Bill Cirone Heart of Education Award

News release

In recognition of Santa Barbara County Superintendent Bill Cirone's 34-year legacy of leadership and service, the "Bill Cirone Heart of Education Award” has recently been established. This annual grant award will recognize an outstanding educator who demonstrates passion for the profession, creativity, and compassion for students — the same virtues that Superintendent Cirone championed and celebrated in his 34 years in office. The inaugural award will be presented in 2018. 

To make a contribution to this endowment campaign, checks may be payable to the Santa Barbara County Education Office Teachers Network. Please write “Heart of Education” in the memo line. 100% of contributions will go to the annual award.

For additional information, please contact Director of Teacher Programs and Support Steve Keithley, at 964-4710, ext. 5281, or by email at skeithley@sbceo.org.

State preschools enrolling for the 2017-2018 school year

News release

Children ages three through five* years in Lompoc, Los Alamos, and Santa Ynez whose parents are income-eligible can receive FREE preschool instruction in nationally accredited and state QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System) highly rated centers operated by the Santa Barbara County Education Office Child Development Programs. Preschool is offered in the following locations:


• DeColores State Preschool, Clarence Ruth School, 501 North W St.,
Rm. 1 (Lompoc)


• Just for Kids State Preschool, Arthur Hapgood School, 324 South A St.,
Rm. 34 (Lompoc)


• La Honda State Preschool, La Honda Elementary, 608 E. Central Ave. (Lompoc)


• Learning Place State Preschool
, Crestview Elementary, VAFB Utah Ave.,
Rm. K1 (Lompoc)


• Los Alamos State Preschool, Olga Reed School, 480 Centennial St.,
Rm. 1 (Los Alamos)


• Santa Ynez State Preschool, College School, 3525 Pine St. (Santa Ynez)


• Young Learners State Preschool, La Cañada Elementary, 621 West North Ave.,
Rm. 37 (Lompoc)


Preschool services are provided three hours per day during the school year. Included is a daily nutritious snack in centers that include outdoor classroom daily activities. Children participate in play-based school readiness learning activities with highly qualified teachers and teaching assistants. The SBCEO-operated preschools are each licensed and are of the highest quality rating, both nationally and in the state of California, and offer excellent student/teacher ratios.

ENROLL NOW by calling Ana M. Hernandez, Administrative Secretary, at 964-4710, ext. 4409. You will be placed on the waiting list. Teachers will contact you when they return in August.


*Children who turn 5 BEFORE Sept. 1 are ineligible.

Santa Barbara County Education Office recognizes Classified Employees of the Year

News release

At its monthly board meeting on June 1, the Santa Barbara County Education Office will recognize two extraordinary professionals as the 2017 Santa Barbara County Classified School Employees of the Year.

Honored this year in the Support Services and Security category is Brenda Galvez, a community liaison in the Orcutt Union School District. She is currently assigned to multiple schools in the district, although most of her time is spent at Olga Reed School, a 210-student, rural TK-8 school with over 60% of its students identified as English Learners, and over 80% of its students classified as low-income.

“Brenda inspires me,” says her principal, Joe Dana, “and I can say without reservation that Olga Reed School would not be what it is without the amazing contributions of the incomparable Brenda Galvez.”

“Brenda and her ‘moms’ have a huge role at the school,” says her district superintendent, Dr. Debbie Blow. “Brenda is willing to do everything she can to support the school’s families.”

Raymond Segovia, a painter in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, is the winner in the Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities category. “Ray takes pride in the work he does to keep the schools looking good for current students,” says Reese Thompson, the district’s director of facilities and operations. Anita Wickers, an administrative assistant in the district, adds, “I call Ray my ‘Little Ray of Sunshine.’ He always takes the time to greet his fellow employees with a smile, while continually working hard to get the job done—whatever that job takes. His work ethic is evident in his attention to detail and his dedication to his trade.”

“Classified employees are at the heartbeat of education and are instrumental to the smooth operation of schools, playing a major role in educating tomorrow’s leaders. We honor them for all they do for children,” said County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone. “Brenda and Ray represent all the school staff members who play such a vital role in supporting children’s achievement.”

The program is part of a statewide recognition sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE). Galvez and Segovia’s nomination packages were forwarded to the CDE for consideration as the California Classified Employee of the Year.

Cabrillo High School music teacher named 2018 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year

News release

Garson Olivieri, a music teacher at Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, has been named the 2018 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year for Santa Barbara County. The award was created in 2015, in a partnership between the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) and the Santa Barbara Bowl through the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation Education Outreach, which is dedicated to supporting performing arts in the community. Olivieri will succeed Brett Larsen, a music teacher at Adams Elementary School in Santa Barbara, as the Performing Arts Teacher of the Year next academic year.

“One of Santa Barbara Bowl’s Education Outreach priorities is ensuring access to the performing arts for all youth in Santa Barbara County,” says Graham Farrar, the Bowl’s Education Outreach Committee Chair and Board Secretary. “Educators like Garson play a vital role in positively enhancing the lives of students every day. We thank Garson for his dedication to his students and to his community. We are excited to support this award and teachers like him!”

Olivieri will be honored at the fifth annual “A Salute to Teachers,” a gala event recognizing award-winning educators from Santa Barbara County, to be held next fall. The event partners SBCEO with Cox Communications and a variety of sponsors. Cox has sponsored a similar celebration for over 25 years in San Diego, and is honored to continue this great tradition of teacher recognition for Santa Barbara County educators.

“Mr. O,” as he is affectionately called, is highly respected and admired for his teaching and leadership not only at Cabrillo High School but also throughout the district. His students often start playing with the Allan Hancock Community College Jazz Band, Atascadero Community Band, and other local ensembles. In recent years, the Jazz Band has performed with the local jazz group, the Basin Street Regulars, who were so impressed with the group that, this year, they offered scholarships to all of the Cabrillo students who performed.

“I was both surprised and deeply humbled to be named Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year for Santa Barbara County,” Olivieri said. He learned of the award in a surprise announcement from his colleague Chris Ladwig, who together had taken their students to perform at Disneyland. “It’s an honor to work with the students at Cabrillo every day,” Olivieri says. “My students — and the families who love and support their pursuit of music — are an inspiration to me. I am so grateful to the Santa Barbara Bowl for making this award possible. It speaks to the way our community truly values arts education.”

“Garson’s passion, energy, and enthusiasm for the performing arts shine through, and have inspired young students to develop an enduring appreciation for music and the arts,” says County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone. “We applaud the Santa Barbara Bowl's vision in spotlighting the importance of the performing arts in a well rounded education by sponsoring the Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year Award, and sincerely appreciate Cox Communications’ sponsorship of ‘A Salute to Teachers,’ where Garson will be honored before fellow educators and community partners from around the county.” 

“The Santa Barbara Bowl works hand in hand with many community organizations to help enrich the lives of everyone,” adds Rick Boller, the Bowl Foundation’s Executive Director. “By leveraging the success of the Bowl’s Concert Seasons, we are able to help support programs like a Community Ticket Subsidy, Instrument Fund, the SBCEO Teachers Network Performing Arts Curriculum Project Grants, as well as the Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Garson Olivieri on his success in the classroom and his impact on the world of performing arts… and we hope he has a great time at the concert he choses to attend as part of his award.”

Ceremony Celebrates Career Education

News release

On Thursday, June 1, 300 community members are expected to gather at the Marjorie Luke Theatre from 5:15-7 p.m. for Partners in Education’s red carpet themed Student Awards Reception & Ceremony. Held for the first time at the downtown theater, this annual event honors South County junior high and high school students who have successfully completed Partners in Education’s award-winning Paid Student Internship Program, as well as those who have been nominated by an educator for excellence in career education-related courses.

“Our business partners consistently tell us how important it is for employees to have solid problem solving and communication skills, as well as the ability to work on a team,” says Partners’ executive director Chelsea Pacino Duffy. “Students receive opportunities to develop these important skills through Career Technical Education in schools and the paid work experiences we coordinate. Both are key to preparing our community’s future leaders and business owners, making it important to celebrate the educators and business people who work together to make this hands on learning happen.”

Business leaders will present Emerging Professionals awards in four categories: business and finance, healthcare and science, specialized technology and design, and education and nonprofit. Presenters will include Susan Salcido, Santa Barbara County Deputy Superintendent of Schools; Marybeth Carty, Venoco, Inc. Community Relations Manager; Kirsten McLaughlin, Cox Communications Public Affairs Manager; Sandra Murillo, Santa Barbara City College student and Partners in Education’s Paid Student Internship Program past participant; Wally Hofmann, Hofmann Architecture Partner; and Anthony Beebe, Santa Barbara City College President.

“The students we are celebrating at this event are forward thinking, future minded young people,” said Marybeth Carty, who is also this year’s Partners in Education Board President. “Whether through an internship or their hands-on classroom work in the areas of engineering, automotive, healthcare, and so many more, they are learning to do things that directly apply to the professional arena. When we talk about success, we often forget just how many different pathways there are that can lead you there. This event gives us a chance to celebrate them all.”

Tickets are $15 and all community members are welcome. To learn more about the event, visit partners.sbceo.org/student-awards.

About Partners in Education: Partners in Education fulfills needs in K-12 schools and youth programs through the coordination of volunteer and business resources. The organization was formed by local business and education leaders in 1977, and is administered by the Santa Barbara County Education Office, an intermediate agency between the California Department of Education and the county’s 20 school districts.

I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival planned for May 27-29

News release

The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will celebrate its 31st anniversary from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 27, 28, and 29 at the Santa Barbara Mission. A ceremony at noon on Monday, May 29, on the Mission steps will introduce and thank the major festival sponsors and featured artist Meredith Morin as her street painting is concluded.

I Madonnari, the first festival of its kind in North America to present the performance art of street painting, is presented by and raises vital funding for the Children’s Creative Project (CCP), a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

The festival features 140 street-painting squares drawn with chalk pastels on the pavement in front of the Mission. As the public watches, 200 local artists transform these pavement canvases into elaborate compositions in unexpectedly vibrant colors. The spaces range in size from 4-by-6 feet to 12-by-12 feet and in price from $150 to $700, each one bearing the name of its sponsor — a business, organization, family, or individual. The festival is sponsored in part by The Berry Man, Loreto Plaza Shopping Center, Yardi, Daniel and Mandy Hochman, and Bella Vista Designs. The festival is grateful and thanks the Santa Barbara Mission for hosting I Madonnari. Members of the public can sign up at the festival’s information booth to receive a brochure to be a street painting sponsor or an application to be an artist next year.

This year’s featured artist, Meredith Morin graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1989 with a BFA in Graphic Design. She has worked as the Graphic Designer and Art Director at AGIA, Computer Motion, Nexxus Haircare, and Forms+Surfaces. She has received multiple awards for printed materials including annual reports, media kits, brochures, and advertisements. Meredith currently works at her own design studio, MMGD Meredith Morin Graphic Design, opened in October of 2016, and works as an assemblage artist. She has participated as a Santa Barbara I Madonnari artist since 1993, and has participated in festivals in Puerto Vallarta, San Luis Obispo, and Valencia.

An expanded area for children to create street paintings will be located at the west side of the Mission inside a private parking area. Some 600 Kids’ Squares are available. When completed, they will form a 40-by-60-feet patchwork of colorful paintings. Throughout the three-day event, the 2-by-2-feet Kids’ Squares can be purchased for $12, which includes a box of chalk.

Live music and an Italian market will be featured on the Mission lawn throughout the three-day event. The festival’s fabuloso Italian Market offers authentic Italian cuisine produced by the Children’s Creative Project Board of Directors. According to Board President Phil Morreale and Market Coordinator Bryan Kerner, this year’s market will include lemon-rosemary roasted chicken, pasta, pizza, calamari, Italian sausage sandwiches, gelati, coffees, and specialty items designed from prior years’ festivals including T-shirts, posters, note cards, and more. All proceeds from sales benefit the Children's Creative Project.


History

I Madonnari is produced by the Children’s Creative Project (CCP), a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office. The organization is the first to create a festival in North America featuring the public art of street painting. After traveling to a street painting competition in Italy, CCP Executive Director Kathy Koury created the festival and the concept of sponsored street-painting squares as a fundraiser and produced the first local festival in 1987. The late Father Virgil Cordano and the Santa Barbara Mission’s bicentennial committee members also worked with Koury to include the I Madonnari festival in the yearlong series of official events that celebrated the Santa Barbara Mission’s bicentennial.

The festival has continued to grow and now is being replicated in more than 100 cities throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In November 2016, four I Madonnari street painters — Ann Hefferman, Joy Davis, Cecelia Linayao, and Lisa Jones — traveled to Santa Barbara’s sister city of Puerto Vallarta to create street paintings with local artists and children. Koury has continued to work with Santa Barbara and Puerto Vallarta Sister City representatives to further develop the festival that has taken place in the city’s main plaza since 2006. The project is co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara-Puerto Vallarta Sister City Committee.

Street painting, using chalk as the medium, is an Italian tradition that is believed to have begun during the 16th century. Called “Madonnari” because of their practice of reproducing the image of the Madonna (Our Lady), the early Italian street painters were vagabonds who would arrive in small towns and villages for Catholic religious festivals and transform the streets and public squares into temporary galleries for their ephemeral works of art. With the first rains of the season, their paintings would be gone. Today, the tradition lives on in the village of Grazie di Curtatone, Italy, where the annual International Street Painting Competition is held in mid-August.

Festival proceeds enable the CCP to sponsor fine-arts programs conducted by professional artists during school hours for 50,000 children in county public schools. Resident artists provide workshops in the visual and performing arts for more than 38,000 children. Fundraising from the I Madonnari festival helps to continue the CCP’s work to support annual performance events and other activities.

Last October at the Granada Theater, the CCP presented a free performance for 1,400 elementary schoolchildren who experienced the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and their Jazz for Young People program “Who is Duke Ellington?” The performance was presented in collaboration with UCSB Arts & Lectures. The performance was fully funded by the I Madonnari festival with grant support from The Towbes Foundation.

This school year 50,000 children at 90 school sites will view some 450 performances presented by multicultural touring companies featured in the CCP’s Arts Catalog. To support this program, festival proceeds also provide every county public school with a $200 arts credit to help pay the companies’ performance fees.

For festival photos or more information about the Children’s Creative Project or I Madonnari, or to arrange artist interviews, contact Koury at 964-4710, ext. 4411, or go to imadonnarifestival.com.

To interview featured artist Meredith Morin, contact her at 637-9561, or mkgdesigner@me.com.

Venoco, Inc. Crystal Apple Educator Awards winners announced

News release

Outstanding educators from North and South County who received the 2017 Venoco, Inc. Crystal Apple Educator Awards will be honored at the annual Education Celebration sponsored by the Teachers Network of the Santa Barbara County Education Office on May 25 at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton.

Nominated for this award by their peers, the Venoco, Inc. Crystal Apple Educator Award recipients are recognized for their dedication, their instructional and motivational skills, their ability to challenge and inspire students, and their ability to interact with students, staff, and members of the local community.

Each year, school employees, parents, and students are invited to nominate educators they feel have provided exceptional service to students. Venoco, Inc. Crystal Apple Educators receive a special crystal apple plaque and a $500 stipend, provided by the program sponsor, Venoco, Inc. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award supported by Venoco, Inc.

“We are so pleased to be able to acknowledge the exceptional work of these outstanding educators,” said County Superintendent Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the program. “They represent the hundreds of professionals working day in and day out to make a difference for the students of Santa Barbara County.”

“Venoco is proud to acknowledge the exceptional accomplishments of this year’s Crystal Apple honorees,” said Marybeth Carty, Community Partnership Manager for Venoco, Inc. “This peer-nominated award allows us to recognize the best of the best, and express our thanks for the daily dedication and faith our local educators apply to the supremely important task of helping our children thrive.”

This year’s Crystal Apple winners are:

North County

Elementary Teacher: Becky Geisler, Mary Buren School, Guadalupe Union School District

Classified Employee: Lisa Chavez, La Honda STEAM Academy, Lompoc Unified School District

Secondary Teacher: Janet Soares, Arellanes Jr. High School, Santa Maria-Bonita School District

Certificated Support Provider: Laurel Ciervo, Orcutt Academy HS, Orcutt Union School District

Administrator: Don Nicholson, Orcutt Union School District



South County

Elementary Teacher: Jean Gradias, Cold Spring School, Cold Spring School District

Secondary Teacher: Jeff Cygan, Los Robles HS, Santa Barbara County Education Office

Classified Employee: Eduardo Lara, San Marcos HS, Santa Barbara Unified School District

Certificated Support Provider: Emily Pariseau, San Marcos HS, Santa Barbara Unified School District

Administrator: Shawn Carey, Santa Barbara Unified School District

For more information call Steven Keithley, Director of SBCEO Teacher Programs and Support, at 964-4710, ext. 5281.

2017 Showcase of Innovative Learning sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Education Office

News release

4:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 11
Auditorium, Santa Barbara County Education Office,
4400 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara

This exciting event features nearly 200 students and educators from around Santa Barbara County sharing exemplary innovative educational technology practices to implement the Common Core Standards in an engaging manner.

The following schools will be represented at this year’s showcase: Alice Shaw Elementary (Orcutt USD), Cold Spring Elementary, Fillmore Elementary (Lompoc USD), Laguna Blanca, La Honda STEAM Academy (Lompoc USD), Marymount, Orcutt Academy, Peabody Charter (Santa Barbara USD), Santa Barbara High School.

The evening features:

· Student created snake traps, pendulums, mazes, rollercoaster, etc.

· Student created app to program drones

· Student created materials to teach cyber safety

· A showcase of Deeper Learning schools that are implementing learning that is student-centered, collaborative, project-based, and meaningful for both students and teachers

· Inspiring real-world digital integration ideas

· New digital tools to explore, with demonstrations from vendor partners

· “Hacktathon” — student coding competition

· Chances to win great door prizes

For questions, contact Matt Zuchowicz at 964-4710, ext. 5247, zuchowicz@sbceo.org, or Scott Spector at 964-4710, ext. 5348, sspector@sbceo.org.

Rotary Club recognizes Goleta Valley Jr. High School teacher

News release

On April 28, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara recognized Goleta Valley Jr. High School teacher Justina Weinbender for her demonstrated excellence and significant contributions to public education. It is the fourth and final such award the Rotarians presented to area educators this academic year.

Weinbender has been teaching seventh and eighth grade English at Goleta Valley for 19 years —20, if you include her student teaching there. “I don’t plan on retiring until I’ve been teaching over 40 years,” she says.

Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has honored outstanding teachers from South Coast schools each year. It awards a high school, junior high, elementary, and special education teacher with a certificate and a $1,000 check to spend on classroom needs.

“We appreciate the vision, caring, and commitment of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara in making annual awards that recognize the contributions of outstanding teachers, while providing resources that enable them to enrich their classroom environments,” said County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the recognition with the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. “Our teachers are second to none and perform daily heroic acts on behalf of students and families.”

“The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara is committed to supporting the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and it gives us great pleasure to recognize the efforts of outstanding teachers like Justina Weinbender,” said Mike Bieza, chairman of the Teacher Recognition Committee of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. “Rotary of Santa Barbara and Rotary International members know that educators like Justina have a tremendous impact on their students, who one day will be the leaders of our community.”

Education is a family affair for Weinbender, whose husband teaches U.S. History at Goleta Valley. Described as a devoted, creative, “out-of-the-box” thinker, Weinbender says of her students, “I really want them to think for themselves, and to make the learning rich and useful for them. When a student tells me they watch movies differently because of class, or they understand the news because of what they’ve learned,” she adds, “that absolutely makes my week.”

Weinbender earned an undergraduate degree in English as well as her Masters in Education from UCSB. Her strength lies in her compassion and dedication. She wants every student to succeed, regardless of their background or ability.

Her passion is noticed not only by her students, but by her fellow teachers and administrators. “Ms. Weinbender exemplifies excellence and a dedication towards keeping students first,” says her principal Mauricio Ortega.  “With consistency, she provides rigorous and engaging lessons, opens her classroom up to clubs during lunch, and runs the school newspaper. It has been a tremendous gain to have Ms. Weinbender at our school, and I have no doubt that she will continue to be a huge asset for our students.” 

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara meets at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara for lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Recipients of the club’s Teacher Recognition Awards are made with the assistance of the Teacher Programs and Support department of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

Justina Weinbender with Rotary Club of Santa Barbara’s Mike Bieza

Four county schools earn Gold Ribbon School status

News release

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced last week that 275 middle schools and high schools are being honored under the Gold Ribbon Schools Awards Program.

Included among the schools honored were four Santa Barbara County schools: Jonata Middle School of the Buellton Unified School District; and Dos Pueblos High School, La Colina Jr. High School, and Santa Barbara Junior High School, all from the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Jonata, Dos Pueblos, and Santa Barbara Junior High have also received an additional award for being Title I Academic Achieving Schools.

“This is a well deserved recognition, and we congratulate each school on the team effort that goes into the quest for excellence and student success,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone. “The skill, vision, and caring of the teachers, parents, and administrators at these schools enrich the classroom experience and make a remarkable difference for children.”

Schools applied for the award based on a model program or practice their school has adopted that includes standards-based activities, projects, strategies, and practices that can be replicated by other local educational agencies. The award acknowledged elementary schools last year.

The Gold Ribbon Awards recognize California schools that have made gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education. These include the California Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, California English Language Development Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards.

The 2017 Gold Ribbon Schools as well as the 2017 Exemplary Program recipients, Title I Academic Achieving Award Schools, 2017 Green Ribbon Schools, 2017 Civic Learning Award Schools, and the National Blue Ribbon Schools from 2016 (including Los Olivos School), will be honored in May during regional ceremonies held in Costa Mesa, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Visalia, and Sacramento.

Announcement of 2018 Santa Barbara County TEACHER OF THE YEAR

News release

TIME CERTAIN, 2:05 p.m., Thursday, May 4

Board Room, Santa Barbara County Education Office

4400 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara

The announcement will take place at the monthly meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Education. Following the announcement, media members will be able to pose questions to the Teacher of the Year and conduct individual interviews as requested.

Background information about the teacher will be provided at the press conference. A press release (to be embargoed until 2 p.m. Thursday, May 4) from this office is forthcoming; it will contain the name and some background information on the winner.

The designation is for “2018” because this teacher will be the county’s representative to compete for the state Teacher of the Year, and then proceed to compete for the title of the national 2018 Teacher of the Year.

Students get new incentive in Battle of the Books

News release

Nearly 200 students in fourth through sixth grades from more than 30 schools throughout the county will test their knowledge April 26 at the 16^th annual Battle of the Books in the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) auditorium.

About 8,000 students in public schools countywide have been challenged to read as many books as possible from a pre-selected list of 25 to qualify for the event. These books will be the source of the questions and challenges that the students will face at the “battle.”

Students are encouraged to read all 25 books, but they must read at least 15 to attend the Battle of the Books. Each school can send a maximum of five students.

“This annual competition is an entertaining opportunity for students from throughout the county to come together for a friendly ‘literary battle,’ but it’s also an important reading incentive program,” said county Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the event.

In addition to encouraging literacy and making reading fun, the Battle of the Books rewards reading comprehension and teamwork. Two teams of six or seven students compete against each other by answering 20 comprehension questions based on the 25 books. The students must agree upon and offer their answers as a group.

All teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four battles, and the highest-scoring teams will take the stage for the final battle, facilitated by guest author Valerie Hobbs.

“When they arrive for the Battle of the Books, the students will be re-blended into teams so that no one school competes against another,” said Matt Zuchowicz, director of Educational Technology Services, the SBCEO department that conducts the event. “Regardless of who wins the final battle, every student is rewarded with certificates, and the winners receive books and custom-made tee shirts,” he added. “Students also have an opportunity that day to vote for a book they’d like to see on the list for next year’s event, which is a fun way to motivate and engage the young readers.”

For more information, call Rose Koller at SBCEO, 964-4710, ext. 5222.

San Marcos High School Mock Trial Team advances to state competition

News release

The San Marcos High School Mock Trial Team defeated Dos Pueblos High School in a close competition on Saturday, March 4, at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. San Marcos will represent Santa Barbara County at the State Mock Trial competition in Riverside March 24-26. The winner of the state event will then move on to the national finals.

Eight teams from seven schools throughout Santa Barbara County competed in the 34th annual Mock Trial competition, which began Feb. 25. Participating high schools were Cabrillo, Carpinteria, Dos Pueblos (two teams), Laguna Blanca, San Marcos, Santa Barbara, and Santa Ynez Union.

The Mock Trial competition is designed to immerse high school students in key concepts of the law, the Constitution, and the U.S. legal system. The students study case law, read broadly and critically, and build evidence-based arguments and counter arguments. They prepare to be grilled not only by their formidable competitors, but also by sitting judges who challenge their thinking.

On Feb. 25, two rounds of competition resulted in four high school teams — two from Dos Pueblos and one each from San Marcos and Santa Barbara high schools — progressing to the semifinals and finals that were held March 4. Judge Brian Hill, a long-time advocate for Mock Trial competition, presided over the morning semifinal round, along with Judge Kay Kuns and attorneys Sue McCollum and John Thyne. Judge Patricia Kelly and local attorney Steve Amerikaner presided over the final round.

Prior to announcing that San Marcos had taken the title, Judge Kelly shared a very inspirational message for the students about her own experience as a long-time supporter of Mock Trial, beginning in high school as a participant, and as a Mock Trial coach, scorer, and ultimately as a presider.

The San Marcos team was also presented a $2,500 check from the Santa Barbara County Bar Association to help with the travel costs associated with the state tournament later this month.

Other presiders for the two weekends of competition included Judge Thomas P. Anderle, Judge Clifford Anderson, Judge Michael Carrozzo, Judge Donna Geck, Judge Pauline Maxwell, Judge Raimundo Montes De Oca, and retired Judge George Eskin, along with Tom Hinshaw, Von Deroian, Benjamin Ladinig, and Jeff Chambliss.

Local attorney Danielle DeSmeth once again headed up the volunteer scorers’ training, and over 50 local attorneys volunteered their time over the two weekends to hear and score the trial.

“We congratulate the winning team from San Marcos, and we are grateful for the skill, commitment, passion, and generosity of all the community partners who made this competition possible for the Mock Trial participants,” said County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone, whose office sponsors the competition with the Santa Barbara Superior Court and the Constitutional Rights Foundation. “These young men and women develop lifelong critical thinking skills along with lifetime memories, and we truly appreciate all that these volunteers do to enrich our students’ educational experience.”

Winning Mock Trial team from San Marcos HS
(Photo credit: Luis Medina)

Rotary Club recognizes Adams Elementary School teacher

News release

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara recently recognized Adams Elementary School teacher Mallory Price for her demonstrated excellence and significant contributions to public education. It is the third of four such awards the Rotarians will present to area educators this academic year.

Price has been a kindergarten teacher at Adams for five years. Prior to teaching at Adams, Price was an instructional assistant at Summerland School.

Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has honored outstanding teachers from South Coast schools each year. It awards a high school, junior high, elementary, and special education teacher with a certificate and a $1,000 check to spend on classroom needs.

“We appreciate the vision, caring, and commitment of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara in making annual awards that recognize the contributions of outstanding teachers, while providing resources that enable them to enrich their classroom environments,” said County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the recognition with the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. “Our teachers are second to none and perform daily heroic acts on behalf of students and families.”

“The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara is committed to supporting the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and it gives us great pleasure to recognize the efforts of outstanding teachers like Mallory Price,” said Mike Bieza, chairman of the Teacher Recognition Committee of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. “Rotary of Santa Barbara and Rotary International members know that educators like Mallory have a tremendous impact on their students, who one day will be the leaders of our community.”

Education is a family tradition for Mallory. Her mother is long-time local educator and current Cold Spring School District Superintendent Dr. Tricia Price. “We are a family full of educators,” Mallory says. Price earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Washington in Seattle, and her teaching credential and Masters in Education from Antioch University in Santa Barbara. She is currently working on her doctorate in education from Fielding University, following in her mother’s footsteps. Her dissertation focuses on supporting English learners with writing.

“I am passionate about teaching reading and writing, which makes kindergarten the perfect place for me,” Mallory says. “I get to participate in the literacy development of my students every year, watching them grow from being eager to read and write to being enthusiastic and confident readers and writers. I have a particular passion for teaching writing.”

That passion is evident, says Mallory’s principal, Amy Alzina. “Mallory believes in providing all students a highly rigorous and engaging curriculum that involves hands-on learning through all the senses,” Alzina says. “Mallory uses her communication and interpersonal relationship skills to serve as an advocate for low socio-economic and minority children in the community.”

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara meets at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara for lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. Recipients of the club’s Teacher Recognition Awards are made with the assistance of the Teacher Programs and Support department of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

Mallory Price

County Science Fair slated for March 10

News Release

More than 100 students from across the county will share a day of competition and camaraderie on Friday, March 10, at the 62nd annual Santa Barbara County Science Fair.

The exhibits by junior high and senior high students from across the county will be open for public viewing in UCSB’s Corwin Pavilion from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., when the awards ceremony begins. At stake is more than $3,000 in prizes as well as advancement to the California State Science Fair on April 24-25, and the Broadcom MASTERS national science and engineering competition.

In addition to the competition, students will get to see and touch cutting-edge research as they participate in a Science Expo presented by the California Nanosystems Institute.

The Santa Barbara County Science Fair is organized by a volunteer committee and coordinated in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO). Members of the committee are individuals and representatives of businesses and community groups who are dedicated to raising the profile and quality of science education in the county. The fair is supported by local organizations, including generous donations from the University of California, Raytheon, and the Santa Barbara Science and Engineering Council.

For more information visit www.sbsciencefair.org or email Science Fair President Shea Lovan at president@sbsciencefair.org.

Spelling bee winners advance to state competition

Four local students have won the right to compete at the state level after coming out on top at the Santa Barbara County Spelling Bee, which was held Wednesday at the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

Aidan Garard, a sixth grader at Vieja Valley School in the Hope School District, took first place in the elementary division by correctly spelling “cuckoo.” Keaton Cross, a sixth grader at Kellogg School in the Goleta Union School District, took second place with “coalesce.” Third place went to Daniel Nickolov, a sixth grader at Isla Vista School in the Goleta Union School District. His winning word was “alliance.”

In the junior high division, Tyler Norman, an eighth grader from La Colina Jr. High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, took first place by correctly spelling “bailiff.” Second place went to Emily Donelan, an eighth grader from Laguna Blanca School. Her winning word was “aquiline.” Third place was won by Shio Chiba, an eighth grader from Goleta Valley Jr. High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, correctly spelling “paradisiacal.” The two top winners in each division will proceed to the state level.

Thanks to The Masons Lodge, The Women’s Service Club of Goleta, and Town and Country Women’s Club for their donations.

The 2017 Elementary State Spelling Bee, for grades 4 through 6, will be held May 13 at the San Joaquin County Office of Education in Stockton. The 2017 State Junior High Spelling Bee, for grades 7 through 9, will be held May 6 at Miller Creek Middle School in San Rafael.

More information is available from Rose Koller of the Santa Barbara County Education Office at 964-4710, ext. 5222.

Left to right: Elementary winners Daniel Nickolov,
3rd place; Aidan Garard, 1st place; Keaton Cross, 2nd place

Left to right: Junior high winners Shio Chiba;
3rd place; Tyler Norman, 1st place; Emily Donelan, 2nd place