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Welcome to Community Zone, an e-newsletter from the Fresno Unified School District featuring news of the district and schools. Sign up to receive this newsletter every two weeks. Questions? Contact Communications@fresnounified.org.
Governor Visits Sunset Elementary
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Governor Gavin Newsom visited Sunset Elementary School on October 5 and signed several education bills. He spent time in teacher Alma Renteria’s transitional kindergarten class. Sunset is a dual language immersion school.
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Governor Visits Sunset
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State of Education Event
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Due to the increasing surge of COVID-19 in the community, the district has made the difficult decision to move the State of Education program to a virtual format this year. The State of Education event is the single largest fundraiser for the Fresno Unified Scholarship Fund. The district had hoped when it started planning months ago that case rates would continue declining and vaccination rates would continue increasing. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. The district believes a large, indoor event is not in the best interest of the community at this time.
Fresno Unified will produce a virtual program that will be shared at 6 p.m. on October 18 through fresnounified.org, social media channels and CMAC. The program will highlight scholarship winners from last spring, a message from Superintendent Bob Nelson and the generous sponsors of the event.
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60 Seconds with Fresno Unified Video
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The Fresno Unified in 60 Seconds video features pumpkin/favorite book art at Forkner Elementary School, a pumpkin patch at Yokomi Elementary School from the PTA and Duncan Polytechnical High School students helping collect trash in northwest Fresno.
60 Seconds Video
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October District Online Newspaper Available
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Check out the October edition of Building Futures, the district’s digital newspaper. The newest edition focuses on school choice, COVID-19 protocols Q and A and staff and student spotlights.
October Building Futures
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Superintendent Board Remarks from October 13, 2021
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• Superintendent started his remarks by recognizing this month as National Cyber Security Awareness month, which includes cyber safety curriculum being implemented at all schools later this month. He also recognized LGBTQ+ History Month, Filipino American History Month, World Teachers’ Day, World Mental Health Day, Week of the School Administrator and National School Lunch Week. Superintendent asked all to take time to celebrate your teacher, administrator, and school lunch colleagues and learn more about LGBTQ+ history, Filipino American history, and mental health.
• Superintendent shared that yesterday a virtual Staff Town Hall was held sharing current COVID-19 procedures, information on vaccine mandates, and answered some frequently asked questions from our teams. Thank you to the over 1,000 staff who joined live. For all who were not able to join live, the recording and materials were sent to all staff yesterday afternoon via your Fresno Unified email account. Many pieces of the information are also available publicly on our COVID-19 webpage, which can be accessed by heading to www.fresnounified.org/covid19. Superintendent asked that supervisors, administrators, and managers please ensure that staff who do not have regular access to email get this information as well.
• Superintendent directed the Fresno Unified family to the COVID-19 webpage as the best place to find the latest information on our COVID-19 protocols, as federal, state, and local health guidance changes quite often. This webpage is open to everyone and can be accessed through our www.fresnounified.org. On the webpage are the district’s current health and safety guidelines, information on how the district addresses symptomatic students and staff, how symptomatic students and staff can return to school or work, the district’s contact tracing processes, self-health screening tool, vaccination and testing resources, our COVID-19 dashboard, and other resources and safety plans.
• Superintendent shared the district will be holding additional monthly virtual staff town halls through at least January and will also be hosting a community town hall later this month for our students, parents, families, and community partners.
• Superintendent reminded everyone that Fresno Unified is currently surveying families, staff, and students in grades 3-12 on a handful of school climate and culture indicators. This survey is an opportunity for students, staff and families to tell the district about your experiences with our district and schools and how the district can better support student’s learning. Please complete this survey by October 15th. For more information, check your email or contact your child’s school directly.
View Full Board Meeting Recap
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Students in Sunnyside High School’s ag mechanics program took two first and two second place ribbons in the Big Fresno Fair for the dog houses they built. The agriscience students excelled as well – 40 of their 50 plant projects placed first in their divisions. 
The Steve's Scholars kick-off for new seventh graders was held at Tehipite Middle School on October 1 with a virtual presentation. Eighth graders were also honored for their one year in the program. Francine and Murray Farber established the Steve
Students in Edison High School’s Key Club participated in a Beautify Fresno event October 2. The students joined others in cleaning up Ventura Street and the Maxie Parks Community Center. Of the 68 volunteers, 35 were from Edison High. The volunteers picked up 107 bags of trash. 
As part of orientation day on September 8 for students in the