6 EDCAL January 28, 2019
Warm and Fuzzy Drive helps California refugee students
Students at Natoma Station Elementary
in Folsom Cordova USD organized a Warm
and Fuzzy Drive with the non-profit orga-
nization Without a Roof. The drive went
to help refugee students in another district
school, Cordova Meadows Elementary.
The Folsom Cordova District Digest
reported the drive collected hundreds
of warm clothing items including coats,
scarves, gloves, hats, pajamas and socks to
share with refugee students and their fami-
lies at Cordova Meadows Elementary.
Three years ago, when Principal Vicki
Boudouris assumed the role of principal,
she also took on the role of Student Council
advisor. She noted she was aided in this by
a retired principal – and now a grandparent
volunteer – Marilyn Hilton.
“We both felt that it was important
to develop student leadership and include
student voice in a project that focused on
giving back to our school and larger com-
munity,” Boudouris said.
She noted that they were aware of a
“Warm and Fuzzy Donation Drive” done by
a local high school. Coincidentally, as they
reached out to local service organizations
seeking a partnership, they were contacted
by a group called Without a Roof, which a
former Natoma Station student had helped
found. The non-profit group serves the
Principal Vickie Boudouris, left poses with members of the Natoma Station student council and Principal Marie
Pawlek, right, of Cordova Meadows Elementary during the delivery of warm weather wear.
local refugee community. The former stu-
dent, Lauren Irizarry, asked if the Natoma
Station student council would be interested
in partnering on a fundraiser to help the
local refugee community.
“The stars and the moon aligned and we
formed a great partnership,” Boudouris said.
Just before winter break, Boudouris and
members of her student council drove to
Rancho Cordova to deliver the items to
Principal Marie Pawlek and her student
council members at Cordova Meadows,
who were thankful for the donations.
This was Natoma Station’s third Warm
and Fuzzy Drive.
“I discovered that Cordova Meadows
Elementary had had a large influx of refu-
gees and we have supported those families
directly for the past two years,” Boudouris
said.
She noted that Natoma Station students
and families feel grateful that their efforts
are able to have a positive impact on people
in our community.
“It has been very meaningful to have our
student council leaders deliver the donation
items to Cordova Meadows and interact
with the student leaders there,” she said. “In
addition, families and students at Cordova
Meadows are so very grateful for the sup-
port.
“We plan to continue to plan a yearly
fundraiser with the input of our students
that impacts our local community in order
to continue to develop and foster caring,
generosity, and service within our school
community,” Boudouris said.
Top California Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports schools recognized
The California PBIS Coalition, which
focuses on Positive Behavioral Interventions
and Support, has implemented a recogni-
tion system to acknowledge schools for
implementing PBIS.
More than 1,000 schools have been
recognized for 2017-18 in the categories of
Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. A com-
plete list of honored schools can be found at
http://bit.ly/2AZk3XI.
Platinum Recognition (41 Schools)
Anaheim ESD: Henry (Patrick)
Elementary. Belmont-Redwood Shores
SD: Cipriani Elementary. Centralia ESD:
George B. Miller Elementary. Clovis USD:
“ACSA has changed my life by helping me grow as an education
leader and student advocate. During an ACSA Leadership Summit
many years ago, I had the opportunity to sit in on a workshop led
by author Paula Rutherford. Listening to her inspired me to think
about how leadership impacts our everyday work. I immediately
went back to my district and implemented a standards-based
change that was key to our teachers and district.
I have been a huge fan of ACSA ever since that conference. ACSA has led me
to success inside and outside of the classroom.”
Alyssa Lynch
Superintendent
Metropolitan Education District
Reagan Elementary. Cutler-Orosi USD:
Cutler Elementary. Dinuba USD: Dinuba
High School. Dry Creek Joint ESD:
Olive Grove Elementary and Antelope
Meadows Elementary. Fullerton SD:
Robert C. Fisler Elementary. Greenfield
Union SD: Raffaello Palla Elementary,
Greenfield Middle School, and Valle
Verde Elementary. Irvine USD: Culverdale
Elementary, Portola Springs Elementary
and Irvine High School. Loomis Union
SD: Franklin Elementary and Penryn
Elementary. Morongo USD: Joshua Tree
Elementary. Paso Robles Joint USD: Pat
Butler Elementary. Rocklin USD: Rocklin
Elementary. Roseville City SD: George
Cirby Elementary. Saddleback Valley USD:
Los Alisos Intermediate School. Salinas
City ESD: Mission Park Elementary
and Monterey Park Elementary. Santa
Ana USD: Adams Elementary, Diamond
Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Fremont
Elementary, Gonzalo Felicitas Mendez
Fundamental Intermediate School, Manuel
Esqueda Elementary, Monroe Elementary,
Pio Pico Elementary, Raymond A. Villa
Fundamental
Intermediate
School,
Saddleback High School, Santa Ana High
School and Valley High School. Selma
USD: Eric White Elementary. Silver Valley
USD: Fort Irwin Middle School. Snowline
Joint USD: Phelan Elementary. Standard
SD: Highland Elementary. Victor Valley
Union HSD: Goodwill High School.
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ACSA 2019 PERSONNEL INSTITUTE
OCTOBER 2-4, 2019 | LONG BEACH, CA