Page 11 - Reedley Exponent 5-3-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent BPanorama
KCUSD celebrates first-ever 'Children's Day'
See Below and B8
Section | Thursday, May 3, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654 Alta Eagles soar
The View From Here
If you’re a regular reader of my column or my stories in Panorama, you know I’m an arts maven.
Some of my
favorite assign-
ments are writ-
ing about up-
coming produc-
tions from Reed-
ley’s River City Theatre Company and our local high schools.
Music is everywhere in this community, from the Reedley High School Pirate Marching Band to other ensembles. In fact, this section includes an article about the May 7 Spring Concert by the Norman Zech Reedley Col- lege Community Orchestra.
Speaking of Reedley College, anyone who loves to read should attend the campus’ Speaker Se- ries programs. When I write something like this – a series that has brought to Reedley some of the most prominent writers in contemporary American litera- ture – I pause and re-read those words. For example, shortly af- ter I joined The Exponent staff, I couldn’t believe Jane Smiley, one of my favorite writers, was going to appear at the series.
When it comes to visual arts, the Kings River Quilt Festival – which is presented every other year – exhibits an array of stun- ning beauty created from fabric.
I write all this now because the arts took center stage at the April 24 Kings Canyon Unified School District governing board meeting. I need to preface this by saying that student performances, such as singing groups, are regu-
See COLUMN page B2
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
Alta Elementary School is one of only 10 schools in Fresno County to earn a PBIS Platinum Award in the initial year of the honor.
The recognition for 2017-18 comes from the Fresno County schools superintendent’s Positive Be- haviorial Interventions and Supports program, or what many in education call PBIS. These programs, estab- lished at schools across the country, use positive reinforcement and in- centives to help youngsters under- stand the importance of an affirma- tive attitude. As a result, students can perform better academically and engage more fully in campus activities.
“Alta Elementary is honored to receive the Platinum Award for PBIS."
– Vickie Nishida, principal of Alta Elementar y School
The Kings Canyon Unified School District since 2010 has par- ticipated in PBIS, which includes training.
Alta, which has 361 students in kindergarten through fifth grades, is in the countryside northeast of Reedley.
“Alta Elementary is honored to receive the Platinum Award for PBIS,” said Principal Vickie Nishida. “This is a program that has been a district initiative to improve the be- havior of students with the under- standing that every child can learn proper behavior.”
Alta will be among the schools lauded in this first year of Platinum honors on Thursday, May 3, at a Model School Awards Ceremony in
LEFT: Leslie Croissant, an instructional coach at Alta Elementary School, joins with Alta students and others greeting just-arriving stu- dents during the Alta's April 19 fes- tivities to celebrate its PBIS Platinum Award.
Photo Contributed
BELOW: Fifth- grader Maysi Priest shows the medal each student and staff member received.
Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
All of KCUSD’s regular campuses have earned Gold Awards, nearly all repeating as Gold Award winners.
At Alta, PBIS activities include
See ALTA AWARD page B7
Zech Orchestra Spring Concert onMay7atRC Contributed
With spring comes a local mu- sical tradition. The Reedley Col- lege Community Orchestra, which is known for its association with its founder Norman Zech, will present its annual Spring Concert on Monday, May 7.
The free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Reedley College’s Forum Hall. Parking also is free in front of Forum Hall in Lot D, which faces onto Reed Avenue.
The orchestra performs un- der the direction of conductor Tom Fritz, who said the concert will feature a solo by 11-year-old Xavion Torres on George Phillipp Telemann’s “Concerto in G” for viola. The ensemble is known for encouraging and involving young people in music.
The ensemble’s formal name is the Norman Zech Reedley College Community Orchestra in memory of Zech. He came to Reedley in 1939 and taught instrumental mu- sic at the high school and college.
See CONCERT page B7
Photo Contributed
Xavion Torres, 11, will perform a solo during the Spring Concert presented May 7 by the Norman Zech Reedley College Community Orchestra.
Felicia Cousart Matlosz
Alta Elementary School earns KCUSD's first PBIS Platinum Award
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
The first-ever “Children’s Day” on April 28 attracted appre- ciative visitors to extol the achievements of English language learner students.
The Kings Canyon Unified School District presented the event. District officials have said English language learners have made significant gains in the last couple of years. Tests are just one indicator and show that KCUSD English language learners are becoming proficient at a rate of 20 percent, compared to the state average of 11 percent.
On April 28, the emphasis was on fun. It also was an opportu- nity to recognize not only the youngsters but parents and family members who have supported their education.
The event, held at Silas Bartsch School, had one other goal – encouraging youngsters to develop an interest in the arts.
Veleda Oltjenbruns, coordinator of migrant education in KCUSD, after the event said that “overall, I thought it was a great first-year success.”
Oltjenbruns said that families were excited about “Children’s Day” and appreciated that performances and activities showed aspects of different cultures through music, dance, games, crafts and workshops.
The performances included Zehra Subedar, a fifth grade stu- dent at T.L. Reed School. Dressed in the clothing of India, she presented a Bollywood number.
Before she took the stage, Zehra said she wanted to be part of the program because she wanted to share her culture with others. And, she said, “I love dancing, and I want to share my love of dance.”
LEFT: Zehra Subedar, a fifth grade student
at T.L. Reed School, performed a Bollywood number at 'Children's Day' presented April 28 at Silas Bartsch School. The event featured a number of performances reflecting different cultures.
BELOW: Activities included a "Reading Gar- den." Maria Carrillo (far right) is a sophomore at Orange Cove High School. She was among the volunteers who read to children at the event. Children also received free books.
In the photo with Carrillo are (from left) Sam Saldivar, Isabel Saldivar, Mackenzie Gode, Sirhani Maldonado and her mother, Natalia Navarro, Rose Muniz and an unidentified youngster.
Navarro, who is an English and AVID teacher at OCHS, was there with members of the OCHS MEChA Club. The MEChA members showed youngsters how to make Guatemalan worry dolls. These handmade dolls help take away worries.
More photos are on B8.
Photos by Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
Fresno.
Mary Ann Carousso, KCUSD’s
administrator for student services, said: “It is a tremendous accomplish- ment and speaks to the support that staff is offering its students with set- ting behavior expectations and goals,
LEFT: Alta kindergar- ten students Oscar Ramirez (left) and Felipe Hernandez enjoyed the face paint- ing fun at the school's PBIS Plati- num Award celebration.
Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
rewarding students who meet expec- tations, and reteaching students who fall short of the behavioral expecta- tions.”
Alta in the previous two academ- ic years earned Gold Awards. (There also are Silver and Bronze honors.)
Scenes from KCUSD's 'Children's Day'