Nutrition with Denise Russo, MS RD CDE

Orientation Video: West Valley Learners

2012-01-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

Greetings West Valley students....Here is a link to a video on youtube that I have created to help you navigate our course more smoothly. This 20 minute orientation should answer many of your how-to questions. And, although it doesn't show on my face, once the camera was off, I really WAS smiling at all of you. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bucB9T4O8Co

Spring Session, 2012

2012-01-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

Spring session begins January 30th at West Valley and February 6th at Cabrillo College. The syllabus for all classes will be made available to you, electronically, the first day of class, in Angel (West Valley students) and Blackboard (Cabrillo students). Please use this blog to find information about textbook requirements, office hours, orientation (online Cabrillo students) and the add process.

ENROLLED STUDENTS:
It is very important that ALL ENROLLED students confirm their planned attendance for class on the first day of school. For Cabrillo students, this requires being in class on Monday, Feb 6th. (Online students have an orientation scheduled on Monday night, from 7-9 pm in room 450.) For West Valley students (all online), you must send an email to me between January 27th and January 30th stating that you are confirming your intent to participate in class. The waitlists for all classes is long so, without your confirmation, I may have to drop you in order to add a waitlisted student.

WAITLISTED STUDENTS:
If you are on the waitlist, you will need to contact me to request an add code.
West Valley students will need to send me an email, requesting to add.
Cabrillo F2F students will need to attend lecture on Monday morning, requesting to add.
Cabrillo Online students will need to attend the orientation on Monday evening, Feb 6th and request to add.

I am not always able to add all waitlisted students (as each class has a cap), but I will do my best to add as many as possible.

*Please note, if you are a Cabrillo online learner, and you have a conflict with the orientation, send me an email prior to that date so that you are not dropped from the course.

If you have other questions that are not answered on this blog, please send me an email and I will reply at my earliest convenience.

Eat well, play fit,
Denise C. Russo, MS RD CDE

Winter Session at West Valley, 2012

2011-12-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

Class begins January 3rd with all work submitted by January 25th.

All enrolled students must email me between Dec 30th and January 2nd to confirm their planned participation for this class. Any student who has NOT contacted me by 6 pm on Monday night, January 3rd may be dropped to make room for a wait listed student. If you are enrolled but not planning to participate in the class, be drop ASAP. Both the class and the wait list are full (with enough interested students for 2 sections) so your consideration is greatly appreciated. Keep in mind that, although I may drop any student who has not confirmed attendance, it is the students responsibility to drop the course if they are not planning to attend.

Wait listed students should also email me between 12/30 and 1/2 to request an add code. I will provide these as quickly as possible, dependent on drops/class capacity. Any student who cannot be added to the wait list but who would like to be added should also email me during these dates.

Please keep in mind that this is a RIGOROUS course. Students taking this class over 4 weeks usually do best if they have a couple of hours/day for participation. We cover the same amount of material as covered during a traditional semester. It is suggested that you have the book ASAP. You can preview the first chapter for free at the publishers website. Below is the course schedule. Also, the previous post included orientation videos for the class.

If you have any other questions, please do email me at my nutritionrusso gmail address.

Week One Assignment Block 1
1/3-1/8

All quizzes, VFT1, CNA1 & D1 due 1/8, at 11:55 pm
Read Syllabus
Chapter 1: An Overview of Nutrition Chapter 2: Planning a Healthy Diet
Chapter 3: Digestion plus Chemistry (Appendix B: Covalent)
Chapter 4: Carbohydrates
Chapter 5: Lipids
Due: VFT1/CNA1 and Discussion 1 (3 posts)

Quiz Intro
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Quiz 3
Quiz 4
Quiz 5

Complete Three Day Food Diary/Analysis before end of Assignment Block 1 (see Lessons Page for Directions) and use for VFT/CNA1

Week Two Assignment Block 2

Ends Sat, 1/14

All quizzes, VFT2, CNA2 & D2 due 1/14, at 11:55 pm

Chapter 6: Proteins
Chapter 7: Metabolism
Chapter 14: Sports Nutrition
(2 chapters on Quiz 7)
Chapter 8: Energy Balance and Body Composition
Chapter 9: Weight Management:
(2 chapters on Quiz 8)

Due: VFT 2/CNA2 and Discussion 2 (3 posts)
Quiz 6
Quiz 7 (2 chapters)
Quiz 8 (2 chapters)

Due Saturday: Quizzes 6-8, VFT2/CNA2, D2: Due by 11:55 pm, Sat, 1/14

Week Three Assignment Block 3

Ends Fri, 1/20

All quizzes, VFT3, CNA3 & D3 due 1/20, at 11:55 pm
Chapter10: The Water-Soluble Vitamins
Chapter 11: Fat-Soluble Vitamins
(2 chapters on Quiz 9)
Chapter 12: Water and Major Min
Chapter 13: The Trace Minerals
(2 chapters on Quiz 10)
Chapter 15: Lifecycle Nutrition: Pregnancy and Lactation

Due: VFT 3/CNA3 and Discussion 3 (3 posts)
Quiz 9 (2 chapters)
Quiz 10 (2 chapters)
Quiz 11

Due Saturday: Quizzes 9-11, VFT3/CNA3, D3: Due by 11:55 pm, Fri, 1/20
Begin 3 day food record by end of week and analyze for CNA4

Week Four

Assignment Block 4

See different due dates! 1/21-1/26

VFT4, CNA4 & D4 due Wednesday, 1/25 at 11:55 pm!

All quizzes due by 11:55 pm Thurs, 1/26!
Chapter 16: Lifecycle Nutrition: Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence
Chapter 17: Lifecycle Nutrition: Adulthood and the Later Years
Chapter 18: Diet and Health
Chapter 19: Consumer Concerns about Food and Water

Due: VFT 4/CNA4 and Discussion 4 (3 posts)
Quiz 12
Quiz 13
Quiz 14
Quiz 15

Note Due Dates!
VFT4/CNA4, D4: Due by 11:55 pm, Wednesday, 1/25
Quizzes 12-15: Due by 11:55 pm, Thursday, 1/26
Final Grades posted for review/confirmation (in Angel) Friday, 1/27

Grading Scale
Quizzes: 140 points (10 points each, 2 lowest scores dropped)
Discussion/Participation: 40 points (4 Discussion blocks, up to 10 points each)
Virtual Field Trips/Computer Nutrient Analysis (VFT/CNAs): 120 points (4 at 30 pts each)

Winter Session at West Valley

2011-12-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

West Valley:
NS15 Online. Class start January 3rd. There is no face-to-face orientation scheduled, however you must read the entire syllabus to better understand how to navigate in the class. In addition, there is an online orientation, posted on youtube, see below. All enrolled students must email between January 1st and January 3rd, within Angel, to confirm their spot in the class. Students who do not make contact with me during that time will be dropped from the class to make room for those wishing to add. In addition, please make sure that your email address is up-to-date with the college as I will email all students on my class roster the week of December 26th. Students who would like to add should also email me to request an add code. Adds will be completed, based on number of drops, but Tuesday, January 4th. My gmail address is nutritionrusso but emails to my West Valley address should redirect to the gmail account. Textbooks should be purchased at the bookstore as they have a discounted rate for Understanding Nutrition, 12th ed bundled with Diet Analysis Plus, both of which are required. Please see sidebar for Textbook information, or previous post. Information about Spring classes will be posted by mid-January.

West Valley Online Orientation
Orientation, Part 1, Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwk60s0LqJM
Orientation, Part 2, Quizzes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6xZyAVikUY&feature=related
Orientation, Part 3, Discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5C3HJLH700&feature=related
Orientation, Part 4, Assignments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKuS9VDddcI&feature=related
Orientation, Part 5, Communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH0B2zn1V6M&feature=related

Welcome to Week 1!

2011-08-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

All face-to-face classes have started and are FULL. Online classes will be evalutaed for students to drop by Tuesday night. Add codes, if available, will be issued to waitlisted students who request one FIRST and then to other students who email, if there is room.

Please note that the location of my face-to-face office hour on M from 11-12 has been changed to 404A at Cabrillo.

Eat well, play fit,
Denise

Orientation Date Change!

2011-08-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

Please note that the Cabrillo College Online Nutrition Class Orientation date has been changed. The orientation will take place on TUESDAY, 8/30 in room 454 from 6-9 pm (but we should be done by 7:30 or 8). The West Valley Online Nutrition Class Orientation is online at youtube. See links in an earlier post.
Eat well, play fit,
Denise

Textbook Update

2011-08-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Please make sure that you read the previous Fall, 2011 post for more information about Fall classes.
This is important information about the textbook. I have arranged with the bookstores (West Valley and Cabrillo) to offer the textbook, new, bundled with the REQUIRED Diet Analysis Plus at a discounted price, between $120-130. That is the price for both items. Please make sure, if shopping for lower cost items, that you take into account the fact that you need BOTH the Understanding Nutrition, 12th edition and Diet Analysis Plus 10.0. Bundled together, these will cost you between $120-$130 at the school bookstore. Separately, the best price I have seen for Diet Analysis Plus, purchased separately, is ~$35. So, if you are purchasing Understanding Nutrition for a reduced price, PLEASE factor in that you will need to spend the extra money on the Diet Analysis Plus application. I encourage you to use any source available to save money on the book. If the bookstores run out of the bundled option, please let me know and the publisher will provide us with an alternative method for purchasing the bundle at a reduced price.

Fall, 2011

2011-08-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

Update for Fall Classes, 2011
Cabrillo, CAHM 20: All classes begin on Mon, August 29th. Students enrolled in the online section must attend the mandatory orientation/first class meeting on 8/29 from 6-9 pm in room 450. Any student who cannot attend the orientation on 8/29 will need to email between 8/26 and 8/29 (before 5 pm) to prevent being dropped from the class and to make alternate arrangements. See Fall schedule for more information. All online students should log into class, via Blackboard, on August 29th. In addition, please make sure that your email address is up-to-date with the college as I will email all students on my class roster before August 26th.
Face-to-face students (MW mornings) need to attend class on August 29th to confirm class participation or will be dropped from the class to allow another student to add. Class meets in room 403.

West Valley:
NS15 Online (2 sections). Classes start August 29th. There is no face-to-face orientation scheduled, however you must read the entire syllabus to better understand how to navigate in the class. In addition, there is an online orientation, posted on youtube, see below. All enrolled students must email between 8/26 and 8/29, within Angel, to confirm their spot in the class. Students who do not make contact with me during that time will be dropped from the class to make room for those wishing to add. In addition, please make sure that your email address is up-to-date with the college as I will email all students on my class roster the weekend of August 26th. For information about the summer class, please see the main post.

West Valley Online Orientation
Orientation, Part 1, Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwk60s0LqJM
Orientation, Part 2, Quizzes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6xZyAVikUY&feature=related
Orientation, Part 3, Discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5C3HJLH700&feature=related
Orientation, Part 4, Assignments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKuS9VDddcI&feature=related
Orientation, Part 5, Communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH0B2zn1V6M&feature=related

Is Online Learning For YOU?

2011-06-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Created by Chabot College, this information applies to my course, and most online courses. Check it out before enrolling of confirming your attendance in an online course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF0LnA37fL0&feature=youtube_gdata

New Summer Section At West Valley

2011-05-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Important Information About Summer Semester Adds: West Valley College is adding another section of Human Nutrition, online, for the summer semester. The dates will be the same as the other course (see below). Students currently waitlisted in the original class will be transferred to the new section. This will make room in both sections for students to add to the waitlist. Once all enrolled students confirm their spot (which is done the week before school starts), I will drop any "no-shows" and begin adding from the waitlist first. It is important, if you are wanting to be added, that you email me the week before classes begin, as well to request one of the available spots. I also encourage you to check the schedule daily as between now and then, enrolled students will drop which will open up a spot on the waitlist. Please read this blog for further information about the course, textbooks, etc.

Below is a tentative schedule for the 4-week summer class:

Week 1: Chapters 1-5

Intro Quiz and Quizzes 1-5 (1 quiz per chapter, 10 multiple choice questions each)

Discussion Block postings: 2 postings, on separate days

Assignment: Complete a computer nutrient analysis of usual food intake, analyze it

with Diet Analysis Plus and answer questions on two topics with a focus

on making changes as identified by your analysis. Also, explore a topic

on an assigned website or find a scientific research article, and answer

assigned questions. (These are the weekly Computer Nutrient Analysis

(CNA) and Virtual Field Trip (VFT) assignments.

All submissions due by the following Monday

Week 2: Chapters 6-9, 14

Quizzes 6-8 (2 of the quizzes will cover 2 chapters, 10 multiple choice questions each)

Discussion Block postings: 2 postings, on separate days

Assignment: Using your previously completed nutrient analysis, answer questions on two topics with a focus on making changes as identified by your analysis. Also, explore a topic on an assigned website or find a scientific research article, and answer assigned questions. (These are the weekly Computer Nutrient Analysis (CNA) and Virtual Field Trip (VFT) assignments.

All submissions due by the following Sunday

Week 3: Chapters 10-13, 15

Quizzes 9-11 (2 of the quizzes will cover 2 chapters, 10 multiple choice questions each)

Discussion Block postings: 2 postings, on separate days

Assignment: Complete weekly CNA and VFT, as previously described.

All submissions due by the following Sunday

Week 4: Chapters 16-19

Quizzes 12-15 (1 quiz per chapter, 10 multiple choice questions each)

Discussion Block postings: 2 postings, on separate days

Assignment: Complete a new computer nutrient analysis of food intake, analyze it

with Diet Analysis Plus and complete a final CNA which will compare

the new analysis to the old analysis. Complete final VFT.

All submissions due by FRIDAY of the last week of class.

Above is a tentative schedule with minor changes possible. Read further on the blog about purchasing the textbook and Diet Analysis Plus. Remember, all students, enrolled, waitlisted and those just wanting to add should email me the week June 13th to either confirm enrollment or to request an add. Adds will be provided on June 21st, with all "no-show" students dropped at that time.

Summer School at West Valley Only. Summer and Fall Registration Happening Now!

2011-05-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

With all of the budget cuts, only West Valley is offering a summer nutrition class (online) and only one this year. Keep checking the wait list to see if room becomes available. If you are enrolled, you will need to email me the week before we start to confirm your plan to participate in class. Class starts June 20th and ends July 14th.

As of today, there is plenty of room in either of the West Valley Fall sections (but they do fill-up) and new student registration has begun. Registration at Cabrillo begins on May 11th with 2 face-to-face (F2F) sections and 1 online.

This blog provides basic information about books, schedule, registration, etc. Once school starts, check in our virtual classroom and also our Facebook page for quick updates.

Eat well, play fit!

Denise C. Russo, MS RD CDE

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nutrition-with-Denise-Calafato-Russo-MS-RD-CDE/209236099092535?sk=wall

Update

2011-02-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

West Valley classes are full with a full list of students still requesting to be added.

Cabrillo starts on Monday. Face-to-face students must attend the first day of class to avoid being counted as a no-show and dropped from class. Online students have an orientation at 6:30 pm on Monday night in room 450. If you do not attend orientation and have not emailed me to make other arrangements prior to the orientation, you will be counted as a no-show. I am obligated to drop all no-shows. If there is room, waitlisted students will be added. Once all students are added from the waitlist, I will add other students on a space available basis. If you have any questions, you may use either college email to contact me.

Eat well, play fit,
Denise C. Russo, MS RD CDE

2011-01-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

Update: West Valley and Cabrillo students are getting ready to return to school. Welcome Back! Please see notes in my post below regarding confirming enrollment or adding (waitlisted or not), particularly for online classes. All students trying to add the face-to-face classes at Cabrillo must attend the class into which they hope to be added. Please note that my West Valley email is not functioning. Email can be sent to me using this same nutritionrusso address at gmail.com. In an effort to prevent spam, I am not typing the full email address here. If you have sent me email via West Valley (or Cabrillo) and have not received a reply within 24 hours, please try the gmail address.
Eat well, play fit,
Denise

Here is a link to the orientation video for West Valley users. Cabrillo students have a face-to-face orientation on February 7th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwk60s0LqJM

2011-01-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

Countdown To Start of School on 1/31 (West Valley) or 2/7 (Cabrillo)!

This post provides information to both online and face-to-face students regarding class placement. If you are enrolled, wait-listed or trying to add, you should read the information that pertains to you. Students will be dropped to accommodate the students on the full waitlist and/or other students trying to add.

Important Information for Online Learners:
Cabrillo College Students: A face-to-face orientation is scheduled for Monday, 2/7, 6-9 pm in room 450. If you are enrolled and unable to attend this orientation, you must email me, within Blackboard, before 5 pm on 2/7, or you will be dropped from the class and a student added into your spot. If you are trying to add this course, please attend the orientation. If you are waitlisted or trying to add, please plan on attending orientation as if I have any room to add, I will add those in attendance first. You should also email to me a request to be added.

West Valley Students have a virtual orientation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZwBNQVMdY. All enrolled students must confirm their intent to participate in class, via email, by Monday, January 31st at 5 pm or they will be dropped from the course to make room for a wait listed student. Waitlisted and other students hoping to add should send me an email by Monday, 1/31. Once I determine which students need to be dropped, I will provide add-codes as space allows.

Enrolled and wait-listed online students will receive an email from me with further instructions during the week before school starts. If you do not receive this email by the Sunday before your class starts, please send one to me using the appropriate school directory to locate my email address. Make sure you include a subject or you will most likely end up in junk mail.

Face-to-face (lecture) students must attend the first day of class to avoid being dropped. Space in ALL classes is very competitive and any student (online or face-t0-face) will lose their spot in class if they do not attend the first day of class. If you are on the waitlist or trying to add, you must still attend the first day of class. Add codes will not be given until the 2nd week of school.

Please note that all students will be given directions on how to use an application called Diet Analysis Plus, however you may opt for using free apps at fitday.com and mypyramid.gov. This will require a bit more work on your part, but will save you the cost of the Diet Analysis application. I look forward to meeting all of you on Monday, either face-t0-face, or virtually.

Please explore this blog for more information regarding textbooks, class log-in, etc.

Eat well, stay fit, Denise

2010-08-27T12:51:00.001-07:00

August 27th! Countdown To Start of School on 8/30!

IMPORTANT: Orientation for online learners at Cabrillo College will start at 7 pm! The date and room have not been changed. (Monday, room 450)
West Valley students have a virtual orientation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZwBNQVMdY

For the Fall semester, 2010, I will be teaching 3 classes each at West Valley and Cabrillo College. Two of my Cabrillo classes are face-to-face and we will go over all necessary information during our first class meeting. To avoid being dropped as a "no-show" in a face-to-face class, attendance is required.
For all online students enrolled in a class, please send an email on Monday, within your schools online class platform (Angel for West Valley, Blackboard for Cabrillo) to avoid being dropped. You should have received an email from me with further instructions. If you have not received this email, please send one to me using the school directory to locate my email address.
Please explore this blog for more information regarding textbooks, class log-in, etc. Please note that all students will be given directions on how to use an application called Diet Analysis Plus, however you may opt for using free apps at fitday.com and mypyramid.gov. This will require a bit more work on your part, but will save you the cost of the Diet Analysis application. I look forward to meeting all of you on Monday, either face-t0-face, or virtually.

Eat well, stay fit, Denise

2010-07-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

July 19th, 2010
I am on summer vacation! I hope this blog will help you find some useful information. I will be updating it during mid-August, the week before classes begin. At that time, you will also receive an email from me about confirming your planned attendance if enrolled, or how to add if not on the waitlist.
On this site, you will find information about the textbook and also the course management systems used at each of the colleges at which I teach. In addition, please note that for online classes, all of our class meetings are done virtually. I do hold an orientation at Cabrillo but no other class meetings are held for online classes. Students who are hoping to add into an online class will need to email me on the first Monday of the semester, but it will take several days before I know if I can add you. Students hoping to add a face-to-face campus class MUST attend the first day of class. In all classes, I will add from the waitlist first and then, if there is room, I will add other students. If you have further questions, please send me an email with "need reply" in the subject line. However, I will be checking email infrequently during this upcoming month.
In the meantime, eat well, stay fit!
Denise C. Russo, MS RD CDE

2010-05-26T00:35:00.000-07:00

Summer and Fall, 2010
This summer, I will only be teaching one section of Nutrition and that is at West Valley (NS15). Something about a state budget and not being able to offer as many sections as were offered in the past, I hear.
All enrolled students will have access to Angel on the day that school starts, June 21st. I, unfortunately, have jury duty that day so will not be logging into class until early evening. If you are enrolled, you must email me within our class (in Angel) to confirm your spot in the class on Monday the 21st by 5 pm. Otherwise, I will give you spot to a waitlisted student. We have just as many students waitlisted as are enrolled. Since the course is only 4 weeks long, I must give your spot away after the first day if I have not received confirmation from you.
Waitlisted and other students hoping to add will need to email me on Tuesday morning to see if there is room. If I am still on Jury Duty, I will respond Tuesday evening, but my hope is to respond during the morning or afternoon.
Information about textbooks (same as last semester) and logging into Angel can be found on this page by scrolling down to the previous post and looking at the sidebar to the right.
This blog will be updated in August with information about the Fall semester.
Eat well, stay fit,
Denise

Textbook for Spring, 2010

2010-01-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

Online Learners will need the text book AND Diet Analysis Plus 9.0 access code. There is a free diet analysis program online but it is tedious, doesn't have all of the info (you will have to calculate) and requires that you enter your data at two sites. If you are going to choose that option (saves money), please use the ISBN code for the Face-to-Face class.

Bundled: Understanding Nutrition 12th ed AND Diet Analysis Plus:
ISBN-10: 1-111-114110 ISBN-13: 978-1-111-11411-4

Face-to-Face learners (MW and Hybrid):
Understanding Nutrition: Stand-alone:
ISBN-10: 0-538-73465-5 ISBN-13: 978-0-538-73465-3

Diet Analysis Plus 9.0 access code: stand alone (for those using an older or used text book. Word of caution...the 11th edition will work for the Face-to-Face class but may be missing information for the hybride and online learners).
ISBN-10:0-495-38788-6 ISBN-13:978-0-495-38788-6

Books can be purchased in the bookstore or online from the publisher at:
http://www.cengagebrain.com/tl1/en/US/storefront/ichapters?cmd=catProductDetail&ISBN=9780538734653&cid=APL1

In addition, the publisher now RENTS the textbook as will the Cabrillo College Bookstore. Rentals from the textbook company always include a new textbook and can be done from the website above. If you are on a budget and usually sell books back, this is an excellent option.

Classes are all currently full. Please keep trying to register as students will drop from enrolled sections up to the start of school and I will add from the waitlist first. If you do not get a spot, you will need to email me on the first day of school to see if I have room.

Spring 2010 Registration

2009-11-28T22:21:00.000-08:00

Registration for all sections of Nutrition which I teach (at both Cabrillo College and West Valley College) begins soon. The online sections fill very quickly and will be even further impacted this semester with the loss of a section (budget cuts) at West Valley. If you cannot get registered in a section you prefer, please keep checking back as plans of other students do change. Approximately two weeks before school starts, I will update this blog with information regarding orientations or emailing class participation confirmation (online learners). All registered students will need to email me the week before school starts to confirm their planned participation or, once the first day of classes begins, I will have to count them as a no-show and will be required to drop them from the class. Please feel free to email me if you have further questions and note "Still Need Help" in the subject line so that I know you have checked the blog without finding the answer you need here.
Eat well, stay fit!
Denise C. Russo, MS RD CDE

Fall 2009

2009-08-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

Fall 2009 classes will be beginning 8/31 at both Cabrillo College and West Valley college. All classes are currently full. However, I am often able to add students to many of my sections. It is imperative that you attend school the first day of class to prevent being dropped. For online learners, please note the deadline to email me by and/or your orientation date in order to maintain your spot in the class (see sidebar). With the state budget being what it is, it's important to make sure we enroll the maximum number of students to prevent class cancellations. And, according to law, we must drop all students who are a "no-show" for class. This allows us to add a student in their place. I hope you are enjoying your last bit of time off from school. I have been hard at work the past few weeks, adding content to online classes and updating nutrition information. You will find information in the sidebars regarding orientations (for Cabrillo) and textbook requirements. For all online learners, you must confirm your planned attendance on the first day of school, within our course management system (Blackboard for Cabrillo, Angel for West Valley) or you risk being dropped from the class. Directions for logging in are found in the sidebar. You may not be able to log in until 8/31 and course content (syllabus, etc) will be posted that day.
I look forward to meeting all of you in this fall semester.

Summer 2009

2009-05-31T23:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings Students and Potential Students,
As of 5/31, both online sections of NS 15, Nutrition, at West Valley are full with full waitlists. A 3rd section will be added so please try to register if you have not done so since 6/1. If you do not get enrolled in any of the sections, and are interested in being added, please email me between June 13-15th.
Please, all enrolled students MUST email me within our class in Angel, to confirm planned participation no later than 6 pm June 15th. At this time, I will know how many students I will be able to add. In formation regarding textbook may be found in the sidebar. I HIGHLY recommend you obtain the book and access to Diet Analysis Plus ASAP. In a 4 week class which is almost entirely textbook dependent, you cannot afford to miss a day of reading. Plan to read 5 chapters/week. You will be spending many hours with your nutrition book. :) I will have limited access to email until after June 10th, so please be patient while waiting for a reply. I will update this blog for all Fall semester students after August 12th. However, we will be using the same textbook and Diet Analysis Plus.
Eat well, stay fit,
Denise C. Russo, MS RD CDE

Classes Beginning Soon

2009-01-26T12:09:00.000-08:00

Spring 2009 classes will be beginning soon. All classes are currently full. However, I am often able to add students to many of my sections. It is imperative that you attend school the first day of class to prevent being dropped. For online learners, please note the deadline to email me by and/or your orientation date in order to maintain your spot in the class (see sidebar). With the state budget being what it is, it's important to make sure we enroll the maximum number of students to prevent class cancellations. And, according to law, we must drop all students who are a "no-show" for class. This allows us to add a student in their place. I hope you are enjoying your last bit of time off from school. I have been hard at work the past few weeks, adding content to online classes and updating nutrition information. I look forward to meeting all of you in this spring semester.

Spring 2009 Registration

2008-12-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

Registration for classes at both West Valley and Cabrillo will begin shortly. Nutrition classes at both campuses are introductory classes and fulfill the requirement for nursing school, general education, dental hygiene and nutrition programs along with meeting other pre-requisite requirements (program dependent). The first part of the course will focus on the science of nutrition, including chemistry, biochemistry and physiology. With that as our foundation, we will then explore nutrition in health, sport and across the lifecycle. Please keep in mind that nutrition is a science and you will learn much more than just how to make healthful nutrition choices.

Historically, nutrition classes fill quickly, particularly those offered in the online or hybrid format. Some students will be wait-listed. During the first night of class, wait-listed students will be given the first opportunity to add into any empty seats. As student plans change between now and start of term, if you are not able to enroll or get onto the waitlist, check frequently as a seat may open up. Once classes begin in February, if you are interested in adding, you can email me to check for availability or, at Cabrillo, you should attend the orientation. Please read all of the information in the sidebar regarding orientation, confirming planned attendance, etc.

Eat well and stay fit!

Password Difficulty with Blackboard

2008-10-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are having difficulty signing in to Blackboard, it is due to some of your passwords being reset during an update. I cannot reset your password, but you can. Please look underneath the log-in box for a link to allow you to do so. If that fails, then contact the Help Desk for a reset. In the meantime, the quiz which was due last night (10/19) has been extended to 10/21.
Eat well, stay fit!

Correction

2008-09-07T22:47:00.000-07:00

The orientation on Monday night is in room 405, not 435. Thank you. I will also consider adds at that time, but if all enrolled students attend, both classes will be full.

Fall Update

2008-08-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome back (almost)! There is definitely the feel of "School's Back" in the air. Online classes are currently full, with closed waitlists. All enrolled students must email me to confirm their planned attendance in the class before 9/4, or I will have to drop you to allow other students to add. The West Valley orientation is cancelled, pending re-scheduling for the following week. However, students who have not started participating in the class (in either Angel for West Valley or Blackboard for Cabrillo) before 9/4 will be dropped on 9/4. Ihave many eager students already wanting to add into your spots:). I will be contacting all enrolled students prior to school starting, using the email address you have on record with the college. If that is not up-to-date, you will not receive important messages from me. Once school begins on 9/2, all enrolled students should communicate with me within our virtual classroom. I look forward to meeting all of you very soon. Enjoy your last week off from school!
Denise

2008-07-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

July 14th, 2008
Fall Semester:

Fall classes for the 2008 semester are filling up, particularly the online sections. The same process from summer (please read below) applies to orientation for the online and the hybrid (Cabrillo) course. Students who do not attend orientation and who have not confirmed their spot in class will be dropped to make room for the students who are trying to add. Please note the mandatory orientation dates. Also, note that, for Cabrillo College, one course is an online course and the other course, which presents like a night course, is actually a "hybrid" and meets every-other week in the classroom, with the remainder of the work conducted in the virtual classroom. This format should meet the need of those students who are either new to the online format or not organized enough to meet pre-set due dates without some sort of face-to-face reminder/check-in. It should meet the need of students who prefer or require online classes but comment "that I should have taken this course in a classroom because I had so many questions I wanted answered."
Fall Orientation for Online/Hybrid Classes at Cabrillo is on Monday, September 8th at 6pm in room 435. Coursework will begin the week before the orientation so you must email me and log into class by September 2nd.
Orientation for West Valley is on Thursday, September 4th at 4 or 5:30 pm, in room PE5. You can begin coursework on Tuesday, September 2nd.

In regards to the textbook, please see the sidebar for requirements. If you order early enough, you can find it online for a reduced cost but, particularly in the online class, you will need to have the book by the beginning of class. Also, several students during the summer had difficulty with the Diet Analysis Plus CD, so I highly recommend purchasing the Internet Passcode.
If you have further questions, please do email me at the posted email addresses and I will respond from my personal gmail account.

Update: June 1st, 2008

2008-06-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

Summer, 2008:
Summer classes will be starting the week of June 16th. All sections are currently full (at both West Valley and Cabrillo College). Students planning to participate in the class must attend the mandatory orientation at their respective colleges and should also email me prior to that time. I will have to drop students who have not communicated with me by the orientation in order to make room for students who are attempting to add. Students who are hoping to add the class (including those on the waitlist) must also attend the orientation. All adds must be processed by Wed, June 18th, given the short nature of this course (4 weeks).

Please see information about orientation and textbook, etc in the side bar. You will be able to email me within the virtual classroom as soon as that becomes available to you (June 16th, but possibly earlier). Otherwise, email me via my college email address. Once classes start, all email should be conducted via the virtual classroom.

Summer Orientation for Online Classes
Orientation for Cabrillo is on June 16th (Monday) at 6pm in room 435.
Orientation for West Valley is on June 17th (Tuesday) at 4 or 5:30 pm, in room PE5

If you are enrolled in the class but did not email me prior to the orientation and did not attend the orientation, you have most likely been dropped to allow a student present at orientation to add.

Eat well, stay fit,
Denise

Status Report

2008-02-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Students and Prospective Students,
My West Valley College classes are full. My Cabrillo classes are also currently full, but I am usually able to add some students, particularly into my lecture classes. If you are interested in adding a lecture section, please come to the first day of class. If you are interested in adding the online course at Cabrillo, please attend the mandatory orientation on Monday night (info in sidebar). I will drop all students who do not attend that orientation (unless other arrangements have been made) and will then add, from the wait list first, until all spots are full. If, at that time, there are any openings, I will add any remaining students that I can using a random process (ie: drawing names from a hat). If you are unable to add into an online course, I believe both campuses will be offering an online class over the summer.
Eat well, stay fit and keep learning.
Denise Calafato Russo, MS RD CDE

Spring 2008-Status Report as of early January

2008-01-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all. Both colleges that I teach at (Cabrillo and West Valley) are currently enrolling students. Of the 5 sections of Introductory Nutrition that I teach, 3 are full and wait-listed and 2 have openings. I have many openings in Section #62023 at West Valley, which is an online course. West Valley classes begin January 28th. I have 2 openings in my F2F 8 am class at Cabrillo College. Cabrillo classes begin Febuary 11th. Please see side-bar for information re: mandatory orientations (at both schools), texts, etc. Online students will be able to log into our virtual classroom on the first day of school.
For those of you taking winter session off, enjoy the rest of your break!
Denise Calafato Russo, MS RD CDE

Update West Valley: 8/26/2007

2007-08-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

A new section of classes was added for the 32 students on the waitlist. That class, however, does not yet have an Angel classroom created for it. Please keep checking into Angel for when your class opens and then email me there. I am hopeful it will be up and running by Monday afternoon. I should be able to add students into some of these online sections (at West Valley) so please send me an email with your student id and full name, if that is your intent.

On-Line Classes

2007-08-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Cabrillo Students: The online Fall nutrition course begins September 4th. Please attend the mandatory orientation at 7 pm on Thursday, September 6th, in room 425. Students who do not attend the orientation, without making prior arrangements, will be dropped from this class. Once school starts (September 4th), you can email me from within Web-CT (see side-bar for link).

West Valley Students: There is currently no orientation scheduled. You must ALL email me on August 27th to confirm your participation in the class or you risk being dropped from the course. You can email me within Angel Learning (check side-bar for link).

Please, all students in the online course, communicate with me via the email in our virtual classroom (WebCT for Cabrillo or Angel for West Valley) once the semester has begun.

IMPORTANT!!!! All online students must make contact with me the first day of class or you risk being dropped. The online classes are full, with long wait-lists and I must drop "no-shows" to make room for students who will be participating.

Thank you:)

2007-08-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Nutrition with Denise Russo, MS RD CDE

This blog is designed to answer questions you might have about the various classes that I teach.

For the Fall, 2007 semester, I will be teaching the following:
Cabrillo College: CAHM 20-Nutrition: F2F (face-t0-face/traditional lecture) and on-line;
West Valley College: NS15-Nutrition: on-line, only.

All sections are an introductory nutrition class which explores the science of nutrition and how that applies to our every day lives. You can find information about required texts, office hours, suggested nutrition links and also, a littlet bit about me, along with how to contact me.
I hope this site will answer most of your questions. If you have other questions, you can email me, as well.

Nutrition with Denise Russo, MS RD CDE

2007-08-01T13:05:00.001-07:00