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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
UKIAH – A new program started by the Mendocino College Foundation is providing financial assistance for books to English as Second Language (ESL) students, and the foundation is seeking additional funding to benefit more students.
With donations from the Ukiah Branch of the American Association for University Women (AAUW), the ESL Book Award program began in fall 2011.
The AAUW and the Sons of Italy, Ukiah, have agreed to donate funds to continue the program in the fall of this year.
“Thanks to the generosity of these two groups, we are able to provide the awards in the form of book awards to the students in our ESL program,” says Katie Wojcieszak, executive director of the Mendocino College Foundation. “The number of students in the program is growing each year, and we would like to be able to give an award to each student to help with the expense of buying books and dictionaries.”
The foundation has had a similar program, the Yvonne Sligh Book Awards, in place for several years.
This academic year marks the first time additional donations made awards available specifically for ESL students.
Because many ESL students are noncredit students, they are not eligible for the Yvonne Sligh Book Award or other types of Mendocino College scholarships.
This award is filling a need by supporting students in a very practical way, said Wojcieszak.
The ESL Book Awards went to six deserving students in the fall semester, the executive director noted.
The recipients were Rafael Bernabe, Laura Vicencio, Fidel Tapia Hernandez, Juan Manuel Martinez, Marcela Gomez and Elena Plancarte.
Five more equally deserving students earned the award in the spring semester, Wojcieszak said.
They were Claudia Galinda, Eric Leon, Joel Hernandez, Juan Mateo and Martha Mosqueda.
“We would like to increase the number of awards with upcoming semesters. We welcome donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals to help us achieve that goal,” said Wojcieszak.
Mendocino College offers ESL classes at multiple locations and at all levels, from beginning to advanced.
Designed to meet needs of the Lake and Mendocino communities, the ESL program serves hundreds of students in Ukiah, Willits and Lake County.
Courses are offered during the day and in the evening and are open to anyone.
In January, for the current semester, the college offered a new ESL and Auto Mechanics course in addition to the existing ESL courses.
The collaboration between ESL and the Automotive programs is designed to give ESL students an introduction to mechanics and the English skills needed.
“Our ESL program is good for our students and for our communities. We are training an important segment of our workforce, providing them with the language skills they need to be successful in their lives,” said Sarah Walsh, full-time ESL instructor at the college.
For information regarding the ESL Book Award Program or about making a donation, call the Mendocino College Foundation office at 707-467-1018 or send an email to
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- Written by: Jade Fox
On March 5 Pamela Bordisso from Yuba College came to Carlé.
Bordisso gave Carlé students an opportunity to earn a $500 scholarship to Yuba College. She also came to remind the students who planed on going to college to fill out their FASFA forms.
During the past week Carlé has been hosting a ping pong tournament in the library at lunch.
Mr. To and Gary Oakes have been supervising the ongoing tournament, and the winners will be announced soon.
On March 9 students who earned gold, silver and bronze levels were treated to a reward movie day.
The students who earned this privilege were Leticia Bowman, Cody Beers, Cameron Carillo, Jade Fox, Jr. Garcia, Zack Grey, Jesse Greene, Joey Griffith, Mayra Pantoja, Corissa Schoonderwoerd, Kyle Scott, Monique Throop, Dylan Ward, Jonathan Warren, Austin Weldon and Erica Woods.
Carlé would like to welcome new students Thomas Valdez, Jacob Wood and Shelby England. Everyone at Carlé Hopes they enjoy their time with us.
The Carlé staff would like to thank Trevor Wilson for standing in for super secretary and former Konocti Unified's Classified Employee of the year Barbara Dye during her lunch break. She does so much for this school she deserves a break.
On March 3 Carlé students volunteered at the Soroptimist luncheon. The luncheon was held at the Clearlake senior center and students Bowman, Throop, Schoonderwoerd, Shania Jones, Chantilly Pannell, Tanya Smith and Pantoja delivered community service at the event.
The Lower Lake Action Group will have a dinner and another community service opportunity for Carlé students on March 14 for St. Patrick's Day.
On March 12 Principal To and teacher Angie Siegel will attend the Denis Parker Strategic Schooling Training. The training is to help the staff keep our STAR test scores high.
On March 24 Carlé students will help with the fashion festival. The festival will be held by the Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee and Carlé students have helped with it for many years now.
It will be at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum and the volunteers will be serving drinks, busing tables, and washing dishes.
Carlé is very proud to help support this event and it gives students a great chance to be involved in the community.
That is all for now, Have a great week!
Jade Fox is a student at Carlé Continuation High School in Lower Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville Elementary School is holding a copy paper drive.
Due to budget cuts the school is in need of paper.
Community members can make a difference by donating standard size white copy paper to the school.
Paper can be dropped off at the school office, 5065 Konocti Road.
For more information call the school, 707-279-4232.
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH – “Teachers on Teaching: Accessing Knowledge and Delivering Instruction; Best Practices for the 21st Century,” a one-day conference for local and regional educators, will be presented at the Mendocino College campus in Ukiah on Saturday, March 17.
Beginning Saturday morning with check-in at 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., the low-cost conference is designed to explore a variety of topics of interest to teachers across disciplines from pre-kindergarten to college.
“The Foundation Skills Teaching and Learning Community of Mendocino College is hosting this important local event to bring educators together to share ideas, build collaboration, and learn about current practices and projects in our community,” said conference coordinator and Mendocino College English Professor Debra Polak.
“If you are a current or prospective teacher or school counselor, this conference is for you,” Polak explained. “This year we have collaborated with Dominican University to offer Continuing Education Units for participants. It may also meet criteria for professional development ‘buy back’ days for some teachers. K-12 participants should check with their district office about potential credit. It will also qualify as a college flex activity, and we can provide proof of your attendance.”
Building on three previous annual conferences presented for local teachers at the community college in Ukiah, topics for this year’s sessions include Wiki teaching tools, writing in the math class, using Google Docs to develop student writing, lessons from coaching for the classroom, and the changing nature of academic reading and writing.
A morning panel will explore technology in education with a range of local educators representing primary school through postsecondary perspectives.
Break-out sessions will also emphasize collaborative communication among local college and kindergarten through high school educators and strengthening partnerships in the community.
“The conference is organized for a Saturday so busy local educators will have the opportunity to participate,” says conference co-chair Virginia Guleff, Dean of Instruction for the college in Ukiah.
“Based on past years’ successful format, we’re offering this year’s activities in a central location and at a low cost to help support local educators and their schools in difficult budget times. Cost for the conference is just $15 and includes a fabulous lunch,” Guleff explained.
If participants choose to register for units through Dominican University, there is an additional cost.
Preregistration is required. To register or for more information, please contact the Mendocino College Foundation Skills email