Schools

Residents who are 65 or over or who are disabled are eligible for a 70 percent reduction in a local property tax that funds school improvement if there are no school-age children living in the home. Qualified residents have until June 30 to apply to Elk Grove Unified School District for the discount. Read more »

The Cosumnes River Elementary School got a visit from Santa Thursday thanks to the Sacramento Sheriff's Department, which landed a helicopter on a playing field at the school. Santa made his way to the outdoor assembly as more than 500 students chanted, "Santa! Santa!" The students were gathered to present Marines with the toys they had collected for Toys for Tots and Toys for Troops' Kids.  The kids got a chance to check out the copter too.

The sight of an Elk Grove Unified School District school bus, Security patrol vehicles and two police cars at  Murieta South Parkway and Abierto Drive aroused concerns late Monday afternoon. Rancho Murieta Security Chief Greg Remson said Security and Elk Grove Unified School District police responded to a disruption that occurred as a result of a disagreement between the bus driver and students on the bus, which originated at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove. Read more »

See 38 photos from the Harvest Festival

Costumed students parade past the judges at Cosumnes River Elementary School's Harvest Festival Sunday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day for Halloween fun and food -- sunny and in the upper 70s.

The Cosumnes River Elementary School PTA will host candidates for the Elk Grove Unified School District board at its meeting Wednesday. There will be a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. Community members are invited to attend and meet the candidates. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the CRES multi-purpose room. Read more »

See 13 more photos from Trash 'n' Treasure

Trash ‘n’ Treasure, the annual garage-sale fundraiser, moved down the road this year to the campus of Cosumnes River Elementary School, and Saturday morning’s turnout looked like quite a success.  Eleven-year-old Parker Faeth, above, was one of the customers, buying cherry tomato and bell pepper plants from Sue Sheridan of the River Valley Garden Club.  Instead of the leafy, meandering experience of past years at Murieta Plaza, the new venue allows straight-ahead rows of shopping.  Trash ‘n’ Treasure benefits the CRES PTA. There was a string of booths dedicated to raising funds for Murietan Doreen Ntale, who is battling cancer. Even with all the on-site parking, cars lined Jackson Road in mid-morning.  Also Saturday morning, Murieta Village held its own garage-sale event, right.

Winners of the Cosumnes River Elementary School Science Fair were the center of attention when their science projects were displayed Thursday evening at the school.  Emily Garrison visited with her brother Charlie at his project, a comparison of the bounce in hardboiled eggs prepared with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar -- a timely experiment with Easter coming up. The conclusion: the white vinegar eggs are bouncier. Other projects tackled soil analysis, the effect of soda on teeth, and the cognitive ability of hamsters. The list of first-place winners: Read more »

The multipurpose room at Cosumnes River Elementary School became one huge dance floor Saturday evening as doting dads gamely kept up with their energetic offspring at the Father/Daughter Dance. The annual PTA event’s traditions include impromptu conga lines and spirited performances of “The Chicken Dance” and other time-honored favorites.

The annual Cosumnes River Elementary School Harvest Festival brought hundreds of costumed children to the school Sunday for games, pumpkin rolling, a haunted house tour, face painting, treats (but no tricks) and a costume competition. You're invited to share the fun by clicking on the circle in the center of the photo to start a slide show.

Principal Michael Gulden donated his lunch period to be duct-taped to a table by 70 students at CRES Friday.  Parents purchased five feet of duct tape for their kids to "Stick It" to Gulden at lunch.  The money will be used by the Rancho Murieta Kiwanis and Optimist Clubs for projects at the school. (Thanks to member Alicia Correia for the photo!)