On February 24th, 250 lucky kids get to visit the San Francisco Symphony for a special performance as part of the Symphony’s celebrated Concert4Kids Program.

The tickets and buses are being sponsored by the non-profit Antioch Music Foundation, courtesy of a grant from the San Francisco Foundation. Schools sending students are Belshaw, Carmen Dragon, Fremont, Kimball, Jack London., Mission and Turner Elementary and Park Middle.

The program has been been sponsored the last four years by the Music Foundation. The project is a brainstorm of Mission music specialist Geneva Payne who was also instrumental in bringing Ken Bergmann’s exhilarating Percussion Discussion concert to the El Campanil Theatre.

On March 1st the renowned Bergmann, who has performed at the Theatre de la Ville in Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York, will perform three shows for over spellbound 1,600 kids. A music teacher at Jack London, Bergmann yearly donates his time and talent for this Antioch treasure at which which he percusses on everything but the kitchen sink while running the gamut from Beethoven to rock, throwing in an enactment of an old-time radio show for good measure.

Walter Ruehlig, President of the Antioch Music Foundation, exclaims, “After seeing the Percussion Discussion twelve times I know I will again get bug-eyed and rabbit-eared at the upcoming shows. It’s a rush of inspiration and I laugh so hard my insides hurt. This guy has entertainment coming out of his pores.”

For more information on the Foundation and upcoming events, including the East County Idol on April 20th, visit www.antiochmusic.org.

Winners of the Park Middle School Spelling Bee who are going on to regional competition are, from left to right, 2nd place medalist , sixth grader Katelyn Pham; 1st place winner, seventh grader Chelsea Abillano: and 3rd place finisher, sixth grader Sofia Dasilva. Congratulating them are (left to right) A.U.S.D. Trustee Joy Motts, President Diane Gibson-Gray, Trustee Walter Ruehlig. Principal Didi del Chiaro and Superintendent Dr. Donald Gilll.

For Young, Civic-Minded Scholars

Publius Fellowships are awarded to highly qualified college seniors, recent college graduates, and graduate students pursuing careers in politics, scholarship, or journalism. A stipend, travel expenses, and housing are included in the fellowship.

Since 1979, the Claremont Institute has brought together every summer the most talented young conservatives in America. For two weeks the Publius Fellows meet with distinguished scholars to study the distinctive moral and political principles of the American constitutional order. In intensive daily seminars and evening symposia, fellows discuss the great issues of American politics—from the Founding to the Civil War, the Progressive Era, the New Deal, the Great Society, and the enduring disputes of liberalism and conservatism in our time.

The Publius program takes its name from The Federalist Papers. Written in 1787-88 as a series of newspaper essays, The Federalist Papers remain the preeminent work of American political journalism. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay published the papers under the pen name “Publius,” a founder of the Roman republic. The Federalist addressed the crucial political question of their day, the ratification of the Constitution and the founding of the American republic. Publius drew on both political philosophy and the experience of statesmen to commend the Constitution as the basis of free and just government.

The 2012 Publius Fellowship will be held in Newport Beach, CA from June 22-July 7. The application deadline
is March 2. For the application requirements, click here. 

For a list of all former Publius Fellows (1979-2011), click here.

“The principles of the American Founding may be self-evident, but they are not always obvious and require an articulate defense in every generation.” —Brian Brenberg, 2007 Publius Fellow

For more information about the Claremont Institute’s Publius Fellowship, contact Ben Judge, Assistant Director of Programs, at bjudge@claremont.org, or call 909-621-6825.

So Big Preschool is non-profit, non-sectarian, parent cooperative preschool in Antioch, California. It was founded in 1955 by a group of doctors in East County and has been operating from the same building at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds since that time. We are licensed by the State of California and have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

So Big Co-op Preschool is dedicated to providing a warm and nurturing environment that helps each child develop emotionally, socially, intellectually and physically at his or her own pace. Our program is play based and encourages each child to question, to wonder, and to explore the environment in order to foster a lifelong love of learning. By involving parents at every level, families gain a sense of community, parent to parent support and the basis for future involvement in their child’s education.

Open House
March 6, 2012

5:30PM – 6:45PM
Followed by Parents Meeting at 7PM

Antioch, CA 94509
License # 070200750
Phone: 925-757-6474
Web: www.sobigpreschool.org

By Amy Claire

Antioch Unified School District teachers will be receiving information about students with a history of disciplinary problems, according to a new district policy.

“Teachers will be getting a hard copy notification of the three-year history of their students,” said Kevin McIntyre, Coordinator of Educational Technology, at the February 8 meeting of the AUSD School Board. These lists will include only severe offenses.

An electronic three-year discipline history will also be available on the Teacher Access Center, which district teachers currently use to take attendance and enter grades. The online history will include all offenses, not just severe ones, as well as comments about the nature of the incidents.

The district is also working on adding a feature that notifies teachers when their students’ records are updated. “We’re aiming to have that up and running for the next school year,” said McIntyre. The notices would only be sent to the students’ current teachers.

Willie Mims, a representative of the East County NAACP, objected to the new system. “This policy really concerns me,” he said. “What kinds of safeguards are in place to protect the students?”

Mims also praised the proposed bond measure for renovating Antioch High School, saying, “I’m happy, and I hope that the bond passes, because that school needs some help. I’ve never come across a site that bad.”

Board Member Claire Smith defended AHS, stating that she has seen a large number of high schools in the Bay Area while attending her children’s band-related activities. “Antioch High School looks fabulous compared to some,” she said. “I am grateful to our maintenance people.”

Later in the meeting, Mims expressed concern about the release of 57 temporary certificated employees. “That’s a huge number!” he said. “Isn’t that going to cause a shortfall?” He cited the caseload of a Deer Valley High School counselor as an example of the need for more staff members.

Keith Rogenski, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, replied that the temporary employees were hired to cover permanent employees’ leaves of absence and to fill other short-term positions. While the employees’ contracts with the district terminate at the end of each school year, they may be rehired for the following year if needs arise.

Antioch High teacher Sean O’Neil reported great success with the new media tech academy. “There’s some amazing stuff going on in the classrooms,” he said. However, he mentioned a need for more space. “There will be a point where we will be maxed out.” O’Neil also inquired about the effect on AHS from the potential closure of the G Street off ramp.

The next meetings of the school board will be held on February 22 and March 14 at 510 G Street in Antioch at 7:00 pm.

The 2012 Metropolitan Transportation Commission High School Summer Internship Program is now open and accepting student applications online. Approximately 35 internships will be available throughout the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

The pay rate is $10.25 per hour. Each internship will last up to a maximum of 250 hours. Students may work full-time or part-time, for up to 10 weeks, between June 26 and August 31, 2012.

The purpose of the program is to:

• promote interest in transportation as a potential career;
• help students understand the role of transportation agencies in the community, county and region;
• provide skill-building and enrichment opportunities during all phases of the program; and
• provide assistance to our partner transportation agencies.

Interested tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students are invited to apply now.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Complete online application.
• Attach a page that describes in your own words a transportation prob­lem in your community and explains what you think could be done to resolve the matter.
• Also attach one letter of recommendation from a teacher, principal, counselor, religious leader or employer (two letters are required if GPA is below 2.8).

Program requirements and information:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/jobs/high_school/

Listing of the internship opportunities and application form: http://jobs.mtc.ca.gov/InternshipOpportunities/jobinternship.html

Deadline for students to apply: March 8, 2012

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch is proud to host the 7th Annual Art4Schools Exhibits at the Lynn House Gallery, January 26th – April 23rd.

The Art4Schools exhibits showcase Antioch Unified School District classrooms involved in the Arts4Schools Program, sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, the City of Antioch, Union Pacific Railroad and a Calpine Grant funded through the office of Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover.

The first exhibit features students from the Special Day Classes, February 15th -23rd, followed by Carmen Dragon and Mission Elementary, February 29th – March 10th; AUSD High Schools, March 14th-24th; John Muir and Belshaw Elementary, March 298th – April 7th and the last exhibit features E.N.C.O.R.E. Home Schooling on April 19th and 20th (2 days only).

The artist receptions will be held the first day of each exhibit from 4-6 PM. The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 W. 1st Street, downtown Antioch (across from the AMTRK Train Station) and is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1-4 PM, during exhibits. There is no admission fee and the exhibits are free.

For more information, visit www.Art4Antioch.org or contact Diane Gibson-Gray at the Arts & Cultural Foundation at 925.325.9897 or e-mail Diane@Art4Antioch.org.

Diane Gibson-Gray, Executive Director
Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch
PO Box 613 | Antioch CA 94509
(925) 325 9897 Office | (925) 778-5075 Fax
www.Art4Antioch.org | Diane@Art4Antioch.org

Black History Month
The Black History Month Exhibit continues through February 11th at the Lynn House Gallery. Artworks, artifacts and displays highlight and feature past and present individuals who have contributed significantly to African American history and American culture.

The exhibit is hosted by The African American Village Collaborative: Ruah Community Outreach Ministries, Inc. and Parent Partners Providing for the Education of Young Children Family Solutions, Inc.

The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 W. 1st Street in Antioch (across from the Amtrak Train Station) and is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM. Admission to the gallery is free. Group and school tours available on request. Contact Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325.9897 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org.

Art4Schools
The 2012 Art4Schools program and exhibits begin with the Special Day Classes showcasing their work at the Lynn House Gallery from February 15-25th. The artist reception will be held February 15th, from 4-6 PM. The reception and admission to the gallery is free.

Additional school exhibits will take place through April 23rd. The Arts4Schools Program is sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, Union Pacific Foundation, the City of Antioch and Calpine & CCC Supervisor Federal Glover. For more information call (925) 325-9897 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org.