Whole Child Resources – Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education)

Select a link to display the Whole Child resources for that subject or select the Expand All link to display all the resources. To effectively address the needs of the whole child, schools should collaborate with families, caretakers, and community agencies to deliver integrated services that promote improved access to health and learning supports, high expectations, and a positive school climate – all of which are necessary for students to thrive in the twenty-first century.

Source: Whole Child Resources – Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education)

Benicia teen becomes coffee entrepreneur – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

At 16, Reid Burford is about the age where one might expect to find him working as a coffee shop barista, but that is not the case. Instead, the Benicia High School junior roasts and distributes his own coffee as part of his business Howling Hounds Coffee Roasters. What’s more: he has been doing it since he was 14.

Burford has been a coffee enthusiast since he had his first cup of joe at the age of 12. This interest was magnified as a result of going to coffee shops over the years.

“I was very interested in the process of roasting coffee and brewing it,” he said. “I saw these big, fancy, shiny espresso machines at the coffee shops, and I always found it interesting to watch the baristas prepare the coffee.”

Source: Benicia teen becomes coffee entrepreneur

Solano Community College to screen documentary “And Then They Came for Us” – The Reporter

Solano Community College will celebrate the ratification of the United States Constitution, which established governmental and fundamental laws and guaranteed basic rights for American citizens, by screening the documentary “And Then They Came For Us” from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 in the SCC theatre, 4000 Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield.

Featuring George Takei, “And Then They Came For Us” delves into President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 and the impact of unconstitutionally incarcerating Japanese Americans — many of whom were American citizens — during WWII.

As the United States government misled its citizens about the threat of espionage, the film documents the damage to 120,000 people through photos taken by Dorthea Lange and other photographers during the 1940s.

Source: Solano Community College to screen documentary

Candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Public Policy Institute of California

By Mary Severance

In November, Californians will elect a new superintendent of public education. Education is by far the largest state spending area, and California’s public K–12 system—which educates more than 6 million children—is critical to the state’s future. What are the top priorities of the two candidates and what are their visions for California’s schools? PPIC president Mark Baldassare talked to Tony Thurmond, a member of the state assembly, and Marshall Tuck, a school improvement director, about how they would approach the job.

The candidates largely agreed on the need to increase state education funding and the importance of improving outcomes for low-income students, English Learners, and foster youth. Both are strong advocates for universal preschool. And both stressed the need to prepare all students not just for college and careers but also for civic engagement.

After noting that California currently ranks near the bottom among all states in per pupil funding, Tony Thurmond promised to prioritize moving the state into the top ten within his first four years—and to “take us to number one within eight years.” To help close achievement gaps, he would expand successful local approaches. He cited the Freedom School, an Afro-centric literacy program, and Footsteps to Brilliance, which focuses on immigrant families, as models.

Source: Video: Candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Public Policy Institute of California

Bethel High to host 19th annual HBCU recruitment fair in Vallejo – Times Herald

By Times Herald Staff

Students in Vallejo will have an opportunity to learn about and apply to several historically black colleges and universities in the 19th annual recruitment fair on Sept. 10.

The Vallejo City Unified School District, in partnership with the Willie B. Adkins Scholarship Program, will host the fair which is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jesse Bethel High School, 1800 Ascot Parkway.

Students will be able to speak with recruiters from 30 to 40 different historically black colleges and universities which offer various majors and professional degrees.

Those in attendance will receive application fee waivers, on the spot admissions from selected colleges (if qualified), and receive scholarships (if qualified).

Source: Bethel High to host 19th annual HBCU recruitment fair in Vallejo

New youth charity fund set up through Solano foundation – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

A new fund has been established through the Solano Community Foundation “to support underserved and at-risk youth in Fairfield,” according to a statement released Wednesday by foundation.

Nonprofit organizations that serve Fairfield youth, as well as public schools, are eligible for grants through the Great Expectations Fund.

“Funding will be provided to support programs or projects that provide low-income and at-risk children (ages 5 to 20) with academic and cultural enrichment activities and experiences which help broaden their view of the world,” the statement said.

Source: New youth charity fund set up through Solano foundation

Solano Community College to offer tuition reimbursement funding for first-time students – The Reporter

By Reporter Staff

Solano Community College is launching Solano Promise, a program providing first-time students with reimbursement funding after successful completion of courses.

The college is hoping this will “break down the barriers that prevent many students from attending college.”

Students can be reimbursed up to $1,380 per year ($46 per unit) by completing – and passing – classes throughout the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Completing 12 units in fall and spring will earn students $552 each semester, while finishing six units in the summer will garner $276 in reimbursement funding.

“The Solano Promise is a great opportunity for first-time students of any age to attend full-time and be reimbursed for successful course completion,” said President Celia Esposito-Noy. “Our Promise Program is one of many resources available to those who want to change the course of their lives.”

Source: Solano Community College to offer tuition reimbursement funding for first-time students

Solano teens give time, talent to food bank fundraiser – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Two members of Suisun Valley 4-H are again throwing their time and efforts to the food bank’s Empty Bowls fundraiser.

The pair, Alex Merodio and Olivia Frenkel, want to make a bigger impact this year.

Frenkel received the Soroptimist International of Central Solano County Violet Richardson award earlier this year. It honors a young woman who is making a difference in her community. She is a senior at Rodriguez High school.

Source: Solano teens give time, talent to food bank fundraiser

Solano College Benefit Gala honors alumni in community – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Comedian Dan St. Paul is the featured performer and master of ceremonies for the 2018 Solano Community College Benefit Gala Sept. 8.

The event also includes the Distinguished Alumni Awards, and the Alumni of the Year Award.

This program began in 2014 to recognize the prominent role of Solano College alumni in the community.

Source: Solano College Benefit Gala honors alumni in community

Citizens for Vallejo hosting candidates forum Sept. 30 – Times Herald

By Times Herald Staff

Citizens for Vallejo (CfV) is hosting a public candidates forum for the Vallejo City Council and Vallejo City Unified School District contests, the group announced this week.

The forum will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the Springbrook Masonic Temple, 101 Temple Way in Vallejo.

The City Council forum will run from 1 to 2:50 p.m. and the School Board forum will run from 3 to 4:45 p.m.

“The purpose of this forum is to introduce the public to the candidates running for the Vallejo City Council and

Vallejo school board,” CfV officials said. “The object is to inform as many people as possible the positions of each candidate.”

Source: Citizens for Vallejo hosting candidates forum Sept. 30

Does ‘Redshirting’ Benefit Kids? Kindergarten Decision Looms | US News

By Anna Orso

Lisa Larney started researching college when her daughter was 3. She wanted to know everything she could about the long-term impacts of delaying kindergarten enrollment for her daughter, born just a week before her school district’s enrollment cutoff date.

Would she benefit from going to college a year later? What if she’s too tall for her grade? Would she perform better academically if held back?

After two years of studying her daughter’s social interactions and researching her options, Larney decided to “redshirt” her, the term used for keeping children in prekindergarten instead of enrolling them when they’re first eligible at age 5.

Redshirting was originally popularized in college sports: Coaches would keep athletes out of competition for a year to develop their skills and extend eligibility. When it comes to kindergarten readiness, the hotly debated practice is most common among parents of kids with summer birthdays — locally, Sept. 1 is typically the cutoff date — because it decides the difference between being the youngest in their class or the oldest, with all the advantages that come with age.

Source: Does ‘Redshirting’ Benefit Kids? Kindergarten Decision Looms | Healthiest Communities | US News

Leading With Learning On The First Day Of School To Build Class Culture | MindShift

By Katrina Schwartz

High school English teacher Sarah Brown Wessling admits that she used to think about the first day of school as the time to lay out class rules and expectations. But after years of teaching, she has come to a different understanding about the best way to use this crucial time.

“Over time, I’ve realized I want them to walk away with an experience where they understand what learning is going to feel like in this space together,” Wessling said in a Teaching Channel video. “So I’ve given myself this challenge to teach on the first day.”

She gives students three clues and asks them to tell her what the class is going to be all about. During the class period, students share ideas with one another in pairs, but also to the whole group. Wessling takes them through Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” reading it out loud to them because she knows tone and inflection make a difference for comprehension with text this difficult. As they slowly move through the text, she models some of the habits of good readers.

Source: Leading With Learning On The First Day Of School To Build Class Culture | MindShift | KQED News

Strong schools are hallmark of Solano life – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

One of the great influencing factors for choosing a place to live, particularly for families with young children, is the quality of education available.

As far as Solano County is concerned, the quality of education at all levels is generally strong. Most of the schools in the Fairfield-Suisun School District, for example, are at or above statewide targets for school with a similar makeup of student bodies.

The same holds true for the school districts in Vacaville and Travis, with each of these having a particularly strong collection of elementary schools.

The Benicia district and Dixon district, each representing smaller communities, have high-performing schools throughout different levels.

Source: Solano Life 2018: Strong schools are hallmark of Solano life

Tickets on sale for Fairfield High Hall of Fame dinner – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Tickets are for the Fairfield High Athletic Hall of Fame 2018 Induction dinner and ceremony are on sale.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Paradise Valley with no-host cocktails from 5-6 p.m., dinner from 6-7 p.m. and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Eddie Wilson at ffhighathletics@gmail.com.

This year inductees are Stu Rhoads (wrestling coach), Jack Waxman (contributor), Angie Villalta (girls basketball), Shinika Parks (girls basketball), Mark Higgins (boys track), Rod Harvell (baseball), Carmen Martinez (softball) and Quinton Ganther (football, baseball).

Source: Tickets on sale for Fairfield High Hall of Fame dinner

Local labor group announces council, school board endorsements – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

The Napa/Solano Central Labor Council (NSLC), a labor collective representing Napa and Solano counties, announced its endorsements in local races via a Facebook post.

According to the post, the NSCLC held 53 interviews with candidates in races throughout Solano and Napa counties over several days with a panel of more than 30 affiliate leaders. The goal was to seek candidates who they felt would serve the needs of labor workers. The recommendations were ratified by the NSCLC and Napa Solano Building and Construction Trades. Members voted at a delegate meeting to ratify the votes which were announced Saturday.

In the Benicia City Council race, the NSCLC endorsed the same two candidates it endorsed in 2016: Economic Development Chair Lionel Largaespada and former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge. Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye and retired journeyman carpenter William Emes are also in the race.

Source: Local labor group announces council, school board endorsements

Does later start time at school work? Some  aren’t so sure | abc10.com

By Liz Kreutz

As the new school year begins, some high school students in the Vacaville Unified School District say they are having a hard time adjusting to their school’s new, late start time.

Vacaville High and Will C. Wood High moved their start time from 7:50 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. in an effort to allow students to get more sleep. But now, one week into the new school year, some students and parents are wondering if it’s really working.

“It’s not that we gained an hour in our day or shortened the school day. They just pushed everything the kids have to do an hour later,” Rojana Turner, whose 16-year-old daughter Emily is a student at Vacaville High, said.

Source: Does later start time at school work? Some Vacaville students, parents aren’t so sure | abc10.com

Register for the 2018 CA STEAM Symposium – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Join thousands of California STEAM educators for two days of professional learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

The 2018 California STEAM Symposium will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center on October 28–29, 2018. Co-hosted by the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Department of Education, and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, this annual event is the largest gathering of its kind and attracts more than 3,000 teachers, administrators, students, higher education representatives, program providers, and philanthropic, and industry partners from across California.

The California STEAM Symposium is a rigorous, collaborative, and inspiring professional learning conference that showcases innovative approaches to teaching and learning happening across the state. Educators leave with hands-on strategies and resources for best practices that support high-quality science, technology, engineering, art, and math education for all students.

Source: Register for the 2018 CA STEAM Symposium – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Saturday’s Sarah Renee Phillips Memorial Scholarship Run benefits Will C. Wood students – The Reporter

The Vacaville community is invited to participate in the 19th Annual Sarah Renee Phillips Memorial Scholarship Run.

The run is a fundraiser to provide scholarships for local students.

Sarah Phillips was killed after coming home from school when she was 13 years old. To honor her memory, a scholarship fund was set up by her family to help a graduating student from Will C. Wood High School. All proceeds from the event go to the scholarship fund.

This year’s run is Saturday and starts at Miss Darla’s, 110 Peabody Road. Sign-ins start at 8 a.m. and the run will leave at 10 a.m. sharp for the ride through Sarah’s Garden at Eleanor Nelson Park.

Travis school district kicks off 2018-19 school year – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Beth Blair stood Wednesday on the sidewalk in front of the office at Golden West Middle School.

Next to her was her 3-year-old son, AJ Carney. Next to him was his older stepsister, Hallie Blair, ready for her first day of seventh grade.

Blair had already dropped another son off for his first day of second grade at Cambridge Elementary.

Hallie was ready for a new beginning. She wanted to play volleyball and sit in her own desk, rather than at a table.

Source: Travis school district kicks off 2018-19 school year

States With Walkouts See More Support for Raising Teachers’ Pay | US News

By Peter Olsen-Phillips

A growing number of people support higher pay for teachers and more funding for public schools, according to a new poll that finds a shift in public opinion following a wave of teacher walkouts in six states where educators protested stagnant pay and inadequate school resources.

That’s one of the key findings in the 2018 EdNext poll, which the Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Education Policy and Governance conducted for Education Next, a nonprofit journal formerly funded by the Hoover Institution.

The wide-ranging survey offers some insight into Americans’ mixed views on education. While there is growing support for raising teacher pay and spending more on public schools, backing for charter schools and school voucher systems has also risen slightly, while opinion on the Obama-era Common Core state academic standards has stabilized at 45 percent.

Source: Poll: States With Walkouts See More Support for Raising Teachers’ Pay | Education News | US News