Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Education

John Adams Elementary Students and Staff Celebrate Newly Redesigned Library

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John Adams Elementary school library

Picture Courtesy of the O.C. Register

On Friday this week, “students, families and staff from John Adams Elementary School, along with The Heart of America Foundation® and Target Volunteers, celebrated the unveiling of its newly renovated library. As part of the Target Volunteers School Library Makeover program, Adams Elementary, of the Santa Ana Unified School District, received a complete transformation this summer, including 2,000 new books, technology, paint, lighting, carpet, shelving, customized wall art and murals, as well as reading corners – all just in time for the new school year. In addition, every student walked away with seven new books to add to their own at-home reading collection,” according to the SAUSD.

Here is the full press release about the new library opening, from the SAUSD: Continue reading→

16th Annual SAUSD Parent Conference and Youth Expo Set For October 11

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SAUSD Parent Conference

The Santa Ana Unified School District is holding their “16th Annual Parent Conference” this Sunday, October 11, from 9 am to 3 pm, at  Godinez Fundamental High School.  A City of Santa Ana sponsored Youth EXPO will concurrently be taking place at the adjacent Centennial Park.

Click here to read about the Santa Ana Youth Expo.

Here is the SAUSD’s press release regarding this event:

 16th Annual SAUSD Parent Conference and Youth Expo Set For October 11

The Combination Event Brings Together More Than 100 Agencies to Benefit Families Continue reading→

Santa Ana residents get in free at the Discovery Science Center today

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Santa Ana residents can visit the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center for free today.!

Their new exhibit is Head to Toe: All About Your Body. The human body is a fascinating and complex machine, with each of its many parts fulfilling a unique and interesting function. Head To Toe explores five body topics: skeletons, organs, the senses, general health and general body facts.

They are located at 2500 N. Main St., in Santa Ana. You may call them at (714) 542-2823. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. Continue reading→

Are Santa Ana high school chemistry classes dangerously overcrowded?

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SAUSD Science Teacher Gary Reynolds speaks out about dangerous overcrowding in chemistry classes at School Board meeting on Sep. 8

“A Santa Ana High School science teacher is claiming chemistry classes at the campus are crowded beyond state regulations, causing unsafe conditions for students,” according to the O.C. Register.

Gary Reynolds, who has taught physics, chemistry and other science classes at Santa Ana High for 22 years, filed a “report of concern” with the school district alleging an “existing unsafe situation in our high school chemistry classes.”

I know Mr. Reynolds – he is a great teacher and as solid a citizen as you could ever hope to find.  He told me in an email that he wanted to give the district the chance to correct the overcrowding in chemistry classes – but their response was not what he was looking for. 

Juan Lopez, associate superintendent of human resources for Santa Ana Unified, said the state Science Safety Handbook provides guidelines for class sizes, but does not set down legal requirements. Continue reading→

Can Latino and Vietnamese students get along?

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Mexicans love pho

One thing Latino and Vietnamese residents can agree on – Pho is delicious!

“Lan Quoc Nguyen, the Vice-President of Board of the Garden Grove Unified School District, in an interview published on a Vietnamese newspaper proclaimed that other ethnicities are wary of classes with a lot of Asian students in it because they can’t compete,” according to the Bolsavik blog.

Wow!  Where do we even begin with that sentiment?

My son Joey goes to Godinez High School, in Santa Ana, where he is an honors student.  He is taking Advanced Placement classes that will earn him college credit.  I have met many of his peers.  Most of them are Latinos.  But my son’s girlfriend is Vietnamese – and yes she is brilliant.  She speaks three languages and teaches piano lessons. 

As for my son, he plays the guitar and pitches for his high school baseball team.  And no, he is not wary of Asians.  Nor have I seen any animosity between the different races in his AP classes.  Continue reading→

Discovery Science Center to host a Day of the Dead exhibit, starting on Oct. 17

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Discovery Science Center Day of the Dead

Santa Ana’s Discovery Science Center is hosting a Day of the Dead exhibit starting on Oct. 17, through Nov. 8, called “Skeletons.”

Here are the details about this event, from the Discovery Science Center’s website:

Spooky Science: Skeletons.  October 17 – November 8: Mixing science, art and culture, our newest exhibition will showcase the science under your skin! Spooky Science: Skeletons will highlight “Dia de los Muertos” art and activities, while incorporating hands-on science lessons. Special events will be held on weekends throughout the exhibition.

Examine skeletons of all kinds and explore the differences between human bones and a variety of animal bones to see how science operates beneath your skin. It’s is a SPOOKtacular good time! Continue reading→

Upcoming O.C. Nature Tours & Events: September 30 – October 4

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Wednesday, September 30, 7:30PM – 9:30PM

Family Nocturnal Exploration up Silverado Canyon, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County (part of the Santa Ana Mountains Wild Heritage Project tour series).

More events after the flip! Continue reading→

Learn to play and sing Mariachi music at the Delhi Center

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Mariachi classes at Delhi Center

Come and learn how to play and sing “Mariachi”, with Maestro David Torres, at the Delhi Center in Santa Ana. 

This is a great opportunity to get to know Latino Culture and appreciate the art of Mariachi music.

Delhi Center’s Mariachi Class is scheduled every Thursday from 5-7pm.  Children and adults are welcomed. Continue reading→

Santa Ana High School trying to replace war memorial plaques

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Santa Ana High School War Memorial Plaques

“It has been almost a year since thieves broke the locks at Santa Ana High School and tore from the walls several plaques that honored the school’s war dead, apparently to sell as scrap,” according to the O.C. Register.

The good news is that  “School officials and alumni have begun raising the thousands of dollars they expect it will cost to replace the plaques. They want to have at least a few re-cast by the end of the year, maybe those that paid tribute to the former students who died in the two world wars.”

Santa Ana High School needs our help to raise the $8K to replace the plaques. Continue reading→

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to speak at Santa Ana College today about Human Trafficking

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Students against human trafficking

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who represents Santa Ana and surrounding cities in the 47th Congressional District, will be speaking at Santa Ana College tomorrow morning, Sep. 18, at 10 am, about the modern day slavery known as Human Trafficking.”

Students will hear from the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force; an FBI Special Agent; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and an attorney from the Santa Ana Public Law Center. Continue reading→

Assemblyman Solorio appointed to State Committee on Education

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Jose Solorio

Assemblyman Jose Solorio is working to bring more funding to local schools

Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who represents the 69th Assembly District, has been appointed to an important Committee on Education.  Click here to read the committee’s hearing schedule.

What the appointment means is that Solorio will be in a good position to bring back more funding to local schools in his district!   Solorio’s district includes the Cities of Santa Ana and Anaheim, so he will be helping the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Anaheim City School District and the Anaheim Union High School District.

Here is Solorio’s press release in its entirety: Continue reading→

USDA to pay for free meals for all students at 18 SAUSD schools

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Free School Lunch at the SAUSD

“Eight Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) schools have been selected to participate in a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program in which students will receive free breakfast and lunch daily for the 2009-10 school year. In the program, every student is eligible at Davis Elementary, Diamond Elementary, Edison Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Heninger Elementary, Heroes Elementary, King Elementary and Pio Pico Elementary. These eight join 10 other SAUSD schools previously enrolled in the program last year for ongoing participation,” according to the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD).

“The USDA, which runs the free and reduced-price lunch program nationally, began the pilot program at districts across the country last year. Santa Ana Unified, the county’s largest district with 55,000 students and 55 campuses, is the only district participating in Orange County,” according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Watch the Space Station and Shuttle Discovery fly over Santa Ana!

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International Satellite Station

SATELLITE SIGHTING INFORMATION
For Santa Ana (all of Orange County)

Click here to get information about Santa Ana!

Sun Sept. 06 at 8:29 PM
For 4 minutes at 55 degrees max,
Starting from 10 above WSW to 27 above NNE

Tue Sept. 08 at 7:43pm
For 5 minutes at 50 degrees max,
Starting from 10 above WSW to 11 above NE Continue reading→