Monthly Archives: February 2023

Fairmont third-graders become Watershed Explorers – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Science lessons are not limited to just the classroom. As scores of third-graders throughout Solano County will learn over the next two months, they can be found by going outside, and one place where the lessons of nature can be found in abundance is in local waterways.

Through March 23, Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD) is hosting a series of field trips to local watersheds to give students an opportunity to learn about their local tributaries, what wildlife can be found there and what steps people can take to ensure they are kept clean. On Monday, third-graders at Fairmont Charter Elementary School visited Lagoon Valley Park, where they observed fauna, studied invertebrates and planted native grass.

Lee Ascencio, Solano RCD program manager, said Lagoon Valley was a great showcase for watersheds and one that not all students had been to themselves.

Source: Fairmont third-graders become Watershed Explorers – The Vacaville Reporter

Talented teen soloists showcased in Solano Symphony concert – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

“Music is the language of the spirit” it’s been famously said, but it also will be spirited music when longtime Solano Symphony conductor Semyon Lohss and the orchestra accompany three teenage musicians during the annual Salute to Youth concert in Vacaville on Sunday.

The music, to be performed by winners of the 2022 Young Artists Competition, other student musicians and the orchestra, begins at 3 p.m. in the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive.

In a press statement, symphony Board President Melinda Ellis said the trio of winners are active music students at Davis Senior High School in Davis.

Source: Talented teen soloists showcased in Solano Symphony concert – The Vacaville Reporter

High schoolers get firsthand look at Solano Community College’s biotech program – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Not everyone knows what they want to do once they graduate high school, but with February being National Career Technical Education Month, the city of Vacaville hosted a multi-stop field trip Friday to hopefully spark some ideas.

Because it is Vacaville, home of a quickly growing biotechnology industry, one of the stops was Solano Community College’s Vacaville campus, where many biotechnology careers start.

Professors Jim DeKloe and Michael Silva took 58 Will C. Wood and Vacaville High School students on a tour of the $34 million Biomanufacturing Education Center and discussed the importance that biotechnology plays in people’s lives, namely how it can save them.

Source: High schoolers get firsthand look at Solano Community College’s biotech program – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville councilman, educator awarded STEM fellowship – The Vacaville Reporter

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Vacaville City Councilman Michael Silva, a Solano Community College educator, is one of six community college instructors selected by the Community College Presidents’ Initiative in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (CCPI-STEM) for its fellowship program.

The fellowship is one of several initiatives of CCPI-STEM that aim to strengthen community college faculty and administrators and nurture their leadership skills in order to grow and diversify the STEM technician workforce.

Silva is a professor of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences.

Source: Vacaville councilman, educator awarded STEM fellowship – The Vacaville Reporter

Officials schedule meeting to talk about closing Matt Garcia academy – Daily Republic

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Supporters of the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy will meet with district officials along with parents and students next week to discuss the possible closure of the school.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Multipurpose Room at 1100 Civic Center Drive.

The school was dedicated to slain City Councilman Matt Garcia in October 2010. It has seen many changes since then.

Source: Officials schedule meeting to talk about closing Matt Garcia academy

Benicia parents fear for children’s safety after pedestrian bridge demolished – Fox 2

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By Brooks Jarosz

A pedestrian bridge in Benicia was demolished Friday causing some parents to fear their children won’t have a safe path to get to school.

The City of Benicia said a commercial truck crashed into the walking bridge over Military West on Tuesday, damaging it beyond repair. It continued to deteriorate and pose a serious safety risk.

Source: Benicia parents fear for children’s safety after pedestrian bridge demolished

Solano County high schoolers try to solve ‘spinning salmon’ mystery – KCRA

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By Heather Waldman

In a science classroom, nothing beats hands-on learning. That’s especially true when students can work to solve a problem that affects their own community.

Last fall, the Solano County Office of Education was awarded a grant to help bring some of that real-world science experience to its students.

Under the NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant, students are helping researchers with UC Davis and NOAA explore the mystery of “spinning salmon”.

Source: Solano County high schoolers try to solve ‘spinning salmon’ mystery

Vanden Academic Decathlon winners: ‘High-caliber kids,’ adviser says – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Call them intellectual champions.

The eight-member Vanden High Academic Decathlon team triumphed Sunday at the North Bay region competition, besting 16 other Bay Area teams.

With a first-place finish, the Travis Unified students have been invited to go on to another test of wits, memory and know-how by representing Solano County at the state competition March 24 to 26 in Santa Clara.

Their latest winning performance at Solano Community College in Fairfield was a no-surprise effort. After all, Vanden squads have won the county competition 22 times in as many years and the California championship during three of those years.

Source: Vanden Academic Decathlon winners: ‘High-caliber kids,’ adviser says – The Vacaville Reporter

California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate | EdSource

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By Diana Labert

California state leaders seem to be quietly closing the door on the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for schoolchildren.

The California Department of Public Health hasn’t made an announcement, but officials told EdSource that the end of the state’s Covid-19 state of emergency on Feb. 28 effectively ends its current plan to add Covid-19 vaccinations to the list of 10 vaccinations children are required to have to attend school in person.

“We continue to strongly recommend Covid-19 immunization for students and staff to keep everyone safer in the classroom,” stated the email from the department. “Turnkey mobile vaccination services remain available for any K-12 school within the state.”

Source: California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate | EdSource