Camarillo, CA. - CSU Channel Islands (CI) announced the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) had recently received a grant for $60,000 from the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).

The HLI is named for workforce and community leader Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo, who has served as an advisor to United States presidents and governors and is held in high esteem throughout the nation and abroad.

Dawn Neuman, CI’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, called the SoCalGas gift “foundation building” for the HLI Interns Program. The HLI Interns Program is designed to support community outreach, workforce training, and leadership development.

SoCalGas engages in philanthropic giving which focuses on supporting and engaging communities in its service areas. The company strives to work with community partners to support programs that help meet community needs in areas of environment, education, emergency preparedness and economic development.

“We are very pleased to support the important work of the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies,” said Anne Shen Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Southern California Gas Company. “We also congratulate Hank for being recognized for his lifetime achievement and look forward to the Institute making a positive impact on the region.”

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers through nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout Central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2010 revenues of $9 billion. The Sempra Energy companies’ nearly 16,000 employees serve about 26 million consumers worldwide.

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Last Thursday, May 26th, Sespe GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) students performed an original musical, The King’s Fool, inspired by Shakespeare’s play King Lear. This is the seventh Sespe GATE production written by fourth grade Sespe teacher Greg Spaulding and co-directed with third grade teacher Lisa Gosselin.

In the Sespe GATE production, Shakespeare’s grim tragedy is transformed into delightful musical comedy. Yorick, the king’s jester, is old and tired. He longs to retire and sit on a beach sipping orange Fanta. But who will make the king laugh?

King Lear is also old and tired. He also wants to retire. But who will run the kingdom? When he suddenly and rashly decides to give up power, a chain of unintended (and hilarious) events is put in motion.

The talented young cast sang danced and charmed their way across the stage, to the delight of the enthusiastic audience.

The Cast: Abraham Garza Attendant, Alberto Ceja Edmund, Andrew Rodriguez Soldier, Arianna Magaña Robin, Blake Palacio King Lear, Chloe Gambill Cordelia, Damian Meza Attendant, Dyanysis Dunn Attendant, Edgar Gonzalez Soldier, Eric Hurtado Oswald, Fernie Gonzalez Yorick, Grace Garnica Goneril, Gregory Kraft Soldier, Ian Morris Hamlet, Joanna Ponce Colombina, Juan Orozco Soldier, Laura Avila Regan, Marcos Pino Arlecchino, Summer Hurtado Servant.

CAMARILLO, CA. - The Ventura County Community Foundation will award more than $820,000 in scholarships to local students at the 2011 Scholarship Awards Reception on June 2.

This year, the Community Foundation will give more than 290 scholarships to 265 students who will attend such universities as Stanford, UCLA, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Notre Dame, Brown, California Lutheran, Pepperdine and Cal State Channel Islands.

“These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of people who believe in investing in the future of Ventura County,” said Hugh Ralston, president and CEO of the Community Foundation.

“Most scholarships were established as permanent endowments at VCCF by donors who want to keep a loved one’s memory alive by making college a reality for a motivated young person,” Ralston said. “Thanks to our success in investing these funds for the long term, we are able to sustain these legacies through annual gifts to local students to help them follow their dreams.”

This year’s awards include two new memorial scholarships. The Stephen Devron Resnik Memorial Scholarship honors the late owner of the Somis Nut House. Since Resnik was an avid volleyball player, his family wanted to give first priority to a student-athlete participating in that sport.

Graduating language majors had the opportunity to apply for the inaugural Ronald Mack Adams Memorial Scholarship, established in the memory of the Oxnard School District teacher. Adams’ love of languages was sparked at Oxnard High in the late 1950s when he became that school’s first exchange student to Germany.
Students from throughout Ventura County had from November of last year until mid-January to apply for VCCF scholarships. Thanks to a new financial-aid screening tool on vccf.org, students could determine more reliably which awards they qualified for based on financial need.

The average college student graduating this year will have $27,000 in debt from education loans, according to a recent report on National Public Radio, Ralston noted.

“By awarding scholarships to qualified students, we hope to spare them some of the burden of taking on excessive student loan debt,” Ralston said, “and ensure they can get the education they hope for.”

Carlos Espinoza, a junior psychology major at the University of California, Davis, and recipient of a total of $27,000 over two years from VCCF scholarship funders, echoes Ralston’s words.

“I cannot thank them enough for investing in me, my education and in my dream of helping people, people like me who have dreams and are willing to go against the odds to obtain them,” said Espinoza, of Oxnard.

Since its founding in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded more than $7 million in scholarships and is the local leader in granting financial aid to Ventura County youth.

The scope of this annual undertaking would not be possible without dozens of unsung volunteers who have worked behind the scenes since the January application deadline, Ralston noted. A team of 16 processed the more than 2,600 applications, 19 screened the applications to make sure they complied with the guidelines set by donors. A committee of 29 volunteers reviewed and rated the almost 1,200 eligible applications, and made recommendations which were approved by the VCCF Board of Directors in early May.

VCCF is a family of charitable funds with combined assets of $108 million. Its mission is to promote and enable philanthropy to improve our community for good for ever, which it does through grantmaking, scholarships and leadership training programs through the Center for Nonprofit Leadership. VCCF has been certified in compliance with national standards by the Council on Foundations, the highest form of peer review in the United States. For more information, visit vccf.org or contact VCCF at (805) 988-0196.

Fillmore- Mayra V. Amezcua, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Susana Amezcua, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Esmeralda N. Carrillo, Saticoy Lemon Association Employee Scholarship ($650), Corey R. Cole, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Mariela Contreras, VCCF Scholarship ($600), Linnea C. Fechtner, William & Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Diana J. Gumber, William & Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Chloe N. Keller, William & Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Joseph M. Liu, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Arturo Luna, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Miguel A. Mendez, Gould Family Scholarship ($500) and Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Joel Orozco, Finch Family Scholarship ($4,000), Grace A. Simon, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Karissa M. Tarango, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Iris P. Villalobos, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Juan R. Villalobos, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Hayward Stephanie Murray, TEACh Scholarship ($2,300). Piru - Isis M. Topete, Stanley E. Cohen Memorial Scholarship ($600).

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that California will receive $69 million to turn around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program. The funds are part of $546 million available to states for the School Improvement Grant program in fiscal year 2010. In fiscal year 2009, states received a total of $3.5 billion for the School Improvement Grant program.

"When a school continues to perform in the bottom five percent of the state and isn't showing signs of progress or has graduation rates below 60 percent over a number of years, something dramatic needs to be done," said Duncan. "Turning around our worst performing schools is difficult for everyone but it is critical that we show the courage to do the right thing by kids."

The $69 million made available to California is being distributed by formula to the state and will then be competed out by the state to school districts. School districts will apply to the state for the funds this spring. When a school district applies, it must indicate that it will implement one of four school intervention models in each of its persistently lowest-achieving schools for which it receives SIG funds, based on school needs:

• TURNAROUND MODEL: Replace the principal, screen existing school staff, and rehire no more than half the teachers; adopt a new governance structure; and improve the school through curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.

• RESTART MODEL: Convert a school or close it and re-open it as a charter school or under an education management organization.

• SCHOOL CLOSURE: Close the school and send the students to higher-achieving schools in the district.

• TRANSFORMATION MODEL: Replace the principal and improve the school through comprehensive curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.

On May 22, Bethany College honored 95 students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees from the college during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Summer, fall, interterm, and spring graduates for 2010-2011 were honored during baccalaureate worship and commencement ceremonies on campus.

The Reverend Dr. Floyd M. Schoenhals, retired bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and former Bethany College board member, addressed the graduating class of 2011 during the commencement ceremony. The Reverend P. Kempton Segerhammar, who attended Bethany from 1962 to 1965 and is now the pastor of First Lutheran Church in Palo Alto, Calif., preached during baccalaureate worship.

Graduates, their majors, and their hometowns are as follows. Graduates earned Bachelor of Arts degrees unless noted as Bachelor of Music (B.M), Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) or Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.).

Fillmore: Jacob F. Arroyo, criminal justice, cum laude.

Fillmore High Alumni Association

Hello to all you Fillmore High Alumni. Come join in all the fun at our Annual Alumni Dinner at the Veterans Memorial Building. Social hour starts at 4:00, and dinner starts at 6:00pm. Gary Laird (Class of 76') from Lairds Meat Shop in Santa Paula will do the honors and prepare our meal of Tri-Tip, Chicken, Sausages, and all the trimmings. Dessert will be included. Heres the run down. If you subscribe to the Alumni Newsletter (Flashbacks) the cost is $30.00. If you do not subscribe to the newsletter, the cost is $35.00. If you decide to pay at the door, the cost is $40.00. Our address is P.O. Box 385, Fillmore, CA. 93016-0385. As the date gets closer to June 4th, you may want to walk in your payment to the Alumni Office located at 540 Sespe Ave., #6. (Alumni Office is opened Mon, Wed, and Fri from 9:00am to 12:00 noon). We hope to see you on June 4th. Come meet our 2011 Scholarship Recipients. "All Hail to our Alma Mater" 805-524-0416.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011
5:30 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION 6:30 P.M. – SPECIAL BOARD MEETING 627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
The public may review or request a copy of support materials provided to the Board Members where the word materials appears.
5:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
B. ROLL CALL
C. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION AND NONAGENDA ITEMS,
PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the Board. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
D. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Government Code 54956.8)
o 532 A Street, Fillmore, CA
Negotiators: Michael Bush, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6)
o Update; Direction to District Negotiators (Jeff Sweeney, Mike Bush, Todd Schieferle, Margaret Chidester) for negotiations with the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association (FUTA), the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Confidential Employees, and District Administration. Personnel Matters (Government Code 54957)
o Hiring, Evaluating, Discipline, or Dismissal
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Superintendent's Office at (805) 524-6038. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the district to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [In accordance with Government Code 54961 and Board Bylaw 9320(a).]

6:30 P.M.
E. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION Any Action From Closed Session
F. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
G. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
H. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS AND NONAGENDA ITEMS
This is the time and place to address the school board on any items on the open session agenda. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
I. ACTION ITEMS
1. Approve Personnel Order 10-11-20 (Materials)
2. Approve Seal of Biliteracy (Materials)
6:45P.M.
J. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
3. 10 minutes Transitional Kindergarten Class (Materials)
6:55 p.m.
K. BOARD STUDY SESSION
4. Accelerated Reader Program
8:30 P.M.
L. FUTURE MEETINGS
May 31 6:30 p.m. Joint School Board/City Council (Tentative) –
City Hall
June 7 5:30 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
June 14 5:30 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
June 21 5:30 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
June 28 5:30 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:30 p.m. Special Meeting – Board Room
M . BOARD CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING
8:45 P.M.
N. ADJOURNMENT

If you've been reading the paper you'll see that School Plans have been in the news. School Plans or SPSA (Single Plan for Student Achievement) are created and approved and overseen by each sites School Site Council (SSC) This is a body bound by state law to decide how best to use categorical monies (money that must be spent on specific programs, populations, goals). SSC always include the principal, staff members and parents. They can also include community members. It is important to note that according the SSC handbook issued by the State Department of Education the principal may not override a decision made by the SSC. Funds must be spent as designated by the SSC.

Here are links to the SPSA's that were approved in June of 2010 at each FUSD campus. They are plans for this school year (2011-2012). Current School Site Councils should be nearly finished with drawing up the plan for next year (2011-2012) and preparing to approve it. SSC's do generall edit, revise and refine the plan over the year based on needs, changes in goals and anticipated budgets and needs for the next school year. These documents are public and should be made easily available to the public. As soon as they are approved I will request them and get up and online here. Hopefully the District will beat me to it.

Fillmore High School:

FHSSchoolPlan.pdf

Fillmore Middles School:

FMSSchoolPlan.pdf

Mountain Vista:

MtnVistaSchoolPlan2010-2011.pdf

Piru Elementary School:

PiruSchoolSchoolPlan2010-2011.pdf

San Cayetano:

SanCayetanoSchoolPlan2010-2011.pdf

Sespe School:

SespeSchoolSchoolPlan2010-2011.pdf

SierraSchoolPlan2010-2011.pdf

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA. - CSU Channel Islands (CI) will graduate over 1,300 students at the University’s ninth-annual Commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m. Students eligible to receive degrees or credentials include candidates from fall 2010, spring and summer 2011: 169 master’s degrees, 68 teaching credentials, and 1,074 bachelor’s degrees.

Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction and longtime supporter of CI, Jack O’Connell, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) and will serve as keynote speaker for the ceremony.

The University expects more than 10,000 guests and roads near the University may be impacted before and after the ceremony which is anticipated to conclude by 11 a.m. Students, family and guests should plan to arrive early on campus to allow sufficient time for parking, student check-in and guest seating. For additional information visit http://www.csuci.edu/commencement/index.htm.

MASTERS

Agoura Hills

David Locken CONTINUED »

During the day before both assemblies, Forest Ranger Carol Peterson went to each San Cayetano third grade classroom to speak to the students shown holding their Personal Success Award certificate.
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On Monday, May 9, 2011, San Cayetano recognized good citizenship and service for at their last Peacebuilder assembly for the 2010-2011 school year this month. Carol Peterson, a Forest Ranger and Education Coordinator for the Channel Island National Park came to San Cayetano to speak to the students about what a good citizen is and how displaying good character could enrich the students and others in the community around them. During the day before both assemblies, Carol Peterson went to each third grade classroom to speak to the students. She does an animal habitats and endangered species program, especially dealing with the Island Fox. A radio call out to one of the program’s fox technicians was also included in the third grade presentations. There was also a connection made to the program that ran a live bald eagle nest cam. Ms. Peterson spent about an hour in each of the third grade classrooms interacting with the students. The students enjoyed her visit. Before the assembly each teacher chose a student from his or her class whom showed excellent character and peace-building skills. ASB President, Cali Wyand,and Vice President, Lizzie Castaneda assisted Ms.Peterson in handing out the Peacebuilder Awards. The Peacebuilders for May are: Brissia Lopez, Nick Tejeda, Anthony Acosta, Miranda Magana, Paige Ramirez, Angie Suarez, Alexander Adame, Arissa Ramos, Natalia Zamora, Monique Stone, Gilbert Villanueva, Angel Paniagua ,Hailey Cummings, Daniella Piceno , Fatima Zamora, Jakob Fabian, April Navarette, Ashley Alvarez, Nathan Martinez, and Jairo Rios. Lizzie then announced to the students that John Paul Pet is sponsoring the San Cayetano Character Counts Award of a $100.00 savings bond. Ms. Peterson presented the Character Counts Award to a deserving First grade student. Jazmin Patino, from Mrs. Laureano’s class, was chosen by the First grade teachers as a model of outstanding behavior and kindness to the other students. To conclude the assembly, students were reminded to turn in their Perfect Attendance tickets. Each month all students who come to school, each day, on time, are given an orange raffle ticket. The students place their tickets in a box and one ticket is drawn. The student whose ticket is drawn is given a backpack full of supplies. Each month, the tickets will be put into a larger box that will be kept until the end of the year. In June, Mrs. Marholin, the principal, will draw from the tickets to give away new bicycles, an I-pod shuffle, and three large stuffed animals. Daniel Cerna from Mrs. Dewey’s class won the Perfect Attendance Award for the month of May.

Fillmore Ebell Club who have always supported the arts in the Fillmore School System will be entertained by the Fillmore Drama Class at our May 24th Meeting. The drama students will be presenting "The Best of 2011" showcasing the best scenes performed by the Drama Class this year. They will also include a scene or two from the latest collaboration with the Sespe Players "Totally Rad" Come and join us in supporting the youth of Fillmore ad help bring their future into the world of Arts and Entertainment.

Our Luncheon Meeting is at the Memorial Building and starts at 12:30 pm. Lunch is catered by Dustin Anderson chef of the Double AA here in Fillmore Cost of lunch is $12.00. For reservations please call Lavonne Deeter at 524-2090. Anyone wishing to attend the program only the cost is $10.00 and will start at 2:00 pm. The Ebell Club will also be having their installation of officers for 2011-2012.

If you are interested in learning more about the Ebell Club or in becoming a member please call Melodie Stitch at 521-1235

Nominations for the 2011-2012 Site Council members are being accepted until June 15th. Please call 524-6103 or email blemons@fillmore.k12.ca.us if you would like to nominate someone to be on the 2011-2012 ballot. Ballots will be mailed to parents in the 2011-2012 registration packets in July.

The responsibilities of the FHS School Site Council are described in detail in Board Policy 1260. In summary of Board Policy 1260, the School Site Council is responsible for developing a three year School Improvement Plan which will address the following topics: instructional strategies, curriculum, and instructional materials which will lead towards student achievement of basic skills, develop knowledge in other aspects of the curriculum and assist them in pursuing educational interests and the development of their self-esteem; supplemental services to meet the special needs of non-English speaking students, educationally disadvantaged students and pupils with exceptional abilities; a professional development component for teachers, other school personnel and volunteers; the improvement of the school environment and climate; and other objectives established by the site council. Annually the site council is responsible for reviewing, evaluating and modifying the school improvement plan and establishing a new school improvement budget.