Notre Dame School students sweep the Vacaville Citywide Spelling Bee – The Vacaville Reporter

By Rebecca Wasik

V-I-C-T-O-R-I-O-U-S.

Two students from Notre Dame K-8 School in Vacaville secured wins in the elementary and junior high school divisions of the Grace B. Powell Citywide Spelling Bee on Wednesday at Will C. Wood High School’s Catwalk Theater.

The champion of the elementary school division is sixth-grader Luke Bantique. The winner of the junior high division is seventh-grader Margrethe Lim.

Source: Notre Dame School students sweep the Vacaville Citywide Spelling Bee – The Vacaville Reporter

Summer at City Hall internship returns for Vacaville area high school students – The Vacaville Reporter

Summer at City Hall is back.

High school students interested in learning about local government are encouraged to apply for a four-week internship with the City of Vacaville.

The deadline to apply is March 26 and the program is open to Vacaville youth who will be juniors or seniors in the Vacaville or Travis Unified School Districts in the fall of 2023.

Interns will attend a class about local government and participate in an internship with the City of Vacaville or the Vacaville Unified School District. Students will focus on skill development, civic engagement, and local government.

Source: Summer at City Hall internship returns for Vacaville area high school students – The Vacaville Reporter

Getting a jump on college – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville High seniors on a rainy Tuesday afternoon crowded into a Solano Community College classroom in the Student Services building, their minds, eyes, and ears focused on learning what the two-year school was all about and had to offer, hoping to get a jump start on admissions.

Jumpstart was an apt word for the gathering, as it is the name of a Vacaville Unified program newly rolled out and called JumpStart Solano, which district officials describe as a “success program” designed to help and prepare Vacaville and Wood high school seniors to make a seamless transition from their respective schools to SCC.

Source: Getting a jump on college – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville Rotary Club awarding scholarships for high school seniors – The Vacaville Reporter

The Vacaville Rotary Club is in search of deserving students seeking scholarships to use toward college education-related costs.

The Vacaville Rotary is looking for the next generation of leaders who want to honor those high-achieving students who go beyond their regular class work and have demonstrated a passion for service above self. 20 scholarships will be awarded in the amounts of $500 to $4,000 each totaling 28k.

High School Seniors in the Vacaville Unified and Travis Unified School Districts can pick up an application in their school counseling office or online at www.vacavillerotary.org.

Source: Vacaville Rotary Club awarding scholarships for high school seniors – The Vacaville Reporter

Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy students partner with Recology for breast cancer fundraiser – The Vacaville Reporter

By Rebecca Wasik

National Honor Society students at Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy in Vacaville are making a difference when it comes to breast cancer awareness.

Recology Vacaville Solano currently leases out pink trash totes for $200 a year, with all funds supporting the Solano Midnight Sun Breast Cancer Foundation. These pink totes replace the traditional gray trash totes that are standard for residents. The totes are vibrant pink to show support to those in the community who may be suffering from or are survivors of breast cancer.

Source: Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy students partner with Recology for breast cancer fundraiser – The Vacaville Reporter

What’s in a name? Honor for a retired longtime Vacaville educator – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Before Vacaville Unified leaders opened a new school in her honor, she recalled “a wonderful career that I would do again in a heartbeat.”

“It was my calling and I loved going to work every day,” said Shelley Dally in a brief email just hours in advance of the Wednesday dedication of the Shelley Dally Early Learning Village at 621 S. Orchard, the former home of the Bethany Lutheran School, across the street from Alamo Elementary.

And moments before she grasped the obligatory oversized scissors to cut the white ribbon emblazoned with VUSD lettering, Dally, a former district trustee serving for 10 years, reflected on the event’s meaning, saying the district’s newest campus is a place “where from the very beginning of a student’s education, they can come to a place that is based not only on giving them a great start in life but on equity,” a school where special-needs students “are included from Day 1 with general education students.”

Source: What’s in a name? Honor for a retired longtime Vacaville educator – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville is “building a foundation for a vibrant tomorrow” – The Vacaville Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts wrought much change in Vacaville, as well as reflection.

As Mayor John Carli eloquently explained Wednesday during the State of the City address: “It was a time of renaissance. … But this year is really about building a foundation for a vibrant tomorrow.”

The address was the highlight of the Movers and Shakers Breakfast Summit hosted by the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce at the Vacaville Opera House.

Source: Vacaville is “building a foundation for a vibrant tomorrow” – The Vacaville Reporter

Leadership opportunity for Vacaville youth – The Vacaville Reporter

Are you a Vacaville high schooler interested in learning about government?

Check out the Annual Summer at City Hall program in Vacaville.

This 4-week program — a partnership with the city of Vacaville, Vacaville Unified School District and Travis Unified School District — is open to Vacaville youth who will be juniors or seniors this fall.

Youth will participate in a class focused on skill development, civic engagement and local government. Students will also have an opportunity to intern with the city of Vacaville or Vacaville Unified School District.

Source: Leadership opportunity for Vacaville youth – The Vacaville Reporter

Buckingham crab feed supports students – The Vacaville Reporter

Support students at Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy by indulging in crab.

The BCCA SHIELD parent group is hosting a crab feed at 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the McBride Senior Center, 91 Town Square Place in Vacaville.

Proceeds will go toward scholarships and fund student club supplies and activities.

Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by no-host cocktail service at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Source: Buckingham crab feed supports students – The Vacaville Reporter

Job fair sheds light on vacancies in Solano school districts – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Schools across the area are looking to fill multiple types of position, so the Solano County Office of Education hosted a job fair Saturday for people to seek jobs in a single setting.

“This is targeting the communities in Solano County,” said Mike Minahen, associate superintendent of Human Resources. “The goal for today is to provide an opportunity to recruit locally.”

Nearly all school districts in Solano County came out on a rainy Saturday.

Source: Job fair sheds light on vacancies in Solano school districts

Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

By Rebecca Wasik

Callison Elementary School in Vacaville celebrated the 25th annual Read Across America Week, which began on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, with themed days.

Friday was Literary Character Day and participants from across the city — including public safety officers, Air Force personnel, local leaders and community members — volunteered to read to the students, some dressed as their favorite book characters.

The aim — to teach them about the importance reading has in their careers.

Source: Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

Violins of Hope brings educational concert to Will C. Wood High – The Vacaville Reporter

By Rebecca Wasik

It’s hard nowadays to keep a group of high school students quiet and attentive.

However, the history and music brought to life by Will C. Wood High School orchestra teacher Joanna Mackinson did just that.

Violins of Hope is a project of concerts played with violins once owned by Jewish people before and during World War II.

Through this program, Mackinson was able to play two historic violins for Wood students in the Catwalk Theater on campus Thursday.

Source: Violins of Hope brings educational concert to Will C. Wood High – The Vacaville Reporter

Vaca elementary school gets new weather station for science work – Daily Republic

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District has placed a new weather and air monitoring station at Markham Elementary School.

Supervisor John Vasquez“Markham Elementary School’s new air monitor and weather station is an interactive and educational tool for teachers and students to connect with their environment through data collection, math and science. It is also a useful tool to help keep children safe and indoors when our air quality reaches hazardous levels.” Supervisor John Vasquez, who sits on the air district board, said in a statement released Friday by the air district.

Source: Vaca elementary school gets new weather station for science work

Nominations open to recognize those who help students with disabilities – Daily Republic

Nominations are being accepted for the 17th annual Community Advisory Committee Recognition Awards for those who go above and beyond in the service of students with disabilities.

The CAC Awards are presented to educators, youth and community members for outstanding service who go above and beyond in service of students with disabilities.

Award recipients are from each school district within the Solano County Special Education Local Plan Area: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield-Suisun, Travis and Vacaville, as well as the Solano County Office of Education.

Source: Nominations open to recognize those who help students with disabilities

Cooper students buzz to city spelling bee – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

It is spelling season in Vacaville.

All throughout the city, students at different schools are competing for spots in both the city and county spelling bees. On Thursday, it was Cooper Elementary School’s turn. A total of 21 students listened as different words were pronounced as they attempted to write them down in a notebook, staying on stage if they spelled a word correctly and leaving if they misspelled two.

This went on for more than 20 rounds until three remained. Sixth-grader Azamat Kokoev, sixth-grader Marcelo Sing and fifth-grader Audrey Echevarria clinched first, second and third place respectively. All three will go on to represent Cooper at the Vacaville Rotary Club’s Citywide Spelling Bee on March 22, and Azamat and Marcelo will compete in the Solano County Spelling Bee March 16. If either wins that competition, they could represent Solano in the California State Elementary Spelling Bee.

Source: Cooper students buzz to city spelling bee – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairmont third-graders become Watershed Explorers – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Science lessons are not limited to just the classroom. As scores of third-graders throughout Solano County will learn over the next two months, they can be found by going outside, and one place where the lessons of nature can be found in abundance is in local waterways.

Through March 23, Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD) is hosting a series of field trips to local watersheds to give students an opportunity to learn about their local tributaries, what wildlife can be found there and what steps people can take to ensure they are kept clean. On Monday, third-graders at Fairmont Charter Elementary School visited Lagoon Valley Park, where they observed fauna, studied invertebrates and planted native grass.

Lee Ascencio, Solano RCD program manager, said Lagoon Valley was a great showcase for watersheds and one that not all students had been to themselves.

Source: Fairmont third-graders become Watershed Explorers – The Vacaville Reporter

Talented teen soloists showcased in Solano Symphony concert – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

“Music is the language of the spirit” it’s been famously said, but it also will be spirited music when longtime Solano Symphony conductor Semyon Lohss and the orchestra accompany three teenage musicians during the annual Salute to Youth concert in Vacaville on Sunday.

The music, to be performed by winners of the 2022 Young Artists Competition, other student musicians and the orchestra, begins at 3 p.m. in the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive.

In a press statement, symphony Board President Melinda Ellis said the trio of winners are active music students at Davis Senior High School in Davis.

Source: Talented teen soloists showcased in Solano Symphony concert – The Vacaville Reporter

Will C. Wood freshman named 2023 Youth of the Year – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Just a few months after starting high school, Linda Hernandez is already set to have a busy 2023.

The Will C. Wood freshman was named the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Year for 2023, where she will serve as the club’s ambassador for the year and be entered into the National Youth of the Year competition.

Linda’s new title was announced in a ceremony held at the Opera House Wednesday evening, where the Boys & Girls Club kickoff the first major celebration of what will be the club’s 20th year of operation in Vacaville. The evening not only looked back at the past but also toward the future, which will see a much larger main campus on Brown Street.

Source: Will C. Wood freshman named 2023 Youth of the Year – The Vacaville Reporter

Youth in a bright spotlight again with Solano Symphony – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Youth will have its day once more when longtime Solano Symphony conductor Semyon Lohss and the orchestra accompany three winners of the 2022 Young Artists Competition during the annual Salute to Youth concert in Vacaville on Feb. 5.

The music begins at 3 p.m. in the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive.

In a press statement, symphony Board President Melinda Ellis said the trio of winners are active music students at Davis Senior High School in Davis.

Source: January 19 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: Youth in a bright spotlight again with Solano Symphony – The Vacaville Reporter

Buchanan Miles, 23-year Hemlock teaching veteran, is Vacaville Unified’s Teacher of the Year – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Walking through Buchanan Miles’ fourth-grade classroom at Hemlock Elementary School, it is already apparent that he is a highly exalted teacher. Sitting atop a bookshelf of grade-appropriate novels in his classroom’s Reading Corner is a set of trophies in the shape of Oscars and racing cups proclaiming Miles as the “Best Teacher” as well as an award from KUIC naming him the Teacher of the Month for Dec. 2013.

Now, Miles has a new award he can add to his shelf: one proclaiming him as Vacaville Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year for the 2022-23 year.

Miles, who is in his 23rd year of teaching at Hemlock, was honored by his peers for his selflessness, dedication to his students and contributions to the school’s culture of positivity.

Source: Buchanan Miles, 23-year Hemlock teaching veteran, is Vacaville Unified’s Teacher of the Year – The Vacaville Reporter