanding example

of what the FFA organization is about and the many valuable

opportunities available for students.

2015 State of the District Report to the Community 3

Hughson High School

Hughson High School serves a diverse

student body hailing from Gratton,

Hickman, La Grange and Roberts Ferry

schools as well as local students coming

up through Hughson’s Ross Middle

School. On approximately 41 acres, 710

students are settled in an environment that

fosters learning, responsibility and growth which prepares

them for graduation and life beyond high school.

Student Volunteer & Community

Service Opportunities

Relay for Life—Top 11 in nation for fundraising!

Inspire You Month

Key Club Activities

Life of a Husky Leadership Academy

Life of a Husky presentations to schools/community

Establishment of Life of a Husky Executive Board

Stadium beautification project/ongoing upkeep

Centennial Park development/ongoing upkeep

Tuolumne River Regional Park cleanup project

Elementary Ag Day

Holiday baskets

Assisting at Pet Store at elementary school

Canned food drive

Hughson Family Resource Center volunteers

Book Drive

Penny wars

Clothes and Toy Drive

Yard sale

Schoolwide recycling

Blood drives

Harvest Festival volunteers

Round up volunteers

Elementary summer school volunteers

Red Ribbon week service learning projects

Drama performances for elementary students/residents of

Samaritan Village

Choral performances for Samaritan Village/other local

senior residences

Love Hughson

Reinstatement of Academic Decathlon

Establishment of new clubs: Model UN, Mock Trail,

Guitar Club, Chess Club

Establishment of Ask Club (A group that volunteers to

provide free tutoring before school, at lunch time, and after

school.)

GRADUATION RATES

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

Hughson High

95.2% 98.7% 98.7% 97.5% 96.1%

Stanislaus County

79.3% 75.5% 84.3% 82.5% 82.1%

California 80.4% 76.3% 86.2% 80.4% 80.8%

It is easy to see from the charts above that Hughson High

School has drop out rates over multiple years that are

significantly lower than both the county and state averages.

DROP OUT RATES

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

Hughson High

2.8% 2.8% 1.2% 1.9% 1.9%

Stanislaus County

18.6% 17.1% 14.4% 11.6% 11.5%

California 13.3% 14.4% 13.1% 11.4% 11.5%

Hughson High School Feeder Schools

In recent years close to 200 ninth graders enter Hughson

High School annually. Most students come from Ross Middle

School, located in Hughson. However, more than 32% of the

student body comes from our feeder schools or from other

schools outside the district boundaries. Students from our

feeder schools of Gratton, Hickman and Roberts Ferry enroll

in the district as ninth graders. These students have known

throughout their elementary school years that they will be-

come Hughson Huskies as high school students and look for-

ward to contributing to the great traditions that have been

established on the campus and in our communities.

V i s i o n

High expectations maximizing individual achievement for all.

2015 State of the District Report to the Community 4

Schoolwide

Renaissance Qualifiers — 69% in first grading period

of 2014-15 school year

Occupational Olympics small school winner seventh

year in a row 2009-2015

Multilingual Seals of Proficiency 2015-2016 (9 students

qualified for this prestigious honor; a new high for

HHS!)

Music

Symphonic Band — Last five years

5 Command Performance Ratings at CMEA

Festival

5 Gilmore Band Award Winners

5 John Philip Sousa Band Award Winners

Concert Band — Last five years

5 Superior Performance Ratings at CMEA Festival

Jazz Band — Last five years

5 Command Performance Ratings

Annual Invitation to perform at SCOE Foundation

Fundraiser

5 Louis Armstrong Jazz Award Winners

5 Woody Herman Jazz Award Winners

Sound Investment — A men’s choir that received the

only unanimous superior rating from our area, (large

schools included) at the CMEA festival

Hughson High School Student Accomplishments/Recognition

Athletics

TVL championships:

Boys Track: 5 straight TVL titles 2011-2015

Girls Track: TVL titles, 2011, 2013, 2014

Girls Cross Country 2015

Girls golf 2011-2012

Softball 2011-2012, 2012-2013

Wrestling — 5 TVL champs;

2 state qualifiers 2011-2012

CIF Section Softball Champions in 2010-2011;2011-

2012; 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015

Five girls signing national letters of intent for soft-

ball scholarships in 2014-2015!

CIF Section Finals Meet Participants for 15 straight

years!

CIF Sac Joaquin Section Cross Country Champion 2011

Agriculture

76 new FFA State Farmers in the past five years

507 State Farmers; among the top ten in California

2 new American Farmers (total 31)

3 Star State Farmers

2 State Proficiency Winners

National Championship Poultry Judging Team 2014-

2015

National Championship Interview Individual 2015-2016

2015 State of the District Report to the Community 5

Emilie J. Ross Middle School

Ross faculty and staff have

embraced the Common Core State

Standards and have sought to be

equally successful under these

fully operational and nationally

established standards as we have

in the past under the previous set

of state standards. These new expectations for learning

are designed to ensure students are college and career

ready after high school. Since last year’s ongoing

professional development through the Stanislaus

County Office of Education, coupled with monthly

scheduled teacher collaboration days, our faculty has

had opportunity to refine and augment their instruction

for the betterment of our students. Looking ahead, our

teachers are dedicated to furthering their instructional

effectiveness with continued professional development

via our Late Start Wednesdays and other pertinent

workshops. Students can also expect to see increased

opportunities to: read more non-fiction texts, write

across different subject areas, work collaboratively in

groups, have more access to technology, and cover

fewer standards with increased depth, complexity, and

analysis.

Students in 7th and 8th grade have an opportunity to

participate in athletics such as volleyball, soccer,

basketball, and track. Students can access clubs such as

the Ross Running Club, a tradition that spans over 30

years, by running every Friday (rain or shine) after

school. JV PHAST is another club that promotes

healthy lifestyles and educates students about the ills of

tobacco and other harmful substances. Ross has just

completed its inaugural year of the California Junior

Scholastic Federation (CJSF), which exposes students

to higher education while at the same time recognizing

them for their academic success. Ross also hosts

various rallies and spirit days to promote campus unity,

school spirit, academic improvement, perseverance and

success.

Emilie J. Ross Middle School continued...

Our Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) program

continues to make a positive impact on our

campus! Now in its third year, WEB Leaders (8th grade

mentors) routinely meet at lunch with their 6thgrade

counterparts to check in with them and stay connected.

WEB Leaders also provide classroom presentations

about bullying and ways to prevent and report incidents

of such behavior. The intent is for students from all

walks of life to connect with a positive mentor who has

had experience and success at Ross and who can share

their secrets to success while at the same time befriend

new students.

The positive sense of community that makes up the

“Ross Republic” helps students feel connected to their

school and embrace a sense of importance as they lay

the groundwork to not only be prepared for high school,

but to also be college and career ready.

2015 State of the District Report to the Community 6

Hughson Elementary School

Hughson Elementary School is a

great place for children to grow and

learn. As a staff, we are working

tirelessly to make sure this statement

holds true. While we work hard to

continue the school and Hughson

community traditions, we are also

progressively integrating new ideas and activities as

well. New developments for this year include; updated

English Language Development standards, new

technologies, software and devices, new Character

Curriculum, and a Mentoring Program.

At Hughson Elementary School it is truly a team

effort and we are proud to employ some amazing team

members. Our office staff is courteous, professional and

knowledgeable. Our teaching staff is comprised of

dedicated professionals with varying backgrounds. Our

teachers are extremely caring and knowledgeable

educators who are constantly improving professionally.

We also utilize a support team that includes a full time

English Language Development teacher and a Reading

Specialist.

To address some of the challenges in today’s fast

paced and evolving educational world we have

continued some great strategies including our Late Start

schedule, which allows our HES teachers more

opportunities to attend Professional Development (PD)

sessions and participating in Professional Learning

Communities (PLC’s). These changes will have a direct

positive impact in the classrooms with our students.

Continued on next page.

Fox Road Elementary School

Fox Road transitioned through a

lot of change in the last three years.

The majority of this change focused

around students mastering the State

Standards. One of the most powerful

things about the standards is how

they build upon one another throughout our students’

educational experience. Since receiving our baseline

scores on the SBAC, we made some changes to

continue to improve academic achievement for all

students.

Our biggest change was in the area of the afterschool

tutoring program. In previous years we focused

primarily on the subject curriculum; tutoring will now

focus on the skill. In English Language Arts, there are

three tutoring groups which help students needing

foundational reading skills, comprehension skills or

writing. In math, there

are two tutoring groups

in each grade that help

students in need of math

fluency and foundation

skills (the four basic

operations) and the other

group focuses on re-

teaching the current skill

being taught during class.

We also added a Home-

work Help session. Stu-

dents may “drop-in” to

room 11 after school for additional help on any

homework they may have for the evening. We will be

monitoring the progress of the students and the tutoring

classes throughout the year for continual school

improvement.

Finally, a vast amount of new technology has been

added to Fox Road. There are now five Chromebook

carts for teachers to use in their classrooms. The

students and teachers have expressed how much they

are enjoying the addition of technology in the

classrooms and we are all looking forward to reaching

our goal of having one device for every student.

2015 State of the District Report to the Community 7

Hughson Elementary School continued...

While employing a “Growth Mindset,” our teachers

are regularly being trained on new technologies to

further enhance their own knowledge of technology and

devices while advancing their own classroom

instruction through the uses of such tools.

In an effort to better equip, prepare and position our

students to compete for tomorrow’s jobs we are

dedicated to being technologically progressive.

Utilizing our school district’s dramatically upgraded

network and internet bandwidth, our school site will

continue to purchase wireless devices making strides

toward putting a wireless device in the hands of every

learner. Our goal is to have technologically equipped

and trained teachers that will help our students “dig-

deeper” and redefine their learning experience.

As we are truly a school “community,” we are

graciously supported by our HES Parent Teacher Club

(PTC) and provide a myriad of opportunities for all

community stakeholders to interact with our school. For

those individuals that desire to participate in the school

site’s decision making processes, they are invited to be

a member of the School Site Council (SSC). Other

opportunities for community members to interact and

be involved include: English Learner Advisory

Committee (ELAC), Harvest Fest, Road to Kinder,

Open House, All Pro Dads, Ag. Day, Back to School

Night, Jog-A-Thon, Halloween Parade, Winter

Performances, Movie Nights and helping out with

various fundraisers that support Hughson Elementary

School.

With so many exciting things taking place at our

school site and with so many opportunities for families

to be involved, we feel you will agree that Hughson

Elementary School is a great place for children to grow

and learn.

Hughson Education Foundation Up and

Running, Looking for Volunteers

The Hughson Education Foundation

(HEF) — a non-profit organization

created to support, maintain and sup-

plement the academic and enrichment

programs within the Hughson Unified

School District (HUSD) — is up and

running after more than 5 years of planning and

paperwork.

2016 will be an exciting year for HEF; for the first

time, the foundation will be raising money and giving

back to the school district! By getting involved on the

ground floor, parents and community members have a

unique opportunity to help shape the direction and

success of the HEF’s efforts; there are many volunteer

opportunities available immediately, and more to come

as specific events are planned.

HEF is focused on raising money through

fundraisers, direct donations, grants, and substantial

gifts, and using those funds to support student success

and teacher effectiveness. A portion of all funds raised

will be used to build an endowment, intended to be a

lasting, self-sustaining source of funding to support the

foundation’s efforts. Other more immediate uses of

funds have not yet been finalized and will be

determined by the foundation’s board of directors this

year.

The foundation is also devoted to fostering new

partnerships between individuals, businesses, area

organizations, and the Hughson Unified School District,

and acting as a catalyst between the schools and the

business community. Thus, members of the business

community are encouraged to get involved with the

foundation.

We will be holding meetings regularly throughout

the spring and summer at the HUSD office (6815

Hughson Avenue). The board will be discussing

volunteer opportunities and inviting community mem-

bers to participate in upcoming foundation activities.

The foundation is especially interested in finding mem-

bers of the community willing to serve on the board of

directors or as a member of the HEF Fundraising

Committee.

For more information, or to sign up with the

Hughson Education Foundation, contact board chair

Nate Monroe at natemonroe21@gmail.com.

For additional information contact the Education Foundation at efhughson@gmail.com

Hughson Unified School

District Office

6815 Hughson Avenue P.O. Box 189

Hughson, CA 95326 Phone: (209) 883-4428

Fax: (209) 883-4639

Board of Trustees

Cindy Cunningham-Gipp ......................... President

Jim Hudelson ................................................. Clerk

Rick Applegate ......................................... Member

Randall L. Heckman ................................. Member

Daniel Sexton ........................................... Member

Mark Borges............................... Student Member

District Administration

Brian Beck ......................................... Superintendent

Brenda Smith .....................Assistant Superintendent ............... of Curriculum & Instruction and Personnel

Debra Davis, Principal ...................... HHS and Alt. Ed.

Ryan Smith, Principal .......................................... RMS

Carrie Duckart, Principal ...................................... FES

Eric Petersen, Principal ........................................ HES

Hughson Unified School District 6815 Hughson Avenue P.O. Box 189 Hughson, CA 95326

For more information visit the district’s website at www.hughson.k12.ca.us