Monthly Archives: April 2018

Buckingham High School sophomore wins local essay competition – The Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

She’s a history buff, piano player, track runner and National Honor Society member.

Now Buckingham Charter sophomore Sariah Carson can add Optimist of Solano County essay contest winner to her growing list of accomplishments.

Next up for the 15-year-old Vacaville teen — the district competition and choosing a college.

“I was really excited when I got the phone call,” Sariah shared last week, a day before visiting the campuses of Spellman College and Brown University, among others. “It really made me feel proud of myself. It boosted my confidence.”

With encouragement from her mom, Sariah entered the competition with a two-page answer to the question “Can society function without respect?”

Source: Buckingham High School sophomore wins local essay competition, heads to district

Business pilot program up for discussion by SCC board – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Several updates — on the 2017-18 budget, a business program pilot and the Solano County Sheriff’s Department — are on the agenda when Solano Community College leaders meet tonight in Fairfield.

Robert V. Diamond, vice president of finance and administration, will update the governing board about the status of the Solano Community College District budget.

However, the agenda neither included any supporting documents about the 2017-18 budget nor any information about revenues, expenses and funding balances projected for the two outlying years. There was no explanation in the agenda documents.

Lucky Lofton, the school’s executive bonds manager, will update trustees about the Measure Q Small, Local, and Diverse Business Program, including the starting of a two-year pilot program. Its purpose is to establish equity, inclusion and outreach guidelines and promote diversity by offering contracts to small businesses and those owned by ethnic minorities, women and disabled veterans in Solano County and the city of Winters. (Measure Q was the $348 million bond passed by Solano County voters in 2012 to upgrade SCC campuses.)

Source: Business pilot program up for discussion by SCC board

Solano County Office of Education lands $50K grant to support math, science – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Some say “throwing money at schools” makes little or no difference in student achievement outcomes, but American educators generally would argue the exact opposite, asserting that money, indeed, can make a real difference and often does.

To that end, the Solano County Office of Education will use a recently received $50,000 grant to support K-5 math and science standards in area schools.

“We are excited and look forward to working with our school districts to develop model math and science lessons that are engaging and aligned with math and science standards,” Lisette Estrella-Henderson, superintendent of county schools, said in a press release about the County Implementation Award Program (CIAP). “We look forward to supporting our educators who work so hard on behalf of the students they serve.”

 

Source: Solano County Office of Education lands $50K grant to support math, science

Local youth athletes to be Vallejo’s cultural ambassadors to Asia – The Reporter

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

A group of local athletes was “officially” deputized as International Youth Sports Ambassadors Monday for the City of Vallejo, at a news conference at the Vallejo Sister City Association headquarters.

In a Vallejo first, a team of basketball players from several local high schools and a Vallejo Taekwondo team, along with several coaches, parents, City Council members and other Sister City representatives, will be heading to Asia in July for goodwill and competitive sports matches. All they need now, is the money, spokeswoman Yolanda Kim said.

Source: Local youth athletes to be Vallejo’s cultural ambassadors

Schools superintendent to address Northern Solano Democratic Club – The Reporter

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Lisette Estrella Henderson, Solano County Superintendant of Schools, is speaking at the Northern Solano Democratic Club meeting at 7 p.m. April 9 at Pietro’s No. 2, 679 Merchant St. in Vacaville.

For more information, call Jeanie White at (615) 260-7896 or Marilee Scholl at 853-2052.

To learn more about the club, visit www.northernsolanodems.com.

Source: Schools superintendent to address Northern Solano Democratic Club

Child Haven kicks off National Child Abuse Prevention Month – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

By any sad stretch, the numbers were startling:

• Nearly 900 abused Solano County children needed the therapeutic services provided by Child Haven last year.

• Nearly one-third of American children ages 12 to 17 have experienced two or more types of childhood adversity that likely will affect their physical and mental health into adulthood.

• Three American children die every day from child abuse.

Those were among the statistics aired during the “pinwheel event” Monday at Child Haven in Fairfield, where officials kicked off National Child Abuse Prevention Month in a local effort to raise awareness about preventing child abuse and neglect, from physical and sexual abuse to emotional neglect and poverty.

Source: Child Haven kicks off National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Meet the Only K-12 Education Program to Get Cut in the Spending Bill Trump Signed – Education Week

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By Andrew Ujifusa

The new federal spending levels recently approved by President Donald Trump include a $2.6 billion boost for the U.S. Department of Education. But what’s the story behind that number?

Big programs intended for disadvantaged students, special education, and career and technical education are getting significant boosts. Title IV, a big block grant that can be spent on various initiatives, got a nearly three-fold increase. However, it’s not just that the major line items got increases. Several smaller programs that deal with magnet schools, arts in education, and the Special Olympics got more money too.

In fact, we could only find one K-12 program in the Education Department’s new budget that is getting less money in fiscal 2018 than it did in fiscal 2017.

Source: Meet the Only K-12 Education Program to Get Cut in the Spending Bill Trump Signed – Politics K-12 – Education Week

PSA to host Teen Safe Driving event – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Public Safety Academy, Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, NorthBay Healthcare, the California Highway Patrol and Impact Teen Drivers are collaborating to educate teen drivers about the importance of safe driving through the Impact Teen Drivers “What Do You Consider Lethal?” program, according to a press release.

Students from the Public Safety Academy received the evidence-based education program on March 23, just prior to leaving for spring break. Theforthcoming school event corresponds with California Teen Safe Driving Week, which is the first week of April, and will allow students to reinforce their knowledge of the importance of making good decisions, whether as a driver or passenger. The students will be engaging in different skill stations with their peers to highlight awareness of the importance of safe driving.

The event will take place from 11:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. April 5 at the Public Safety Academy, 230 Atlantic Ave. in Fairfield.

Source: PSA to host Teen Safe Driving event

Solano preschoolers on track learning about trains – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Brayden Silvia took his first big train ride Friday with a big smile and talk of Thomas the Train.

The 3-year-old was accompanied by his grandfather, Brian Silvia, as about 100 students – and twice as many parents and grandparents – trekked to the Western Railway Museum with the Solano Community College Early Learning Center.

The trip followed a talk between staff and youth about trains. “In preschool, they are intrigued by vehicles, trains and construction equipment,” said Christie Speck, who heads up the college’s Early Learning Center.

Source: Solano preschoolers on track learning about trains

SCOE receives grant to support math, science – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Solano County Office of Education received a $50,000 grant from the County Implementation Award Program (CIAP) to support K-5 math and science standards implementation, according to a press release.

“We are excited and look forward to working with our school districts to develop model math and science lessons that are engaging and aligned with math and science standards,” said Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson in a statement. “We look forward to supporting our educators who work so hard on behalf of the students they serve.”

A pilot team of K-5 teachers from participating school districts will collaborate to develop model lessons that will be available to all teachers by December 2018. The team will engage in a process of developing, pilot-testing, and refining these lessons in their classrooms.

Source: SCOE receives grant to support math, science