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March 5 , 2018 EDCAL 7
2018 Civic Learning Award recipients announced
The California Department of Education announced the 74 schools that won one of 2018 ’ s Civic Learning Awards , celebrating public schools ’ efforts to engage students in civic learning . Now in its sixth year , the awards program is co-sponsored by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and Chief Justice of California Tani G . Cantil-Sakauye .
“ These schools provide great examples of how to creatively and effectively teach civics to our students ,” Torlakson said . “ Civics is a critical component of our education system . It helps prepare our students for college , and also to be active participants in civic life , which is critical to maintaining a vibrant democracy .”
“ It is inspiring to see so many schools developing the next generation of leaders through civic education ,” Cantil-Sakauye said . “ In the end , civics education promotes civic engagement .”
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye visits all the schools receiving Awards of Excellence , the highest level , which include :
• El Camino Creek Elementary in San Diego County , where all students participated in classroom-based mock trials and collaborated on building a mock courtroom on their campus as part of a school-wide focus on justice .
• Oak Grove Middle School in San Diego County , which simulated congressional hearings where students prepared and answered ( as a team ) a series of questions from adult judges to defend their positions on current political or school policy issues .
• John Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in Los Angeles County , where students presented proposed legislation and requests for grant funding to tackle specific local issues such as drought , transportation and waste disposal .
In addition to the Awards of Excellence , six schools received Awards of Distinction , and 65 schools received Awards of Merit . Launched at the Civic Learning California Summit in 2013 , the awards have recognized more than 200 schools . More information on the Civic Education Initiative may be found on the CDE ’ s Civic Education webpage at https :// goo . gl / U7cLJy .
Award of Excellence : El Camino Creek Elementary –
Encinitas Union SD Oak Grove Middle School – Jamul-
Dulzure Union SD
John Marshall Fundamental Secondary School – Pasadena USD
Award of Distinction : Flora Vista Elementary – Encinitas
Union SD Laurel Street Elementary – Compton
USD South Junior High – Anaheim Union
HSD Rio Linda Preparatory Academy – Twin
Rivers USD East Palo Alto Academy – Sequoia
Union HSD
Adolfo Camarillo High – Oxnard Union HSD
Award of Merit : Hayward Community School – Alameda
COE Achieve Charter School – Achieve
Charter Schools of Paradise Little Chico Creek Elementary – Chico
USD Antioch Charter Academy – Antioch
Charter Academy Sunset High – Del Norte County USD Sierra Elementary – Placerville Union
SD Baird Middle School – Fresno USD Century Elementary , Cole Elementary , Freedom Elementary , Maple Creek Elementary , Tarpey Elementary – Clovis USD John Sutter Middle – Fowler USD Quail Lake Charter School – Sanger
USD Fortuna Middle School – Fortuna ESD Eastwood Elementary , John H . Nuffer Elementary , Julia B . Morrison Elementary – Norwalk-La Mirada USD
El Rancho High – El Rancho USD
Jefferson Elementary – Compton USD Road to Success Academy Camp Scott –
Los Angeles COE
Sierra Vista Middle School , Sparks Middle School , Sunset Elementary , Wedgeworth Elementary , Workman Elementary – Hacienda La Puente USD
Dale Junior High School , Oxford Academy , Savanna High School – Anaheim Union HSD
El Dorado High – Placentia-Yorba Linda USD
Laguna Beach High – Laguna Beach USD
Santiago Charter Middle School – Santiago Charter Middle School District
Arlington Regional Learning Center – Riverside COE
Clearwater Elementary , Innovative Horizons Charter – Perris ESD
James Madison Elementary , Ronald Reagan Elementary – Desert Sands USD
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Elementary ( NP3 ) – Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep District Rio Americano High – San Juan USD Sutter Middle School – Sacramento City
USD Anzar High – Aromas-San Juan USD Alta Loma High – Chaffey Joint Union
SD CAPS Expanded Learning , Golden
Valley Middle School – San Bernardino City USD
Colony High , Etiwanda High – Chaffey Joint Union HSD
Sultana Sports & Science Academy – Ontario-Montclair SD
De Portola Middle School , Dingeman Elementary , Perry Elementary – San Diego USD
La Costa Heights Elementary – Encinitas Union SD
Liberty Charter High – Literacy First Charter District
Spring Valley Academy – La Mesa- Spring Valley SD
Herbert Hoover Middle School – San
Francisco USD Hester School – Santa Clara COE JL Stanford Middle School – Palo Alto
USD Morgan Hill Adult ED – Morgan Hill
USD Summit Tahoma High – East Side
Union SD Armijo High – Fairfield-Suisun USD Benicia High – Benicia USD Jesse Bethel High – Vallejo City USD Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy
– Kairos Public Schools District Vanden High – Travis USD Hollow Hills Fundamental , Madera
Elementary – Simi Valley USD
Green technology webinar coming soon
Learning styles change over time . It ' s important that educational buildings can also change as needed to accommodate new ways of teaching and learning . Join Green Technology March 8 for the webinar , “ Open Building : Creating Resilient Learning Environments .” This is billed as an exciting opportunity for you to discover how this design strategy can give schools the ability to adapt their facilities to accommodate evolving needs and instructional approaches . Visit www . green-technology . org / product / open-building for details .
INCLUSION
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pusher , beverage dispenser , pastry identifier , cash register operator and hostess / host .
“ Because there are so many different jobs , the students must learn how to work together as a team ,” she said .
Cobb said Happy Cup also helps campus staff members improve their communications skills with students with disabilities .
“ When you meet a student , who doesn ’ t speak and uses a communication device , you don ’ t know what to say ,” she said . “ The more our kids talk to others and the more people learn to interact with people who have different needs than they do , they learn that everyone is the same .” Life Skills Prom
For the past seven years , the school ’ s Associated Student Body has helped coordinate a Prom for the Life Skills program , complete with food provided by the school ’ s food services department , a slide show and decorations by Circle of Friends , and decorations and music provided by ASB . Students with and without disabilities attend , as general education students are encouraged to ask students in the Life Skills program to the dance .
Raymond Andrade , who is a new special education instructional aide , helped start the Prom when he was a student at SBHS .
“ When a parent finds out they have a child with a disability , they may wonder if their child will go to Prom , drive a car or get married , milestones that otherwise may be taken for granted ,” Cobb said .
Life Skills Prom becomes a milestone event in which students with disabilities can participate and have as a lifelong memory .
Gifted Soccer The newest inclusion effort on campus is Gifted Soccer , which senior varsity soccer player and peer teacher Mariana Magana created to give students with disabilities the opportunity to play a competitive game in the main campus quad – complete with a cheering section of students on their lunch break . Magana and other members of the soccer team set up goals for the squad and give them red and white jerseys for the games , which are scheduled throughout the Spring semester .
At the first game , a DJ provided pregame music and a large crowd cheered the players ’ every move , with the varsity soccer squad always nearby to help direct the action .
“ The continuum of inclusion for students with severe disabilities is beneficial for all demographics on campus : students with disabilities , general education peers and adults ,” Cobb said . “ This is not a schooldriven situation . Everyone is in it together and inspired to do so . No one is required to have done any of these amazing things , they are just so incredible and so giving .”
San Benito HSD Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum , a former special education teacher himself , says the district has adopted four principles “ that provide a foundation for educational experiences in and out of the classroom : Rigor , Relevance , Relationships , and Inclusion . In every sense of the word , we are striving to operate by these foundational principles , and our inclusive school environment provides all of these .”
The district and its board of trustees could not be prouder of how the inclusion model is woven into the school culture , Tennenbaum said .
“ Our hope is that other schools and districts will embrace an inclusive environment for all students , thus helping society as a whole ,” he said .
This article was written by Adam Breen , San Benito High School District public information / community relations officer .