Monthly Archives: May 2023

2023 CA Classified School Employees of the Year – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today honored nine outstanding classified school employees for their dedication to California’s public school students.

“My heartfelt congratulations go to these outstanding employees for going the extra mile to step up and support California’s students so they can continue to learn,” said Thurmond. “These dedicated employees make sure kids have healthy meals, safe campuses and transportation, and systems and supports during difficult and unexpected changes—ensuring all students are supported in their lives and in their education.”

The annual Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) program honors outstanding classified school employees in the following categories: Paraprofessional Services, Clerical and Administrative Services, Transportation Services, Food and Nutrition Services, Custodial and Maintenance Services, Security Services, Health and Student Services, Technical Services, and Skilled Trades Services. This year’s recipients were chosen from 151 nominations statewide. The 2023 award-winners will be honored by Thurmond at a luncheon in Sacramento on May 23, 2023.

Source: 2023 CA Classified School Employees of the Year – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Faces and Places – The Vacaville Reporter

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Solano County Office of Education Hosts Educator of the Year AwardsThe Solano County Office of Education hosted the annual Solano County Educators of the Year celebration at Sunrise Event Center in Vacaville recently. The evening honored the Classified Employees of the Year and the Certificated (teachers and other credentialled staff) Employees of the Year from Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield-Suisun, Travis, Vacaville, and Vallejo City unified school districts as well as SCOE.

Solano County Superintendent of Schools, Lisette Estrella-Henderson told honorees, “As classified and certificated employees, you come together, side by side with administrators as a school site team. You recognize that our young people are unique individuals, and they need you. They are waiting for you to step into their lives and make a positive difference, and you do.”

Source: May 11 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: Faces and Places – The Vacaville Reporter

Benicia students get lesson in local wastewater, water treatment plants – Daily Republic

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Fourth- and fifth-grade students in Benicia are getting out of the classroom to learn about their local wastewater and water treatment plants and discover the processes their water goes through to get cleaned.

For the fourth year in a row, the city of Benicia Public Works Department and Solano Resource Conservation District have partnered to provide Benicia students with hands-on education programming about their local water resources.

The Benicia Water Education Program takes place each spring. By the end of May, a total of 432 students across all elementary schools in Benicia will have participated.

Source: Benicia students get lesson in local wastewater, water treatment plants

Fairfield school district hosts Community Fun Run – Daily Republic

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Fairfield-Suisun Unified will host a Community Fun Run on Saturday.

This free event begins with sign-ups and bib pick-up from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Crescent Elementary School, 1001 Anderson Drive in Suisun City.

It is open to all ages and abilities who want to participate in a 1-mile or 5K run or walk.

Source: The Week Ahead: Fairfield school district hosts Community Fun Run

Travis Governing Board honors teachers and students at next meeting – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

As the school year draws to a close, it is time to recognize those teachers and students who excelled this year.

At the May 9 meetingof the Travis Governing Board, Principal Kristin Shields will introduce Vanden High School Class of 2023 valedictorians, salutatorians and state Senate winners, who will be presented with Certificates of Recognition from the Board.

More honors will go to Jennifer Greenway, assistant principal at Golden West Middle School, as the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Secondary Co-Principal/Administrator of the Year.

Source: Travis Governing Board honors teachers and students at next meeting

Benicia High announces new head football coach – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

For the first time in two decades, Benicia High School has a new head football coach.

The school announced on Friday the hiring of Scott Swartz to lead the program, just two weeks after the school said longtime coach and athletic director Craig Holden had “resigned.”

Swartz previously coached for the San Francisco 49ers, Oregon State University, San Jose State University, Northern Arizona University, and other high school programs.

The school announced the hiring in a Twitter post, adding that “Coach Swartz will offer spring ball for ninth through 11th-grade student-athletes planning to play football during the fall season starting on Monday. Students should meet at 3:45 p.m. at the stadium. Additional info about summer training and start of fall season coming soon.”

Source: Benicia High announces new head football coach – Times-Herald

Rain fails to derail 20th annual Loop the Lagoon – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

Running in a race is a challenge in its own. Add muddy, wet terrain and showers pouring down from the sky and this feat becomes even more arduous.

Whether rain or shine, the Loop the Lagoon Fun Run at Lagoon Valley Park in Vacaville was on. Its participants conquered the race and the weather, receiving a 20th annual Loop the Lagoon medal upon crossing the finish line.

Four of those participants, friends Alejandro Hernandez, Serena Carbajal, Wilson Lam and Nancy Conde gathered at the finish line after completing the race.

Source: Rain fails to derail 20th annual Loop the Lagoon – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis school board looks at initial bargaining proposals next meeting – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The California School Employees Association and its local Chapter No. 454 (CSEA) and the Travis School Board are looking at several bargaining proposals at the next Travis Governing Board meeting to reopen negotiations.

Some of the issues include an interest in increased training and improving working conditions.

In addition, the CSEA also would like to discuss salary issues for a fair and equitable increase to the rate of pay for all bargaining-unit members. Further, the association has an interest in enhancing professional growth and adding district-provided professional development opportunities.

Source: Travis school board looks at initial bargaining proposals next meeting

Armijo High School’s Multimedia Academy takes home gold – Daily Republic

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Armijo High School’s Multimedia Academy has been awarded a Gold Level Chapter of Distinction by SkillsUSA, one of the largest student organizations for career and technical education.

The 17 students in Armijo’s Multimedia Academy will have the honor of representing California at a national conference to be held in Atlanta this June.

This is a tremendous accomplishment for the Multimedia Academy, as only 24 schools nationwide have been recognized with the Models of Excellence distinction. The Models of Excellence program annually recognizes schools with exceptional integration of personal, workplace and technical skills into chapter activities.

Source: Armijo High School’s Multimedia Academy takes home gold

FSUSD students release classroom-raised trout into Vallejo lake – Daily Republic

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Students in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District have been raising trout in their classrooms since 2016.

The program’s goal is to instill in the students the value of being a responsible steward of the local environment. In February, four classes from David Weir Preparatory Academy, Cordelia Hills Elementary School, Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning and Dover Elementary School received trout eggs.

Source: FSUSD students release classroom-raised trout into Vallejo lake

Fairfield High students showcase scientific knowledge at Science Night – Daily Republic

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Fairfield High School held its 2nd annual Science Night, featuring the Living Earth Biology students’ tribute to Charles Darwin.

The April 19 event was a science-themed museum and activity affair which showcased the students’ scientific knowledge and skills.

Over six weeks, students researched existing organisms in the Galapagos Islands and explained how their physical characteristics help them survive in their environments.

Source: Fairfield High students showcase scientific knowledge at Science Night

Armijo students tackle interests of small businesses – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

In honor of National Small Business Week, a gaggle of Armijo High School entrepreneurs gathered Thursday at the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center in Fairfield to tackle the plight of small business owners.

What are their concerns and challenges, and how do they overcome all?

Such was the line of questioning as the students from Armijo’s Virtual Enterprise program got a very personal look at business through the eyes of Solano SBDC Director Tim Murrill and Marketing Specialist Brianna Boyd.

Source: Armijo students tackle interests of small businesses – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano College to honor alumni, inductees into athletics hall of fame – The Vacaville Reporter

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Three Solano Community College programs are collaborating to celebrate the school’s past and present with a new class of alumni and inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

The awards will be presented at the SCC Athletic Hall of Fame Celebration on Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at the SCC Performing Arts Center, located at 4000 Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield.

“We are thrilled to honor these outstanding athletes and distinguished alumni who have made a lasting impact on our college and in our community,” Solano College Athletics Director Erik Visser said. “Their commitment to excellence and leadership embodies the values of Solano Community College, and we are proud to recognize their contributions with these well-deserved honors.”

Source: Solano College to honor alumni, inductees into athletics hall of fame – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano Educators of the Year chosen at ceremony on Tuesday – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Solano County Educators of the Year Awards honors excellent teachers and classified employees from Solano County schools.

It was a full house of friends and family members Tuesday night at the Sunrise Event Center to help honor those people.

Maria Williams, an eighth-grade math teacher at Grange Middle School, was nominated as Teacher of the Year.

Source: Solano Educators of the Year chosen at ceremony on Tuesday

Tops in their fields for 2023 – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Supervisors described a classified employee’s day-to-day work as setting “the bar for the rest of us at our site” and within the Dixon Unified School District.

Another supervisor described an educator as “one of those rare teachers who consistently meets the needs of every student in her class.”

Those were praises heard for Audrey Madden and Maria Williams, respectively, honored Tuesday evening during the annual Solano County Educators of the Year celebration at Sunrise Event Center in Vacaville.

Source: Tops in their fields for 2023 – The Vacaville Reporter

Spotlight to shine on Solano County’s top educators – Daily Republic

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The Solano County Office of Education will recognize the 2023 Educators of the Year on Tuesday.

The ceremony honors “teachers and school employees for excellence in supporting schools and high-quality education.”

The top teachers are Justin Koeppen, Benicia Unified; Stephanie Roupp, Dixon Unified; Maria Williams, Fairfield-Suisun Unified; Jason Hicks, Solano County Office of Education; Mary King, Travis Unified; Buchanan Miles, Vacaville Unified; and Lena Chatterjee, Vallejo City Unified.

Source: Spotlight to shine on Solano County’s top educators

Kids Day on tap for Vacaville’s Pena Adobe Park – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

For the young and young at heart, Kids Day, with activities ranging from grinding corn to making a corn husk doll, returns Saturday to Pena Adobe Park in Vacaville.

Sponsored by the Peña Adobe Historical Society, the event, free and open to the public, will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the regional park, 4699 Pena Adobe Road, just off Interstate 80. Cookies and treats will be provided, said Cricket Kanouff, president of the Historical Society.

The Adobe, one of the oldest structures in Solano County, dates to 1842 and was once the home of the Juan Felipe Peña family, who, with the Vacas, settled in Vacaville more than 180 years ago.

Source: Kids Day on tap for Vacaville’s Pena Adobe Park – The Vacaville Reporter

Rodriguez High student creates winning water awareness video – Daily Republic

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Sachi Bansal of Rodriguez High School in Fairfield, and her sponsoring teacher Lynn Larsen, will split $1,500 as the first-place winners of the Solano County Water Agency’s Water Awareness Video Contest.

The theme of the 13th annual contest was “Saving Our Water is Saving our Future.” There were 109 videos submitted from 13 middle and high schools.

Bansal’s video was titled ” The Water Detective.”

Source: Rodriguez High student creates winning water awareness video

Spotlight to shine on Solano County’s top educators – Daily Republic

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The Solano County Office of Education will recognize the 2023 Educators of the Year on Tuesday.

The ceremony honors “teachers and school employees for excellence in supporting schools and high-quality education.”

The top teachers are Justin Koeppen, Benicia Unified; Stephanie Roupp, Dixon Unified; Maria Williams, Fairfield-Suisun Unified; Jason Hicks, Solano County Office of Education; Mary King, Travis Unified; Buchanan Miles, Vacaville Unified; and Lena Chatterjee, Vallejo City Unified.

Source: Spotlight to shine on Solano County’s top educators

Armijo High School’s Multimedia Academy takes home gold – Daily Republic

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Armijo High School’s Multimedia Academy has been awarded a Gold Level Chapter of Distinction by SkillsUSA, one of the largest student organizations for career and technical education.

The 17 students in Armijo’s Multimedia Academy will have the honor of representing California at a national conference to be held in Atlanta this June.

This is a tremendous accomplishment for the Multimedia Academy, as only 24 schools nationwide have been recognized with the Models of Excellence distinction. The Models of Excellence program annually recognizes schools with exceptional integration of personal, workplace and technical skills into chapter activities.

Source: Armijo High School’s Multimedia Academy takes home gold