Monthly Archives: April 2019

Program shows choices behind wheel can mean difference between life, death – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Vanden High School senior Maddy Denajer began driving a few months ago.

She’s been a member of the school’s Friday Night Live chapter since her freshmen year. The program builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development with a focus on alcohol, tobacco, traffic safety, gambling and drugs.

Denajer joined other Vanden students Monday for Impact Teen Drivers, a program that emphasizes the dangers of reckless and distracted driving.

“When I started behind the wheel, I thought, ‘this isn’t as easy as I thought,’ ” Denajer said.

Source: Program shows choices behind wheel can mean difference between life, death

STEAM Discovery Festival on calendar at Benicia High – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The 2019 STEAM Discovery Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 at Benicia High School, 1101 Military West.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, previously Benicia Mini Maker Faire, which is a celebration of do-it-yourself spirit and hands-on making and learning.

It’s geared for anyone intrigued by the creativity and ingenuity of the surrounding region.

Proceeds support the event and Benicia Makerspace – a nonprofit organization that emphasizes science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Source: STEAM Discovery Festival on calendar at Benicia High

Is Wi-Fi a Health Threat in Schools? Sorting fact from fiction – Education Next

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By Kenneth R. Foster

Since the early 2000s, when wireless connectivity and the Internet evolved into everyday technologies, they have come to pervade our home and work lives, revolutionizing the way we share and access information. Wi-Fi circuits, which connect a device to a wireless network and the Internet, are incorporated into billions of devices, ranging from bathroom scales and “smart” electric outlets to equipment that streams movies and music. Wi-Fi is installed on our smartphones and laptops, at home and in the workplace, in cafés and airports, and of course, in schools everywhere.

Digital learning and wireless connectivity have become so entrenched in schools that many educators now consider high-speed Internet access a requirement for effective teaching. The federal government, via the Federal Communications Commission, subsidizes wireless connectivity and other technology in schools through its E-rate program.

Source: Is Wi-Fi a Health Threat in Schools? Sorting fact from fiction – Education Next : Education Next

Vallejo School District to ask for advance of tax funds disbursement – Times-Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The Vallejo City Unified School District board on Wednesday will consider borrowing money against expected tax revenues to cover any cash flow problems, as well as adopting a resolution to transition to a different type of election system starting in 2020.

California Education Code provides for the Board of Supervisors and County Treasurer to temporarily transfer property tax funds to school districts that lack sufficient money and credit to meet their expenses. The loan comes from property tax revenue the district expects for the 2019-20 fiscal year. The Constitutional Advance allows the district to receive the majority of this revenue prior to the standard December and April transfer time line. If approved by the Solano County Board of Supervisors, the transfer could be available on July 1.

Source: Vallejo School District to ask for advance of tax funds disbursement – Times-Herald

School Event: SCC Dance Prodution Presents: “Elements through Dance” – Daily Republic

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By Ginger Cain

SCC Dance is pleased to announce our Spring 2019 production of, “Elements through Dance.” The show will present various styles of dance: Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Tango, Salsa, Merengue, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Night Club Two-Step and Hawaiian.

SCC Dance has invited, “The Dance Factory of Cordelia,” and Halau ‘o Ku’ulei of Vacaville as our guest artists and dancers.

Source: School Event: SCC Dance Prodution Presents: “Elements through Dance”

Solano College to host Workforce Development Board career fair – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

More than 85 private- and public-sector employers from a variety of industries are expected to attend the Spring Career Fair on Thursday.

The event is hosted by the Workforce Development Board of Solano County and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union, Building 1400, at Solano Community College, 4000 Suisun Valley Road.

In addition to meeting recruiting representatives from the various employers, the Workforce Development Board also will be providing interview coaching, resume workshops and other job coaching support services.

Source: Solano College to host Workforce Development Board career fair

Air quality calendar contest opens to Solano students – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Twelve winners in the 2020 Clean Air Calendar contest will receive $30 Amazon gift cards.

The deadline to submit entries is May 10.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District and is open to students who live within the air district, which includes Dixon, Rio Vista and Vacaville in Solano County. The district also includes Winters in neighboring Yolo County.

Source: Air quality calendar contest opens to Solano students

13th Annual Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Recognition Awards Ceremony – Daily Republic

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The 13th Annual Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Recognition Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM at the Solano County Office of Education located at 5100 Business Center Drive in Fairfield.

CAC Awards are presented to educators, youth, and community members for outstanding service to students with special needs. Award recipients are from each school district within the Solano County Special Education Local Plan Area: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield-Suisun, Travis, and Vacaville Unified School Districts, as well as the Solano County Office of Education.

Source: 13th Annual Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Recognition Awards Ceremony

Vacaville students let the fish out in Vallejo – Times-Herald

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By John Glidden

Vacaville students got to see the conclusion on their lengthy science experiment on Friday when they stopped by Lake Chabot in Vallejo to release dozens of rainbow trout fry.

For the past six weeks, the 3rd and 4th grade students raised the trout eggs, which grew into alevin, and then small fry. The hands-on science event is part of the Classroom Aquarium Education Program, put on by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Source: Vacaville students let the fish out in Vallejo – Times-Herald

Adrian Vargas introduced as new chief business officer for Vallejo schools – Times-Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The Vallejo City Unified School District has a new chief business officer, as Adrian Vargas was introduced to school board members at Wednesday’s meeting.

Vargas was approved by a unanimous vote of the school board even before the public meeting officially started Wednesday.

“He has been working for us in one way, shape or form for about a year,” having come in under Steve Goldstone when he was acting Superintendent, Board President Robert Lawson said.

Vargas thanked the board for the opportunity and said he was “excited to be part of the VCUSD team.”

Source: Adrian Vargas introduced as new chief business officer for Vallejo schools – Times-Herald

Dixon High bands to play with Tower of Power saxophonist – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

For the last 11 years, Dixon High School’s student bands have had the opportunity to perform with world-class musicians for special concerts.

The tradition will continue April 24 when the DHS Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble will get to perform in front of a live audience with none other than Tom E. Politzer, the lead tenor saxophonist with Tower of Power.

Yes, that Tower of Power.

Source: Dixon High bands to play with Tower of Power saxophonist – The Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun athletes compete in first middle school Special Olympics – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

With 2019 being an odd-numbered year, one would assume there are no Olympics games being held. This was not the case at Rodriguez High School Thursday morning.

For the fourth year in a row, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District and the Special Olympics of Northern California came together to provide an assortment of track & field games and competitions for special needs and special education students in the district. In the past, elementary and high school students have had their own Special Olympics events, but this was the first year with an event exclusively for middle schoolers. Teams from the six participating schools — B. Gale Wilson, Crystal Middle School, David Weir K-8 Preparatory Academy, Grange Middle School, Green Valley Middle School and Oakbrook Academy of the Arts — paraded down the Rodriguez track, holding up banners as crowds cheered them on while Leo Arnaud’s “Bugler’s Dream” — best known as the Olympics theme — blared from the speakers.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun athletes compete in first middle school Special Olympics track event – The Reporter

VUSD honored for program to reduce chronic absenteeism – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

State education officials on Tuesday recognized Vacaville Unified School District for its efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and increase student attendance.

State schools chief Tony Thurmond made the announcement in a press release that listed VUSD among 22 other districts — Santa Ana, Long Beach and Glendale, among them — for their model School Attendance Review Boards, or SARBs.

The award recognizes excellence in specific content areas, including establishing goals and objectives, implementing prevention and intervention strategies, and working with local agencies.

Source: VUSD honored for program to reduce chronic absenteeism – The Reporter

‘Dancing With the Stars’ event raises money for Oakbrook Academy – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Oakbrook Academy of the Arts will host its annual “Dancing with the Stars” event Saturday at the Joseph A. Nelson Center, 611 Village Drive.

The event begins at 7 p.m. and features six of Oakbrook’s Dancing Dolphin students, each of whom will be paired with local community leaders to present a “Dancing With the Dolphin Stars” showcase.

Community leaders donating their time are Lori Wilson, Suisun City mayor; Sheila McCabe, Fairfield-Suisun School District deputy superintendent; Clarence Isadore, Rodriguez High School principal; Master Sgt. Viviana Gatica from Travis Air Force Base; Rachael Figueroa, Solano County deputy sheriff; Drew Kostal, Vacaville fire chief; and Mark and Jesse Borbe, salsa dancing brothers.

Source: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ event raises money for Oakbrook Academy

2019 Model School Attendance Review Board Winners – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that 23 school attendance programs were recognized as model School Attendance Review Boards (SARBs) for outstanding strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism and increase student attendance.

“In order for students to reach their full learning potential, they need to be in school,” said State Superintendent Thurmond. “These exemplary attendance programs have reduced chronic absenteeism rates at the district level and have been able to provide the necessary support to students who are the most vulnerable and at risk of becoming a chronic absentee. This recognition is well-deserved, and I hope that other districts will follow the lead of the model SARBs and replicate their methods so we can get all of our students back in class and on the pathway to graduation and a successful future.”

Source: 2019 Model School Attendance Review Board Winners – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

Wednesday’s Vallejo school district meeting to deal with issues – Times-Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

Vallejo City Unified School District board members are expected to decide on a new Chief Business Officer, one less school cop and several campus improvement projects going out to bid, according to Wednesday’s meeting agenda.

District staff is asking the board to approve Adrian Vargas as the new CBO, to replace Hitesh Haria, who accepted a position in another district. Vargas previously served in this position, and “presents us with a seamless transition as we establish a search process to fill the position permanently,” staff said in the agenda. Vargas will be paid $175,000 in 12 approximately equal monthly installments.

Aimed at saving $112,500, board members will also be asked to approve a Third Amendment to the School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding, reducing the number of SROs from three to two. There was one SRO approved in 2014; that increased to two the following year, and to three in 2017.

Source: Wednesday’s Vallejo school district meeting to deal with new money man, fewer campus cops, other issues – Times-Herald

Child Haven on track to change leadership – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Jane Johnson will leave Child Haven after 11 years providing executive leadership, effective June 6.

She is moving out of Solano County to her hometown of Redwood City to care for her aging parents.

“While change can be difficult, the agency is in a great position and poised for growth,” Johnson said in a press release.

Since Child Haven opened its doors in 1983, the agency has treated more than 12,000 children. The agency was founded to help traumatized children heal from the effects of abuse, neglect and maltreatment.

Source: Child Haven on track to change leadership with Jane Jonson’s departure

Town Center Gallery showcases Solano student artists – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Visitors to the Solano Town Center Gallery can view and bid on artworks from Solano County Office of Education students.

Students from the Solano County Office of Education have visited the gallery each Friday over the past several months to create their own masterpieces.

Proceeds benefit a special-needs class.

Source: Town Center Gallery showcases Solano student artists

Will science, engineering fair yield tomorrow’s scientists? – Times-Herald

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By Richard Bammer

The numbers of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, have taken a quantum jump.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2010 and 2020 employment in science and engineering will grow by nearly 19 percent, compared to 14 percent for all other occupations.

And, as widely reported in the media, this rapid growth has created a STEM worker shortage in the United States.To address this shortage, the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) has joined widespread educator efforts to boost interest in STEM among students.

Source: Will science, engineering fair yield tomorrow’s scientists? – Times-Herald

Kona offering free ice to ‘chill out’ for Tax Day – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Tax Day is coming up, and many Americans are stressing out as they scramble to get their taxes in by the deadline. They are likely asking questions like, “Will I get a big refund?,” “Do I owe money?,” “Did I fill out everything correctly?” and “How can I save for next year?”

Kona Ice has just one bit of advice: chill out.

They mean that literally.

Source: Kona offering free ice to ‘chill out’ for Tax Day – The Reporter