Monthly Archives: June 2014

VHS grads bid adieu to alma mater – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The athletes, who are also honors or high honors students, were seniors Pattriana Perry, the second-fastest qualifier Friday in the girls 300-meter hurdles and the 100 hurdles; and twins David and Daniel Mewborn, one-half of the Bulldogs’ 4×400 relay team (with Elgin Lowell and Mykal Walker), who qualified by placing eighth. They and other Bulldogs competed late Saturday for state honors.

As the school’s symphonic orchestra played Elgar’s familiar “Pomp and Circumstance,” the Mewborns’ adoptive mother, Leslie Mewborn, characterized her sons, 18, as “shy and reserved, but they’ve always been tough guys, athletes.”

As she spoke, Santopadre, standing behind the lectern at midfield, said the graduates’ legacy would be leaving their alma mater “a better place than you found it.”

via VHS grads bid adieu to alma mater – The Reporter.

Gas leak causes evacuations near downtown – Daily Republic

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By Barry Eberling

Crews working on the old courthouse renovation hit a gas line Monday morning, leading to several street closures and the evacuation of about 20 homes and businesses for an hour.

Workers hit a 2-inch-diameter line at about 10 a.m. near the sidewalk along Empire Street in back of the historic courthouse. The Fairfield Fire Department, Fairfield Police Department and Solano County Office of Emergency Services responded.

Emergency crews used a monitor to determine where the natural gas was drifting. An ignition source could have potentially caused an explosion or fire.

via Gas leak causes evacuations near downtown Daily Republic.

Fairfield-Suisun school trustees: Teamwork is tops – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Trustees for the Fairfield-Suisun School District work well as a team and with the superintendent – but should improve communication with the community.

Those are among conclusions from a self-evaluation by trustees that they’ll take up again Thursday after a May 29 discussion by the school board.

“Once a decision is made,” Superintendent Kris Corey told trustees in May, “you are supporting that.”

Trustee Perry Polk said “there’s always a Lone Ranger” on some other school boards in the state, but the Fairfield-Suisun district has avoided that.

via Fairfield-Suisun school trustees: Teamwork is tops but improve trust, communication Daily Republic.

English books for Common Core will cost Fairfield schools $229,889 – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Textbooks costing a total of $253,473 – with most of that amount paying for $229,889 worth of Common Core State Standards edition English language arts books — are the subject of a public hearing Thursday before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees.

The remaining $25,584 will go to books for American history, biology and other subjects.

Funding comes from the state lottery and money for instructional materials.

The Common Core language arts books are for grades 9, 10 and 11.

via English books for Common Core will cost Fairfield schools $229,889 Daily Republic.

Vallejo High to graduate final Apache valedictorian – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Lanz Christian Bañes

To say Hanna Lorica is a little nervous about graduation is putting it a bit mildly.

“Something’s going to go wrong. I can bet on it,” said the 18 year old, about having to deliver her speech to crowded stands Wednesday at Corbus Field. But that’s the price that must be paid when you’re the valedictorian of Vallejo High School.

Lorica didn’t always think about being the top student until she saw her freshman year class ranking and realized how close she was.

“It was fun to be up there with my friends,” said Lorica, who entered into a friendly competition with her close buddies for the top spot.

via Vallejo High to graduate final Apache valedictorian – Vallejo Times Herald.

School bond proposal in the works – The Reporter

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By Ernest Kimme

My first house in Vacaville was built in 1947, on the south side of Merchant Street.

Prior to 1947, everybody in Vacaville lived on the north side of Merchant Street. Most stores were on downtown Main Street, with a few on Merchant Street, which was the highway through town. Four thousand people lived in Vacaville.

Most students went to the old school on School Street, until Vacaville High was built five years later, in 1952.

Old timers will remember classrooms with tall ceilings and high windows that could be opened to let the hot air out. Every classroom had a fan. That was the extent of our air conditioning.

“High tech” in 1947 was a slide projector — manually operated. Education was all about books and chalkboards. The very idea of personal computers was still two generations and 40 years in the future.

via Ernest Kimme: School bond proposal in the works – The Reporter.

Benicia High Panthers released into the wild – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

Savoring the moment was a recurring message during the Benicia High School graduation ceremony Saturday.

“Live for the present. …” said Valedictorian Jared Hanson in his speech. “Truly appreciate everyone in your life.”

Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Janice Adams also shared similar advice.

“Remember the power of pause,” Adams said. “It allows you to take a breath and enjoy the moment.”

Nearly 400 students graduated from the high school this year, and the class earned more than $400,000 in scholarship, Principal Damon Wright said.

via Benicia High Panthers released into the wild – Vallejo Times Herald.

Program helps parents drill down into children’s education – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

In this month of dads and grads, Glenn Lee Woods is both.

The 34-year-old ironworker and graduate of the Parent Institute for Quality Education was at the Fairfield High School library as one of 25 men and women who completed the nine-week program last week.

“I brought my son so he would understand how valuable his education is to me,” Woods said. “This is getting us going in the right direction.”

“It was an awesome program,” Woods said.

via Program helps parents drill down into children’s education Daily Republic.

TUSD leaders seek Travis AFB trustee – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Applications are being taken by Travis Unified leaders to fulfill a trustee seat left vacant with the May resignation of Dawn Kirby, who represented Travis Air Force Base on the five-member board.

In order to be eligible for consideration, candidates must be at least 18 years old, registered to vote in California, and must also live on the air base.

Applications may be picked up at district offices, 2751 De Ronde Drive, Fairfield. They may also be downloaded from the district website, www.travisusd.org.

via TUSD leaders seek Travis AFB trustee – The Reporter.

Sober Grad Nite a success despite efforts of thieves – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

One break-in and a second attempt wasn’t enough to keep the people behind Armijo’s Sober Grad Nite from throwing a lavish party Friday for the Class of 2014.

Over winter break, burglars broke into the group’s storage unit on campus and made away with more than $2,000 worth of prizes, ranging from electronics to desk lamps. They also left behind a mess.

A second attempt at thievery was made over spring break. It wasn’t successful.

Sober Grad Nite kicked off about 9 a.m. and would last until 5 a.m. Saturday.

via Sober Grad Nite a success despite efforts of thieves Daily Republic.

Graduate finds career path through tragedy – Daily Republic

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By Barry Eberling

Elissa Prusso has some reflections on her graduation from Rodriguez High School garnered from hard experience.

“Even though you go through things in life, if you put your eyes on something, you can get it done, no matter what you go through,” Prusso said.

That might, at first glance, sound like a typical graduation ceremony sentiment. But Prusso speaks these words as one who has been through the fire. During her junior year, she dealt with the illness and death of her mother, 45-year-old Renee Prusso.

via Graduate finds career path through tragedy Daily Republic.

Wood student sets high future goals – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

When Acena Uribe stepped forward to accept her graduation diploma, she became the first member of her family to have graduated from high school, and she already had a specific plan for after graduation.

That is, packing her bags for Sonoma State University this fall to begin her career as a veterinarian.

“I want to be able to help animals get better, and it’s like helping people get better, too,” Uribe said, referring to the place that pets have in their human companions’ hearts.

The 17-year-old Vacaville native is the third-oldest of eight children in a family that, on her mother’s side, goes back at least two generations in Vacaville.

via Wood student sets high future goals Daily Republic.

Arts in the Park to honor late teacher, artist – Benicia Herald

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By Donna Beth Weilenman

Children and adults can experiment with art Saturday at City Park in an event that will memorialize the late Bonnie Weidel, a local artist who died April 18 at 84.

Another Benicia artist, Les Overlock, spoke affectionately about Weidel and her son, Ian Allen, during a Benicia City Council meeting that recognized Weidel’s service, which included sitting on the Benicia Unified School District Governing Board.

Overlock said he and Allen decided to organize an Arts in the Park tribute to Weidel this year.

via Arts in the Park to honor late teacher, artist.

For high school yearbook class, future is now – Benicia Herald

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By Keri Luiz

Benicia High School’s “Pride” is showing — and not just on the graduation stage or the athletic fields.

The school’s yearbook, released late last month and titled “2014 Pride,” is a unique interactive experience that is so new, and so different from the decades of yearbooks that preceded it, that Benicia drew statewide attention when it was published.

The result of a Partners in Education partnership between the yearbook publisher, Walsworth Yearbooks, based in Marceline, Mo., and Aurasma, which has offices in San Francisco and London, England, the BHS yearbook employs a concept called “augmented reality.”

via For high school yearbook class, future is now.

Benicia’s Liberty High Class of 2014 moves forward – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

Donning bright navy blue cap and gowns, more than 30 Liberty High School students walked across the concrete “stage” as a symbolic end to another chapter of their lives.

“I hope you’ll remember that your actions and determination have taken you here,” said Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Janice Adams in her address.

The graduation ceremony was held Thursday night at the lawn behind the Benicia Yacht Club with the students’ family and friends in the audience as their cheerleaders.

Liberty High School is Benicia’s alternative high school serving 10th to 12th graders. This year the school graduated 34 students.

via Benicia’s Liberty High Class of 2014 moves forward – Vallejo Times Herald.

Vacaville Unified School District again sponsors summer lunch program – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

School will soon be out, but free children’s lunches in mostly low-income areas of Vacaville will soon be in.

Vacaville Unified, with some funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, once again will set into motion its annual summertime lunch program, with weekday service in the north, central and south sectors of the city.

Coordinated by Theresa Stout, the district’s director of child nutrition, the program begins June 16 and ends Aug. 1.

With the deliveries, usually distributed out of a large truck, once again donated by the Father’s House, there are some rules. They include eating on site, with the food meant for children only, newborns to 18 years; and the throwing out of leftovers, said Stout.

via Vacaville Unified School District again sponsors summer lunch program – The Reporter.

Country High graduates 86 students – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Country High School graduated 86, the largest class in the continuation school’s history, during an outdoor ceremony Thursday evening.

Held at Tom Zunino Stadium, the commencement started at 6:30 p.m. sharp and ended 30 minutes later. One by one, the graduates, clad in royal blue caps and gowns, walked across a makeshift stage set up football field’s 50-yard line, give or take a few feet, to pick up their hard-earned and coveted diplomas.

With the announcement of each graduate’s name, varying volumes of cheers erupted in the sun-shaded westside bleachers, where an estimated 500 people — families, friends and relatives — gathered to observe the proceedings.

via Country High graduates 86 students – The Reporter.

First official count of high-needs students under new funding formula is in | EdSource Today

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By Jane Meredith Adams

After a frenetic effort to count every high-needs student in the California public school system, the first official tally under the sweeping new K-12 finance law is in – and the results are mixed.

In three of the five largest school districts, the number of students who stand to benefit from the law is lower than expected, a consequence, some say, of inflated estimates, complicated data requirements and insufficient efforts to collect paperwork from parents.

“Districts are going to have a choice: Are we willing to be OK with being somewhat undercounted every year, or are we really going try to develop an outreach strategy upfront?” said Oscar Cruz, president of Families In Schools, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that works to increase parent involvement in schools.

via First official count of high-needs students under new funding formula is in | EdSource Today.

Armijo High graduates more than 500 seniors – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

More than 500 seniors graduated Thursday from Armijo High School in ceremonies held at the football stadium where three salutatorians and five valedictorians spoke.

Israel Vega, 18, whose 4.5 grade point average placed him among valedictorians, quoted comedian Stephen Colbert’s serious observation that “service is love made visible.”

Vega will attend the University of California, Davis, and study computer engineering.

He said before he spoke at the ceremony that Armijo sets a high academic standard.

“But it’s worth it,” Vega said.

via Armijo High graduates more than 500 seniors Daily Republic.

Vallejo schools celebrate stable budget – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Lanz Christian Bañes

The Vallejo school board welcomed good news Wednesday during its first glimpse at the district budget.

‘It’s wonderful to come forward with money allocated for change instead of listing budget reductions,” said Sarah Hart, interim chief business officer for the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Thanks in part to a new state formula for funding school districts, Vallejo schools will see an increase of nearly $11 million in state revenue next year. That’s because the local control funding formula increases funding for districts that have high populations of low-income students, foster youth or English language learners.

Nearly $7 million of the increase is because of those supplemental grants.

via Vallejo schools celebrate stable budget – Vallejo Times Herald.