Monthly Archives: March 2016

Vallejo School Board rejects move to eliminate position – Times Herald

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By John Glidden

For the second time in 11 months, the Vallejo school board rejected a plan to eliminate a buyer position within the Vallejo City Unified School District.

During a special March 9 meeting, the board decided to retain a second Buyer II position, even though it has been vacant since January.

The position creates purchase orders, schedules vendor shipments and maintains records for the district.

A badly divided board, in a 3-2 vote, rejected a similar request from district staff, last May.

At that time, both Buyer II positions were filled, district staff sought permission to issue a layoff notice to one of the employees.

However, at the end of 2015, one of the incumbents retired, creating a vacancy, which the district has not filled.

Source: Vallejo School Board rejects move to eliminate position

Solano County students immersed in agriculture on Youth Ag Day – Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

Thousands of third graders descended upon the Solano County Fairgrounds on Tuesday for the 15th annual Youth Ag Day.

The Solano County students had a day filled with hands-on experience with all-things agriculture, including livestock, plants, bugs and even composting and butter churning, among other things.

“Part of our mission is agriculture educations and third grade is a great age group,” fairgrounds General Manager Stephen Pierce said. “They are excited and it’s a good time to plant the seeds in them to explore a career in agriculture if they want to.”

Source: Solano County students immersed in agriculture on Youth Ag Day

Will C. Wood High School announces first-ever Hall of Fame class – The Reporter

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By Tim Roe

Who better to be on the ground floor than those who were in on the ground floor?

Will C. Wood High School will honor its first-ever hall of fame class next month, just two months before the school honors its 25th graduating class. And while Wood organizers spent several sessions sifting through names of special athletes, coaches and volunteers, the committee leaned heavily toward recognizing those who spearheaded the school’s transition from a junior high school to a high school.

“I think when you look at the first class, you see a lot of people who were instrumental in getting it all started,” said Mark Wudel, the school’s athletic director and a key member in the drive to begin a Wildcat Hall of Fame.

Source: Will C. Wood High School announces first-ever Hall of Fame class

Grange robotics teams needs help to get to world competition – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Two teams of Grange Middle School students are turning to the community to help get them to the  world robotics competition in Louisville, Kentucky, in April to compete against teams from more than 30 countries.

The robotics teams were part of a three-team alliance that won the Vex Robotics California State Competition on Feb. 27 in San Jose.

To get to the world competition, team members are asking for donations from the community to help pay for parts, tools, entry fees and travel costs.

Source: Grange robotics teams needs help to get to world competition

California moves to bring special education students ‘into the fold’ of mainstream education | EdSource

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By Jane Meredith Adams

Ordered by the federal government to elevate academics for students with disabilities, and by the state to raise low-income student achievement, the California Department of Education is working to create a unified system that will do both, a move that aims to bring special education students into every school district initiative to improve achievement.

The department is “building the basis of one coherent system,” Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, told the State Board of Education last week at its meeting.

For the first time, the California Department of Education’s special education division is planning to align new federal progress measures for students with disabilities with the state board’s system of evaluation, now being created, that will gauge success under California’s school finance system. That system, known as the Local Control Funding Formula, directs additional funds to districts to serve “high-needs” students, defined as low-income students, English learners and foster children.

Source: California moves to bring special education students ‘into the fold’ of mainstream education | EdSource

Vallejo school board to receive information on polling results – Times Herald

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By John Glidden

A nearly three hundred million dollar general bond that would help aging Vallejo school infrastructure would not be supported by the community if such a bond was placed on the November ballot, says a firm which surveyed hundreds of potential Vallejo voters in January.

The Vallejo school board is expected to receive these results during its meeting Wednesday night.

Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates firm (FM3), which conducted the 400 public opinion telephone interviews has concluded that such a single large bond amount of about $285 million “is not viable.”

The board hired FM3 to conduct a similar survey in June 2013 regarding a potential bond measure. About 62 percent surveyed in 2013 said they would support a school bond measure.

Source: Vallejo school board to receive information on polling results

Vacaville events commemorate National Boys & Girls Club week – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

All are invited to open the door and take a tour as the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club celebrates National Boys & Girls Club week with open houses and activities that begin Wednesday.

The events are free.

The Vaca Pena Middle School site, 200 Keith Way, Portable 42, is the site of a barbecue and games from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Those who attend should enter from Nut Tree Road.

Opened as a pilot program, Vaca Pena Club members are maxing out the portable and engaging in activities that channel their energy into positive pursuits. Seventy percent of the middle schoolers who attend Vaca Pena and Trower Center are achieving a 3.0 grade-point average or better, said a Boys & Girls Club press release.

Source: Vacaville events commemorate National Boys & Girls Club week

Kairos to launch homeschool/Independent Study program – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy this fall will expand its educational offerings to include a homeschool/Independent Study program, and enrollment is underway.

Jared Austin, director of the TK-8 Vacaville independent charter, at 129 Elm St., said parents and community members asked him to develop this choice for families after more than 100 responses within 24 hours of posting a question on the school’s Facebook page.

For those interested families, visit the homeschool’s website, http://www.kairosscholars.org, to download an application and submit all required forms to the school office by 3:30 p.m. April 8.

Additionally, parents may wish to attend an informational meeting at 6 p.m. March 22 to learn more.

Source: Kairos to launch homeschool/Independent Study program

Registration underway for some Travis Unified grades – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Registration Kick-Off Week is underway in Travis Unified School District, and sign-ups for students in transitional kindergarten, or TK, kindergarten, and new students are being accepted, it has been announced.

Registrations are being accepted at schools of residence from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. today through Friday, district officials said.

Otherwise, parents may register their child or children during regular office hours at the student’s school of residence.

Vacaville has two elementary schools within district boundaries, Cambridge and Foxboro. Three other district schools are just south of city limits, off Peabody Road: Vanden High and Center Elementary, on Markeley Lane; and Golden West Middle School, on De Ronde Drive.

Source: Registration underway for some Travis Unified grades

Band festival brings out young student musicians – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Gabby Perez, an eighth-grader at Crystal Middle School, lives in a music-loving household.

“It’s in my genes,” she said at the recent Fairfield-Suisun School District Band Festival, the second event in a series of four showcasing student musicians.

Gabby began playing the flute last year at school. She would have picked up the flute sooner had it been available to her at school, she said.

“I would like to have more experience,” she said of playing the instrument, which she practices daily.

Source: Band festival brings out young student musicians

‘Operation PROMises’ successfully completed – The Reporter

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By Dom Pruett

Prom is undoubtedly one of the most momentous occasions for a high school student.

The night commemorates the end of another school year, where juniors inch one step closer toward supplanting themselves as the new leaders of the campus while seniors begin to close one chapter in their lives, as graduation fast approaches.

Prom is a time to celebrate the friendships and bonds steadily built throughout the years in an unfamiliar yet elegant setting.

Among the list of grandiose rituals, the most quintessential aspect of prom, of course, is the lavish duds. Without the tuxedos and opulent dresses, it would be just another school dance — void of the pomp and circumstance that makes Prom so revered.

via Operation PROMises – The Reporter

School district extends advisory committee application deadline – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Vacaville School District will accept applications through Sunday for community members who wish to serve on the district’s Facility Naming Citizens’ Advisory Committee.

Members are asked to serve a two-year term.

The facility naming advisory committee will research, consider and make recommendations to the school board about facility naming requests submitted by community members to the district. This committee will meet every four months.

Source: School district extends advisory committee application deadline

Robotics teams headed for Worlds Competition – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Two Grange Robotics teams were part of a three-team alliance that won the Vex Robotics California State Competition on Feb. 27 in San Jose.

They are going to the Worlds Competition in Louisville, Kentucky, in April to compete against teams from more than 30 countries.

In addition, the Grizzlybots also won awards for skills and driving, programming and overall excellence.

Source: Good News: Robotics teams headed for Worlds Competition 

Teen girl will see Kenyan village she’s raised money to help – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Mission trips to Mexico are a common experience for many local teens who are part of their church’s youth group.

Laiken Shaw, a junior at Rodriguez High School, has been to Mexico on a mission trip.

She will travel this summer to Kenya after working a variety of functions to raise money for When I Grow Up, a nonprofit that supports the Furaha Community Foundation that offers impoverished children an education in Huruma, Kenya.

Meals are also provided for the 500-plus primary students and the 200-plus high school students.

Source: Teen girl will see Kenyan village she’s raised money to help

Governor’s budget proposal may affect future of transitional kindergarten | EdSource

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By Susan Frey

After years of effort to implement transitional kindergarten, Gov. Jerry Brown wants to eliminate the requirement that school districts offer the program, which provides an extra year of public school for 4-year-olds with fall birthdays. His proposal would also allow districts that offer it to charge enrollment fees for parents who aren’t low-income.

The proposal, which is part of the 2016-17 state budget, creates uncertainty for the future of transitional kindergarten. Many early education advocates saw it as a first step toward establishing a publicly funded program for all 4-year-olds. Just this past year, legislators allowed districts to expand the program to younger 4-year-olds, with some funding restrictions. And a recent research report found the program was effective in preparing students for kindergarten.

“The governor’s proposal comes squarely in the face of a fully implemented program that no one wants to give up,” said Erin Gabel, deputy director of external and governmental affairs at First 5 California. “Eliminating it as an entitlement with a stable funding source is a step backwards.”

Source: Governor’s budget proposal may affect future of transitional kindergarten | EdSource

Kairos Public School to expand educational programs – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Kairos Public School is expanding its educational choices to now include a home school and independent study program.

Enrollment for the Kairos Innovative Scholars Program has begun. Interested families who want to join this opportunity can visit the school website at www.kairosscholars.org to download an application and submit all required forms to the school office by 3:30 p.m. April 8.

An informational meeting about the program will begin at 6 p.m. March 22.

Source: Kairos Public School to expand educational programs

Vacaville Unified extends application deadline for Facility Naming Committee – The Reporter

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Vacaville Unified School District announced that the deadline for the Facility Naming Citizens’ Advisory Committee member application has been extended to Sunday.

VUSD is still accepting applications for community members who wish to serve on the Facility Naming Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). Committee members are asked to serve a two-year term. The Facility Naming CAC will research, consider and make recommendations to the Board of Education about facility naming requests submitted by community members to VUSD. This committee will meet for meeting sessions every four months.

The district also is encouraging community members to serve as short-term ex officio committee members to consider naming requests specific to a site. The proposed renaming of Sierra Vista K-8 is the current submission that the district is looking for community members to weigh in on. Community members who would like to serve as short-term ex officio members and consider the proposed renaming of Sierra Vista K-8 may also complete a Facility Naming CAC application.

Source: Vacaville Unified extends application deadline for Facility Naming Committee

$4,500 Philadelphia trip, $13,370 in lodging costs win school board OK – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Two administrators for the Fairfield-Suisun School District will attend a Philadelphia conference, trustees narrowly decided Thursday after details about the $4,500 cost were not available and a speaker questioned approving the travel when voters are asked to back a bond.

“You’re pushing a bond measure on the ballot,” Fairfield resident John Takeuchi said. “This does not look good.”

Trustees have agreed to put a $249 million bond for school improvements on the June 7 ballot.

Source: $4,500 Philadelphia trip, $13,370 in lodging costs win school board OK

$2.2M will go Armijo High – not to pay down bond debt – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Remaining Measure C funds of $2.2 million will be spent at Armijo High School, Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees decided Thursday after a member of the bond oversight committee questioned why the panel’s resolution to pay down Measure C debt instead wasn’t presented to trustees.

Fairfield resident David Thacker, who serves on the Measure C School Bond Oversight Committee formed after passage of the $100 million bond in 2002, said the school district administration decided to keep the committee’s resolution from the school board.

The resolution to pay down debt from the 2002 bond was withheld from the school board to help drive momentum behind the new $249 million bond that will be on the June 7 ballot, Thacker said.

Source: $2.2M will go Armijo High – not to pay down bond debt

How Emotions Affect Learning, Behaviors, and Relationships | Edutopia

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By Dr. Lori Desautels

We need all of our emotions for thinking, problem solving, and focused attention. We are neurobiologically wired, and to learn anything, our minds must be focused and our emotions need to “feel” in balance. Emotional regulation is necessary so that we can remember, retrieve, transfer, and connect all new information to what we already know. When a continuous stream of negative emotions hijacks our frontal lobes, our brain’s architecture changes, leaving us in a heightened stress-response state where fear, anger, anxiety, frustration, and sadness take over our thinking, logical brains.

Source: How Emotions Affect Learning, Behaviors, and Relationships | Edutopia