Editor’s note: We’ve had another successful year at the Mokelumne Current! The students have put together a wonderful newspaper. As usual, there was some excellent work that simply didn’t fit into the print edition, and we’ll be sharing it all here. First up is an interview with Lodi mushroom expert Bob Stahmer, who regularly leads Click to read the full post.
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Second-graders share facts about plants and animals
Among our student journalists this year are second-grade students from Mrs. Jenna Pal-Freeman at Lockeford Elementary School. Here are some of their pictures and sentences sharing facts about the plants and animals that live in the Mokelumne River Watershed.
This year’s Mokelumne Current is online
It’s that time of year again: When the hard work that students and teachers have put into watershed education comes together in the annual Mokelumne Current. For those who missed it in the Lodi News-Sentinel, PDFs of each page of this year’s student newspaper are available here. Every year, there are a number of students Click to read the full post.
An interview with Barbara Transon
By Janine Jacinto’s fifth-grade class at Heritage Elementary School Barbara Transon is a GATE instructional coach for Lodi Unified School District. Q: How many years have you been making leaf packs? A: I have been making leaf packs for two years. Q: Who taught you about making leaf packs? A: I learned about leaf packs Click to read the full post.
Lodi High science teacher named district’s Teacher of the Year
Lodi High School science teacher Melissa Turner watched as some of her students, both current and former, who are members of the Lodi Storm Drain Detectives, tested water samples from Lodi Lake on Tuesday afternoon. Turner cites her involvement with the group as one of the reasons she was chosen as Lodi Unified School District’s Click to read the full post.
Painting Lodi’s Sandhill cranes
In November, fifth-graders at Heritage Elementary School had a unique opportunity to become nature artists. The students were able to go on a Fly-In Tour at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, a sneak preview of the tours offered each year during the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival. After their up-close view of the ancient birds that migrate to Click to read the full post.
Students study health, biodiversity of Lodi Lake and Mokelumne River
Students in Melanie Martinez’s sixth-grade class at Reese Elementary took a trip to Lodi Lake on Wednesday morning to conduct a science experiment on the health of the water at Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River. The students sifted through leaf packs that were previously placed at four testing sites at the lake and river, Click to read the full post.
Local teacher selected for Sandhill Crane Festival Award
Janine Jacinto, a teacher at Lodi’s Heritage Elementary School, will receive the Lodi Sandhill Crane Association’s Conservation Award at the Sandhill Crane Festival opening dinner on Nov. 3. Jacinto is being honored for her commitment to inspiring students to explore, understand and appreciate nature and take action toward a healthy environment. She began her teaching Click to read the full post.
Citizen Science: Lodi under the microscope
Every month, groups of birders gather at the Woodbridge Wilderness Area, Cosumnes River Preserve and the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery to count birds. Students from Lodi’s two high schools head out to Lodi Lake and the river to test water quality, while elementary school classes study the creatures that have moved into leaf packs. Dedicated Click to read the full post.
Almost 300 turn out for 15th annual Lodi Lake cleanup
Nearly 300 volunteers, including 15 kayakers, came out to beautify Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River during Saturday’s Coastal Cleanup in Lodi. This was Lodi’s 15th year participating in the international event. Team leaders included teachers from Lodi Middle, Tokay High, Lodi High, Reese Elementary and Heritage Elementary, Boy Scout Troop 399 and various other Click to read the full post.