February 2006 News Archive
February 28, 2006
School Board Recognizes Village Properties and KEYT-TV
On February 14, 2006, the Board of Education recognized Village Properties owners Renee Grubb and Ed Edick and KEYT-TV’s Paul Vercammen for their support of teachers in the districts’ elementary schools. Vercammen, a former CNN reporter, graduated from Santa Barbara Junior and Santa Barbara High School.
Superintendent Brian Sarvis noted, “Classroom expenses are met in a number of ways. We have general fund money. Some 90% of it goes to salaries and benefits. And no one would complain that teachers and support staff are paid too well. There are categorical monies in the budget that can only be used for instruction and materials for specific programs. School site administrators and school site councils allocate funds when creating their school site budgets. Also, PTAs and private donors supplement the district-provided monies.”
In 2002, Village Property established the Teacher’s Fund to help local public and private elementary school teachers buy additional supplies and books. Applications are submitted from September through May year and awards are made each month.
Since the program’s inception, $239,098 has been raised for south coast schools. Of that amount, 253 elementary school classrooms in the Santa Barbara School Districts have received $113,229. A few examples of how those dollars have been used include:
- garden materials to help students design and build a garden at Adams;
- supplies for a fiber arts project at Open Alternative School;
- annual lab licenses for 35 computer logins at Cleveland;
- backpacks with supplies for all first-graders at Harding;
- art supplies and math materials at McKinley
- speech therapy materials at Monroe;
- larva kits for metamorphosis at Peabody;
- classroom library books for the accelerated reading program at the Santa Barbara Community Academy
Every one of the districts’ elementary schools has been touched by donations made to the Village Properties Teacher’s Fund.
A relatively new, separate facet of this school/business partnership has been the establishment of an “Apple for a Teacher” gift certificate program.
Beginning in November 2005, Village Properties and KEYT partnered to award a local teacher with a $100 gift certificate during the live broadcast of KEYT’s Friday “Morning Show,” hosted by Beth Farnsworth and Rosemary Orozco.
Elementary school children and teachers are encouraged to write in to KEYT and indicate why their teacher deserves to win the certificate for school supplies. Thus far, about a dozen $100 gift certificates have been awarded to teachers to purchase supplies from Bennett’s Educational Materials on Hollister Avenue. KEYT-TV, an ABC affiliate, was honored at the board meeting for the valuable media time that the station has given to this effort.
Pozole Night at Franklin Elementary School
Pozole Night at Franklin Elementary School has, for the past 5-7 years, provided an opportunity for the school community to come together on a social basis and also raise money for school programs. This year, Pozole Night will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2006, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in Franklin’s auditorium. A variety of current and former students will provide entertainment at the event.
Prepared and donated by Franklin parents, the pozole will cost $6 for a large bowl and $4 for a small bowl. A drink is included. Parents hope to raise $1,500-2,000 for teacher-identified needs that benefit students (e.g., books, field trips, sports equipment).
Pozole, a traditional pre-Columbian soup or stew that originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco, is a current-day favorite in both Mexico and the American Southwest. It is made with hominy and, as prepared for this event, either pork or chicken. It is served with a variety of garnishes, such as shredded cabbage, radish, onion, oregano, chili, or lemon wedges. The soup will be served with tostada corn shells.
According to Maria Salas, teacher and event organizer, “Pozole is a meal from the heart. Pozole Night is a chance for our students, parents, and teachers to gather for a social event and help children in the process.”
Anyone interested in more information or helping at the event can reach Maria Salas at Franklin Elementary School, 963-4283. Franklin is located at 1111 E. Mason Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103.
Diversity and Equity Awareness Week in Four Local Junior High Schools
As part of their annual activities on the topic, Goleta Valley, La Colina, La Cumbre, and Santa Barbara junior high schools will begin Diversity and Equity Awareness Week today, February 13.
Goleta Valley Junior High School
Goleta Valley Junior High School is promoting this week’s activities with student-made posters. As part of a Diversity and Equity Awareness poetry contest, student-produced diversity-theme poems will be read over the public address system each day. Different international theme-meals (e.g., Indian coconut curry) will be offered in the cafeteria all week. Prizes will be awarded to students who correctly answer diversity trivia.
During lunchtime today, the drill team will perform, student leadership will hold “Mix It Up” activities and participants will receive diversity-theme gifts. A 1:00 p.m. assembly will focus on “War at Home: Reflections on 9/11.”
On Tuesday, February 14, Holocaust survivor/civil rights activist Judith Meisel will be the guest at an 11:00 a.m. assembly for seventh-graders; students will watch “Tak For Alt,” a film about Mrs. Meisel’s personal experience. Lunchtime activities will be hosted by a Goleta Valley “House,” one of four school groups made up of a diverse cross section of students.
On Wednesday, an ability awareness activity will take place in the cafeteria. A 1:00 p.m. assembly will focus on “War at Home: Reflections on 9/11.”
On Thursday, Anti-Defamation League speakers will conduct “Know Your Rights” presentations during second-, third-, and fourth-period history classes. Club Live will host a diversity-themed activity.
On-going events at Goleta Valley Junior High School include Beyond Tolerance “Living Voices” performances and an artist-in-residence program through the YMCA that focuses on respect of the elderly.
La Colina Junior High School
On a daily basis, teachers will be teaching lessons that focus on discrimination, equity, diversity, bias, and inclusion. Anti-Defamation League “No Place For Hate” buttons will be distributed.
On Monday, “Tak For Alt” will be screened and honored guest will be Judith Meisel. Mrs. Meisel will talk with eighth-grade students.
On Thursday, all classes will participate in a read around. For the event, the school’s library has abridged the book Wing Man, enabling each teacher to read aloud one chapter in about 7-10 minutes; the book will be completed by the end of the day. Set in the 1950s, Wing Man tells of the experiences of the only Chinese boy in an urban junior high school in New York. Also on Thursday, Chris, a popular disc jockey who uses in a wheel chair, will D.J. a “dollar dance” during lunch period.
La Cumbre Junior High School
La Cumbre continues to focus on a wide range of diversity and equity awareness activities. The school recently hosted a “Show your spark!“ assembly, sponsored by the Charles & Helen Schwab Foundation. The audience was the school's 120 special education students. The message was to persevere in spite of the disability; students were encouraged to find their strengths and use them to succeed in school. As a follow-up, during the month of February, teachers and students work to define unique strengths and talents, explore proven strategies on homework, studying, organization, and time management.
Last week, La Cumbre hosted a “No Place For Hate” assembly with Judy Meisel. Mrs. Meisel’s message was that in diversity there is strength; work to respect differences and to create an environment where prejudice and hatred are rejected. For the eighth graders, the assembly was part of the culminating activities related to an English unit on Anne Frank. The goal was to encourage respectful/peaceful coexistence by making students aware of actions and behaviors that promote hatred or unfair treatment of others. As a followup, from February through April, teachers and students will explore concepts related to bias, discrimination, prejudice, racism, scapegoating, and stereotyping. There will be assorted classroom activities using the “No Place For Hate” resource guide (e.g., student posters, slogan contests).
Looking ahead, administrators are working with Beyond Tolerance to bring “The Right to Dream,” a Living Voices assembly, to La Cumbre Junior High on April 25. The presentation illuminates the issues of civil rights and provides a historical perspective on how the fight against prejudice has shaped America's history. Further, in April through May, Core Knowledge/social studies classes will look further into the Black American experience.
To increase awareness of Americans with disabilities, students will examine the meaning behind the handicap placard. Activities are scheduled that will enable students to explore many different disabilities (both visible and invisible) that young and old have to overcome to participate fully in public/private life.
Santa Barbara Junior High School
All week long, there will be a display of posters with messages promoting diversity and equity. There will be a library contest on figures from around the world. Also, warm-up activities on vocabulary will take place (diversity, equity, prejudice, discrimination, tolerance, racism, etc.). Students will hear world music from different cultures during passing periods. There will be a message on diversity and equity each day in the bulletin.
Beginning on Monday, a door decorating competition (representing a country) will be done in reading break classes. The contest will continue through Thursday, when judging takes place and a pizza party is awarded. Also on Monday, staff will begin showing movie at lunchtime on tolerance in room 110. The lunchtime screening will end on Wednesday with a movie discussion session.
Diversity and Equity Awareness Week in Local High Schools
The week of February 6-10 is Diversity and Equity Awareness Week in the Santa Barbara School Districts’ high schools. Diversity and Equity Awareness Week, comprised largely of student-organized activities, is one component of a comprehensive list of activities that occur throughout the school year. Next week, beginning on February 13, the four junior high schools will conduct diversity and equity awareness activities.
On Monday, a number of female high school athletes from throughout the districts were among the crowd of several hundred who listened to an inspirational presentation by distance runner Maria Runyan, an Olympic-level athlete who is legally blind. Ms. Runyan spoke of the challenges related to her disability when she addressed the annual Santa Barbara Athletic Roundtable Girls and Women in Sports luncheon.
At Dos Pueblos High School, students have decorated the campus with quotes and famous sayings and the theme is being carried over into the quote of the day in the school bulletin. On Monday, during fourth period, yellow ribbons were distributed to students and staff to wear in support of diversity and equity awareness. During yesterday’s lunch period, colorful “peace necklaces” (with the peace symbol oft seen in the 60s) were handed out. Monday’s activities included the kick off of a weeklong banner signature campaign whereby students pledge their commitment to the concepts of diversity and equity awareness. Today’s motivational quote in the daily bulletin is attributed to Moshe Dayan: “If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.” During today’s lunch period, an improvisational group performed peace-theme skits. On Wednesday, a taped interview with Joe Haake, a Dos Pueblos student who requires a wheelchair for mobility, will be shown during the lunch period. On Wednesday evening, the school’s parent English Language Advisory Committee will meet to discuss categorical funding and other issues related to educational access. On Thursday, peace will be the theme of music played during the lunch period. Also, during fourth period on Thursday, local religious leaders will participate in a forum on religious tolerance. On Friday, the banner will be completed and the weeklong celebration will culminate with ice cream served in the Greek.
At San Marcos High School, Anti-Defamation League “No Place for Hate” pins are being distributed and worn throughout the week. Each day this week, the bulletin will have a fact or quote of the day. There will be a video segment of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and other events/speeches. Quotes and facts have been posted on the school walls. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of a quiz where students are asked to identify famous figures in social justice history. More than 21 second-period classes are competing with one another for full participation in a National Conference for Community and Justice “perceptions of inclusion” survey. Puzzle pieces will be provided to each class and decorated with representations of diversity; staff and students will judge the activity and the winning class will be treated to a pizza party. On February 10, students will participate in a test on information gleaned during Diversity and Equity Awareness week.
Banners celebrating diversity are on display at Santa Barbara High School. Junior State of America (JSA) created the banners. On Monday students conducted a “Celebrate Diversity” pledge signup. Today, JSA sponsored a lunchtime forum on diversity; guest speakers included Mayor Marty Blum and Santa Barbara School Districts’ Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Jan Zettel. Parent-oriented events this week supporting equity in education include an information meeting for Spanish-speaking parents of high school seniors on AB 540 and how it affects access to higher education (Tuesday); a Cal-SOAP meeting with parents regarding the college FAFSA form (Wednesday); and a meeting of the school’s English Language Advisory Committee, immediately followed by a parent education program (Thursday). Looking ahead, a fourth-period Black History Month assembly will be held on February 15.