FOCUS ON EDUCATION

STATE TO SHOW ‘ALIVE INSIDE’

“Alive Inside” will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday at the State Theater, 1307 J. St., Modesto. Cost is $5, $3 for seniors, with all proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer/Dementia Support Center Inc. Organizers will be collecting new and gently used MP3 players at the event, which is sponsored by The Stratford at Beyer Park, Garden City Healthcare Center, Provident Care Home Care, Paramount Court Senior Living and Optimal Hospice Care. Buy tickets at the Stratford, 3529 Forest Glenn Drive, Modesto. For more information, call Christina Mize, at (209) 236-1900.

PATTERSON UNIFIED BOARD TO MEET

The Patterson Joint Unified School District Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the district office, 510 Keystone Blvd., Patterson. Trustees will get an update on upcoming state testing and changes coming for the Academic Program Index. The board will be asked to approve a $3 million loan for energy conservation projects and a 2013-14 contract with support staff that includes a 4 percent salary increase and $170 one-time payment. The agenda does not include a dollar total for the increases. A number of policies are up for consideration, including evaluation of teachers and elimination of free use of school facilities for school-related organizations under proposed language. See the agenda at http://pattersonunified.com/public-info/board-agendas.

TURLOCK UNIFIED BOARD TO MEET

The Turlock Unified School District Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Professional Development Center, 1100 Cahill Ave., Turlock. Trustees will get an update on technology infrastructure work and distribution of Chromebook carts. The board will also be asked to approve a replacement assistant principal for Brown Elementary following the resignation of Nicole Kent, effective Oct. 31, and designate Sikh American appreciation month. See the agenda at http://bit.ly/TurlockBoard.

SPELLING CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING UP

Top spellers in fourth, fifth and sixth grades will compete in the Stanislaus County Elementary Spelling Championships at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Gregori High School gym, 3701 Pirrone Road, Modesto. The Junior High Spelling Championship will be at 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Petersen Event Center, 720 12th St., Modesto. Both free events are sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education.

FILM, TALK TAKE ON WAR ON DRUGS

The Modesto Junior College Civic Engagement Project will show the documentary film “The House I Live In” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Forum 110 on MJC’s east campus, 435 College Ave. The free event is part of the project’s Fall Film and Lecture Series. Campus parking is available for $2 in student parking lots. In “The House I Live In,” writer and director Eugene Jarecki contends that racial, political and economic motives have shaped America’s drug policies and that the “war on drugs” is a misguided battle that hurts our communities more than it helps. Following the film there will be a discussion. For more information on MJC’s Civic Engagement Project or the Fall Film and Lecture Series, email professor Jason Wohlstadter at wohlstadterj@mjc.edu.

KIDNEY HEALTH DISCUSSED AT SCHOOLS

Satellite Healthcare’s home dialysis center, Satellite WellBound of Modesto, celebrated the organization’s 40th anniversary Wednesday by talking to students at St. Stanislaus Catholic School and the Stroud Elementary after-school program about kidney health and dialysis. The students took part in a program called “Youth Kidney Awareness: Helping Kids Learn to Love Their Kidneys,” which includes stations for students to learn about kidneys, osmosis, diffusion, healthy living, fluids and Rethink Your Drink. “The best way to protect your kidneys is prevention, so these students are at an advantage,” said Jill Burns, WellBound clinical manager.

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 5:49 PM with the headline "FOCUS ON EDUCATION."