The Family Day Camp combines movement, language, song, social interaction, deductive and inductive thought.
the Measure E Parcel Tax tjat would have provided $2.5 million annually to prevent cuts and restore programs.
"We had created a restoration list in the event that it passed so we could restore our programs cherished by parents and community members," School Board President Robert Hidalgo said. "We also created a deeper cut list in the event that it did not. All it means is we will revisit that deeper cut list and make some more difficult decisions."
Election returns show 52 percent of residents voted in favor of the tax, while 48 percent voted against it, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk.
It required two-thirds to pass.
The School Board will now reassess its budget at a special meeting scheduled for July 7.
If approved the measure would have assessed an annual parcel tax of $120 per home in district boundaries for the next five years.
"The support of our voters reflects their understanding of the impact of the State's devastating reductions to education, especially to the schools in Rowland Unified. We will continue to stay focused on the important work of teaching and learning while implementing unprecedented cuts to our staff and programs.
"Public education is the hope for a better future in California and our nation, and it will take the efforts of everyone in Rowland Unified to stay focused on our mission to realize the potential of each and every child during this fiscal crisis."
As of 8 p.m. last night, 4,193 residents voted in favor of the parcel tax, while 3,938 voted against it. That's 51.57 percent yes and 48.43 percent No. The ballot measure needed 66 percent of the voters in favor of the new tax for the measure to pass.
Meanwhile, the education parcel tax passed easily in La Canada Unified School District. The registrar reported that 4,732 voted Yes, while 1,606 voted No. That's 74.66 percent in favor the tax that will raise money for the district.
The Rowland Unified students have spent their summer days honing their singing, dancing and painting. Now they're going to show off a little.
The election is being conducted as an all vote by mail election. For voters who haven't mailed their ballots, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk will have a special satellite ballot drop-off location in the lobby of the Rowland Heights Library at 1850 Nogales St. on Tuesday, June 30 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The ballot drop-off location is exclusively for voters who did not mail their voted ballots in time. It will be staffed by registrar personnel.
Rowland Unified School District is facing more than $13 million in cuts because of the state budget deficit. The district says this will have a devastating impact on every school as well as the educational programs.
Measure E is a local parcel tax that would help raise an estimated $2.5 million annually for five years only. These funds could not be taken away by the state and would provide stable funds to be used to maintain college preparation classes and high school counselors.
Rowland Unified would also use the money to preserve student health/safety/security services, provide adequate instructional materials and classroom technology, keep school libraries open, protect small class sizes, maintain music and art programs and retain qualified, experienced teachers
If approved, Measure E will cost property owners $10 per month, for a total of $120 per year, for five years only. Property owners age 65 and over can apply for an exemption.
If passed, the deadline to fill out the senior exemption form is July 30. An independent Community Oversight Committee will be appointed by the school board to make sure that school parcel tax funds are properly spent.
To pass, Measure E must receive at least 66.7% support from those who vote on the measure. For further information, please visit www.RowlandSchools.org or call (626) 854-8352.
Several students received special awards. Student speakers were Carmen Flores and Natalie De La Paz.
A special GED award was presented to Richard Maldonado for the highest English GED score. He achieved a score of 3,120 out of a possible 4,000.
Director Rocky Bettar presented the Director's Award to Lily Tran for superior achievement and demonstration of a strong desire for learning. Tod Hua got special recognition for his determination in earning a high school diploma.
District PTA President Connie Miranda presented the Ada Mae Warner scholarship to Sarah Mallari.
These classes allow adult students to work at their own pace with one-on-one instruction to finish their diploma. Both morning and evening classes are offered.
For information, call (626) 965-5975 or visit http://race.rowland.k12.ca.us.<WC>
The retirees and their years of service are: John Anderson, 27; Jennifer Chisholm, 28; Ranay Collins, 27; Alex De Lone, 28; Mike Dunphy, 20; Linda Frost, 30; Wesley Garrett, 26; Jackie Hassell, 24; Nina Harvey, 20; Aileen Maruki, 20; Marilyn McMahon, 16; Lupe Reyes, 30; and Diane Tobar, 30.
"As public school district board members, we would like to share additional information that was not included in your "Choice for Public Schools" editorial (Our View, May 26).
"Educators also believe in choices for parents and students. That is why there are already numerous options for parental choice that exist including interdistrict permit programs, charter schools, choice among district of residence schools, and federal No Child Left Behind and related state laws. The District of Choice legislation that is due to sunset in July is an outdated policy that is no longer relevant.
"The California Department of Education conducted an evaluation of the Districts of Choice Program and concluded that given that only 3.9 percent of the 100 surveyed districts indicated an active participation in the District of Choice program, "it seems to be a small program with very limited impact. The CDE sees no significant negative consequences to the program's lapse as scheduled for July 1, 2009."
"In fact, the District of Choice provisions offer little state oversight, no financial relief for districts impacted by the program, lack of access for all families and would have unintentional consequences to schools across the state. Although the provisions in the law are designed to ensure that special education, bilingual, or other students with special needs are not discriminated against because of the costs associated with educating these students, there is not oversight to ensure that students are selected through a random and unbiased process as specified in the law. Record-keeping obligations for the district of choice are surprisingly minimal and entirely discretionary.
"The District of Choice statutes were scheduled to sunset in July. It is time to allow this poorly monitored legislation to come off the books."
Robert F. Hidalgo
President
Rowland Unified School District
Tom Selinske
President
Pasadena Unified School District
Sometimes, we need to be our own heroes. We have to save ourselves before we can help others.
Along the way, we find inspiration in the stories of those who have overcome overwhelming odds to accomplish their dreams. Some students graduating from Mt. San Antonio College on June 12 shared their personal stories.
Candice Porras lost seven years of her life and the father of her youngest child to meth. The Nogales High graduate became caught up in the world of methamphetamine, a psychostimulant that induces intense euphoria.
But the La Puente woman turned her life around. Find out how in the Rowland Heights Highlander.The move would allow the administration to rehire all the probationary and permanent teachers who were given layoff notices in March, said Board of Education President Joann Steinmeier in an e-mail.
Shawn said some teachers may be reassigned to different schools.
"In light of horrible economic times, and equally horrible resource cuts by the state, the Arcadia Unified School District family has done everything possible to protect the programs we provide for our students," he said.
Schools are slashing their summer school programs to save money. Officials say ballooning budget deficits are forcing them to make hard choices, beginning immediately.
Some are cutting summer school all together, others are halving their programs. Here's a list of local schools and their summer schedules.
Read more about the changes in the Highlander newspapers.
It's not your grandmother's quilt.
Third-graders at Vejar Elementary School in Walnut decided to contribute to the city's 50th anniversary by creating a historical quilt.
No, the quilt isn't 100 years old, but it does cover the city's history through colorful panels designed by the youngsters.
To do so, the 9-year-olds had to research the past to create the quilt in the present for future generations to enjoy.
"This is so touching, it's wonderful. You put so much effort in this and I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your work," Mayor Mary Su told the students on June 2. The students had been bused in to City Hall for the big presentation.
The mayor said the beautiful quilt will be hung in a prominent place in city hall.Read the whole story in the Walnut Highlander.
Director of Public Affairs Jill Dolan said the Walnut campus has been forced to make the cuts to help balance the budget deficit.
Area students will find the number of sections offered for each course slashed approximately in half.
"The onset of massive budget cuts to the California State University has forced Cal Poly Pomona to cancel state funding for the 2009 summer quarter. All classes that had been scheduled for Summer 2009 are now cancelled.
As an alternative, the university will offer a fee-based summer schedule through the College of the Extended University beginning July 13. These fully transferrable accredited courses meet Cal Poly Pomona degree requirements.
The university will hold a special student forum on Thursday, June 11, at noon in the Bronco Student Center's Ursa Major Suite. For more information, visit www.csupomona.edu/~summer09."
They say it's a double whammy, colleges are raising their tuition while the state is cutting their grants. Many don't know how they'll be able to afford college.
Read some of their stories and fears in our story in today's Walnut Highlander.
Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
Admission is free. For more information, call (909) 594-5611, Ext. 4328.
The Parent-Teacher Association offers lots of food anf fun, as well as a Hawaiian variety show.
All donations will be used to reach the school goal of $5,000 to purchase an Accelerated Reader Software Program.
For information, call PTA President Katharina Lam at (626) 975-1282 or Treasurer Neal Noborio at (626) 252-2593.
The third-graders presented a community quilt that pictured the history of Walnut.
Two classes partnered for a social studies unit on community history.
For this project, students created 12-panels for the quilt. They also performed a reader's theater version of Walnut's history.
Mayor Su said she was very moved by the students hard work and presentation. Read about the unique present in an upcoming story in the Walnut Highlander.
This annual award recognizes students for outstanding service to the college, as well as academic, competitive and personal achievement.
There are four types of awards. The Academic Achievement Award requires a minimum 3.75 grade point average. The Service Achievement Award winners must have a 3.0 GPA and significant volunteer service to the college and their community.
The Personal Achievement Award is for those with a 2.75 GPA or higher and who have overcome personal hardship. The Competitive Achievement Award requires a 3.0 GPA and success as part of a competitive student group or team.
Recipients of the Academic Achievement Awards were Chandni Parikh of Rowland Heights, MinLi Sang of West Covina, Priscilla Sugianto of Rowland Heights, Rebecca S. Wei of Glendora and Shirley Shou-Chu Sui of San Gabriel.
The Service Achievement Awards went to Isaac Powell of San Dimas, James Thao of Hacienda Heights, Priscilla Audrey Soetanto of Fullerton, William Lee Hsu of Rowland Heights and Xiwen Wang of West Covina.
Winners of the Personal Achievement Award were Gina Eilene Guerrero of West Covina, Rhonda Anne Hottman of La Puente, Julio Fregoso of La Puente, Shalini Swastika Pal of La Puente and Josue Velasquez of Pomona.
Recipients of the Competitive Achievement Award were Cassie Molinari of Glendora, Joseph Davis of Whittier, Michael William Edwards of Walnut and Shane Michael Nigro Hurter of West Covina.
Musician Steve Russo was "kicking butts" at Rowland High School on Wednesday. The popular speaker talked to the students about "kicking" cigarette smoking.
The assembly was part of the "Kick Butts" national campaign to get teens to stop smoking. The Centers for Disease Control note that more than 3,000 teens try smoking every day and 1,000 of those become daily smokers.
It adds that 20 percent of high school students are smokers. Read about the problem and the program in an upcoming story in the Rowland Heights Highlander.
They're icons in the Rowland Unified School District. Teachers and administrators who have watched over generations of Rowland students.
Now after more than 40 years of service, Robbie Robinson and Susan Halliday are taking well-deserved retirements.
They'll also be taking the well-wishes of colleagues, students and parents, who appreciate their tireless dedication.
Read about their fascinating careers in the Rowland Heights Highlander.
The Spring Dance Concert features a variety of dance styles, including modern, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary dance. Choreographed by talented Mt. SAC students, the spring concert has something for everyone.
Tickets are $12 for general admission, and $9 for seniors, students and children under 12.
For tickets, visit www.4tix.orgor call the Mt. SAC Performing Arts Box Office at (909) 468-4050.
Photo courtesy of Southlands Christian Schools
Walnut Mayor Mary Su presents Southlands Christian Schools Administrator Glenn Duncan with a commendation celebrating the school's 30th anniversary on May 16.
The mayor's son attended Southlands in his early years. She thanked the staff for the moral, as well as the academic education he received.
Diamond Bar Mayor Ron Everett also attended the gala event attended by more than 270 guests. Mayor Everett recognized Southlands for 30 years of community service.
A representative for California State Senator Bob Huff's office presented a congratulatory resolution.
Congressman Gary Miller's office sent a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition as well as a flag flown over the United States Capitol.
Los Altos High School students look on as school and law enforcement stages a fatal traffic accident in front of the Hacienda Heights campus.
The "Every 15 minutes" event featured
Read all about the emotional event in an upcoming story in the Hacienda Heights Highlander.
The event is open to anyone interested in the health professions field, who wants to find out more about health care careers. The conference will feature have many professionals speaking, as well as focus groups and panel discussions.
There will also be demonstrations such as suturing. Other colleges will also be on hand to give information about the programs they offer.
The celebration took place from noon to 6 p.m. on the school campus in Hacienda Heights.
A special timeline showed all of the school's achievements over the past 50 years. Many former principals and instructors attended.
The Performing Arts Academy performed. There was also a car show, interactive inflatables, carnival games, vendors, food and live bands.
The Administration Building was dedicated to Roberta Price, longtime office manager who retired last year.
Happy Anniversary to Los Altos High School<WC>!<WC1>
Shelyn Elementary School in Rowland Heights will hold an open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
And Nogales High School in La Puente will perform its spring concert from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Rowland High will also offer a jazz concert tonight, though they didn't mention the time.
The annual Young Authors Day takes place on May 14, and showcases students, who will read the original stories they have worked on for several months.
On Friday, May 15, the Imagination Machine Company will be featured at a school-wide assembly. The talented professional actors will perform some of the students' stories.
This assembly is made possible by the fundraising of the school's Community Club, under the leadership of Co-presidents Tamie Liptak and Cheryl Steadward.
The Tyrone Anthony Group will perform on the patio from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, May 7.
The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The school carnival takes place the next day on Friday, May 8. The "Lost in the Fifties" theme will be carried out in game booths, prizes, contests and refreshments.
School librarian Barbara Morton hosts a Young Authors Day on Thursday, May 14.
Students will share the stories they have written over the past several weeks.
The Imagination Machine will perform some of the students' stories in an assembly on Friday, May 15. Collegewood's Community Club sponsored this event.
The annual Family Math Night on Thursday, May 21, will be coordinated by teacher Laura O'Donnell.
Collegewood staff and students from a Cal Poly math theory class for aspiring teachers will guide Collegewood students and their parents in activities that bring fun to learning math skills.
The project uses films to present the plight of child slavery. The films will be screened in the community room.
Because of the sensitive material, the presentation is recommended for those 16-years-old and above. Those under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.
The library is at 1850 Nogales St. For more information, call Adrian Romero at (626) 912-5348.
The cost is $8 for adults and $7 for students, seniors and kids.
The concert features the music of the '70s and a live instrumental combo. The Mustang Singers, Treble Choir, Chamber Singers and Rhapsody in Blue will include lots of choreography.
All are under the direction of Lisa Lopez.
For information, call (909) 594-1333.
The Mt. SAC Jazz Band will perform a variety of jazz styles. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and children under $12.
Because of state budget cuts, Rowland Unified faces a loss of $9 million in funding for the 2009-10 school year. This is in addition to the $5.8 million in reductions already made during the current fiscal year. The Superintendent's Budget Reduction Recommendations, are posted on the district's website at www.RowlandSchools.org under Budget Update or at the Rowland Unified District Office, located at 1830 S. Nogales St., Rowland Heights.
On March 10, the Rowland Unified School District Board of Education voted to place Measure E, a local school parcel tax, on the ballot - to be conducted by mail ballot this coming June.
If voters approve Measure E, it will establish a local, temporary and secure funding source for Rowland schools that could not be taken away by the state and used to support specific Rowland Unified educational programs. The cost to RUSD property owners would be $120 per parcel per year for only 5 years. All homeowners age 65 and over would be eligible for a senior citizen exemption.
If passed by two-thirds of RUSD voters, Measure E would provide stable local funding to: maintain college preparation classes and high school counselors; preserve student health/safety/security services; provide adequate instructional materials and classroom technology; keep school libraries open; protect small class sizes; maintain music and art programs; and retain qualified, experienced teachers.
For further budget information or questions regarding the Rowland Unified Budget or Measure E, the public can visit www.RowlandSchools.org or call (626)854-8352 or email info@rowland.k12.ca.us
The Rowland Unified School District serves 17,500 students at 23 elementary and secondary schools in the communities of Rowland Heights, Walnut, La Puente, City of Industry, and West Covina.
Community children in preschool through sixth grade are welcome this Saturday, May 2 to the 26th Annual Fiesta of Books from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the El Monte Community Center, 3130 Tyler Ave., El Monte.
Sponsored by the El Monte Community Services Department, El Monte City School District and Mountain View School District, the event will feature over 8,000 books available to the children free of charge thanks to various community groups donations.
Each child will receive two free books of their choice and a free dictionary will be given to each family. Several adult level and slightly used books will also be available to handout to parents and teens.
Storybook characters like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter and Mother Goose will also be on hand to greet the young readers.
Volunteers will be on hand reading books and offering arts and crafts activities to the children. The three local libraries, Norwood, El Monte and South El Monte, will provide materials regarding the programs available at each library.
For more information, call Detective Roger Cobian, chairman of the event, at (626) 580-2183, or contact one of the local libraries mentioned above.
In
celebration of Poetry Month, the Nogales High Poetry Club will be hosting its
first annual poetry performance show--WORDS:
Literacy Through Poetry, held at the Little Theater on the Nogales
High campus at 6:30 pm. It is spoken word at its finest! With one of the
most diverse groups on campus, the Nogales Poetry Club will perform/read
original poems as they express themselves with haikus, sonnets, metaphors, personification,
symbolism, rhyme imagery etc.
The goal is not to just put on a good show, but to
enhance literacy through poetry. We aim to extend the uses of poetry by
harnessing student enjoyment of poetry as a means to improving the level of
literacy. A love for poetry and word play can help students become not
only better readers and writers, but also poets in their own right.
In addition to the Nogales Poets, a segment of the
night will include an open mic, where students, staff and the community will be
able to share their own poetry, or their favorite poets work. Space on
the open mic list will be limited, so prompt arrival is suggested. Mark
April 29th on your calendar as we celebrate WORDS!
Where:
When:
Wednesday April 29th
Time:
6:30 pm
Who:
Why:
In Celebration of Poetry Month and its influence on literacy.
Admission:
$1
About 435 students from around Southern California learned about agriculture and how it's used to make everyday goods, like food and clothing, at the Pomona Fairplex on Tuesday.
Agricultural Day, or AG Day LA, is designed to educate students about the state's No. 1 industry - agriculture.
Local schools included Kwis Elementary and Sparks Elementary in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District.
Read the whole story in the Hacienda Heights Highlander.
Graden talked about his many successes with television, a media that he's loved since growing up in a small farm town.
But more importantly, Graden discussed his many failures along the way. Failure to be true to himself, failure to pursue his own dreams.
That was his most important message, do whatever makes you truly happy and success will follow. That's a point that is lost today with everyone pursuing money.
Read about his great lecture in an upcoming story in the Walnut Highlander.
Native-American spiritual leader Robert John will talk about Native Americans and the environment. The event will be held at the Student Life Center at Mt. SAC.
Later,Christopher Nyerges will host the Edible Wild Plant Workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. in the Student Life Center.
On Thursday, the film "Are We Running Dry?" will be shown from 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 1205 of Building 7. The movie deals with water-related health issues in the American Southwest.
The Mt. San Antonio College Theater Program will stage its production of Garson Kanin's "Born Yesterday" at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, in Mt. SAC's Sophia B. Clarke Theater.
Tickets are $12 for general admission, $9 for seniors, students and children ages under 12.
For more information, call (909) 468-4050 or visit www.4tix.org.
An open house will be held from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of California East School at 1000 California Ave., La Puente.
Families can learn about all the child development and early primary programs that the district offers at little or no cost.
Adviser Ramona Talampas said the students will be planting and cleaning up the park from 9 a.m. to noon. Then they'll enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees and reflect on the activity.
Here are some of the winning entries from the poster contest for the Safe Communities Celebration in Rowland Unified School District.
I especially liked the one on the right by 8-year-old Minmay Ly from Giano Intermediate School in West Covina. Scary!
"Our students have walked away with the most awards ever won by Mt. SAC at the state level, " said Toni Albertson, Mt. SAC journalism professor and advisor for the student newspaper, The Mountaineer. "Winning this many awards at the state conference shows the dedication these students have for journalism and the association's recognition of the caliber of their work."
Mt. SAC's student newspaper, The Mountaineer, and the student magazine, Substance Magazine, each won general excellence awards. Beatrice Alcala (Walnut) won first place for in the magazine design competition, while Jessica Cardenas (Upland) won first for magazine cover and Aldo Padilla (Fontana) won first place for magazine photo.
Carmichael Cruz (Rowland Heights) won second place in the feature writing competition, while Adam Valenzuela (Riverside) took second in the editorial cartoon category. Padilla took second in the magazine feature photo competition, while Alcala won second- and third-place awards in advertisement design.
Charlye DeHart (Montclair), editor of Mt. SAC's newspaper, and Jessica Cardenas (Upland), editor of the student magazine, won the top editor awards. Wendy Rubick (Ontario) and Frank Cardenas (Whittier) won the top online editor awards.
DeHart received honorable mentions in news writing, copyediting, and front page news. Evan Lancaster (Walnut) received a front page news honorable mention, Jessica Cardenas took a feature writing honor mention, and Ray Peregrina (West Covina) received a sports writing honorable mention. Sara Heady (Upland) and Mary Obeyd (Chino Hills) received honorable mentions in magazine feature writing, while Alcala took an honorable mention in magazine design. Rubick took the honorable mention in critical review, while Shawn Raymundo received the honorable mention in front page news design. Isai Rocha (Baldwin Park) received the honorable mention in broadcast news writing, while Lois Rodrigo (Chino Hills) and Carmichael Cruz took honorable mentions in broadcast newscast.
The convention featured the competition for community college journalism students throughout the state. More than 800 students from 60 California community colleges competed.
Here's the schedule of events:
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Registration and Coffee
Welcome by Superintendent.
Dr. Cyndy Simms
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. General
Session
"Success Attributes" by Dr. Roberta Goldberg
"The skills your child needs for successful
life outcomes"
10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Workshop
for Session I
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Workshop
for Session II
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Book Fair,
Exhibits,
Parents may email registration information (attendee's name, student's name and school) to parentu@walnutvalley.k12.ca.us.
Registration form and workshop information also available on the
District website at: www.wvusd.k12.ca.us.
Please join
us and learn about:
- Preparing
for Life After School
- Test
Anxiety and High Stakes Testing
- College
Entrance for Under Represented Students
- Stress
and Academic Success
- The
Wellbeing and Success of Your Student
- Parenting
Tips to Become Powerful Parents
- Parenting
Made Easy (or at least easier)
- Get Ready
for Summer: A Season for
- Nurturing
the Emotional Intelligence of the GATE Student
- Promoting
Academic Success by Teaching Responsibility
- Drug Abuse Prevention
During "Rock'n Read" students sign up to visit the library every 15 minutes to sit in a cozy rocking chair to rock while reading a favorite book.
Librarian Barbara Morton will have paperback book drawings and free bookmarks for participants.
