Principal Chrissy Schieferlie and 4Th grader Nathan Granados.

As students arrived for school at the drop of area Thursday morning they noticed something special had arrived for picture day. A mommy wildcat had moved her family of three little kittens into a dry drain just under the sidewalk. The wild kittens appeared to be about 5 or 6 weeks old and looked liked "little gray tigers". After the students settled into class the wildcat family was rescued from the drain and were placed in loving homes. Mountain Vista's school mascot is the "Wildcat", how perfect that cats showed up for picture day.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., Sept. 9 - In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Police department at CSU Channel Islands will be hosting a personal preparedness forum and fair to help individuals deal with emergencies that may arise. The forum and fair will take place on Sept. 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the South Quad of the campus. Students, faculty, staff, residents of University Glen, and the general public are encouraged to attend.

The forum provides an opportunity to hear preparedness professionals from the American Red Cross, Ventura County Public Health and the Citizen Emergency Response Team discuss important ways to be ready for an emergency.

With the threats of wildfires, earthquakes, and the H1N1 virus, individuals need to be prepared to take action, making a personal or family plan to deal with such contingencies in the home, neighborhood, workplace and school. They also need to create an emergency kit with appropriate supplies to get through the time when help may not be immediately available.

During September the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, sponsor of National Preparedness Month, is focusing on increasing public awareness on the importance of CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif. Sept. 8 – California State University Channel Islands announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently honored Dr. Blake Gillespie, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, with the prestigious NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award.

The award, a five-year, $920,552 grant in recognition of Gillespie’s teaching and research in protein-ligand interactions and biomolecular dynamics, is supported by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Gillespie’s project, ‘Binding and Biomolecular Dynamics in Undergraduate Teaching and Research,’ examines how proteins are affected by other molecules they encounter in the cell. Gillespie explained that he was focused on the forces that make biological molecules function or malfunction, that make proteins fold and unfold. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Mad Cow are examples of proteins not folding properly. An understanding of this process will allow us to re-engineer biological molecules to do a better or different job,” maintains Gillespie.

Gillespie’s lab deals with the fundamentals of molecular biophysics. Many of his experiments and research will be woven directly into the curriculum of several CI science courses. Dr. Gillespie’s award will provide the University’s students in regular classes with CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif. Sept. 1 – California State University Channel Islands will present on Sept. 9 the results of the Camarillo Certified Farmers Market Patron Survey, developed through a University-community partnership between Camarillo Hospice and students and faculty in the sociology program at CSU-CI.

Students and faculty in the sociology program will formally present the results of the research study to representatives of Camarillo Hospice. The report will be presented by Dr. Dennis Downey, Associate Professor of Sociology, and by student Sara Griffin. The public event, which is co-sponsored by the University’s Center for Community Engagement, will be held on campus at 12 noon in the Martin V. Smith Center for Integrative Decision-Making.

Camarillo Hospice created the farmers market for the benefit of the community and local farmers and to provide additional revenue for the hospice operation.

This joint project was designed to give sociology students actual research survey experience and provide Camarillo Hospice with community-oriented data that CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
5:15 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NONAGENDA ITEMS, PETITIONS
IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION Conference with Legal Council – Existing Litigation (Government Code 54956.9)
Case 56-2008-0033-4613-ca-po-vta Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Government Code 54956.8)
707 First Street CONTINUED »

Nine hundred ten students have been named to the Ventura College Dean’s List for the Spring 2009 semester, according to Dr. Robin Calote, college president. To earn this honor, a student must have achieved a 3.5 or higher grade point average (GPA) while carrying 12 or more units. Thirty are from Fillmore and Piru.

Those students so honored are:

Fillmore: Omar Camacho, Shannon Carpenter, Jennifer Chavez, Curtis Cole, Allison Conroy, Eddie Enriquez, Aaron Galvan, Jessica Gonzalez, Bud Gurkweitz, Brenda Hernandez, Bibiana Herrera, Marco Hurtado, Denise Magana, Brian McKeown, Justin Murray, Shihori Nakayama, Michael Pankey, Tania Perez, Amanda Ramirez, Gisela Ramirez, Erika Reyes, Rebecca Reyes, Allison Stuthers-Sanchez, Amy Von Rader,

Piru: Maria Cisneros, Maria Cisneros, Sara Lara, Luis Lechuga, Maria Robles, Leticia Viveros.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., Aug. 20, 2009 – California State University Channel Islands will introduce a new course in microfinance beginning fall 2009 available to both the community and CSUCI students. The new course will explore the theory and practice of microfinance; the history, those involved, the impact, and next stages of microfinance around the world. Guest speakers from the most prominent microfinance organizations in the country will be leading each class.

Microfinance started out as small loans that helped the poor start a business, earn income, build assets and move from mere survival to planning for their future. It has expanded to savings, mortgages and many other products. Deutsche Bank estimates that over 100 million poor people have benefited from microfinance. However, $250 billion is needed to enable the billion people who live on less than $1 a day to work their way out of poverty.

The course will be held every other Thursday from CONTINUED »

Fillmore High School’s Back to School Night will be on Thursday, August 27, 2009 from 6:30 – 8:15. All parents and community members are invited to meet the FHS teachers and staff. Meet in the Quad at 6:30. The Cross Country and Girls Basketball teams will host a Fundraiser BBQ Dinner from 4:30 – 6:30 that includes shredded beef, rice, beans and salad. Tickets are $8.00 and can be purchased at the high school or from any Cross County or Girls Basketball team member.

Camarillo, CA - California State University Channel Islands will unveil its new logos at the annual Welcome to CI event scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 23 for incoming students and their families, faculty, and staff. The event will take place on the South Quad of the campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rebranding of the University’s logos began a year ago with the idea of creating a formal logo for official University business and a CI logo for students, something with which they could have a life-long affinity.

“CSU Channel Islands has made significant strides the past seven years in building the campus and stellar academic programs. Branding that achievement was a priority for us this past year. However, in light of state budget challenges, we looked for cost-effective ways the University could re-brand itself as an innovative and forward thinking University and build upon our reputation of providing quality academic programs for our students,” said President Richard R. Rush. CONTINUED »

Superintendent Jack-O'Connell
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

LOS ANGELES/SAN DIEGO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today released the results of the 2009 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program that show California students overall continue to make steady academic progress in English-language arts, math, science, and history-social science.

“I am pleased and encouraged to see that for the seventh year in a row, California public school students continue to improve,” O’Connell said. “Half of our students are now proficient in English-language arts. This is particularly impressive if you consider that seven years ago, only 35 percent of students met this bar. The improvement trend in mathematics is also impressive, with 46 percent of students now at the proficient or above level.

“California is known nationally for the rigor of our academic standards, and this level of student achievement on our California Standards Tests should be celebrated. It is the result of hard work by teachers, administrators, school support staff, students, and parents. CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
5:15 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NONAGENDA ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the Board. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.
IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6) CONTINUED »

Jeff Sweeney
Superintendent Fillmore Unified School District

Dear Parents,
It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to the 2009-10 school year! The opening of a new school year is an exciting time of the year. It is a time of renewal, of fresh starts. The Fillmore Unified School District teachers, administrators and support staff look forward to meeting you and your student on Wednesday, August 19, as we begin to work together to maximize your student’s academic opportunities.

As always, the weeks of summer are full of activity. Our staff has been busy preparing classrooms, participating on interview panels, repairing and maintaining facilities, teaching summer school, attending workshops that will improve student performance, and all of the other countless activities that help to prepare for a smooth opening day. The efforts of our dedicated employees are evident in all areas of the District.

The 2008-09 school year ended with staff working together to achieve many successes and in some instances, creating opportunities for growth. The following are a few of our accomplishments:

San Cayetano Elementary School participated in a robotics competition and had two student teams finish first and fourth overall. CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA - California State University Channel Islands will present a lecture series in Entertainment Industry available to both the community and CSUCI students. The series of eight lectures will feature successful and prominent professionals in the areas of film, music, animation, video gaming, and television. Some of the guest speakers will include:

Mark Hartley – Music Manager, Fitzgerald Hartley Co. (clients include Brad Paisley and LeAnn Rimes)
Budd Carr – Film Music Supervisor, Picture Tunes Music Co. (known for his Oliver Stone films)
Neil Portnow – President and CEO, The Recording Academy (The Grammys)
Steve Schnur – Music and Marketing President, Electronic Arts
Don Passman – Attorney: Gang, Tyre, Ramer, and Brown Inc. (clients include Janet Jackson and R.E.M)
Kevin Jones – Former Senior Vice President, Columbia Pictures
**Orly Adelson – President, Dick Clark Productions

The lectures will be held every other Wednesday from 8 to 9:50 p.m. beginning Aug. 26 at CSU Channel Islands, Aliso Hall. Dates of subsequent lectures are scheduled for: Sept. 2, 16 and 30; Oct. 14 and 28; Nov. 18, and Dec. 2. Cost for the lecture series is $150 and tickets may be purchased on-line at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77494 or by calling 800-838-3006. Proceeds from the lecture series will support the University’s Entertainment Studies.

For additional information about the lecture series contact Nichole Ipach, Director of University Development at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-8893 or nichole.ipach@csuci.edu.

Last week's story about the FUSD School Board contained some misleading information. The five Special Education Instructional Assistants' increases in work time were for 2009 summer school, not the regular 2009-2010 school year.

Superintendent Jack-O'Connell
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today announced that California received a $71.6 million federal grant from the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) State Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

“Teachers who effectively use technology to enhance learning are needed to help prepare students for success in the hypercompetitive global economy,” said O’Connell. “I appreciate President Barack Obama’s and Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s support for education technology and thank the U.S. Department of Education for granting California this award. This will certainly help improve the educational experience for California students during these economically challenging times.”

EETT’s primary goal is to improve student achievement through the use of instructional technologies in elementary and secondary schools. Other goals include helping all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade and to integrate technology with teacher training and curriculum development to establish research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented. CONTINUED »