Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Ignore the misinformation about Measure K, the much-needed parcel tax on the June 5 ballot for West Contra Costa schools, says this guest column by Karen Shebek, a WCCUSD parent.
As a parent of district students for the last 12 years, I have seen the difference our parcel tax has made on our students and teachers. The June 5 election is just around the corner, and unfortunately for our students there has been a lot of misinformation about the parcel tax. The voter information booklet includes an argument against Measure K that states that "parcel tax payments are not deductible against federal and state income taxes. The State has announced that beginning in 2012, they will enforce that non-deductibility." The Franchise Tax Board clarified on Friday, April 13, 2012 that this was not the case, and that the IRS has confirmed that homeowners can deduct parcel taxes and other taxes that are not ad-valorem. The …
Fun and safety was the theme at Hanna Ranch's Bike Rodeo.
Hanna Ranch Elementary School kids learned a thing or two about riding their bicycles safely at their Bike Rodeo on Saturday. Pick up some safety tips for you and your kiddies by reading National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guide to staying safe on two wheels: Safe Riding Tips Before using your bicycle, make sure it is ready to ride. You should always inspect your bike to make sure all parts are secure and working properly. Remember to: Rules of the Road – Bicycling on the Road Bicycles in many States are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always: *For more information on bicycle safety, go to the National Highway …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
More than 1,000 West Contra Costa County students have reached the goal.
More than 1,000 West County students will be recognized on May 21 for reaching academic and conversational fluency in English. The West Contra Costa Unified School District, which includes all three public schools in Hercules, will host it 13th annual Reclassification Ceremony. The students, formerly "English learners," have achieved proficiency in English skills to a level to be "reclassified and no longer considered "English learners." "These students have mastered both academic and conversational English and have met the state and district criteria for fluent English proficiency," according to a school district statement. The ceremony will take place 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 21 at the Richmond Civic Center Auditorium. It will be attended…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
May 8 in National Teacher Appreciation Day. Tell Patch readers which teachers you think are making the grade.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson urged all Californians to find ways to appreciate teachers this week, designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week. “Teaching is the most important job there is,” Torlakson said. “Ask just about anyone about the person who made the biggest difference in their life, chances are that person is a teacher. Let’s all take a moment this week to say `thank you’ to California’s teachers.” Here’s Torlakson’s top 10 list. For Students: For Parents: May 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Day, an annual tradition continued by the National Teaches Association. May 9 is California Day of the Teacher, a day established under California Education Code Section 37222, to encourage schools to …
Proponents say Measure K would help in avoiding an increase in class sizes.
The campaign literature is finding its way into the mailboxes of Herculean and other West Contra Costa residents. One flier shows a close-up photo of tightly-packed sheep, with one looking toward the camera with an "Overcrowded?" thought bubble connecting to its head. Another shows two students and a teacher wearing eye protection and visors as they conduct a science experiment. The mailings warn that there will be an increase in class sizes in the West Contra Costa Unified School District unless voters approve Measure K on June 5. The vote on the measure will determine whether to extend and increase an existing parcel tax paid by property owners that is due to expire in 2014. The argument for it emphasizes that because of state cuts in …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
“You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” Set to Open May 17th at JSHS Auditorium and
combines efforts of music, drama, wood shop, art, and multi-media classes.
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Wednesday, April 18
-By members of the John Swett Unified School District John Swett High School will present their first musical production in over a decade in their newly refurbished auditorium, May 17th through the 21st, and is one of the biggest multi-discipline productions the school has undertaken in recent memory. It is truly a collaborative effort between several faculty members and classes. The wood shop is building the sets and props, the Art Department is painting the scenery, the multi-media class has taken on responsibility for marketing and promotions, and the Music and Drama Departments have been rehearsing since February. You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown will feature a double cast alternating performance nights throughout the run of the …
Monday, April 16, 2012
Saybrook Learning Center Director "Ms. Debbie" will take over the nearly 30-year-old preschool.
Pillow Pre-School has a new owner and director in Chun Chun Yang, or "Ms. Debbie," who is taking over from Vicki Pillow. Yang is the director of the Saybrook Learning Center in Walnut Creek. "(She) has over 20 years experience in child development and offers a wonderfully innovative curriculum for the community of Hercules children," said Sharon Clark, who helped market and sell the school. Vicki Pillow co-founded and helped run the Pillow Pre-School 28 years ago. Pillow Pre-School was founded in 1983 by Vicki’s mother-in-law, Bernice Pillow. Bernice worked as the school’s director until 2000, when Vicki took over. Pillow told Patch, when the school first went on the market, she planned to spend much of her retirement with her three …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The weather has not been cooperative for students out of school this week.
Given the grey sky and wet ground greeting them for most of this week, public school students all over Hercules must be thinking, "Give me a break!" After all, "Spring Break" is feeling more like winter. Playgrounds and fields have been slick or muddy. There's the joy in the freedom from classes, but a little sunshine might sweeten the deal more. On the other hand, there is snow in the mountains for skiers and snowboarders and the local forecast for the weekend is clearer skies. So overall, maybe the tradeoff isn't all bad — unless teachers assigned homework for the week "off." Sometimes, those are the breaks. To students, how are you enjoying your time off? To parents, how are you and your kids coping? Share your comments below.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Final installment in the Teaching American History Project.
College professor Dr. Robert Cherny will give a lecture Saturday on the History of the Bay Area Labor Relations from the Gold Rush to World War II. The lecture will happen at the Pinole Public Library. It is the last in a series sponsored by the West Contra Costa Unified School District's "Teaching American History Project." It is open to the public and will be held in the library's Community Room. Cherny will present the lecture from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. He has been teaching at the university since 1971. The lecture series will take place at the Pinole Library on Saturday morning. It has been funded by a grant that Pinole Patch previously reported about in 2010.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Alleged social media threats led to police reaction at John Swett, where some Hercules students attend.
A Pinole Valley High School student is suspected in alleged social media threats that resulted in a lockown at John Swett High School Wednesday, according to The Contra Costa Times. "Authorities locked down John Swett High School as a precaution (Wednesday) afternoon after two students received threats via social media," the Times reported. The lockdown lasted "a couple of hours," according to the news report. Around 1 p.m. school officials became aware of the threats and they alerted police, the Times reported. The suspect is a 17-year-old Pinole Valley High School student who lives in North Richmond, according to the newspaper's Web site. Contra Costa County Sheriff Deputies interviewed the suspect, the Times reported.
G.C.
8:19 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I would have spared nothing to make sure experienced, qualified teachers were in every classroom. I would have cut all sports programs if necessary. If the WCCUSD cannot afford athletics, then it has to accept this reality. Academics come first. And I would have cut the Adult school program, too. Let the community college district manage it. Our district needs to focus on K-12 and nothing else. … more ›