Schools

Dance festival aims to show school improvement

Terrace Elementary School is expecting hundreds of visitors Friday to take part in it's first ever dance festival.

The school, once identified as one of the lowest performing schools in the state, is eager to show off changes that have been made - which include a new paint job. But more importantly, the return of field trips and healthy activities -- such as dance.

The dance festival will feature well choreographed performances by each class. Students have been practicing for more than a month to prepare for the festival and most the routines will include props and costumes.

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Remodeled Pond School library to open

Submitted by Jon Martin on Friday, May 14th, 3:16 pm

A presentation of $3,000 in donations collected for books and a multi-media grant will be made May 19 in the Pond School cafeteria by the Leadership Bakersfield Team from the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.

Renovations to the library included deep carpet and wall cleaning, wall patching, painting, new bookshelves, desks and chairs. Members of Leadership Bakersfield spent May 8 renovating the library. It donated almost $3,000 in art supplies, such as paint, brushes, paper, markers and crayons. Approximately $2,200 worth of sports equipment such as football, baseball and soccer balls was also gifted. IKEA contributed library furniture valued at about $8,700. Service Master provided $1,000 towards library cleaning.

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Delano, Tehachapi educators named Teachers of the Year

Submitted by Erica Bain on Wednesday, May 5th, 5:19 pm

Sergio Fernandez, a bilingual teacher at Delano Union School District's Fremont School and Glen Orr, teacher of students with severe disabilities at Tehachapi High School, were honored on May 4th as Kern County's Teachers of the Year for 2009-2010.

Fernandez has taught school since 1988. During his career, the state has recognized Fernandez for his work with migrant students and the district for his teaching excellence. He has served as chairman of Fremont's math and oral language teams, while providing support to beginning teachers and others as a coach and mentor.

Orr teaches severely disabled students who range in age from 14-22. He says he got into education to help those, like himself, who struggled with continual failures in high school.

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CRPE celebrates Earth Day with kindergartners

By Tammy

The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (CRPE) will help kindergartners at Morningside Elementary School celebrate Earth Day by planting trees.

CRPE will donate two drought resistant trees that will provide shade for the playground.

"Planting trees has long been associated with Earth Day," said CRPE staff member Valerie Gorospe.

The donation of trees was approved by the Delano Union School Board of Trustees according to a CRPE news release.

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Teacher charged for allegedly urinating in class

By Cory

Matthew Davis was charged with a misdemeanor count of public nuisance Wednesday, two days after he allegedly urinated inside a Delano classroom filled with students.

The 58-year-old substitute teacher pleaded not guilty and was expected to post a reduced bail amount of $20,000.

Davis, a former priest for various Episcopalian and Anglican churches in the Shafter and Bakersfield areas, was in charge of a freshman math class at Cesar E. Chavez High School when he allegedly sat behind his desk and urinated into a cup.

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Teacher accused of urinating in class is ex-priest

By Cory

The teacher arrested Monday at a Delano high school was formerly a priest for various Episcopalian and Anglican churches in the Shafter and Bakersfield areas.

Matthew Davis, 58, was arrested for allegedly urinating in a cup while in the middle of a freshman math class at Cesar E. Chavez High School.

“He started looking and acting funny,” said one student who was in Davis’ class at the time of the incident but wished to remain anonymous.

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Substitute teacher arrested for allegedly urinating in class

By Cory

A substitute teacher was arrested Monday after he allegedly urinated into a cup while in class.

Matthew Davis, 58, faces five possible felony charges, including counts of indecent exposure, willful cruelty and lewd and lascivious acts, according to Delano police.

Officers were called about 10:30 a.m. to Cesar E. Chavez High School on the indecent exposure report. They said they believe Davis relieved himself while sitting at his desk in a math classroom.

It wasn't immediately clear if Davis shielded himself from the students or urinated in full view. There were about 30 students in the class at the time of the alleged incident.

Police could not interview some of the students because they were too upset at the time.

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Kids get banged up as school bus nearly crashes

By Cory

A Bakersfield City School District bus nearly missed crashing into a pickup Wednesday near Rabobank Arena.

The students were en route to the Young People's Concert, which gives elementary and secondary students a way to hear symphony music.

The bus driver slammed on the brakes when a GMC Sierra driven by 68-year-old Mickie Mendez, of Delano, turned in front of the bus on eastbound Truxtun Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.

None of the kids appeared to have serous injuries, though 11 of the 38 students were taken to a hospital with complaints of pain from hitting their heads, the CHP said.

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Golfers asked to help the arts in Delano schools

Submitted by John Windover on Thursday, February 25th, 8:10 am

The Delano Men's Golf Association is holding a tournament to benefit the Delano Union School District's Performing & Arts Foundation.

The "Kickoff Classic" will be held Saturday, May 15 at 9 a.m. at the Delano Golf Course.

The entry fees are $50 per person with a cart and $200 per team, or $40 per person walking and $160 per team.

For more information call Alma R. Luna at 661-721-5000 extension 158.

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Delano art students recognized

Submitted by Erica Bain on Friday, February 5th, 5:45 pm

Assemblyman Danny Gilmore, R-Hanford, recognized 8 students as winners today in the 1st Annual 30th Assembly District Young Masters Art Contest: California Spice-Flavors of the Valley.

Two of those winners include Carlos Trujillo Arias of Cesar Chavez High School for his "Flavors Around the World" piece and Ashley Villegas of Delano High School for her "Boneless" piece.

On Monday, February 1st, Assemblyman Gilmore sponsored a trip to the State Capitol in Sacramento where he welcomed each student winner with their parent and high school art teacher. The trip centered on the opening of the 30th Assembly District Young Masters Art Exhibit.

"I am very pleased to welcome these young artists to the Capitol and to recognize their God given gifts," said Gilmore. "The talents of these young people must be encouraged.

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