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Hello Rocklin Academy Families,

My name is Nicole Moraru and I am thrilled to be back on the 4th grade team for my third consecutive year. Incredibly, this will be my twelfth year teaching at Gateway! Before moving to upper elementary, the majority of my career was spent teaching 1st and 2nd grade. I grew up in Sacramento before attending UC Santa Cruz, where I earned my undergraduate degree in Anthropology. I stayed at UCSC to complete my Master’s in Education and teaching credential in 2006. Since then, my own learning journey has never stopped, as I constantly strive to stay up to date on the latest research and best educational practices.

I have been lucky to call several places 'home' over the years, including Santa Cruz, Portland, and now Rocklin. I have two amazing daughters who attended Gateway from Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade. Both are now at Whitney High School, making this my very first year without them here at Gateway with me! In my spare time, I love being out in nature and attending live music concerts. Perhaps my biggest passion is practicing yoga, which provides me with peace and balance every time I step onto my mat.

As a teacher, I take great joy in watching my students learn and grow. I strive to build a fun, safe, and welcoming classroom community where students feel empowered to reach their full potential. While fourth grade brings a new level of rigor, my goal is to equip each student to meet that challenge with confidence. Throughout the year, we will focus on building crucial skills such as effective note-taking, strong organizational habits, careful reading for details, and writing with precision.

I am looking forward to meeting my new students and working closely with parents, staff and my 4th grade cohorts. Here’s to an amazing school year!