Monthly Archives: August 2021

SPI Hosts Safe and Successful Schools Webinar – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond brought experts in the fields of public health and education together on Wednesday for a wide-ranging discussion of COVID-19 data and mitigation efforts that have resulted in the safe reopening of thousands of schools across California.

The Safe and Successful Schools webinar was developed in partnership by the California Department of Education (CDE), the California Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education and the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Dr. Naomi Bardach of the Safe Schools for All team and State Board President Linda Darling-Hammond shared information on California’s robust and multi-layered approach to COVID-19 prevention, which has resulted in no school reopening delays thus far in the fall semester. Bardach and Darling-Hammond shared data that demonstrates how state-supported COVID-19 testing programs, on-site vaccine clinics, universal masking and detailed quarantine guidance have helped keep California students in class and learning despite the troublesome rise of the Delta variant. A recording of the webinar is available on the CDE Facebook page External link opens in new window or tab..

Source: SPI Hosts Safe and Successful Schools Webinar – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Jesse Bethel High football program on pause due to positive COVID tests – Times-Herald

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By Matt O’Donnell

The Jesse Bethel High School football team, which played just one game in the spring, has had at least one game canceled in the fall.

Principal Kirsten Wollenwever announced on Tuesday that all football players — varsity and junior varsity — must not come to campus for instruction or practice for the remainder of the week due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Source: Jesse Bethel High football program on pause due to positive COVID tests – Times-Herald

Fairfield-Suisun trustees to hear about efforts that aim to keep students in school – Daily Republic

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BY Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun School District governing board will take a look Thursday at a new grant program geared toward keeping children in school.

School trustees will hear a presentation from Antoinette Miller, coordinator of Multi-tiered System of Supports on Learning Communities for the School Success Program Grant.

The grant was established for the purpose of implementing the K-12 education portion of the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act of 2014.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees to hear about efforts that aim to keep students in school

2021 STEAM Back-To-School Pre-Conference – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

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In partnership with the California Department of Education’s Expanded Learning Division and the California AfterSchool Network, the California STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Symposium co-hosts are excited to announce the virtual 2021 Expanding Learning Opportunities with STEAM Back-To-School Pre-Conference on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, presented by Chevron.

This exciting partnership builds on our community belief that STEAM learning happens everywhere and at any time of the day. Throughout the event, we will explore opportunities for collaboration between community-based organizations and the TK–16 system. We are excited to support our education community as we all strategically plan to use the monumental education budgets focused on early education, social-emotional learning, teacher pipeline, and expanded learning. Participants will also learn more about the new Expanded Learning Opportunities Program established in July 2021 by Assembly Bill 130.

Source: 2021 STEAM Back-To-School Pre-Conference – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Dixon High farm grand opening scheduled for Saturday – The Vacaville Reporter

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Since its relocation to College Way in 2007, one thing Dixon High School has lacked has been easy access to a farm for its agriculture students, although establishing one has been a priority for the Dixon Unified School District for the last 14 years.

The wait is nearly over. On Saturday, a grand opening will be held for Dixon High’s farm, its first to ever be located on a Dixon High campus.

At its previous location at 455 East A St., Dixon High students utilized a farm on Sievers Road for Future Farmers of America projects. Since the school’s relocation, students have independently worked on projects at different farms. With funding from a Career Technical Education Facilities grant from the California Department of Education and sale of the Sievers Road farm, DUSD was finally able to get the project going, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2019.

Source: Dixon High farm grand opening scheduled for Saturday – The Vacaville Reporter

Inaugural Solano Water Institute for teachers makes waves in science education – Daily Republic

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The Solano Resource Conservation District hosted the first three-day Solano Water Institute for Teachers early this month at various sites throughout Solano County and at Lake Berryessa.

The new teacher workshop provided 27 Solano County educators with knowledge, skills and tools to help them teach watershed science and land preservation from a locally relevant perspective.

The Solano Water Institute featured presentations from nine local and state experts on water resources, open spaces and climate change with conversations integrating Project WET, an award-winning environmental education curriculum created by the Water Education Foundation.

Source: Inaugural Solano Water Institute for teachers makes waves in science education

FSUSD appoints child nutrition manager – The Vacaville Reporter

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The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has appointed Monica Gonzalez as its child nutrition manager.

Gonzalez’s six years of experience with FSUSD’s Child Nutrition Department with growing responsibilities underscores her commitment to serving the students in the District, officials said in a press statement.

Gonzalez grew up in Fairfield. Her entire educational career took place in the district. She has been employed with FSUSD since 2015 and most recently served as a Bilingual Secretary III in the Child Nutrition Department.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District appoints child nutrition manager – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano Library offers adults online high school program – Daily Republic

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The Solano County Library offers adults the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate through its Career Online High School program.

The library’s program provides a limited number of scholarships to qualified adult learners who are looking to expand their career opportunities, prepare for workforce entry or simply continue their education.

To be considered for the program, applicants must successfully complete an online self-assessment and prerequisite course, followed by an in-person interview.

Source: Solano Library offers adults online high school program

Solano College offers workshops to help with online learning – Daily Republic

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Solano Community College is offering free online learning workshops.

These workshops can help students improve in their online courses with a focus on organizational skills and time management, the college reports.

The workshops also cover topics such as how to get the most out of online lectures and how best to communicate with instructors.

There are four online learning workshops to attend. Students can join all the workshops via Zoom. The Zoom links are available at the college website, solano.edu, and the school’s Facebook page.

Source: Solano College offers workshops to help with online learning

VCUSD partners with Touro for vaccine workshop – Times-Herald

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The Vallejo City Unified School District has once again partnered with Touro University to offer a vaccine workshop.

The workshop is intended to assist families in processing through vaccine hesitancy, a news release by VCUSD stated on Wednesday afternoon. The workshop will be facilitated by three Spanish/English bilingual doctors.

“Even though your students may not be of age for the vaccine, many members of their families likely are – and every vaccinated person helps us with our goal,” VCUSD Assistant Superintendent, Mitchell Romao said.

Source: Vallejo City Unified School District partners with Touro for vaccine workshop – Times-Herald

CC Sabathia gives out thousands of free backpacks – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Although he’s been retired from playing baseball for a few years, CC Sabathia is still making a few good pitches toward his hometown of Vallejo. About 3,000 of them.

All Vallejo students in first through third grade will receive a nice surprise on Thursday with their free backpack from Sabathia’s PitCCh In Foundation. The backpacks, going out to approximately 15 schools in the city, will come with numerous supplies including pens, pencils, markers, binders, crayons, folders, masks, hand sanitizer, tissues, etc. The backpacks come in four colors — blue, black, yellow and red.

Source: CC Sabathia gives out thousands of free backpacks – Times-Herald

Father of Vanden High student shot, killed asks Fairfield to help honor his son – Daily Republic

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BY Todd R. Hansen

The father of a Vanden High student-athlete who was shot and killed in April asked the Fairfield council this week for help in honoring Daniel Hughes’ memory.

“I want to honor his legacy and dreams, and he did have big dreams,” Dejon Hughes said about his son.

Daniel Hughes was shot on Easter Sunday and died 14 days later on April 18. He was 17 years old.

His father described his son, who was a junior at Vanden High at the time of his death, as someone who was involved in the community.

Source: Father of Vanden High student shot, killed asks Fairfield to help honor his son

School bells ring again in Fairfield-Suisun schools – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

They came carrying backpacks, some almost as tall as the student, and lunch boxes.

In addition to the special first day of school outfit, they donned masks as the Fairfield-Suisun School District kicked off its 2021-2022 school year.

Parking spaces were a sought-after commodity at Suisun Elementary. Vehicles were parked on Pintail Drive for several blocks. Some parents secured spots on the residential streets, although it meant a little extra walking.

Source: School bells ring again in Fairfield-Suisun schools

Benicia teacher back in same classroom 49 years later – Times-Herald

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By Richard Freedman

Returning to Robert Semple Elementary School in Benicia is pure déjà vu for Kelli Huettenhain. Her first time in Room 9, she had no idea what déjà vu meant.

Huettenhain was in kindergarten, naturally oblivious that 49 years later, she would return to the school to teach fifth grade. And as much as Huttenhain tried to focus on Tuesday’s chaos of opening day, she couldn’t help but recall the memories after spending time in the hallowed space last Thursday and Friday as she prepared for this year’s challenges.

“The corner wall door is where I remember Mrs. Conway had a rocking chair,” Huettenhain said. “She would read books to us, sing songs, things like that.”

Source: Benicia teacher back in same classroom 49 years later – Times-Herald

Classes, mostly online, begin at Solano College with start of fall semester – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Classes began Monday at Solano Community College and its satellite campuses with some in-person learning but the bulk of the roughly 9,000 students being served online.

“Putting major protocol in place has been a full-time job with the way the virus has picked up again,” Superintendent and President Celia Esposito-Noy said. “We are working hard to make sure everyone stays healthy.”

Stronger filters have been added to air conditioning units around campus. There are many sanitation stations and masks are required indoors.Esposito-Noy said that the highly protective N-95 masks have also been made available.

Source: Classes, mostly online, begin at Solano College with start of fall semester

Teachers, leaders at Fairfield-Suisun schools eager to welcome students back to campus – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Superintendent Kris Corey said teachers and administrators in the Fairfield-Suisun School District are eagerly awaiting the arrival of children and teens as campuses across both communities open their doors Wednesday.

“There is an overall feeling of excitement as we welcome back our students in person for the start of the school year,” said Corey, who answered questions Tuesday by email. “The first day of a school year is always filled with lots of joy, laughter and enthusiasm. In addition, there are also feelings of anxiety.”

Source: Teachers, leaders at Fairfield-Suisun schools eager to welcome students back to campus

Vaca district tests open lunch policy for all high schoolers – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

The Vacaville School District is testing out a new pilot program this school year that allows any high school student who chooses to do so to leave campus during the lunch hour.

All secondary schools are continuing to offer free lunches on campus and many students are taking advantage of that opportunity, school district officials report. But allowing students to leave, if they choose, makes for quicker food distribution on campus and more adequate physical spacing to deal with Covid-19 concerns, school officials said.

“It’s been so far, so good,” said Ed Santopadre, assistant superintendent for education services. “We haven’t compared any of the data yet, but I think they are starting to figure out if they want to go off-campus or stay for the free lunch.”

Source: Vaca district tests open lunch policy for all high schoolers

Classes, mostly online, begin at Solano College with start of fall semester – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Classes began Monday at Solano Community College and its satellite campuses with some in-person learning but the bulk of the roughly 9,000 students being served online.

“Putting major protocol in place has been a full-time job with the way the virus has picked up again,” Superintendent and President Celia Esposito-Noy said. “We are working hard to make sure everyone stays healthy.”

Stronger filters have been added to air conditioning units around campus. There are many sanitation stations and masks are required indoors.

Esposito-Noy said that the highly protective N-95 masks have also been made available.

Source: Classes, mostly online, begin at Solano College with start of fall semester

Fairfield-Suisun trustees review independent study requirements – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Fairfield-Suisun School District officials are putting the final measures in place for expanded independent study programs as schools across the district plan a return Wednesday to traditional on-campus instruction.

Nearly 700 children and teens across the district will start the year on independent study as public schools in Fairfield and Suisun City reopen and the Covid-19 pendemic continues.

Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent for Educational Services, gave the trustees an update Thursday on legislation that governs independent study.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees review independent study requirements with school year about to start

Vallejo students go back to school – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Although they hadn’t been away from campus for as long as the Adam Sandler character “Billy Madison,” there were still many kids in Vallejo on Monday that had their lunch packed up, their boots tied tight while hoping to not get in a fight.

It was the first day of school for students in the Vallejo City Unified School District, which meant for some a return to their schools for the first time in nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. VCUSD let students come back last spring but many finished the 2020-21 school year in distance learning.

The district, which is currently using both the in-person and from home instruction, requires staff to get vaccinated per a mandate made by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month. Teachers and other personnel will be required to be vaccinated or test negative for the coronavirus on a weekly basis, although vaccination is only encouraged for students. Everyone on campus must wear a mask.

Source: Vallejo students go back to school – Times-Herald