Schools: Bakersfield.com

San Miguel Commemorative Grove Gets A Facelift

Melissa Iger, director of the Tree Foundation of Kern, hopes that someday the San Miguel Commemorative Grove will be a destination place to study indigenous plant science for students of all ages. “Our goal is to create a botanical garden that features native plant life,” says Iger. Once completed the Grove will be a local field trip opportunity for kindergarten through twelfth grade students and a place where students from Bakersfield College have the opportunity to study plant science in a natural setting. “The hope is to raise money and depend on volunteerism to make the botanical garden a reality,” says Iger.

On Saturday, November 21, volunteers from across Kern County came out to rake, pile and haul away trash, sticks and other debris from the San Miguel Commemorative Grove. Daniel Hipsher, Liberty High School student and future Marine, feels that it is important to volunteer. “ Community service helps the community grow and look better,” says Hipsher. Volunteer Chris Jabonillo claims that, “you need to give your time to help others and not just focus on your self.” Julia Cruz found out about the project through her church. She insists that getting out and working hard for the community is good for her spirit. She was vigorously cleaning up piles of leaves and sticks from the center of the park. “It makes me feel good to do some hard work,” says Cruz.

The City of Bakersfield has partnered with the Tree Foundation of Kern in order to maintain the Grove during this time of budget cuts and diminishing revenues. The city is counting on volunteers to keep the indigenous tree grove located on The Kern River Parkway looking beautiful. Hope 4 Kern volunteers found two large shopping carts and mounds of trash in the canal that parallels the grove. Liberty High School student, Henry Palacios believes that more people should volunteer. Palacious plans to study criminal justice next year at one of the CSU campuses.

More information about the San Miguel Commemorative Grove and the botanical garden project can be found at www.urbanforest.org.

School Loses a Valued and Trusted Friend

Palla Elementary School in the Greenfield Union School District lost a trusted friend this week when Willie McClaren passed away. Willie was a wonderful friend to all the students and staff at Palla School. He was not only the crossing guard who kept everyone safe, but he took the time to get to know each child that passed through the crosswalks he monitored so carefully for so many years. When I was the Assistant Principal at Palla, Willie and I became good friends. When I moved to Valle Verde School, Willie continued to come to visit me every week and, therefore, he made lots of new friends. I must admit I tried to get Willie to move to my school because I missed seeing him and talking to him everyday, but he said he couldn't leave the Palla kids because they needed him and depended on him. He was a wonderful man who made a difference in the lives of so many children and lucky people like me who called him my friend. God Bless you Willie! I'll miss you.

Columbia Elementary Veteran's Day Program

Columbia Elementary School will be celebrating Veteran's Day by honoring Bakersfield Veterans. The celebration begins at 9:00 am on Tuesday, November 10th. The program will include a color guard, music, a special speaker, slide show, and recognition of our Veterans. All Veterans and their families are invited to attend. For more information, please call the school at 588-3540

Partnership Provides Free Flu Shots October 30

Like the coming of fog and rain, Bakersfield citizens know and expect another winter recurrence – flu. That means it’s also time to get your flu shot, and a unique community partnership is working together to provide free flu shots to help prepare the community for the virus.

At a news conference, the Kern County Department of Public Health, Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield, announced a partnership to provide free seasonal flu vaccinations to the community in a drive through clinic on Friday, October 30 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Officials emphasize this is a seasonal vaccine and not the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine.

The purpose of the clinic is to provide a free flu vaccine to residents and also to practice mass vaccination plans, which are designed to ensure that health professionals and volunteers are prepared to vaccinate or dispense medication to a large population in a very short period of time. If Bakersfield was ever to experience pandemic influenza or another such disaster, it might be necessary to distribute medications to many citizens quickly.

Dr. Claudia Jonah, Kern County Health Officer, explained, “The time to practice dispensing large amounts of medication is now, before we have a disaster. It’s also important for all people in Bakersfield to receive a flu shot. Roughly 36,000 Americans die each year from complications of flu. Getting a shot is the best protection.”

Mass vaccination exercises help the Public Health Department and partnering agencies prepare for emergencies by testing their ability to vaccinate thousands of people within a few hours. During the October 30 exercise, visitors will be able to obtain flu shots at two locations in Bakersfield:

Bakersfield College’s southeast parking lot adjacent to Memorial Stadium off Mt. Vernon
CSUB’s parking lot E, off Camino Media, near the Icardo Center

Student nurses from both institutions will administer the shots to individuals in vehicles, which mimics the actual vaccination process during an emergency. The entire process will be closely monitored to help public agencies better work together. More than 3,400 vaccines will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are free to the community.

Children 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age to receive a vaccination is two years old.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and results in 25-50 million infections and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.

Influenza symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, and occasionally stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

The influenza virus is spread through coughing or sneezing and by touching a hard surface with the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth. The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year.

You cannot catch the flu from the vaccination. The vaccination uses a dead virus and cannot cause you to get the flu. The vaccine usually becomes effective two weeks after being administered; therefore, the best time to be vaccinated is October to November. However, it can still be beneficial to get the vaccine even later as typical flu season runs from mid-December through March.

Though all persons over 6 months of age should get a flu shot each year, those most at risk for influenza disease complications are: those in nursing home; individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, and kidneys, or who have diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; women who may be pregnant during flu season; children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy. Children six months through five years of age should receive the flu vaccine due to the increased probability of severe illness in this age group. Daycare situations make these children especially vulnerable. Health care workers are also at greater risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals and should be vaccinated.

An influenza vaccination offers 70 percent to 90 percent protection against infection and can decrease the severity and side effects if you do get sick.

Collaborating agencies are Bakersfield College, CSUB, Kern County Department of Public Health, Kern Medical Reserve Corps, Salvation Army, Bakersfield Fire Department, Kern Medical Center, local Community Emergency Response Teams, Hall Ambulance and the Bakersfield Police Department.

Root on the Renegades with a Trip on the BC Rooter Bus!

Travel in style with the rowdiest bunch of football fans around and cheer on the Bakersfield College Renegades football team!

Bakersfield College’s Alumni Association will be sponsoring a bus trip to the final football game of the regular season against College of the Canyons on Saturday, November 14. Game time is 7 p.m., and the bus will leave from Bakersfield College’s Haley and Panorama parking lot at 4:30 p.m. and return immediately following the game.

Cost for the bus trip is $25 per person and does not include food or beverages. Riders may feel free to bring their own refreshments. Seats are available for 55 passengers, but are open on a first come, first served basis.

Call the Bakersfield College Alumni Association office at 395-4619 or alumna Sally Hill at 322-3175 to RSVP. You can also reserve your spot by taking your $25 to the Bakersfield College Foundation Office at Bakersfield College in the Administration Building, office A-19.

“Attacking the Cure” with BC Volleyball

In an effort to raise awareness and money for the world’s most common cause of cancer death in women, Bakersfield College’s volleyball team presents their second annual “Attacking the Cure” campaign Friday night as the Renegades prepare to host College of the Canyons.

The campaign will help to raise money for breast cancer awareness through the Kern County branch of the American Cancer Society. Donations will be accepted throughout the month of October, which has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the proceeds of the campaign going directly to the American Cancer Society.

Players from both Bakersfield College and College of the Canyons will recognize the event by wearing pink. Bakersfield College will warm up for the game in pink shirts, and then wear pink socks and ribbons during play. Representatives from the American Cancer Society will be on hand to accept donations, distribute information and communicate about the disease.

The “Attacking the Cure” campaign was started by Bakersfield College head coach Carl Ferreira, who recognized that one in eight of the players on his team would be affected by the disease in their lifetime.

“Collegiate women’s volleyball has adopted breast cancer research as their charity of choice this year,” explained Ferreira. “While there are a couple of national programs in place, our student athletes felt it was important to support local women in their fight and we are working directly with the local American Cancer Society.”

The team is accepting flat donations or pledges “per kill” – which the team averages 40 of per night.

The Bakersfield College versus College of the Canyons volleyball game is Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m. in the Gil Bishop Athletics Center at Bakersfield College. Entry to the game is free and no donation is necessary.

According to the American Cancer Society:

1 in 8 women, or 12.6 percent, will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.
Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.
More than 1.7 million women who have had breast cancer are still alive in the United States.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74.
Seventy-one percent of black women diagnosed with breast cancer experience a five-year survival rate, while 86 percent of white women experience five-year survival.
The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last 10 years of oral contraceptives and daily consumption of alcohol.
Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
More than 80 percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
Oral contraceptives may cause a slight increase in breast cancer risk; however 10 years after discontinuing use of oral contraceptives the risk is the same as for women who never used the pill.
Estrogen replacement therapy for more than five years slightly increases breast cancer risk; however the increased risk appears to disappear five to 10 years after discontinuing the use of estrogen replacement therapy.
Breast self-exams should begin by age 20.

Race To The Top - A Sprint, Not A Marathon

In his recent Opinion letter, Louis Wildman listed reasons for why “evaluating teachers on the basis of student test scores is not a good idea.” Although this idea has been discussed for several years, it is now part of the critical debate taking place in Sacramento due to an additional federal stimulus plan including $4.35 billion for competitive grants to states to improve elementary and secondary education called Race to the Top (RTTT).

So much emphasis has been placed on the issue of merit pay for teachers that the other restrictions required for the funds have been ignored. In order to even apply for the additional funds, a state must remove any legislative restriction on the use of student performance data (test scores) to evaluate teachers; the state must remove any legislative cap on the number of charter schools; the state must adopt common national academic standards; the state must enact a provision that each year it will identify five percent of the lowest performing schools in the state and that those schools will be subject to one of four possible actions: converted to charter, replacement of administration and staff, taken over by private management, or other major form of restructuring. In addition, it is being suggested that SB 1 which calls for expanding schools/districts of choice into a state-wide program may be included in the Governor’s plan to obtain RTTT funding.

These are significant changes in California’s education laws, changes that, if enacted, will affect schools for many years to come. The Governor and the legislature must consider the long range consequences of their actions in light the facts about RTTT.

First, it is estimated that only eight to fifteen states will be granted a portion of the funds. There is no guarantee that California will get any of the additional stimulus money and yet will be saddled with all of the required legislation.

Second, should the state be chosen to receive RTTT funds, once the money is distributed among the chosen states, California’s portion could be as low as $500 million. Half of that must be allocated within the state to Title I schools and the other half reserved for use at the state level, much of it ear-marked for an educational data base. Of the thousand school districts in California, few will benefit from the stimulus dollars.

Finally, the money is one-time funding in return for continuing federal requirements on all state and local educational programs. Any projects to improve student academic progress initially funded with RTTT dollars will need to be paid for by the state in the next year, thus encumbering an already cut-to-the-bone state education budget.

Our leaders in Sacramento must realize this and see that the small carrot is not worth the very large stick.

Amazing Music for Amazing Words

Each week, kindergarteners in BCSD are learning six conceptually developed Amazing Words for speaking and listening. The children listen to stories, sing songs, dramatize and illustrate these words to develop vocabulary and concepts.

The story for the week, Violet's Music, was about friends coming together to make a band. The six Amazing Words were: drum, rattle, horn, saxophone, guitar and band. Amazing music by volunteer band members brought the words to life for 140 kindergarten students at Owens Primary School. Each band member named his instrument and demonstrated different sounds, melodies and ways of playing the instrument. Steve Eisen presented a terrific trumpet lesson that had the children giggling, clapping and singing! Zeke Victor followed on sensational saxophone, Jason Gomez on great guitar, and Canaan McDuffie captured rhythms with on the drum with sticks, hands, and brushes. Canaan even brought an egg shaker for the rattle.

The presentation culminated with the band friends making music just as Violet did in the story. Children motioned to familiar songs: Eency, Weency Spider, Twinkle Little Star, Where Is Thumbkin, ABC song. Thanks to the enthusiasm and amazing music of the band members, Amazing Words came to life for 140 kindergarten children!

From Darkness into Light - A Special Concert by Bakersfield College Chorale and Chamber Singers

A journey From Darkness into Light awaits the audience at a special concert event featuring the Bakersfield College Chorale and Chamber Singers with special guests, the Foothill High School Chamber Singers.

“This concert is intended to be an uplifting event from darkness into light,” said Dr. Ronald Kean, director of Bakersfield College choral activities.

From Darkness into Light will be presented on Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church on corner of Stockdale Highway and Real Road.

This special performance features the College’s expanded 90-member choir and 31-member chamber singers under the direction of Dr. Kean, and with accompanied by pianist Elizabeth Cervantes.

From Darkness into Light is open to the public and tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for seniors, staff and students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at the door or through the Bakersfield College Ticket Office at 395-4326. For more information, call 395-4547.

Darwin’s Legacy in the Modern World Explored at Levan Center Discussions

Charles Darwin may be best known for his theories on natural selection.

Born in 1809, Darwin was an English naturalist who realized and researched on the idea that all species of life have evolved from common ancestors. While his idea of natural selection may have become accepted by the scientific community during his lifetime, it took until the 1930s for the concept to truly take root.

Darwin’s legacy in the modern world will be the focus of two panel discussions sponsored by The Norman Levan Center for the Humanities at Bakersfield College.

On Tuesday, October 13, Bakersfield College faculty members will discuss Darwinism, Faith and Morality at 7 p.m. in the College’s Fireside Room. The discussion will center on how all three concepts intertwine, and the panel includes:
• John Carpenter, Bakersfield College Sociology faculty
• Daymon Johnson, Bakersfield College History faculty
• Nick Strobel, Bakersfield College Astronomy faculty

On Wednesday, November 4, Bakersfield College faculty members will discuss Darwinism and Social Thought at 7 p.m. in the College’s Fireside Room. The discussion will center on how all three concepts intertwine, and the panel includes:
• Edward Borgens, Bakersfield College Political Science faculty
• Michael Horvath, Bakersfield College Economics faculty
• Karen Kettner, Bakersfield College Behavioral Science faculty

Tickets are not necessary for the events. Call 395-4339 for more information on Darwin’s Legacy in the Modern World.

The mission of the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities is to provide programs that focus on and foster a greater appreciation of the humanities, explore the relevance of the humanities to the practice of medicine, examine and support ethical behavior in business and the professions, recognize and encourage scholarship and intellectual exchange among faculty and students, and involve the Bakersfield community in examining the importance of the humanities in the lives of people. The Levan Center for the Humanities is made possible by a Foundation contribution from Dr. Norman Levan, a practicing physician in Bakersfield for over 50 years and a strong advocate of examining societal issues.

Ride in to A Knight with the Arts

Painting, theater, music, good food and friends are all important elements of the Bakersfield College Foundation’s second annual A Knight with the Arts, happening Thursday, October 8, at the College’s Indoor Theater, Courtyard and Fine Arts 30 studio, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Bakersfield College Foundation and the Edith Finlinson Endowment, the free evening provides opportunities for the community to enjoy a variety of arts-related activities presented by the talented students at Bakersfield College.

A Knight with the Arts features various performances throughout the evening by the Bakersfield College Drum Line, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Orchestra, Chamber Singers and Choir. A student art exhibit will display the visual talents that Bakersfield College students have to offer, and a special performance of “The Play Within a Play” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, presented by theater students, will cap off the evening.

Admission is free for all performances and gallery showing, though donations will be gratefully accepted and will benefit the Bakersfield College Drum Line. Hors d’oeuvres prepared by Bakersfield College’s culinary arts students will be served during the event, and tickets for wine will be available for one for $5 or three for $10.

“Our students are immensely talented, and to gather them all together in one place, on this one night, is truly a treat for the community,” explained Bakersfield College Foundation executive director Mike Stepanovich. “By welcoming our friends, the people of Bakersfield, to Bakersfield College for this event, we highlight that talent and the creativity which makes this College great.”

For more information please call the Bakersfield College Foundation at 661-395-4273.

Mettler Needs To Be Expelled

There is no doubt that changes are needed in the Kern High School District. One such change can't come soon enough -- the expulsion of Ken Mettler. As a neo-conservative that only cares about his own political future Mettler has done enough damage to the teachers and students of the Kern High School District. It's time for Mettler to be expelled.

The KHSD deserves to have trustees who will honor and work with the teachers and students to bring out the very best of both. Mettler instead works to undermine the efforts of those who shape and mold the young minds for tomorrow. Now he wants to take his draconian ideology to Sacramento to create even more hardships for our teachers.

It's bad enough that teachers are underpaid, under-staffed, unappreciated for the time and efforts they put into trying to meet the outlandish demands placed on them by those like Mettler who sit in their ivory towers and dictate how they are to teach.

There needs to be a policy change for the KHSD that states no trustee will use their position for political gain. It sure would help put the focus back where it needs to be--on our kids and the teachers who instruct them. A trustee's time and efforts must be about those they serve and not their own political agenda. If we want to have a productive and prosperous society then we have to elect those who will ensure that the teachers and students are given everything they need to succeed. Mettler's actions as a politician has shown he can't be trusted to ensure the best interests of the teachers and students--only his own.

Museum School Tour Over 60 Years Old!

For over 60 years, third and fourth grade students have traveled to the Kern County Museum to learn about the lifestyle and culture of the Yokuts Indians. The program has changed over the years, but the school children of today are still as enthralled as their great-grandparents!

According to museum records, the program was inaugurated sometime in that late 1940s by then museum director Frank Latta. The Native American Life program predates the creation of Pioneer Village; the museum’s first historic structure, the Barnes Log Cabin, wasn’t dedicated until 1950. It is unclear what Latta’s school tour program entailed, but it was likely very informative. In the 1940s, Latta was researching the history and culture of the Yokuts for his seminal book Handbook of the Yokuts Indians, published in 1949. He also employed Yokuts to construct a village near the Kern River in 1948 and made a movie documenting the Yokuts lifestyle in the reconstructed village.

In 1948, then assistant director Richard C. Bailey took over the program and admitted that the program was “still in its formative stages." Bailey took the program to Bakersfield schools, and outlying schools came to the museum. At that time, students walked down steep, concrete steps to view the program in the basement of the main museum building. Under the low roof that included pipes and beams under which Bailey had to stoop, students learned about the lifestyle of Yokuts Indians while looking at authentic artifacts.

Over the years, the program has moved a few times. It was conducted in the basement until the spring of 1952 when the program was moved to a former Kern County Fair Association building behind the main museum building. After the 1952 earthquake, the program moved into the north gallery of the main museum. The program stayed in the north gallery until the spring of 2009 when it moved to the newly renovated Three Oaks Lecture Hall.

Bailey was the primary docent for only one year. In 1949, the Barrios family began conducting the program. Pete Barrios, a member of the Tejon tribe of Yokuts, and his wife Clara, a member of the Tachi tribe of Yokuts, demonstrated acorn pounding, flour leeching, and basket weaving and spoke about traditional Yokuts lifestyle as they displayed a variety of artifacts including baskets, tools, beads, and weapons. During the five weeks that the Barrios first conducted the program, their sons Jimmie (age 2) helped grind acorns while Mark (age 7 months) slept in a traditional Yokuts cradleboard. Their third son, Willie, took his turn in the cradleboard in the spring of 1952.

The Barrios family continued telling the story of their people until the spring of 1956, when Elydia Gilbert Vasquez who grew up on the Sebastion Indian Reservation replaced the Barrios as the docent. Elydia Gilbert Vasquez conducted the program for a number of years, and she and the Barrios family have been joined by a number of dedicated docents including Shirley McFadzean, Phyllis Fieber, Richard “Dick” Heber, Thursa Revenaugh, Ken Griffin, Betty Wachob, LeAnna Dracup, Don Halbert, Gloria Dixon, Carol Henshaw, Dorothy McGee, Chris McDaneld, Barbara Adams, Dale Hopwood, Don Golden, and Barbara Kelly. Each docent has undergone extensive training to ensure a quality experience for the students.

During the 1940s and 1950s, the program was conducted twice a year for 5 weeks each session. The lecture lasted twenty minutes and an additional five minutes was allowed for questions. At that time, it was suggested that schools allocate 45 minutes for the program and to view the museum. Today, the program is offered every Tuesday and Thursday and lasts for an hour; it consists of a half-hour lecture and a half-hour hands-on acorn grinding experience. In the 2008-2009 school year, over 2,000 pupils participated in the program and spent, on average, 3 hours at the museum. That is quite an improvement over the suggested 45 minute museum visit of the 1940s!

As standards have changed in the schools, so have standards in museum education. In 1951, “free mimeographed Indian unit pamphlets” that “authoritatively cover the study of Kern county Indians” were available. A few years ago, Educational and Voluteer Services Manager Jackie Brouillette and docents revamped the program to meet the California State Framework for History and the Social Sciences. Program packets that include information about the Yokuts, as well as pre-visit and post-visit activities to enhance the local history curriculum are now offered to teachers. A learning guide is also available online!

In 1948, the Bakersfield Californian wrote, “Success of the program, [Bailey] believes, depends largely on the cooperation of the schools and teacher. Many instructors welcome the plan wholeheartedly, he says, and believe it is a vast improvement over the use of textbook since it brings the lesson much closer to the pupils.” The longevity of the program is evidence that the schools and teachers have cooperated! Over the years, other programs have been added to the museum’s school tour offerings including One-Room School Tour, Frontier Life Living History Day, California Living History Day, and Black Gold: The Oil Experience.

Oversized Classrooms in Real Life

Turning students into sardines and cramming them into portable trailers is a great way to raise test scores. Having more students in class gives the teacher more opportunities to teach to each students' individual learning needs. Group learning becomes more conducive when you have 45 students in a small area. The problem with all of these statements is that they totally contradict everything you learn in credentialing classes--not to mention the common sense you pick up along the way. But this is the reality in many classrooms. I don't know how to fix the problem; apparently the government doesn't either. Let me make a prediction: Lower test scores, less literacy, more uninformed citizens, and higher enrollment in private schools/home schools. All of that means less money for schools. Does anyone else see the downward spiral? I'm a public school teacher and I'm starting to think my kids would be a lot better off if they were home schooled.

Our Kids and Politics

A poll on FaceBook asked;

"Should the United States President be allowed to do a nationwide address to our children at school, without prior parental consent?”

Why not...shouldn't our kids be able to hear what the elected leader has to say...I trust their judgment, impartiality and lack of narrow-mindedness more than I do most EDUCATED ADULTS. Don't have to like it~ just the way it is.

Kids should be educated in politics (watch the news, read newspaper, check internet for world events) etc. at an early age so when the time comes to vote, they are informed... not just by parents views but what they also derive from it themselves. We do this with Jesus and his gospel for our eternal life, we need to also let them see and hear what is going on in this earthly life.

We are not clones. Everyone has an opinion and everyone's opinion counts... Just MY OPINION.

Diane Hamilton

Local School BAN on President Obama's Speech seems racist!

I learned on the TV news today about the Norris and Bakersfield district plans to ban President Obama’s back to school welcome speech. Students of color, now over 50% of the enrollments in local schools, should have access to THIS PRESIDENT's (the first African American President's classroom address) back to school speech! This is a historic, momentous occasion for our nation and especially for students of color. Instead, in a demonstration of a profound devaluing of the needs of children of color some school district officials are poised to deny our children access to THIS PRESIDENT'S speech. As a parent and an educator I see this proposed move to ban direct transmission of Pres. Obama's speech as playing partisan politics and worst yet as compromising the intellectual needs of students of color for whom Pres. Obama is an extraordinary role model (whether you're Republican or Democrat)!

I hope school district officials will refrain from acting against students of color just to appease local partisan politics. White House officials say the President's speech will be available for pre-screening on Monday prior to the scheduled Tuesday air-date.

At a minimum, I see this proposed action of banning this President's speech as blocking freedom of speech, access to information and denying minority children equity in educational access. Most educators understand the need to make curriculum meaningful to diverse students in order to increase their academic success. Local school staff, including teachers and administrators, opposed to airing the Sept. 8, 2009 @ 12:00 noon Presidential speech are well aware that a precedent has already been set that allowed direct televising of several Republican speeches in local school classrooms (of Republican Presidents and even a Republican Presidential Candidate was allowed to address students in person—taking up class time).

District positions that the proposed ban is largely based on “curriculum concerns” frankly rings hollow given many of their past practices and appears to be much more politically motivated. One teacher in the Norris district made partisan-Republican comments on the TV news to justify banning the President’s speech—and did so without due consideration of students of color--this in itself is very problematic.

In a worst case analysis if the decision stands and this President’s speech is banned then this action does appear rather racist! Why would school district choose to deny students of color equity in educational treatment when the local TV news media reports that they have many times allowed similar addresses by white, Republican Presidents?

Banning President Obama’s message to our children (especially children-of-color) reads from a minority perspective as differential treatment ultimately resulting in discrimination. Students of color should have similar access to their most prominent representatives that white children in Bakersfield have enjoyed over the years.

I urge school Superintendents to please act as an agent of support for students of color and grant them access to this historic event…the first minority President addressing school children! This Presidential message to local minority students conveys to them and their white peers that with hard work and determination they too can overcome obstacles to reach the highest position in this country. For the first time in this nation's history minority school children see a direct example that they too can be President. This I think most Americans would agree is the powerful message visible to them in the person of President Obama.

Levan Course Teaches the Nuts and Volts of Robotics

It may be as foreign of an idea as you can think of – learning robotics when you are out of school, your kids are grown, and your grandkids are bouncing around the house. But it’s those grandkids who are likely to get the most out of you taking a class in robotics at Bakersfield College’s Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning this fall.

Robots are prevalent in the world around you, from inside your cars to the machines conducting medical tests. Honda’s famous ASIMO is a robot humanoid that thinks, moves and acts like humans do. Cars can now monitor your driving habits in order to automatically adjust to what you are doing, what the engine is doing, and what is happening around you – that’s a robot. The radio controlled airplane you fly at the park on weekends – is not – because you are controlling it. But, if you had a computer onboard, using a global positioning system, you could program the plane to turn back toward the starting point should the control signals stop for some reason, thereby turning your airplane into a robot.

This is your opportunity to learn and understand more about the robots in your life.

If learning robotics seems like a stretch to you, or if you think that just because you never took classes in engineering or mechanics that you can’t build a robot, think again. In just four short months and only one day a week, you will build and program your very own robot without a lot of boring lectures to sit through. What’s more, with the hands-on experience you’ll have, you’ll be able to help your grandkids build their own robot too! With the holidays coming up, a robot-building project between you and your grandkids would make for a lifetime of memories.

Really, you don’t need any robotics knowledge or other sort of mechanical training to have fun in this class, as we gear the projects based on individual experience and ability. You won’t be constantly monitored, and there is a bit of outside class work to do, so you need to be a self-starter. That outside class work will help you become more comfortable with computers and the internet.

In the class, you will build small robots that sense the world around them and respond to the changes in their environment. Through programming, you will help the robots avoid obstacles, navigate through a maze, walk a line, or even play music.

While the class is for the Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning, students can be of any age and can be multi-generational teams working together. Bakersfield College’s Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning is offering the class on Robotics starting September 8 and running through December 8. The class is held on Tuesday evenings from 6 – 9 p.m. Cost for the class is $10.

Ron Siemens is a graduate of Shafter High School and Bakersfield College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a master’s degree in computer science from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. Siemens has vast experience as a software engineer and scientist in the aerospace industry, working for companies such as Ford Aerospace, Xerox Medical Diagnostics and the California Institute of Technology.

King Lear and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Highlight 2009 Kern Shakespeare Festival

Productions of King Lear and A Midsummer Night’s Dream will begin with an opening night on Tuesday, September 15 and will run for two weeks, with an alternating performance each evening in Bakersfield College’s Indoor Theater.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare set in a moonlit forest where the forays of four young Athenians and a group of amateur actors are intertwined with the Duke of Athens, Theseus, the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta, and with the fairies who inhabit the forest. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed on September 15, 17, 19, 23 and 27.

King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare where Lear seeks to divide the Kingdom of Britian among his three daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. The tale weaves in and out of a father’s love for his daughters – only one of which loves him back purely – and the tragedy which forms out of that bond. King Lear will be performed on September 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26.

All performances of the 2009 Kern Shakespeare Festival will begin at 8 p.m. in the Bakersfield College Indoor Theater. Tickets are $5 per person (no one under age six allowed), and are available from the Bakersfield College Ticket Office at 661-395-4326. Questions about the performances should be directed to Randy Messick at 661-395-4549.

BC Alumni Barbecue Coming September 10

The Bakersfield College Alumni Association welcomes the public to join in the festivities at the 55^th annual BBQ, September 10 at Stramler Park on North Chester. All proceeds from the event will assist deserving students with scholarships and benefit athletics on campus. The $20 admittance to the event features a steak or chicken dinner and live entertainment by the Tony Ernst Band.

According to John Boydstun, an original founding member of the Bakersfield College Alumni Association, the group was founded in 1946. World War II had just ended and veterans were returning home. Many of them were graduates of Bakersfield College, eager to renew treasured friendships enjoyed as classmates. Ergo, the Alumni Association was formed. Boydstun further asserts, “The idea was born from a few folks celebrating the end of the war at a dance held in the old Bakersfield Inn Ballroom. There were 20 original members, and dues were a mere $3 a year.” (Dues are only $25 a year today!) In addition to Boydstun, class of 1939, other original board members included Virginia Burress Mosconi, Joe Mosconi, David Fanucchi, Rue Pollock, Win Cooper, Hazel Morton Reese, Art Sargeant, and Doyle Miller. Boydstun was the first President and Miller, a local judge, wrote the first constitution.

Bakersfield College has produced many successful alumni including John Boydstun, Charlie Dodge, Herb Loken, Dan O’Neill, David Fanucchi, Bill Williamson, Glenn Bultman, Dr. Romain Clerou, Louie Lemucchi, Grace Bird, Virginia Mosconi, Marie Amestoy, Ed Simonson, Edna Taber, Dean Gay, Mary K. Shell, Dr. Robert Sheldon, Angus Marchbanks, Don Hart, Jim Young, and Dr. David Zachery. Other notables include Gary Friedman, Superior Court Judge, Morgan Clayton, Owner Tel-Tec, Colby Lewis, Pitcher for the Texas Rangers, Harvey Hall, Mayor, Ken Byrum Attorney, Dean Florez, California Senator, Frank Gifford of football fame, and Hank Pfister of tennis fame.

This year’s barbecue is a far cry from the first of such events. According to Herb Loken, former Bakersfield College Athletic Director, “the initial barbecues, first organized by Dean Gay, were men-only events held at Jastro Park. In attendance were BC athletic supporters, the Renegade football team and its first coach, Jack Frost. All they required was a keg and steaks!” Loken subsequently suggested the inclusion of women and the expansion of the event as a fundraiser.

The Alumni Board invites you to join Bakersfield College alumni, faculty, athletic teams, and the community on September 10 at Stramler Park. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served from 6 – 8 p.m. The event, sponsored by KERN, KGET, and the Diane S. Lake Family, is the major fundraiser of the year for the Alumni Association. All proceeds benefit Bakersfield College students academically and athletically. Tickets can be purchased at the Bakersfield College Ticket Office (395-4619) or at the gate.

For further information about the Bakersfield College Alumni Association Barbecue, call Chairperson Sally Hill at 322-3175. For further information about the Alumni Association, call Bakersfield College Alumni Association President Becki Whitson at 395-4619.

Information for this article provided by John Boydstun, Bakersfield College cass of 1939 (Owner of Boydstun Realty), Herb Loken, former Bakersfield College Athletic Director, the late James Radoumis, Bakersfield College class of 1939 (Retired from Kern County Board of Trade) and Sally Hill, Bakersfield College class of 1966 (Retired Bakersfield College Psychology Professor).

What are you willing to give up?

I always knew I would be a teacher. I even received a scholarship given specifically to students planning to pursue a career in education. When I reached college, the push was to make education more “professional,” to raise the standards for teacher training. I received a BA in English and had to go on to graduate school in order to earn a teaching credential. To do this, I took the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), which is like the SAT or ACT, but more difficult and several hours longer, and successfully made my way into a Masters program, eventually finishing with an MA in English Education. Still no credential. I then had to take the National Teacher’s Exam (NTE), an eight hour test involving three components: General Knowledge, Pedagogy, and Subject Matter Competency. Again, I passed with flying colors. Still no credential. I applied to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and was told that, because my degree and credential program were from out of state (Go Buckeyes!), I would have to take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). Again, passed. Still no credential. In spite of undergraduate grades that were good enough to get me into grad school, and a near perfect GPA in grad school, I had to prove subject matter competency. Jumped through that hoop, still no credential. Then I had to take a Health class and a Computer Skills class in order to apply for my California Professional Clear Credential. Passed, applied. Finally, a teaching credential. But wait! There’s more! I had to obtain the Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) certification or be removed from the classroom. Took those graduate level classes at my own personal expense, and passed. Oh, and did I mention that teachers have to renew the Professional Clear Credential every few years? And how do we do that? We keep attending workshops, taking classes, etc.

So, to become what Mr. Mettler and Mrs. Barks seem to think is a loveable but overpaid, union-loving suck on private funds, I’ve forked out over $60,000, some of which I’m still paying off in student loans after 12 years in the classroom. Yes, 12 years of paying loans and scrimping for a job I don’t do for the pay, but rather, for the kids. Most teachers are in the profession because we love kids and we know what an impact education makes on their lives. We spend thousands, yes, thousands of dollars out of our own pockets to provide materials to help improve our student’s education. If I seem bitter, it’s because I’m tired of teachers being vilified as the sole reason for poor student performance and the cause for the KHSD economic crisis. And to suggest that sports are more important than the salary I earn to keep food on the table and clothes on the back of my family is disgusting and abominable. Contrary to recent statements made by Mrs. Barks, I am not a drain on private funds and I do pay taxes. I do you and society a service, and earn my paycheck just like every other taxpayer. Your children can read, write, and think because of me and the rest of my profession. So, when you’re willing, Mr. Mettler, to give up the additional health benefits provided to board members by KHSD, and when you’re ready, Mrs. Barks, to donate some of your salary to help pay for the athletics that seem so important to everyone, and when everyone is ready to realize that maybe what happens inside the classroom is more important than what happens on the athletic field, and that perhaps maybe what a teacher is paid should reflect the level of training they’ve gone through, then and only then am I willing to consider taking food out of my son’s mouth to help fix an economic crisis that I didn’t create. If this is about everyone pitching in and “living within our means,” as Mr. Mettler stated, and I’m being asked to give up part of my pay for the good of education, what are you willing to give up for the education I provide?

Are Your Kids Ready For Kindergarten?

For some parents, this summer marks the last season before school starts. Kaiser Permanente’s pediatric physician, Fernando Fan has some advice for parents sending their little one to Kindergarten this year – make sure to get their physicals and immunizations completed early.

For new parents who may not know what we’re talking about, a Kindergarten physical is an exam that the school systems and physicians feel is important to access the health of children entering school. It helps with identifying problems with learning, speech, and listening, and can also help identify health conditions that need extra attention. For example, someone with diabetes, seizure disorders or food allergies need special care. If this is identified before the child enters school, the schools will know what’s going on and what they need to do in case of an emergency. There is also a dental examination requirement.

“Most importantly are the required immunizations,” Fan says. “Because there are so many children at school and all of them come from different environments, it’s easy to pass along germs. Immunizations are your child’s best defense from serious ailments.”

Fan says all Kindergarten-aged children need their booster shots. Assuming that they have already had all their immunization shots since birth, by ages 4 or 5. If the child isn’t up to date with their vaccines, there’s no need to worry. Dr. Fan says it’s quite simple catching the children up with their shots. He says as long as the child has started their series of shots, the schools will not refuse admittance to school. “Once you start, you must remember to come back and finish the series or we’ll have to start all over again,” he says.

So when should you come in for a kindergarten physical?

Most school systems prefer the physicals be completed six months prior to the start of school. So, for those of you doing the math, that’s March. Although March has already passed, Dr. Fan says don’t wait any longer, make your appointment today and avoid the last minute crunch.

“I really want parents to take advantage of getting their physicals done early. I want them to start thinking about this at four years of age. By getting a head start and getting some of the shots out of the way, when the child turns five and is ready for kindergarten, the child won’t be overwhelmed with a lot of shots,” he says. “No one likes to go through having a lot of shots done all at once.”

A series of immunizations consists of three to four shots, a skin test for tuberculosis and the schools like for there to be an anemia test too. That’s a lot of pokes!

Since the physical does include some vision testing, Fan also suggests parents work with their children on learning the names of shapes. “This helps the child’s memory as well,” he says. “It’s important to do whatever you can to get your child ready for school.” Make sure to contact your child’s school district for more specifics.

Behind the Mask of the KHSD

The parents, politicians, and pundits of Bakersfield have been grappling with an explosive economic issue. Which to cut, teacher pay or JV sports, to save our schools.

In an attempt to solve the KHSD budget crisis, Mr. Mettler, a very savvy politician and KHSD Trustee, made a suggestion that caused otherwise complacent parents and coaches to rise up and vent their fears and frustrations at more than one board meeting. The plea was urgent as they cried out to the trustees with one voice. It was highly emotional, frighteningly illogical, and completely irrelevant. I include myself as a contributor to this turbulent, tumultuous outcry, albeit for “the other side,” as I recommended the board eliminate all athletics and all summer school programs. However, I did so knowing that it would never happen, and also knowing that I might be vilified for making such an awful, controversial, and ridiculous suggestion. I was ready for the citizenry, loaded for bear, to parade down my street screaming for my head on a platter.

Surprise, surprise, surprise. The number of private messages and anonymous replies supporting, encouraging, and congratulating me on my article and my idea told me that “the other side” would be heard in a voice as strong as the sports fans’ complaint. And yet, so far in the commercial media, no other voice has publicly disagreed with Mr. Mettler but mine. Not surprisingly, however, JV sports was “saved” and Bakersfield drew a sigh of relief heard around the county. God bless the board, they saved sports!

Now, on the truth. There are three things that you may not know. And I base this “inside information” on my background as a negotiator in a previous life, as a current high school teacher married to another, albeit more brilliant, more savvy, and more veteran master high school teacher, and as the son of parents who’ve run a few big things in their time, in Chicago.

First, high school sports was never really on the chopping block. Second, Mr. Mettler got exactly what he wanted. And third, the crisis is still looming and it’s going to hurt your child badly.

High school athletics is its own economy. High school athletics has certain laws governing it. And high school athletics will never be cut, no matter how important the pooh-bah is that makes the suggestion or threat to cut it. I’ve been told an administrator once remarked that sports will always win out with regards to a specific conflict between a class requirement and a sporting event. More recently, a highly respected and awarded teacher was booted out of her amazing classroom because “Wrestling needs more room.” Such is the mentality of our leaders. Why, you ask? Let me tell you.

Football makes money. A lot of money. Sports like golf, tennis, and swimming cost the district thousands of dollars each year and never make a profit. They don’t even break even. But it’s ok, because the profits from football cover all those expenses. In other words, without football, you wouldn’t have those other sports because their sugar daddy would be gone. And you can’t suggest “pay to play” as it’s illegal. And if you just wanted to keep football and nothing else, you break the law again. Title 9 says students need fair and equal access, so if you have boys football, then you need girls volleyball. But since there are twice as many boys on the football teams, you’d need two girls’ sports to make it equal. But if you had two girl sports, then it’s unfair, because boys don’t have two sports to choose from, only one (football) and so you’d have to add boys’ soccer. And on and on it goes, until you come to realize something. Forget tradition, forget your own memories of playing, forget that it’s your own sweet child on that field of green…if it’s just boiled down to its essence—economy and law—then the suggestion to cut any sport is laughable and anyone who fell for the grandstanding play by Mr. Mettler was suckered in to a side show that distracted or deflected our attention from the true move in Mr. Mettler’s game winning strategy. High school sports was never really on the chopping block. And secretly, I’m glad because I’m a huge fan. I played as a kid myself, I lived in Chicago during the Bulls dynasty, and even though I’m an Illini alum, I’m a Buckeye in my heart. Nonetheless, on the topic at hand, Mr. Mettler’s personal agenda was advanced, and he got exactly what he wanted.

Public figures like Trustee Mettler are under a different kind of scrutiny than the common man. The toughest questions I am asked include “did you take out the trash?” And I could answer “no, I just need a break from it all, and a 20 minute drive, singing loudly with the breeze in my hair, clears my head enough to deal with life. After that I’ll take out the stinking trash.” But instead I answer “yeah, I’m getting to it soon.” On the other hand, a public figure is asked, “Why did you make that destructive suggestion? Are you an idiot?” and he could answer, “No, it’s because I have a secret agenda and you’re a dupe that I can control by doing it this way” but instead he answers, “no, I just love our kids and want to save their education.” Public figures always have agendas. That’s their job--to promote their agendas, both public and personal. If it wasn’t, there would be no need for them.

Based on Mr. Mettler’s activities on the KHSD board, it would seem his personal agenda is to promote the private school voucher program. If he could disable the public school system by debilitating the teachers economically and disparaging them in the media, and by confusing the public by mixing up the issues (equating JV sports to a child’s education, for example) then he has successfully made the case for sending your child to the much better equipped and more financially sound private school.

He said a pay cut in the classroom saves education. The message seemed to be that Junior Varsity sports is more valuable than classroom education. And no one paused to think that over and reply “say what?” Instead everyone said “oh yes, cut teacher pay, and save our baby’s ball team, because we value classroom education less than little Johnnie’s ball throwing activities.”

Let me put this into perspective. Governor Schwarzenegger declared a “state of fiscal emergency” for California last week. The State is issuing IOUs instead of payment to businesses and citizens. Our school board itself said at the last meeting that in three years the KHSD is “going to fall off the cliff” financially. 35 Million dollars needs to be in their bank account every month just to cover expenses. Every month. Athletics costs over 6 Million dollars a year. JV alone costs almost half a million dollars a year. And the latest inspiring idea from the sports fans? “Let’s sell t-shirts and have a car wash to raise the money.” Really. It was said by a highly respected coach that I admire. My heart goes out to her and all coaches. I hurt for them; they are my brothers and sisters. But it was said. Really. I can imagine the glee Mr. Mettler must have felt, watching the circus he created actually play out just as he planned.

I don’t know if he is speaking for himself, independent of the board’s approval. Or maybe he’s the mouthpiece for the board, what we would call a “foot-soldier for the Capos” in Chicago (let the conspiracy theorists chew that one) and this is their collaborative plan as Bakersfield’s axis of evil. Or maybe, like a colleague of mine stated, he’s a teacher-hating bureaucrat intent on dismantling the district for his own nefarious purposes. I really don’t know. But I do know that if his personal agenda is to promote the private school voucher program, he had a mighty little victory at the last board meeting to advance that personal agenda. Unfortunately, it’s your child that’s caught in the crossfire, and if they’re a high school student, they’re going to be hurt badly, one way or another, as this crisis looms over the next few months.

Whatever ultimately gets cut or not cut to resolve this crisis, it will be the student who suffers the most. I won’t address teacher pay except to say this: Google search “Prop 98” and then search the role of a trustee. Legally, the classroom is protected. And technically, a trustee doesn’t get to say what teachers make. OK, then Google search the KHSD report card. We are one of the lowest scoring districts in the lowest scoring state in our nation. Let that settle in a bit. And it is our students’ academic improvement that drives everything the teacher does to change that report card and to give your child the opportunity, the opportunity, to become an independent, free, and critically thinking life long learner. Whether or not the child chooses to take advantage of that opportunity is entirely up to them. And you, the parent. Socially, then, the classroom is protected, assuming the adults invested in the system (parents and trustees) have the same common sensical philosophy as teachers do, which is “student education, above all else.” Politically, however, the classroom is the new battleground. And the politicians are focused on the money, not the kid. No matter what they say in front of a TV camera, it’s their job to keep the school solvent, not to keep little Johnny playing ball at our expense. And while they keep us solvent, it’s the teacher’s job to prepare your child for freedom. So, will Mr. Mettler really shorten the school year? Will he really advocate paying teachers less for doing more, for doing the sacred and honorable job of preparing this generation for adulthood and the myriad of professions therein? Yes. He will. And you’ll let him as long as you agree with him and don’t stop to question his true intent or purpose.

As a teacher of rhetoric, I instruct my students to look beyond the face value of a text. They discover the author’s purpose or agenda, and they write the extent to which they agree or disagree with the author’s true message. When applying that to this explosive economic issue facing the KHSD and to the comments and suggestions being made by the parents, politicians, and pundits, you might not find any answers either, but you certainly would be able to see when the public is being suckered into a carefully crafted carnival style sideshow at the expense of your child’s future. As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently said, “only the educated are truly free.”

It'd be insane Not to cut JV Sports

In response to Ralph Bailey's story,..."It'd be "iinsane" to cut JV Sports.....

Ralph, I know that Orange Julius, I grew up in Sherman Oaks a few blocks from that landmark and although it was an affluent community at the time, I grew up poor, raised by my Grandmother, without the many advantages of my neighbors and schoolmates.

I was never interested in school; I never participated in school sports. I never took part in extra curricular school activities; in fact, I was not disciplined. What I was interested in was Karate. I wanted to take Karate so badly, that my Grandmother, on welfare, scratched up twenty dollars each month to pay for it. She did not depend on the school to provide for my spare time or health. Twenty dollars per month in those days was a lot but she cut back in other ways to provide for my sake.

By my senior year I was a true athlete from my private karate training. I spent every spare hour practicing, but I could also see most of my more scholastically focused classmates, were getting A’s. I realized that the barricade to my future was not lack of sports, it would be in failing to graduate. I then refocused my energies from extra curricular sports activities back into school, doing my homework and taking extra classes. I ended up graduating early, ahead of my class. Still I was grateful to my grandmother for paying for my karate lessons and the most valuable lesson of all, was knowing she made me the most important priority.

If parents really cared about their children’s health, and welfare, instead of getting a free afterschool babysitter, they would find a way to provide for independent sports activities. That’s right, they would pay for it, not put it onto the backs of the general taxpayer.

There are more than enough private venues around town that offer sports. Enroll them into karate, dance, swimming, soccer. Have them join boy or girl scouts. Parents / guardians, if they really care, can go on bike rides with their kids, hiking or just go on regular walks with them.

Our children indeed do learn some of life’s ups and downs and its unjust nature by how we reward people that have worked so hard to become educators, with cutbacks and terminations. That is what is insane.

Let us get some real world perspective, about what is insane. Cancelling JV Sports is insane, because it is so unpopular to do so. It is insane because it pulls the wrath of the voters down on the heads of the elected school board administrators that want to get re-elected.

The root of juvenile crime is not in the loss of after school activities, the root of the problem is in the hands of the parents. It is NOT the responsibility of taxpayers to fund JV Sports at the expense of critical education or the teachers that provide it. Again, parental responsibility has to be the paramount concern.

“Idle hands ARE the devil's workshop and it is downright unholy to restrict a child's ability to exert physical fitness and bask in the life lessons that may be the foundation of their lives” ….. Unholy, you say, Ralph? OK, if you want to use theology as a weapon, then let’s pass some of that financial responsibility to the thousands of churches in this town. Give the churches, the golden opportunity to really give back to the community by donating some of their tithings' into JV Sports. Yes, let “God” provide, via the churches.

How about this for an innovative idea, especially for Kern County; teach non English speaking children to actually speak English. Teach those who only know “Ebonics’” a.k.a., ghetto garble, to speak correct and proper English. That is more crucial to getting a job later on, than JV Sports.

Oh, and by the way, teach the merits of American culture and national security, as of January 20^th, 2009, our society desperately needs it.

Ideas of KHSD

Recently, Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler shared rather curious ideas to assuage the current high school budget crisis. By suggesting teachers take a 5% pay cut, Mr. Mettler seems to be utilizing a negotiating strategy on his own accord and without the approval of the rest of the board. The strategy works like this: if he threatens a 5% pay cut now, then teachers will be happy with no pay cut, instead of with the adjustments they’re negotiating.

Before addressing Mr. Mettler’s ideas directly, my first suggestion to the budget crisis is to eliminate the health care benefits for the board members. The board members have full time professional careers wherein they receive their health care benefits. The benefits paid for by the KHSD are unnecessary and would save the district a bundle. Now, on to the topic at hand.

Mr. Mettler’s first suggestion is to reduce teacher pay by 5% to save junior varsity athletics. Mr. Mettler seems to equate saving JV athletics to saving education. Not surprisingly, some coaches and parents decry the loss of JV athletics, claiming it’s the only reason their kids go to school. While that same argument has been legitimately made for students in every other extra-curricular or co-curricular program, it would appear that the message Mr. Mettler is sending, or its underlying subtext, is that JV sports means more to students, parents and taxpayers than does classroom education.

I would like to offer an alternative idea before the July 2, 8:30AM Board of Education meeting occurs, where this topic will be further discussed.

I suggest eliminating all athletics programs. They aren’t necessary for raising API scores, passing the CAHSEE, developing “college readiness,” or developing critical thinking skills in an English, Math, or Science class (that’s the part of school that matters—the “school” part). I’ve read the research proving that participation in the Performing Arts improves tests scores, cognitive abilities, and success in the workplace; I haven’t found similar data for sports. And isn’t the job of a school to have, well, you know, school? Cutting the financial incentive of the professional educator in order to preserve JV athletics is potentially detrimental to the classroom experience (again, the “school” part of school). Imagine instructors, struggling to pay their bills, watching sophomores and juniors interrupting their classes by leaving early so they can run off to a JV game at the direct expense of that instructor.

Second, Mr. Mettler suggests cutting teacher pay by 5% to save summer school. Summer school is a credit recovery program, offering students who have failed core classes (required for graduation) another opportunity to pass them. However, these students have ample opportunity to pass their classes during the regular school year. Our high schools have a bewildering number of programs to intervene and remediate and ensure student success during the school year. Presently, schools are going so far as to offer online classes to at-risk students who previously would have been expelled. In other words, students really have to try hard to fail. With the federal NCLB mandate, the pressure on teachers to improve graduation rates, and the instructors’ willingness to help each student with the philosophy that “failure is not an option,” it almost seems to take more effort to fail than to pass a class these days.

Understanding that some students prefer summer school (for example, to get the PE requirement out of the way so they can take Drama during the regular year) and with apologies to them, I nonetheless believe that we should eliminate summer school completely. Without summer school as an option, fewer students would choose to fail and grades in general would rise. If high school is a microcosm of the adult word, then eliminating the lack of consequences for a student’s actions might redefine school as a place of academic rigor instead of a free teenage daycare system for the few students who prefer to make up their classes in the summer.

I believe Mr. Mettler’s tactic in bringing this up may be a ploy to affect contract negotiations (something with which no other board member appears to agree). And yet, I also know Mr. Mettler should begin with understanding or defining the school’s purpose. Shouldn’t the message to parents be “your kids will be succeeding in the classroom, working rigorously on academics, training for the university or workplace, and all of this will occur under the supervision of a highly qualified, credentialed, highly trained, and highly degreed educator, because that’s what school is for”? In the classroom, the student is the one who is learning to think, speak, read, and write as an independent adult under the tutelage of a highly credentialed, degreed, and trained professional. At the end of the day, isn’t that all that matters, or at least all that’s required of a school?

If the board says the tens of millions we thought were in reserves aren’t really there and President Obama’s federal stimulus package of even more tens of millions of dollars doesn’t really exist, then I can acknowledge that we all should share the responsibility getting through this very difficult time. It would be hard, but I understand that all of us—executives, directors, and everyone across the board (no pun intended)—need to take one for the team. But for Mr. Mettler (on his own and without the support of his fellow board members) to say that professional classroom instructors should be devalued to save a JV sport—well, that is a suggestion which sends a very disconcerting message to the community, and should give us all pause as to how it will directly and destructively affect the social, economic, and political future of us all.

Introduction to Terrorism Course at Bakersfield College Delano Campus This Fall

Some say if you constantly predict doom, someday you will be a prophet. But for many, the reality of another terrorist attack like that which resulted in the World Trade Center’s demise on September 11, 2001 is not a matter of if, but when.

Addressing the reality of terrorism is the goal of a new class at Bakersfield College. In Introduction to Terrorism, class discussions will center on defining terrorism, the history and beginnings of modern terrorism, international and domestic terrorism, the United States response to post-9-11 terrorism, as well as prevention and response to weapons of mass destruction.

Starting with the fall 2009 semester, Bakersfield College criminal justice instructor Chuck Feer will be teaching Introduction to Terrorism as a Special Topics in Criminal Justice (Crim B55) at the College’s Delano Campus. Bakersfield College’s Delano Campus is located at 1450 Timmons Avenue in Delano.

“The battle against terrorism cannot be won by government alone,” explained Feer. “We, as active citizens, must be vigilant, know what to look for, and be confidant when we call law enforcement to report our concerns and suspicions.”

In addition to learning why terrorists hate the United States, what they have done in the past and what they may do in the future, Feer’s class will help students develop a greater understanding of world geography, religion and recent global political and social events.

Feer has been an instructor of criminal justice at Bakersfield College for 11 years. He recently completed anti-terrorism training through the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance as well as several classes from FEMA on weapons of mass destruction. Feer holds a jurist doctor degree from Western State University and a Master of Public Administration Degree from California State University, Bakersfield.

East Bakersfield High School - Class of 79

The East Bakersfield High School Class of 1979 is planning our 30 year reunion and looking for classmates. Please visit our website at www.ebhs79.com.

The Little Band that Could…And Still Can

Once described as the “Little Band that could,” Stockdale Christian School’s Advanced Band continues to amaze music educators throughout California.

The band, continuing to demonstrate instrumental ability far above most kids their age, brought home another 1^st place trophy at a recent competition at Biola University. The 5^th - 8^th Grade group, competing against high school competition, has prompted Biola University Band Professor, Robert Feller, to declare, “This could be one of the best, if not the best, young band program in the United States”.

Over the last five years, the band has continued to receive rave reviews for their musicianship. Over the years, many of the band members have auditioned and qualified for county, Southern California and state honor bands. During this period, over 20 students have auditioned and been accepted into the California State Honor Band, with eight being selected as First Chair. Many of Stockdale’s Graduates move on to Bakersfield Christian High School. At least three of BCHS graduates have continued on to receive music scholarships in college..

SCS’ Band program includes Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced and Jazz Bands. All students must take private lessons as they progress through a music curriculum entitled “Music workouts” developed by Band Director Gary Scudder. Mr. Scudder has an M.A. in music performance and provides many of the lessons. Mr. Scudder is recognized as one of the premier band directors and teachers, and is always in demand as a consultant and speaker at various music conferences.

A highlight of the Band’s accomplishments was an invitation to play in Carnegie Hall in 2003. Another trip may be scheduled in the future. To commemorate their performances the band records a CD each year that are very popular with the students, parents and other music lovers.

The Band also hosts an annual concert at the school to raise funds to support their efforts through the “Friends of the Band” program, which is designed to encourage local companies, music supporters and community friends to help “Keep the Music Going”. Contact the school office for information.

Stockdale Christian offers a summer band camp for local music students beginning June 1^st - June 14^th, for registration and information call 327-1353 or 327-3927.

Beginning Band 12:30-2:00 M-F $150

Intermediate Band 2:30-5:00 M-F $250

Advanced Band 2:30-5:00 M-F $250

Court & Community School Graduation

Court and Community Schools, operated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), will conduct graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m. on May 30 at Bakersfield High School’s Harvey Auditorium, 1241 G Street. The number of high school seniors taking part in the ceremonies will be 206 out of a graduating class of 265 from five geographic Court and Community School sites in Kern County.

KCSOS Court and Community Schools offer options that improve student safety, encourage learning, reduce classroom disruption and help reduce Kern County’s dropout rate. Campuses are located on 16 sites in Bakersfield, Delano, Kernville, Lake Isabella,

Mojave, Ridgecrest and Taft. During the 2007-08 school year (the most recent figures),

KCSOS provided education to 9,335 elementary through high school students who were incarcerated, in juvenile court programs, expelled, on probation or at serious risk of dropping out of school.

2008-09 KCSOS Court and Community School Graduates

Bakersfield

Marissa Alaniz, Hector Alatorre, Norma Alvarado, Monique Alvarez, Vicente Alvarez, Monica Ambriz, Jamie Amos, Donald Anderson, Jose Angel, Zachary Anthony, Ashley Aragon, Adam Arellano, Stephanie Arreguin, Eduardo Arrellanes, Erik Atkinson, Rogelio Avina, Cinthia Ayala, Christopher Ayers, Jasmine Baktiar, Tylor Ball, Alicia Barrera, Daniel Barrera, John Baston, John Beltran, Paul Regal Bernal, Darryl Bogan, Julia Brewster, Michael Bugarin, Inty Buthdy, Angel Camacho, Brian Cano, Destinee Cartagena, Zachery Carter, Benjamin Cashpal, Israel Cashpal, Luis Castro, Angelica Chavarria, Jessica Christopher, Joe Cisneros, Emily Clara, Elbis Cortes, Michael Craig, Marcel Cyprian, Daryl Daniel, Araceli Davila, Sabrina De La Rosa, Marco Delgadillo, Eddie Delgado, Hector Delgado, Jorge Delgado, Breeanna Demaree, Jesus R. Diaz, Edwin Diaz, Brittany Dickerson, Jacob Dijkstra, Michael Dolbec, Patricia Dunbar, Miguel Duran, Alonzo Elenes, Shyan Erwin, Iva Evans, Jaime Fernandez, Tanisha Fields, Manuel Figueroa, Harold Fisher, Starla Fitzgerald, Antonio Flores, Cauthemoc Flores, Edward Foster, Starlah Fowler, Angelique Gage, Lana Gallardo, Jorge Garcia,

Mike Garcia, Marco Garcilazo, Christina Garza, Tito Gomez, Michael Gonzales, Robert William Ray Gonzales, Filiberto Gonzalez, Magdalena Gonzalez, Miguel Gonzalez, Sergio Guerra, Roger Guevarra, Justin Gutierrez, Ashley Guzman, Michael Hankins, Lawresha Hardin, Art Harris, Madison Hedge, Eden Hernandez, Edgar Hernandez, Lisvet Hernandez, Michael Hernandez, Sandra Hernandez, Jimil Herron, Jeff Hill, Tommy Hunley, Zaeba Islam, Crystal Jackson, David Dillon Jenkinson, Yolanda Juarez, Hannah Keller, Andre Kellybrew, Alexander Knox, Jereme Kotenski, Dillon Lacoy, Alphonse Laforet, Gildardo Leal, Pauline Leos, Mario Lizarraga, Aldo Lobos, Patrick Longoria, Cesar Lopez, Derrick Lopez, Rocio Lopez, Rodolfo Lopez, Michael Lozano, Domingo Lucero, Leah Luna, Eddie Madera, Letysia Martinez, Mario Martinez, Luis Massie, Lacey McCormick, Michael Mejia, Miriam Mijares, Isaias Montes, Fernando Morales, Richard Morales, Eduardo Moreno, Mario Moreno, Rico Morning, Rachel Morris, Keith Morrow, Matthew Moss, Lisarenee Muñoz, Mirella Najera, Vincent Nevarez, Christopher Norman, Rayon Norwood, Leonel Nunez, Miguel Oliveros, Jason Palmer, Anthony Park, Alanzo Patterson, Lupe Paz, Cecilia Perez, Kent Perez, Nathan Deon Perry, Parris Peterson, Jamaal Phillips, Travon Pitts, Joshua Pope, Jamel Portis, Joshua Provencio, Franklin Pung, Eric Pytlak, Lorena Quezada, Marco Quintero, Annabel Quiroz, Miguel Ramirez, Jose Ramos, Christian Resendiz, Albert Reyes, Maria Reyes,Christopher Rios, Andrew Rivera, Ricardo Rivera, Shaya Roam, Steven Roberson,

Fredrick Robinson, Jose A. Robles, Jesus Robles Miranda, Christopher Rodriguez, Sabrina Rodriguez, Terah Rossiter, Cecilia Ruiz, Fernando Ruiz, Jose Ruiz, Beatriz Salas, Jacquelynn Salas, Angel Salazar, Hector Salazar, Christopher Salinas, Nicholas Salinas, Adriana Sanchez, Andrew Sanchez, Hugo Sanchez, Nancy Sanchez, Pedro Sandoval, Brandon Sanford, Isamar Santiago, Robert Santos, Jeremy Saunders, Lucio Sedeno, Joshua Shank, Tiffany Shannon, Haylee Shull-Hyde, Aundre Simpkins, Ruth Smith, Timothy Smith, Jose Soto, Gloria Thomas, Leonardo Tobon, Francisco Torres, Juan Tovar, Mykail Turner, Israel Valencia, Kevin Valencia, Jennifer Valenzuela, Patrick Vargas, Xsavier Villa, Humberto Villegas, Alejandro Vizcarra, TaShawn Walker, Melissa Walton, Jeutisha Webb, Randall Wehrmanm, Ciara Williams, Jarrett Williams, Zackhary Williams, Makayla Williams, Callie Willoughby, Ashley Diane Wood, Breeana Wright, Vernon Wright, Christyna Ybarra and Antonio Zavala

Delano

Stephen Juarez, Lydia Lambert, Veronica Maldonado, Osmar Paniagua, Oralie Rodriguez, Monica Salazar and Hector Torres

Lake Isabella

Daniel Bull, Cory Fine, Kelly LuJan, Dazi Miller, David Mitchell and Reyna Watkins

East Kern

David Benzie, Luke Cox, Hector Garcia, Kirt Hulsey, Phillip Ice, Erica Jimenez, Lindsey McMillin, Leanisha Muhummad, Patricia Rico, Ruben Ruiz, Carol Schaefer, William Shores and Dylan Welch

West Kern

Thomas Clevenger, Sonny Henning, Kasey Ibarra, Stephanie Jordan, Jordan Payne, Courtney Price, Samantha Price, Lupita Ramirez, Matthew Robinson and Arianna Shwind

###

Ridgecrest pair tops in science fair

Burroughs High School sophomores Amy Lee and Thomas Wooding from Ridgecrest topped the list of Kern County students earning awards at the 58th annual California Science Fair which concluded May 19 in Los Angeles. Lee and Wooding, who did very well by earning second place honors at the Kern County Science Fair in March, took their project to the top in the state competition winning in the senior division Mammalian Biology category with their entry, “Lead Bullets Poisoned the Condors, Are Grizzly Bears Next?”

The Ridgecrest winners showed how animals killed by lead bullets were poisoning condors and grizzly bears who fed on their remains. “We simulated a condor and bear stomach, used chemicals to show if poison was present after the introduction of lead and copper, allowed a digestion period of five hours and used filtering paper to determine the results,” Lee said.

Lee and Wooding were the top finishers among 18 Kern County students who earned honors for their mathematical and scientific methodology skills at the California Science Center competition. Warren Jr. High seventh-grader Irfan Habib finished third in the junior division Biochemistry/Molecular Biology category, Standard Middle School seventh-grader Lily Denesha was fourth in the Product Science category and Stockdale High Senior Nicholas Okita earned fourth in senior division Chemistry. Kern County students also received eight honorable mention awards and six others were recipients of California Science Fair Special Awards.

Kern County had 59 students presenting 55 projects in a field that included 960 of the state’s top middle and senior high school students. Those from Kern who qualified to compete in the California Science Fair scored among the top projects at the March 17 Kern County Science Fair, administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office.

California Science Fair competitors came from 35 counties, entered projects in 24 categories ranging from aerodynamics/hydrodynamics to zoology, and winners took home a combined total of $50,000 in cash prizes.

Kern County students who received awards at the California Science Fair, their schools and the category they entered include:

First Place — Amy Lee and Thomas Wooding, Burroughs High — Mammalian Biology

Third Place — Irfan Habib, Warren Jr. High — Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Fourth Place — Lily Denesha, Standard Middle School — Product Science; Nicholas Okita, Stockdale High — Chemistry

Honorable Mention — Michelle Stanley, Tevis Jr. High — Applied Mechanics and Structures; Danielle Behrens, Stockdale Christian School — Chemistry; Clayton Skousen, Desert High — Chemistry; Alexandra Vaughan, Stockdale Elementary — Earth Science; Matthew Nickell, Rio Bravo-Greeley School — Electronics and Electromagnetics; Rohan Sharma, Warren Jr. High — Environmental Science; Mark Canning, Desert High — Physics and Astronomy; Laura Jennings, El Tejon Middle — Plant Biology

California Science Fair 2009 Special Awards

Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Achievement in Science Award ($500) — Suevana Ayala, Jefferson Middle; Madeline Atchison, St. Francis Parish and Sarah Stauffer, Jefferson Middle School

Science Buddies Clever Scientist Award ($30) — Darby Adler, Independence Elementary and Shreya Banerjee, Reagan School

Society of Petroleum Engineers Superior Technical Achievement Award ($300) — Nicholas Okita, Stockdale High

Educator of the month

Mrs. Moore teaches science at Lakeside school. She is very dedicated. My child didn’t like science, but she loves it now because of Mrs. Moore’s creative and practical examples. Mrs. Moore has ways of explaining concepts that everyone would understand. Not only my daughter learned science but also learned to be responsible and hardworking in Mrs. Moore’ class. When I praised Mrs. Moore, she humbly responded, “I pray to God for creativity and patience everyday.”

Students bank on speaking

Thorner School fourth-grader Stephen Bush, Old River Elementary fifth-grader Acquila Maliyekkal and Endeavour Elementary sixth-grader Olivia Belda emerged as Bank of America Essay and Speech Contest winners among 25 of the best essayist-speakers who competed in the annual event held May 7 at University Square in Bakersfield. Each convinced the judges they should be their grade level champion by delivering a three-to-five minute speech from an essay they had previously written. Fourth-graders had “Why is Volunteerism Important” as their topic. “Should Community Service be a Requirement for High School Graduation” was the topic for fifth and sixth-graders.

Approximately 400 Kern County students had written classroom essays on the topics. Each county English and language arts region could nominate only one classroom essay per grade level. The top 25 essayists, as determined by a panel of judges from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ (KCSOS) Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability department, were picked to compete in the speech portion of the contest. Bank of America’s Central California Market and KCSOS sponsor the competition, which awards savings bonds in the amounts of $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third.

Each of the three grade level winners had a unique way of addressing their topics.

Bush compared volunteerism to the makeup of a beach. As he put it, “I am one grain of sand, but if there weren’t many like me there wouldn’t be a beach.”

Maliyekkal referred to community service as a feel good experience.

“If you want to lift yourself up — lift up your community,” he said.

Belda felt success in life was an opportunity to share the wealth

"Community service is a great way to help others in need. By earning more in

your chosen field you have a chance to give more to your community,” Belda

said.

2009 Bank of America Essay/Speech Contest Finalists

4th Grade

1st — Stephen Bush, Thorner School

2nd — Lexi Keene, Reagan School

3rd — Natasha Bramer, Columbia Elementary

5th Grade

1st — Acquila Maliyekkal, Old River Elementary

2nd — Mikayla Regier, Discovery Elementary

3rd — Manooshree Patel, Reagan School

6th Grade

1st — Olivia Belda, Endeavour Elementary

2nd — Natalie Moss, St. Francis Parish School

3rd — Nia Brazzell, Stockdale Elementary

2009 Bank of America Speech Contest Competitors (not by order of finish)

4th Grade

Natasha Bramer, Columbia Elementary

Stephen Bush, Thorner School

Nick Clarksean, St. Francis Parish School

Ryan Crowley, Stockdale Elementary

Lexi Keene, Reagan School

Jayden Lotz, Endeavour Elementary

Claire Murray, Patriot Elementary

Joshua Svihovec, McAuliffe School

Cy Williams, Veterans Elementary

5thth Grade

Matt Chaffee, McAuliffe School

John Irwin, Columbia Elementary

Kaley Lovio, Patriot Elementary

Madalyn Luter, Veterans Elementary

Acquila Maliyekkal, Old River Elementary

Manooshree Patel, Reagan School

Mikayla Regier, Discovery Elementary

Joseph Rivera, St. Francis Parish School

6th Grade

Olivia Belda, Endeavour Elementary

Nia Brazzell, Stockdale Elementary

Amrit Dhillon, Berkshire Elementary

Natalie Moss, St. Francis Parish School

Annie Murrell, Thorner School

Grace Park, Discovery Elementary

Julie Pascual, Norris Middle

Matt Wade, McAuliffe School

CSUB graduate publishes his first book, Gino the Minnow

Scott Wolford graduated from California State University Bakersfield in 1989 with a bachelors degree in Physical Education. He swam for the Roadrunners. He enjoyed the local lakes and headed for the coast to enjoy California’s water areas whenever possible. After graduated, he earned his masters in Physical Education in 1990 at Florida International University in Miami. Upon graduating he worked in California and St. Augustine for over six years at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind as the recreation manager for the visually impaired. He was raised in the Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan for the beaches that are close by. He worked as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan and spent numerous hours on the beach. Scott grew up with a love for nature and continues to share this love with a series of children's books that encourage us all to do our part in helping keep the environment clean.

Gino the Minnow, is Scott's first published book and it focuses on clean water areas. The hardcover book is beautifully illustrated and shows how one little fish can make a world of difference. His next two books will discuss ways to cleaner land and air qualities and what we can all do to help. $1 will be donated to non-profit organizations who focus on cleaner environments.
Thousands upon thousands of miles of coastal and water masses enrich this beautiful nation of ours. Water is one of the most important natural resources that we have. Here in California we all should be truly grateful having such beautiful beaches near by to enrich our lives. All of us need to take care of our water. Not only for ourselves, but for wildlife and future generations to enjoy. Millions of tons of trash are thrown into the water areas each and every year. This trash can take years to decompose, if ever.

A few facts on the time it takes for some materials to fully decompose:
Paper: 2-8 months, Plastic Coated Cartons: 5 years, Plastic Bags: 10-20 years,
Cigarette Butts: up to 12 years, Tin Cans: 50-100 years,
Aluminum Cans:80-100 years, Batteries: 100 years,
Plastic Six Pack Holder Rings: 450 years, Glass Bottles: 1 million years
Plastic Soda Bottles: Forever

As you can see, it takes some materials a very, very long time to decompose, some last forever. Some people may think that it is much easier to simply toss the trash wherever they are, instead of disposing of it properly. Improper disposal of trash has many bad side effects: harm to wildlife. Some creatures eat the litter thinking it is food. The litter causes damages to the creatures' digestive systems. Also, litter can get tangled in the fins or legs of various animal life, which can cut off circulation or other damage to the their tissues. Fishing line and plastic six pack holder rings are the main culprit in these types of damage to wildlife. Numerous injuries on human life are experienced each year as well. Broken glass bottles, aluminum cans, and other forms of litter can cause havoc on ones' body. The water can be contaminated from litter tossed into the water areas, which makes the water harmful to consume or to swim in for humans and wildlife.
Do you want to see the same trash at your favorite water spot, year after year? What can you do about this problem of litter in our water areas? When you go to the water areas pack for the outing as light as possible. Carry with you as few amounts of future trash items as possible. Several suggestions include using cloth napkins, clean towels and rags, stainless steel silverware, glass or pottery dishes and cups, rechargeable batteries, and a thermos for beverages. Bring a garbage bag with you for all of your trash items, as there may not be any trash cans in the location that you will be going or it may already be filled. Dispose of all of your trash properly. Used fishing line should be recycled. If you see trash left behind by others, please do your part in cleaning up the water areas, by picking it up. Be careful when picking up trash. You should wear proper gloves.
Go for a nice walk along the water. Bring a garbage bag with you, to allow you to pick up any trash that you may see along the way. You’ll get some great exercise, see some beautiful sights, spend quality time with those special to you, and leave a clean water area, which everyone can enjoy. Join an organized beach cleanup group. Start your own beach cleanup group. Do your own beach cleanup each and every time you visit your favorite water area.
Especially with the high price of gas, why not stay close to home and enjoy your local beaches? For more information on ordering his book, Gino the Minnow or helping keep the water areas clean, please look on www.ginotheminnow.com. Scott would like to hear from his friends and others who share a devotion to our environment.

Math a 'Field Day' for students

       Although it is not scored as a team competition, Murray Middle School of Ridgecrest distinguished itself with 10 category finalists and Rosedale Middle School and La Viña Middle School of Delano each had eight finalists among approximately 800 students from 31 schools who competed at the 39th annual Kern County Middle School Mathematics Field Day held at Ridgeview High School in Bakersfield today (May 2).
      The competition, sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Westchester Kiwanis Club, Bakersfield Math Council, California Math Council, Kern County Science Foundation American Petroleum Institute-San Joaquin Valley Chapter and Ridgeview High, is a fun day of problem solving games and competitions. Some have playful names such as “leap frog” and “mad hatter.” Still others offer the flavor of athletic competition with names such as “power relay,” “circuit training,” “individual medley” and “triathlon games.”
       “Questions are written to the California Content Standards,” said Kathy Hill, event coordinator. “So, students can prepare for Mathematics Field Day while preparing for the California Standards test at the same time. And the competition is fun for everyone.”
       Sixth, seventh, eighth-graders or those in an algebra class for which they will receive high school credit compete in a series of written events testing their math skills individually and in teams of two, three, four and five by grade level.

2009 Kern County Middle School Mathematics Field Day results

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — Top Students from each School
(School, Student, Grade)
Actis Jr. High — Jenny An, 7th; Dylan Grimes, 8th; Caitlin Williams, 8th
Alicante Ave. — Vanessa Diaz, 6th
Almond Tree Middle — Omar Martinez, 6th; Arsenio Chaidez, 7th; Jestoni Caban, 8th
Cecil Ave. Middle — Ivan Ayon, 6th ; Nadia Gapur, 7th; Juan Cerda, 8th
Chipman Jr. High — Phoebe Contreras-Jones, 7th; Brianna Wright, 8th; Alex Pearson, 8th
Discovery Elementary — Tyler Burnes, 6th; Keagan Reeves, 6th
Downtown — Noah Finch, 6th; Marvin Fuller III, 7th; Madison Robledo, 8th
Edison Middle — Marcus Rivera, 6th; Christian Miranda, 7th; Salvador Paz, 7th; Sarah Fedhel, 8th
Emerson Middle — Johnny Ceja, 6th; Susan Lee, 7th; Jessica Reyes, 8th
Franklin — Max Eldredge, 6th
Fruitvale Jr. High — Michael Summers, 6th; Alex Winger, 7th; Lyly Huynh, 8th
Independence Elementary — Alex Galland, 6th
Jefferson Middle — Michael Blanchard, 7th; Jose Castro, 8th
La Viña Middle — Mary Munoz, 6th; Jasmine Paraiso, 7th; Richmond Prado, 8th
McKee Middle — Oscar Goldamez, 6th; Steve Ramos, 7th; David Tirado, 8th
Monroe Middle — Van Burkhardt, 6th; Skylar Muse, 7th; Kendrick Cowie, 8th
Mountain View Middle — Noemi Lopez Parra, 7th; Chris Leal, 8th
Murray Middle — Jennifer Kandell, 6th; Zach Flatebo, 7th; Rebecca Kandell, 8th
Myrtle Ave. — Cristal Garcia, 6th
Ollivier Middle — Esmeralda Rojas, 7th; AaronMendez, 8th
Owens Intermediate — Alex Burdick, 6th
Rosedale Middle — Shlok Patel, 7th; Elaine Bae, 7th; Andrew Nicholas-Melton, 7th; Derek Frost, 8th
Semitropic — Joshua Gereke, 7th; Ivette Ruiz, 8th
Stiern — Mickeylinda Hernandez, 6th; Anthony Camacho, 7th; Anthony Ochoa, 8th
Stine — Cheyenne Rodgers, 6th
Stockdale Elementary — Glenn Golla, 6th
Van Horn— A.J. Ong, 6th
Wallace Middle — Braeden Grimsby, 6th; David Powell, 7th; Weston Williams, 8th
Washington Jr. High — Seressa Guzman , 6th; Katlyn Johnson, 7th; Baylee Wickham, 8th

POWER RELAYS — 6th Grade
1st — John Schad, Hannah Van Nevel, Samuel Kelley, Chase May, Matthew Decker — Murray Middle
2nd —Tyler Burnes, Isaac Trevino, Keegan Reeves, Brock Hallum, Kirstin Catapang — Discovery Elementary
3rd —Victoria Boyd, Ali Vaughn, Kayla Rogers, Tiffany Yen, Glenn Golla — Stockdale Elementary

POWER RELAYS — 7th Grade
1st — Oswaldo Marquez, Phoebe Contreras, Cole Frayne, Nick Romero, Caroline Hendricks — Chipman Jr. High
2nd — Charlyne Nicolas, Anthony Abad, Diana Caliboso, Bryan Osario, Ashley Stebbins — La Viña Middle
3rd — Jmil Kim, Rachael Song, Taylee Helms, Graham Mattox, Julianna Mullen — Fruitvale Jr. High

POWER RELAYS — 8th Grade
1st — Jed Caragan, Jacob Elliott, Alex Pearson, Paulette Rodriguez, Brianna Wright — Chipman Jr. High
2nd — Michelle Rivas, Elaine Bae, Taylor Winter, Samuel Oberlies, Derek Frost — Rosedale Middle
3rd — Arielle Rey, Adriana Zerbinu, Diana Forbes, Alyssa Bloomberg, Lara Luu; Murray Middle

LEAP FROG —- 6th Grade
1st — Alex Burdick, Maria Torres — Owens Intermediate
2nd — LeCheng Tong, Keani Garner — Stockdale Elementary
3rd — Elizabeth Feist, Annie Ewbank — Murray Middle

LEAP FROG — 7th Grade
1st — Christian Chavez, Shiv Patel; Rosedale Middle
2nd — Evamae Bayudan, Jasmine Paraiso; La Viña Middle
3rd — Esmeralda Rojas, Miguel Ochoa; Ollivier Middle

LEAP FROG —- 8th Grade
1st — Caitlin Williams, Dylan Grimes — Actis Jr. High and Dylan Karakas, Zach Flaten — Murray
Middle
2nd —Chance Marchini, Claudio Carbajall — Chipman Jr. High and Aaron Mendez, Angel Lara —
Ollivier Middle
3rd — Jessa Millwee, Emily Cruz — Fruitvale Jr. High School and Mariela Vega, Kassandra Castruita
— Mt. View Middle

6th GRADE CIRCUIT TRAINING
1st — Braeden Grimsby, Anthony Seldon —Wallace Middle
2nd — Jordan Joke, Haley Raichelson — Independence Elementary
3rd — Nicholas Le, Eddie Carranza — Owens Intermediate

7th and 8th GRADE (combined) CIRCUIT TRAINING
1st — Kevin Quintana, Anhkhoi Vu; Murray Middle
2nd — Alma Almanza, Jose Castro — Thomas Jefferson Middle
3rd —Aaron Taylor, Nina Mercado — Rosedale Middle

MAD HATTER — 6th Grade
1st — Julia Castro, Natalie Rosica — Discovery Elementary and Mary Munoz, Areli Alvarez — La
Viña Middle
2nd — Cheyenne Rodgers, Rebecca Oberg — Stine School
3rd — Hannah Johnson, Jennifer Kandell — Murray Middle

MAD HATTER — 7th Grade
1st — Saleh Hassan, Justin Picar — La Viña Middle
2nd — Isabella Busacca, Andrew Melton — Rosedale Middle
3rd — Raymond Osorno, Arsenio Chaidez — Almond Tree Middle

MAD HATTER — 8th Grade
1st — Jestoni Coban, Ariene Gregorio — Almond Tree Middle and Jared Parks, Chris Hopwood —
Fruitvale Jr. High
2nd — Richmond Prado, Arden Pagdilao — La Viña Middle and Cesar Lopez, Bryan Hernandez
Washington Middle
3rd — Jessica Reyes, Melissa Gonzalez — Emerson Middle and Josiah Warkentin, Dominic Tarraoza
— Murray Middle

SCHOOL PROBLEM SOLVING
1st — Joseph Pappe, Franklin Floresca, Zach Flatebo, Rebecca Kandell— Murray Middle
2nd — Brandon Cheong, Kiefer Park, Allen Zeng, Justin Mai — Rosedale Middle
3rd — Stephanie Webb, Rodrigo Miranda, Katelyn Johnson, Brea Wickham — Washington Middle

SUDOKU — 6th Grade
1st — Francisco Mora — Myrtle Avenue Middle
2nd — Wesley Cane — Wallace Middle
3rd — Pablo Orozco — Almond Tree Middle

SUDOKU— 7th Grade
1st — Alicia Vidales — Thomas Jefferson Middle
2nd — Susan Lee — Emerson Middle
3rd — Diane Ariaga — La Viña Middle

SUDOKU— 8th Grade
1st — Esmeralda Castro — Thomas Jefferson Middle
2nd — Eduardo Hernandez — Washington Middle
3rd — Mallory Wells — Rosedale Middle

TRIATHLON GAMES — 6th GRADE
1st — Bailey Hallford; Fruitvale Jr. High
2nd — Eisen Ipac; La Viña Middle
3rd — Max Eldredge — Franklin School

TRIATHLON GAMES — 7th GRADE
1st — Alex Winger — Fruitvale Jr. High
2nd — Franco Castelo — Chipman Jr. High
3rd — Caleb Quitoriano — La Viña Middle

TRIATHLON GAMES — 8th GRADE
1st — Baylee Wickham; Washington Middle
2nd — Elijah Baier — Chipman Jr. High
3rd — Adam Johnson — Rosedale Middle

TAX COLLECTOR — 6th GRADE
1st — Jordan Jose —Van Horn School
2nd — Myka Drake — Endeavour Elementary
3rd — Evan Burkhardt; Monroe Middle

TAX COLLECTOR — 7th GRADE
1st — Marvin Fuller — Downtown Elementary
2nd — Josue Cruz — Ollivier Middle
3rd — Ashton Hyman — Fruitvale Jr. High

TAX COLLECTOR — 8th GRADE
1st — Tyler Starr — Chipman Jr. High
2nd —Ynessa Claudio — Ollivier Middle
3rd — Meziah Cristobal — Actis Jr. High

TEAM RELAYS — 6th Grade
1st — Destiny Reyes, Maria Torres, Alex Burdick, Lesly Diaz — Owens Intermediate
2nd — Haley Raichelson, Jordan Joke, Stephen Myrr, Fredrik Seber — Independence Elementary
3rd — Leah Merete, Tue Le, Cheyenne Rodgers, David Chambers — Stine School

TEAM RELAYS — 7th Grade
1st — David Powell, Jill Schulz, Quinn Bohn, Breana Wethington — Wallace Middle
2nd —Aaron Taylor, Allen Zeng, Elaine Bae, Mitchell Grove — Rosedale Middle
3rd — Miguel Ochoa, Esmeralda Rojas, Cecilia Torres, Julianna Vasquez — Ollivier Middle

TEAM RELAYS — 8th Grade
1st — Baylee Wickham, Stephanie Webb, Rodrigo Miranda, Eduardo Hernandez — Washington Middle
2nd — Anhkhoi Vu, Kevin Quintana, Rebecca Kandell, Joseph Pappe — Murray Middle
3rd — Lyly Huynh, Craig Bailey, Jasdeep Gill, Heather Hansen — Fruitvale Jr. High

Kern students make California history

Twenty-one students from Kern County schools achieved honors at the History Day in California competition which concluded May 3 in Sacramento. The annual competition focused on the national theme “The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies” and brought together those students who had won History Day competitions in their own home counties to challenge for the title of state champion. Kern County students earned the right to compete by winning in their category at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools-sponsored Kern County History Day on March 7 in Bakersfield. Kern had state winners in three separate categories, and they will represent the state at National History Day from June 14-18 at the University of Maryland.

Kern County’s History Day in California 2009 Winners (*indicates winner)

*Senior Individual Documentary — “Silently Leaving a Legacy: The Actions of Chiune Sugihara,” Sarah Moore — Centennial High
*Junior Individual Exhibit — “Mother Teresa: A Light in the Darkness,” Anne Bardet — Fruitvale Jr. High
*Junior Group Performance — “Sylvia Mendez: The Legacy of a Young Girl’s Fight for Equality in Education,” Marissa Manos, Ramneet Sahota, Bianca Hinojosa, Calvin Laverty and Sameen Bramer — Fruitvale Jr. High
* Junior Group Performance — “Elie Wiesel: A Survivor’s Legacy, A Messenger for Mankind,” Aaliyah Beed, Richard Sottile, Dylan Gonzales, Gabriela Forter and Madison Olinger — Fruitvale Jr. High
Alternate-Junior Group Performance — “Stepping Out of His Shadow,” Moriah Franco, Annie Murrell, Quichaye Hicks, Niko Gonzales and Alexis Aguirre — Thorner School
Alternate-Junior Group Exhibit — “John Walsh: A Legacy for America’s Children,” Amy Williams and MaKay Moss — Columbia Elementary
Alternate-Junior Individual Web site — “Lyndon B. Johnson and His Dream for America,” Brittany Louey — Fruitvale Jr. High
Alternate-Junior Individual Performance — “Jan Scruggs: Healing a Nation,” Andrew Kerwin — Fruitvale Jr. High

History Day in California is sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and Kern County History Day was sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and the law firm of Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb & Kimball, LLP.

BC Student Government Holds Landmark Elections

For the first time in the history of the Bakersfield College Student Government Association (SGA), the annual elections of the board of directors is being planned and carried out though a partnership with Kern County Elections. In years past, the Bakersfield College SGA has conducted elections via paper ballot and online voting, but organizers of this year’s election sought the partnership following an enlightening presentation at a December conference.

“SGA decided to work with Kern County Elections after attending a workshop at an American Student Government Association in December 2008,” said Justin Salters, vice president of the SGA. “It was suggested as a method to increase voter turnout and make elections on-campus more like general elections students [hopefully] participate in off-campus.”

Kern County Elections has poll workers volunteering to manage the elections, which are taking place in the Campus Center at Bakersfield College on April 29 and 30. Students’ identities will be verified from among a list of registered students before they receive a paper ballot and proceed to one of a handful of private voting stands.

“As SGA Vice President and Chair of the SGA Elections Committee, I am thrilled to have poll workers from Kern County Elections facilitating our elections process,” added Salters. “We are working to create a fair and balanced election process, and bringing in poll workers from outside of the College community goes a great way towards making this happen.”

Also new to the SGA elections this year are two propositions up for approval by the student body.

Proposition 1 proposes increasing the Student Health Services fee to the maximum amount allowed by California state law, effective July 1, 2009, with annual review each June to ensure proper assessment of fees each fiscal year. According to the Proposition 1 language: “the Student Health Fee may be increased each July 1, beginning July 1, 2009. The increased fee shall apply to students registering for classes during the Fall semester following increase. Students shall be assessed a student health fee for each term of enrollment, including the Summer Semester and any additional intersemester terms [that the Kern Community College District and/or Bakersfield College] chooses to offer, up to the limits allowed by California state law.”

“The SGA is expecting that with approval of an increase in student health fees, Bakersfield College will be able to offer a greater amount of services to its students through the Student Health Center on the Panorama Campus and expand services for students attending class at the Delano Center,” said Salters.

Proposition 2 proposes designating the Campus Center area on Bakersfield College’s Panorama Campus as smoke-free. According to the Proposition 2 language, the smoke-free designation would include: “prohibiting the use of any smoking product within the Campus Center and Veteran’s Memorial Plaza. Additionally, upon approval from the College President and Kern Community College District Board of Trustees, a fine equal to $25 may be assessed upon those found in violation of policy, with the collected monies to be deposited to the SB-135 Campus Center Projects account, to be used to fund Campus Center projects and improvements.”

“The SGA is expecting that all fines collected for violating the smoke-free policy would be used for the benefit of the students of Bakersfield College as determined by the SGA,” explained Salters.

As a recommending body of Bakersfield College, the passage of these propositions does not mean they are immediately enforceable, said Dr. Mildred Lovato, vice president of student services at Bakersfield College.

“As a recommending committee, the student body decision on these propositions means they will still have to be investigated and brought before the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees for approval and ratification,” explained Lovato. “Once part of board policy, we can enforce the propositions.”

Two Small Pieces of Glass to Show at Planetarium

Bakersfield College’s William M. Thomas Planetarium has added another show to its Spring 2009 schedule. Two Small Pieces of Glasstraces the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass – using two small pieces of glass – to the launch of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy. The show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.

Each one hour show will begin with a short tour of the evening sky using the planetarium's new Goto Chronos star projector, followed by the 25-minute all-dome presentation of Two Small Pieces of Glass featuring the Thomas Planetarium’s Spitz SciDome projector.

The concept of Two Small Pieces of Glass is that while attending a local star party, two teenage students learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. Their conversation with a local female astronomer enlightens them on the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. The students see how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe.

While looking through the astronomer's telescope, the students, along with the planetarium audience, explore the Galilean Moons, Saturn's rings, and spiral structure of galaxies. During their conversation with the astronomer, they also learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble and many others. Visuals will include actors green screened into a computer graphic star party environment with a variety of telescopes used by amateur astronomers. As the program progresses the show uses video and full dome imagery to present the story of the telescope and the astronomers who used them to make their dramatic discoveries. All skies and full dome video will transport the planetarium audiences to some of the largest observatories in the world, as well as places of historical significance. The soundtrack was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Read more about these shows and get up to date information at the Planetarium’s website: bakersfieldcollege.edu/planetarium.

Tickets are $3 for students and seniors, $5 for adults. Children under age five are not admitted. To purchase tickets, call the Bakersfield College Ticket Office at 395-4326 or bakersfieldcollege.edu/ticketoffice. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Dates and shows are subject to change. Doors open ½ hour before show time and doors will be closed during the one hour program. No late admittance. Shows sell out regularly, so purchase tickets early!

The William M. Thomas Planetarium is located on the second floor, northwest end of the Math Science Building at Bakersfield College.

Nueva High School Wins Model School Award

The Kern High School District’s (KHSD) Nueva Continuation High School has been named a 2009 Model Continuation High School by the California Dept. of Education.

Nueva, located in Lamont, was one of 14 continuation schools recognized as outstanding programs on Wednesday by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

Model schools are honored "because of their exemplary programs that are designed to close the achievement gap, keep kids in school so they can graduate, and adequately prepare them for careers or college,” according to O’Connell.

Continuation high schools serve students age 16 years or older who are deficient in school credits and at risk of not graduating. Continuation schools are focused on school-to-career education, individualized instruction, intensive counseling, and flexible scheduling. There are more than 500 continuation high schools in California.

Nueva Site Administrator Mike Bhone attributed the school’s success to a team effort and a family environment. “To be recognized by the State Superintendent is quite an honor and a credit to a Nueva staff that does an exemplary job of working with students and leading them to success,” said Bhone. “We pride ourselves on fostering a family environment that connects to their students and their individual needs.”

Requirements for model school designation include exemplary program effectiveness, school management, instructional strategies, testing & evaluation, and counseling. As a model school, Nueva is now included in a list of 75 model California continuation schools worthy of school visitations. Model schools retain their title for three years and must submit an annual assurance of compliance with model school guidelines in order to maintain the designation.

Nueva is the third KHSD continuation school to be named a model school in as many years. Vista Continuation High School was named a model school by the state in 2008 and Vista West Continuation High School in 2007.

For more information about Nueva Continuation High School, contact Nueva Site Administrator Mike Bhone at 845-1532 or Fuchsia Ward, KHSD Director of Alternative Education, at 827-3156.

Bakersfield College Health Fair to Feature Screenings, Health Care Organizations

Students and community members alike will be able to partake in free health screenings, blood pressure checks and information on topics such as diabetes and health careers during Bakersfield College’s 10th Annual Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. More than 25 health care industry representatives will be on hand for the yearly event, which is open to the public and free of charge.

Bakersfield College’s 10th Annual Health and Wellness Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Free Speech Area, and FREE PARKING is available just east of the Campus Center (Corner of Panorama and Mount Vernon) on the college’s Panorama Campus at 1801 Panorama Drive in Bakersfield. A printable campus map is available at www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/about/maps.

“This event is a great opportunity for members of the community to take an active role in their health,” says Debra Strong, Bakersfield College’s Student Health Center nurse. “This event will allow the community to have access to a large number of health and wellness resources at one, free event”.

Representatives from organizations including American Cancer Association, American Heart Association, Bakersfield Bodywork and Massage, Centre for Neuro Skills and Link for Life will have booths and offer information and health screenings such cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure, as well as special giveaways! A full list of participants is on the next page.

For more information, please call Bakersfield College Student Health Center Nurse Debra Strong, R.N. at 661-395-4337 or visit the Student Health Center’s website at www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/student/health.

Kessler to Visit as Scholar-in-Residence

Bakersfield College’s Norman Levan Center for the Humanities is pleased to announce that Dr. Gary Kessler, emeritus professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religion at California State University, Bakersfield will be at Bakersfield College as a Scholar-in-Residence in late April.

Kessler, the author and editor of many books and scholarly articles, including Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader and Studying Religion: An Introduction Through Cases will be at Bakersfield College from April 20 to 23. Kessler is currently working on a book on religion and violence, which is tentatively titled The Dark Side of Religion. He retired from teaching in 2004 and now devotes his scholarly time to writing and research. Kessler lives with his wife Katy in Bellingham, Washington.

Bakersfield College philosophy faculty Reggie Williams was a student of Kessler’s at CSUB who remembered Kessler’s classroom style quite fondly. “He was an excellent teacher who influenced me a lot,” Williams explained. “In particular, he was and is very fair and open minded. Gary always listened to students’ ideas before subjecting them to criticism, which can be hard to do.”

During his residence at Bakersfield College, Dr. Kessler will visit classes, hold drop in sessions for faculty and students, present a public lecture, and give a seminar for faculty and staff. His public lecture, The Paradox of Religious Violence, will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, in the Fireside Room of the John Collins Campus Center. Kessler’s seminar on Religious Terrorism will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, in the Executive Board Room of the John Collins Campus Center.

"I've known Gary Kessler since the early 70's when he began at CSUB. Through the years we've been colleagues and good friends. He is both an expert in his field and an exceptionally thoughtful scholar, who is able to see both the positive and negative about religion,” said Dr. Jack Hernandez, director of the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities. “He has been working hard to present an informative and insightful public lecture and seminar. I look forward to his visit and feel fortunate to have him as our Levan Scholar-in-Residence."

Kessler notes that the paradox of religious violence is "…deeply buried in religion itself. Violence is not some outside, corrupting force but finds its home alongside the good that religion can also inspire. Wherever religion is present, the potential for violence is present as well as the potential for peace."

“Gary assembled and published the first multicultural Introduction to Philosophy text in the Western world, if not world period,” added Williams. “This book was way ahead of its time and remains in print, being used across the country.”

For information about Dr. Kessler, the April 2009 Norman Levan Center for the Humanities Scholar-in-Residence, email or call Jack Hernandez at jhernand@bakersfieldcollege.edu or at 661-395-4339.

United Way of Kern County Celebrates Raising a Reader® Graduation with a Trip to the Beale Library

United Way of Kern County’s Raising a Reader® program is committed to improving kindergarten readiness for the children of families in our county not just for today, but for years to come.

The Raising a Reader® 2008-2009 year concludes on April 22, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. with a visit to the Beale Library. This visit celebrates the joy of reading and learning with 133 children each receiving a Raising a Reader® Blue Book Bag and their first library card. The celebration includes a read-aloud story, craft activities and the Blue Book Bag graduation ceremony.

A former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education commented, “Although many experiences contribute to early literacy, no single activity is as important as the shared book experience between caregivers and children.” The Raising a Reader® mission is to give children an equal opportunity at success by promoting daily book cuddling between parents and their young children.

Raising a Reader® is a take-home book bag program which successfully reaches the toughest, most critical population: lower-income families where parents are poor readers or do not speak English well. It targets the first five years of life; a vital developmental window when 90% of brain power growth occurs.

This is United Way of Kern County’s first year coordinating the Raising a Reader® program. It has been implemented at five pre-school sites in Bakersfield; Bakersfield Homeless Center, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance and three local pre-schools.

For more information, contact Jason Hanash at United Way of Kern County at 661-834-1489.

Deputy Demonstrates Love for Literacy

Guest Reader, Deputy Nick Evans, cheerfully fielded questions and comments from Room K-1 kindergarteners at Owens Primary School. After reading two color-mixing stories and 2 cloud stories, Deputy Nick Evans thrilled the students by giving each child White Rabbit's Color Book. A grant from First Book provides this fabulous opportunity to enrich the children’s lives with books. The grant provides each child with six books to treasure, read and keep at home. Guest readers convey a love for literacy as they present students books to own, not just to borrow. Room K-1 has received the FIRST BOOK Grant for the last six years, enabling 120 students to become owners of 6 books each—awesome and phenomenal!

Barac Obama Denies students of White House tour

On the 4th day of April, Freedom Middle School students are traveling to the east coast for there 8th grade trip. Our Congressmen Kevin McCarthy went to great length to schedule a visit to the White House for our students. Our great president as some of you would like to think denied our students access to enter for a tour for a once in a lifetime learning experience and we think he is being very selfish and inconsiderate of our students. As a parent of a student going on this trip I am very saddened of the decision and outcome.

Lafayette College Senior Kathleen Kretzmer of Bakersfield Explores Chemical Interactions of Plants

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) – Lafayette College senior Kathleen Kretzmer of Bakersfield is performing independent research that explores the chemical systems used by invasive plant species to survive in certain locations. Kretzmer, a biology major at the Easton, Pa., school, is working with Nancy Waters, associate professor of biology.

Kretzmer has attempted to isolate the effect of allelochemicals, or biomolecules released by a plant to gain a competitive advantage over other plants. She used plants that she gathered from wetlands, shallow lakes, and streams in the Merrill Creek Reservoir in Washington, N.J.

“This is the kind of hands-on, get-your-feet-wet (literally) learning that I have had the opportunity to participate in through my research experience,” says Kretzmer, a 2005 graduate of Garces Memorial High School. “Independent research opportunities at Lafayette allow students to explore areas of personal interest in greater detail, while gaining skills (like the ability to research, conduct experiments, and direct projects) that will be applicable long after graduation.”

The results of Kretzmer’s study apply directly to the field of conservation biology, in that invasive plants often threaten the persistence of native plant species.

When not in the lab, Kretzmer is on the court as a co-captain and a four-year letterwinner on Lafayette’s NCAA Division I volleyball team. A solid contributor for four years, she appeared in 297 career games, including 101 as a rookie and 85 during her senior year.

She is the daughter of Robert and Sheila Kretzmer of Bakersfield.

Stockdale High School Color Guard Advances to WGI Championships

The Stockdale High School Color Guard Team made history with their recent success at the Winter Guard International Regional Competition. They took first place in their division. Now they are off to Dayton, Ohio to compete in the WGI Championships.

This year, the Stockdale Color Guard is undefeated in San Joaquin color guard circuit as well as the Pep and Pageantry Arts circuit.

The 17 girls have a rigorous schedule, practicing every day with three hour long practices on Tuesday and Thursday's, and some Friday and Saturdays are added as well. And let's not forget their regular school schedules they must keep up.

Never before has this guard reached such a high level in the WGI competitions.

Lead by David and Lorri Michael and coach Kayla Broadhag it is clear a lot of collaborative work goes into every performance. The dedication from Mr. & Mrs. Michael's is incredible. It truly is a family affair as their daughter performed at Stockdale and now performs with an independent guard while attending Fresno State University.

As a proud guard mom, this program has been a wonderful experience for our family. My daughter has performed all four years and currently is the captain her senior year.

Best of luck at the WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio - Work it ladies!!!

Autism Workshop: Help for high school students

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, the Autism Society of America Chapter-Kern Autism Network will present “Transition Planning for High School Students with Disabilities,” a workshop led by Vickie Shufton. The workshop will be held at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office, 1300 - 17^th Street, Room 1B, in Bakersfield, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Vickie Shufton, Ed.S., is a SELPA Program Specialist in the areas of behavior, crisis intervention and educating adolescents with disabilities. She has been a high school English teacher, a high school resource teacher, a department chair for Special Education, and a teacher of students with emotional and behavioral challenges in a self-contained program for middle and high school students.

Ms. Shufton is also a school psychologist and is on the teaching faculty of National University’s School Psychology Program.

This workshop will address coherent transition planning; assessing students’ strengths, needs and interests; using the school and community as training resources; connecting students to post-secondary supports; resources for transitioning students with disabilities; and creating and maintaining a transition portfolio.

Current paid Kern Autism Network members are free; non-members $5 per person to be collected at the door by check or cash (sorry no PO's). Seating is limited and reservations are required. To register to attend, contact Ramona Puget at 661-588-4235 or email kernautism@gmail.com.

The Autism Society of America Chapter-Kern Autism Network provides support, awareness, information and education to families, professionals and the public throughout Kern County. For more information, visit our website at www.kernautism.org.

Autism Society of America Chapter-Kern Autism Network

www.kernautism.org
661 588-4235

Students prove scientific theories

       Designing wind barriers to reduce soil erosion and measuring gender and the stroop effect were just some of the subjects under scrutiny by dozens of students who entered projects in the 22nd annual Kern County Regional Science Fair held March 17 at the Rabobank Convention Center in Bakersfield.
       Senior and Middle School Division students placing first, second and in some cases third in categories may be eligible to compete in the 58th annual California Science Fair to be held May 19 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
       Approximately 550 students in grades 4-12 from 140 schools competed in many categories ranging from aerodynamics/hydrodynamics to thermochemistry. Entries were judged on scientific thought/engineering goals, creativity, organization, completeness, clarity, effort and motivation. Students had to explain their displays, log books and hypothesis to a panel of judges.
       The science fair is administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools with primary sponsorship provided by Aera Energy LLC. Additional sponsorship and support is offered by Chevron North America Exploration and Production, Occidental of Elk Hills, and Kern County Science Foundation.

2009 Kern County Regional Science Fair Awards

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION – Grades 9-12

AERODYNAMICS/HYDRODYNAMICS
First Place — Leo Banuelos and Nicholas Ross – Desert High
Second Place — Maliha Ahmed – Stockdale High
Third Place — Trevor Fobel – Desert High
Honorable Mention — Erica Mimay and Emily Wright – Desert High
Honorable Mention – Bradley Reeves – Bakersfield Christian High

APPLIED MECHANICS
First Place — Brian Lee – Burroughs High
Second Place — Joshua Arreola – Frazier Mountain High
Third Place — Alyssa Arias – Desert High
Honorable Mention — Christopher Buchanan – Desert High

CHEMISTRY
First Place — Aurora Ostrom – Burroughs High
Second Place — Nicholas Okita – Stockdale High
Third Place — Joseph Stearns – Bakersfield Christian High

PLANT BIOLOGY and EARTH SCIENCE
First Place — Clayton Skousen – Desert High
Second Place Tie — Lindsey Lewis and Kaitlin Wright – Desert High
Second Place Tie — Matthew Rodgers – Highland High

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Kirsten Albers and Caitlyn Krug and Yi-Ling Liu – Bakersfield Christian High
Second Place — Jennifer Hines – Desert High
Third Place — Nicole Foy – Bakersfield Christian High
Honorable Mention — Danielle Gregory – Bakersfield Christian High

LIFE SCIENCE
First Place — Aubryn Butterfield – Bakersfield Christian High
Second Place — Tommy Wooding and Amy Lee – Burroughs High
Third Place — Nathan Williams – Desert High
Honorable Mention — Jacob Brown – Liberty High
Honorable Mention – Elle Tanner – Desert High

PHYSICS and ASTRONOMY
First Place — Mark Canning – Desert High
Second Place — Aley Barnum – Desert High
Third Place — Zach Miller – Desert High
Honorable Mention — Heidi Yi – Burroughs High

MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION — Grades 6-8

AERODYNAMICS/HYDRODYNAMICS
First Place — Josh Dhaliwal – Reagan School
Second Place – Tanner DeWalt – Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Samuel Nobles – Standard Middle

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
First Place — Rohan Sharma – Warren Middle
Second Place — Leah Ostermann – St. Ann School
Third Place — Ali Vaughan – Stockdale Elementary School
Honorable Mention — Susan Nickell – Rio Bravo-Greeley

APPLIED MECHANICS
First Place — Michelle Stanley – Tevis Jr. High
Second Place — Nathan Behrens – Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Dylan Young – Standard Middle
Honorable Mention — Nathan Esch – St. Francis Parish School

BEHAVIORAL and SOCIAL SCIENCES
First Place —Maribeth Villanueva – El Tejon School
Second Place — Madeline Atchison – St. Francis Parish School
Third Place — Sarah Stauffer- Thomas Jefferson Middle
Honorable Mention — Erika Cruz – Thomas Jefferson Middle
Honorable Mention – Selene Torres – Thomas Jefferson Middle
Honorable Mention – Britney Louey – Fruitvale Jr. High

CHEMISTRY
First Place — Danielle Behrens – Stockdale Christian School
Second Place — Le Cheng Tong – Stockdale Elementary
Third Place — Rachael Metzger – Edison Middle

EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Nathaniel Tweed – Valley School
Second Place —Roman Lara – Endeavour Elementary
Third Place — Chase May – La Vina Middle
Honorable Mention — Lilian Najera – Lakeside School
Honorable Mention – Gathenji Njoroge – Freedom Middle
Honorable Mention – Amigha Shukla – Warren Middle

ELECTRICITY and ELECTRONICS
First Place — Jacob Moe – Rio Bravo-Greeley
Second Place — Douglas Johnston – Chavez School
Third Place — Matthew Nickell – Rio Bravo-Greeley
Honorable Mention — Jessica Druey – Hart School

MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY
First Place — Shalin Shah – Warren Middle
Second Place — Joshua Bertey – Standard Middle
Third Place — Karren Stille – Standard Middle
Honorable Mention — Michael Dyar – Cecil Avenue Middle

MATERIALS SCIENCE
First Place — Claryce Lazerson – St. John’s Lutheran School
Second Place — Janel Self – Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Anne Shambaugh – St. Francis Parish School
Honorable Mention — Caitlyn Murphy – Murray Middle
Honorable Mention – Caleb Quitoriano – LaVina Middle

CONSUMER SCIENCE
First Place — Rachel Andrews – Stockdale Christian School
Second Place — Olivia Lipco – Heritage Christian School
Third Place — Evan Amason – Columbia Elementary
Honorable Mention — Jonathan Salaz – La Vina Middle

FOOD CHEMISTRY
First Place — Shreya Banerjee – Reagan School
Second Place — Genevieve Edwards – St John’s Lutheran School
Third Place — Logan Wright – Old River Elementary
Honorable Mention — Samantha Harrison - St. Ann School

PHARMACOLOGY and BIOCHEMISTRY
First Place — Irfan Habib – Warren Middle
Second Place — Lauren O’Connell – St. John’s Lutheran School
Third Place — Evan Sanchez – Del Rio Elementary
Honorable Mention — Lacey Lindsey – St. Francis Parish School

PHYSICS and ASTRONOMY
First Place —Effie Striem – Freedom Middle
Second Place — Lilia Denesha – Standard Middle
Third Place — Noah Krocker – Owens Intermediate
Honorable Mention — Anthony Martin – Thomas Jefferson Middle
Honorable Mention –Alex Rinaldi – Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Laura Jennings – El Tejon School
Second Place — Katie Helms – Stockdale Christian School
Third Place — Patricia Marinas – Fairfax Middle
Honorable Mention — Christian Verdugo and Shawn Chundagal– Cecil Avenue Middle

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS
First Place — Ali Champness – Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Second Place — Issa Bizantioy and Crystal Hammond – Lakeside School
Third Place — Avery Andrew – St. Francis Parish School
Honorable Mention — Christopher Davison - Edison Middle

THERMOCHEMISTRY
First Place — Forrest Csulak – El Tejon School
Second Place – Suevana Ayala – Thomas Jefferson Middle
Third Place — Brian Bender – Patriot Elementary
Honorable Mention — Jenny Pratt – Del Rio Elementary

ZOOLOGY
First Place — Samuel Lang – Reagan School
Second Place — Rachael Oliver – El Tejon School
Third Place — Mariana Roldan – Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Honorable Mention — Tab Rufing-Radney – Standard Middle
Special Recognition – Gage Harden – Rio Bravo-Greeley Middle

KINETIC ENERGY
First Place — Jamie Bizzini – El Tejon School
Second Place — Darby Adler – Independence Elementary
Third Place — Dev Madeka – McAuliffe School
Honorable Mention — Joshua Park – Fruitvale Jr. High

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION — 4th Grade
(Not Eligible for State Science Fair)

ASTRONOMY/EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Garrett Gwinn - Reagan School
Second Place — Brianna Edwards – El Tejon School
Third Place — Logan Lovett- Wingland Elementary
Honorable Mention — Dawson Pitcher - Buena Vista School

BEHAVIORAL/ANIMAL and FIELD STUDIES
First Place — Alexis Bustin – Granite Pointe Elementary
Second Place — Jada Blomberg – Harding School
Third Place — Carson Beckett – Highland Elementary

CHEMISTRY and CHEMICAL REACTIONS
First Place — Breanna Cervantes – Bill Williams School
Second Place — Emily Oliver – El Tejon School
Third Place — Jordan Dawson – Hacienda Elementary

ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS AND GAMES
First Place — Emma Stevulak – Westpark Elementary
Second Place — Brycen Jacobsen – Golden Hills Elementary
Third Place — Robert Pipkin – Laurelglen School
Honorable Mention — Caleb Melson – Highland Elementary

HEAT CHEMISTRY and HEAT PHYSICS
First Place — Ryan Wakefield – Patriot Elementary
Second Place — Madison Contreras – Almondale Elementary
Third Place — Noah Serda – Morningside School
Honorable Mention — Britt Chafin – Discovery Elementary

FOOD and HEALTH SCIENCE
First Place — Anselmo Arellano – Karl Clemens School
Second Place — Krystalmae Raynes – Berkshire Elementary
Third Place — Shikha Srinivas – McAuliffe School

MATERIALS and CONSUMER SCIENCE
First Place — Jason Abbott – Castle School
Second Place — MarcAnthony Myers – Rosedale North Elementary
Third Place — Chase Morales – Chavez School
Honorable Mention — Carlos Gonzalez – Fremont School

PHYSICS
First Place — Riku Koseki – Hart School
Second Place — Tommy Toretta – Centennial Elementary
Third Place — Andrew Ostrom – Saint Ann School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Lexi Hazelton – Pruiett Elementary
Second Place — Julia Montoya – Tompkins Elementary
Third Place — Christine Baal – Van Horn School

ELECTRICITY
First Place — Sebastian Gomez – Independence Elementary
Second Place — Jacob Bartel – American Elementary
Third Place — Jonathan Santiago – Fairview Elementary
Honorable Mention — Matthew Glasgow – St. John’s Lutheran School
Honorable Mention – Selene Orozco – Owens Intermediate

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION — 5th Grade
(Not Eligible for State Science Fair)

ASTRONOMY, EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place — Emily Haviland – Sing Lum School
Second Place — Nicholas Millan – Discovery Elementary
Third Place — Trey Schoenwetter – Downtown Elementary
Honorable Mention — Becca Jensen – Stine School

BEHAVIORAL, ANIMAL and FIELD STUDIES
First Place — Jordan Holmes – Owens Intermediate
Second Place — Claire Urata – Castle School
Third Place — Cassidy Elwell – Almondale Elementary

CHEMISTRY and CHEMICAL REACTIONS
First Place — Lizabeth Nunez – Fremont School
Second Place — Mykela Blanchard – Palm Avenue School
Third Place — Chandler Beck – St. John’s Lutheran School
Honorable Mention- Sayo Yamashita – Hart School

ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS and GAMES
First Place — Manooshree Patel – Reagan School
Second Place — Austin Palacios – Centennial Elementary
Third Place — Yannis Exarchoulakos – Kendrick School
Honorable Mention — Kazuya Fujita – Stine School
Honorable Mention –Cody Maynard – Quailwood Elementary

HEAT CHEMISTRY and HEAT PHYSICS
First Place — Kimberly Nelson – Harding School
Second Place — Jared Lampson – Endeavour Elementary
Third Place — Randeep Gill – Buena Vista School
Honorable Mention — Brenda Cortes – Fremont School

FOOD and HEALTH SCIENCE
First Place — Cameron Roberts – Independence Elementary
Second Place – Eric Beyer – Fremont School
Third Place — Delaney Beck – Berkshire Elementary
Honorable Mention — Garrison Lee – Owens Intermediate

MATERIALS and CONSUMER SCIENCE
First Place — Kathryn Piper – Stockdale Elementary
Second Place — Kaleb Kingston – Endeavour Elementary
Third Place — Xochitl Mireles – Alicante Avenue School
Honorable Mention — Vanessa Adams – Myrtle Avenue School

PHYSICS
First Place — Lily Hallmark – El Tejon School
Second Place — Jennifer Holmes – Old River Elementary
Third Place — Kyle Winchell – Tompkins Elementary
Honorable Mention — Janelle Estalio – Seibert School

PLANT BIOLOGY
First Place — Sarah Powell – St. John’s Lutheran School
Second Place — Matthew Chaffee – McAuliffe School
Third Place — Ashley Yasin – Wallace Elementary

ELECTRICITY
First Place — Madison Shannon – Downtown Elementary
Second Place — Jose Cervantes – Redwood Elementary
Third Place — Timothy Calderwood – Hacienda Elementary
Honorable Mention — Tanner Utt – Patriot Elementary
Honorable Mention – Ryan Chapman – Harding School

2009 Kern County Regional Science Fair Awards for Excellence

Kern County Science Foundation Scholarships (Grades 9-12)
Maliha Ahmed — Stockdale High
Christina Apple — North High
Brian Lee — Burroughs High
Lindsey Lewis — Desert High
Samuel Munoz — North High
Bretton Neville — North High
Nicholas Okita — Stockdale High
Aurora Ostrom — Burroughs High
Analiese Scrivano — Bakersfield High
Christopher Woodward — Kern Valley High

Dr. Vinod Kumar Award
Senior Award — Matthew Rodgers
Junior Awards — Andrew Wilbur
Lacey Lindsey

U.S. Naval Science Awards
Senior Awards — Aurora Ostrom
                                  Matthew Rodgers
                                  Aubryn Butterfield
Junior Awards — Josh Dhaliwal
                                  Tanner DeWalt
                                  Michelle Stanley
                                  Danielle Behrens
                                  Jacob Moe
                                  Douglas Johnston
                                  Forrest Csulak

LQ’s Performing Arts Center will be honored for their Community Involvement during an Award’s Assemb

LQ’s Performing Arts Center will be honored for their Community Involvement during an Award’s Assembly

LQ’s Performing Arts Center will be awarded a plague of achievement on Friday, March 27, 2009 at Wayside Elementary (1000 Ming Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93307). The Awards’ Assembly will start at 1:30pm.

Wayside Elementary Principal, Michelle Mclean, wanted to honor LQ’s Performing Arts Center to recognize their contributions to our community.

“I feel so blessed and feel so honored that a school would recognize all the hard work and dedication that LQ’s Performing Arts Center strives to accomplish. It’s times like this, that allows me to feel as though I’m doing what the Lord has called me to do,” exclaims LaQuette Milner, Director of LQ’s Performing Arts Center.

Any further questions, please direct them to LaQuette Milner at 661-343-0442

LQ’s Performing Arts Center

P.O. Box 1724

Bakersfield, CA 93302

Phone: 661-343-0442

Fax: 661-872-2418

E-mail:

laquettelala2002@yahoo.com

Nueva High School Named "California Model School"

The Kern High School District’s (KHSD) Nueva Continuation High School has been named a 2009 Model Continuation High School by the California Dept. of Education.

Nueva, located in Lamont, was one of 14 continuation schools recognized as outstanding programs on Wednesday by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

For more information about Nueva Continuation High School, contact Nueva Site Administrator Mike Bhone at 845-1532 or Fuchsia Ward, KHSD Director of Alternative Education, at 827-3156.

Kern's top school bus driver crowned

When in comes to driving a school bus, Greenfield Union School District proved it has the best driver and best driving team in the county. Greenfield’s Essa Hall earned top driving honors in the large bus category, and the district swept the first three places in the team category at the California Association of School Transportation Officials (CASTO) Chapter 12 School Bus “Roadeo” held on March 14 in Bakersfield.
       A total of 68 school district bus drivers from Kern, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara counties took part in the day long competition. Drivers had to maneuver their way through 10 events testing their ability to negotiate obstacles and situations they might encounter everyday transporting children to and from school. Each event was worth 50 points. The activities simulate testing drivers go through to obtain a California school bus driver’s license.
       Winning drivers can compete in the CASTO Southern Sectional, April 25 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The state championship will be held May 24 in Galt.
       While the competition was entertaining, it also underscored the safety training required of all school bus drivers.

2009 CASTO Chapter 12 Roadeo Results

Team Results:
Kern County Team Champion
1st — Greenfield Union School District (Essa Hall, Julie Johnson and Peggy Weir)
2nd — Kern High School District (Charlotte Powell, Randy Turner and Charisse Webster)
3rd — Kern County Superintendent of Schools (Damon Anglin, Louise Burnett and Melissa Ramay)

Out of County
1st — Student Transportation of America from San Luis Obispo (Ray Bartlett, Jay Patten and Stephanie Oliver

Individual Results
Category A (buses longer than 28 feet)
1st — Essa Hall, Greenfield Union School District
2nd — Julie Johnson, Greenfield Union School District
3rd — PeggyWeir, Greenfield Union School District
4th — Charlotte Powell, Kern High School District
5th — Ron Wayne, Panama-Buena Vista Union School District

Category B (buses shorter than 28 feet)
1st — Phyllis Mustin, Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
2nd — Kandie Deaton, Panama-Buena Vista Union School District

Out of County A and B Combined
1st — Les Johnson, Student Transportation of America from San Luis Obispo
2nd — Cory Patten, Coach America from San Diego
3rd — Antonio Perez, Snowline School District from San Bernardino County

Kindergarteners Go to High School

"Hi Ho, Hi Ho, to Highland High we go" could have been the soundtrack as hundreds of kindergarteners went from one activity to another learning about agriculture from teacher Rick Lemucchi's agriculture students. The high school students created mini-lectures and hands-on activities so that the young students could learn about fruits, vegetables, animals and animal products. Each kindergartener left with a bag full of completed projects, cheeks radiantly painted by the high school artists, and a great impression of happy high school learning!