2015-2016 in Napa County Napa County Office of Education

Transcription

Back to School
in Napa County
Napa County Office of Education
2015-2016
A Message from Napa School Superintendents
T
hey say money isn’t everything, but it
sure makes a difference. For the first
time in several years, the 2014-15 school
year brought an infusion of funding
back to the schools, bringing us closer to where we
were when the recession hit in 2007. As districts
worked on the Local Control Accountability Plans
(LCAPs) and talked with their constituents about
the additional services needed to help the most
at-risk students, schools were finally in a position
to do more than dream about actually putting
those services in place. Staff members were hired
to provide supplemental services including mental
health and counseling, coaches were hired to assist
teachers in transforming their classrooms into
the digital world, and curriculum was revamped
to embrace the common core and project-based
learning. Additional devices were purchased to
ensure that most students had access.
For many parents, walking into the classroom
of today may feel unfamiliar. Children are engaging
in discussions, even debates, with classmates over
how to solve a particular problem, while sitting on
the floor or in a cluster of desks that move around
Barbara Nemko, Ph.D.
Napa County Superintendent of Schools
during the day as topics and needs change. There is a
new energy in the classroom that is unlike what we
remember when we went to school. Our students are
using Google tools, and editing each other’s work
in Google Docs. They may be tweeting, or Skyping
with students in another class, district, or country.
Using Nepris.com, they could be consulting with a
professional who will explain how mixed fractions
are used in engineering, or what body systems might
be responsible for a patient’s symptoms. Perhaps
they’re making their own YouTube video, showing
how to plant a school garden. Napa County schools
no longer feel like your grandfather’s classroom.
This year, schools in our county received multiple
recognitions for excellence in education both
locally and nationally. American Canyon Middle
School, New Technology High School and St.
Helena High School were selected as California
Gold Ribbon Schools, and Calistoga Elementary
School was declared a National Blue Ribbon School.
NVUSD, SHUSD, and NCOE were identified as
Future Ready districts and invited to Washington,
DC. NCOE received a Golden Bell Award from
the California School Boards Association, joined
Esmeralda Mondragon, Ed.D., Superintendent
Calistoga Joint Unified School District
Patrick Sweeney, Ed.D., Superintendent
Napa Valley Unified School District
NVUSD as a District of Distinction, and received a
Digital Innovation in Learning Award from Digital
Promise. Napa County became the first in the
country to have five NexTech elementary schools:
Napa Junction, Howell Mountain, Donaldson Way,
Yountville, and Canyon Oaks, while Salvador and
Bel Aire Park magnet schools were named National
Magnet Schools of Distinction. Napa Valley College
was ranked as the #1 two-year college in California
in 2015 by BestColleges.com. Finally, students from
Pope Valley and Howell Mountain were selected to
take part in a Google I/O Developer’s Conference
Youth Summit and traveled to the Moscone Center
in San Francisco to explore technology with an
emphasis on coding.
We welcomed a new superintendent to Pope
Valley. Ken Burkhart comes to us from Tehama
County where he was Superintendent/Principal of
the K-8 Flournoy School District. He brings with
him 17 years of experience in education, and is a
great addition to our Napa County Superintendents’
Council.
The Superintendents of Napa County
Cheryl Lynn de Werff, Ed.D., Superintendent
Howell Mt. Elementary School District
Ken J. Burkhart, Superintendent
Pope Valley Elementary School District
Ron Kraft, Ph.D., Superintendent/President
Napa Valley College
Marylou Wilson, Ed.D., Superintendent
St. Helena Unified School District
Barbara Nemko, Ph.D., Superintendent
2121 Imola Avenue, Napa, CA 94559
707-253-6810 • www.napacoe.org
Napa County Reads
Celebrates American Dream
Join Napa County Reads this fall as we celebrate
The American Dream with author Francisco
Jiménez. Napa County Reads is a coalition of
educators
and community
members dedicated
to improving
the reading
experiences
of students
throughout
Napa County
with an
emphasis
on middle
schools. The
community is
invited to
join local
students in
reading the
selected books and
attending community events featuring Dr.
Jiménez speaking about his work and his life.
Francisco Jiménez emigrated with his family to
California from Mexico, and as a child he worked in
the fields of California. Before retirement he was a
Professor in the Department of Modern Languages
and Literatures at Santa Clara University; the
embodiment of the American Dream.
Middle school students and community
members from around Napa County will read one
or more of Dr. Jiménez’s autobiographical novels:
The Circuit, Breaking Through, Reaching Out, and
Taking Hold.
The Lincoln Theater will once again host the
Napa County Reads celebration event featuring
Dr. Jiménez on November 3 at 7:00 p.m. Student
admission is free. Adult tickets will be a $25
donation, available from the Lincoln Theater in
October, lincolntheater.org. Get your tickets early!
A free community presentation with Dr.
Jiménez, conducted in Spanish, will be held on
November 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. John the Baptist
Church Parish Hall.
Napa County Board of Education Trustees:
Ann Cash, Don Huffman, Jennifer Kresge, Lisa Lindsey,
Steve Orndorf, Ken Slavens, and Janna Waldinger.
For more information about the Napa County
Reads program visit napacoe.org/napa-county-reads.
Free E-Books and Games for
Preschool Children
In the U.S. 46% of children enter kindergarten
at risk of failure because they lack essential literacy
skills. Footsteps2Brilliance is a valuable tool now
available in Napa County that can help teach young
learners the basic vocabulary and reading readiness
skills research has shown can be critical to school
success.
Through a partnership with the Napa County
Office of Education and NapaLearns, all Napa
County preschool age children have access to the
early learning platform Footsteps2Brilliance at
no cost to the children’s families or preschools.
Footsteps2Brilliance Academic Language Program
for Students (ALPS) consists of 18 illustrated
and animated eBooks in English and Spanish.
In addition, there is a bilingual non-fiction series
featuring 26 Alphabet Animal books, Nursery
Rhyme Karaoke, Aesop’s Fables and phonics series
called Mega Mouth Decoders, along with over
200 educational games related to the books. The
Footsteps2Brilliance early learning app can be
downloaded to most any tablet or mobile device, and
accessed on a computer.
As a web-based program, children are able to
access the program both in their preschool programs
and at home. Napa County parents and preschool
teachers interested in a login can register at myf2b.
com/parent/Napa.
For more information contact Lori Hill, lhill@
napacoe.org, 259-5925.
ACE and COOL School
Provide After School Sports
Napa County Office of Education’s Expanded
Learning program provides students enrichment,
homework help, tutoring and mentoring.
Supporting healthy behaviors and increasing
physical activity are also a priority. The elementary
students in the COOL School program are always
eager to participate in the COOL Sports Challenge.
Throughout the year, students work together to
learn about teamwork and dedication in sports like
Your Partner for
Educational Excellence
hockey, soccer, and other team sports. Participating
schools will host challenges throughout the year to
show off their hard work and how much they have
learned about the sport and teamwork. COOL
Schools also host fitness weeks throughout the year
to encourage students to be physically active and
healthy.
ACE Athletics provides an array of after school
sports for middle school students. Students can
participate in seven different sports for five week
seasons. Casey Wedding, After School Program
Coordinator, said “it is an opportunity for students
to develop skills, sportsmanship, and camaraderie
through organized sports.” This year over 900
students participated in ACE Athletics, and there
are plans to expand the program in order to allow
more participation. For more information visit
napacoe.org/cp.
NCOE Students Share Their
Tech Knowledge
The Juvenile Court and Community Schools
( JCCS), operated by NCOE, provide education
services to students from Napa County who
are expelled, on formal probation, or who need
additional academic or behavioral support services.
Beyond the regular high school curriculum,
JCCS works to involve their students in the
community by offering opportunities to volunteer.
Among the most successful community service
projects is TAAP, Teens Assisting the Adult
Population. Once a month, students head to the
Napa Valley Senior Center. There wait the seniors
who have signed up to receive one-on-one tutoring
in how to use their cell phones, laptops, iPads and
other digital devices. Countless numbers of local
senior citizens have been helped by JCCS students
through the TAAP program. In May, the program
was extended to the Yountville Senior Center.
Another successful program involving JCCS
students is the TechTern program. TechTerns
provide training support to NCOE’s Ed Tech
Manager as she delivers technology trainings to
Napa County teachers. For each training, TechTerns
assist with room and technology setup, and they
provide direct technical support to teachers during
the training. This fall, the TechTern program will
expand to include desktop support for NCOE staff.
Teachers and Classified Staff
Honored for Excellence
Napa County Teacher of the Year 2016 Julie
Lovie has been a teacher at Valley Oak High
School in Napa for 24 years. A visitor to her math
and science classroom will find students engaged
in hands-on learning – cooking, growing, building.
Her students are engaged in the community with an
active Friday Night Live chapter, and community
service work such as planting oaks at Alston
Park. Mrs. Lovie
believes in providing
students with many
opportunities to learn.
Finalists for the
2015 Napa County
Teacher of the Year
are Kari Hefley of
Philips Elementary
School and Jennifer
LaMonte of Vintage
High School. The
Julie Lovie, Napa County
public is invited
Teacher of the Year
to a special event
honoring Mrs. Lovie and her fellow finalists at the
NCOE Board Meeting on September 1 at 4:00 p.m.
at Valley Oak High School.
The Napa County Classified School Employee
of the Year program highlights the contributions of
classified school employees to support the education
of California’s public school students. The 2015
Napa County Classified School Employees of the
Year are: Ray Borgia, Canyon Oaks Elementary
School; Charlene Rabanal, St. Helena High School;
and Terri Reichenberg, Silverado Middle School.
Your Partner for
badges for the completion of any mission or game,
and in addition to bragging rights in the faculty
room they can work towards a variety of prizes.
The official launch of Agent of Influence is August
25, featuring TED Speaker Ramsey Musallam. Visit
napacoe.org/teched/agent-of-influence/ for more
information.
NCOE’s Mariposa Program is
Growing Leaders
Mariposa is NCOE’s prevention program that
empowers youth in middle and high school to
break the cycle of violence and substance abuse.
Napa County Teachers Learn
Through Digital Gamification
NCOE has “gamified” educational technology
professional development! Teachers and staff can
now earn badges and win prizes for completing
online missions and games designed to help them
learn more about educational technology.
Agent of Influence: A Game of Education Technology
and Espionage offers a spy-themed environment that
provides teachers and staff with access to original
content, as well as content from the web, with some
fun along the way. Teachers are introduced to the
game as if they are an actual spy or agent, and the
game continues as they participate in the learning
activities.
While traditional e-learning content is available,
micro-trainings are also available as missions.
Micro-trainings typically take about 15 minutes,
and may be made up of a series videos or articles.
For fun, spy games are also available and are tied
directly to educational technology. Teachers can earn
The program fosters the positive development
of all participants and offers valuable leadership
opportunities. Mariposa provides small-group
mentoring at seven Napa County middle and high
schools, with a leadership program for high school
students.
Two former participants in Mariposa were
so grateful for the impact the program had on
their lives that they decided to become mentors
themselves. Damaris Vieyra joined CalSERVES
AmeriCorps in order to continue to make
a difference in the lives of the youth in our
community. Damaris said, “Mariposa opened my
eyes to a lot of topics and issues. I want to change
someone’s life like the program changed mine.”
Damaris plans to continue to volunteer with the
program and is excited to see it grow. Damaris
joined Martha Ayala who also has returned to give
back to the program. Mariposa continues to bond
these young women as they push to create change in
the community. Martha said, “Mariposa taught us
be to be confident, brave, and independent. I know
I can do whatever I want to do, and I want to give
back to the others girls so they know that, too.” For
more information visit napacoe.org/cp.
Work-based learning is designed to link students
to businesses that bring relevance to projects,
thereby increasing student learning. Students
Meet the Napa County Board
of Education
The Trustees of the Napa County Board of
Education provide leadership to support the
success of public education. They collaborate with
the County Superintendent of Schools to govern
the County Office. Their responsibilities include
approving the office’s budget, assuring appropriate
educational environments and curricula for students,
and serving as an appellate panel in areas such as
denials of student inter-district transfers, expulsions,
and denials of charter school petitions. They also
serve as the County Committee on School District
Reorganization with approval authority in respect to
all proposed changes of school district boundaries.
Regular board meetings are held on the first
Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. and are open
to the public. Members of the public are invited
to speak on any topic under the Public Comment
portion of the agenda, and specifically during any
item on the agenda. Please call to verify time and
location, 253-6810.
Work-Based Learning for
High School Students
Expanded work-based learning opportunities
will soon be available for high school students
in Napa County. Work-based learning is an
instructional strategy that is essential in preparing
all students for success in postsecondary education
and careers. Work-based learning specialists, with
the Napa County Office of Education’s College and
Career Readiness Department, will provide students
with opportunities to interact with industry, and
acquire career and work readiness skills.
Your Partner for
well as the features selected for INSPIRE, will be
announced in August.
Films shown in classrooms from NVFF
Education Programs between 2011-2014 are
available to educators year round. If you are
interested in accessing our film library, and in
the topics addressed in the documentaries, please
contact NVFF for a list of films and synopses.
Classroom screenings require permission from the
filmmakers. For more information please contact
[email protected] or call 226-7500.
Students Inspire at the Napa
County Science Fair
will also have access to workshops which include
career exploration, interview skills, resumes,
communication skills, work ethic and more.
Work-based learning specialists will be reaching
out to local businesses and community professionals
to develop job shadow, internships, and mentoring
opportunities for students. There will also be
opportunities for local businesses to help teachers
design projects and participate in mock interviews
and guest speaker panels. This is a wonderful chance
for business to play an active role in a student’s
education. For more information, call 253-6830.
Wind energy, sugar-filled sodas and oil spills
were just some of the topics researched by students
for the 2015 Napa County Science Fair. More than
60 projects created by local students competed
for the top prizes of digital tablets and judged by
local scientists and engineers. The Fair is held each
May at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville. A
preparation workshop open to all fifth, sixth and
seventh grade students will be offered in February
Napa Valley Film Festival –
Filmmakers in the Schools
Napa Valley Film Festival’s Filmmakers-in-theSchools Program introduces Napa Valley students to
filmmakers and their inspiring, thought provoking,
and socially relevant films during the week of the
festival, November 9-13. A major highlight of the
week is the INSPIRE Day field trip, at the Lincoln
Theater on November 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. NVFF will
provide busses for select schools.
Students get up close and personal with the
filmmakers, film subjects, producers, and actors
that are in town for the festival. Three to five films
will be selected that are appropriate for classrooms,
and will encourage meaningful conversations
between students and the filmmakers. Students
attending INSPIRE 2015 will see two important
documentaries with Q&A’s after each film.
All films available for classroom screenings, as
2016. The event is produced by a committee of
local businesses and educators, including the City
of Napa, Napa County Office of Education, Napa
Sunrise Rotary, the Napa Sanitation District, Napa
Valley Museum, Reichers Spence & Associates and
SAPIEN Technologies, Inc. For more information
visit napacoe.org/programs-students/science-fair.
Enjoy Working with Children?
We Have a Job for You!
Did you know that if you have a Bachelor’s
degree, it qualifies you to be a substitute teacher
in Napa County? Are you retired and looking for
strategies, and practices that can be replicated by
other schools.
Napa County schools selected for recognition
this year are American Canyon Middle School, New
Technology High School and Saint Helena High
School.
Free Formal Gowns for Napa
County High School Students
The Lending Closet is a partnership between
the Napa County Office of Education, Sarah Lane
Studios and Greene’s Cleaners. This service provides
students with beautiful dresses to wear to local high
school dances such as Homecoming, Turnabout
or Prom for FREE! You’ll find formal and semiformal dresses and accessories for girls attending
any high school in Napa County. Greene’s Cleaners
generously keeps the gowns clean and ready to wear.
Call 707-258-1212 for an appointment. To
participate students need to show current student
identification.
Free Access to NCOE
Curriculum Library!
something to do? Substitute teaching can provide
a flexible work schedule ‐ you can work as little
or as much as you choose. It may just be the right
job for you! Substitutes are needed to start work
immediately. Please contact the Napa County Office
of Education Credentials office at 253-6825 or
email [email protected].
Looking for FREE resources to support
your classroom or enrich your child’s education
experience? The NCOE Curriculum Library
collection includes books, games, textbooks, and
online resources for students. New for 2015 is the
Three Napa County Schools
Receive Gold Ribbon Awards
The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award is
a designation given by the California Department
of Education to recognize excellence in California
public schools. This year middle and high schools
were eligible for the award. 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. Schools applied for the award
based on a model program their school has adopted
that includes standards-based activities, projects,
Your Partner for
launch of our digital library using the Overdrive app.
Visit our ebook catalog at napacoe.lib.overdrive.com.
Contact our library for a username and password to
check out materials.
The library is located at NCOE, 2121 Imola
Avenue. Call 253-6873 to schedule a visit. Visit the
online catalog at napacoe.org under Programs for
Schools/Districts.
Supporting Early Special
Education State-Wide
How is the effectiveness of early education
programs measured? The Desired Results
Developmental Profile (DRDP) assessment tools
help the California Department of Education
evaluate its programs for young children. These tools
look at children’s development and document their
progress in areas such as learning, getting along with
others, and being safe and healthy. Knowing how
well young children are progressing demonstrates
how well early childhood programs are doing.
Beginning in 2007, the Desired Results Access
Project, as a part of the Napa County Office of
Education’s Research and Professional Development
Programs, developed a DRDP Access tool that has
been used state-wide with three, four and five-yearold preschool children who have Individualized
Education Programs (IEPs). Beginning in the fall
of 2013, the DRDP Access is now also used with
infants and toddlers with
Individualized Family
Service Plans (IFSPs).
Families, child care
providers and programs all
benefit from the DRDP
access. Families know
more about their child’s
development and ways
that they can support their
child’s learning. Special
education service providers
have up-to-date information
to help them plan the child’s
learning activities. For more
information visit draccess.org.
Awards and Kudos
Barbara Nemko, Ph.D.
Napa County Superintendent of
Schools
Dr. Nemko was selected by the Digital
Innovation in Learning Awards for the
2014 We Are Family Award for family
engagement programs.
NCOE was awarded a 2014 Golden
Bell Award by the California School
Boards Association for the Teacher
Dinner Series on Technology.
NCOE was named a 2015 District of
Distinction by District Administration
Magazine.
Julie McClure, Director of NCOE
Community Programs
McClure was honored as a 2014 Service
Trailblazer for AmeriCorps by the
CaliforniaVolunteers program.
Stay Connected with NCOE
Report Bullying Anonymously
Tip411 is a program that provides a simple and
anonymous way for students to report incidents of
bullying and cyberbullying, as well as other risky
behaviors such as drugs, alcohol, suicide threats and
weapons.
How to Submit
Your Anonymous
Safety Tip:
1. Text to TIP411
2.Start your message
with: 707SAFE
3.Your anonymous
tip is important and
will be handled
immediately.
Your Partner for
NCOE Quick Facts
Serves the more than 21,000 students and
1,000 teachers in Napa County schools.
Oversees school districts in Napa County
including the review and approval of
district budgets and Local Control and
Accountability Plans (LCAP).
Verifies and performs background checks
for administrator and teacher credentials
for pre-K–12 administrators and
instructors in public and private schools,
as well as substitute teachers for all Napa
County schools.
Operates 23 preschool classes in American
Canyon, Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga,
and provides a variety of free educational
services to children from birth through
five with suspected developmental delays.
Hosts the NCOE Parent Workshop
Series. Recent topics have included
kindergarten readiness, social media use
for students, child nutrition and talking to
students about drugs and alcohol.
Provides after school and tutoring
programs at 17 sites serving 4,000
students in Napa County.
Back to School in Napa County was produced as a public service by the Napa County Office of Education and distributed in August 2015. Graphic design and production
services were provided by Sheldon J. Reber, Pepper Tree Communications, [email protected]. Special thanks to Seana Wagner, Public Information Officer, Napa
County Office of Education. Photos provided by the Napa County Office of Education, Napa County school districts and NapaLearns.

2015-2016 in Napa County Napa County Office of Education

Transcription

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