Monthly Archives: March 2022

Suisun Elementary students shine – Daily Republic

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For the past several years, fifth-grade students from Suisun Elementary have raised money for an end-of-the-year celebrations by selling “buddy grams” for Valentine’s Day.

Under the guidance of student leadership, the fifth-grade class transformed this year’s event into a community service project designed to support neighbors in need.

Led by fifth-grade student leaders, Fernanda Rios and Jeremiah Rabara, students and staff collected hygiene items in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. In exchange for dropping off donations, students were given a buddy gram to send to a friend. The grams, short messages expressing friendship and kindness, were delivered to classes on Feb. 14.

Source: Good News: Suisun Elementary students shine

Youth Commission, League of Women Voters join forces – Daily Republic

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The League of Women Voters Solano County has formed a partnership with Solano Youth Coalition with the goal “to provide hands-on civics learning opportunities to student members of SYC.”

The result is the formation of the Solano League Observer Corps.

“Too many people are ignorant as to how government works, especially what they must do to make it work,” Alice Fried, the league’s youth coordinator, said in a statement released Monday.

Source: Youth Commission, League of Women Voters join forces

Longtime Vacaville teacher, musician remembered – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

Mark Richardson touched lives.

As a Vacaville educator, musician, family man and friend, his impact was huge, loved ones said, and his reach, long.

The beloved Browns Valley Elementary teacher, who retired in 2017 after more than 30 years of service and who headed the local band Strut-A-Various, died suddenly in December. He was 69.

By all accounts, Richardson was a kindhearted, generous man who was sincerely interested in everyone he met — which means no one remained a stranger for long.

Source: Longtime Vacaville teacher, musician remembered – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun board OKs $1.3M grant program – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-School District will receive more than $1.3 million in funding from the “A-G” Completion Improvement Grant program, according to a staff report. The total includes about $12,500 which was recently added.

Trustees on Thursday reviewed and approved the plan for the “A-G” grant program but not without comments from board member Ana Petero.

“My concern is for the funding. I think the funding can go to other places that are better for spending the money,” she said. “We really need to consider where we spend money.”

Source: Fairfield-Suisun board OKs $1.3M grant program

Road to her $220K scholarship paved with hard work, drive, love, and luck – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The Army, in its own way, came calling.

Rodriguez High School senior Trisha Macagba answered and picked up a $220,000 college scholarship along the way.

How did it happen to this straight-A student, with a weighted GPA of 4.67, and student board member for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District?

Work, work, work primarily, but also some old-fashioned luck that, in large part, Macagba, a native of Baguio, Philippines, made herself.

Source: Road to her $220K scholarship paved with hard work, drive, love, and luck – The Vacaville Reporter

Registration being taken for ‘Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce’ webinar – Daily Republic

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Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson is one of the speakers at the “Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce” forum scheduled Friday.

Also scheduled to speak are John Garcia III, a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Education; Cami Anderson, chief executive officer of Third Way Solutions; and Kelley Birch, director of Career and College Readiness at the Solano County Office of Education.

Source: Registration being taken for ‘Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce’ webinar

FSUSD Special Olympics track and field event marks triumphant return – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Although the Winter Olympics and Paralympics have concluded for 2022, the time to honor athletes of all abilities never ceases.

Case in point: Thursday morning at Rodriguez High School, where the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District once again partnered with the Special Olympics of Northern California for its annual assortment of track and field activities that give special education students a chance to participate in athletics, build physical strength and socialize with others.

What made this event especially momentous is that it was the first of its kind in three years. The most recent track and field event was 2019, and adaptive PE specialist Matt Miller said it was scheduled again for 2020, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Source: FSUSD Special Olympics track and field event marks triumphant return – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano County Spelling Bee set to begin virtually – Daily Republic

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The preliminary round of the 46th annual Solano County Spelling Bee will be held virtually Saturday.

The Spelling Bee is open to all public and private schools serving fourth- through sixth-grade students. This year, 45 Solano schools have enrolled to participate, bringing the two top spellers from each school to compete.

Solano County Office of Education hosts and coordinates the competition each year with Travis Credit Union serving as a long-standing sponsor.

Source: Solano County Spelling Bee set to begin virtually

Will C. Wood High Wildcat Night is March 26 at Ulatis Community Center – Daily Republic

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By Barbara Navolanic

Wildcat Night is March 26 at the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville after a two-year hiatus due to covid restrictions.

The goal of Wildcat Night is to generate financial resources to support all team sports at Will C. Wood High School, and to foster school spirit and pride. Will C. Wood athletics programs improve the overall high school experience for all students by promoting positive sportsmanship, and inclusive programs for student athletes, family, and community.

Source: Will C. Wood High Wildcat Night is March 26 at Ulatis Community Center

California State University drops standardized testing requirements from admissions | Higher Ed Dive

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By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf

California State University, the U.S.’s largest four-year public college system, will no longer ask applicants to furnish SAT or ACT scores for admission after trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to abolish the requirement.

The system joins the ranks of the University of California, which first moved in May 2020 to distance itself from entrance exams before abandoning them entirely last year.

Source: California State University drops standardized testing requirements from admissions | Higher Ed Dive

Washington Education Association expects statewide teacher shortage to get worse | KOMO

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By Jackie Kent

The search is on for hundreds of qualified teachers as schools across the state need to fill crucial positions and as the Washington Education Association expects the state’s teacher shortage to grow worse.

Tacoma Public schools said it’s lucky it doesn’t have a huge gap to fill, but it relies on events like Tuesday’s education career fair at the Tacoma Dome to help find the best candidates.

“We know we’re going to have open positions for next year,” said Kathryn McCarthy, spokesperson for Tacoma Public Schools.

Source: Washington Education Association expects statewide teacher shortage to get worse | KOMO

3 Fairfield-Suisun schools in line for new names as programs shift sites – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Three schools in the Fairfield-Suisun School District are getting new names for the coming school year based on reconfigurations at each of the campuses.

The school board on Thursday will consider changing the names of B. Gale Wilson School Elementary School, the Dover Academy of International Studies and the Sullivan Learning Academy.

Governing board members on Aug. 12 approved the relocation of the Dual Immersion Program, which serves children in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade, from B. Gale Wilson to the Sullivan campus beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. This relocation will result in B. Gale Wilson only serving sixth- through eighth-graders.

Source: 3 Fairfield-Suisun schools in line for new names as programs shift sites

Fairfield-Suisun schools to get more state money than expected – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-School District will receive more than $1.3 million in funding from the “A-G” Completion Improvement Grant program, according to a staff report. The total includes about $12,500 that’s been added in recent days.

Trustees on Thursday will review and potentially approve the plan for the “A-G” grant program.

The money derives from Assembly Bill 130, which became law in July. One portion of the bill contains the “A-G” grant program, which is designed to help increase the number of high school students, particularly those students of families that meet income or categorical eligibility requirements for free or reduced-priced meals under the National School Lunch Program, English learners and foster youth to graduate from high school with “A-G” eligibility.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools to get more state money than expected

Pandemic funding for Vallejo early education center gets formal approval – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Funding for a new Early Learning Center in Vallejo is in the books.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday formally approved the $1.87 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds it had directed to go to the center, which will be located at the site of the former Beverly Hills Elementary School.

The board also approved $533,000 in ARPA funding toward programs to reconnect with students who did not graduate during the pandemic and are not engaged in any kind of school or work programs. It is a three-year program.

Source: Pandemic funding for Vallejo early education center gets formal approval

Play 4 All Park hopes for final financial push before completion – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

What started out as a vision by one Vacaville Rotarian and local engineer has taken shape into a countywide network of volunteers as the new Play 4 All Park off of Elmira Road is slowly taking shape.

Tom Phillippi, president of Phillippi Engineering, was visiting his daughter in Round Rock, Texas, when he saw a fully adaptive play park and decided Vacaville needed to have one of its own. He returned to tell his fellow Rotarians and others in the community. A plan was hatched and the project grew into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“It’s been very humbling,” Phillippi said. “They’ve all given on just an idea. That is very overwhelming. So many volunteers have spent endless hours pulling this together.”

Source: Play 4 All Park hopes for final financial push before completion

Soroptimist honor young women with awards – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Diane Barney

In keeping with Women’s History Month, Soroptimist International of Vacaville honoredfour young women for their dreams, dedication and determination via Zoom during its March 15 meeting, including one who was chosen to compete at the regional level.

Amada Madrigal not only earned a first-place award of $2,000 in the Live Your Dreamprogram through the Vacaville club, she will advance as the District II winner to the Founder Region level, where she could earn another $5,000. Should she continue on as a finalist in the Soroptimist International of the Americans competition, she could earn another $10,000.

The Vacaville club voted to send her to the Founder Region conference in Hawaii April 29-May 1, where she will be honored for her award.

Source: Soroptimist honor young women with awards – The Vacaville Reporter

Operation Recognition allows wartime veterans, families to apply for high school diplomas – Daily Republic

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The Solano Office of Education has announced that families can apply for their veteran, living or deceased, to receive a retroactive high school diploma.

The program is called Operation Recognition.

Individuals who were unable to receive their high school diplomas and who served in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War and were honorably discharged from military service can apply.

Japanese-American citizens who left high school due to internment in the World War II relocation camps are also eligible.

Source: Operation Recognition allows wartime veterans, families to apply for high school diplomas

Solano board set to consider $27.9M in pandemic-related initiatives – Daily Republic

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By Glen Faison

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider $27.94 million in pandemic-related programs that range from affordable housing initiatives and local workforce training to opening an early learning center and providing services for local seniors.

One item is to recognize $2.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund money to fund two board-approved projects with $1.87 million to the support renovation costs to establish an Early Learning Center at the Beverly Hills Elementary School in Vallejo and $530,000 to “re-engage disconnected youth” in education and career pathways through the Solano County Office of Education.

Source: Solano board set to consider $27.9M in pandemic-related initiatives

Will C. Wood High grad Carson Strong has sights on NFL Draft – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Corey Kirk

During his days in Pop Warner, 9-year-old Carson Strong wanted to be under center, going back to pass and throwing the ball deep, aiming for the end zone. He dreamed and hoped that one day he would find himself in the NFL.

Fast forward over a decade later, a path of practicing hard and competing at the Division I level behind him, the 2018 Will C. Wood High, graduate now 22, stands on the doorstep of joining the league he had cherished his entire childhood.

What would 9-year-old Strong think now?

Source: Will C. Wood High grad Carson Strong has sights on NFL Draft – The Vacaville Reporter

Rodriguez student earns full-ride scholarship through ROTC – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Coming from the Philippines where she said many young girls had to choose between “education and food,” 18-year-old Trisha Macagba feels like she has been given the gift of a lifetime.

The Rodriguez High School senior was recently awarded a $220,000 scholarship from the Los Angeles Strategic Office Recruitment Detachment. It’s an ROTC program that promotes diversity and inclusion where she will participate at the college of her choice, followed up by a four-year commitment to the U.S. Army upon graduation.

“I still can’t believe it,” Macagba said. “We came from the Philippines. My parents were worried how we were going to pay to get our education.”

Source: Rodriguez student earns full-ride scholarship through ROTC