Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 8-22-19 E-edition

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REEDLEY
City of Reedley Night at Fresno Grizzlies on Aug. 31, at the Grizzlies- Albuquerque Isotopes game. The city will be recognized on the video message board during the game. Ticket information: online at groupmatics.events/ Reedley, or call Jason Martinez with the Grizzlies at (559) 320- 2545.
Reedley’s Business Resources Expo by Fresno4Biz—Scheduled for 8 to 10 a.m. Sept.
First day
Continued from A7
Tillotson and Ranallo also observed Aaron Harding, who teaches science, art and engineering, and David Kilborn, who teaches math and computer assisted drafting. Kilborn talked about Latin. “One reason a language becomes dead is people aren’t speaking it,” he said. “You’ve got to know something about the world. Many of you have a unique perspective others can’t see. You’ve got to bring that.”
In Preston Montelongo’s class, the entire group worked quietly. He’s the newest hire. The rest are a capable group who have been doing their jobs for quite some time and have a great track record of helping students who had trouble fitting into a traditional classroom. Church and his crew turned out one graduating class after another made up of students who had overcome hardship, difficulty and past poor decision making to become productive adults.
Tillotson said he hopes to carry on that
12, at the Reedley Community Center, 100 N. East Ave. Reedley business owners and employees can learn what resources are available to them. Free registration can be done online at tinyurl.com/ y353v393. Information: (559) 490-7190.
Reedley Senior Prom and Dinner — Annual event for area seniors 60 years and older is scheduled for Sept. 20, at Sierra View Homes. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for pictures. Dinner is at 5:45 p.m., and entertainment by Ron Surabian begins at 7 p.m. Last day to purchase tickets is Sept. 12. Signups are
accepted at the Reedley Senior Center. Ticket information: (559) 637- 4207.
Third Thursday of the month, 10:45 a.m. The Friends of the Library at the Reedley Library, 1027 E St. New members welcome. For more details, call (559) 638-6476.
Every Thursday — Color Me Calm-Cheaper than Therapy. Begins at 6 p.m. Coloring is not only fun but great for stress relief and relaxation coloring pages and pens are provided by the library or bring your own. This is an adult activity. For more information
contact the Reedley Branch Library at (559) 638-2818 or visit fresnolibrary.org
Every Saturday at 10 a.m. Read to a Dog. Dogs love children and books, come read a story to a registered therapy dog from Tail Waggin’ Tutors. All school age children are welcome. For more information contact the Reedley Branch Library at (559) 638-2818 or visit fresnolibrary.org.
The Reedley Reading Group invites those interested to its monthly book discussions. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at the Reedley Library, 1027 E.St.Thetitlesofbooks the group is reading are
posted in the library. Details, gnmjohnson2@ comcast.net.
Learning is a snap! Elenco’s Snap Circuits makes learning electronics easy and fun! Kids have fun while learning the basics of electricity. These classes will be taking place the first and third Wednesday of every month for ages 6 and up. Classes will begin at 2 p.m.
Builders Club — Join others at the Reedley Library and create Lego masterpieces with other Lego enthusiasts. Classes will be held every second and fourth Wednesday of each month for ages 5 years andolder.
Sanger Community Day School, which is housed in the Sanger Youth Center at L and Ninth streets.
Ponce and Tillotson likely will be working closely in coming years because the day school serves as an alternative site for seventh to 10 grade students, while Kings River takes in 11th and 12th-graders.
“He’s my partner in crime,” Ponce told his students at the day school’s back to school night Aug. 14. Ponce told his students stories about himself, about how he wasn’t a perfect fit in various situations during his life but figured out what he was good at. “We’re going to find something that makes you unique,” he said.
Tillotson said he’ll be working to do the same. “Our goal is to filter kids back into a mainstream setting,” he said. “The staff has been preparing them for the world. All I want is to continue to do that.”
He said he’s glad he's got Church’s team. “I’m in a good spot,” he said.
Maldonado, the campus security officer, said everybody does their part. “The goal is for these kids to have ambition,” he said, explaining it’s that little bit of extra trust and confidence that makes the difference.
Ranallo said many of
Hip Hop — An eight-week session is underway. Fridays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register online through DASH or come by the Reedley Community Center. Details, (559) 637-4203.
DINUBA
The Dinuba Senior Center holds Coffee & Conversation every Monday at the center’s Social Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 437 N. Eaton Ave. Details, Cece Bobst at 591-2450.
Bingo is held from 8 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Dinuba Senior Center, 437 N. Eaton Ave., in Room A-3. Dinuba
SeeCalendaronpage A8 the Kings River and
Taft graduates move onto community college, where they can further their education and perhaps move to a four- year college or pursue a trade. “A lot of the kids are late bloomers,” he said. “They started to realize they had potential in their junior and senior years.”
Just before the bell rang for the second time that first day, Tillotson said he had received a text from his wife, Dawn Pearson, who teaches at Sanger High. “She said she’s proud of me,” he said.
Tillotson hung a couple pictures of the two of them on his wall but said most of the decor came with the office. He did bring in a small fridge, one that mimics the carbonite Darth Vader used to freeze Han Solo in the waning minutes of “The Empire Strikes Back.”
And Tillotson already had established a rapport with Ybarra, who is a Giants fan. “I think the hardest part for Mr. Tillotson is he’s a Dodgers fan,” she said.
But as of that day, the Dodgers boasted a record of 81-41, same as the Yankees. “So far so good,” Tillotson said.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail. com or at (559) 875-2511.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Community Calendar
| A7 | Mid Valley TiMes
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beans and rice
Tillotson and counselor Phil Ranallo observe a music class on the first day.
tradition. “My goal is to give these students poise, confidence and a plan,” he said. “Wherever they come from, (their situation) could be bad. We’ll do everything we can to make them feel comfortable.”
Back in the office, Tillotson said he had to brew himself some coffee and disappeared into a back room. Ybarra, like the rest of the staff, gave his short tenure relatively high marks considering he’d been in the job only since summer.
“I think he is very eager to build relationships with these students,” she said.
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“Very excited.” And she added that she and her fellow staffers are also getting to know him. “We’re learning from each other. It’s been a very smooth transition.”
Kayla Zaragoza, a junior, had a bit of trouble with her schedule and asked Tillotson for help. He got the issue resolved. She wore a new shirt with Ice Cube emblazoned on the front, sort of retro, and Chuck Taylors. And how did she feel about the first day of school? “It’s alright,” she said.
And Tillotson still had some changes in day-to- day culture to process. “The low class sizes just blew me away,” he said.
“It’s so different.” Sanger Unified has
about 12,200 students this year, a record, and is expected to continue growing.
At Sanger High, Tillotson was teamed with fellow assistants Kirstin Coronado, Andrew Popp and Alfredo Ponce. He said they worked well together and developed a bond. Now, each has a new job. Coronado took over for former Sanger High principal Dan Chacon, who went to the new educational complex at Jensen and Fowler avenues. Popp got hired as principal of Dinuba High, and Ponce is principal of the
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
Monday:
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Lunch size our enchilada
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Thursday:
Hand held burrito (choice of two llings) served with beans and
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served with beans and
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Lunch size our taco rice 67.49