SJCOE News

SELPA Staff Development Bulletin - February Issue

Look for staff development opportunities in the February issue of the Staff Development Bulletin published by SJCOE SELPA.

February Outlook interactive issue

The February edition of Outlook is now available in print and online. Click on the following link to view this month’s interactive issue: http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/47fdf8e9

Read and watch education-based stories come to life! This month, Outlook features National Board Certification, a deeper look into Common Core State Standards, and the dedication ceremony of the one.School at Juvenile Hall in honor of Judge John F. Cruikshank, Jr.

We hope you enjoy reading the February edition of Outlook!

East Union 7 Manteca High FFA helping this Week at SJ Fairgrounds AgVenture

Manteca Bulletin
By Rose Albano-Risso

More than a dozen students in the FFA programs at East Union and Manteca High are coming to the aid of AgVenture Stockton this week.

They will be helping coordinate the more than 3,000 third graders from various public schools as well as three church schools who will be taking part in 2012’s first AgVenture field trip to be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on Airport Way.

Scores of volunteers are always needed to help maintain a smooth flow of the groups of students as they make their way through the various educational displays and hands-on activities. At the AgVenture on Wednesday, ag students in Manteca Unified’s FFA (Future Farmers of America) program will be among those lending hands, said AgVenture coordinator Janet Dyk of Manteca.

“We have the Manteca and East Union FFA students coming to assist since there are no ag programs in Stockton Unified School District,” Dyk said.

Eight of the volunteer FFA students are from East Union, and six are from Manteca High, she said.

The mission of AgVenture is to enlighten the young students about the connection between the food that they eat at their dining table at home and food grown in the area where they live. Food from Farm to Fork is how the sponsors describe this eye-opening lesson taught to the third graders.

AgVenture combines presentations of plants and animals, displays of various farm machinery and other ag-related programs and exhibits to drive that point home to the young students. It also teaches the students the benefits of making healthy eating choices.

Schools taking part in Wednesday’s field trip at the county fairgrounds are from the Stockton Unified, Lincoln Unified, as well as Presentation and Annunciation Catholic schools and Stockton’s First Baptist Christian School.

The students, who will be arriving at the fairgrounds in school buses at various times during the day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be accompanied by teachers at their respective campuses and more than 400 program volunteers.

The AgVenture is made possible by sponsors that include the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, the San Joaquin County Ag Commissioner’s Office, the San Joaquin County Office of Education, San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, California Women for Agriculture, Food 4 Less, and Rancho San Miguel Markets.

The San Joaquin County Fairgrounds is located at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton.

View article here @ http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/42/article/32910/

Fairgrounds Site of Next AgVenture Event

Manteca Bulletin

More than 3,000 third graders from the Stockton area will tour the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds and experience agriculture through presentations of plants, animals, and farm machinery on Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will also learn about the food grown in their hometown.

The event is the popular AgVenture program, an educational event designed to teach young students the fundamentals of agriculture.

The third-grade students will be coming from the Stockton Unified School District, Lincoln Unified, the Presentation School, Annunciation School and the First Baptist Christian School. Included in the group will be teachers and more than 400 program volunteers.

AgVenture aims to educate the future of San Joaquin County’s students by increasing their awareness of the importance of agriculture. It showcases the county’s agricultural industry and teaches students the benefits of making healthy eating choices. By forming connections between the food on their plates and the crops grown in the county, students learn how agriculture impacts their daily lives.

AgVenture is jointly sponsored by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, the San Joaquin County Ag Commissioner’s Office, the San Joaquin County Office of Education, San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, California Women for Agriculture, Food 4 Less, and Rancho San Miguel Markets.

The San Joaquin County Fairgrounds is located at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton.

The last AgVenture event was held in the fall at the Manteca Unified School District facility with the district hosting the event. The participating students were third graders from Manteca Unified campuses.

AgVenture coordinator is Janet Dyk of Manteca.

View article here @ http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/42/article/32800/

In a Class by Themselves- Nominees Sought for Excellence in Teaching Awards

The Record
By Jo Ann Kirby

It's not often that kudos come with cash attached. But the Cortopassi Family Foundation's Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Awards do just that. "It felt amazing," said Dean Reese, a Tracy High School biology and physics teacher, of winning in 2011. "Everyone likes to have a pat on the back, but this was so much more."

Excellence in Math & Science Teaching Awards
• What: The Cortopassi Family Foundation annually recognizes four outstanding high school math and science teachers with $5,000 awards and matching funds to each winner's school.

• Eligibility: Nominees must be classroom teachers; full-time school district employees; have taught math or science a minimum of two years; be current high school math or science teachers; employed at a public or charter school within San Joaquin County; and nominated by their current principal.

• Information: A nomination form and packet can be downloaded at sjcoe.org/resource/cortopassi.aspx. Questions: (209) 468-9027

The "more" came in the form of a monetary award for Reese and a matching amount for Tracy High's science department. The $5,000 award helped the father of two pay off a student loan he incurred when he earned his master's degree in science education. The school's science department spent its $5,000 to purchase new equipment that helps give students an edge in studying. "We purchased these StarBoard Monitors made by Hitachi that you can write on. It's like a smart screen," Reese said. "We can capture a video while lecturing in class. Then, teachers can post the video lecture on their class website and students can use it as a resource when they are doing homework or studying for a test." It's exactly the kind of impact agribusinessman Dino Cortopassi and his family were hoping to achieve when they launched the annual award four years ago.

In 2012, their foundation will give out awards of $5,000 each to two high school math teachers and two high school science teachers, along with $5,000 to each winner's school. It adds up to $40,000 that the foundation's board members say is well spent. "Students are inspired by great teachers, leaders, mentors. To ensure success, you must reward excellent outcomes," said Becky Carlson, a board member. "The (math and science) are fields in which our nation's children need to become frontrunners. The Cortopassi Family Foundation is recognizing and rewarding innovation in teaching."

High school principals can nominate teachers they think motivate, support and encourage students to excel in those areas while also encouraging them to pursue relevant careers. Application packets have been sent to principals at area public high schools and charter high schools, and also can be downloaded from the San Joaquin County Office of Education's website.

Escalon High Principal David Lattig said he is planning to nominate a teacher. Lattig knows firsthand the benefits after a biology teacher at Escalon was honored by the foundation last year. "Sue Gentry is just an outstanding teacher. We were so proud of her. She does a great job," Lattig said, adding that Gentry is able to motivate the most challenging students. "It's just so nice to be able to recognize a single teacher for the impact they have. And, for our school, it's just really important to put a spotlight on good things happening academically in math and science."

Applications, along with three letters of recommendation, must be submitted by Jan. 26 to Gary Dei Rossi at the county Office of Education. Finalists will be interviewed in February and the awards will be announced in March at the Science Olympiad at University of the Pacific.

Board members hope to attract a larger pool of applicants for this year's awards. If the number of qualified nominees grows, the foundation would consider expanding the program in the future. "As a principal, you want outstanding teachers to get the recognition they deserve," Lattig said. "It's such a great thing that the Cortopassi family recognizes the work of our teachers who are making a difference."

View article here @ http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120119/A_NEWS04/201190321&cid=sitesearch

MUSD Vocational Academy Charter Petition to go Before Board in February

Manteca Bulletin
By Rose Albano-Risso

The petition to establish a Manteca Unified Vocational Academy charter school will come before the Board of Education for approval in February. The recommendation by school district staff which put together the petition will be for the board to approve it, said Superintendent Jason Messer who gave the update on the charter school proposal during the trustees’ regular meeting Tuesday night. No one spoke in favor or against the charter proposal during the public hearing scheduled immediately prior to Messer’s report. The expected board’s approval of the district’s vocational education charter school will start the ball rolling toward the official opening of the school. There will be “informational nights” held at all the high school campuses in the district as to what the project is all about and who are the targeted students.

The vocational academy will offer programs for students in 11th and 12th grades who are interested in pursuing immediately employable skills in the following three program areas: culinary arts, industrial fabrication, and medical office. The medical office program could serve as a head-start for students who may want to pursue more advanced studies in the field such as nursing. Students who enroll in the industrial fabrication program could end up graduating with a high school diploma plus a certification for a specific area of training that they selected that would make them eligible for employment right away. This particular program will have a broad spectrum of certificated training specialties that students will be able to choose from. Students enrolled in the Vocational Academy would be able to graduate from high school with both a high school diploma and an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree through Delta College.

Originally, police service was also considered for the academy’s two-year vocational curriculum. But that was scratched because the program would have involved the handling of guns which requires one to be at least 21 years of age. “The Academy would be housed here in the district complex,” Messer said. The old administration building and some portables throughout the district would be used as classrooms for the vocational academy. Some parts of the new farm complex behind the district building could also be used as classrooms, Messer said. As to the costs involved in running and maintaining the vocational school, that’s an issue that will be discussed, he said. Additionally, “the board will maintain full authority of the charter,” Messer stated.

Evaluation of the charter school will be the duty of the San Joaquin County Office of Education.

View article here @ http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/42/article/32464/

Honoring our History World War I traveling gallery

Waddel & Reed invites the community to tour the Honoring Our History World War I traveling gallery on Friday, February 17 at University of the Pacific (3601 Pacific Ave., Stockton) from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Honoring Our History is a year-long national tour honoring the men and women who served in World War I.

Developed in partnership with the National World War I Museum, and in celebration of Waddell & Reed’s 75th anniversary, Honoring Our History commemorates the Great War from within a customized “big rig” truck. This extraordinary traveling gallery features myriad artifacts including weapons, tools, equipment and uniforms; a walk-through trench simulating the war environment; videos and audio tracks; news headlines and historical descriptors.

Admission is free. Donations are gladly accepted. Half of all contributions will benefit the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, the other half to benefit the University of the Pacific. For more information, download the attachment.

San Joaquin County students receive free books

Students at Sequoia Elementary in Manteca Unified School District received free books as a part of First Book hosted by The Record. Over 150,000 were provided to local children in need through The Record’s efforts. First Book is a non-profit organization that provides books at low cost or in some instances free of charge to schools.

For more information about First Book, visit www.firstbook.org. For more information about The Record’s First Book Distribution, check out this story: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110916/A_NEWS/109160311/-1/NEWSMAP.

Bank of the West presents $2,500 to the African American Student Dropout Intervention and Prevention Committee

On January 19, Bank of the West presented a $2,500 check to the African American Student Dropout Intervention and Prevention Committee (AASDIP). Thanks to the generosity of companies like Bank of the West, the organization, which formed in 2008, will continue to address the disproportionately high dropout rate of African-American students in San Joaquin County.

Pictured: Marlene E. Stante, Bank of the West Regional Manager and other Bank of the West Branch Managers; members of AASDIP; Mick Founts, Superintendent of Schools; and Gary Dei Rossi, Deputy Superintendent

Open for Trims

San Joaquin County Office of Education Deputy Superintendent Gary Dei Rossi gets his hair cut at the new Career Academy of Comsmetology, which just opened at 145 Alpine Ave. in Stockton. This new cosmetology program is run by the Regional Occupation Program at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. Cutting his hair are two of the students at the new academy, Kara Adams and Gladys Hermasillo.