PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University announced that Mikah Erin Nunley of Antioch has made the President’s Honor Roll for the 2015 Fall semester.

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes students who stand above the rest with excellent academic performance. To be eligible for the honor roll, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

The data displayed in the President’s Honor Roll may be affected by students who restrict the release of some or all information about themselves.

For more information on WSU, visit https://wsu.edu.

Sutter Elementary School student art on display at Antioch’s Lynn House Gallery through this Saturday, March 19, 2016.

Students from Antioch’s Sutter Elementary are showcasing their original artwork at the Lynn House Gallery through this Saturday, March 19th, on Wednesday and Saturday, from 1-4 PM. The showcase is open to the public at no cost.

Lone Tree Elementary and Mno Grant Elementary will showcase their art from April 6-23 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 1-4 PM.

The Arts4Schools Program is sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, the City of Antioch and a Cal Pine and Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund Grant from Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover. In addition to sponsoring the gallery exhibit, the grant  provides $500 to each participating school to be used for art and cultural supplies and educational endeavors.

For more information about each exhibit call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org. The Lynn House Gallery is located in the Rivertown District at 809 W. 1st Street, Antioch (across from the AMTRAK Train Station) and is open from 1 – 4 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays during exhibits and admission is free.

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch will host a National Agriculture Day event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 with the theme, “Stewards of a Healthy Planet.”. This will mark the 43rd anniversary of National Ag Day, which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country.

The event, to take place at the school’s Edible Garden located on campus, will include:

·      The Garden Club – Lucas Chilcote, Founder of the Garden Club and Senior at Dozier-Libbey will provide information about the club, their Edible Garden and the future of the club for 2017.

·      Bounty from the Box: The CSA Cookbook is your guide to enjoying more than 90 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs commonly grown by community-supported agriculture (CSA) farms across America. With more than 350 delicious, healthful recipes, you’ll never wonder what to do with your weekly subscription box again. Whether you’re a CSA subscriber, a farmers market shopper, a gardener, or simply a home cook, you’ll truly enjoy—and constantly use—this remarkable book. Eating is truly a social act. Far more than just a cookbook, Bounty also showcases CSA farms across America and the incredible ways they are feeding—literally and figuratively—their communities with exciting outreach programs, informative classes, dining events, food donation, land conservation efforts, and diverse employment opportunities.

The launch of a fundraising campaign selling Bounty from the Box with 35% proceeds of sales going towards the Garden Club. www.bountyfromthebox.com

·      Farmigo re-launch of Dozier-Libbey Farm to School Marketplace – Sample locally grown fruits, vegetables, cheeses, breads, etc..

Farmigo is on a mission to create a food system that’s better for everyone, from farmers to eaters. We believe that many of us are ready for an alternative way to shop, cook, and break bread with our families and friends. We’ve created a movement, founded on groups of neighbors ordering individually and picking up together, as a community. It’s made farm-to-neighborhood a viable option, where fresh food is more accessible than ever before, nothing goes to waste, and we support small farmers and foodmakers. www.farmigo.com

The Dozier-Libbey event marks a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate. National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society. Visit www.agday.org for more information on National Ag Day in 2016.

Antioch Chamber of Commerce CEO Dr. Sean Wright (center) with Principals Ken Gardner of Deer Valley High, (left) and Louie Rocha of Antioch High with the Champions On The Rise award.

Earn & Learn East Bay celebrated the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Sean Wright as one of three Champions ‘On The Rise’ award winners in 2016 for their support of Education in our community.

“The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, and you as its CEO, are being honored for the countless ways you engage with Antioch Unified School District in its Linked Learning efforts–whether encouraging business engagement in our schools, providing technical assistance and support to Linked Learning pathways, lending a leadership voice to the Linked Learning statewide expansion, or coordinating business/education events to showcase our students and their demonstration of skills, you are to be commended for the passion and dedication you deliver every day to ensure student success,” said April Treece Director of the STEM Workforce Initiative of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership to Wright.

The Award was given on Friday, March 4th at the Hilton Concord at the Earn & Learn Kick-Off Breakfast with Principal of Antioch High School Louie Rocha and Principal of Deer Valley High School Ken Gardner in attendance.

About Earn & Learn East Bay

Earn & Learn East Bay connects employers to regional efforts designed to help grow our future workforce. We place students and young adults ages 16-24 in meaningful workplace experiences including summer jobs, internships and apprenticeships or in industry-led summer learning experiences. To create these opportunities, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Economic Partnership and the Earn & Learn East Bay team rely largely on the support of local employers and community-based organizations.

Our efforts to create summer youth employment and enrichment experiences build off of a strong foundation that has provided more than 1,000 summer opportunities over the past five years. Our goal for 2016 is to connect at least 500 young people to jobs, internships and other high -quality work-based learning experiences, such as industry-led summer camps focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Benefits to employer partners:

• ·The opportunity to build your future workforce.
• ·The chance to showcase your industry and organization, including positive publicity as a partner supporting Earn & Learn East Bay (through publications, website, news media and special events).
• ·Direct impact on strengthening communities in the East Bay region.

Benefits to youth:

• ·Hands-on career and technical skills as well as life skills, such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking.
• ·Networking and relationship-building skills, and mentorships with industry professionals.
• ·Access to income and upward mobility, which can break the cycle of poverty.
• ·Newfound confidence in skills and abilities.

How it works:

• ·Learning goals are agreed upon by the youth participant, the employer partner, and a member of the Earn & Learn team, who also works with the participant throughout the summer.
• ·Youth typically work part time or full time over the summer months and earn minimum wage.
• ·The Earn & Learn team connects eligible youth to meaningful work experiences in a variety of industries.
• ·Contracted youth service providers can also serve as the employer of record, providing wages and covering insurance costs.
• ·Limited funds may be available to sponsor youth at your place of business. To find out how you can get involved, please visit www.earnlearneastbay.org or e-mail info@earnlearneastbay.org

The Antioch Unified School District Board of Education has selected Leadership Associates to conduct the search for the selection of our next district superintendent. An essential part of the process is to gather information about the perspectives of our stakeholders.

Leadership Associates Search Advisors will be at the Antioch Water Park Community Hall on March 14th and the Nick Rodriquez Community Center on March 15th to meet with interested individuals and groups. In addition, an open forum will be held 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 14th at the Antioch Water Park Community Hall, located at 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94531.

Our advisors will ask for thoughts on desired qualities, characteristics, background and experience for the new superintendent. They will also ask you for perspectives on the strengths and challenges of the Antioch Unified School District.   Please contact Christine Todd at 925-779-7500, Ext. 54095 to schedule a meeting time.

For those unable to attend an in-person meeting, an opportunity to participate in an online survey is available.  The online survey will be posted on the District’s website from March 8 through March 25th.  The survey will be available in English and Spanish.

By Allen Payton

What was believed to be an attempted abduction of an Antioch High School girl, Tuesday morning, has been relabled suspicious activity by the Antioch Police Department.

According to a news release by Acting Sergeant Shawn Morin, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau, “On March 1, 2016 at approximately 9:44 PM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to investigate suspicious incident that occurred near the intersection of L St and Sycamore Dr. Upon arrival, officers learned of a student walking to Antioch High School that was approached by a subject in a vehicle. The subject motioned for the student to come to his vehicle, but the student ignored the man and continued to school.

There was no direct physical contact between the driver and student. Additionally, there was no clear indication of the intent of the subject driving the vehicle. The vehicle was last seen driving north on L St from 18^th St. The vehicle was described as an unknown make and model gold colored minivan. The driver was described as a hispanic male, unknown age, “droopy face” and black hair.”

According to an email from the office of Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello of the Antioch Unified School District, received, Tuesday afternoon, March 1, 2016, the following phone message was sent out to parents of students in the district:

This is the Antioch Unified School District calling with an important safety announcement. Earlier today, an Antioch High School student reported that she was approached by a man in a van who attempted to grab her wrist. The student was unharmed and is safe.  Antioch Police Department has been notified. The van was described by the student as older with faded gold paint and a license plate with the letters 4 and D in it. The man driving the van was described by the student as Latino with bushy eyebrows. The student reported that this occurred near Antioch High School. As a precaution, we will have extra security in the area. Please take a moment to review stranger danger with your children and to remind them to never get into a vehicle with a stranger, even when the stranger says that he or she is a friend or has been sent to pick them up by another family member. As always, your child’s safety is our number one concern. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school should you have further questions or concerns.

Maria McClain, math teacher, Deer Valley High School, Antioch Unified School District

By Allen Payton

Deer Valley High math teacher, Maria McClain was recently named one of the eight semi-finalists for 2016 California’s Teacher of the Year. Each year thousands of teachers throughout the State are nominated by their Districts. Finalists from each County are then nominated for the State award.

was recognized for her contribution to the teaching profession at a gala held last week in Sacramento. She is the only teacher from Contra Costa County to be either a semi-finalist or finalist for 2016.

McClain is in her 29th year of teaching grades 10–12 for the Antioch Unified School District. For the past 20 years, McClain has been at Deer Valley High School (Antioch). McClain has taught high school pre-calculus, AP Calculus, AP statistics, and algebra, as well as junior high school mathematics and algebra.

Last year, she was chosen as one of two 2015–2016 Teachers of the Year for Contra Costa County.

McClain obtained her undergraduate college units at Diablo Valley College, followed by earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and teaching credentials at California State University, Sacramento.

“Congratulations Ms. McClain and Deer Valley High School — you continue the tradition of great teaching in the Antioch Unified School District,” reads the statement on the AUSD Facebook page.

For more information on the California Teachers of the Year, visit www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr15/yr15rel79.asp.