Education

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Written by: Editor

Published: 02 July 2011

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, recently announced that Lower Lake Elementary is one of six school finalists in the North Coast Region and 116 schools state-wide that have been named finalists in the 2011 Governor’s Challenge Competition.

The Governor’s Challenge Competition is a contest that promotes increased physical activity and better nutrition among California’s children.

The six North Coast Region school finalists are: Lower Lake Elementary in Lower Lake; Fort Bragg Middle in Fort Bragg; Harvest Middle in Napa; Northwest Prep at Piner-Olivet in Santa Rosa; Redway Elementary in Redway; and South Fork Junior-Senior High in Miranda

The Governor’s Challenge is to be active 30 to 60 minutes a day, at least three days a week for a month.

All 731 students at Tamarack successfully completed at least one challenge this year and together they recorded 85,378 Active Days. Earlier this year Lower Lake Elementary was named a Front Runner Award winner and received a $1,000 award.

 

“Congratulations to all the Lower Lake Elementary students, parents and teachers who have been stepping up to make fitness a priority all year,” said Steinfeld. “And a special congratulations to Lower Lake Principal and Governor’s Challenge Coordinator Tracy Skeen – a great educator who has been relaying the message that being active not only helps you get healthier, it helps your mind work better and boosts your confidence and self-esteem too!”

 

The 116 school finalists named today are now under consideration for prizes including 6 brand new fitness centers valued at $100,000 each and 11 Regional Awards of $6,000 each, which will be used to buy new physical activity equipment and other school supplies.

Award winning schools will be announced at a special ceremony at the Capitol in September.

 

Statewide more than 1.4 million participants recorded more than 8 million days of physical activity through the Governor’s Challenge in 2011.

Complete physical activity records of participating schools in the Governor’s Challenge can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org.

“I want to emphasize that during these times when budgets are so tight, we’ve been able to promote the Governor’s Challenge without adding any burden to California taxpayers,” said Steinfeld. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, - Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Coca-Cola Company, CVS/pharmacy, General Mills, and Kaiser Permanente - a record 1.4 million California children, parents and teachers signed up to take the Governor’s Challenge this year.”

 

Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is the title sponsor of the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards that fund the Competition’s three grand prize fitness centers. The Coca-Cola Company is the sponsor of an additional three Live Positively Fitness Center awards that will be donated to schools this year. CVS/pharmacy sponsors the Governor’s Challenge Competition Front Runner Awards and the $6,000 Regional Awards. General Mills’ sponsorship funds the Certificates of Completion which students completing the Governor’s Challenge receive.

Partners of the Governor’s Council include Tuff Stuff Fitness Equipment, which helps equip the fitness centers the Council awards, 24 Hour Fitness which provides free passes to high school students taking the Governor’s Challenge, and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area which provides free lift tickets to k-12 students taking the Governor’s Challenge.

For more information about the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, visit www.CalGovCouncil.org.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 30 June 2011

SACRAMENTO – This year marks the 30th anniversary of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

CAMP's prime objective is to pique the educational interest of children of migrant and seasonal farmworker families. The students are exposed to new experiences while instilling the self-confidence that will enable them to succeed in school and ultimately earn a college degree.

This year's final weeklong residential summer session, which concludes Saturday, July 2, consists of 90 students entering grade seven through nine.

The young men and women stay in Sacramento State's award-winning American River Courtyard residence hall. CAMP activities include academic assessments, learning skills, tutoring, leadership exercises and field trips. CAMPers are assigned to groups of 15 that encourage close, personal attention from residential advisers.

The students come from various Northern California locales, including Lake County, Napa, Vacaville, Dixon, Davis, Winters, Yuba City and Ukiah.

Twelve-year-old Tommy Villalobos is typical of the program's enthusiastic participants. He and his older brother Javier are from Lake County, where their parents work in the fields. The experience of spending a week on campus is one they won't forget.

Francisco Flores, on the other hand, has been to Sac State before because his older sisters are students. Yet he's no less impressed by the beautiful grounds and state-of-the-art buildings such as The WELL.

David Aguirre comes all the way from Fort Bragg. The 13-year-old will enter eighth grade this fall and plans to go to college. An avid basketball player, this is David's first visit to a college campus.

Jazmin Cabrera is an ambitious "almost 13-year-old" who is aiming for the Central Intelligence Agency or law school. Growing up near Chico State, Jazmin is determined to have her life go beyond working in the fields where her father toils.

"I've spent several days out there, picking up things," she says, and she praises her parents for helping her to excel in school so she can pursue a college education.

Barinder Kavr is headed for Live Oak High School near Yuba City. She's the youngest in her family, loves music and would like to attend Sac State.

CAMP's daily regimen begins with a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call, breakfast at 7 and then on to a schedule that features some math, English, college preparation, creative arts, science, technology, engineering, homework and tutoring. There's also time for sports and recreation as well as personal time before lights out at 11 p.m.

This is Emilio Gaza's third year teaching migrant students. The math major plans to complete his degree at Sac State in 18 months. He and his family migrated from Mexico to Watsonville seven years ago. Both of his parents are field workers, and he will be the first in his family to earn a college degree.

He plans to become a teacher, a skill he readily employed before a class of 65 students solving a math problem. His ability to manage and engage the class was underscored by 15-year-old David Morales of Sacramento, who stayed after class to demonstrate his grasp of the exercise.

Positive reinforcement is crucial. A public-speaking session is designed to bolster the CAMPers' self-confidence; ditto for the college preparation series that helps students transition from middle school to high school and then to college.

Guest speakers encourage them to begin thinking about potential careers while discussing financial assistance and scholarships that can help pay their college fees.

The students' experience with CAMP gives them a taste of campus life to whet their appetite for a college education. The program's culminating event brings the families together to discuss what the students gained from the CAMP Summer Youth Leadership Institute.

The federally funded program has been called a home away from home for economically disadvantaged youngsters. It opens to them, as Manuel Pacheco says, "a world of possibilities."

The personable Pacheco personifies CAMP's value. He was a program participant as a 14-year-old and eventually graduated from Sacramento State in 2009, majoring in digital media.

This is his fifth year working with the program and, more important, serving as a role model to the students. He wants to help inspire them to make the most of their potential as CAMP did for him.

His example helped inspire his sister, who is on track to get her degree from Sac State in Health Science next year.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 29 June 2011

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California School Employees Association Kelseyville Chapter has awarded scholarships to three graduates.

The recipients of $500 scholarships were Edgar Lozano, Nancy Ramirez and Amanda Ray.

“They are all exemplary students and we are pleased to help them move forward with their future education,” said Holley Luia, president of CSEA Chapter No. 638.