January 2010 Archives
Despite the show's title and its intense topics, the "Vagina Monologues" isn't meant to only shock audiences. Cal Poly Pomona student directors Samantha Muir-Valdovinos and Jenny Powell say the annual production, which covers subjects such as sex, love, rape and birth, has a larger message: spreading awareness about domestic violence and sexual violence.
"Whether you know it or not, there are women on campus who have experienced some kind of assault, domestic violence or rape. We want people to know that it's not OK," says Powell, an English education sophomore. "We need to make a change here and around the world."
Muir-Valdovinos added that the "Vagina Monologues" isn't simply an entertaining theater show. "We're here to spread awareness about important issues that most people are afraid to talk about," says the gender, ethnic and multicultural studies junior.
The English productions will be on Feb. 5 and 6, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., in the Bronco Student Center's Ursa Major Suite. The Spanish production will be Feb. 13 at the same time and location. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students.
This year's productions, with 45 women participating, are among the largest since Cal Poly Pomona first staged the show more than 10 years ago. Because the monologues are meant to empower people - both in the audience and in the play - everyone who auditioned received a part, ranging from a couple of lines to an entire scene.
Weeks before the performance, the actors and stage crew attended a weekend retreat to talk about the topics covered in the show and share their experiences. The retreat is an opportunity for students to talk about deeply personal issues, which may include rape, molestation and abortion, says Muir-Valdovinos.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, about a quarter of college-age women in the United States will be a victim of rape or attempted rape. In addition, intimate partner violence affects one out of four people in a dating relationship, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline's 2008 statistics.
Proceeds from the show will support the on-campus cultural centers, services at the Violence Prevention & Women's Resource Center, and scholarships from the Cesar E. Chavez Center for Higher Education. In addition, some of the proceeds will be donated to V-Day, a global campaign committed to ending violence against women and girls.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit
SAN BERNARDINO - The San Bernardino County School Boards Association will honor four programs recognized for receiving 2009 Golden Bell Awards, which honor outstanding educational programs around the state.
The association will recognize the programs at its meeting on Feb. 1 at the University of Redlands.
The four programs that will be honored are:
· California School Age Families Education for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The program is designed to improve pregnant and parenting students' educational experience with increased availability for support services that help their academic achievement.
· Operation More Opportunities Now Exist For You for the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program. This federally funded program authorized through the Workforce Investment Act serves low-income, at-risk youth.
· Paul Swick Family Center at Yucca Loma School in the Apple Valley Unified School District. The center provides services, resources and programs that promote family success, strengthen family support systems and support their community.
· San Manuel Partnership for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The partnership has allowed students in the district to benefit from enriched educational opportunities, supporting the mission and goals of both groups.
Each of the Golden Bell recipients was honored by the California School Boards Association at its awards ceremony in December. For more information on the Golden Bell program, visit the state school boards' Web site at www.csba.org.
Prior to the start of the 2009-10 school year, the school district had to increase class size ratio - from 20-to-1 to 24-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio - in first through third grades.
For the 2010-11 fiscal year, classes in those same grades may have to increase to a 29-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio.
"We were excited when we were able to get class size down and to build it back up to meet with these budget issues, it's just a real problem for us," Varela said.
Upland Unified is looking for ways to address a $15 million budget shortfall in the next two fiscal years.
Numerous cuts are being considered by the school district, including:
K-3 class size increases, which would eliminate 23 teachers.
Eliminate the instrumental music program at the elementary-school level.
Have teachers teach physical education instead of physical education teachers.
Freeze pay increases for employees who earn seniority, are promoted or earn additional education credits. The accrued money would be reinstated at a later date.
Reduce the district's contributions to extra-curricular programs by 25 percent.
Eliminate the district's monetary contribution to a San Bernardino County probation officer.
Reduce custodial services to every other day.
Decrease the school year by up to 6 days. There was a two-day reduction already implemented in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years.
Place a cap on employee health and welfare benefits.
The Upland Unified School District is working on a program with Chaffey College to have the community college operate the summer school program at Upland High.
The program has become unfeasible for the district to provide this summer due to budget cuts, said Linda Kaminski, Upland Unified assistant superintendent of educational services.
The school board on Tuesday approved having district officials develop the program with Chaffey College representatives.
- Urged progress on overall of health care system.
- Proposed three-year freeze on most domestic spending. National security spending, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would be exempt.
- Proposed $10,000 tax credit for four years of college, along with highter Pell Grants
- Wants to cap student loan repayments at 10 percent of income and forgive student load debt after 20 years, or after 10 if entering public service.
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They've done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they've done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.
It's tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable -- that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run, and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday, and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were the times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations and our fears, America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people.
Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history's call.
Read the whole State of the Union text here
Watch the whole State of the Union here
Funds of up to $4,999 are paid to hiring employers up front. Contact Guy Williams, business linkage technician for the East Valley SELPA, for more information at (909) 252-4518 or (760) 447-0026.
Each year I look forward to this day because it gives me the opportunity to speak directly to the education community, policy makers, and the citizens of California about the status of education; where we stand as educators; as a state; and more importantly, how our students are faring.
To begin with, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the entire education community and parents around the state for preparing our children for their successful future.
It is for your work that I am today both grateful and hopeful. Grateful because we have made so much progress during very challenging times. Hopeful because I know we can build on this progress, even as our challenges grow. "
· Adelanto
· Apple Valley Unified
· Barstow Unified
· Bear Valley Unified
· Hesperia Unified
· Lucerne Valley Unified
· Mt. Baldy Jt. Unified
· Morongo Unified
· Oro Grande
· Rim of the World Unified
· Silver Valley Unified
· Snowline Joint Unified
· Victor Elementary
· Victor Valley Union High
· Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified
For regular updates regarding school and districts closures, visit the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) Web site at www.sbcss.k12.ca.us or call your local district.
The California Baptist University's School of Engineering will host the Mathcounts competition at the Yeager Center on campus.
This is the second year the School has hosted this competition for middle schools students from Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Mathcounts is a nationwide math competition for middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th graders).
The competition starts at school level in the fall. Each school is allowed to send eight (8) students (four to form the school team and four as individual) to compete at the chapter (county) level.
Ziliang Zhou, Ph.D. at CBU is the co-coordinator for the chapter competition. The winners will move on to state competition in March and the top four students from the state competition will move on to national competition in May. You can find additional details at www.mathcounts.org.
The competition is Feb. 6 at 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside.
Dr. Anthony Donaldson, CBU's Dean of the School of Engineering, will be at the competition to hand out the awards. CBU students will volunteer their time at the event as competition proctors and graders.
- Be a current Cal Poly Pomona student or Be a graduating high school senior or a community college transfer student planning to attend Cal Poly Pomona during the fall of 2010
- Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
- Submit a copy of unofficial transcripts with your latest completed quarter and GPA, (required for both college and high school students).
- Write a 2 page personal statement.
More than 600 students, staff members and elected officials on Monday joined in the second annual Miles for Montclair - a 5K walk that raised awareness and $21,000 for homeless students on the campus.
"Even though some people couldn't give money, they were still out here walking," said senior Stephanie Flores, 18. "Seeing everyone's support is inspiring."
Montclair High School student Lydia Hurtado, center, laughs as the umbrella she is holding with Yolanda Giron is blown out of shape by the wind Monday during the school's second Miles for Montclair, a 5K walk to benefit homeless student. A number of events are scheduled over the next couple weeks, highlighted by a special presentation at noon today at the Bronco Student Center by Luke Adams from the "The Amazing Race." Adams was the first deaf contestant on the CBS show, and was the second runner-up last season.
"The goal ... is to highlight the abilities in those who have disabilities," said Chad Bowman, the president of the alliance.
"Instead of focusing on the difficulties they have, we want to focus on the individual and what they can do."
The ADA is a relatively new organization on campus composed of faculty, staff and students whose mission is to promote awareness, sensitivity and a cultural identity of those with disabilities.
This is the second year the group is hosting events for disability awareness.
Whittier, tries to pick up a coin with a prosthetic arm January 14, 2010 during Breaking Barriers hosted by the Access and disability Alliance in Pomona. Photo by Will Lester.
From State Superintendent of Public Instruction's Desk:
SACRAMENTO -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced 760local educational agencies (LEAs) have submitted a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order to partner with the state of California in the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) competition.
Under the Obama Administration's guidelines, Race to the Top calls on LEAs to voluntarily partner with the state to implement reforms that improve student outcomes. California's MOU was developed in accordance with recently released final Obama Administration Race to the Top guidelines. The MOU establishes a framework of collaboration and articulates specific roles and responsibilities for the LEA and the state if California does win a federal RTTT grant.
Forty-four percent of the school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools in California have signed the RTTT MOU, representing 57 percent of students attending California K-12 public schools. Sixty percent of students living in poverty attend a school in an LEA that has signed up to participate in RTTT.
Currently, more than one in five students drops out in a four-year period, with black and Latino students at the greatest risk for leaving school before graduation.
"The high dropout rate is simply unacceptable," said County Superintendent of Schools Gary Thomas. "We have got to get to our parents to help them understand the importance of education, because the kids coming up today will have to compete globally."
Thomas said the reason for the improvement, from 26.3 percent for all students in 2006-07 to 22.5 percent in 2007-08, is having a statewide student identifier system that allows them to identify the reason why a student drops out of school.
Still with the county's dropout rate higher than the state's at 18.9 percent in 2007-08 there is much to be done.
The deadline for the memorandums of understanding was Friday, with state applications for securing a portion of the funding due to the federal government by Jan. 19.
"We are concerned that the federal funding will end, and we will end up paying for it ourselves," said Katie Orloff, spokeswoman for the Colton Joint Unified School District.
In the summer, President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced federal eligibility and competitiveness requirements for states to compete for $4.35 billion in Race to the Top grants.
It is designed to reward states that create conditions for education reform, and California can secure up to $700 million of the funds.
In addition to Colton, districts that declined to submit the signed MOUs include Rialto, Chaffey Joint, Claremont, Cucamonga, Etiwanda, Ontario-Montclair, Chino Valley, Mountain View and Mt. Baldy Joint.
Governor Schwarzenegger signs historic education reform legislation making California highly competitive in President Obama's national $4.35 billion Race to the Top education reform and funding competition. Photo Credit: Peter Grigsby, Office of the Governor.The call went out prior to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's presentation of his proposed budget on Friday that is expected to include yet more cuts across the board from the preschool to university level.
"The public education system in this state is being dismantled, indeed California is sinking compared to other states, and we are expecting to hear what a shame it is to cut education again," said Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association. "So we are saying there needs to be a different approach to solving the state's problems."
The effort on the part of union leaders comes in the aftermath of an eMarch on the governor led by education unions over the holiday break that sent 5,000 messages about the urgent need to fund public education even in tough budget times.
The union leaders' fears are grounded in the fact the nation's most populous state faces a nearly $21 billion shortfall over the next 18 months, a deficit that comes after years of making deep cuts in core state programs.
As a result, California classrooms could swell even more and public colleges may further limit enrollment and raise student fees.
State education officials who encouraged local educational agencies to send in letters of intent by a Dec. 31 deadline for the competitive grant program said they were pleased by the response.
"While the money will not magically transform our schools, it will create a new culture that will benefit students," said Hilary McLean, communication director for the California Department of Education.
In July of last year, President Barack Obama and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced federal eligibility and competitiveness requirements for states to compete for $4.35 billion in Race to the Top funding, the single largest pool of discretionary funding for education reform in U.S. history.
In total, 798 letters of intention were received by the Dec. 31 deadline.
