Schools

Cabrillo College Measure R on March 2020 Ballot

January 8, 2020 by Seb Frey

Vote Yes on Measure R for Cabrillo College

The Board of Trustees of Cabrillo College has put together a new bond measure to appear on the March 3, 2020 primary ballot. Ballot Measure R will seek to raise $274.1 million dollars to improve facilities at both the Aptos and Watsonville campuses.

County residents may recall that there was a larger, $310 million bond measure for Cabrillo in 2016 (Measure Q). This effort failed to win the minimum necessary 55% “Yes” to pass – it fell about 1% short. This time around, the Trustees have put together a plan that has better support among students and faculty, and it is hoped that in 2020, the community will lend enough to support to get the measure passed.

[CTA-Callout]

Specifically, this money will be spent on the following projects:

$84 Million: New Science Building
$72.9 Million: Library Renovation and Secondary Effects
$60.7 Million: Major Renovation of 200 Building to Co-Locate All Student Services
$23 Million: Watsonville Public Safety Center
$17 Million: IT and Facilities Allocation
$11 Million: Building 350 – Reconfigure Instructional Classrooms for Larger Lecture Halls
$3 Million: Building 500, 600, 1600 Modernization – CA State Match –
$2.5 Million: Critical Needs (emergency fixes)

Less specifically, the money will be used to:

Upgrade training classrooms to prepare students for 21st-century careers
Prepare more students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities
Improve educational resources for returning veterans
Update classroom technology and science, engineering and math labs
Expand access to college classrooms for people with disabilities
Upgrade aging classrooms and replace outdated wiring and sewer lines
Establish a public safety training center in Watsonville to train local firefighters and police to serve our community

If it passes, Measure R would impose a district-wide, 30-year property tax of $19 per $100,000 of assessed value. It is important to note that because of Proposition 13, assessed value is often much less than market value. Property owners that purchased years ago may have an assessed value of, say, $300,000 but a market value of $850,000 – in this case, those property owners would be looking at a $57/year increase in property taxes. If, however, you paid $1,000,000 for a home last year in the district, the assessed value will be roughly the same – meaning you’d be paying an additional $190/year in taxes in that case.

[Home-Price-Callout]

The Board of Trustees is optimistic that the 2020 Measure R will be successful when 2016 Measure Q failed. The 2016 effort was not well planned, whereas boosters of the 2020 measure say the plan for how the money will be spent has been very carefully considered to closely align with the needs of the student body and the community.

Cabrillo College has put together a dedicated Yes on R web site, and has additional information on the bond measure on their main site.

In the most recent episode of the Bay to Bay Podcast, host Seb Frey discusses what’s going on at Cabrillo College, and spends about half the episode discussing the ins and outs, whys and wherefores of the 2020 Bond Measure R. You can listen to that below:

https://baytobaypodcast.com/2020/01/08/episode-49-cabrillo-college-in-2020

See also:

[Home-Search-Callout]

Supervisory Academy at Cabrillo

September 24, 2019 by Seb Frey

Being a successful supervisor can be a challenge: you have a lot of responsibility, and usually, very little supervisory training. The Cabrillo College Supervisory Academy is designed to deliver results in a 12-week program that helps participants develop skills and become a better supervisor. Participants may choose which modules are best for them, or attend all 12!

The Supervisory Academy develops competencies and skills that are critical to effective, clear and positive communication which build the trust that is the foundation to all successful organizations. This program will teach you how to turn those challenging and uncomfortable conversations into empowering interactions. You will learn to become resourceful and solutions oriented so that you and your team make your greatest contribution and get extraordinary results. The Supervisory Academy is dedicated to anyone who is seeking excellence on their professional path! You do not need to be a supervisor to receive value from this program, you simply need the desire to perform at your best.

In these weekly meetings, participants will…

Use essential skills that will make their jobs easier and teams more efficient
Self-assess and make effective choices about their leadership development
Build, sustain and repair trust with their teams
Set clear performance expectations
Improve communication with all levels of their organizations
Delegate, coach and develop teams
Motivate employees
Make better decisions and solve the right problems
And so much more!

“The size, industry, and profitability of an organization do not necessarily deem it successful. Successful organizations have people who feel valued and engaged in what they are creating through the organization.” – Jennifer Mount

Tuesday Morning Series:
October 1 – December 17, 2019
9:00 am – 12:00 Noon
Aptos Campus, room 1522

Click Here to Sign Up

Learn More on Cabrillo’s Web Site

Mar Vista Students Raise Funds for Paradise Elementary

February 22, 2019 by Seb Frey

The students at Mar Vista Elementary School recently held a special Winter Benefit Concert to raise funds to help the children and families of Paradise Elementary School, which burned to the ground in 2018 during the devastating Camp fire.

Students in grades TK (Transitional Kindergarten) through 4th performed a wide range of songs, starting with It’s a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and finishing up with I’ll be There by Bruno Mars. The first of two performances was held on a Thursday morning at 8:30 AM, but the hall was packed with parents excited to see their kids perform.

Students from the 5th and 6th grades ran the coffee and bake sale, which was the fundraising portion of the event. They had an ambitious goal of raising $4,000-$5,000 for the victims of the fire. The students of Mar Vista Elementary School ask you to please donate to the Camp Fire Relief Fund!

Schools is all about learning, and by putting on this benefit concert, the students have learned a very important lesson. They’ve learned that we’re all in this together, and that when people need help it’s important to step up and lend a hand to those in need.

Mar Vista Elementary Winter Benefit Concert Video

Mar Vista Elementary Winter Benefit Concert Photo Gallery

The school also put together a video showing how the idea of this special benefit concert came about, and can be seen below:

Aptos Cares

May 13, 2016 by Seb Frey

A couple of weekends ago, Comcast Cares Day came to Mar Vista Elementary School, where my son is currently enrolled in first grade. Each year, the good folks at Comcast sponsor community service events throughout the country, enlisting thousands of volunteers to help make their communities a better place. Comcast provides tools and materials, and actually also donates $10 per volunteer who shows up to help.

Orlando Calderon, Mar Vista Student Parent and Comcast Employee

Mar Vista Elementary School was very fortunate to have been chosen this year, and we owe it to a Mar Vista Elementary school parent, Orlando Calderon, a Comcast employee, who nominated Mar Vista Elementary for the program this year. As it happens, Orlando came to my house and fixed an issue I was having with my high-speed Internet (the first issue I’d had in over 2 years of service) – and he doggedly stuck with it until the issue was resolved. It’s clear that Orlando really cares, about Comcast’s customers and our community as well.

It was great to see so many families from Mar Vista come out to participate in the event. Things got rolling around 7:30 AM, and a whole bunch of folks stayed for the entire day, with a break for lunch provided by Aptos Street BBQ. Lots of kids were out there working too. In an era of omnipresent iPads and other digital distractions, it was really refreshing to see so many kids happily and enthusiastically helping make their school a better place.

Comcast even got Supervisor Zach Friend out of bed early on a Saturday morning, leaving his wife and toddler son back at home, to come and give Principal Rich Determan a certificate from state senator Bill Monning, who, unsurprisingly, could not actually attend in person. I shot a little video of Zach’s remarks, which you can see below.

Zach Friend’s Remarks at Comcast Cares Day

This morning at the gym, I finished watching President Obama’s commencement speech for the 2016 class at Howard University. Say what you like about Obama’s politics, but the guy gives a good speech. What I took away from it is that your personal involvement in the community is really important. It’s not enough to sit and complain and refuse to participate because it’s futile or because the whole system is corrupt.

And I think this is what makes Aptos the amazing place that it is. People are engaged. People care. And you really saw that a couple of weeks ago at Comcast Cares Day. So thanks to Orlando Calderon, to Comcast, and to everyone who came out to help spiff up our school. You’ve helped make the world a better place, one shovel full of mulch and paint brush stroke at a time.

21st Century Classroom Opens at Twin Lakes

April 18, 2016 by Seb Frey

[yelp-widget-pro id=”twin-lakes-christian-school-aptos”]

The first 21st Century Classroom in Santa Cruz County has opened at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos. The building, constructed at a cost of $12.1 million is an impressive 40,500 square feet built in three levels and features 12 classrooms, a computer lab, science lab, several rooms for church programs, and an amphitheater.

The new school building has long been on the campus master plan, but the current vision for the project began to take shape about eight years ago. One of the key leaders in the effort was executive pastor Mark Spurlock, who kindly made himself available for a guided tour of the facility.

It features a wide array of high-tech touches, including LED lighting systems throughout the facility that recognize when people enter a room, and when they leave so the lights can be shut off. What’s more, there are ambient light sensors that adjust the lighting level to be well balanced with natural light from the windows.

The building is climate controlled to keep the indoor temperature at an even 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which has been determined to be the best temperature for students to learn in. What’s more, rooms which are unoccupied can be left cold or hot while rooms which are occupied will have their temperatures maintained at optimal levels.

Each classroom features a long whiteboard, onto which can be projected the output from AppleTVs, Chrome Casts, or a scanner on the teacher’s desk for projecting old-fashioned printed material. Teachers can write all over the white board with old fashioned dry erase markers as well, combining the best of “old school” and new technologies.

The structure was designed by long-time parishioner Rich Ifland of Ifland Engineers (designers of the iconic Santa Cruz Lighthouse). Mr. Ifland studied the latest in school and classroom designs from around the country, but in particular in the Seattle area where they have opened dozens of new schools in the past 20 years.

The structure was built by local firm Bogard Construction, which has built most of the buildings on the Twin Lakes Campus. They broke ground in 2014 and were able to finish the whole project on time and on budget. Funding for the project came completely from donations within the church.

The school serves primarily students from Kindergarten through 5th Grade, with middle-school aged children coming in to use the science and computer labs. With the expanded capacity, the school has more space to accept a few dozen new and lucky students and they are currently accepting applications for enrollment.

Pioneer Middle School

March 14, 2016 by Seb Frey

There's a New Middle School in Aptos — Pioneer Middle School

There’s a new, private middle school in Aptos: Pioneer Middle School. The school serves children in grades 6 through 8, and is blazing a new trail in education in the mid-county area. The school seeks to provide a world-class educational experience for kids that focuses on more than just the 3 R’s.

Taking a page from Google’s playbook, students at Pioneer Middle School are allowed to spend one day per week (Fridays) working on a project that is their own passion, and the teachers work to guide the student as they work.

As the school’s web site says:

Pioneer Middle School provides young people with a challenging, creative, and caring academic environment that values social, emotional, intellectual, physical and artistic exploration.

Moreover, the school is designed to provide:

A balanced approach to education
Thoughtfully designed homework
Daily Fitness and Well Being class
Low student-to-teacher ratio
Children prepared for now!

The school is holding an open house on Saturday, March 19 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, and they are actively enrolling students at this time.

The school a 501(c)3 non-profit and is presently it’s start-up phase. It is located on the grounds of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship church, at 6401 Freedom Blvd in Aptos. Interested parents are encouraged to contact the school and inquire about financial aid if need be.

Mar Vista Read-a-Thon 2014 Kickoff

October 29, 2014 by Seb Frey

My son Aiden is a kindergartner at Mar Vista Elementary School, and we’re doing a read-a-thon fundraiser, and it’s now time for the Mar Vista Read-a-Thon 2014 Kickoff. The Mar Vista library is in sad shape, and half the funds we raise will go to buy new books for the library. The other half of the money will go to the Mar Vista Parent’s Club general fund, which goes to support music, art, and technology, teacher training, and much more.

We will be starting on:
Monday Nov. 3rd

by www.read-a-thon.com

Donations are 100% tax deductible, because the Mar Vista Parents Club is an IRS 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.

Business Sponsorships

Do you have a business, or know someone who does that would like to market to the beautiful people who make up the Mar Vista Community? Consider sponsoring the Read-a-thon, check this out:

http://www.read-a-thon.com/school/donate.php?q=3051

Thank you so much for your support! And also (shameless plug) – Aiden would love your sponsorship!

Mar Vista Read-a-Thon 2014

September 12, 2014 by Seb Frey

Mar Vista Elementary School is having its first-ever Read-a-Thon this year! This is a new fundraising initiative being organized by the Mar Vista Parent’s Club (the Mar Vista version of a PTA). Funds raised from the Read-a-Thon will go in large part to the Mar Vista Elementary library, which suffers from limited and outdated reading materials for Mar Vista students. The Read-a-Thon will run from November 3rd through the 14th.

As California seeks to reverse years of declines in academic performance, it has adopted the Common Core curriculum. With Common Core, academic basics such as reading and math are heavily emphasized. Mar Vista Elementary is a California Distinguished School, and aims to stay that way. It is hoped that by further encouraging students to read, academic performance will be further enhanced.

The Mar Vista Parents club is seeking local businesses who are willing to sponsor classrooms for $250 each – approximately $1 per student per day of the Read-a-Thon. Sponsoring businesses will receive:

Thanks on the Mar Vista Parent’s Club Facebook page
Logo placement on one flyer thanking everyone involved with the Read-A-Thon
Logo placement and thanks in an all-school email blast
Invitation to meet and greet with sponsored class
Placement on a banner outside the school thanking them for participation

In addition, the Mar Vista Parent’s Club is seeking “community readers” – members of the community who can come in to the school and read with the children, and perhaps spend some time talking with them about the reading material. The children would be thrilled to read with fire fighters, paramedics, life guards, law enforcement, doctors, lawyers – anyone with a good story to share and discuss!

If you have a local business and are interested in sponsoring the Read-a-Thon, or if you have a suggestion for someone who would be a good guest “community reader,” please contact Sebastian Frey via phone at (831) 704-6873.

Read-a-Thon Logo

Run for Rio 5K Race – September 14

September 7, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Second Annual Run for Rio 5K Race will be held this year on Sunday, September 14, 2014. The run begins at 8:00 AM in Seascape Village, and the course winds its way through nearby neighborhoods. The fee to participate is $30 per runner or $120 for a family of up to 5. Proceeds from the run will directly benefit Rio Del Mar Elementary Parent Alliance which funds many important programs at Rio del Mar Elementary School.

Seascape Village Fitness and Physical Therapy is hosting both pre- and post-run gatherings at their Fitness Center, with healthy snacks and beverages and guided warm-up and cool-down periods. Seascape Foods will also be providing a post fuel station.

See also:

Mar Vista Elementary School

August 18, 2014 by Seb Frey

Valencia Elementary School is a California Distinguished School. It is part of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. The school serves children between Kindergarten through sixth grade, and has about 500 students.

[show_posts_by_tag tags=”mar-vista-elementary”]