Category Archives: Alternative education

A time to cheer at Country High graduation – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Seconds after receiving her diploma, Country High senior Jane’t Cooksie raised it high over her head, beamed an ear-to-ear smile, looked toward cheering family and friends seated just a few steps away, then walked down an inclined ramp and onto the expansive turf in Zunino Stadium.

She was one of 45 students who marched onto the Vacaville High field on an overcast, somewhat muggy Thursday evening to receive the coveted document during a graduation ceremony that marked the end of their days at Vacaville Unified’s alternative high school.

Source: A time to cheer at Country High graduation

Travis Education Center sees “family” graduate – The Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

At turns humorous and inspiring, Friday’s graduation of 46 Travis Education Center seniors tipped a cap to a new page in the students’ lives.

Giggly and excited, the blue-clad celebrants waved to loved ones from the stage at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre.

Supporters responded with cheerful yells, air horn squawks and the continuous flash of smartphone cameras.

At one point, students grabbed miniature plush teddy bears from under their seats and flowed out into the audience, gifting someone special with a memento of their care.

Source: Travis Education Center sees “family” graduate – The Reporter

SCC, area high schools set graduation dates – The Reporter

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Warmer spring days mean area high school and community college graduations are being noted on calendars in central and eastern Solano County.

By chronological date, here is a list of local high school and the Solano Community College graduation times, dates and locations:

  • Solano Community College — 6 p.m. May 25 in the football stadium, 4000 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield.
  • Vacaville Christian High School — 7 p.m. May 25, Falcon Field, 821 Marshall Road, Vacaville.
  • Vacaville Unified Adult Education — 7 p.m. May 30, Catwalk Theatre, Will C. Wood High, 998 Marshall Road, Vacaville.
  • Maine Prairie High School — 6 p.m. May 31, Dixon High School Theater, 555 College Way, Dixon

Source: SCC, area high schools set graduation dates

Travis continuation center earns model school recognition – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Travis Education Center was among the 35 schools state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson recognized Wednesday as Model Continuation Schools for 2017.

“I applaud the dedicated administration and staff on their work to assist and motivate at-risk students and help them reach their full potential,” Torlakson said in a statement released by his office. “The positive and nurturing climate these schools have created inspires students to do well in their academic work and also to contribute to their communities.”

Continuation schools provide high school diploma programs for students ages 16 to 18 who are often at risk of not completing their graduation requirements due to a variety of reasons.

Source: Travis continuation center earns model school recognition

New Law Opens Juvenile Hall To 18- To 21-Year-Olds In Pilot Program – Benicia Patch

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By Norcal Patch

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law Friday authorizing a three-year pilot program that will give young adult offenders the chance to access educational and support services in the juvenile justice system, a spokeswoman said.

SB 1004 allows five counties, including Alameda, Napa and Santa Clara, to provide this assistance to low-level, nonviolent felons aged 18 to 21, instead of serving time in county jails with adults.

Those offenders who meet these requirements and don’t have a history of crime would serve no more than a year in a juvenile justice facility and have their offense expunged from their record if they complete the program, according to Leslie Guevarra, a spokeswoman from the office of the bill’s author, State Sen. Jerry Hill.

Source: New Law Opens Juvenile Hall To 18- To 21-Year-Olds In Pilot Program

Brown signs Frazier bill allowing juvenile court students to earn diploma – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The possibility of juvenile court youths to receive a high school diploma got a littler easier Thursday, when Gov. Brown signed into law AB 2306 by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D Solano.

The new law requires school districts to exempt a student from local high school graduation requirements once the student transfers to the district from a juvenile court school.

“By allowing these students to earn a diploma after meeting statewide graduation requirements, this bill increases their likelihood of continuing their education and getting ready for the workforce while simultaneously decreasing their chances of recidivism,” Frazier said in a press release.

Existing law authorizes local school districts to establish graduation requirements in addition to statewide requirements.

 

Source: Brown signs Frazier bill allowing juvenile court students to earn diploma

Country High School grads look to future – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Country High School seniors came to their 2016 graduation Thursday joyous and full of hope for the future.

The green grass at the Tom Zunino Stadium couldn’t have been greener, the folding chairs whiter as the graduates in blue filled the seats.

Esperanza Andrade graduated in October but came back to walk across stage and accept her diploma. She said she is excited about joining the Air Force or Marine Corps in January.

“I am not sure which one but I want to become a nurse,” she said.

Source: Country High School grads look to future

Message to Matt Garcia graduates: Strive for excellence – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The Matt Garcia Career and College Academy graduated its first class Wednesday. The school was formerly known as the Matt Garcia Learning Center.

Five teens, dressed in black caps and gowns, received their diplomas.

“You not only represent Fairfield-Suisun Unified (School District),” Superintendent Kris Corey told the students, “you represent Fairfield’s finest because you are Matt Garcia graduates.”

Corey shared a brief history about Garcia, one of the youngest people ever elected to public office. He was killed in a case of mistaken identity in 2008.

Source: Message to Matt Garcia graduates: Strive for excellence

Sem Yeto sends 104 grads into the world – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Christine Hocog does not consider herself one of the 85 members of the Sem Yeto High School Class of 2016 who graduated at the Solano Community College football field Wednesday, but she was sure excited to be there.

“I’m very excited. . . . I’ve been working for this a long time,” said Hocog, 19, who missed graduating with her classmates last spring and instead finished her classes in December.

“So I’m still in the Class of 2015,” she said.

The Fairfield-Suisun continuation school actually had 104 graduates, but only 85 wore the royal blue robes and walked to “Pomp and Circumstance” in the precession to the cheers of family and friends.

 

Source: Sem Yeto sends 104 grads into the world

Solano commission to review juvenile hall schools – The Reporter

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By Daily Republic Staff

Members of the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Commission will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Conference Room 6003 at the County Administration Center, 675 Texas St.

The agenda will consist of an overview of Juvenile Detention Facility schools from the Solano County Office of Education as well as a review of past facility inspections.

The mission of the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Commission is to inquire into the administration of juvenile justice in Solano County, according to a county press release to announce the meeting. The overall objective is to reduce the recidivism rate of juvenile offenders in the local criminal justice system.

Source: Solano commission to review juvenile hall schools

Vacaville Educational Extension Program graduation proves it’s never too late – The Reporter

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By Dom Pruett

Vacaville Educational Extension Program Coordinator Shelly Capps opened this year’s graduation ceremony with a famous quote on success from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Standing behind a podium at Will C. Wood High School’s Catwalk Theater Thursday evening, Capps fought back tears as she recited the poem: a poem that was given to her as a gift after she graduated from high school, and still keeps on her desk to this day.

via: Vacaville Educational Extension Program graduation proves it’s never too late – The Reporter

2016 Model Continuation High Schools – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today the designation of 37 Model Continuation High Schools for 2016. These schools are being recognized for their innovative teaching approaches that enable students with diverse needs to complete their high school education.

“I commend these schools for their exceptional work in keeping our students on the path to career and college readiness,” Torlakson said. “Thanks to the guidance and support offered, our students leave with a high-quality education and the self-confidence required to build a better future.”

Continuation high schools meet the needs of students aged 16 years or older who have not graduated from high school, are at risk of not graduating, and are not exempt from compulsory school attendance. The minimum attendance is 15 hours per week or 180 minutes daily.

Students benefit from the supplemental programs and services offered, such as independent study courses, career counseling, job placement, apprenticeships, and concurrent enrollment in community college.

Source: 2016 Model Continuation High Schools – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

Fairfield-Suisun Adult School opens doors to community – Daily Republic

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By Glen Faison

The Fairfield-Suisun Adult School will host an open house Tuesday to mark International Literacy Day.

Guests are invited to the school’s multipurpose room where they will have an opportunity to hear about various programs at the school.

Snacks and activities for children will be available, to include a story circle activity, according to an announcement about the open house. All preschool children who are present will receive a free book.

Staff at the adult school, established 52 years ago, work to provide educational opportunities that support students in their pursuit of diverse educational and personal goals.

via Fairfield-Suisun Adult School opens doors to community.

Country High mints 68 graduates – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Mike Sullivan, principal of Country High, Vacville Unified School Districts’ continuation school, said the campus he leads essentially means “second chances.”

“That’s what Country High is about,” he told more than 60 seniors who, clad in brilliant blue caps and gowns, gathered Thursday evening for a 30-minute graduation ceremony at Tom Zunino Stadium on the Vacaville High School campus.

Awaiting knee replacements and temporarily using a wheelchair, Sullivan — in his first full year as leader of McClellan Street school — told the graduates that life can be divided into two segments, 10 percent and 90 percent.

via Country High mints 68 graduates.

Country High grads earn diplomas – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

Before he came to Country High School, Class of 2015 graduate Sevrin Garcia said he was not sure he would make it through high school.

When Francis Lukachinsky was told that he was going to Country High after goofing off too much at Vacaville High School, he was not sure Country High would be doing him too many favors because of the reputation it had.

Destiny Roessler was “told too many times that I would not make it” through high school before she landed at Country High.

And Ashley Schell-Ortiz planned to simply drop out of high school and get her GED later until her family and best friend convinced her to give Country High a shot.

via Country High grads earn diplomas.

Speaker urges Matt Garcia grads to follow their dreams – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Michele Haymon gently wiped the tears from her eyes. With those tears was a big smile.

Her son, Wesley Newton, was one of the 21 seniors who graduated Tuesday from the Matt Garcia Learning Center.

“It’s been a struggle,” Haymon said. “We didn’t know until 11 a.m. today he was graduating.”

Cindy Lenners, principal at the learning center, had remarked earlier that some of the graduates completed their graduation requirements earlier in the school year. Others, she said, pulled it together in the past few weeks.

via Speaker urges Matt Garcia grads to follow their dreams.

Sem Yeto turns loose the Class of 2015 – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

Deyontae Bonner got an enthusiastic hug, kiss and candy lei from his cousin as she hurried up to him behind the stadium while he waited in line to begin his walk to collect a long-awaited diploma.A diploma, a year ago, the 18-year-old wasn’t sure he’d be able to collect.“It’s crazy that I made it,” he said. “I was missing a lot of credits but I made it up.”

His smile told a lot about his happiness.

Bonner joined 109 other Sem Yeto High School students on a wind-whipped evening Tuesday at Solano Community College’s Doc Hollister Stadium to celebrate the end of high school.

via Sem Yeto turns loose the Class of 2015.

District names top students for April – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

Another group of students earned top nods from teachers and administrators as they were honored as April Students of the Month in the Fairfield-Suisun School District. They are:

Aliyah Bell, an eighth-grade student from Dover Bridge to Success who has been noted as being an “excellent” student with a “character of gold.” Teachers regularly cite her character as a model of excellence and she is always “responsible, safe and nice,” which are billed the three character traits of Dover Bridge to Success.

Aliyah is considered a leader with a positive influence on her peers.

Cody Rodden, a 10th-grader from H. Glenn Richardson who is considered a “kind and thoughtful” student who has become a leader in the classroom.

via District names top students for April Daily Republic.

Travis Teacher of the Year refuses to accept failure – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

The students who attend the Travis Education Center are aware of what outsiders might think of them, that the center is a place where students end up, not where they go purposefully.

The alternative high school acquires students for a variety of reasons.

It might even be that there is a different reason each of the roughly 75-person student body arrived at the center. While it might also be true that many of the students “ended up” at Travis Education Center, or that this is the perception for many people, the faculty and staff at the center will not allow anyone to look upon their students as castaways.

via True grit: Travis Teacher of the Year refuses to accept failure Daily Republic.

School district looks to move all Sem Yeto students to satellite campuses – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

School district staff is looking for approval Thursday in moving the bulk of Sem Yeto High School students to Fairfield High School this coming year in a move that will mirror the Sem Yeto satellite campus currently serving Armijo High School.

Approximately 200 students to be moved were originally Fairfield High School students. A similar move is in the works for Rodriguez High School students at Sem Yeto but the need is not as great so the concept will differ, said Sheila McCabe, the district’s executive director of administrative services and community engagement.

via School district looks to move all Sem Yeto students to satellite campuses Daily Republic.