Monthly Archives: February 2014

Dixon High hosting community college fair – Dixon Tribune | Facebook

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By Brianna Boyd, Editor

Dixon High seniors who plan to enroll in a community college next fall will want to mark their calendars for a Community College Application Fair taking place at the high school later this month. The school will be hosting the fair on Feb. 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the library. College representatives and admission officers will be present from a number of area schools, including Solano Community College, Woodland Community College, Sacramento City College, Butte Community College and Napa Community College.

The fair is one of many new activities and events taking place at Dixon High this year to promote a college going culture. At the Community College Application Fair, students will be encouraged to apply for admission to one or more schools if they have not already done so.

via Dixon High hosting community college… – The Dixon Tribune | Facebook.

Campaign Seeks to End Corporal Punishment in Schools – Education Week

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By guest blogger Alyssa Morones

A new online campaign is calling on the U.S. Congress to pass a bill that would end the use of corporal punishment in schools.

The petition, from the campaign to Create Safe Schools for Children, is now online on causes.com and focuses on U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy’s (D-NY) bill that seeks to ban corporal punishment nationwide.

Rep. McCarthy first introduced the bill in the 111th Congress and again in 2011 in the 112th Congress. Ms. McCarthy, a senior Democratic member of the education and workforce committee, is currently working on a new draft of the bill to introduce to the current 113th Congress.

via Campaign Seeks to End Corporal Punishment in Schools – Rules for Engagement – Education Week.

Engaging Brains: How to Enhance Learning by Teaching Kids About Neuroplasticity | Edutopia

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By Donna Wilson, Ph.D.

Explicitly teaching students about neuroplasticity can have a transformative impact in the classroom. A central facet of our work as teacher educators is teaching about how the brain changes during learning. Many teachers have told us that these findings have had a positive effect on their expectations for their students and on students’ perceptions of their own abilities.

Lessons on discoveries that learning changes the structure and function of the brain can engage students, especially when combined with explicit instruction on the use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies that guide them to learn how to learn (Wilson & Conyers, 2013). Using these strategies effectively produces learning gains, which motivate students to take charge of their learning, which leads to further academic success and may have the additional benefit of alleviating classroom management issues. When students see this process as changing their own brains, the result is a powerful and positive cycle.

via Engaging Brains: How to Enhance Learning by Teaching Kids About Neuroplasticity | Edutopia.

Travis school board meeting set – The Reporter

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By Reporter Staff Posted:

When they meet tonight, Travis Unified leaders likely will approve a request to change governing board elections to even-numbered years.

The move will put the district in line with recent moves by neighboring districts, saving TUSD thousands of dollars in election costs and increase the likelihood of greater voter turnout.

Additionally, the trustees will hear a report about the development of a new district website; and likely approve a request for a bid to complete electrical work at several district schools: Center and Travis elementaries, Golden West Middle School and Vanden High School.

via Travis school board meeting set – The Reporter.

Positive School Climate Better at Deterring Student Drug Use – Education Week

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By guest blogger Gina Cairney

In efforts to steer teenagers away from trying out drugs or alcohol, or even escalating their use of such substances, many schools have employed various programs generally aimed at getting students to “just say no” to drugs.

While some schools have employed an approach that promotes positive school climate, many schools have implemented drug-testing policies as a key deterrent.

But do either of these approaches have any significant impact on students substance use?

via Positive School Climate Better at Deterring Student Drug Use – Rules for Engagement – Education Week.

School donations range from $5 to 4 figures – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

The list provided by Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees of donors includes $8,000 from the Mundy Community Association, as well as eight people who donated $5 each to Oakbrook Elementary or Green Valley Middle schools.

A total of $14,021 in donations were listed in mid-January, part of the $102,851 contributed so far in the 2013-2014 school year.

The Mundy Community Association donation will pay for computers at Nelda Mundy Elementary, said the school’s principal, Kristen Cherry.

via School donations range from $5 to 4 figures Daily Republic.

New tests mean Vacaville students must learn keyboarding – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

How early is too early to teach touch typing, known today as “keyboarding”?

For primary-grade teachers in most U.S. public schools, the question is moot, since Common Core State Standards — which take effect in the fall across California and in all but a handful of other states — require annual tests to be taken only on computers or other electronic devices.

Gone are the days of the sharpened No. 2 pencil and fill-in-the-bubble tests and, for the most part, so is the debate by worried parents and educators about the right age to start teaching a child to type.

via New tests mean Vacaville students must learn keyboarding – The Reporter.

Newton scooters send students into science – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

The man whose discoveries inspired the vehicle’s name couldn’t appear Friday – but 160 students were there with machines powered by balloons, mouse traps and other devices.

Newton Scooters, named for the English physicist and mathematician Issac Newton who lived from 1643-1727 and helped lead the scientific revolution of his era, moved on the floor of the classroom where Alyssa Weytjens teaches physics and chemistry to eighth-graders at B. Gale Wilson School.

via Newton scooters send students into science Daily Republic.

Las Vegas trip by Armijo High teachers will cost $10,200 – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

It will cost $10,200 for six teachers from Armijo High School to travel and stay in Las Vegas for a three-day Leadership Now conference at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Assistant Principal John Lammon will also attend the April 1-3 event that will cost approximately $1,700 per participant, according to the Fairfield-Suisun School District.

The event’s benefits include “collaborative learning through shared leadership” and “techniques for consensus building, strategic planning and vision development,” Sheila McCabe, director of secondary education for the Fairfield-Suisun School District, stated in her report to school district trustees.

via Las Vegas trip by Armijo High teachers will cost $10,200 Daily Republic.

Mount Calvary prepares teens, parents for college – Daily Republic

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By Adrienne Harris

A financial aid workshop attracted dozens of parents and teens Saturday to Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Hosted by the Scholarship Ministry, the event featured a parent panel as well as a student program that addressed scholarship opportunities and financial aid.

via Mount Calvary prepares teens, parents for college Daily Republic.

Chinese American Association celebrates new year, scholars – Daily Republic

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By Mike Corpos

Saturday’s rain provided the perfect excuse to stay indoors and celebrate, and that’s just what hundreds of people did at the Chinese American Association of Solano County’s 17th annual Chinese New Year and Scholarship Celebration at the Ulatis Community Center.

A veritable who’s who of local government and business leaders enjoyed a night of cultural entertainment from Chinese music and dance to a magic show while feasting on traditional Chinese dishes with a side of McDonald’s cheeseburgers.

via Chinese American Association celebrates new year, scholars Daily Republic.

Solano College announces end to sanctions – Daily Republic

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By Glen Faison

Solano Community College’s accreditation troubles are at an end, college officials announced over the weekend.

The college was notified Friday that the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has removed all accreditation sanctions from the college. The move clears the way for reaffirmed accreditation for the college district.

via Solano College announces end to sanctions Daily Republic.

Benicia schools prepare for bond measure – Vallejo Times Herald

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Lanz Christian Bañes

Benicia Unified School District officials said Thursday that investing in schools is a necessity to bring modern education to this city’s students.

“It’s not just about fixing up what’s old. It’s about bringing education to the 21st century,” consultant John Isom told the board.

At issue is a potential bond measure just shy of $50 million that would pay for the improvement of the district’s infrastructure. The board heard Thursday about the district’s facilities needs.

via Benicia schools prepare for bond measure – Vallejo Times Herald.

Rodriguez grad gets ‘Unpredictable’ on 1st CD – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

A little love from the hometown crowd. That’s all Faris “Sonu” Nazeem wants.

That, and being everyone’s favorite musical artist.

The 21-year-old Rodriguez High School graduate just dropped his first CD, “Unpredicatable,” on Redcon-1. The 15-song CD is chock-full of mixed genres, hence the name.

via Rodriguez grad gets ‘Unpredictable’ on 1st CD Daily Republic.

Doug Ford: Motivation = education – The Reporter

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By Doug Ford

Sergio Jaurez Correa is a fifth-grade math teacher in Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. The city of nearly a half million residents is “a flash point in the war on drugs.”

His school is next to a fetid canal and “a rotten smell drifts through the cement-walled classrooms.” After five years teaching “the government-mandated curriculum” that “was mind-numberingly boring to him and his students,” he was convinced in 2010 that he had to try something different. He started searching for ideas.

via Doug Ford: Motivation = education – The Reporter.

Forget Coding, Let’s Change Up How We Teach Math! – The Edublogger

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by Ronnie Burt

As any math teacher will tell you, one of the most common questions students ask is:

“When will I use (enter math skill here) in real life?“

It can often be one of the hardest questions to answer too.

Because most students see right through the classic “real world applications” that have been part of math lessons forever.

You know the type. If train A leaves at 10am, and train B leaves at 10:30, blah blah blah.

Am I right?

via Forget Coding, Let’s Change Up How We Teach Math! – The Edublogger.

Wood students fill backpacks for homeless – Daily Republic

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By Mike Corpos

A handful of teenagers are doing what they can to help the homeless, and to apply the lessons learned from their school’s leadership program.

Will C. Wood High School senior Nathaniel Guzzo and a few classmates in recent weeks have collected supplies and backpacks. He said local businesses and churches as well as individual students and teachers have collected money or donated goods for the project.

via Wood students fill backpacks for homeless Daily Republic.

Fairview School to host Black History Month program – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The public is welcome to view Fairview Elementary School’s Black History Month program.

Performances are at 6 p.m. Feb. 26, and 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. Feb. 27. Students will perform African dancing and singing.

The school is located at 830 First St. For more information, call 421-4165.

via Fairview School to host Black History Month program Daily Republic.

Vallejos participatory budgeting year kickoff draws experienced crowd – Vallejo Times Herald

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ByJessica A. York

The fact that Vallejo has set aside about $1 million less than last year to turn community members dreams into reality did not dampen spirits Tuesday.

After simply voting in last years first participatory budgeting effort, resident Dave Belef came to Tuesdays kickoff public assembly at Glen Cove Elementary School cafeteria armed with a plan — and his laptop.

via Vallejos participatory budgeting year kickoff draws experienced crowd – Vallejo Times Herald.

Redhawks new Vallejo High mascot, replaces Apaches – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Lanz Christian Bañes

The answer was in a staff report on the back table.

But it was when Principal Clarence Isadore dramatically removed his jacket at Wednesday’s Vallejo school board meeting that the applause began.

“It gives me great privilege to present to you the new Vallejo High School mascot — the Vallejo High School Redhawks,” Isadore said, standing in a new white shirt that said the new name in red letters.

Isadore’s announcement capped a months-long process that began in October about changing the city’s namesake school from the Apache. In November, the board unanimously voted to retire the decades-old symbol, citing the offense it causes to some indigenous people.

via Redhawks new Vallejo High mascot, replaces Apaches – Vallejo Times Herald.