WPUSD eNews

December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break, No School, District Office Closed to the Public

During break, while we are closed to the public, many district office staff members are still working. Please reach out via email using our Staff Directory.

January 19 - MLK Jr. Day, No School

February 16-20 - President's Week, No School

We’re excited to share that this year’s grant program with the Western Placer Education Foundation awarded $42,000 in grants to support 29 teachers and classroom projects across WPUSD!

These grants help bring innovative ideas to life—supporting projects that enhance learning, provide hands-on experiences, and create more opportunities for our students to explore, imagine, and grow. While school funding is always limited, this additional support directly enriches the student experience in meaningful ways.

A heartfelt thank you to the Western Placer Education Foundation for investing in our students, our teachers, and our community’s future. We look forward to sharing the impact of these projects as they come to life in classrooms throughout the year!

Email: kcallahan@wpusd.org

Website: wpusd.org

Phone: 916-645-6350

Board Meeting Highlights

• November 18 Highlights
• The Board approved the sunshine proposal for negotiations between WPUSD and CSEA.
• The Board awarded the bidder for the fresh milk and dairy products RFP.
• The Board heard a presentation on the district's CAASPP data - highlighting notable gains in many areas. See the Ed Services section for more information.
• The Board received an informational update on the English 9 leadership unit core novel.
• December 2 Highlights
• During her report, Superintendent Kerry Callahan welcomed City of Lincoln City Manager Sean Scully to share a few words with the Board. Together, they highlighted the strong, positive partnership between the District and the City, particularly noting the success of our fully funded joint-use TK-8 school planned for Village 7. Kerry also acknowledged the long history between our two agencies, and both she and Sean expressed how encouraged they are by the progress made in recent years and their shared commitment to building on that momentum moving forward.
• John Adams Academy recently notified the district of its plans to expand its Lincoln campus. As part of their application for state funding through the Charter School Facilities Program, they are required to submit a resolution verifying the number of unhoused students in our district. This is a routine, procedural step to ensure accurate reporting for the state. The Board approved the resolution.
• The Board reviewed the revised policies and board bylaws as per CSBA.

Upcoming Meetings

• December 16, 2025 - WPUSD District Office, Third Floor, 6:00pm

Miss a meeting? Click HERE to view them on our YouTube Channel

In This Section

📆26-27 Registration Information NEW!

📈CA School Dashboard NEW!

🎤Conversations That Support Learning NEW!

🎓College & Career Connections NEW!

🏆Plateful News NEW!

🏫Facilities Needs Committee Update NEW!

🔔Changes to ParentSquare Text Messages

💙The HUB: WPUSD Family Resource Center

💭WPUSD Portrait of a Learner

📣We're Hiring NEW!

📱What's Buzzing on our Social Media? NEW!

We are quickly approaching registration season for the 2026–2027 school year! Whether your child is beginning their journey in Transitional Kindergarten (TK), Kindergarten, or you’re exploring our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Below are important dates and upcoming opportunities to learn more about our programs.

Dual Language Immersion (DLI)

Learn more about our Spanish DLI program, housed at Creekside Oaks Elementary.

December 18, 2025

Virtual Parent Information Session

• English Session: 5:30 PM — Google Meet
• Spanish Session: 6:30 PM — Google Meet

January 13, 2026

• 8:30–9:30 AM — In-Person at Creekside Oaks Elementary

January 28, 2026

• 3:00–4:00 PM — In-Person at Creekside Oaks Elementary

TK/Kindergarten Parent Information Meetings

Get an overview of the registration process, program offerings, and what to expect as your student begins school.

December 10, 2025 (Virtual Only)

• English Session: 5:30–6:30 PM — Google Meet

• Spanish Session: 6:30–7:30 PM — Google Meet

January 13, 2026 – Online Pre-Registration Opens

Opens at 10:00 AM for all grades and programs, including DLI.

February 27, 2026 – Priority Registration Deadline
Applies to all grades and programs, including DLI.

January 16, 2026

Intra-district Transfer Requests Open at 10:00 AM

February 13, 2026
High School Priority Intra Deadline

June 4, 2026
Deadline for Grades K-8 Transfers

July 30, 2026
Second Transfer Window Opens for 2026–2027 Requests

Each spring, students in grades 3–8 and 11 take the CAASPP and CAST assessments. These results help us understand student learning, monitor the effectiveness of our programs, and compare our progress with other districts. Our Educational Services team recently presented the latest data to the Board, and those reports are attached below.

You’ll also see the California School Dashboard linked below. The Dashboard is the state’s public reporting tool that shows how districts and schools are performing across several areas—academics, attendance, graduation, English learner progress, and more. It gives a broader picture of how students are doing over time.

Our Educational Services department spends a significant amount of time reviewing this data and working with school sites to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and the supports needed to help students and staff thrive. These insights directly guide decisions around curriculum, interventions, and professional learning.

If you’d like to explore further, you can click through the Dashboard to find detailed reports for each school.

Regularly checking your child’s grades and assignments is one of the simplest ways to support their success. Monitoring progress helps families catch small challenges early, celebrate growth, and stay aware of upcoming work. It also opens the door to meaningful conversations about time management, learning habits, and goals. In middle and high school, grades can be monitored through Schoology—your school team can help if you need support accessing it.

We encourage families to review grades and assignments with their student each week. This shared routine builds accountability and ensures students feel supported—not only when grades slip, but when they improve and work hard.

Below are simple, supportive questions families can use when talking with their child about school progress:

Start with strengths

• What assignment or class are you most proud of this week?

• Where do you feel you’re making progress?

Explore challenges without blame

• Has anything been hard for you lately?

• Are there assignments you’re unsure about or need help completing?

• What might be getting in the way—time, understanding the material, or something else?

Build habits and planning

• What’s your plan for this week in this class?

• Any upcoming assignments, quizzes, or projects we should add to the calendar?

• What small steps can you take to raise or maintain your grade?

Encourage ownership and confidence

• What strategies have worked well for you before?

• How can I support you—reminders, a quiet workspace, checking in together?

Promote communication

• Do you need to email a teacher for clarification or feedback?

• Would you like help drafting that message?

These questions help keep conversations positive, solution-focused, and centered on growth—reinforcing that families and students are partners in the learning process.

If you ever have questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher or counselor. We’re here to support every student’s success.

Our Vision is for each student to have the tools to pursue a life of their own choosing, and a plan to achieve their goals after graduation. In other words: We help prepare students for life after high school.

This month we will take a closer look at WPUSD’s Advancement Via Individual Determination program, more commonly known as AVID. AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

AVID is an approach to learning that incorporates the whole child by including best first instruction and a college and career culture. Students learn their core lessons through a variety of methods that include collaboration, critical thinking, and curiosity while also practicing resilience, integrity and kindness, all characteristics of our Portrait of a Learner. AVID instruction is rigorous, with supports in place to help each student learn. A common acronym in AVID is WICOR. WICOR stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading. These are skills that will help each child be successful in school and life. AVID students learn several WICOR strategies to help them learn at high levels.

Elementary AVID schools have WICOR strategies embedded throughout all grades and subjects. Secondary AVID schools also have integrated AVID strategies and AVID elective classes that incorporate academics with college and career readiness and student agency, preparing students for life after high school. Part of AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap and was created to specifically help students who are the first in their families to go to college.

Next month will take a deeper look into Career Technical Education (CTE)

We are thrilled to announce that this fall, our Food and Nutrition Services department is Eat Real certified at the green tier. This achievement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to serving nutritious, fresh and high-quality meals that support the health and well-being of our students.

During the certification process, Eat Real evaluated our program against their ten standards,which go well beyond federal and state child nutrition program regulations. These standards assess the nutrition and the sustainability of the food we serve, such as procuring local ingredients, minimizing processing of the foods we serve, and managing food waste. We are proud to have met and exceeded these standards.

Here are some examples of the impact on student meals:

• Local sourcing: 78% of our fresh produce comes from small to midsize farms (thanks in large part to our partnership with Spork Foodhub), 24% is from local area farmers. 16% of this sourcing is from certified organic producers such as Homegrown and Tomatero. This helps to support sustainable agriculture and provide fresher options for students.

• Minimal Processing: On average, 44% of breakfast and lunch menu components across primary and secondary menus are made using minimally processed ingredients, supporting healthier choices for students. We are proud of the ingredients we use and the effort we put into the Plateful-made dishes, including, but not limited to, bean and cheese nachos, blueberry coffee cake, grilled cheese, and elote salad.

• Menu Variety: An average of 12 unique entree choices are offered on the primary lunch menus and an average of 17 unique entree choices are offered on the secondary lunch menus across a week, giving students ample opportunities to enjoy nutritious meals.

We are committed to continually improving our nutrition program and providing healthy and delicious meals to our students. Read more about our Eat Real certification and Eat Real’s mission to nourish the future by increasing school kids’ access to the delicious, nutritious, planet-sustaining food they need to thrive.

This accomplishment sets the tone for our December focus, Protein Power Month. In our Cafeterias, students will explore why protein matters, whether it comes from plants or animals, and how it supports steady energy, focus, and overall well-being during a busy end-of-semester stretch. We’re also featuring kiwi as our Harvest of the Month. Students will have a chance to taste this nutrient-dense fruit and learn why choosing real, whole foods makes a difference.

Plateful will host a Winter Fest Breakfast on December 17th. Students can enjoy special donut flavors like peppermint bark and fun sprinkles. It’s a fun way to kick off winter break and give everyone something festive to look forward to.🍩

Keep an eye out for this year’s Menu Feedback Survey. Your input helps us shape future menus and strengthen our nutrition efforts across the district.

As the year comes to a close, we want to thank our WPUSD families for your continued support and partnership. We’re grateful to work together to nourish and inspire every student we serve.

Throughout the school year, our Facilities Needs Committee has been meeting regularly to review data, learn about school facility processes, and identify WPUSD’s most critical facility priorities. Here’s a look at what’s been accomplished so far:

• Built understanding of school facility funding: The committee explored how school districts qualify for funding and the state and federal requirements involved in building, modernizing, or upgrading school facilities.

• Learned why school construction takes time: Members now have a clearer picture of the complex approval and compliance steps that can make school construction a multi-year process.

• Reviewed and analyzed the 2022 Facilities Master Plan: The group examined current needs across all WPUSD schools, including infrastructure projects, and began identifying the most urgent ones.

• Focused on highest-need campuses: Early priorities include addressing aging facilities at Lincoln High School, Carlin C. Coppin, Creekside Oaks and Sheridan, while also recognizing that Twelve Bridges High School, though new, still requires significant funding to be considered fully complete.

What’s Next

In the coming months, the committee will continue refining project priorities (yes, even using “fake” dollars to simulate funding decisions!) and work toward finalizing an updated Facilities Master Plan (FMP) for board consideration in the spring.

The FMP serves as WPUSD’s roadmap for keeping schools modern, addressing growth, and ensuring safe, effective learning environments. As our community continues to grow and enrollment increases, regular updates to this plan help ensure we’re investing wisely in the future of our schools.

ParentSquare is rolling out a new way to send text messages: instead of using a 5-digit short code, most messages will soon come from 10-digit local phone numbers. This change will help messages feel more personal and stay better organized in your text messaging app.

What’s changing?

Previously, all ParentSquare messages came from the same 5-digit number. With this update, you’ll receive texts from regular 10-digit phone numbers, depending on the type of message:

• Direct Messages: One number for each conversation with a teacher or staff member
• Classroom & Group Posts: One number for all classes and groups per school
• School-wide Posts: One number per school
• Alerts, Digests, District-wide Posts and District Group Messages: The same 5-digit number that you've always seen

No action needed—just keep an eye out for those first-time messages!

You will get a short message the first time each number is used to help you save it in your contacts.

Learn more and see examples: Example of Changes to ParentSquare Text Messages

What should I do?

When you receive a message from one of these new 10-digit numbers, save it to your contacts. Here are some suggestions:

• Save a teacher’s number as: Ms. Davis - 4th Grade
• Save classroom/group posts as: Lincoln Elementary Classes
• Save school posts number as: Lincoln Elementary Updates

Below are examples using sample schools (not WPUSD schools).

Feeding the Foothills is offering free food distributions each week—no sign-up required! Come grab fresh produce, pantry staples, and more for your family.

Here is a links of distribution centers.

Have you always wanted to work for WPUSD but weren't sure where to get started? Let us help you!

The HUB is here to support parents who want to take the next step in their career journey. Whether you’re interested in joining the WPUSD team or finding work with other local employers, we’ll walk alongside you every step of the way!

✅ One-on-one career coaching
✅ Resume & application support
✅ Interview practice
✅ Explore job opportunities close to home — both in WPUSD and with area businesses

💼 Who We’re Looking For
Parents who want to grow their careers through roles such as:

• Paraeducators

• Office/Clerical Staff

• Food Services

• Campus Supervisors

• Bus Drivers

• And more — in WPUSD and beyond!

📅 Get Started Today!
👉 Fill out this quick form
We’ll contact you to set up an appointment and connect you with opportunities that fit your skills and goals.

Need support with food, clothing, housing, career or school resources? The Hub is here for you! We connect WPUSD families with services and support—all in one place. Visit us in the Lincoln High School parking lot (between LHS and PHS). We’re open every school day from 8am–4pm. Call us at 916-434-3760—we’re here to help your family thrive! Email Mikaela Zimmerman for any questions or more information- mzimmerman@wpusd.org.

Check out the video to learn more!

WPUSD is hiring! Check out our current job openings at https://www.edjoin.org/wpusd. Be sure to share the Edjoin link with those who may be looking for employment!

Some of our current available positions:

• Special Education Clerk - District Office
• Instructional Aide - Foskett Ranch Elementary & Creekside Oaks
• Bus Driver
• School Psychologist
• Campus Monitor - Twelve Bridges Elementary
• Special Education Teacher *SIGNING BONUS*
• Bus Driver Substitute
• Campus Monitor - Scott Leaman Elementary
• Paraprofessional - Various Sites
• Various Coaching Positions
• Substitute Teacher
• Many More!

Volunteering at schools helps build a stronger sense of community and support for students, showing them that their education matters. It also allows families and community members to play an active role in shaping a positive, welcoming school environment. Even small contributions of time can make a big difference.

Click here for information on how to become a volunteer!

Here's where you can find quick links to frequently searched items.

Website: www.wpusd.org
Location: 600 6th Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, CA, USA
Phone: 916-645-6350

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WPUSD/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w.p.u.s.d
Twitter: @WPUSD

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