Congratulations to the class of 2020!
Although all in-person campus operations have been suspended until further notice, that didn’t stop SBCC from holding a commencement ceremony to honor the graduating class of 2020. On Friday, May 8, at 5 p.m., the college held a “virtual” commencement online.
View the video here…
This week the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (The PACC) has announced its plans to celebrate all the hardworking graduates who are missing out on their formal ceremonies with low-cost professional photography sessions and the chance to win an all-expenses paid ‘Ultimate Grad Party’ through a raffle.
While Ventura County Public Works Agency’s (VCPWA) most exciting and educational event of the year, Public Works Day, is no longer able to conduct in-person tours, students and the community can look forward to an interactive virtual tour and activities right at their fingertips.
Scholars’ national survey finds the COVID-19 crisis is hitting low-income Americans particularly hard.
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Learn how RKS Design, a globally recognized design and innovation consulting firm whose mission is to move people through design, is working through the COVID-19 crisis. Our guest speaker is Ravi Sawhney, founder and CEO of RKS Design and member of the Dean’s Executive Council at California Lutheran University’s School of Management. Mr. Sawhney will discuss personal and organizational strategies that have been employed, due to the crisis, at RKS Design. This short 45-minute webinar will include both a presentation by Mr. Sawhney and a Q&A session with our virtual audience, moderated by Dean Gerhard Apfelthaler.
Santa Maria High School administrators, teachers and staff celebrated senior success when they distributed graduation caps and gowns on May 11.
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education on Tuesday night approved Steve Campbell as the principal of Santa Maria High School.
Superintendent Antonio Garcia made the announcement during the regular board meeting. Campbell has served as interim principal since April 2018 when former principal Joe Domingues retired.
Philanthropy is a multi-generational tradition for Esther Wachtell of Ojai and Irene Pinkard, Ed.D., of Oxnard.
In recognition of their commitment to enhancing the culture, environment and educational opportunities in the Ventura/Santa Barbara County region, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will recognize Pinkard and Wachtell with honorary doctorates during CSUCI’s virtual commencement celebration to be held on Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m.
Good Evening, Here is your COVID-19 update for May 11, 2020. Moving forward stats will be provided Monday through Friday. Stats from Saturday and Sunday will be included in the Monday report.
12 new cases
678 total cases
458 recovered cases
19 deaths
28 hospitalized
11 ICU patients
13, 715 tested
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s commitment to students who have not grown up with higher education as a default in their families has earned the campus a national First-gen Forward designation from The Center for First-generation Student Success.
As Trump Administration Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rolls back Title IX protections for student survivors of sexual assault and harassment on college campuses in federal regulations released on May 7, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara), victim advocates, and civil rights lawyers urge California lawmakers to pass pending Senate Bill 493, which will ensure California schools provide a transparent and fair process for all students involved in sexual misconduct investigations.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Psychology and Business double major Juliane Martinez, 20, found her calling among the flowers and people thriving at the Growing Works Nursery in Camarillo.
Her experience at Growing Works led her to delve into the field of “positive psychology,” a study of human flourishing, and that research in turn led to Martinez being named a 2020-2021 Newman Civic Fellow.
SANTA MARIA — Pioneer Valley High School arrived at two homes Monday morning to personally recognize the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2020. Principal Shanda Herrera greeted Valedictorian Naomi Mau and Salutatorian Damian Magana. They received balloons, certificates and…
SANTA MARIA — A student leader/athlete at Pioneer Valley High School has been rewarded for his efforts with a $100,000 McDonald’s HACER Scholarship. Vladimir Rosales will be the first in his family to have an opportunity to attend college and is…
MAY 11 – MAY 15, 2020
SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOLS
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
** Monday / Wednesday / Friday **
Meals for Tuesday will be given on Monday & Meals for Thursday will be given on Wednesday Ernest Righetti High – 941 E. Foster Rd
Pioneer Valley High – 675 Panther Dr.
Santa Maria High – Parking lot on Thornburg
Despite economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 Outbreak, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) continues to support youth and staff to cope and emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
The BGCGCV continues to keep 4 out of 9 of its Clubs open to provide the critical childcare needed for essential working families. In addition to childcare, the BGCGCV is working hard to maintain a sense of routine for youth, help prevent learning loss, and focusing on the social, and emotional wellbeing of its members.
Two young men heading for careers in math and science were personally honored as the Santa Maria High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian Wednesday afternoon.
Valedictorian Cristian Ramirez Morales (GPA 4.42) and Salutatorian Isaac Ochoa (GPA 4.34) received home visits and their respective honorary certificates from Principal Steve Campbell.
Righetti High School seniors plan to pick up their caps and gowns during a drive-thru celebration on Friday, May 8.
The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in front of the main entrance. Administrators and staff, wearing masks and practicing social distancing, will be there to cheer them on.
Allan Hancock College will offer a new degree program in Latino/Latina Studies beginning this summer and fall.
The associate of arts degree program provides a structured study of Latino/Latina heritage, and fosters an understanding of Latino/Latina history, culture and aesthetics. The new degree program is the first of its kind at Hancock, which is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
A social-distancing drive-thru ceremony celebrating Santa Maria High School seniors heading to universities was held May 1.
First and foremost, Happy Mother’s Day from the Santa Paula Art Museum! We are in awe of all of you moms who have had to embrace your creativity more than ever this year to care for your children.
This week we’ve found ourselves especially drawn to line art. Line is the foundational element in any artwork. Blind contour drawing is a really fun way to explore line and would make a great Mother’s Day activity. We love the Cincinnati Art Museum’s tutorial on how to create a blind contour drawing of your mom.
Do you know a child who will be five years old on or before December 2, 2020? Maybe it’s your neighbor, friend or even your own child. Spread the word…now is the time to register for kindergarten. Any child who will turn 5 years old on or before December 2, 2020, is eligible to enter transitional kindergarten/kindergarten in the fall.
Sixty faculty members at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will be selected to participate in a national professional development program backed by the National Association of System Heads (NASH), the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), and a $2.4 million grant from the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF).
Although all in-person campus operations have been suspended until further notice, that won’t stop Santa Barbara City College from holding a commencement ceremony to honor the graduating class of 2020. On May 8 at 5 p.m., the college will hold a “virtual” commencement online, to which all students, faculty, staff and the community at large are invited.
When you take on something as virulent as the novel coronavirus, you have to act fast. In the three months since the first report of COVID-19 infection in the United States, the virus has spread to all 50 states and U.S. territories except for American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. It has caused quarantines, lockdowns, illness and death, and brought abrupt and significant changes to life as we know it.
Selected Nursing students and two outstanding CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Chemistry students will benefit from grants awarded to Associate Professor of Chemistry Ahmed Awad, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Nursing Charlene Niemi, R.N., Ph.D.
THOUSAND OAKS — In order to help the community during these challenging times, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) are participating in a food drive to benefit the Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank. The Food Drive is…
Oxnard School District (OSD) announced that a vacancy on the Oxnard School District Board of Trustees will be filled through a provisional appointment. The Trustee Area 2 seat is currently vacant and the District is seeking candidates to fill this position.
Several actors from the movie “Coco”© have teamed up to send a “Thank you!” message to all the children who have stayed at home to slow down the spread of the deadly COVID-19. The artists recorded “We’re All In This Together,” a video that also asks kids to remain vigilant against the virus.
State and terrritorial governors have implemented pandemic protection measures in order to interrupt and slow down the passage of the coronavirus throughout each state’s population. Some of these measures are implemented at the individual level, such as wearing a facemask or maintaining social distance. The risk of transmission is much higher among crowds of people in close proximity, so another set of measures operates at the group level, trying to keep large groups from forming by keeping potential members dispersed.
“Romaine lettuce tainted with E. coli can be recalled or removed from grocery stores to prevent transmission,” said Paul Hsu, an epidemiologist at UCLA. “When someone is infected with coronavirus, we have to rearrange social contacts to interrupt that person-to-person transmission.” Crowds at sporting events, audiences at concerts, and students in classrooms have been dispersed by cancelling games, events, and classes.
The Coalition for Family Harmony, which provides victims of family violence in Ventura County with the means to help escape from abuse, has seen a 10 to 15 percent increase in crisis calls to its hotline since the COVID-19 stay-at-home order took effect.
“Financial and emotional stresses are taking a toll. Victims are calling our hotline, fearful about staying in their home with an abuser but also worried about leaving and possibly being exposed to COVID-19,” says Dr. Caroline Prijatel-Sutton, Coalition For Family Harmony executive director. “They are in desperate situations.”
Now, more than ever, VCCDC strives for this unifying vision. Even during these challenging times, homeownership is still considered to be a foundation for building financial stability. As we pivot to address the recent challenges in our communities, we will continue to empower and connect people through all our programs.
After conducting a recent survey, we found that some of our most affected neighbors are homeowners at risk of foreclosure and frustrated tenants who are struggling to pay rent with limited understanding of their options or fair housing laws. We have also noted that a fair number of senior homeowners have reached out to us, asking about their options with their current mortgages. As a result, we are renewing focus on foreclosure prevention counseling, tenant education and reverse mortgage counseling to address these critical issues.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will salute the Class of 2020 with a livestream celebration beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23.
The celebration is being held on the same day the students were to graduate and President Erika D. Beck, Ph.D. stressed that this will not replace the in-person graduation, which had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods will match all donations up $10,000 for every dollar donated to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) in the month of May during SEEAG’s “Duda Farm’s Double Your Impact Challenge.”
Oxnard College recently reopened on-site classes and operations for its Regional Firefighter Academy and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program after closely collaborating with local and state officials to implement strict COVID-19 screening and safety guidelines. The facility plays a crucial role in training the next generation of firefighters and emergency response professionals who protect communities in Ventura County as well as throughout the state. The Fire Academy has also extended the application deadline for its Fall 2020 semester through May 1.
Moorpark College Nursing Science program faculty members diligently prepare their graduates to enter the challenging and rewarding field of nursing. As proof of the students’ preparedness, the Fall 2019 class had a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam. The national average pass rate for first-time test-takers is 83.5 percent.
Non-profit Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is participating in #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, 2020 to raise critical funding needed for Quick Response loans and training to help local businesses adapt and recover in the midst of the pandemic. To date, WEV has provided nearly $400,000 in emergency funding while also advocating on a national level for additional funds to support local businesses. For information about donating, visit www.wevonline.org.
Pioneer Valley High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America zoomed their way to the top during the 73rd annual FCCLA State Leadership Conference recently.
A social-distancing drive-thru ceremony celebrating Santa Maria High School seniors heading to universities is scheduled for Friday, May 1.
Santa Maria High School administrators, teachers and staff will celebrate senior success when they distribute graduation caps and gowns on Friday, May 11.
Chief Deputy Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency Barry Zimmerman provided an update on testing this week. View the update here. The County of Ventura is focused on the ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating and supporting those who are positive or exposed. These steps are critical on the path to reopening.
Good news, expanded testing begins next week, see below for details. Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom outlined the State’s plan to reopen the economy in four stages:
Stage 1: Improving testing and tracing, procuring personal protective equipment and ensuring hospital surge capacity.
Stage 2: Opening, with adaptations, school and child care facilities and lower-risk workplaces like retail stores, manufacturers and offices. Park and trail restrictions will also be loosened.
Stage 3: Opening higher-risk workplaces, like gyms, nail and hair salons, movie theaters, sports without live audiences and churches.
Stage 4: End of the stay-at-home order; reopen highest-risk workplaces, like concerts, convention centers and live-audience sports.
The California Department of Education on April 29 announced it is studying options for reopening school campuses after Governor Newsom suggested they could open as early as July or August. Many questions remain about the safety, fiscal and labor implications of reopening campuses before the traditional start of the next school year. For now, there has been no alteration to existing school calendars.
The economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis is impacting local nonprofit community organizations in unforeseen ways. One of those affected is the Ventura College Foundation. The foundation’s operating expenses are funded almost entirely from proceeds generated by its Ventura College Weekend Marketplace on the Ventura College campus. With the Marketplace closed until large gathering restrictions are lifted, funds to keep the foundation running are drying up.
Many of our older community members, particularly those living alone, are not receiving the support they need during the coronavirus pandemic. To address this gap, several nonprofits in Santa Barbara County have collaborated to identify isolated seniors and connect them to essential services or critical needs, such as food and supplies.
The Doctor Is On
A communication scholar explores the use of entertainment media as therapy for stress, anxiety and hopelessness.
Two schools within the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District are moving forward with drive-thru cap and gown distributions.
Pioneer Valley High School on April 28 passed out caps, gowns and a lawn sign to celebrate senior accomplishments.
Good Evening Ventura County, Here’s your daily update on COVID-19 in the County of Ventura:
5 new cases
135 current cases
508 total cases
356 recovered cases
26 hospitalized (5 patients are long term care facility patients not in need of hospital care but being cared for at the hospital to protect others at long term care facilities)
11 in the ICU
17 deaths: age range 37-99 years; 9 males and 8 females.
Kaitlin Shipley always knew she wanted to work in the healthcare field. After working as a medical assistant for several years after high school, she enrolled in the nursing program at Santa Barbara City College, graduating in 2019 with an associate degree in nursing. Fast forward less than one year, Kaitlin finds herself donning protective gear to enter the isolation room at Lompoc Valley Medical Center as one of the local heroes in the battle against COVID-19.
