2021 CA Exemplary Arts Education Awards – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that 33 California schools were selected for the California Exemplary Arts Education Award.

These schools engage students in quality arts education that meet California Arts Standards for Public Schools (Arts Standards) and demonstrate progress on indicators on the California School Dashboard. The awards are designed to celebrate successful efforts to engage students in arts through exposure to a variety of disciplines.

“This year has been especially challenging for our students and schools, but I commend these schools for recognizing that this is a time when the arts are more critical than ever,” State Superintendent Thurmond said. “These schools excelled in providing quality arts education, despite all the obstacles presented by distance learning. It is with great pleasure we honor these schools for their steadfast dedication to arts education that plays a powerful role in supporting wellness, bridging social divides, and expanding creativity and critical thinking in our students.”

Source: 2021 CA Exemplary Arts Education Awards – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Medical science students assist with mass vaccination clinic at Vacaville High School – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Vacaville High School’s medical science program has been around for more than a decade, providing students opportunities to witness the work of medical professionals firsthand to bring their lessons to life.

On Wednesday, they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Solano Public Health hosted a mass vaccination clinic on their campus, and students volunteered to assist with check-ins, direct them to the vaccination area, fill out cards for next appointments and observe patients for 15 minutes following their shots, which were administered by medical professionals.

The clinic came two weeks after Solano County expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older. Benjamin Gammon, the county’s Emergency Medical Services coordinator, said previously, the only people as young as 16 who could get vaccinated were those with chronic conditions.

Source: Coronavirus: Medical science students assist with mass vaccination clinic at Vacaville High School – The Reporter

Free STEM camps open to Solano middle, high school girls – Daily Republic

Applications are being taken for the free five-day virtual Girls in Robotics Leadership camps to middle and high school girls in June in Solano County.

The Solano County Office of Education and the University of California, Davis C-STEM Center puts on the event. The Office of Education provides the technology needed for the camps.

The middle school camps are scheduled June 7-11 and June 14-18. Optional Zoom instruction is from 1 to 3 p.m. Go to https://c-stem.ucdavis.edu/girl/girl-camp/2021-2/ for more information.

Source: Free STEM camps open to Solano middle, high school girls

Free STEM camps open to Solano middle, high school girls – Daily Republic

Applications are being taken for the free five-day virtual Girls in Robotics Leadership camps to middle and high school girls in June in Solano County.

The Solano County Office of Education and the University of California, Davis C-STEM Center puts on the event. The Office of Education provides the technology needed for the camps.

The middle school camps are scheduled June 7-11 and June 14-18. Optional Zoom instruction is from 1 to 3 p.m. Go to https://c-stem.ucdavis.edu/girl/girl-camp/2021-2/ for more information.

Source: Free STEM camps open to Solano middle, high school girls

Nearly 30 Bay Area Schools Added To List Of CA Distinguished Schools – CBS San Francisco

State schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond named an additional 121 schools – including 28 in the greater Bay Area – as 2021 California Distinguished Schools.

The award honors schools who have made improvements in test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate. The state originally honored 102 schools March 18, but after further review of the data added the additional schools.

Source: Nearly 30 Bay Area Schools Added To List Of California Distinguished Schools – CBS San Francisco

Rodriguez High School Named 2021 California Distinguished School | Suisun City, CA Patch

By Maggie Fusek

A school in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District was among an additional 121 schools named 2021 California Distinguished Schools this week by California Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond.

The state originally honored 102 schools March 18, but after further review of the data recognized the additional schools, including Angelo Rodriguez High School in Fairfield and 27 other greater Bay Area schools.

The award recognizes schools that have made improvements in closing the achievement gap and student participation, which are measured by test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate.

Source: Rodriguez High School Named 2021 California Distinguished School | Suisun City, CA Patch

Additional 2021 California Distinguished Schools – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today named an additional 121 schools as 2021 California Distinguished Schools. In an announcement on March 18, the California Department of Education (CDE) awarded the honor to 102 schools and today that list has been broadened to include 120 additional California senior high schools and one more middle school.

The California Department of Education (CDE) identifies and awards eligible schools based on performance and progress on state indicators specified on the California School Dashboard, the state’s accountability and continuous improvement system. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate. After a review of the data, CDE identified these additional schools for this year’s honor.

“These additional high schools join the ranks of all 2021 California Distinguished Schools who are being recognized for this distinction because of their exceptional record to provide for all students and their commitment to data-driven efforts that prepare students for college and career,” Thurmond said. “Our thanks go to the entire communities surrounding these schools, including the teachers, administrators, and classified employees as well as the students and their families who, through teamwork, all accomplished this impressive achievement together.”

Source: Additional 2021 California Distinguished Schools – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Vacaville teacher, Benicia skills trades technician take home SCOE awards – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

A U.S. history and ethnic studies teacher in Vacaville and a skills trades technician with the Benicia School District took home top honors Tuesday as the Solano County Office of Education honored classified and certificated employees.

Laura Roberts, who served time in the military prior to teaching, took home the top educator award.

She grew up in Vacaville, graduating from Will C. Wood High School. Roberts referred to herself as one of the students who fell through the cracks.

Source: Vacaville teacher, Benicia skills trades technician take home SCOE awards

Kristyn Andrews named new Foxboro principal – The Reporter

After five years as assistant principal at Foxboro Elementary School, Kristyn Andrews has been named as the school’s new principal. She will be taking the reins from Samantha Chizauskie, who will become the new principal at Cooper Elementary School.

Pam Conklin, superintendent of Travis Unified School District, announced Andrews’ appointment in a news release. Andrews had also recently been named by the Association of California School Administrators as Elementary Co-Administrator of the Year.

“Ms. Andrews commitment and dedication to the students, faculty, and families of Foxboro Elementary is steadfast,” Conklin said in a statement. “She has been an asset to the entire school community both during her entire time at Foxboro, and even more so this last year, at both schools, in a time of constant change and challenges due to COVID. We are fortunate to have such an extraordinary educator who will serve as Principal of Foxboro Elementary.”

Source: Kristyn Andrews named new Foxboro principal – The Reporter

Dixon school board gathering input on planning for next year – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

With campuses now open on a hybrid schedule, following a year of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dixon Unified School District is already looking ahead toward how campuses might look in the 2021-22 academic year.

Following the discussion at the last school board meeting on potential COVID-related funding sources for the district, the board will hold a special meeting Thursday to review the input gathered from family, staff and student surveys.

A presentation at the April 15 meeting highlighted 10 funding sources for DUSD to use over the next three years. One of these is an in-person instruction grant, with $474,354 to be spent starting July 1. Permitted uses for this money outlined in the presentation include COVID-19 testing, ventilation and other site upgrades for health and safety, personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfecting, salaries for employees providing in-person instruction or services, and social and mental health support provided in accordance with in-person learning.

Source: Dixon school board gathering input on planning for next year – The Reporter

FSUSD Public Safety Academy accepting enrollments for 2021-22 – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Fairfield-Suisun Unified’s Public Safety Academy has begun to accept enrollment applications for the 2021-22 academic year.

There are current openings for incoming fifth- and ninth-grade students, with waitlists for all other grades at the Fairfield school, district officials said in a press release issued Monday.

The PSA, as it’s called for short, is a fifth- through 12th-grade thematic school of choice in the sprawling district, Solano County’s largest.

Source: FSUSD Public Safety Academy accepting enrollments for 2021-22 – The Reporter

Launching the Attendance Awareness Campaign! – Attendance Works

The many challenges presented by Covid-19 has led to an alarming number of students missing out on school-based learning opportunities. As districts and schools look towards recovery, we and our campaign partners are urging everyone to Rebound with Attendance!

The 2021 Attendance Awareness Campaign calls for starting in the spring to promote attendance and laying the foundation for ensuring students will attend classes this fall.

Building relationships, and creating opportunities over the summer will support the routine of showing up in person to a classroom. And, reviewing attendance data on an ongoing basis will help to identify, early on, students in need of outreach and possibly additional support.

Source: Launching the Attendance Awareness Campaign! – Attendance Works

Vacaville celebrates special needs community – The Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

At least 100 people converged on Andrews Park Saturday to celebrate Vacaville’s inaugural Special Needs Day.

With a little bit of pomp, a dash of circumstance and a whole lot of love, attendees heralded a section of the community that often goes unnoticed.

For Ms. Vacaville Carmen Sosa, the event was very welcomed.

“It brings attention and advocacy to people like my son,” she shared, of a 9 year old on the autism spectrum. “We muscle through with help from the community.”

Source: Vacaville celebrates special needs community – The Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun school board trims graduation requirements for Class of 2021, Class of 2022 – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Members of the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2022 in the Fairfield-Suisun School District must complete a reduced set of requirements to graduate, a divided school board decided this week.

Superintendent Kris Corey gave a brief review Thursday of the temporary graduation requirements, which are a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for extended distance learning that crossed two academic years of instruction.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun school board trims graduation requirements for Class of 2021, Class of 2022

SCOE to honor top 2021-22 educators, school staff – Daily Republic

Seven teachers and eight classified employees have been nominated as the top educators in Solano County for 2021-22.

The certificated educators nominated are:

Kelly Hughes, a fifth-grade teacher in the Benicia School District; Jenny Campbell, a response to intervention and English language development K-3 teacher at Dixon School District; Joseph Arbizu, a math, Algebra II, integrated math and geometry high school teacher in the Fairfield-Suisun School District; Ronald Major, a multiple-subjects (8-12), teacher for the Solano County Office of Education; Kylie Negin, an English and journalism high school teacher in the Travis School District; Laura Roberts, a U.S. history and ethnic studies (11-12) teacher at Vacaville School District; and Vivet Beckford-Nelson, a biology and engineering design and development high school teacher in the Vallejo City School District.

Source: SCOE to honor top 2021-22 educators, school staff

Vivet Beckford-Nelson is Vallejo’s Teacher of the Year – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

Vivet Beckford-Nelson says she teaches because of the students. Everything she does is for them.

However, earlier this year her hard work for students helped her gain an award for herself.

Beckford-Nelson, a biology teacher at Vallejo High School, is the 2020 Vallejo City Unified School District Teacher of the Year. When learning about the award through a letter from the district, Beckford-Nelson said she was surprised.

“I was not expecting this at all,” Beckford-Nelson said with a laugh. “I always do my best and I always think of the students first. I had to work a little harder this year, so this means a lot to be recognized.”

Source: Vivet Beckford-Nelson is Vallejo’s Teacher of the Year – Times-Herald

FAFSA Completions Down In CA: How Dixon Area Schools Compare | Dixon, CA Patch

Among the many disruptions caused by the pandemic is a decline in the number of students filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is used to apply for college financial aid.

FAFSA form completions are often seen as a harbinger of future enrollment. The decline of applications this year, especially among low-income students, has some experts worried.

“This year is clawing back relative to last year, but it’s still not a good FAFSA completion situation,” said Bill DeBaun, director of data and evaluation for the National College Attainment Network.

Source: FAFSA Completions Down In CA: How Dixon Area Schools Compare | Dixon, CA Patch

SCOE names educator nominees of the year – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

The nominations are in, and the Solano County Office of Education will name the county’s two educators of the year during a virtual celebration on Tuesday.

Every year county school districts nominate one teacher and one classified, or school-support, employee to be recognized as the best of the best for the year.

During the online celebration, which begins at 3 p.m. on the SCOE Facebook page and at www.Solanocoe.net, each nominee for the 2021-2022 awards will be honored.

Source: SCOE names educator nominees of the year – The Reporter

Vacaville grad DeSouza earns 4 All-American honors – Daily Republic

By Paul Farmer

Prior to this season, the University of California, Berkeley women’s gymnastics program had earned seven All-American honors with the lone first-team award coming in 1992.

The Golden Bears more than matched that total at last week’s NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, with Nevaeh DeSouza by herself claiming four Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-American awards.

The Vacaville High graduate earned first-team honors on vault (fourth, 9.8875) and second-team on beam (fifth, 9.9125), floor (sixth, 9.9250) and all-around (eighth, 39.525).

Source: Alumni update: Vacaville grad DeSouza earns 4 All-American honors

Inaugural event in Vacaville to celebrate special needs – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Since its inception last year, Vacaville People’s Forum has sought to highlight the various people who make up Vacaville and give everybody a voice.

This Saturday, the organization will host an event to highlight the differently abled community. In honor of Special Needs Awareness Month, Vacaville People’s Forum will be hosting a celebration in Andrews Park titled “Be You.”

The event will feature a parade, music, speeches by local dignitaries and resources to connect with different agencies.

Source: Inaugural event in Vacaville to celebrate special needs – The Reporter