Page 9 - Reedley Exponent 4-26-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent BPanorama
Section | Thursday, April 26, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com
RCTC's 'Noises Off' opens April 27 atthehistoric OperaHouse
See B8
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654
Reedley
College
report
for April
Contributed
Here are highlights from the Reedley College board report for April:
ACCREDITATION UPDATE
We want to thank the campus community for all the work – and the scheduling flexibility – that went into hosting March 4-8 the accreditation team from the Ac- crediting Commission of Commu- nity and Junior Colleges.
Reedley College – as well as the Madera and Oakhurst commu- nity college centers – worked tire- lessly to ensure that the 10-mem- ber team was welcomed, received the information the members requested, and learned about the Reedley/MOR mission and our ap- proaches as well as our aspirations for the future.
From that perspective, the vis- it was an overwhelming success.
The visiting team got a clear sense how MOR operates and makes decisions with student suc- cess in mind. We believe the team could tell that we don’t just talk about our student focus but have an operating principle in place.
The visiting team also was im- pressed by the groundwork that has been done across our campus- es in preparation for implementing Guided Pathways.
The team also commended us on:
• The way CTE programs at MOR are organized and delivered with student outcomes in mind
• The implementation of Stu- dent Services programs (espe- cially the campus Food Bank and the innovative use of post-doctoral students to deliver psychological services)
• MOR’s cultivation of exten- sive links with the communities that we serve (through, for ex- ample, dual enrollment, our High School Reports process, Reedley Middle College High School, and other partnerships with public school districts)
• Our commitment to the Madera’s center accreditation as the next California community college.
REEDLEY MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Reedley Middle College High
School will host its Third Annual Junior/Senior Prom on Saturday, April 28, at the Ridge Creek Golf Course in Dinuba.
KUDOS
Huge congratulations to Reed- ley College President Sandra Caldwell for being honored this year with the Dr. Harold Haak Award at the annual Fresno Com- pact Business Education Partner- ship Awards luncheon on March 7 in Fresno.
President Caldwell was hon- ored for her efforts to build con- nections between schools and busi- nesses. This was the 22nd annual
See RC REPORT page B7
'Children's Day'
KCUSD to celebrate English learners' success with April 28 event
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
better support their children and to learn more about using technology. All these efforts are done in an effort to bolster the children’s communica- tion skills in English.
“Our EL students have made such significant gains over the last couple of years,” Oltjenbruns said. “We really wanted to have a day
where we recognized the efforts and achievements of our students.”
Annual tests are just one indica- tor of how English learners are doing in progressing to being proficient in English. In KCUSD, district officials say that English language learners are becoming proficient at a rate of 20 percent, compared to the state av-
erage of 11 percent.
For Loomis, “Children’s Day” al-
so is an international celebration and an opportunity to increase connec- tions to the arts. Like sports, Loomis believes the arts are a “gateway” to
See CHILDREN page B7
It will be a children’s festival that celebrates the achievements of Eng- lish language learners by inspiring them to explore new activities that can make school even more fun and engaging.
The first-ever “Children’s Day” and will be on Saturday, April 28, at Silas Bartsch School. The free event will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the campus, 2225 E. North Ave.
“Our EL students have made such significant gains over the last couple of years. We really wanted to have a day where we recognized the efforts and achievements of our students."
– Veleda Oltjenbruns, coordinator of migrant education for KCUSD
The Kings Canyon Unified School District is presenting the festival, which also wants parents to feel fully involved in their children’s education. So, in addition to the en- tertainment and food, there will be information booths about resources available to families.
The event is being organized by Veleda Oltjenbruns, coordinator of migrant education, and Jimmy Loo- mis, coordinator for the elementary grades Visual and Performing Arts program.
Oltjenbruns said the idea stemmed from the progress being made by students whose primary language isn’t English. Special proj- ects in this area include Puente a Tecnologia (Bridge to Technology) that is in its second year in KCUSD. The program provides a Chrome- book with built-in Wi-Fi to English language learners and their fami- lies so that learning can continue at home. The children and their par- ents can access helpful websites, conduct research and complete assignments. In addition, parents attend workshops to learn how to
ABOVE: ParentsatAltaElementary School use the Rosetta Stone software program as part of Puente a Tecnolo- gia (Bridge to Technology) that helps English language learner students improve their English skills. Parents also are a vital part of Puente.
From left are Jean Brletic, an Alta fifth- grade teacher and Puente lead at the school; and Maria Perez, who's work- ing on a lesson with her son, Reedley High School student Victor Herrejon Perez, a former Alta student; behind them, partially seen, is his sister, Alta student Julissa Herrejon Perez.
At right are Alta student Emily Lemus Mejia (back to camera) and her
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
felicia@midvalleypublishing.com
Calling all mascots!
This year’s Reedley Pet and Storybook Parade – on Saturday, May 5 – will feature a “dance-off” among the different mascots from local Reedley schools when fes- tivities continue in Pioneer Park.
The annual parade – the longest-running children’s parade in Fresno County – will again proceed down G Street with an array of children dressed in storybook or nursery rhyme costumes or bringing their favorite animals.
Parents and other family members are welcomed to join them on the stroll to Pioneer Park across from the Reedley Police Department.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. at 13th and F streets. Entrants should be in line by 9:30 a.m. on 13th Street, with 9:45 a.m. as the deadline to be judged. The parade kicks off promptly at 10 a.m.
Kristal Oliver, the newest member of the Reedley YMCA Committee that sponsors the parade, is leading efforts to broaden participation. She adores the pa- rade. When her daughter, Jackie Oliver, participated
See PARADE page B8
The participants in the 2017 Reedley Pet and Storybook Parade included then 4-year-old Noelle Bartel, who brought the family rabbit, Nibbles, in a makeshift cage- stroller.
Behind her is then 3-year-old Caleb Shinn, who came as the book charac- ter, "ThePout-Pout Fish."
Both children won prizes at the an- nual event.
File Photo / The Exponent
mother, Irene Mejia.
Photo Contributed
ABOVE: Activities at the "Chil- dren's Day" festival will include a craft activity making Guate- malan worry dolls. These hand- made dolls help take away the worriesof youngsters.
Image from Art--A-Baloo Crew website
LEFT: Members of the folklorico dance troupe from Reedley High School
are seen at the 2017 Reedley Fiesta Parade. Folkloricodancewillbepart of "Children's Day" on April 28 at Silas Bartsch School.
File Photo / The Exponent
Annual Pet and Storybook parade May 5
KCUSD students impressive in speech and debate
Contributed
Students from the Kings Canyon Unified School District made im- pressive showings at the annual Mi- grant Region IV Speech and Debate Tournament held in March in Fresno.
In fact, all 18 students who com- peted successfully placed in the event.
The competition was held March 1 at the Fresno County Office of Education. KCUSD’s 10 first-place finishers now will advance to the state tournament in Tulare County, May 4-6.
The Migrant Speech and Debate events encourage migrant students to develop their communication skills and clearly present their ideas and thoughts. The students must re- search their topics in preparing for the competition.
KCUSD students competed against students from schools in Fresno, Firebaugh, Parlier and indi- vidual schools such as Washington Union High School and American Union Elementary School.
Here are the KCUSD students and how they placed:
• The Reedley High School Eng-
lish debate team won first place. Members are Maria Josebet Luna Gonzalez, Maria Ibarra, Rosa Her- rejon, Ranhel Orellana and Viviana Pena.
• Jose Rodriguez of Orange Cove High School won first place in 11th grade English Speech.
• Ana Hernandez Huisache of Orange Cove High placed first in 10th grade English Speech.
• Gabriela Lemus of Navelencia Middle School earned first place in eighth grade English.
• Ashly Gutierrez of Grant Mid- dle School won first place in eighth
grade Spanish Speech.
• Yesica Torres of Grant won
first in sixth grade Spanish Speech. • The Reedley High Spanish debate team earned second place. Members are Martha Godinez, Day- anne Estrada, Angelica Cruz Lopez, Esveidy Ferreyra and Lucero Rodri-
guez.
• Adrian Arriaga of OCHS took
second place in 10th grade English Speech.
• Esmeralda Aguilar of Silas Bartsch School earned second place
See SPEECH page B2
The View From Here
Felicia Cousart Matlosz's column will
return.