Vallejo school board tables support of ethnic studies curriculum – Times-Herald

By John Glidden

A proposed Vallejo school board resolution supporting California’s proposed ethnic studies curriculum was tabled by the trustees during their May 6 meeting.

Several of the trustees expressed that they were uncomfortable supporting the draft document which is expected to go up for review and possible approval by the State Board of Education next year.

“I think that it’s premature in approving something that is currently in draft form,” said trustee Christy Gardner during the meeting. “That is being revised as we speak and until the total, complete document is finished I feel very uncomfortable approving a draft.”

Source: Vallejo school board tables support of ethnic studies curriculum – Times-Herald

Robert Semple Elementary honored for college, career prep – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

In the past, Robert Semple Elementary School has received honors as a California Distinguished School, a Gold Ribbon School and for its implementation of Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions. Now, through large-scale analysis by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), Semple is one of almost 1,800 public schools in California to be named to the state’s Honor Roll.

The California Honor Roll recognizes public schools, districts and charter systems in the state which made large strides in closing achievement gaps among higher-poverty student populations, according to a news release. The list is compiled by ERP, a nonprofit organization that applies scientific data toward methods that expedite student success, improve educational equity and promote career readiness.

Source: Robert Semple Elementary honored for college, career prep

Fairfield-Suisun leaders to consider budget – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Like so many California school districts in summertime, with their 2017-18 LCAPs and budgets sent to county offices of education, Fairfield-Suisun Unified has posted a relatively light agenda for its Thursday meeting in Fairfield.

Trustees will hear several presentations at the outset, including a report, delivered by students, about the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Under the consent calendar, items typically approved in one collective vote, governing board members will OK a $1.13 million contract with the state Department of Education for child development services.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun leaders to consider budget

A golden day at Benicia High School – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

On Wednesday, May 31, the Solano County Office of Education presented Benicia High School with a Gold Ribbon Award, which honors schools throughout the state for exemplary programs. Since BHS was being honored for its visual and performing arts program, several art-related activities were available throughout campus.

Source: Photos: A golden day at Benicia High School

Armijo, Public Safety Academy celebrate academic achievements – Daily Republic

By Ian Thompson

Armijo High School and the Public Safety Academy proudly took possession Wednesday of the banners that announced them as 2017 Gold Ribbon Schools.

The Public Safety Academy also garnered additional recognition for receiving the state’s Career Technical Education Exemplary Program banner.

“Your determination and dedication are what made this school a success,” Public Safety Academy Principal Laurie Halcomb told the students gathered on the school’s Parade Deck.

Source: Armijo, Public Safety Academy celebrate academic achievements

Benicia High School honored for exemplary arts education – Times Herald

By Katy St. Clair

The California Department of Education is recognizing Benicia High School for its “Exemplary Program in Arts Education.”

Benicia High had previously been selected as a “Gold Ribbon School” by State Superintendent Tom Torlakson for representing “best practices” in education.

The Public Safety Academy in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District also received the “Exemplary” honor for its “Career Technical Education.”

Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said that both schools served their community with “model practices” and support their students with “state-of-the-art programs.”

 

Source: Benicia High School honored for exemplary arts education

Fairfield-Suisun school recognized for its career tech program – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

The Public Safety Academy, a Fairfield-Suisun Unified school, was one of 23 of 275 Golden Ribbon middle schools and high schools to receive an additional honor, of having an Exemplary Program in one of several areas: arts education, career technical education or physical activity and nutrition.

PSA, as it’s called for short, was recognized for its CTE program, according to a press release from the state Department of Education. Tom Torlakson, the state schools chief, made the announcement.

Laurie Halcomb is principal at the Atlantic Avenue school of choice, where students in grades five to 12 experience a rigorous academic program and career readiness for those interested in law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency response and other public safety-related fields.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun school recognized for its career tech program

Two Solano schools named exemplary programs by state – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Public Safety Academy in Fairfield and Benicia High School have been selected for the Exemplary Program Award.

The academy is being honored for Career Technical Education, and Benicia High for its Arts Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced in a statement released through the county Office of Education.

“The recognition of these two schools highlights the range and depth of curricular options students have in Solano County’s School Districts. We thank the two schools for serving their communities with model practices and for supporting their students with state-of -the-art programs,”Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County superintendent of schools, said in a statement announcing the awards.

Source: Two Solano schools named exemplary programs by state

Torlakson Announces Exemplary Program Awards – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced additional honors for 23 of the 275 middle schools and high schools that were recognized as Gold Ribbon Schools last month.

Twenty-three of those Gold Ribbon Schools have been selected as having an Exemplary Program in Arts Education, Career Technical Education or Physical Activity and Nutrition. Schools applied separately for those honors. Luther Burbank Middle School in Los Angeles County and Granite Bay High School in Placer County are multiple winners recognized for Exemplary Programs in both Arts Education and Career Technical Education.

“We know that school offerings outside of core academic subject areas—in addition to sparking creative minds and producing healthy bodies—keep students engaged in school, connected, and on the path to graduation and 21st century careers and college. I congratulate these 23 Gold Ribbon schools on their outstanding work.”

Source: Torlakson Announces Exemplary Program Awards – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

Buckingham Charter Magnet High School designated as Gold Ribbon School – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Four eastern Solano County schools have been recognized by the state Department of Education as 2017 Gold Ribbon Schools, it has been announced.

They are Buckingham Charter Magnet High School in Vacaville, Armijo High, Green Valley Middle School and the Public Safety Academy, the latter three all in Fairfield-Suisun Unified.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson made the announcement in a press release issued earlier this month. He cited 275 middle schools and high schools designated under annual awards program.

“These terrific schools are leading the way in embracing our new rigorous academic standards and showing others how to help students succeed on their way to 21st-century careers and college,” Torlakson said. “I look forward to travelling the state to honor these schools and to help share the programs, methods, and techniques that are working.”

 

Source: Buckingham Charter Magnet High School designated as Gold Ribbon School

Fairmont celebrates Gold Ribbon honor, statewide recognition – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Principal Deanna Brownlee called the occasion “rare,” the first time all Fairmont Charter School students had gathered in the multipurpose room for an assembly.

“I’m excited,” she said mid-morning Wednesday, beginning a schoolwide celebration for being named a California Gold Ribbon School, recognition given by the state Department of Education for the school’s “signature practices.”

“We’re on the map,” she added.

In Fairmont’s case, the staff and teachers at the Marshall Road campus were cited not for standardized test scores but for their positive behavior interventions and student-support programs, or PBIS, noted Marnie Lynch, director of district and school support for the Solano County Office of Education.

Source: Fairmont celebrates Gold Ribbon honor, statewide recognition

Fairfield-Suisun schools strike state gold – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

Some students who struggled in the classroom have bloomed into leaders in the Suisun Valley K-8 School’s agri-science program.

“You see students who are not thriving in the classroom and they are the leaders in the garden,” principal Jas Bains Wright said. All nine grade levels are involved.

The acknowledgement they get from their peers, staff and community members translates into more confidence, which in turn shows up with better marks in the classroom as well.

The program, in its fifth year, was why the 520-student campus was selected as a Gold Ribbon School by the state – one of three Fairfield-Suisun School District campuses and 10 in the county that were acknowledged.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools strike state gold

Exemplary Program Awards and Title I Schools – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced additional honors for 508 of the 779 elementary schools that were recognized as Gold Ribbon Schools.

Thirty-five of those Gold Ribbon Schools have been selected as having an Exemplary Program in Arts Education or Physical Activity and Nutrition. Schools applied separately for those honors.

Additionally, Gold Ribbon Schools that are also Title I schools were recognized as Academic Achieving Schools. This distinction is given only to schools receiving federal Title I funds that aid in meeting the educational needs of students living at or below the poverty level. The list of recognized schools follows at the end of this press release.

“I’m delighted to honor these schools and programs, which are doing a tremendous job preparing our students for 21st century opportunities and graduating lifelong learners in the process,” Torlakson said.

Source: Exemplary Program Awards and Title I Schools – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

3 Travis schools get Gold Ribbon ovation – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

The staff at Cambridge Elementary could see the young child falling further and further behind his classmates.

Language difficulties had frustrated the fifth-grader, and he had become disinterested in school.

“He was very unmotivated and a reluctant learner . . . and was behind in his reading and math,” said Susan Nader, who is in her fourth year as principal at the Vacaville campus.

Then the boy was placed in the school’s Prism program, in which children are given hands-on training about computer programming and robotics.

“He is reading a grade level now and getting all his work done,” Nader said.

Source: 3 Travis schools get Gold Ribbon ovation

Solano County schools receive recognition for Gold Ribbon awards – Times Herald

By Times Herald Staff

Three Benicia schools were among the ten Solano County elementary schools have been selected by the California Department of Education with the prestigious California Gold Ribbon Schools award.

The three in Benicia were as follows: Joe Henderson Elementary, Mary Farmar Elementary and Robert Semple Elementary.

In order to be invited to apply for the honor, schools must have met a variety of eligibility of rigorous criteria based on the submission of an application, including a comprehensive description of the school’s signature practices, and a successful application review, according to a news release.

Over 1,200 applications were reviewed for completeness by teams of educators from across the state under the direction of the CDE. The Solano County Office of Education conducted coordinated site validation visits as required by the CDE, the release stated.

Source: Solano County schools receive recognition for Gold Ribbon awards

2015 California Gold Ribbon Schools Award – Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education)

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 193 middle schools and 180 high schools have been honored under the states new Gold Ribbon Schools Awards Program, which is temporarily taking the place of the California Distinguished Schools Program.

“These schools are academically successful, vibrant, and innovative centers of learning and teaching,” Torlakson said. “They provide great examples of the things educators are doing right—embracing rigorous academic standards, providing excellence and creativity in teaching, and creating a positive school climate.”

The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award was created to honor schools in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program, which is on hiatus while California creates new assessment and accountability systems.

Schools applied for the award based on a model program their school has adopted that includes standards-based activities, projects, strategies, and practices that can be replicated by other local educational agencies. The new award is recognizing middle and high schools this year and elementary schools in 2016.

via 2015 California Gold Ribbon Schools Award – Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education).