College sophomore Ronimar Jessicacris “Jessica” Panugaling is all too familiar with increasing tuition fees, which are making her dream of becoming a nurse very costly. So when she received a $1,000 scholarship from Sutter Health, Jessica was very thankful for the support to achieve her goal.

“Every year I am faced with having to come up with extra money for tuition or books, so it can be pretty stressful” says Jessica. “The Sutter Health scholarship will help me tremendously, and I am so grateful that Sutter Health is investing in our future.”

A long-time Antioch resident, Jessica is one of 11 students to receive a Sutter scholarship in the Sutter Health East Bay Region. All scholarship recipients have parents or grandparents employed by our Sutter Health affiliates.

“My mother, Teresa-Maria, has worked in the Dietary Department for Sutter Delta Medical Center for the past nine years,” says Jessica. “Through the years, I’ve realized how critical her job is to making sure patients receive a healthy meal, so they can get better and back on their feet.”

Exposed to the health care industry at an early age, Jessica decided she wanted to pursue a nursing career.
“I feel a calling to help people,” adds Jessica. “Over this past summer, I achieved my certified nursing assistant certificate. So I am really excited to keep reaching my goal and grateful to Sutter Health for helping me do so.”

Since its inception in 2003, the Van R. Johnson Sutter Scholars Program has awarded more than 3,700 scholarships totaling over $5.5 million to Northern California students. Named in honor of former Sutter Health CEO Van R. Johnson, the Sutter Scholars Program is a competitive opportunity available to the children and grandchildren of employees within the Sutter Health network.

“We are very proud of Jessica and wish her the best in pursuit of her career,” says CEO Gary Rapaport. “We are also pleased and proud that Sutter Health and Sutter Delta Medical Center are able to offer this support for our employees and their families.”

An inspiring twist on a school fundraiser actually gives back to the community too!

What if you could have your beautiful Christmas Tree and make a local needy family’s holiday more bright too? Well, the Parent Network at Antioch Charter Academy II (ACAII) has morphed their Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Fundraiser into just that idea for a service project.

ACAII is asking Christmas Tree purchasers to pre-order a tree not only for their own homes, but also to donate a Christmas Tree to a needy local family whose holiday budget may not be able to include one this year.

Needy local families are identified through Contra Costa Human Services. Donated trees are personally delivered, (lights, tinsel & decorations included), to these families by ACAII Christmas Tree Volunteers the weekend of December 3rd & 4th – directly from ACAII’s Christmas Tree lot located at 3325 Hacienda Way in Antioch. Christmas Tree pricing starts at just $25 for a 3-4ft Noble Fir and there are 4 types of trees and many sizes to choose from.

“I’ve done a lot of research on Christmas Tree pricing recently,” announced Tamara Mays-ACAII Fundraising Chair, “and our pre-sale prices are definitely less than the local for-profit lots!”

The fundraiser/service project is taking Christmas Tree pre-orders from October 17th-November 17th, with ACAII’s Christmas Tree Volunteers planning to work booths at a local holiday boutique on November 12th, and several area flea markets on the weekends. ACAII Christmas Tree Volunteers are available to give presentations at local churches, businesses and service organizations regarding this project.

Contact Tamara Mays for information, 925.727.7348.

ACAII is a progressive, tuition-free public K-8 charter school designed specifically to produce lifelong learners by nurturing and guiding them in a natural learning environment. We are operated by The Learner-Centered School, Inc., a non-profit, public benefit corporation, so Christmas Tree donations are tax-exempt.

By Amy Claire

At the October 12 meeting of the Antioch School Board, two concerned parents raised separate concerns about their children’s first grade teacher at Jack London Elementary School. The teacher, Mrs. Riley, worries both parents with her “closed-door” policy that prevents parents from visiting and observing the class.

One mother stated that her daughter came home from school one day and asked if she was stupid, because Riley had compared the students to her own son. Another parent was alarmed when her child was allowed to sit outside the room, unattended, for the last thirty minutes of school when he didn’t want to talk to Riley about having an accident. Both parents requested that the board address these issues and look into the policies governing the classroom.

Another attendee at the meeting, Willie Mims, agreed that the parents’ worries should be addressed. He also brought up his own concerns about the district, including the high dropout rate among African-American students and the racial diversity imbalance between student populations and teacher populations. He also commented on the need to let parents know about the existence of 504 plans for their children, and on a board resolution regarding staffing, though the board’s response seemed to address the issue to his satisfaction.

The board also listened to presentations from teachers regarding two new linked learning pathways at Antioch High School. These specialized programs within the larger school allow students to focus their education, and have led to increased graduation rates. Rick Barton presented information about the Environmental Science Academy, which will focus on issues such as climate change and allow students to work on long-term, multi-year projects. He championed applied science as a way to help students see the relevance of what they learn.

Sean O’Neil described the school’s new Media and Technology Academy as another step toward relevance. As the business world becomes increasingly digital, the academy will provide “a place to demonstrate learning through twenty-first century means.” Students will also have the opportunity to earn industry certifications, which can help them find jobs. The academies are expected to give students a sense of purpose and excitement in school, while simultaneously jump-starting them in their fields of interest.

The next school board meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 26 at 510 G Street, Antioch at 7:00 pm.

Pictured from left to right at the Concord Hilton 2011 Teacher of the Year awards dinner are AUSD Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig, Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill, Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, Antioch Teacher of the Year Tom Gravert and his wife Gina Lombardi-Gravert. The dinner was sponsored by the Contra Costa County Board of Education and emceed by County Superintendent Dr. Joe Ovick.
(Photo courtesy of Tim Forrester.)

For the second year, schools came out on top in the competition for the Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Community Grant Program. Forty-four applicants (an increase of 25 percent over last year) vied for the funds and focused primarily on projects that impacted education, science and/or the environment.

The Dow CAP is pleased to announce the four organizations that will be receiving this year’s grants. The grants vary from $3,450 to $4,436 each for a total of $15,831. The recipients are:

· Antioch Charter Academy (Antioch) – Creating the Great Eco-Spherience project which involves purchasing equipment to collect rainwater, to compost and to study habitats by raising, ants, silk worms, tad poles, butterflies and lady bugs.

· Riverview Middle School (Bay Point)– Purchase Lego Mindstorm kits to benefit the After School Robotics Enrichment Class

· Independence High School (Brentwood) – Purchasing books for an underutilized library including literary masterpieces but also reference books for science, literature and health & fitness.

· Regents of the University of California – Purchase EarthBox Container Gardening systems and education kits to bring the “Healthy Eating from Seed to Table” program to Pittsburg and Antioch schools.

The successful applicants designed projects that combined all of Dow’s criteria – education, science and the environment –, would reach a large number of residents and would have staying power; projects that, though the funding would be used in one year, would continue to have an impact for many years. CAP members were please with the variety of applications they reviewed and expressed their hope that the ideas won’t die just because they don’t get funded.

Members of the CAP Grants Committee ranked applications based on sustainability, overall impact, benefits to the community, emphasis, and the strength of their partnerships.

Michele Copeland, a member of the Dow CAP, participated in the grants review process. “The grant applications provide such a positive glance at what is taking place in our surrounding communities,” Copeland said. “I so appreciate Dow for allowing the Dow CAP to further the dreams and visions of many teachers and students in the coming year and I look forward to seeing the results.”

About Dow
Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow’s Pittsburg Operations
The Dow Chemical Company purchased the Pittsburg facility in 1939 from the Great Western Electrochemical Company. It is one of more than 150 manufacturing sites located in 37 countries around the world and supports two of Dow’s eight global businesses – Dow AgroSciences and Performance Chemicals. The Pittsburg facility produces a variety of products used in personal care products as well as a variety of crop protection products and intermediates.

About the Dow CAP
The Dow Community Advisory Panel (CAP) is comprised of 14 members of the East Contra Costa community who serve to advise Dow on issues affecting both the community and Dow’s operations in the community.

Seen September 29th at the downtown Antioch Library grand opening of the Gateway renovations, which includes Laptop Lane, are Gateway Committee members Becky Nielson, Chief Librarian; Walter Ruehlig, Antioch School Board; Gary Agopian, City Council; and Lonnie Karste, Prewett Community Center Project Manager.
(Photo courtesy of Greg Enholm)

By Amy Claire

While the Antioch School Board recognized improvements in the alternative education program at their September 14 meeting, not everyone was smiling. One teacher from Prospects High School, which is part of the alternative education program, raised concerns about the school’s lack of a vice-principal or a counselor for its students.

Because alternative education students are often those who have struggled with traditional education settings, he saw the removal of the counselor and administrative support as potentially harmful to student development.

Three parents also expressed their disappointment with the district.

The first, angered by the release of private information to an individual who did not have custody over her children, was also upset by the lack of district response to her repeated complaints about the matter.

The second parent, mother of three students who are high achievers and involved in many extracurricular activities, voiced her irritation about an ongoing absence of textbooks in her son’s advanced world history course in high school. She stated that this was an unacceptable state of affairs, particularly now that the school year is four weeks into session.

The third parent was also frustrated by apparent apathy from the district. The day after her son broke his hand at school and failed to complete an assignment, his teacher demanded to know why he had not brought his homework to the hospital in order to finish it. The parent was very upset by this response, but felt further scorned when, after repeatedly contacting administrators and district employees, the issue remained unaddressed.

The board stated that it would look into her situation, as well as those of the other two parents.

The alternative education program, in contrast, projected high spirits. This program, which includes Live Oak, Prospects and Bidwell as well as the adult education program, has recently seen significant increases in student achievement scores, and has helped to raise the graduation rate in the district by 5.2 percent.

Program Principal Amy Farias expressed gratitude to the teachers and staff on her team, and Superintendent Donald Gill agreed. “They make this program proud,” he said.

The board also recognized change order committee member Fred Ehler for his service to the district. They then gave special recognition to two donations from the Antioch High School Alumni Association to the AHS football team and the performing arts program. After the special recognitions, the board was presented with the budget actuals for the 2010 – 2011 school year, which were largely positive.

The next regular school board meeting will be on Wednesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the district office, 510 G Street in Antioch.