Monthly Archives: August 2022

Solano College opens to rush of students on campus, online – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

More than 8,000 students were signed up for Solano Community College classes for opening day on Monday – though some are still opting to learn from a distance.

The head count was better than 1,000 students more than at the same time last year, said Celia Esposito-Noy, superintendent and president of the 77-year-old college. She took over the reins in January 2016.

There is free Covid-19 testing available, and while not mandatory, a small percentage of students were wearing masks at the main campus in Fairfield on Monday. The college also has campuses in Vacaville and Vallejo.

Source: Solano College opens to rush of students on campus, online

VUSD kicks off year with luncheon – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Vaca Pena Middle School was abuzz with activity Monday, as hoards of people excitedly greeted each other back after a long summer and enjoyed sack lunches of sandwiches and potato chips.

This could have been a typical back to school scene, but the first day of school in Vacaville Unified School District isn’t until Thursday, and the individuals who occupied Vaca Pena were not students but faculty members throughout the district as the school hosted VUSD’s annual kickoff luncheon for the 2022-23 year.

Typically, this luncheon — catered by Panera Bread — is held at Vacaville High School, but due to ongoing construction there, it was held at Vaca Pena for the first time.

Source: VUSD kicks off year with luncheon – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo classes back in session – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Temperatures may have soared into the high 80s on Monday, but kids in Vallejo were hitting books, not waves.

Class was back in session — and summer was unofficially over — for the first day of school in the Vallejo City Unified School District. Benicia Unified began last week.

Although students and teachers are still required to wear masks indoors, the mood on campus suggested that a return to the pre-pandemic days of school wasn’t far off.

Source: Vallejo classes back in session – Times-Herald

Fairfield school district gets ready for new year with resource fair, backpack giveaway – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The start of the school year is near for students in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. To help them get ready, the district on Saturday hosted a Back To School Resource Fair at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to give away backpacks filled with school supplies.

Juanita Domingued, 18, who graduated from Armjio High School last year, was back again, this time to help support her siblings getting ready for the school year.

Source: Fairfield school district gets ready for new year with resource fair, backpack giveaway

Families receive a hand-up with school necessities – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

Fairfield was abuzz with activity Saturday as families embraced a variety of school-supply giveaways throughout the city.

With school starting right around the corner, the burden of new backpacks and everything needed for learning can be a costly burden. The community distributions, no doubt, helped ease the worry.

At St. Mark’s Church on Union Avenue, thousands descended on the event, sponsored by the Fairfield Police Department and Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District in partnership with dozens of community agencies.

Source: Families receive a hand-up with school necessities – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun school district using Measure J dollars as intended – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The executive director of the Measure J oversight committee told the Fairfield-Suisun school board this week that proceeds from the bond have only been used for the purposes in the ballot measure.

Paul Speed, executive director of Facilities and Operations on the Measure J Citizens’ Oversight Committee, presented the committee’s 2021 report during a quick meeting of the board on Thursday.

The committee also concluded that the bond proceeds have been maximized, Speed said.

Source: Report: Fairfield-Suisun school district using Measure J dollars as intended

Backpack, school supply giveaways in Vacaville, Fairfield – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

With school starting next week in Vacaville and Fairfield, the heat is on to gather up all the necessary supplies to begin the academic year right.

If you need help, a plethora of events in both cities Saturday are hosting backpack and school supply giveaways as well as some last minute fun.

In Fairfield, the Police Department and the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District have partnered for the Back to School Resource Fair.

Source: Backpack, school supply giveaways in Vacaville, Fairfield – The Vacaville Reporter

Education partnership brings Summer Youth Leadership Institute to local students – Daily Republic

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Twenty-one Solano County high school students participated this week in the 2022 Summer Youth Leadership Institute hosted in partnership by the Solano County Office of Education and Touro University California.

The project was created by Touro and the county Office of Education to help inspire the next generation as public health leaders through five days of youth advocacy and leadership development that was led by experts in the field of youth supports, peer education, public health and environmental prevention.

Source: Education partnership brings Summer Youth Leadership Institute to local students

Travis schools start fresh with social wellness a core objective – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

August brings with it the end of summer for many, and the beginning of the school year.

Gavin Rakin, 13, of Vacaville, on Thursday was starting his second year at Golden West Middle School.

“I am looking forward to meeting new people,” he said. “Last year, I wasn’t here very long, so I didn’t really meet a lot of people.”He likes math and is pretty excited to jump into algebra.

Source: Travis schools start fresh with social wellness a core objective

Excitement abounds as Cambridge Elementary starts new year – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Plenty of emotions were evident Thursday as Cambridge Elementary School students returned to class for the first day of the Travis Unified School District 2022-23 academic year.

The usual anxieties were apparent, and some tears were shed by kindergarteners. Mostly, there was excitement and enthusiasm.

Principal Susan Nader was among those feeling excited, and she remarked that there was a lot of energy present.

Source: Excitement abounds as Cambridge Elementary starts new year – The Vacaville Reporter

College student steps forward to challenge for seat on Fairfield-Suisun school board – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Jack Flynn, who lists himself with the Solano County Registrar of Voters as a student and hospitality associate, is challenging for the Trustee Area 5 seat on the Fairfield-Suisun School District board.

The incumbent for that office, Jonathan R. Richardson, had previously filed his paperwork.

Craig Wilson, in Trustee Area 1, and David C. Isom, in Trustee Area 7, also have completed their nomination paperwork.

Source: College student steps forward to challenge for seat on Fairfield-Suisun school board

Dixon heads back to class for 2022-23 school year – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

All throughout Dixon Unified School District’s six sites Monday, students returned to class after two months of summer vacation.

For most students, it meant returning to the same campus but going to different classrooms. For others, it was a campus they were attending for the first time. For all, it was a new start.

And nowhere was it a newer start than for kindergarteners, who took the first steps of their 13-year educational odyssey that will culminate in them graduating high school in June 2035.

Source: Dixon heads back to class for 2022-23 school year – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano high schoolers learn to be leaders – The Vacaville Reporter

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Twenty one Solano high school students are learning to lead this week during the 2022 Summer Youth Leadership Institute.

The free, five-day event, sponsored by the Solano County Office of Education and Touro University California, aims to inspire a new crop of public health leaders. The students immerse themselves in five days of youth advocacy and leadership development led by experts in the field of youth supports, peer education, public health and environmental prevention.

Source: Solano high schoolers learn to be leaders – The Vacaville Reporter

What’s new this school year? Changing COVID protocols, universal TK, later start times and more – The Vacaville Reporter

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Earlier start times for middle and high school students, the expansion of transitional kindergarten, more after-school programs and the opening of more community schools are just some changes students and staff will have to adjust to this school year, while still dealing with COVID-19 safety protocols and persistent staff shortages.

Despite the challenges, educators seem confident that the experience of the last two years and increased resources will help them navigate another year of COVID-19, as well as new state programs.

“I am looking forward to another year of in-person instruction,” said Corey Willenberg, superintendent of Oroville Union High School District in Butte County. “We are going to offer kids and families a fantastic education despite the hurdles we are facing.”

Source: What’s new this school year? Changing COVID protocols, universal TK, later start times and more – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield PD, FSUSD partnering for Back to School Resource Fair – The Vacaville Reporter

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Next week, students throughout Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) will return to class after a long summer.

To ensure all students, regardless of income level, have the supplies they need when schools resume Aug. 17, FSUSD has partnered with the Fairfield Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Partnership Engagement program to host the annual Back to School Resource Fair at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Families who arrive will receive backpacks filled with free school supplies to get them thrive in the 2022-2023 academic year. The fair will also provide school and community resources and feature food, drinks, music and more. Students entering prekindergarten through 12th grade must be present to receive the backpacks.

Source: Fairfield PD, FSUSD partnering for Back to School Resource Fair – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield foundation drive-thru helps families with school supplies, grocery needs – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Everything is more expensive this year, including school supplies, said Sonna Silva, who is a mother of four. She took her children to the Fairfield Community Services Foundation’s free Back-to-School Backpack and Food Giveaway on Saturday.

The children – Paula, Lucy, Ismeale and Elizabeth – all received backpacks again this year. The family was also given two bags of food.

“This is a great support and a blessing,” Silva said.

Source: Fairfield foundation drive-thru helps families with school supplies, grocery needs

Teacher John Fox seeks re-election to Vallejo school board – Vallejo Sun

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By John Glidden

Trustee John Fox is asking voters for another term on the Vallejo school board so he can “continue the hard work and keep the momentum this board has established.”

Fox, who was first elected to the school board in 2018, is seeking to represent the newly created Trustee Area 5, which encompasses Southeast Vallejo, including the Glen Cove neighborhood.

“We have made many difficult decisions with school closures, keeping a balanced budget, and making many cuts due to past mismanagement,” Fox told the Vallejo Sun. “I have been part of a board that works well together, in the best interest of our students. There is still a lot more work to do, and I want to be part of the board to make our schools the best possible for Vallejo.”

Source: Teacher John Fox seeks re-election to Vallejo school board

Vacaville granted $217k for pedestrian improvements near Markham Elementary – The Vacaville Reporter

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The city of Vacaville received a major grant that will fund pedestrian improvements near Markham Elementary School on Brown Street.

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District and Solano Transportation Authority provided a combined $217,350 to fund a pair of radar feedback signs to a new sidewalk on the east side of Brown south of Markham Elementary to create a continuous sidewalk on both sides of the street from East Monte Vista Avenue to Browns Valley Road.

The new signs will provide radar feedback on the speeds of passing vehicles to give drivers an opportunity to slow down.

Source: Vacaville granted $217k for pedestrian improvements near Markham Elementary – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville receives grants for pedestrian project near Markham school – Daily Republic

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The city has received a $217,350 grant for pedestrian improvements near Markham Elementary School on Brown Street.

The funds come from the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, the city announced in a statement released Thursday. The Solano Transportation Authority granted an additional $52,350 for the project.

“On behalf of the city of Vacaville, I am pleased that this first phase of Markham Elementary School Pedestrian Improvement Project has been awarded grant funding,” City Manager Aaron Busch said in the statement.

Source: Vacaville receives grants for pedestrian project near Markham school

Dixon Unified hosting equipment surplus sale – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

As the 2022-23 academic year for Dixon Unified School District inches closer — it’s next Wednesday, kids — the district will be selling off its surplus fixtures.

A chance to help the district get rid of its excess items and walk away with a new piece of furniture for home? That is exactly what will happen when DUSD hosts its Community Sale Aug. 11 to 13.

Held in the multipurpose room of the former CA Jacobs Middle School campus, the district will be selling surplus furniture, equipment and other items, most of which are available for $1, $2 and $5. Only cash will be accepted. DUSD’s goal is for all items to be sold, and items must be completely removed from the premises no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 13. Storage on-site for later pickup is not permitted.

Source: Dixon Unified hosting equipment surplus sale – The Vacaville Reporter