By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified School District leaders, will use Thursday’s meeting to consider after-school learning contracts totaling nearly $3 million — money from the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program budget — for several district elementary schools.

Administrators will ask trustees to approve two contracts for the 2024-25 academic year.

One is “Right at School,” budgeted for an amount not to exceed $2 million. It will provide enrichment programming and staffing not only for the expanded learning program, but also for After School Education Safety programs at Cooper, Markham, Padan, Fairmont, Hemlock, Orchard and Sierra Vista K-8. The service provider is Right at School, a company based in Evanston, Ill.

Source: Vacaville district leaders to consider after-school learning contracts – The Vacaville Reporter

By Lynzie Lowe

Vacaville Chief of Police Ian Schmutzler said School Resource Officer Sean Kelly, a member of the Youth Services Section, has excelled in his role at Will C. Wood High School.

“Will C. Wood has nearly 1700 students enrolled, and Officer Kelly makes it a priority to get to know each of them as well as maintain a professional relationship with every staff member on campus,” said Schmutzler. “Officer Kelly excels in communication and always ensures he is available to collaborate and consult with members of Vacaville Unified School District Safety Team as well as the campus administration team at WCW making himself accessible 24-hours a day, not just during the school day.”

Source: Vacaville PD recognized outstanding personnel, volunteers during awards ceremony – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified School District officials and the president of the district’s classified employees union will lay out initial collective bargaining proposals for the fiscal years 2024-26 during a regular governing board meeting Thursday night.

The district’s director of human resources, Lynn Benevides, will release pay and contract language for the classified, or school-support, employees. They include bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, nurses, and clerks.

The district wants to negotiate language in nine contract articles, among them union rights, hours and overtime, health and welfare benefits, leaves and vacancies.

Source: On VUSD board agenda: Initial contract proposals for support staff – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Registration is now open for the Sixth-Grade Marching Band Academy at Vaca Pena Middle School, beginning in the fall.

This new program was developed and spearheaded by Colleen Moe, principal of Vaca Pena Middle School; Catherine Bozzini, Vacaville Unified School District’s director of elementary education; Ali Eeds, VUSD director of secondary education; and Melinda Ellis, VUSD music coordinator.

It is open to student who will be sixth graders at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year. To register a student for for the program, visit bit.ly/VacaPenaMarchingBandAcademy. The deadline to register is March 22.

Source: Sign-ups open for sixth-grade marching band at Vaca Pena – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

It is sometimes difficult to understand the Holocaust in the abstract, but when we read, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” or hear a survivor’s story, the World War II era of the systematic killing of 6 million European Jews and others comes into full and vivid focus.

And the smallest details become riveting, because each one, in its own way, can be seen as keystone to survival during a horrifying time in world history.

This was certainly the case for Liz Igra, 89, of Sacramento.

Source: At Vaca Pena, Holocaust survivor story comes to life in vivid detail – Times Herald Online

A new sixth-grade Marching Band Academy at Vaca Pena Middle School begins this fall and registrations is open to next year’s sixth-grade students.

The program is limited to a small cohort of 60-64 students and will focus on daily music instruction. Students can still participate in middle school extracurricular activities, have earlier access to advanced coursework, and participate in three marching band competitions during the school year.

The VUSD School Board approved the addition of a Sixth Grade Music Academy with a Marching Band focus at Vaca Pena at the February school board meeting. The Academy will allow students to develop a love of performance and will contribute to the long-term participation in school band program.

Source: Vaca Pena Marching Band Academy opens registration for sixth-graders | Education | dailyrepublic.com

By Richard Bammer

It wasn’t the iconic “I Want You for the U.S. Army” poster by James Montgomery Flagg, with the top-hatted, gray-haired and stern-looking Uncle Sam pointing his finger at anyone who looked his way.

Instead it was the Army Mobile Medical Exhibit parked Monday morning in a Vacaville High School parking lot off West Monte Vista Avenue.

Black and sleek, a massive, eye-popping polished recruiting tool for the U.S. Army, it was a semi tractor-trailer with medical simulation equipment and experiences, digital and hands-on, inside.

Source: Army visits Vacaville High with a ‘teaching vehicle,’ recruiting in mind – The Vacaville Reporter

The Vacaville Unified School District released its yearly calendars for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years on Wednesday, allowing families with students the ability to plan ahead regarding their child’s education.

The 2024-2025 year will begin on Aug. 15 and end on June 5. The 2025-2026 school year will begin Aug.14 and end June 4.

In 2024-2025, winter break will begin on Dec. 19 and end on Jan. 5. In 2025-2026, winter break will begin on Dec. 20 and end on Jan. 6. Spring Break in 2025 will be April 18-25, and April 3-10 in 2026.

Source: Vacaville Unified releases schedules for 2024-2026 – The Vacaville Reporter

Vaca Peña Middle School was recently honored by the California League of Educators with its coveted “Schools to Watch” Award for 2024 according to a press release from the school.

This is an honor bestowed to a select group of middle schools. The sites must complete an extensive application process followed up by a host site visit conducted by a collection of top education experts. Schools are judged on various criteria such as academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, organizational structure and process, and social equity before they receive the designation ‘School to Watch.’

Source: Good News: Vaca Peña Middle school earns recognition | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Nathan Pallares, a 2023 Vacaville High School graduate, has completed his 10-week training program and now serves in the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard.

A fireman, Pallares joined the Navy six months ago.

“I joined the Navy to better my life and future,” Pallares said in a story released through the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard is the official honor guard of the U.S. Navy. Established in 1931, it is based at Naval District Washington Anacostia Annex in Washington, D.C.

Source: Vaca High graduate is new member of Navy Ceremonial Guard | News | dailyrepublic.com

Two students from Vacaville Unified School District auditioned and were selected to participate in the prestigious California All-State Honor Choir.

Johnathan Burton Jr. and Aria Mehta, both freshmen at Will C. Wood High School, were chosen to represent the district at last weekend’s gathering.

The choir brings together young vocalists from all across the state, showcasing their talents in a culminating performance at the Sacramento Memorial auditorium.

Source: VUSD students participate in state honor choir | Singing | dailyrepublic.com

By Thomas Gase

Vaca Peña Middle School is hitting all the top marks.

The school was honored this week by the California League of Educators with its coveted “Schools to Watch” Award for 2024. The award is given to a select group of middle schools. In order to qualify, the sites must complete an extensive application process followed up by a host site visit conducted by a collection of top education experts.

Schools are judged on various criteria such as academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, organizational structure and process, and social equity before they receive the designation “School to Watch.”

Source: Vaca Peña Middle School makes the grade – The Vacaville Reporter