SELPA advisory committee recognizes 28 for work with children who have special needs – Daily Republic

Nearly 30 school district staff, community members and one student have been selected for the annual Solano County Community Advisory Committee Recognition Award.

This year’s selections were specifically chosen “for demonstration of outstanding accomplishments and services for individuals with special needs during the 2020-2021 (Covid-19) pandemic.”

Among the qualities attributed to the nominees are “knowledgeable, approachable, welcoming, energetic, enthusiastic and 100% student-focused.”

Source: SELPA advisory committee recognizes 28 for work with children who have special needs

Solano College celebrates graduates with video-based virtual ceremony – Daily Republic

By Matt Miller

Solano Community College turned to a sharply pre-produced video commencement ceremony Thursday night to honor the Class of 2021, the second straight year it was necessary to hold a virtual event with the ongoing pandemic.

Graduates, families, administrators and faculty gathered together in their own homes throughout the county and beyond to celebrate a special achievement accomplished during a stressful worldwide pandemic.

It was the 75th graduating class and a school year few will ever forget.

Source: Solano College celebrates graduates with video-based virtual ceremony

VUSD schedules in-person graduation ceremonies – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

In-person graduation ceremonies might have been canceled last year as the world was still in the early throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with vaccinations on the rise and cases on the decline, Vacaville Unified School District will make up for it this year with a week of in-person, socially distanced ceremonies.

Yes, that includes the Class of 2020, who had to settle for virtual ceremonies last year. This coming weekend will see last year’s seniors getting honored with ceremonies separate from the Class of 2021. Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy’s 2020 class will have their ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday at Vacaville High School’s Tom Zunino Stadium, followed by Vaca High at 9 a.m. Saturday at its own stadium, and Will C. Wood High School at 6 p.m. Saturday at its very own Wildcat Stadium.

Source: Coronavirus: VUSD schedules in-person graduation ceremonies – The Reporter

Solano County Library offers summer reading challenge – Daily Republic

Registration begins Tuesday for the Solano County Summer Reading Challenge, which runs through July 31.

Sign up at the county library website, solanolibrary.com, or visit a local branch. Participants can track their progress at solanolibrary.beanstack.org. Everyone who registers receives a book bag.

To complete the challenge, read 15 books, read for 15 hours or complete 15 activities (pre-readers). Children and teens will earn a book prize of their choice upon completion of the challenge. Adults will receive a commemorative enamel pin.

Source: Solano County Library offers summer reading challenge

FSUSD to host free COVID vaccine clinics for students 12 and older – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

With Solano Public Health and Solano Emergency Medical Services, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District will host a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic for students age 12 and older in the coming days and weeks.

Those Interested should meet at Grange Middle School, at 1975 Blossom Ave., in Fairfield.

Students age 12 and older will receive only the Pfizer vaccine and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their appointment, Angie Avlonitis, executive director of the district’s administrative services, noted in a prepared statement.

Source: FSUSD to host free COVID vaccine clinics for students 12 and older – The Reporter

California’s community colleges move to require ethnic studies – The Reporter

By Michael Burke, EdSource

California community college students pursuing an associate degree will soon likely have a new course requirement: a three-unit ethnic studies class.

This week, the statewide Board of Governors that oversees California’s 116 community colleges will hold a public hearing on a proposal to add the class to the community college system’s general education requirements. The board is then expected to vote on the change in July.

If the board approves the new requirement as expected, it would mean that every student seeking an associate degree will need to take a class in Native American studies, African American studies, Asian American studies or Latina and Latino studies. The state chancellor’s office has not yet determined when the requirement would be implemented. The earliest it could take effect would be for incoming first-year students in fall 2022.

Source: California’s community colleges move to require ethnic studies – The Reporter

Solano Safe Routes to School grants available starting June 1 – Daily Republic

Grants totaling $100,000 are available to Solano County cities, school districts, schools and community-based organizations from the Safe Routes to School Program.

The application period opens June 1 and closes at 5 p.m. July 15. Awardees will be notified by Sept. 15.

The Micro-Grant Program funds and supports small-scale bike and pedestrian projects and programs that encourage walking and biking, improve safety around schools and will be implemented within one year of the grant award.

Source: Solano Safe Routes to School grants available starting June 1

FSUSD Executive Director Attends Air War College’s 67th National Security Forum – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Angie Avlonitis, Executive Director, was invited to represent Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) and attend the 67th National Security Forum (NSF) at the Air War College (AWC) in Montgomery, Alabama. The annual event, hosted by the Secretary of the United States Air Force, brings together key civic leaders and senior military officers to help strengthen understanding and relationships between military and civilian communities.

The City of Fairfield is home to Travis Air Force Base, and Ms. Avlonitis serves the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District as an educational liaison to Travis Air Force Base. “Ms. Avlonitis’ personal experience growing up as a military child in Germany and Turkey, combined with her commitment to supporting the district’s military students and families, made her the perfect candidate to represent FSUSD and our community at the NSF,” said Superintendent, Kris Corey.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Executive Director Attends Air War College’s 67th National Security Forum

2 local women among first to earn Eagle Scout honors – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Solano County is now home to two female Eagle Scouts.

Both started out in Girl Scouts who joined Venture Scouts and Boy Scouts in 2019, giving them a mere two years to do their Eagle Scout projects.

Isabella Guerra, 19, of Fairfield, and Kaitlin O’Donnell, 19, of Vallejo, are among the first group of almost 1,000 young women to earn the rank.

They co-founded the local all-female Troop 818. The goddess Athena is their patrol designation – a primarily purple emblem. The troop number was chosen to honor Aug. 18, 1920, the day women got the right to vote.

Source: 2 local women among first to earn Eagle Scout honors

Training for a career – The Reporter

By Joel Rosenbaum

Students in the Solano College Fire Academy carry a charged hose line up a staircase as they participate in a live-fire training exercise Tuesday at the Fairfield Fire Department’s training facility. Students spent the day learning from instructors, from the fire departments throughout the county, about fire behavior where they observed how it will spread throughout a room before making an attack and properly extinguishing the blaze.

Source: Training for a career – The Reporter

Deadline arrives for Solano Virtual Art Fair entries – Daily Republic

The deadline for students to submit photos and artwork for the 2021 Solano County Virtual Art Fair has been extended to Friday.

The art fair coincides with the annual county fair, which for the second straight year will be predominantly virtual. It runs June 17-20.

Children in transitional kindergarten through high school seniors are eligible to participate.

Source: Deadline arrives for Solano Virtual Art Fair entries

Top Fairfield-Suisun students earn highest honors – Daily Republic

By Matt Miller

Armijo High School senior Elmer Sosa had no idea what to expect when he pulled up to the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School Wednesday night to pick up his packet as one of the top students in the Fairfield-Suisun School District.

“Honestly, it’s bigger than I thought it would be,” said Sosa, who pulled up and got out of his own car. “I thought I was just picking up my packet and driving off. I’m happy to get the recognition.”

Sosa participated in the Highest Honors ceremony, recognizing those high school students in the district who were able to carry a GPA of 4.0 or higher. School administrators, board trustees, teachers and others created a drive-thru ceremony for students and families as they pulled up in their cars.

Source: Top Fairfield-Suisun students earn highest honors

Vaca High among first 12-and-up vaccination clinics in Solano County – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

As more and more Americans get vaccinated against the coronavirus, now children as young as 12 will have their shot, so to speak.

Solano Public Health held its first 12-and-older vaccination clinic last week in the former Forever 21 space at Solano Town Center, and additional clinics are scheduled throughout the week. On Wednesday, Solano Public Health had its largest pop-up clinic yet in Vacaville High School’s Harold Youngblood Gym with more than 2,020 signups.

Benjamin Gammon, Solano’s Emergency Medical Services coordinator, said he was thrilled with the turnout.

Source: Coronavirus: Vaca High among first 12-and-up vaccination clinics in Solano County – The Reporter

Local high schools going back to traditional graduation ceremonies – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

The days of watching a graduation ceremony from the passenger seat of a car seem to be over for local high schools.

Vallejo, Jesse Bethel, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, Benicia, American Canyon and John Finney high schools will all be returning to a more traditional commencement event during the next few weeks, starting with St. Pat’s this Saturday. Some schools, such as Vallejo, Bethel and possibly Benicia, will be doing two events on the same day, with certain students showing up at one time and the other half at another time later in the day based on what letter their last name begins with.

St. Pat’s has 107 students in its 2021 graduating class, according to the school’s dean of students, Lane Hawkins.

Source: Local high schools going back to traditional graduation ceremonies – Times-Herald

DUSD board to consider new outreach coordinator for district – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a need to further meet Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals, have presented a need for increased communication between Dixon Unified School District and the community.

To that end, DUSD is working to establish a new public information officer position — referred to as the coordinator of outreach, engagement and innovation — to serve that function. The Dixon school board will be voting on a job description for this position at its Thursday meeting.

Cindy Nguyen, the district’s executive director of human resources and employee relations, wrote in a staff report that a number of factors necessitated the need for such a role. The first was to meet the district’s third LCAP goal, which aims to “engage families and the community to form active partnerships which ensure the academic and social growth of students.”

Source: DUSD board to consider new outreach coordinator for district – The Reporter

Leadership changes begin for Travis Unified for the 2021-2022 school year – The Reporter

Travis Unified School District officials have announced some changes in their ranks.

Allyson Rude-Azevedo, current principal at Travis Education Center and Community Day School will fill the role of Director of Student Services, due to the retirement of Matt Smith.

Rude-Azevedo has worked in Travis Unified School District for 21 years, in multiple roles before moving into her current role as Principal of Alternative Education. During her time with Travis USD, Rude-Azevedo has been involved in a number of site and districtwide committees and teams that have positively impacted students and families.

Source: Leadership changes begin for Travis Unified for the 2021-2022 school year – The Reporter

Travis promotes alternative ed chief to lead Student Services – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

The principal at the Travis Education Center and Community Day School has been promoted to director of Student Services at the Travis School District.

The district announced the promotion of Allyson Rude-Azevedo, a 21-year veteran at the district, Monday. The position had been filled by Matt Smith, who is retiring.

Rude-Azevedo has a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from California State University, Stanislaus, and a master’s in educational administration and curriculum and instruction from Chapman University.

Source: Travis promotes alternative ed chief to lead Student Services

Solano Covid clinics available for 12- to 17-year-olds, and up – Daily Republic

Anyone 12 to 17 who wants a Covid-19 vaccination can sign up for clinic spots through the Solano County Public Health Division.

The county, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, NorthBay Healthcare, Partnership Healthplan California, Touro University California and Medic Ambulance Service are hosting additional free vaccine clinics for those 12 or older who live, attend school or work in Solano County.

Parent consent is needed for minors younger than 18, and parents or guardians must attend the appointments. Sign up for an appointment, walk up onsite or call for scheduling or transportation assistance at 784-8655.

Source: Solano Covid clinics available for 12- to 17-year-olds, and up

Vanden High senior Keaton Stout wins Robert O. Briggs Music Scholarship – Daily Republic

The Solano Winds Community Concert Band recently awarded the Robert O. Briggs Music Scholarship to Keaton Stout, a senior at Vanden High School.

The $1,000 award will help to defray education costs when Stout enrolls at Azusa Pacific University in the fall to work toward a degree in commercial music.

He is an accomplished musician and a leader in all of the ensembles at Vanden High School.

Source: Vanden High senior Keaton Stout wins Robert O. Briggs Music Scholarship

Wood grad pursues solo music, more acting after 2 seasons on Netflix’s show ‘Selena’ – Daily Republic

Carlos Alfredo Jr. is in the middle of a very good dream.

Alfredo, who grew up in Vacaville, can be seen in the Netflix series, “Selena.” The second season hit the small screen Monday.

Alfredo, 32, was able to watch the last episodes with his sisters and mother over a span of a few nights.

Source: Will C. Wood grad pursues solo music, more acting after 2 seasons on Netflix’s show ‘Selena’