From left, Sam Kennedy, Tara McLaughlin, Itzel Flores and Katie Brenny, are four of the 13 Presidential Gold Award recipients.
Presidential Gold Award winners
Thirteen Paradise Valley Elementary School students received the Presidential Gold Award for earning straight As from fourth through sixth grade June 6. Sam Kennedy, Tara McLaughlin, Itzel Flores, Katie Brenny, Emily Ankiel, Hana Doting, James Gabbard, Jessica Huerta, Erin Lamontagne, Sierra Rose, Mica Schenkelberg, Heather Sjostedt and Celeste Taniguchi received the award.
Alternative schools students triumph at graduation
A couple of years ago, Kimberly Casteel was getting in and out of trouble a lot, and had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. The high school she had been attending would not take her back, and she ended up at The Foundry - an alternative school operated by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
And there she blossomed. On June 10, she participated in the County Office of Education's alternative schools graduation ceremony, with her eye on attaining a college degree in psychology.
She credits the staff at the school with helping her turn things around. "They are always there," she said. "They always make time for you."
Casteel was one of 52 students expected to attend the ceremony at the Cathedral of Faith in San Jose.
AVID graduates record 367 students
After several years of study in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program, a record 367 college-bound seniors from 16 local high schools were applauded at the AVID Senior Recognition May 21.
AVID provides promising middle and high school students access to rigorous college preparatory curriculum, tutoring and counseling. The program, begun in California more than a decade ago, is offered at 3,500 schools in the U.S. and abroad. It is coordinated regionally through the Santa Clara County Office of Education. In many cases, AVID graduates are the first in their family or circle of friends to attend college.
LO teacher named district Teacher of the Year
Live Oak High School English teacher Aaron Spain, who retired this year, was named Teacher of the Year at a recent school board meeting.
Spain taught English in the district for more than 33 years and was among the teachers who brought the American Federation of Teachers to Morgan Hill Unified School District.
Many former students say his class was their best "college" English course, said Trustee Julia Hover-Smoot. "He's a man who inspires an understanding and appreciation of language, and of the literature of our country and Britain," she said.
Spain said at the board meeting the lesson he learned was, "You're always being watched."
"You want to walk off into the sunset, not disturb too much and just ease out," he said. "Then something unexpected happens."
Upon receipt of his certificate, the now-former English teacher checked to see if his name was spelled correctly.
Live Oak future business leaders earn awards
Active Live Oak High School Future Business Leaders of America members recently returned from the annual California State Leadership Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, where they scooped up several state awards. Now, the FBLA students are preparing for the National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Ga., June 25-29 where all of the state winners will face competition from throughout the nation.
Live Oak garnered first place in the Professional Division Membership Category, with 62 professional members recruited by students which include adults and business professionals who donate to the chapter and support their activities with guidance, tours and presentations.
Live Oak was also declared a Gold Seal chapter, a distinguished award granted to only 17 schools in California, honoring the well-rounded program of activities that the chapter does as well as its dedication to business education.
Shelly McCune earned one of four $1,000 scholarships from California FBLA's the L. Byram Bates Memorial Scholarship. She also earned the "Who's Who" in FBLA award, which honors one member from the Bay Area for their outstanding dedication to the organization.
LO Ag Boosters host open house Saturday
After renovations that spanned several years, the Live Oak High School Agricultural Booster Club will re-open the school's seven-acre farm 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The ribbon-cutting event will include a petting zoo and free food. The farm, which boasts pigs, goats, geese, a garden and an orchard donated by Mariani orchards, is located next to Live Oak High School Sarich Field on Half Road between Mission View Drive and Peet Road. The school's address is 1505 East Main Avenue.
County Regional Occupational programs champions announced
The Santa Clara County Regional Occupational Programs Champions for the months of May and June are Kermit Schrock of Gilroy High School and Donna Foster of Live Oak High School. Schrock was nominated for his assistance in the Socrates Attendance Import program. Foster was nominated for her enthusiastic work with the fashion design program.
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett covers education and city issues for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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