High school athletes aren’t the only ones making commitments as part of National Signing Day 2017. Hundreds of elementary students in the Merced City School District signed their names on posters and banners this week as a symbol of their commitment to education. At Gracey Elementary, staff members called out the name of each student who signed on Wednesday, and their classmates clapped and cheered for them. UC Merced students were also on hand to offer materials about the university and a little extra inspiration. They asked the children what they want...
Students at Peterson Elementary School in Merced enjoyed a special science lesson Tuesday morning. Representatives from the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District visited three classrooms to teach third graders all about mosquitoes. They spoke about the diseases the insects can spread, their life cycle, and how our immune systems respond to being bitten. Students had a chance to see one of the pests under a microscope and to examine samples of their egg rafts, larvae, and pupae. The presentation also included an animated movie with facts about mosquitoes in...
Hoover Middle School teacher Rebecca Currin hosted an AAUW (American Association of University Women) coding class for girls on Saturday, January 28. A total of 24 mothers and daughters enjoyed learning about block programming, and a computer science major from UC Merced also spoke to the group. Research shows women are underrepresented in computing and engineering, but events like this one aim to support female students' interest in those fields.
Merced Sun-Star Column by MCSD Public Information Officer, Sara Sandrik: Looks can be deceiving when it comes to food. You may have seen the stories about how certain salads can be higher in fat and calories than a cheeseburger, and some protein bars are comparable to candy. Well, I recently had a chance to learn a lot more about the food we serve at Merced City School District campuses, and I’m happy to share that in this case looks can be deceiving in a GOOD way. That’s because some of the items are made to appeal to kids’ palates while still...
The cafeteria at Gracey Elementary was filled with special guests Friday morning as the school hosted a breakfast for all of their students’ fathers, father figures, and role models. The adults could enjoy doughnuts, pan dulce, coffee, and juice provided by the Parent Teacher Club or purchase a school breakfast (which is always free for all students). Then they sat down for some quality time with their children and a chance to interact with other parents. Principal Jose Munoz said he and his staff held this event because Gracey has great participation from mothers a...