Monthly Archives: June 2021

Operation Recognition application deadline approaches for veterans to receive diploma – The Reporter

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The Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) is hosting “Operation Recognition,” which honors veterans and Japanese-American citizens who were unable to finish high school with retroactive high school diplomas.

The application deadline for diplomas to be presented in the 2021 Operation Recognition celebration is Tuesday.

Throughout the 1940s-70s, thousands of Americans left high school to serve in the military. During World War II many Japanese-American citizens were interned in relocation camps across the United States as well. Many who served or were interned were unable to finish high school to receive diplomas. These individuals now have the opportunity to receive diplomas as a gesture of gratitude for the sacrifices they made.

Source: Operation Recognition application deadline approaches for veterans to receive diploma – The Reporter

27 local high school students finish SCOE’s Work-Ready Certification program – Times-Herald

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The Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) has recognized 27 local high school students for completing SCOE’s Work-Ready Certification program.

High school students from across Solano County enrolled in the program to develop skills that will help them succeed as they enter the workplace. This year’s program was offered virtually to keep students and staff safe and in compliance with state imposed physical distancing during the pandemic.

Students participated in various workshops, learning the work-ready skills, appropriate use of social media, personal finance, job search and application processes, cover letters, resumes and interviewing. Students who completed the program had the additional benefit of participating in mock interviews with local members of the business community, leaving the program with a professional portfolio.

Source: 27 local high school students finish Solano County Office of Education’s Work-Ready Certification program – Times-Herald

Solano students receive work-ready recognition – Daily Republic

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Twenty-seven local high school students have been recognized for completing the Work-Ready! Certification program.

“We are proud of our students for their dedication to furthering their skill set in preparation for work and post-secondary education,” Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement. “We are grateful for our continued partnership with our school districts and local chambers and for the support of area businesses. This is truly a collaborative endeavor.”

Source: Solano students receive work-ready recognition

Kimme Academy graduates unique blend of students – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

In their iconic song, “Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin sang, “There are two paths you can go by.”

At Vacaville Ernest Kimme Charter Academy, there are also two paths students can go by: the Kimme Charter Academy for Independent Learning (KCAIL) and the Work Readiness and Alternatives Pathway (Kimme WRAP). Kimme was chartered in 2016, but this was the first year the school offered the dual pathway.

Unlike in the Led Zeppelin song, either of these two paths lead to success — in this case a high school diploma.

Source: Kimme Academy graduates unique blend of students – The Reporter

Vacaville youth honored by Boys & Girls Club – The Reporter

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By Anna Eaton

Amid a backdrop encouraging youth to “Make the Promise to Graduate” at the Trower Center, youth at the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club were honored Wednesday at the club’s annual Academic Celebration.

Members from the Padan Club, Markham Club, Trower Club and the Teen Center came together under the pavilion for a socially-distanced recognition. Club staff recognized youth who excelled in Health & Fitness, Character & Leadership and Academic Success. A majority of the kids received an award for making the 3.0 (gpa) Club and proud parents were on hand to snap photos.

Source: Vacaville youth honored by Boys & Girls Club – The Reporter

Dixon High to present farm-to-fork proposal to school board – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

The farm-to-fork movement, which promotes the serving of ingredients often sourced directly from or other food producer at restaurants or school cafeterias, has continued to make gains in recent years. More eateries have adopted farm-to-fork approaches, and even Dixon High School could be offering courses for its students.

At least that’s what Principal Stephanie Marquez and Miranda Will, a career technical education teacher on special assignment are proposing. They will be presenting their proposal at Thursday’s school board meeting.

The farm-to-fork courses would serve as a replacement to the school’s current culinary program, which is currently offered trough the Family Consumer Science Department. The present program has two courses, the first of which teaches students the basics of food and preparing meals and the second of which teaches students to preserve and market foods and even open “businesses” to sell their items to students and teachers, per the DHS 2019-20 school catalog.

Source: Dixon High to present farm-to-fork proposal to school board – The Reporter

Vaca native, Vanden grad earns medical degree – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

A Vacaville native and Vanden High graduate, Kyle Thomas Herout, will receive a degree in medicine on Sunday during commencement at a Pennsylvania medical school.

Herout, 26, will be a newly minted osteopath when he accepts his diploma from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie. After graduation, he will undergo emergency medicine residency training with Kaiser Permanente Central Valley in Modesto.

Herout’s completion of his medical studies comes as the Association of American Medical Colleges has projected a shortage of up to 139,000 physicians — many in primary care — by 2033, according to a March 23 report by the U.S News and World Report. It cited the aging American population and the large number of doctors reaching retirement age, as two major factors.

Source: Vaca native, Vanden grad earns medical degree – The Reporter

Colorful end to middle school – The Reporter

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By Joel Rosenbaum

Vaca Pena Middle School Physical Education teacher, Sarah Torricelli (right) douses a group of eighth-grade students with colored corn starch as they participate in a color run Wednesday to celebrate the end of their middle school careers. About 200 students from the school were treated to a party featuring games, food, and music staffed by their teachers and members of the Will C. Wood Link Crew and student government.

Source: Colorful end to middle school – The Reporter

Solano County Office of Education offers free Pre-Kindergarten Academies – Times-Herald

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The Solano County Office of Education, partnered with First 5 Solano, Greater Vallejo Recreation District, and the First 5 Center.

The office will be holding a free Pre-Kindergarten Academy for children living in Vallejo with little or no preschool experience.

There will be two sessions, June 7 to July 1 and July 5 to July 30, both sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Source: Solano County Office of Education offers free Pre-Kindergarten Academies – Times-Herald

Muzetta Thrower Adult Education Center students feted for their perseverance – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Significant milestones came to 25 students at Muzetta Thrower Adult Education Center Tuesday, as they capped off their years of learning with diplomas, GEDs and other important documents in a ceremony held at Vacaville High School’s Tom Zunino Stadium.

It was a joyous occasion for the school, which provides classes to students 18 and older in a variety of programs. Students can enroll in a diploma program consisting of required high school courses, a GED program to prepare students for taking the General Education Development tests, a workforce preparation class, a program for adults with disabilities, an English as a Second Language program for students who want to learn English or prepare for a citizenship test, and a community education program offering such classes as conversational Spanish, ethnic studies and basic computers in the workplace.

Source: Muzetta Thrower Adult Education Center students feted for their perseverance – The Reporter

Will C. Wood honors athletes headed to college – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

Thirteen student-athletes from Will C. Wood High will be moving on to play their respective sports in college. In a couple of cases, they will be sticking together by attending the same school.

The athletes were honored in a ceremony in the Will C. Wood gym on Tuesday afternoon, with family and friends in attendance.

Athletic director and head baseball coach Nick Voight gave the opening address, noting that only seven percent of high school athletes go on to play in college, and only two percent latch on with a Division I school. He said that going to a Division I college is not the be-all and end-all, stating, “There are great experiences out there no matter what path they take that are going to help them grow.”

Source: Will C. Wood honors athletes headed to college – The Reporter

Four things to know about the California budget deal – The Reporter

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By Laurel Rosenhall, CalMatters

With a deluge of dollars flowing into California’s coffers from state taxpayers and Uncle Sam, Democratic leaders in the Legislature have agreed on a budget plan that would spend slightly less than what Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed, while still pouring billions of dollars into helping Californians recover from the pandemic.

The $267.1 billion plan the Assembly and Senate announced Tuesday largely mirrors the proposals Newsom laid out last month in his $267.8 billion budget. It embraces Newsom’s “Golden State Stimulus,” which will send at least $500 to every household that makes as much as $75,000 a year. It would pour even more into grants to help small businesses and into payments toward unemployment insurance. But it would launch fewer new social programs than the Democratic governor proposed.

Source: Four things to know about the California budget deal – The Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun school board recognizes service – Daily Republic

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Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees honored several students, staff and community members Thursday.

The Community Advisory Committee awarded Special Education Local Plan Area awards to several educators, youth and members of the community for outstanding service and for going above and beyond in service of students with disabilities.

Those recognized include student Deena Sharqawi along with community member Sonia Vera and educators Christina Miller, Christine Hunt, Don Mosley, Fern Decena, Samantha Hyles and Travis Nelson. They were honored during a short video presentation.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun school board recognizes service

A year later, Will C. Wood holds in-person graduation – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

As Will C. Wood Principal Adam Rich put it in his commencement address before the 2020 graduates’ family and friends at Wildcat Stadium Saturday night, “Better late than never.”

About 150 of a graduating class of 320 marched onto the football field to Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” at the in-person graduation ceremony that never happened last year due to COVID-19. Each student was permitted to invite up to eight family or friends.

Those graduates who did not attend may have been unable due to joining the military or attending colleges out of state or having careers distant from Vacaville. But those who did attend were treated to the full program that they missed last year, when they had to settle for a virtual program.

Source: A year later, Will C. Wood holds in-person graduation – The Reporter

Will C. Wood hires new head football coach – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

If it feels like high school football season just ended, that’s because it did. Courtesy of COVID, local fans were treated to a five-game spring football season.

At Will C. Wood High, practice for the fall season begins on June 7. And it will have a new look, mainly because the Wildcats (2-3 record in the spring) have a new head coach, Jacob Wright.

Kirk Anderson, the head coach for the last two seasons, is moving to El Dorado County to coach at Union Mine High School. Wright, who served as Anderson’s offensive and defensive line coach, now steps up to the helm. He comes with a solid playing and coaching resume.

Source: Will C. Wood hires new head football coach – The Reporter

Buckingham 2020 class finally gets in-person graduation – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

As of Friday, graduation season is now in full swing in Vacaville.

However, the season did not start with the Class of 2021 — which will have in-person ceremonies throughout next week — but rather the Class of 2020, which had to forego traditional ceremonies in favor of them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, they will have their due, starting with Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy, whose 2020 seniors graduated at Vacaville High School’s Tom Zunino Stadium Friday evening.

The last year has been a tumultuous one for Buckingham, which saw a name change — from Buckingham Charter Magnet High School, the continuation of distance learning and a relocation to a bigger space in the former Country High School campus on McClellan Street. However, the familiar sight of maroon caps and gowns filled the stadium as Buckingham began its return to normalcy.

Source: Buckingham 2020 class finally gets in-person graduation – The Reporter