By Tami Barrera

With the new school year right around the corner, the Antioch Unified School District is eager to show the community their commitment to the students and their education. Deer Valley begins the year with a new principal, Kenneth Gardner. Former Deer Valley Co-Principal Scott Bergerhouse will be a vice principal at Black Diamond Middle School while his former partner Clarence Isadore has moved onto another school district.

Park Middle School found itself in need of a new vice principal when its current one was promoted to principal at another school. According to Superintendent Don Gill, there were 80 applicants, 14 of whom went through a rigorous review process, leaving them with the one candidate who fit their needs perfectly, Michael DeFrancesco.

“My ten years of education have been leading up to this moment,” said DeFrancesco. “I make a commitment to you that all students deserve the right to have good teachers and good administrators. I promise you that I will leave no child behind, no matter what the situation.”

In other action at Wednesday’s board meeting, it was announced that the schools have enough funds to bring back their counselors without dipping into the general fund. And the school board has begun reviewing contracts that have been renewed year after year without any scrutinization. They discovered that the Safety Crossing Guards were overcharging them, which brought about a $17,000 savings for the upcoming year.

Dozier Libbey Medical High School will be preparing for its first graduating class this year.

Hard Hitting Reality of Poor Choices

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Every day an average of 99 young people die in the United States; 31 young people will die today from auto related accidents, 16 from domestic violence or homicide, 12 will commit suicide, today, and the remaining will die from poor choices, diseases and natural causes (CDC Data). “the 99” is a walk-through reality theater focusing on the leading causes of death to young people in our country.

The production is housed in a 20,000 square foot air structure and features 13 rooms each portraying real-life situations where guests experience a 45-minute guided tour.

Four recent guests, two Antioch boys who are cousins and their two relatives from Oakley who are brothers, shared their experiences.

“It was scary and eye-opening,” said Domenic Ferreira, age 13 and a soon-to-be Freshman at Antioch High. “It basically opened your eyes to the real world and how if you take the wrong path it will be hard to get out. You don’t have to take that path since there are two paths.”

Esteban Gurule, a 14 year old who will be a Freshman at Freedom High School said “It was fun and also serious at the same time. It teaches you a lot of important things about what things can do to you.”

His 12-year-old brother Elesio, was old enough to get in, since the warning is no one under age 11 is allowed in due to the graphic nature of the presentation.

“It wasn’t what I expected. Not at all,” Elesio stated. “It was scary and life changing. It made me think about life and choices I make. Everyone should go.”

Humberto Saucedo, age 15, who will be a Sophomore this Fall, also at Antioch High, said “the 99 was a great show filled with great actors, designs, props, features and performances.” Then he added, “I highly recommend it.”

Jeff Warrenburg, owner of Paradise Skate and the Antioch Paintball Park said he took his son, who went back another time.

“I thought it was great,” Warrenburg said. “Everyone should go, teens, young adults and parents.”

The production is not based on fear and scare tactics, but rather is based solely on reality. “the 99” is th ultimate near death experience – a life changing production that will bring people to a point of decision that can change the course of their lives forever.

“the 99” is open to the public, ages 11 and up, in Antioch, for two more weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Thursday the final weekend, July 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31 in the parking lot of the Somersville Towne Center, between Macy’s and Sears, off Delta Fair Blvd. Doors open at 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Tickets are $10 per person or $3.00 with a discount ticket.

Discount tickets are available at Mr. Pickle’s on Lone Tree Way in the Bluerock Center, Paradise Skate on W. 10^th Street at the Fairgrounds and the Antioch Indoor Sports Center on Sunset, next to Aladino’s Pizza or by clicking here and downloading and printing your own.

“the 99” is sponsored by Dr. Rosenbaum & Associates, Arrowed Towing and Recovery, the four East County Ace Hardware Stores, Williams Sanitary Service, Zoo Crew Construction, and Uno Chicago Grille.

For more information visit www.whatisthe99.com.

Can’t Say Anything Bad About Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals or Transgendered in the Classroom

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. signed into law a historic bill requiring the teaching of historical contributions by homosexuals, bisexuals and transexuals, who call themselves lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT). But the law goes beyond that by forbidding textbooks from including anything derogatory about such people or their lifestyle choice.

Now not only will California school children be taught there’s nothing wrong with being homosexual, bisexual or transexual, but they can’t be taught anything negative about those who have chosen that lifestyle and the behavior that it includes.

Those representing Antioch in Sacramento voted for the bill, known as SB 48 (Senate Bill 48) authored by openly gay State Senator Mark Leno of San Francisco. Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla and State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, both Democrats from Concord, voted for the bill. Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan who represents the other parts of East County, as well as the San Ramon Valley and Tri Valley voted for it, at least twice: once in committee and once on the Assembly floor.

The bill passed on a party line vote with all Republicans voting against it in both the Assembly and Senate, and only Democrats voting for it.

Brown signed the legislation at a time 30% all students and 50% of African American students are dropping out of high school in California and in spite of the fact a majority of California voters disagree with promoting the homosexual/LGBT agenda, which was demonstrated by the passage of Proposition 8 banning homosexual marriage.

Following is the summary of the legislation provided by State Senate staff.

SUMMARY :  Adds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, persons with disabilities and others to the list of groups of people whose role and contributions shall be accurately portrayed in instructional materials and included in social science instruction, and adds sexual orientation and religion to the list of characteristics that shall not be reflected adversely in adopted instructional materials.

The full text of the bill, analysis, committee and floor votes can be seen by clicking here.

Those in support of the bill included the California Teachers Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

It is deemed a “Non-State-Mandated Local Program” so perhaps local school boards can refuse to use textbooks containing the new history lessons.

Add that to the legislation requiring Harvey Milk Day in the schools, honoring the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors which Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law, last year.

Expect to see a swell in private and parochial school registration, this fall and a referendum to repeal the new law on the ballot, next year.

Kenneth Gardner

The biggest change that students and staff returning to the Deer Valley High campus will experience this year is the appointment of a new principal, Kenneth Gardner. He wants the students, staff and parents to know that he will listen to what they have to say and is willing to implement ideas that will work toward educational achievement.

Gardner served 20 years in the Air Force, including four years of active duty as an air traffic controller and 16 in the reserves in security forces. He retired with the rank of major. He also has served 20 years as a police officer in Southern California.

His most recent experience is as principal at Vista Continuation School, which has more than 300 students, where he was also overseer of the student welfare attendance. While at Vista he found himself missing the organized chaos of high school, leading him to apply for the Deer Valley job.

Before that he worked at De Anza High School in Richmond for three years, and served on the Student Attendance Review Board and was the district’s designated hearing officer.

Principal Gardner was chosen from 37 candidates who were interviewed by a panel of parent and community representatives along with district members.

Former Deer Valley Co-Principal Scott Bergerhouse was amongst the candidates, but was instead appointed vice principal of Black Diamond Middle School. Deer Valley’s other former co-principal, Clarence Isadore, is now the principal of Carmen Dragon Elementary.

With the commitment and support of the students, parents and staff, Gardner is confident that the successful path marked out by Isadore and Bergerhouse will continue.

By Tami Barrera

Antioch High’s graduation ceremony was filled with a rambunctious crowd eager to graduate, balloons in the air being popped incessantly, beach balls erupting into the senior crowd accompanied by strong, rich and full oooohs and ahhhhhs swiftly followed by boos to the Antioch staff that kept confiscating the items.

The seniors just wanted to have fun on their last day as reigning seniors.

Senior Class President Paul “Lenny” Costa III took to the stage with the message, “Every single one of you makes a huge difference.”

Before telling everyone “to dream their own dream,” he reminded the senior class that they witnessed the introduction of new technology – the iPhone and the PlayStation 3, they experienced Britney Spears’ shaved head, they were part of history in the making when Barack Obama was elected president, they saw the San Francisco Giants finally win their sixth World Series after 56 years of a dry spell, they saw the death of the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the death of Osama Bin Laden, they were inspired by artists Lady Gaga, the Foo Fighters, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift and they enjoyed the movies The Dark Knight, Transformers and 300.

Costa explained that every graduating senior is more than just a number, and encouraged them to take the world by storm and “stand up and make a difference.” He let the graduating class know that they are meant for greatness, they are made with a purpose and they “have the power to do whatever they set their minds to.”

Before stepping down and turning the podium over to the four salutatorians and seven valedictorians, Costa gave some last minute advice: “First, never use your teeth or your car keys as tools. Second, never criticize a man’s driving; it makes us very upset. Never ever cook a corndog in the microwave – it needs to be cooked in the oven. And never take sleeping pills and laxatives at the same time.”

He closed with a poem by his grandmother that was written in 1969:

Today
Why give yesterday and its dwellers
one mite of consideration
if it sheds one dim light on today.
Why fret about the past
or its stigmas attached to it
when the only thing it accomplishes
is to depress the present.
Each new day
should bring a fresh awareness of life.
The realization of goals
and dreams come true.
Be vital today –
let no thoughts of yesterday prevail
unless it adds glory today.

Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Donald Gill accepted the class of 2011 and told them the secret of making a million dollars in their lifetime: stay in school and finish post secondary certificates and bachelor degrees. “After you further your education use your newly acquired knowledge for the economic and social well being in any community where your career ultimately takes you,” he said.

May all Antioch High’s graduates know that they have accomplished a feat that will propel them to greatness in the future. Congratulations, Class of 2011.

Deer Valley Divine Voices sing for the 2011 graudating class.

By Tami Barrera

What comes to mind when we hear the phrase “my son/daughter is graduating”? A dignified young person in a cap and gown finishing one journey and getting ready to embark on a new one, a seat in the bleachers listening to a few speeches that may run just a little too long, or fidgety young people chomping at the bit to see their name on a piece of paper with a signature?

Deer Valley High School valedictorian Nada Rendradjaja sees 600 people, lives, heartbeats that all beat individually.

“Sure, we may all be here in our matching caps and gowns,” she said. “We were freshman when we were required to wear lanyards around our neck on campus, and sure you can’t forget the uniform policy implemented right at the beginning of our last semester, but despite all of this we are far from being complete clones of each other.”

She believes that all have struggled in some way or another to reach this all important milestone in their lives. A teacher’s advice that “we should all be a little bit uncomfortable” provides room for growth and progression in life. She added, “Make the best of who you are and never stop being a little bit uncomfortable.”

Co-principals Scott Bergerhouse and Clarence Isadore took the stage to offer encouragement for the students’ future and let the graduating class of 2011 know how close to their hearts they truly are and how proud of them they are.

The graduates were on their best behavior. They were dignified ladies and gentleman that showed by their actions in their seats how proud they were of this accomplishment and knew not to take it lightly let alone for granted.

Bergerhouse said, “It is an honor to stand in front of excellence, and I want you to know you have outstanding character. You are standing alone as leaders of our future.”

Deer Valley Co-Principals Scott Bergerhouse and Clarence Isadore speak to the graduates.

Isadore said, “Someone important once said, ‘It is not what you achieve, but what you overcome.’ Most of all your being here today has set you up for tomorrow. In the four years you have been here there have been 33 championships, an award winning DVTV program, visual arts program, career tech program, auto tech program, 16 North Coast Section Banners, and 7 North Coast Section Academic Banners. This is no doubt a product of the academies that make Deer Valley High School their home. The academies are comprised of The Science Research Ace Academy, Law Academy, Delta Performing Arts Academy and The Business Technology Academy.”

Isadore called Deer Valley High School “The Academic Power House.” Bergerhouse reinforced that with, “Deer Valley High School is a home where opportunities are endless.” Both principals told the graduates to go out into the world – set the tone, make a difference, find new horizons, cherish the Deer Valley High School memories and to always remember that they are the class of 2011.

Congratulations, class of 2011.

By Tami Barrera

There’s lots going on in the Antioch Unified School District from awards to innovative learning academies to providing air-conditioning and other upgrades to older schools.

The Science Department at Deer Valley High School, which is led by Jeff Adkins, has won awards for projects regarding how we live on this planet and take care of it.

AUSD officials have learned that breaking learning up into smaller communities will give students more of an interest in completing school and at a higher level. A federal grant given to Antioch High School will be utilized to give a competitive edge to incoming freshmen. To create this strong foundation in 2011-12, they will be implementing a week of welcome that will launch these future dreamers of tomorrow into desiring more when it comes to knowledge.

As the student advances through the years learning and gaining insight into themselves and what they have to offer, they will find that their horizons can be broadened by the many choices that will be presented to them in the form of academies.

Deer Valley High offers the Business Tech Academy, which mimics the work environment to prepare them for their future beyond the walls of school. Deer Valley also offers the Science Research Academy, which has 19 students that will be graduating from this program this year and all are headed to college.

Deer Valley has also been accepted as one out of 25 schools in the country that has been asked to participate in the Teacher-in-Space program in which they will be launching a probe into space.

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School will have its first graduating class in 2012. At this high school they are determined to integrate health care across the curriculum, and they utilize CURE which is Creating Understanding and Relevance Every Day.

Deer Valley also provides the Performing Arts at Delta Academy. It opened its doors in 2008 on the Bidwell campus site with great vision and pride, and interest has more than doubled with its move to the Deer Valley campus.

Deer Valley Law Academy opened in 2009 with 90 freshmen and now has 240 students enrolled from 9th to 11th grade. This academy derives its learning model from work-based learning. Next year they will incorporate job shadowing, monitoring and community service.

Antioch High School has the EDGE Academy which stands for Engineering and Designing a Green Environment. The academy’s vision is learning designed, knowledge constructed, life engineered and environment sustained. EDGE is for students who learn best by working on projects that require using their brain and hands together.

The Measure C bond funding is making great strides with much needed improvements to the schools. Belshaw Elementary now has a new HVAC system with electrical upgrades, accessible classroom sinks, along with accessible stairs and ramps. Kimball has new security fencing, drinking fountains that are surrounded by gates so as to limit vandalism, new Clerestory windows and new HVAC in five classroom wings.

Antioch Middle School received much needed electrical service, new serving line flooring in the cafeteria, new kitchen hood and 3 compartment sink, new multipurpose room HVAC that was accompanied by a stage lift, interior walls, and library rooftop HVAC.
Park Middle School gained new accessible stairs and a ramp, a new front entrance to the school and new kitchen hood and equipment.

Antioch High School’s Beede Auditorium now has HVAC and an exterior lobby facelift. Phase two of construction will begin in the fall. For more information go to www.antioch.k12.ca.us and click on Community Information at the top of the page and then click on Citizens Bond Oversight Committee.

While times are hard and money is tight it is nice to know that there are people out there that do care about our educational future and where we can head as a district unified. With all this focus on higher education and enriched learning AUSD looks to be headed in the right direction. No matter what happens all around us, we are all a part of the same team striving to give the children what they need, a better learning environment in which to understand the world in which we all inhabit daily.

Tim Rhyan, Deer Valley High School’s veteran Athletic Director will garner top honors from California Coaches Association (CCA) this year when he will receive an Athletic Director of the Year award at its June 11 awards dinner in Sacramento.

Rhyan was selected from Athletic Directors throughout the state for his professional contribution of time, service and dedication to his profession and athletics. His career spans 40 plus years of coaching and teaching at both high schools and junior colleges in Contra Costa County. For the past 12 years he has led Deer Valley High School’s Athletic Department where under his unique leadership one-third of its student body participates in athletics.

Rhyan’s emphasis on both academics and athletics equals success for not only him, but also the school’s varsity teams who won half of all the Bay Valley Athletic League Championships in 2009-10. Among his contributions that set him apart are his authorship and implementation of multiple sports policy guides for the Antioch School District. He has also served as site director for numerous North Coast Section events, and sits on the North Coast Section Eligibility Committee.

A Pleasant Hill native, Rhyan, 65, is a graduate of College Park High School where he was an all-league player who received a full scholarship to Utah State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He later attended St. Mary’s College in Orinda where he received a Masters Degree in Athletic Administration.

CCA is a professional organization of California coaches, dedicated to maintaining the highest possible standards for athletic competition and coaching conditions in the State. Their focus is on leadership, education, training, ethics, goodwill and cultural diversity.