Announcing 2018 Civic Learning Award Recipients – Year 2018 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that 74 schools won this year’s Civic Learning Awards, which celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Now in its sixth year, the awards program is co-sponsored by Torlakson and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.

“These schools provide great examples of how to creatively and effectively teach civics to our students,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. “Civics is a critical component of our education system. It helps prepare our students for college, and also to be active participants in civic life, which is critical to maintaining a vibrant democracy.”

“It is inspiring to see so many schools developing the next generation of leaders through civic education,” said Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. “In the end, civics education promotes civic engagement.”

Source: Announcing 2018 Civic Learning Award Recipients – Year 2018 (CA Dept of Education)

Solano Community Foundation announces its accepting scholarship applications – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Attention Vacaville and Fairfield high school seniors: Scholarship season has begun.

Solano Community Foundation earlier this week announced the opening of the 2018 application cycle for its college scholarship program.

Beginning Monday, applications will be accepted for 10 scholarships from the Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson Vacaville Endowment Fund to graduating seniors at Vacaville, Wood and Buckingham Charter high schools.

Available to qualified applicants are seven four-year Nelson scholarships at $14,000 each ($3,500 each academic year); two one-year scholarships at $2,500 each; and one one-year scholarship for $5,000.

This year, applicants must apply directly to the foundation, using the forms downloaded from the Fairfield-based nonprofit’s website, www.solanocf.org. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.

Source: Solano Community Foundation announces its accepting scholarship applications

Brandman to host Solano education job fair – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Brandman University will hosting the 4th Annual Educational Job Fair from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at 4820 Business Center Drive.

The university will be partnering with local school districts to connect potential job seekers with job openings. Bring a resume, dress for success and be ready to interview.

Source: Brandman to host Solano education job fair

California Ranks 5th in Advanced Placement® Exam – Year 2018 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that for the third year in a row, California students placed fifth in the nation in the percentage of high school graduates who earned a score of three or more on an end-of-course Advanced Placement ® (AP) exam, which earns them college credit.

In 2017, 30.3 percent of California graduates scored at least a 3 out of 5 on an AP exam during high school, compared to 28.5 percent in 2016. Nationally, the average in 2017 was 22.8 percent. In the last five years, the percentage of California students demonstrating success on AP exams has increased by more than 7.5 percentage points.

“Our students have once again made California a national leader in passing rigorous Advanced Placement exams, reflecting progress our state has made in our mission of preparing students for college and careers,” Torlakson said. “These results show how hard our educators, parents, and students are working on key elements of academic success—providing access to rigorous courses, challenging students to take these courses, and providing students the help they need to succeed.”

Success in AP courses is one measure of pupil achievement, which is one of eight state priorities contained in the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), a policy that guides development of each district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

Source: California Ranks 5th in Advanced Placement® Exam – Year 2018 (CA Dept of Education)

Eighth-grade orientation night set for Vaca High – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Still, students may struggle for several reasons, among them physical and emotional changes, going from a familiar to an unfamiliar environment, and lack of positive intervention supports.

To ease such challenges, Vacaville High School leaders have set March 7 as 8th Grade Parent Orientation Night at the 100 W. Monte Vista Ave. campus.

Held every year, the one-hour event, a way to showcase all that the school has to offer incoming students, begins at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium.

“At Vaca High, we wish to expose our students to endless possibilities and challenge them to find out who they are in a safe educational environment during their next four years as Bulldogs,” Jennifer Leonard, the district’s public information officer, wrote in a press release.

Source: Eighth-grade orientation night set for Vaca High

Fairfield-Suisun USD leaders discuss safe school plans – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A public hearing about the district’s comprehensive safe school plans and its likely approval, a resolution to support a $3 billion disbursement from state school bond funds, and an update about Early College High School are on the agenda when Fairfield-Suisun Unified leaders meet tonight in Fairfield.

Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent of educational services, will lead the public hearing about the safe school plans for the district, Solano County’s largest with more than 21,500 students.

Afterward, the seven-member governing board will vote to approve or disapprove the plans for the district’s 30 campuses.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District leaders discuss safe school plans

Fairfield forum set for Early Start, Early Care – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Solano County Office of Education will host the annual Update on California Early Start and Early Care and Education Services for families, community members, service providers and early childhood practitioners Thursday.

The Office of Education announced the forum, which will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 5100 Business Center Drive in Fairfield, on Wednesday.

Source: Fairfield forum set for Early Start, Early Care

Solano foundation announces college scholarships – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The application cycle for 18 college scholarships through the Solano Community Foundation opens Monday.

Scholarships are awarded from the Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson Vacaville Endowment Fund to graduating seniors at Vacaville High School, Will C. Wood High School and Buckingham Charter Magnet High School.

There are seven at $14,000 ($3,500 each academic year); two one-year scholarships at $2,500; and one one-year scholarship for $5,000.

Source: Solano foundation announces college scholarships

Google it: Armijo High students experience augmented reality – Daily Republic

By Bill Hicks

High school students staring off into space is nothing new. But hundreds of students over the past two days at Armijo High School experienced that sensation in a different way.

With the assistance from a Google contractor, nearly 700 Armijo High students got to experience a range of different augmented reality and virtual reality applications designed to help enhance education.

Librarian Denise Monegato helped bring the Google program to campus, hoping it would plant the seeds for students and teachers to think about ways emerging technologies can benefit the educational experience.

“I wanted to promote this as a tool students and teachers could use in the classroom,” Monegato said. “You can do so much with this technology: You can look at sharks from underwater, you can visit the Roman Colosseum, you can visit Westminster Abbey.”

Source: Google it: Armijo High students experience augmented reality

How To Talk With Kids About Terrible Things | MindShift

By Cory Turner

For the more than 3,000 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Wednesday’s mass shooting was terrifying and life-changing. But what of the tens of millions of other children, in schools across the country, who have since heard about what happened and now struggle with their own feelings of fear, confusion and uncertainty?

For their parents and teachers, we’ve put together a quick primer with help from the National Association of School Psychologists and Melissa Reeves, a former NASP president and co-author of its PREPaRE School Crisis Prevention and Intervention curriculum.

Tune in

First, pay attention. Not just to what kids say, but what they do.

“Watch for clues that [children] may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work,” NASP recommends. “Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet.”

Source: How To Talk With Kids About Terrible Things | MindShift | KQED News

Benicia Middle School campus modernization dominates school board meeting Thursday – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

One of the largest remaining items to be funded by Measure S is new construction at BMS to give the school more of a 21st century look. Lee Pollard of HY Architects had presented plans for the redesign in 2017, which included new modular classrooms, a modernized courtyard and a new kitchen and drama room. Pollard said a meeting with staff was held on Jan. 9, which led to some changes in the draft design. Drama teacher Cathy Wright told Pollard she did not like the idea of having the new drama classroom near the basketball courts because of the noise. It was decided that the classroom would be taking over two classroom spaces near the library. The spaces would be converted into a black box theater with space for performance and seating. Pollard said the area would need soundproofing next to adjacent classrooms and additional windows.

Pollard said Wright had also told him that her students rehearsed in groups and did not have enough space, so she requested outdoor practice space. She also suggested a path at the front of the campus for parents to attend performances after school hours.“This gives us an opportunity to bring the parents in and have them go straight into a drama classroom for a performance without them having to wander all the way through the school,” Pollard said.

According to Pollard, Wright’s suggestions would cost about half of what was initially proposed for a new drama classroom. With the loss of an extra teaching space, however, three modular classrooms would be added to the northwest corner instead of the initial plan of two.Pollard also went into further detail on proposed changes to the interiors of the buildings, including upgrades to the library.

Source: Benicia Middle School campus modernization dominates school board meeting Thursday

Group paints mural dedicated to teacher at Markham Elementary School – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

It is the art of a memory. It holds a mirror to a life that says, “You mattered.” The imagery and portraiture also say, “You were loved and will be remembered.”

A group of friends and relatives of the late Anne Starr, a beloved former teacher at Markham Elementary in Vacaville, have come together to design and paint a large mural dedicated to her life and legacy.

The painting crew, busy last week brushing pigment onto an 8-by-21-foot work in progress at the Markham Avenue campus, included Starr’s daughter, Scout Urling of Bellingham, Wash., her close friend, Helen Anderson of Petaluma, and Malaquias Montoya of Elmira, a professor of Chicano art at the University of California, Davis, and a nationally known artist whose work has been acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Source: Group paints mural dedicated to teacher at Markham Elementary School

Solano Community College trustees to consider $1.6M wage-and-benefit package – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A two-year wage-and-benefit agreement with instructors and a resolution declaring March as Women’s History Month are on the agenda when Solano Community College leaders meet tonight in Fairfield.

The seven-member governing board likely will approve a $1.6 million agreement, retroactive to July 1 and in effect until June 30, 2019, with the faculty chapter represented by the Community College Association/California Teachers Association and the National Education Association.

According to agenda documents, it amounts to a 4 percent wage hike for full-time and adjunct instructors and counselors as part of a restructured salary schedule.

Additionally, the contract calls for “language” to address online classes and faculty in “coordinator positions” (the latter not defined); and the right of adjunct faculty to interview for a full-time position.

The agreement’s cost to the college does not include health and welfare benefits.

Source: Solano Community College trustees to consider $1.6M wage-and-benefit package

Vacaville USD leaders air thoughts, feelings about Florida school shooting – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Human trafficking prevention, the possible funding of teacher effectiveness programs at two charter schools, and a report about Cooper Elementary were on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders met Thursday night in Vacaville.

But what was on many people’s minds, including the trustees, district staff and the general public during the governing board meeting were the Feb. 14 murders of 17 students and staff members by a deeply troubled former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., the nearly 20th U.S. school shooting since Jan. 1.

In her routine remarks at the meeting’s outset, Superintendent Jane Shamieh said “student safety and security” are “foremost” in the minds of district educators at all times.

Source: Vacaville Unified School District leaders air thoughts, feelings about Florida school shooting

Parent info meetings set for Early College High School program – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

It is, perhaps, one of the best college tuition deals in the nation and it is available to Vacaville high school students.

Parent informational meetings about Vacaville Early College High School, or VECHS for short, are set for 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Vaca Pena Middle School, at 200 Keith Way; and at 6 p.m. March 6 at Jepson Middle School, 580 Elder St.

Each presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. For more information about VECHS and the enrollment process, visit https://vechs-vusd-ca.schoolloop.com.

Vacaville Unified officials are accepting applications for the 2018-19 academic year, with an application deadline of March 29.

Applications also may be picked up at the Vaca Pena or Jepson counseling offices or at the district’s Educational Services Center, 401 Nut Tree Road.

Source: Parent info meetings set for Early College High School program

Vacaville USD officials discuss human trafficking prevention – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Reporter headlines attest to the fact that awareness of human trafficking is on the rise and it is a local, national and global problem in need of a solution sooner rather than later.

Consider that a multi-agency human trafficking operation in late January in Fairfield yielded four arrests; Reporter columnists last month wrote about American Indian women and girls and foster children as being high risks for trafficking; a Sacramento man in mid-January was sentenced in Solano County Superior Court to three years in state prison for being involved in a human trafficking operation; and a Fairfield man suspected of trafficking a 16-year-old girl was arraigned Jan. 11 in Solano County Superior Court. All of these Reporter stories and opinion pieces were written during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

So, in some ways, it was no surprise during Thursday’s Vacaville Unified governing board meeting when Kim Forrest, assistant superintendent of student services, and Ramiro Barron, director of student attendance and welfare, discussed Assembly Bill 1227, the Human Trafficking Prevention, Education, and Training Act, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall.

Source: Vacaville Unified School District officials discuss human trafficking prevention

Foundation accepts applications for Solano education, other grants – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Applications for The Education Plus! grant program are available to K-12 teachers in public schools in Solano County.

The education grants, and three other programs for which applications are now being taken, are awarded through the Solano Community Foundation.

“The objective of the programs to be funded should be to achieve grade-level reading or math skills. Reading programs that concentrate on the early grades are favored, as are math programs for eighth-graders. However, programs that work toward skills improvement at any grade are eligible,” the foundation said in a statement.

Source: Foundation accepts applications for Solano education, other grants

Labor contracts, library project go to Solano College board – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Solano Community College board will consider contracts with various labor unions and will conduct a public hearing on the Library/Learning Resource Center Project when it meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The public hearing is on whether to approve a mitigated negative declaration as the environmental review for the replacement of Building 100 for the library project. The 2016-17 financial audit report is also on the agenda.

The public session follows a closed session at 6:30 p.m.

Source: Labor contracts, library project go to Solano College board

California’s largest districts address chronic absenteeism with focus on why students miss school | EdSource

By Nico Savidge

As the school day ends at Peyton Elementary School in Stockton, Christina Del Prato calls a mother whose daughter was absent 62 times last year. The girl has missed 21 days through the first half of this year, including the past two days.

Del Prato, an attendance case manager, is a key player in an effort being waged across the state to focus not just on students with unexcused absences but on those who are chronically absent, meaning they have missed at least 10 percent of school days for any reason.

California collected and released data on chronic absenteeism from schools for the first time last year as part of its new accountability system. A school’s chronic absenteeism rate could be included as soon as this fall on the districts’ dashboard, which shows how students are doing on multiple measures.

Source: California’s largest districts address chronic absenteeism with focus on why students miss school | EdSource

2018 CA Distinguished Schools Program – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

I am pleased to announce the 2018 California Distinguished Schools Program. This is one of the many ways that the California Department of Education (CDE) and I celebrate outstanding educational programs and practices through our California School Recognition Program which honors exemplary students, teachers, classified employees, and schools for advancing excellence in education. After a three-year break, the California Distinguished Schools Program is back and replaces the California Gold Ribbon Schools Program.

Sponsored by California Casualty, the 2018 California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes California elementary schools that have made exceptional gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education for all students. By using California’s multiple measures accountability system, the CDE has identified eligible schools based on their performance and progress on the state indicators as described on the California School Dashboard (Dashboard). You can access the California School Dashboard Report on the CDE’s California School Dashboard Web page at https://www.caschooldashboard.org.

Source: 2018 CA Distinguished Schools Program – Letters (CA Dept of Education)