Benicia High School Advanced Dance Show, “Slumber Party” set for three performances – Benicia Herald

By Galen Kusic

This year’s annual Benicia High School Advanced Dance Show, titled “Slumber Party,” is scheduled for three shows on May 30, 31 and June 1 at the Hayley Horn Auditorium on campus. This event is not only a great medium for students to showcase their dancing skills, but it also helps provide funding for the dance program.

“The dance program at BHS accepts donations year round, but participates in fundraising events twice a year in order to allow every student the opportunity to participate,” said BHS dance teacher Samantha Sanchez, who also directed this year’s show. “The program is made up of a beginning, intermediate and advanced class.”

Source: Benicia High School Advanced Dance Show, “Slumber Party” set for three performances

Solano Middle School Call to Action Family Day a hit – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

It started with a broken washing machine and culminated with an outpouring of community concern providing “wrap-around services” for an under-served Vallejo neighborhood.

Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan said she was given a tour of Solano Middle School in early May, and learned two things she hadn’t known before — one was that the school had a washer and dryer for students who needed it, and the other, was that the washer was broken and had been for some time.

It was out of this that a Call to Action Family Day was conceived, planned in the space of two weeks, and held on Wednesday in the parking lot in front of the school. It is believed may be the first event of its kind in Vallejo, she said.

Source: Solano Middle School Call to Action Family Day a hit – Times-Herald

Ceremony to break ground on Dixon High School farm – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

After more than a decade in the works, the Dixon High School farm will have its groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.

When Dixon High relocated to its College Way campus in 2007, one of the proposed new features was a 30-acre farm for the school’s agriculture program. That dream moved a little closer to reality when the Dixon Unified School District Governing Board unanimously approved an agreement for Vacaville-based Abide Builders as the contractor for the project at its May 16 meeting, according to a Facebook post by board Trustee Caitlin O’Halloran.

The construction will consist of two barns, a greenhouse, 8-foot fence, a washout area for animals and utility installation. Work is expected to begin this summer.

Source: Ceremony to break ground on Dixon High School farm – The Reporter

Groundbreaking held for Markham Elementary remodel – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

An often-repeated mantra on Edwin Markham Elementary School’s blacktop Wednesday morning was that the day represented “a new beginning” for Markham.

The occasion: a groundbreaking ceremony for a campuswide modernization at Markham, slated to begin when school lets out for the summer.

The $35 million project is one of several to be funded through Measure A, a $194 million general obligation bond which was approved by voters in 2014. Among the completed projects financed through Measure A include two new two-story buildings to replace old portables at Vacaville High School, a new stadium at Will C. Wood High School, a modernization of Willis Jepson Middle School’s campus and new science classrooms and multipurpose room at Sierra Vista K-8 School. Other future projects include improvements to Vacaville High’s Zunino Stadium, a new shade structure and career tech classroom at Country High School and a new kitchen, shade structure and science labs at Buckingham Charter Magnet High School.

Source: Groundbreaking held for Markham Elementary remodel – The Reporter

Applications open for Solano Youth Coalition – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Youth ages 14 to 21 who want to make a difference in their communities will have an opportunity to do so through Solano Youth Coalition. Applications are currently being accepted for new members.

SYC’s mission is to raise awareness through advocacy for safe and healthier choices in communities through open conversations, participation and collaboration among a new generation of youth advocates, according to a Solano County Office of Education news release. SYC is overseen by SCOE and partners with Solano’s Friday Night Live, a social advocacy program for high schoolers that promotes healthy lifestyles for all youth.

“I encourage all youth to explore programs like the Solano Youth Coalition,” Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County superintendent of schools, said in a statement. “Involvement in programs like this increase youth connectedness to their communities and provides unique opportunities for young people to realize their strengths and discover their passions.”

Source: Applications open for Solano Youth Coalition – The Reporter

Vanden student-athletes sign letters of intent – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

It was crowded in Vanden High’s Jim Boyd Gym, Wednesday, and that had nothing to do with the folks in the stands.

Eleven Vikings athletes from six sports took part in a letter of intent or were announced signing ceremony before family, friends and teammates, with two unable to attend.

“We stop, pause and gather as they reach one more milestone in their journey,” said Vanden girls basketball coach Allison Johnson, who served as master of ceremonies. “We’re honored and privileged to be here to celebrate with you.”

Source: High school sports: Vanden student-athletes sign letters of intent

Padan Elementary receives national honor  – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Eugene Padan Elementary School earned national recognition last week when Franklin Covey Co. named it as a Lighthouse School for its implementation of “The Leader in Me” program, the only school in Northern California to receive the honor.

“The Leader in Me” is a school transformation model developed in partnership with educators that aims to empower students with leadership and life skills needed to thrive in the 21st century, according to a news release by Franklin Covey.

The program starts from the premise that every child possesses unique strengths and has the ability to be a leader, a proposition shapes the views of staff to value and develop the whole child. It also integrates leadership developments into existing school programs and curricula, helps students learn how to become self-reliant, set and track goals, do homework, prioritize their time, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions and live a balanced life, among other things.

Source: Padan Elementary receives national honor for leadership program implementation – The Reporter

Fairfield PAL invites local teens to assemble this summer at PAL! – Daily Republic

By Heather-Rae Sanderson

The Fairfield PAL (Police Activities League) is planning for an EPIC summer and local teens, ages 13-18 years old, can sign up. PAL will be open all summer on Mondays-Thursdays from 3pm to 9pm and Fridays from 3pm to 10:30pm. The PAL Center offers basketball, boxing, martial arts, video games, billiards, arts and crafts, a music studio, flag football, cooking classes, soap hockey, community service, leadership opportunities and more. Memberships can be purchased for only $10.

Thanks to the Kaiser Permanente Foundation and 100 Women Who Care About Solano County, the PAL program will also offer healing center engagement programming designed to help student develop stress management techniques throughout the summer.

Source: Press Release: Fairfield PAL invites local teens to assemble this summer at PAL!

Ed. Dept. Reverts to Original Timeline for Rules on Racial Bias in Special Education – Education Week

By Christina Samuels

An Obama-era Education Department policy relating to racial bias in special education was on, then off, and now is back on again.

The rule was supposed to have gone into effect for the 2018-19 school year but was delayed for two years by the department until a court blocked that move.

The implementation whipsaw is expected to cause problems for states that had relied on the delay of the policy, which relates to disproportional representation of minorities in special education. And these new rules could affect how millions of dollars in federal special education funds are spent at the district level.

Source: Ed. Dept. Reverts to Original Timeline for Rules on Racial Bias in Special Education – On Special Education – Education Week

Record number of students get scholarships from Vallejo Soroptimists – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The women of Soroptimist International of Vallejo awarded 11 scholarships of $5,000 each on Monday — the largest amount of money and recipients in the chapter’s history, organizers said.

The Vallejo club was founded in 1939, just 18 years after the original club was chartered in Oakland, chapter president Kathy Hahn said.

Scholarship committee chairperson and Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan had to kick in $2,000 to fill the gap between the $55,000 needed to award 11 scholarships and the amount raised at the organization’s biggest annual fundraiser — the Winemaker’s Dinner, in September, she said.

Source: Record number of students get scholarships from Vallejo Soroptimists – Times-Herald

RoboVikes host outreach, fundraiser – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Vanden High School Robotics team, the RoboVikes, will host an outreach and fundraising event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday near the Nut Tree carousel in Vacaville, according to a press release.

The event is designed to excite students of all ages about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The RoboVikes will demonstrate their recent robots, Valkyrie and Ragnarok, and attendees will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with robotics and programming activities for all age levels. Other offerings will include catering, a silent auction and merchandise for purchase.

Source: RoboVikes host outreach, fundraiser

Solano County art students showcase skills in annual Art Faire – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

More than 400 artistically inclined students from 27 schools throughout Solano County showcased their work in the Solano County Student Art Faire, held Saturday at the Solano County Fairgrounds’ McCormack Hall.

The work ranged from computer art to sculptures to drawing to mixed media to painting to photography, with many students exhibiting their work for the first time. Ribbons were bestowed to students who placed first, second, third or won honorable mentions in each category. A Best in Show ribbon was given to one artist in each division, and every artist received a certificate just for taking part.

“The Solano Student Art Faire is something we look forward to every year,” Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County superintendent of schools, said in a statement. “It is a special time to bring students, parents, teachers, and the community together to honor the work students have completed over the school year and celebrate the importance of the arts in education.”

Source: Solano County art students showcase skills in annual Art Faire – The Reporter

Solano County shrouded in creativity – Times-Herald

By Chris Riley

People look at pieces of art, including this Best in Show for Division 4 piece titled ‘Shrouded’ by Liana Wong of Armijo High on Saturday. This came during the Solano County Office of Education in partnership with the Solano County Fairgrounds’ 2019 Solano County Student Art show in Vallejo.

Source: Solano County shrouded in creativity – Times-Herald

Special Olympics athletes get weather break at Corbus – Times-Herald

By Richard Freedman

It was a day Spider-Man, Captain America and Wonder Woman gladly surrendered the spotlight Friday to the lesser known super heroes — Special Olympics athletes.

With a weather reprieve between unusual May rains, roughly 100 special needs students ran the 50-yard dash, hurled a javelin and leaped some hurdles in the annual event at Vallejo High School’s Corbus Field.

Seven Vallejo elementary schools, three middle schools, Bethel and Vallejo high schools, Adult Transition School and the Benicia Unified School District participated — all to the delight of Dr. Adam Clark, Vallejo City Unified School District superintendent.

Source: Special Olympics athletes get weather break at Corbus – Times-Herald

Solano special needs students dance the morning away at annual prom – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Over at Armijo High School’s gym, the bass was thumping and fists were pumping for Solano County’s annual prom Friday morning for students with special needs, which proved to be a good time for all.

With the theme being “An Evening in the Enchanted Garden,” the room was strewn with flowers and images of iconic Disney fairies. The feeling of a magic garden was captured as special needs students throughout the county got to dress in their finest outfits, play games and dance to their hearts’ content, all while getting to be themselves.

Lynne Lee, a teacher in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s adapted physical education department, said the event started more than 25 years ago.

Source: Solano special needs students dance the morning away at annual prom – The Reporter

New textbooks adopted in Vallejo school district after nearly 20 years – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The Vallejo City Unified School District adopted new history/social studies textbooks for the first time in some 18 years, at Wednesday’s school board meeting.

The adoption of the new books completes a more than a year-long review process by a team who went over contenders and landed on three main publishers — Pearson, My World Social Studies — for K-5; National Geographic for grades 6 through 8 and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for grades 9 to 12.

Readability was a main factor in the decision-making process, officials said. Another was the benefit of students “seeing themselves” in the textbook — a criteria that came up after Trustee Tony Ubalde asked if the Philippines and Filipino involvement in World War II is included in the books at the high school level. He was told it is.

Source: New textbooks adopted in Vallejo school district after nearly 20 years – Times-Herald

New Solano College courses focus on climate change – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Solano Community College will offer a battery of courses this fall that deal with weather and climate change, according to a press release.

The new courses are included in a new physical science associate degree program the college will offer, the release states.

The four new courses include PHSC 013, Weather and Climate, which is an introduction to modern meteorology, including pressure, wind, temperature, fronts and other processes that affect weather conditions.

Source: New Solano College courses focus on climate change

Solano College to launch SOAR program – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Solano Community College will launch its Students Overcoming Adversity and Recidivism program with an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Vallejo Center, according to a press release.

The program is designed to support formerly incarcerated students as they transform their lives through education.

“We believe no student should be left behind, regardless of what they’ve experienced and challenges they’ve faced,” Superintendent-President Celia Esposito-Noy said in a press release.

Source: Solano College to launch SOAR program

District honors Fairfield, Suisun’s best, brightest – Daily Republic

By Ian Thompson

Their futures include schools that run the gamut from the California Polytechnic State University to Johns Hopkins University – and a whole lot of University of California, Davis.

The planned future careers include neuroscience, early childhood development and environmental policy law to the U.S.s Army, Doctors Without Borders and missionary work in Australia.

Looking out on this year’s 130-strong field of Fairfield-Suisun School District Highest Honors recipients, Superintendent Kris Corey could not help but say “that is a long line of really smart kids.”

Source: District honors Fairfield, Suisun’s best, brightest

2019 Juvenile Court Teacher of the Year Named – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today congratulated Greg Barragan of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools for being named the 2019 Juvenile Court, Community, and Alternative Schools Administrators of California (JCCASAC) Teacher of the Year.

Barragan or Mr. B as his students call him, started as a Career Technical Instructor at the Fresno County Court School in 2015 and launched the school’s welding program. His instruction and expertise has enabled countless students to earn welding certifications and embark on the pathway to solid careers.

Source: 2019 Juvenile Court Teacher of the Year Named – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)