Solano County educators who work with infants to children up to 8 years old can register for the 2023 Quality Counts Solano Early Childhood Education Conference.

Ron Mohl, of Lakeshore Learning, will deliver the keynote, emphasizing how educators can enhance young children’s learning experiences through play.

The Solano County Office of Education, in collaboration with community partners including First 5 Solano, is sponsoring the event, which is in its 30th year.

Source: Early Childhood conference set for Sept. 9 | News | dailyrepublic.com

By Daniel Egitto

Solano County residents with open child support cases can pick up free backpacks with back-to-school supplies beginning Aug. 1.

Stuffed with essentials including crayons, rulers, pencil sharpeners, pocket folders, spiral notebooks, scissors and glue sticks, 100 backpacks in a variety of colors will be available for families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The Solano County Department of Child Support Services is leading the giveaway at the agency’s office at 674 Texas Street, Suite 5700 in Fairfield, according to a county press release.

The office is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday and the giveaway will continue until the backpacks are gone. Families can pick up one backpack per child.

Source: Free school supplies available for Solano families – Times-Herald

By Kimberly K. Fu

Do you want trails? Wildflowers? Picnics with views?

The perfect spot is in Fairfield, Solano Land Trust folks advised Wednesday morning, and your help is needed as the organization slides into the home stretch in readying the green space to open later this year.

“We are in our final push,” Nicole Braddock, executive director, advised the group gathered at the base of Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park on Rockville Road, where a faux fundraising thermometer had been installed. “Every amount helps.”

Source: Community aid sought to open new Fairfield open space area – The Vacaville Reporter

By Senior Airman Alexander Merchak 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

The 60th Air Mobility Wing Phoenix Spark Innovation cell and the Solano County Office of Education co-hosted the Travis Spark Challenge, inviting students from local high schools to compete to solve installation-based problem sets on May 19, 2023.

More than 60 students from 11 different local schools came together to provide innovative solutions to issues such as gate traffic flow, dining facility logistics and perimeter installation security.

“We wanted to have a way for these kids to get involved with their community and Travis is a big part of that community,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Sean McKinney, 60th Air Mobility Wing Phoenix Spark superintendent. “I thought involving those in the academia world here in Solano County would pull a lot of value in their eyes, maybe even spark a vison of joining the Air Force.”

Source: Travis hosts local high schools for “Spark Challenge” > Travis Air Force Base > News

More than 100 high school students in Solano County completed the Work-Ready! certification program this year.

A ceremony recognizing the student accomplishment was held at the Jelly Belly Candy Company in Fairfield.

“Completing the Work-Ready! course is just the beginning for these young people. Their preparedness for the workplace, knowledge, skills, and hard work will come together to create significant opportunities to earn and maintain jobs, gain experience and explore careers,” Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement.

Source: Spotlight shines on Work-Ready! high school students

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Rebecca Wasik

As the long grasses surrounding Rush Ranch in Suisun blew in the wind, a covered wagon led by two horses became lost in the distance.

Passengers were able to enjoy this wagon ride experience as attendees of Solano Land Trust’s 33rd annual Rush Ranch Open House.

Live music echoed throughout the ranch as visitors pet horses and viewed the two foals who live on the property. The foals were born in March.

Source: Solano Land Trust holds 33rd annual Rush Ranch Open House – The Vacaville Reporter

The Solano Youth Coalition on Wednesday will host a student-led forum regarding the well-being of youths in Solano County.“

A student panel will ask Solano County district superintendents and district school board presidents questions about district supports, policies and procedures regarding student issues,” organizers said in a statement.

The coalition’s mission is to “promote and encourage the participation of young people in the development of policies, programs and services in their community.”

Source: Youth Coalition holding forum on student-related issues