Moorpark College President Luis Sanchez, JD, LLM, is pleased to announce the re-launch of the Photovoltaics program beginning fall 2016. Photovoltaics (PV), the process of converting solar power into electricity, is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, claiming one out of every 83 new jobs created in 2015. Annual job growth is 20 percent since 2015 and 123% since 2010, representing more than 115,000 new jobs in the U.S. The workforce is diverse with 24 percent women, 8 percent veterans, 11 percent Hispanic, 9 percent Asian/Pacific Islanders and 5 percent African American.1

“Solar Photovoltaics is quickly becoming an industry of the future,” stated Sanchez. “Individuals and corporations are looking for alternative means of energy production, and the Photovoltaics program, here at Moorpark College, is a chance to become part of a sustainable solution to humanity’s energy challenges,” Sanchez added.

After several searches to find an industry insider who is qualified to lead the program, Moorpark College hired Dr. Peter T. Parrish to teach their two lecture and laboratory courses in solar energy and photovoltaic technologies. Parrish holds a Ph.D. in solid state physics and is a NABCEP™ Certified PV Professional. “Moorpark College has one of the best facilities in Southern California to teach solar photovoltaics and to train students for jobs in the industry,” stated Parrish. The college has three “mock roofs” for students to practice installation of PV modules and several PV systems that can be installed and broken down each term.

“Our goal is to help students acquire skills to fill jobs that are available now,” said Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees Chair Larry Kennedy. “These jobs may also set individuals on a path to long-term career achievement,” Kennedy added.

Solar companies located in Los Angeles and Ventura counties include, American Solar Power, PHAT Energy, Vivent, Solar Electrical Systems and Solar City, the number one solar company in the U.S. In addition to installation, there are job opportunities for design engineers, sales and marketing, assembling and general office staff in solar panels.

Students enrolled in the program can earn a Proficiency Award in Photovoltaic Technology in one to two semesters by taking four courses, including an optional internship at a local solar company. Registration is open and classes begin Wednesday, August 17 and Saturday, August 20. Evening and Saturday classes are available to accommodate working adults. For more information on the program, contact Dr. Peter P. Parrish at 323-839-6108 or pparrish@vcccd.edu; or the Moorpark College Sciences and Student Engagement Division at 805-553-4133 or mcscistuengmt@vcccd.edu.

The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2016. Retrieved from http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/TSF-2015-Na...

Dear Fillmore Middle School Community:

We are pleased to announce that John Wilber has been appointed as the Principal of Fillmore Middle School effective Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Mr. Wilber has been in education for over 31 years as a professional educator in the Fillmore Unified School District serving as an accomplished Social Studies classroom teacher and school administrator at both the secondary and elementary levels. In his current position, he has provided exceptional leadership as a school administrator for the last four years at Mountain Vista Elementary School.

Mr. Wilber is a resident of the City of Fillmore and looks forward to leading Fillmore Middle School. He is committed to supporting the school community and continuing its work to increase academic success for all students. He envisions working collaboratively with students, parents, school staff, and the community to ensure that student learning is of the highest quality. Communication is an integral part of that collaboration and he is excited to work in partnership with you to ensure that all students are on a path to academic success.

We are confident that Mr. Wilber will provide excellent leadership and support to the Fillmore Middle School community as its new Principal. He is an advocate for all students and has an established record of increasing student achievement throughout his career. It is an exciting time for Fillmore Middle School and we invite you to come and meet Principal John Wilber on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 6:30 PM in the Fillmore Middle School library.

Sincerely,
Respectfully,
Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D.
Superintendent

AEP/im

Fillmore Adult School (FAS) will be celebrating the end of its first semester of English as a Second language and computer literacy classes on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on the Sierra High School campus at 615 Shiells Drive in Fillmore. Student recognition, food, fun, drawings, and classroom demonstrations will be the order of the evening. Fillmore Unified School District is excited to share the many opportunities it is providing for adult learners to improve their English language and computer literacy skills, prepare for high school diplomas or their equivalencies, and most importantly, to enhance their employment readiness and preparation for job training. Reservations for this event are requested. Please call (805) 524-8232 and identify the number in your party by Monday, August 1st.

Enrollments for FAS’s fall session are being accepted through August 4th, from 4:00-8:00 PM Mondays-Thursdays at the Fillmore Adult School, 615 Shiells Drive.

FUSD teachers and instructional aides who are interested in working in these adult education programs are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Please contact the Human Resources Office at 805-524-6034 for details on the application process.

In collaboration with Ventura College and the Ventura County Community College District, FUSD will fund Ventura College to provide the two initial qualifying courses for fifteen child care assistants who plan to work in accredited institutions in a 32-hour per week intensive program beginning July 18th through August 4th, 2016.

The classes will be taught by Ventura College instructors at the Fillmore Adult School located on the Sierra High School campus. Students who successfully complete the program will earn six units of Early Childhood Education credit, which makes them eligible to work as Preschool Instructional Assistants. To qualify for the training, students must possess high school diplomas and be proficient in English.

FUSD will be starting six full-day preschool classes for 2016-2017 school year. Child Care Assistants will be needed for this preschool program.

For additional information, please contact the Fillmore Adult School at (805) 524-8232. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Young people with autism who have difficulty speaking are discovering other methods to communicate, and California Lutheran University is starting a center to support them in the search.

The number of people identified as being on the autism spectrum has dramatically climbed to 1 in 68 births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 30 and 40 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders speak minimally or not at all.

The primary goal of the Autism and Communication Center is to provide information on various augmentative and alternative communication strategies including keyboards, letter boards and brain/computer interface systems so that children and young adults with autism who struggle to speak can have their voices heard and connect to their communities. The center will also promote practices that support inclusive communities and schools, from preschool through college. Cal Lutheran faculty members from several disciplines will conduct research, present workshops and conferences, and provide information and support to individuals with autism and their teachers, families, caregivers and school administrators.

Beth Brennan, associate dean of the Graduate School of Education and director of special education programs, and Edlyn Peña, director of doctoral studies and an associate professor of higher education leadership, founded the center and serve as co-directors.

Peña, who has a son on the autism spectrum, is a member of the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and on Tuesday she will present research she conducted with Cal Lutheran associate professor of psychology Jodie Kocur on supporting college students with autism in Washington, D.C., and in a webcast. In 2015, the American College Personnel Association recognized the Camarillo resident for her influential research.

Brennan began her career as an instructional aide in a program for students with significant disabilities and went on to earn a master’s degree and doctorate in special education. The Westlake Village resident is an expert on supporting students with autism and inclusive classrooms for students with disabilities.

The idea for the center grew out of the enthusiastic response to the Spectrum of Opportunity: Autism, Inclusion and Communication Conference, which Cal Lutheran presented in March. More than 400 people from Florida, New Jersey, Texas and throughout California attended. The speakers included people with autism who have learned to communicate through alternative methods and educators who work with students who type.

The opening of the center will be celebrated at a free event at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 on the Thousand Oaks campus featuring a keynote presentation by the author of “NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity.” The second Spectrum of Opportunity conference will be held Oct. 8.

For more information, email autismcenter@callutheran.edu or visit callutheran.edu/autism.

California Lutheran University is launching a Center for Nonprofit Leadership to provide needed training for the region’s charities.

Dena Jenson, who led the former Center for Nonprofit Leadership at the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF), is the director.

The Cal Lutheran center’s primary focus will be affordable professional development workshops for nonprofit board members, staff and volunteers. The sessions will provide hands-on training in management skills and opportunities to connect and collaborate with peers. Jenson and volunteers who are respected leaders in their fields will lead the workshops, which are scheduled to begin in September. Additional resources for nonprofits will be available online.

The center will offer workshops at Cal Lutheran’s main campus in Thousand Oaks, where it is based, and at the university’s Oxnard Center. Funding will come from participation fees, memberships, corporate sponsorships, grants and donations.

Nonprofits constitute a vital segment of the community. In Ventura County alone, there are more than 3,300 registered nonprofits ranging from all-volunteer efforts to large organizations such as hospitals and universities. They account for $2.6 billion in annual revenue and $5 billion in assets.

“Investing in the nonprofit sector and its leaders is more important than ever, and it would be hard to find a more effective investment with such lasting returns,” Jenson said.

Jenson was the vice president and director of the VCCF Center for Nonprofit Leadership from 2005 until it closed in September. The center, which was launched 25 years ago, served more than 800 organizations each year under her direction. Cal Lutheran is working with VCCF as it moves forward with plans for the new center.

“We’re incredibly fortunate that Dena has agreed to serve as director,” said Cal Lutheran President Chris Kimball. “Her considerable experience will enable us to hit the ground running on this critical endeavor.”
For the last year, Jenson has been the interim executive director of the Alliance for the Arts. Prior to joining VCCF, the Ventura resident served as program and public policy director at the Perinatal Advisory Council in Los Angeles and as program director for the Los Angeles County Department of Health. She has also lectured at Cal Lutheran and Pepperdine University. She has served on the California Association of Nonprofits Board of Directors and is a past chair of the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

A public event celebrating the center’s opening will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in Lundring Events Center on the Thousand Oaks campus. For more information on the center, contact Jenson at djenson@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3677.

Fillmore Unified School District Adult Education Program Offers Child Care Assistant Summer Intensive Classes
In collaboration with Ventura College and the Ventura County Community College District, FUSD will fund Ventura College to provide the two initial qualifying courses for fifteen child care assistants who plan to work in accredited institutions in a 32-hour per week intensive program beginning July 18th through August 4th, 2016.

The classes will be taught by Ventura College instructors at the Fillmore Adult School located on the Sierra High School campus. Students who successfully complete the program will earn six units of Early Childhood Education credit, which makes them eligible to work as Preschool Instructional Assistants. To qualify for the training, students must possess high school diplomas and be proficient in English.

FUSD will be starting six full-day preschool classes for 2016-2017 school year. Child Care Assistants will be needed for this preschool program.

For additional information, please contact the Fillmore Adult School at (805) 524-8232. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Thousands of educators and administrators around the state will spend part of their summer vacations coming together to exchange ideas about their shared passion: education.

The 2016 “Better Together” California Teachers Summit is a free statewide day of learning that will take place on Friday, July 29 at 38 locations around California, including CSU Channel Islands (CI).

Running from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, the Summit is open to all California Pre-K teachers, teacher candidates, school administrators and other educators.

One of the keynote speakers is Kelly Gallagher, an author and consultant who works with educators around the world and is considered one of the leading voices in literacy education.

Gallagher is former co-director of the South Basin Writing project at CSU Long Beach and author of several books including “Reading Reasons: Motivational Mini-Lessons for Middle and High School;” “Deeper Reading: Comprehending Challenging Texts, 4-12;” and “Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It.”

CI “Better Together” coordinator Dianne Wilson-Graham, Executive Director for the California Physical Education-Health Project, said many of the sessions will be centered on how to implement current state priorities such as the California Standards in English/Language Arts and Math and the Next Generation Science Standards.

“Teachers are making adjustments to major shifts in education,” Wilson-Graham said. “Common Core is shifting more toward the 21st Century learner. Facts are less important; they’re readily available to us. Now students need more focus on skills and knowledge related to using information and collaborating with others.”

The Summit will feature two local educators who will do keynote “Ed Talks,” which are funny, poignant, informative or otherwise inspiring presentations designed to ignite group discussions.

Teachers will then participate in group discussions called “Ed Camps” in which professional educators pick topics ranging from technology in the classroom to improving literacy in early education to boosting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) training. Each participant can gravitate toward the session that best addresses his or her needs.

“As California embraces new ways of teaching and learning, teachers want more opportunities to connect with and learn from their peers,” said Ellen Moir, Founder and CEO of New Teacher Center. “Summit attendees will join a growing network of teachers teaching teachers, giving them the opportunity to be both the experts and the learners.”

The day is made possible through the unique partnership of New Teacher Center (NTC); The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICCU); and the California State University (CSU) system.

The inaugural “Better Together” summit in 2015 drew more than 15,000 educators statewide with about 250 filling every seat at CI’s “Better Together” summit.

The first summit was such a success, organizers are preparing for even more participation in this year’s event.

Wilson-Graham said organizers expect to draw at least 350 to the CI location.

“This event is well-timed to meet teachers’ needs to come together and learn with others. Teachers are learners themselves,” Wilson-Graham said. “When they get a little time off, they’re eager to learn more about their craft.”

If you are interested in attending this year’s Better Together summit, RSVP by clicking on: http://cateacherssummit.com/.

Photo of “Better Together” inaugural 2015 summit courtesy Ventura County Star

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

After years of work and planning, CSU Channel Islands (CI) is announcing the launch of its own Engineering Program.

President Richard R. Rush and Assembly member Jacqui Irwin (D—Thousand Oaks) will make the formal announcement on July 20 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Sierra Hall on the CI campus.

“We could not be more proud to announce the addition of an engineering program at CI,” said President Richard R. Rush. “This University exists to serve the needs of the surrounding community, and now CI can deliver quality graduates to fill hundreds of engineering jobs available each year in Ventura County. On a personal note, I consider it privilege to welcome this long-anticipated program before my last day as President of this University.”

Rush, who retires on Aug. 8, worked with Irwin as she sought support in Sacramento.

Locally, Rush met with community leaders who stressed the need for an engineering program in Ventura County.

After Irwin was elected in 2014, the two began laying the groundwork to meet that need.

In 2012, University officials conducted a needs assessment study and discovered that about half of Ventura County companies planned to hire engineers. In addition, the state Employment Development Department indicated that almost 300 new engineers are needed any given year in Ventura County.

“I really pushed it last year in the Assembly,” Irwin said. “I was able to talk to budget chairs about the need in Ventura County. We have a military base and all of these companies in need of qualified engineers. But what really made the argument is that Channel Islands is heavily female and has a significant Latino population and both of those groups are under-represented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields.”

In May of 2015, Irwin proposed that $1.5 million be allocated with roughly $500,000 per year used to cover three years of start-up costs, such as hiring faculty members and lab support. In June, the state legislature approved the use of $500,000 in the $117.2 billion state budget for CI to begin its engineering program.

The new major will be called “Mechatronics Engineering” and will be housed under the Computer Science Department ” according to Computer Science Chair Michael Soltys, Ph.D.

“Mechatronics is a fast-growing area of engineering that is interdisciplinary by nature, as it combines aspects of mechanics, control theory, computer science and electronics,” Soltys said. “This knowledge enables engineers to optimize the design and functionality of systems as well as making them more economical and reliable. Industrial robots and drones are quintessential examples of mechatronics systems as they include aspects of electronics, mechanics and computing.”

CI is strategically located on the so-called “101 Tech Corridor,” which includes companies such as Amgen, Haas, Teledyne Technologies, HRL Laboratories and many other tech companies, not to mention Point Mugu and Port Hueneme Naval bases, as well as Lockheed, Rocketdyne and other companies in the greater Los Angeles area.

Irwin said this investment in CI’s program is an investment in the entire region as these will be “home-grown” engineers who are more likely to stay in the area, strengthening Ventura County’s business environment.

“Ventura County becomes an ecosystem,” Irwin said. “Not only are they going to stay here, they will likely start their own companies and this ecosystem will attract outside companies who would like to come into this area.”

The program is targeted to begin accepting applications for fall of 2018. Graduates in a specialized engineering field can expect median annual wages of $92,680 as of May of 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Irwin said she is pleased to be joining President Rush as he makes this announcement.

“It is so fitting this is his last major announcement,” she said. “He should get full credit. He is the one who reached out to the community and learned there was a great need. His leaving is bittersweet, but he leaves on a very high note.”

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

CSU Channel Islands (CI), the University Preparation Charter School (UPS) at CSU Channel Islands (CI) and the Ocean View School District have been awarded a grant by the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation to expand practice-based training for new K-8 teachers in implementing the state’s math and science standards.

University Prep School Director Charmon Evans said the grant will be used to formalize partnerships between CI and school districts, where future teachers are being prepared.

Among other things, the grant will support what’s known as a “residency model” of teacher preparation.

CI Interim Dean of the School of Education Merilyn Buchanan, Ph.D., said that means student teachers stay with the same school all year.

“The student teachers work as co-teachers in the classroom,” Buchanan said. “Right from the onset, they are introduced as the second teacher in the classroom. They get to attend parent conferences and other things that student teachers don’t get to do in the traditional student teaching model.”

The grant, which has a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focus, will also support professional teachers as they pursue advanced National Board Certification.

CI is among 11 California State University (CSU) campuses earning S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation grants.

“Connection with the community is in our DNA at CI, and this program for our professional and student teachers is an excellent example of that” said CI President Richard R. Rush “Our long-term goal is to prepare highly qualified new teachers for schools throughout the region, and together, we can achieve our ambitious plan.”

The grant will fund a weeklong summer symposium for teachers who are integrating the new science and math standards into their classrooms, Buchanan said. It will also launch math and science evenings that will include parents.

CI Assistant Professor of Special Education Michelle Dean-Lorenzini, Ph.D., is lead teacher on the grant and has been working closely with Evans and Ocean View Superintendent Craig Helmstedter, Ph.D.

Investments made by the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation will expand the CSU’s New Generation of Educators Initiative (NGEI), an initiative focused on preparing highly qualified math and science teachers for the elementary and middle grades – the formative years in the educational pipeline that lay a foundation for students’ long-term success and college and career readiness.

“We applaud CSU Channel Islands, University Prep School and the Ocean View School District for this bold effort that will benefit students across the entire region for decades to come,” said Loren Blanchard, CSU executive vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.

For more information on the NGEI, visit http://teachingcommons.cdl.edu/CSUNewGen/.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

Amgen biotechnology pilot program a success for FHS students
Courtesy Steven Geddes
Teacher, Amgen Biotech Summer Experience 2016

The week of June 20th Fillmore High School completed a successful Amgen biotechnology pilot program, the “Amgen Biotech Summer Experience” (ABSE). ABSE serves incoming freshman students from diverse backgrounds who are preparing for their first year at Fillmore High School. The intensive course lasts five full days, during which students are introduced to biotechnology theory, practice, and laboratory techniques.

In a safe and controlled laboratory setting, students used sophisticated procedures (including the use of micropipettes, gel electrophoresis, gene cloning, transforming bacteria with recombinant plasmids, and verifying results using column chromatography) to produce bacterial cultures that glow with a red fluorescent protein (rfp) normally found in sea anemones. Using recombinant DNA in bacteria for rfp production reflects, albeit on a smaller scale, the process used by Amgen in its production of human insulin for the treatment of illnesses, such as diabetes.

ABSE was a fun and productive learning experience for everyone involved. Our 28 students completed the program with fantastic results. Throughout the week, they received help from four well-trained and effective incoming sophomores, Ariana Schieferle, Mireya Avila, Savanna Garcia, and James Chandler. Carol Fujita, a former AP Biology teacher and current Amgen Biotech Experience site coordinator, provided instruction and distribution of equipment and materials. Karin Steinhauer provided much-needed technical and distribution support throughout the week. Leading up to the ABSE week, FHS biology teacher Nichia Huxtable was not only crucial to bringing ABSE to the high school, she also provided the classroom space for the program. Fillmore Middle School’s eighth grade science teachers, Emily DuBois and Ashley McClain, were instrumental in providing incoming freshman students an opportunity to apply for ABSE. Finally, FHS Principal Tom Ito supported the program throughout its inception and execution.

Ultimately, this experience offered students who wouldn’t otherwise have been exposed to sophisticated biotechnology an opportunity to learn from and contribute to a challenging classroom laboratory, which will directly and positively impact their ability to engage in their future college and career pathways.

It’s that time again – REGISTRATION TIME!!!

We need help again this year, so if you have a day or two or even a couple of hours we can use all the help we can get .

Wednesday, August 10th – 8:30 – 3:30

Seniors: A-H 9:00 a.m.
I-P 9:30 a.m.
Q-Z 10:00 a.m.

Juniors: A-H 10:30 a.m.
I-P 11:00 a.m.
Q-Z 11:30 a.m.

LUNCH BREAK 12:00 – 1:00

Sophomores A-H 1:15 p.m.
I - P 1:45 p.m.
Q-Z 2:15 p.m.

Thursday, August 11th - Freshmen Orientation & Registration

The 9th graders will have an assembly in the morning . They will begin to register at 11:00

Registration 11:00 – 3:00

We need help beginning at 10:30. We will not get a lunch break that day (I’ll see if we can get the firemen to add a few extra hot dogs on the BBQ – They are feeding the freshmen!)
 
Please let me know via email if you are able to help! The office will be closed until July 25th, but I will check my emails during my time off.

I know that registration coincides with fair again this year. I am sorry, but at least students will be back from fair in time to start school the following week. If your student is at the fair, and he/she has any free time on Wednesday from 9 – 2:30 or Thursday from 11 – 2:30, please feel free to have them come in to get their picture taken and turn in their paperwork. They might not be able to get their books, but they will be able to get their ID card and turn in all the paperwork.

On Thursday, June 2nd the drama students from Fillmore Middle School had the amazing opportunity to attend the Acting 101 Class at the Disneyland Resort. Students were taken backstage to a rehearsal space, and had a private acting seminar with teaching artist and Disney TV actor, Scott Dreier. Mr. Dreier started by stressing the importance of actors being prepared and being easy to work with, if they want to be successful. He then led students through acting warm-ups, how to “slate” for an audition, and coached them through audition scenes to practice enhancing their performances with direction. With his guidance, students added complex emotional backstories to their characters to enhance their performances and make them more engaging. Mr.Dreier challenged students to be fearless, and students rose to the occasion delivering some of their best performances of the year. At the end of the session, Mr.Dreier answered student questions about working in theatre, film, voice over, and television, and shared some of his experiences working in the industry. Students had a fun and inspirational day, and Disney staff were so impressed with the students’ enthusiasm and dedication to acting, they remarked that Fillmore students were the best group they had ever seen go through the workshop. At the conclusion of the workshop, students were presented with a plaque honoring their commitment to the Performing Arts. It was truly a great day for Fillmore Middle School Drama students.

On Thursday, June 2, from 3:30 – 5:30pm, the MERITO Foundationwill award prizes to the top 12 teams of middle and high school students from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties who authored energy efficiency or other sustainability project proposals for their school campuses at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura, CA. Glenn Hening, Founder of Surfrider Foundation will serve as keynote speaker at this inaugural event. Project sponsored by EPA, NOAA, NAAEE, MERITO Foundation and supported by 5 school districts including Fillmore Unified SD.

The awards ceremony and celebration will recognize the creativity, innovation, work and environmental stewardship of students and teachers participating in the EECCCOA (Energy Efficiency to Mitigate Climate Change and Ocean Acidification) program during the 2015-2016 school year. The top twelve project proposals that provide a plan to reduce the carbon footprint of their school campuses will be presented with cash and in-kind prizes for each student group.

The following schools will have students present or display their project proposals: Buena and Ventura High Schools (Ventura), Haydock Middle School (Oxnard), Fillmore High School (Fillmore),Santa Barbara High School (Santa Barbara), Anacapa Middle School (Ventura), and Rigethii High School (Santa Maria). Project proposals authored by the awarded students are innovative, realistic, and attainable according to each school campus needs and realities and when implemented will all make an environmental and economic difference.

About MERITO Foundation:
MERITO (Multicultural Education for Resources Issues Threatening Oceans) Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Ventura, CA, dedicated to protecting the ocean by facilitating education, conservation and scientific research opportunities to multicultural youth and their communities. MERITO strives to enhance ocean and climate science literacy among multicultural communities while supporting marine research and conservation in order to promote healthy ocean ecosystems and inspire the new generation of ocean professionals.
For more information, please visit www.meritofoundation.org

About EECCOA (Energy Efficiency to Mitigate Climate Change and Ocean Acidification) Program:
EECCOA is a project-based science education program of the MERITO Foundation that provides energy, climate and ocean literacy services and products to 8th – 12th grade teachers and their students. EECCOA empowers students to address climate change and ocean acidification by providing them the tools to research, design and innovate Energy Efficiency or other sustainability models their schools can adopt, or develop Ocean Acidification (OA) awareness campaigns that inform their communities.

For more information, please visit www.meritofoundation.org/services/eeccoa

Ventura College Water Science and Environmental Technology Department Associate Professor and Program Chair Dr. Richard Forde and students Tristan Anderson, Domanique Madrid, Brianna Ruiz, Dawn Gottschalt, and Garrett Russeil presented research on clean water solutions to more than 6,000 attendees at the American Water Works Association meeting in Sacramento, California.

The AWWA is the largest water agency in the world. It creates the standards and terminology for the water industry for all 50 states and Canada. Ventura College students made such an impression that the AWWA has inquired about forming internships for the Water Science and Environmental Technology program and students from the University of California, Davis and California State University, Sacramento are interested in taking classes in the program.

“This research involves developing equipment and methodology using over-the-counter products to filter dirty water through diatomaceous earth to clean the water,” said Forde. “The idea is to provide clean drinking water to people in developing nations.”

“We are so proud of the work these outstanding students have put into this project,” added Ventura College President Dr. Greg Gillespie. “They will complete their work by the end of the semester and hope to publish their findings.”

“Some of these people have never had a glass of clean water or washed their hands in clear water,” added Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees Larry Kennedy, Chair. “This research will make a tremendous difference in the lives and health of so many people.”

The Water Science program provides students with the technical training they need to pursue a career in the municipal potable water and wastewater industries. Waterworks operators protect public health by ensuring that plant operations comply with state and federally mandated drinking water and wastewater disposal standards.

Ventura College, an accredited two-year institution of higher education, has been a part of the beautiful seaside community of Ventura, California, since 1925. It is conveniently located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. The 112-acre campus, set in the rolling hills of Ventura, has an enrollment of 14,500 students. Ventura College offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences Degrees in 33 majors, and Certificates of Completion and Proficiency Awards in 61 areas of study. Ventura College also has Transfer Guarantee Agreements with CSUCI, CSUN, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz. Class schedules are posted at www.venturacollege.edu. For more information, contact the Ventura College Welcome Center at 805.289.6420.

Ventura County Office of Education

Teachers from throughout Ventura County are being honored with $14,000 in grants for developing innovative lessons for their students. At a ceremony Wednesday night in Oxnard, the Ventura County Office of Education presented 21 IMPACT II grants to teachers from nine schools in four local districts. The grants are funded by local businesses and organizations that wish to promote unique and creative teaching practices.
The 15 winners were selected from 63 applicants by judging teams comprised of educators and community members. The winning applications cover topics ranging from art to physics.
2016 Ventura County IMPACT II Grant Recipients:

Sponsor: SAGE
Participants: Christa Lamb and Kari White
School: Colina Middle School
Grant Title: Bugging Out

Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Ivy Brown and Jessica Murphy
School: Ventura Charter School
Grant Title: Celebrating Californians Both Past and Present

Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Peter Daland
School: Moorpark High School
Grant Title: Economics of Starting a Small Business in Moorpark, California

Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Kevin Downey and Joel Levin
School: Buena High School
Grant Title: Making Records in the Digital Age: Recording and Sharing Student
Voices

Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Dave DeLos Santos, Debbie Maulhardt and Ernie Rodriquez
School: R.J. Frank Academy of Marine Science and Engineering
Grant Title: If You Have Knowledge, Let Others Light Their Candles in It

Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Debbie Maulhardt
School: R.J. Frank Academy of Marine Science and Technology
Grant Title: "Knowledge is Having the Right Answers, Intelligence is asking the
Right Questions"

Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Cathie Kourounis and Julie Roland
School: St. Paschal Baylon School
Grant Title: Math + Reading = Art

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Allan Viscarra
School: Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Grant Title: Do You Hear What I Hear?: An Investigation of Sound and
Vibration

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Jocelyn White, Diane Winter-Walorinta
School: Pacifica High School
Grant Title: Teaching Chemistry Through the Story of the Penny

Sponsor: SAGE
Participants: Laurie Curtis-Abbe
School: Anacapa Middle School
Grant Title: Read Across America Middle School & Elementary Schools
Collaboration

Sponsor: SAGE
Participants: Tiffany Armas, Karen Davis, Angela Jaquez and Kathy Wadley
School: La Mariposa Elementary
Grant Title: Let's S'more About Animals

Sponsor: SAGE
Participants: Jennifer Dobbie
School: Isbell Middle School
Grant Title: There's an App for That! Apps and Time Travel

Sponsor: SAGE
Participants: Maria Geib
School: Junipero Serra School
Grant Title: Chumash Interactive Museum

Sponsor: SAGE
Participants: Monica Lukins
School: DATA
Grant Title: GMO Mission Impossible Project

Sponsor: Ventura County Reading Association
Participants: Kimberly Hansmeier
School: Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Grant Title: The Power of Publishing

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Clark Barnett
School: Lang Ranch Elementary
Grant Title: 3D Printed Entomology

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Laura Bingham and Holly Johnson
School: Ventura Charter School
Grant Title: Home Is Where The Habitat Is

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Jena Branstetter, Nancy Escamilla, Francis Flores, Peri Froedge
and Judy Neumann
School: E.P. Foster STEM Academy
Grant Title: 2nd Grade Engineers: Building a Boat that Floats

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Ashley Cooper and Toni Young
School: Thousand Oaks High School
Grant Title: Expressing Yourself: Creative Writing in Biology

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Beth McGrath
School: LCMS
Grant Title: Dynamic Earth Pyramid

Sponsor: Amgen
Participants: Steve Rowley
School: Mound Elementary School
Grant Title: Healthy Farming = Healthy World
Special Awards
Title: Superintendent's Award
Sponsor: State Farm
Participants: Monica Lukins
School: De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts
Title: Ed Lyon Excellence in Education Award
Sponsor: Blois Construction
Participants: Jocelyn White and Diane Winter-Walorinta
School: Pacifica High School

More About IMPACT II

IMPACT II is a curriculum sharing and recognition program for educators in kindergarten through grade 12 in all subject areas. Since 1993, Ventura County educators have received more than $300,000 in sponsor-funded grants.
Educators submit grant proposals about classroom-tested curricula they have developed. Individual educators whose proposals are selected receive $500. Collaborative efforts receive $750. A committee of educators, school administrators and business partners select the most unique, innovative and ready-to-share ideas to receive the sponsored grants.

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.

Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) will bestow honors on high-achieving graduating seniors during its 2016 Honors Convocation, Saturday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the John Spoor Broome Library Plaza. The ceremony is open to all students earning honors and graduating from fall 2015 through summer 2016.

To receive honors at graduation, a student must have completed a minimum of 30 units at CI for a letter grade and earned a grade point average of 3.50 or above in all CI and transfer coursework. Graduates may receive honors at one of the following three levels: Cum Laude for GPAs of 3.50 – 3.74; Magna Cum Laude for GPAs of 3.75 – 3.89; and Summa Cum Laude for GPAs of 3.90 – 4.0.

CI also celebrates the outstanding achievements of graduating seniors in areas that span the campus. Graduating President’s Scholars will be recognized during the ceremony. The CI President’s Scholars Program provides stellar incoming students with a scholarship that is renewable for four years, and includes full resident fees, a generous textbook allowance, and the use of a laptop computer.

CI also recognizes outstanding students in each major with Program Honors, and acknowledges students with achievements in the areas of community engagement and integrative, multicultural, and international perspectives with Mission Center Awards. Graduating students who are members of the Mortar Board Four Pillars Chapter, the nation’s premier honor society, will also be recognized during the event.

Students and guests may park in any ‘A’ lot. Parking permits are not required during the event and citations will not be issued. Please follow the directional signs indicating event location and parking areas. Free bus service to and from the campus is also provided for attendees from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

For additional information, visit http://www.csuci.edu/provost/honorsconvocation.htm or contact Andrea Skinner, Curriculum Coordinator and APDB Coordinator at andrea.skinner@csuci.edu or 805-437-2749.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

MOORPARK, CA - America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is now accepting enrollment applications for its Junior Safari Summer Camp program that begins June 20 through August 5 for children entering grades 1st through 6th in fall 2016. Junior Safari Summer Camp allows campers the unique opportunity to interact with the Zoo’s animal collection while participating in age appropriate science-based learning experiences. Camp activities include animal presentations and handling opportunities, as well as art and science projects. Activities occur within the safety of Zoo grounds (7075 Campus Road, Moorpark, CA) under direct supervision of trained camp staff. Camp hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with “early bird” and “night owl” options available. All camp sessions begin with a drop-off/sign-in with a camp counselor.

Grade level (students going into that grade in fall 2016) and themes for summer 2016 include:
Grade 1st/2nd, June 20-24, Zookeeping 101
Grade 3rd/4th, June 27-July 1, Wild in the City
Grade 1st/2nd, July 4-8, Planet Superheroes
Grade 3rd/4th, July 11-15, Zookeeping 101
Grade 1st/2nd, July 18-22, Animal Detectives
Grade 3rd/4th, July 25-29, Animal Dream Jobs
Grade 5th/6th, Aug 1-5, Zookeeeping 101

For detailed information, camp availability, and registration forms, visit the “Teaching Zoo” at www.moorparkcollege.edu or contact Kris Romero, Zoo Operations Assistant at (805) 378-1441, kromero@vcccd.edu.

MOORPARK COLLEGE, one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District, was founded in 1967. It is set on 150 beautiful acres, nestled in the foothills on the southeastern flank of Ventura County, about 40 miles from UCLA, and approximately 75 miles from UC Santa Barbara. It is also a short drive from CSU Northridge, CSU Channel Islands, and California Lutheran University. Moorpark College was recognized in the Huffington Post in March of 2015 as the fourth-best community college in the nation. It has an excellent reputation for university transfer preparation, and its signature career/technical programs include nursing, radiation technology, biotechnology, and exotic animal training, which incorporates the world-renowned America’s Teaching Zoo. The college also offers a dynamic range of classes and programs in the visual and performing arts, and its pristine athletic fields and mild climate provide an excellent home for student athletes.