Armijo grad’s feature comes to Netflix – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Tune in to Netflix Friday and see the work of Armijo High graduate Frank Abney III.

“Canvas” is a 9-minute film about a grandfather who, after suffering a devastating loss, is sent into a downward spiral and loses his inspiration to create. Years later, he decides to revisit the easel – and pick up the paint brush – but he can’t do it alone.

It was inspired by Abney’s own loss, thinking about how the death of his father affected his mother, Abney told the Daily Republic in 2018.

Source: At the Movies: Armijo grad’s feature comes to Netflix

Travis Credit Union hosts ‘Finance U’ event to promote financial aid – Daily Republic

Travis Credit Union invites young adults to attend ‘Finance U,’ an interactive virtual event Thursday that’s designed to teach youth about financial aid opportunities for postsecondary education, choosing a school and preparing for campus life and admissions.

The program will include special guests and giveaways to engage youth interested in higher education after high school. All youth (ages 13 to 21) registered for the event will be entered in a drawing to win a new Chromebook. Attendees can register at traviscu.org/finance-u.

Travis Credit Union has come together with community partners since 2006 to increase student awareness of available state and federal opportunities for financial aid. These events exemplify the credit union’s mission to provide financial wellness in the community reflecting the credit union’s “Awesome Cause” of providing financial education, financial literacy and financial advocacy to all it serves, according to a press release from the credit union.

Source: Travis Credit Union hosts ‘Finance U’ event to promote financial aid

Music, beauty products part of next phase of mixed reality STEM education – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

A Vacaville nonprofit that introduced in November 2019 a program that teaches science, technology, engineering and mathematics through music and virtual reality is ready to roll out the next phase of STEMM Fest.

“Ma’at Enterprises Inc. and the La Bella Vita Inc. Foundation are excited to announce mixed reality programs,STEMM Fest and STEM Bella, as solutions to address the lack of minority educational access and underrepresentation in STEM,” Monique Allen and Stacey Miller, the creators behind this education model, announced in a statement.

Allen is a Vacaville resident. Miller lives in Oakland.

Source: Music, beauty products part of next phase of mixed reality STEM education

Register for the California STEAM Symposium – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

Give yourself the gifts of community, inspiration, and revitalization by joining us at this year’s California STEAM Symposium External link opens in new window or tab. on December 11–13, 2020! As we wind down 2020, we look forward to collaborating with educators from around the world at the California STEAM Symposium to prepare for a wonderful launch into 2021 and we are excited to announce our keynote speakers who will rejuvenate, energize, and motivate you!

Source: Register for the California STEAM Symposium – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

Solano County clarifies school guidance for Covid-19 cases, exposure – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

The Solano County Public Health Division posted on its webpage this week guidance for what schools are to do if they have or if they suspect a Covid-19 case.

The guidance is basically the same as the original document, but did amend some language so schools are more clear as to what they should do.

“I think the reason we posted (the guidance) was for clarity . . . on how to handle student cases and contacts,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a phone interview.

Source: Solano County clarifies school guidance for Covid-19 cases, exposure

CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Periods. Here’s What That Means for Schools – Education Week

By Evie Blad

Shorter COVID-19 quarantine periods, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends, could ease some of the burdens that have made in-person learning difficult for schools, but challenges remain.

The new recommendations, announced Wednesday, would allow for close contacts of people diagnosed with the virus to resume normal activity after 10 days if they don’t show symptoms, or as little as seven days if they test negative.

The ideal quarantine period is still 14 days, but federal health officials hope that offering shorter options will encourage more people to cooperate by reducing the burden of being away from work and school for extended periods, they told reporters on a conference call.

Source: CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Periods. Here’s What That Means for Schools – Politics K-12 – Education Week

Master Plan for Early Learning and Care – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: California for All Kids External link opens in new window or tab., a roadmap for building a more equitable, comprehensive early learning and care system in California.

“We know that bold investments early in a child’s life can pay remarkable returns throughout their education and their careers. We applaud the recommendations outlined today that we know can level the playing field and make all the difference for children, such as providing universal preschool and ending disproportionate suspensions for students of color in early care.

Source: Master Plan for Early Learning and Care – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

FSUSD breaks ground for $6M performing arts building at Oakbrook Academy – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

The value of the arts, which supports creative and critical thinking skills so highly prized in a 21st-century economy, is getting more than symbolic due in Fairfield-Suisun Unified.

The district, the county’s largest with some 22,000 students across 30 campuses, recently broke ground on a $6 million performing arts building at Oakbrook Academy of the Arts in Fairfield. When completed in August, the structure is projected to enhance the TK-8 school’s mission of commingling core academic subjects with a wide array of arts offerings, from the visual arts and dance to music and theater.

The news comes 11 months after state schools chief Tony Thurmond cited the Oakbrook Drive school for its “exemplary arts education,” one of 13 California schools that demonstrated a high level of arts education programs and practices as it transformed into an arts academy. The academy also was a 2020 recipient of the distinguished California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award, given to creative programs and meet the needs of a diverse population of students.

Source: FSUSD breaks ground for $6M performing arts building at Oakbrook Academy – The Reporter

Corbus Field gets December makeover – Times-Herald

New turf was installed at Corbus Field in Vallejo this week. The money for the project is paid through Measure S funds, according to the Vallejo Unified School District. The work on the field is part of phase one of a makeover. Phase two is not expected to happen until 2024 and will be much more involved. Vallejo and Jesse Bethel high schools share the field for sports like football, soccer and track.

Source: Photo: Corbus Field gets December makeover – Times-Herald

Inside California’s new master plan to reshape early education and child care – The Reporter

By Karen D’Souza, EdSource

California’s long-awaited roadmap to reshape early childhood care and education in the state took a critical first step on Tuesday with the release of a first-ever 10-year master plan, but some advocates say more specifics are needed to ensure progress.

Gov. Gavin Newsom made early childhood education a central focus of his administration prior to the pandemic and has maintained his support throughout the health crisis. The 107-page Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: California for All Kids, which its authors say would require anywhere from $2-$12 billion to implement, is intended to serve as an overarching framework over the next decade to overhaul the state’s childhood education and child care systems, which have long lagged behind those of other states.

Source: Inside California’s new master plan to reshape early education and child care – The Reporter

FSUSD COMPLETES MEASURE J PROJECT AT SHELDON ACADEMY OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) has recently completed a two-year construction project at Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning that has dramatically altered the appearance and functionality of the campus. The K-8 school received a new 24,360 square feet two-story classroom building that replaced the 18 aging portables and two portable restrooms. The new 5,965 square feet library, previously housed in a portable, includes a college and career classroom and an innovation lab with a large roll-up door to incorporate outdoor learning experiences. The classrooms in the original 1963 building were modernized and the front office was relocated to a central location, clearly indicating for the first time where visitors are to enter the campus.

Source: Good News: FSUSD COMPLETES MEASURE J PROJECT AT SHELDON ACADEMY OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING