Project Based Learning in the Great Outdoors (PBL-GO) is a new teacher training program scheduled for August 3-6 in the Sequoia National Park. The program is designed to immerse teachers in the great outdoors and prepare them to lead their own PBL unit involving outdoor field trips and topics.

Circle J-Norris Ranch, the field study site of the SCICON program, is a partner in the training. According to Circle J Lead Teacher Nancy Bruce, “Teachers will spend three glorious days in Sequoia National Park working with like-minded teachers and resource experts. They will leave with a written PBL plan to engage students in outdoor learning, guided by the driving question created during the workshop.”

PBL-GO brings together teachers and resource experts to co-develop field studies that increase environmental literacy and project based learning skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. Presenters provide educational support and professional guidance for teachers to lead their students as they take on challenging environmental issues. Read more at www.tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

June 2014

Circle J joins Sequoia Environmental Education Directive to offer summer training

Project Based Learning in the Great Outdoors

T H E N E W S L E T T E R o f T H E T U L A R E C O U N T Y O F F I C E o f E D U C A T I O N

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(photo above) Students in Porterville High School’s Alternative Energy Resource Occupations (AERO) Academy were challenged to design and build a model sun/rain shelter for Circle J- Norris Ranch. Seniors in the Academy visited the ranch three times throughout the school year, engaging in selection of building sites, shelter design and building materials that would have minimal impact on the natural environment. Students worked in teams to complete the project, then presented their concepts, highlighting the special features of their shelters. All shelters were then subjected to wind-tunnel tests to ensure that the designs can withstand inclement weather.

PBL-GO REGISTRATION$200/teacher includes programs, camping, meals, and materials. Contact Sarah Schachter at Sequoia Natural History Assoc., (559) 565-4222 or sarah_schachter@sequoiahistory.org

Middle school students hesitantly emerged from the

limousines that transported them to the Slick Rock

Student Film Festival, moving cautiously toward the

red carpet walk and the entrance to the Visalia Fox

Theatre. In contrast, high school participants “owned”

the red carpet – posing for photographers and speaking

authoritatively in interviews with the videographer.

“Slick Rock is not only helping students develop as

filmmakers, but as confident young adults,” says

CHOICES Prevention Programs Supervisor Adam

Valencia. “Slick Rock gives participants the real world

experience they can use in college and career – the

experience of working creatively and collaboratively

with teammates and with members of the community.”

The Fox Theatre was abuzz with young filmmakers on

Saturday, May 17. Hundreds of students, parents and

teachers packed the theater for a chance to see which films

would claim the top prizes. The festival accepted films

from middle and high schools in seven central Valley

counties. Read more at www.tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

June 2014

Winners chosen in annual Slick Rock Student Film Festival

Over 400 videos submitted from seven counties

Mitchell Quiring of Bullard High School in Fresno was the winner of the “Best of Show” Award for his film It Affects Us All. Watch it at www.slickrockfestival.org.

Students show off 21st Century Learning skills in first annual project showcase

21st Century Museum projects wow visitors

Students from Mission Oak High School were a part of the first annual A Night at the 21st Century Museum, where they displayed their plans to host an elaborate party for fictional character Jay Gatsby.

This year, visitors to Scott Pierce’s junior English class at

Mission Oak High School in Tulare might have seen

students deeply engaged in phone conversations outside

his classroom. “Students could be heard posing all types of

questions,” Mr. Pierce reports. “For example, one might

overhear them asking the cost to rent a Lear Jet or an

elephant, or ‘What would Miss Gomez charge to appear at

our party?’”

Pierce had taken the class’s usual study of The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald and expanded it to include planning

an event worthy of Jay Gatsby himself. “The students

were given a budget of $500,000 to organize an incredible

party for Mr. Gatsby,” said Mr. Pierce. Every detail was to

be considered: the venue and the celebrity guest list. Read more at www.tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

Read more at www.tcoe.org

Teacher draws on her rich background to build life skills in adult students

Shirley Gowett wins Brent Rast AwardFor 15 years, Shirley Gowett has been a teacher in a variety of special education classrooms throughout the county – primarily working with students in grades 1-6. This year, she accepted the teaching position in the newly created Community Based Instruction (CBI) #2 class at College of the Sequoias. As a CBI teacher, she guides students – ages 18-22 – in developing key life skills, such as money management, personal health and fitness, and communication and job skills.

Shirley’s approach to instruction is simple: “I believe that if we build communication skills, work on the appropriate behavior, and find activities that are interesting, our students will become great people.” Shirley, who has a varied background, uses her experiences to teach her students about time management and personal responsibility. Read more at www.tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

Shirley Gowett, winner of the 2014 Brent Rast Award, poses with her students on the College of the Sequoias campus. Ms. Gowett leads the Community Based Instruction #2 class at COS.

Last month, County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak visited the classroom of Anne Clifford, lead teacher at the Community Based Instruction #1 class in Tulare. Mr. Vidak explained to her students and aides that each year, the 44 school districts in Tulare County, along with the Tulare County Office of Education, the College of the Sequoias and Porterville College, have the opportunity to nominate an outstanding teacher for the Excellence in Education “Teacher of the Year” Award. He continued by saying that all of those teachers are reviewed by a selection committee of business and educational leaders who help to choose the one teacher in Tulare County who will be the Teacher of the Year. Before he could tell them more, the students began to shout, “Ms. Clifford! Ms. Clifford!” Read more at www.tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

TCOE’s Anne Clifford named Teacher of the Year, Porterville’s Snavely and Alvarez also win

Excellence in Education winners announced

Community Based Instruction teacher Anne Clifford receives the news from County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak that she has been named the Tulare County Teacher of the Year in the 20th Annual Excellence in Education Awards program.

(photo 1-l) The Tulare County Hispanic Leadership Network recently honored six exemplary Tulare County school administrators at its Second Annual Administrators of the Year Awards program. Among the honorees was Laura A. Gonzalez, English Language Arts staff development and curriculum specialist with TCOE’s Educational Resource Services. Mrs. Gonzalez was praised for her expertise in training district staff in the latest English language acquisition techniques and for representing the Central Valley on several prestigious state curriculum committees. Laura is pictured with event emcee Celia Maldonado-Arroyo, trustee for the Tulare County Board of Education. Target Corporation employees from stores in Visalia, Tulare, Porterville and Bakersfield recently volunteered to make books for the Bright Start Early Intervention Program. The books, which will be given to families in the program, were coordinated by Staci Haynes (photo 2-c), the mother of a Bright Start child. Employees in the seven Target stores gave over 400 volunteer hours to complete 130 books. Ms. Haynes is pictured with (l-r) Bright Start Parent Liaison Stephanie Caldera, Target employee Renata Punkett, Bright Start teacher Michelle Branco and Bright Start Program Manager LouAnn Lubben. Three young people were selected as winners in the ninth annual Tulare County Foundations for Life Essay Contest. As part of their award, each winner received a $100 prize from the TCOE Foundation and read their essays before the Tulare County Board of Education. Foundations for Life is a quotation-based program that promotes critical thinking and writing skills while simultaneously reinforcing character education. (photo 3) Pictured with instructional consultant Jane Mitchell are (l-r) Claire Stetson, a freshman at Redwood High School (Visalia); Rafael Chavez, an eighth-grade student at Mulcahy Middle School (Tulare); and Ethan Nguyen, a seventh-grade student at La Joya Middle School (Visalia). The CHARACTER COUNTS! Program recently held its second annual recognition day at the Visalia Rawhide. Over 860 students from 14 schools attended, helping the Rawhide set a new day-game attendance record. Will Tiesiera Ford provided complimentary tickets for the students, who enjoyed plenty of fun activities (photo 4) and recognition for their good character on and off the field. County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak will host the annual Summer Institute for Tulare County School Administrators on June 18 at the Edison Energy Education Center in Tulare. Open to superintendents, district administrators and principals, Summer Institute will feature gold medal Olympian and sports broadcaster John Naber (photo 5), plus breakout sessions on school finance, instruction and legal topics. The deadline to register is June 13. More information is available at www.tcoe.org/Summer. (photo 6) For the third year in a row, Valley Life Charter captured the top prize in the middle school category of the annual Step Up Youth Challenge. Valley Life’s project focused on suicide prevention, with the goal of becoming the “Kindest School in Tulare County.” Valley Life students also raised over $16,000 to help two families in need. For their project, the school received a perfect 100 points by grant reviewers. Mission Oak High School in Tulare also received a score of 100 to capture the top prize in the high school category. In all, 14 Tulare County middle school and 7 high school teams competed for grant prizes totaling $30,000. For more information on Step Up, visit stepuptc.co.tulare.ca.us.

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For more events, programs and meetings, visit our online calendar at www.tcoe.org/CalendarOfEvents

upcomingevents

Special Services Graduation (Tulare area students)10:00 a.m., City of Tulare Youth Center, 948 N. "H" St.For information, call Linda McKean at (559) 730-2910

Special Services Graduation (Porterville area students)10:00 a.m., L.B. Hill Learning Center, 1051 S. Plano, PortervilleFor information, call Linda McKean at (559) 730-2910

La Sierra Military Academy (LSMA) Graduation7:30 p.m., LSMA, 1735 E. Houston Ave., Visalia For information, call Anjelica Zermeño at (559) 733-6963

Planetarium Matinee Shows2:00 p.m., The Enchanted Reef3:00 p.m., Perfect Little PlanetPeña Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel, VisaliaFor more information, call (559) 737-6334

Annual Retiree Reception5:00 p.m., Education Center, 2637 W. Burrel, Visalia For information, call Jeanne Croson at (559) 733-6322

SCICON Summer Academy - Session 1(for students entering grades 6-8)SCICON Campus, SpringvilleFor information, contact the Summer Academy at summeracademy@tcoe.org or call (559) 539-2642

Summer Institute for School Administrators8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Edison Energy Education Center, 4175 S. Laspina St., Tulare For information, call Marlene Moreno at (559) 733-6302

SCICON Summer Academy - Session 2(for students entering grades 6-8)SCICON Campus, SpringvilleFor information, contact the Summer Academy at summeracademy@tcoe.org or call (559) 539-2642

Administrative Services Credential Program (Tier I) Information Meeting6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Teleconference Room, 2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaFor information, call Donna Glassman-Sommer or Jesse Coronado at (559) 730-9956

Theatre Company Summer Musical Fiddler on the RoofL. J. Williams Theatre, 1001 Main St., Visalia7:30 p.m. evening shows: 7/18, 7/19, 7/24, 7/25 and 7/262:00 p.m. matinee shows: 7/19 and 7/26For information, call Brian Roberts at (559) 651-1482

Administrative Services Credential Program (Tier I) Information Meeting6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Teleconference Room, 2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaFor information, call Donna Glassman-Sommer or Jesse Coronado at (559) 730-9956

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July ‘14

Tulare County Board of Education

News Gallery CommitteeEditor: Robert Herman, Public Information OfficerContributors: Marlene Moreno, Jennifer Fisher, Lorena White, Shelly DiCenzo, Nancy Bruce and Stephanie Caldera.

The News Gallery is published monthly with the exception of double issues printed for July/August and December/January. If you would like to receive The News Gallery, visit www.tcoe.org/GetTheGallery or contact Jennifer Fisher at (559) 733-6172, or at jenniferf@tcoe.org.

On June 11, the Human Resources Division will honor employees who have retired during the 2013-2014 school year. The annual Retirement Reception will be held at 5:00 p.m. in the Education Center, 2637 West Burrel Avenue. This year, 27 teachers, support staff and administrators have retired. For a complete list of retiring honorees, visit www.tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

Last month, the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program presented its second annual Pursuing Victory With Honor Scholarships to four high school student athletes. The $500 college scholarships were awarded to seniors for their exemplary character on and off the field. The recipients, who possess exceptional traits in sportsmanship, leadership and initiative, are: Christina Castro, Lindsay High School; Jenna Miller, Redwood High School; Melissa Samaniego, Woodlake High School; and Sydnie Sousa, Tulare Western High School.

The New Teacher & Leadership Development program will hold information meetings for administrators interested in acquiring their Tier 2 Administrative Clear Credential June 19 and 30 and July 15 and 31. New Teacher & Leadership Development was recently authorized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as an Administrative Clear Credential Induction Program. Administrators in Tulare and Kings counties who hold a preliminary administrative credential may join the newly created iLead Program to obtain their clear credential. To register to attend the Tier 2 Administrative Credential meetings, call Donna Glassman-Sommer at (559) 730-2549.

Last month, the Battle of the Books competition included a middle school and an upper elementary school category. Teams prepared for the event by reading from a list of books distributed last summer. At the competition, teams participated in a variety of quizzes on the books they read to earn points toward the championship. The winning middle school team was Radical Readers from Sundale Union School (Tulare). The winning elementary team was the Linwood Page Turners from Linwood Elementary (Visalia).

Tulare County Superintendent of Schools: Jim VidakPresident: Joe Enea, Trustee Area No. 5Vice President: Chris Reed, Trustee Area No. 6; Trustees: Celia Maldonado-Arroyo, Trustee Area No. 1; Debby Holguin, Trustee Area No. 2; Tom Link, Trustee Area No. 3; Judy Coble, Trustee Area No. 4; and Patricia Hillman, Trustee Area No. 7

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