Focus on Education (4/6/15)
MANTECA KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Manteca Unified School District kindergarten registration will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the school of attendance. Parents must provide proof of birth showing the child will be 5 years old by Sept. 1; written evidence of a physical exam since Feb. 9 and a dental assessment since August 2014; proof of residency (utility bill); and immunization record.
OCEAN ACIDITY NEXT MAPS TOPIC
The Modesto Area Partners in Science will offer a presentation on “Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem” by Tessa Hill, associate professor and chancellor’s fellow in Earth and planetary sciences at UC Davis. Hill is also affiliated with Bodega Marine Laboratory, a research station. The free MAPS event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Sierra Hall 132 on the Modesto Junior College West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. It is intended for people over 12 years of age. For more, go to http://maps.events.mjc.edu or the Modesto Area Partners in Science Facebook page, or contact MJC professor Noah Hughes at (209) 575-6800 or hughesn@mjc.edu.
MJC INTERNATIONAL DINNER SET
The International Club of Modesto Junior College will hold its annual International Dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday in the social hall of Emanuel Lutheran Church, at College and Stoddard avenues. This year’s theme is Brazil’s Carnival. The menu will represent Brazil as well as dishes from around the world. The entertainment will showcase the cultures of MJC’s international students. Tickets are $15, $10 students, and must be purchased through club members or the Center for International and Undocumented Students in the east campus student center. Tickets will not be sold at the door. For more information, call club adviser Barbara St. Urbain at (209) 575-6012.
MJC STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY
The Modesto Junior College Dance Department will present the annual Choreographer’s Showcase at 7 p.m. April 14-16 in the Cabaret West Dance Theatre of the El Capitan Building on the west campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. The evening of student choreography will feature dance styles in contemporary, jazz, hip-hop and musical theater. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door beginning 90 minutes prior to the performance. For more information, contact Lori Bryhni at bryhnil@mjc.edu or (209) 575-6496.
MATH BLAST RESULTS
Some 115 students participated in the Sixth Grade Math Blast on March 14 at the Modesto Junior College Community Science Center. Winners of the First Stage event: first place, Lucas Gatto, Ustach Middle School, Modesto; second, Jamison Martin, Great Valley Academy; third, Ashish Thakur, Walnut Elementary, Turlock. Winners of the Binary Star event: first, Emma Lopez and Zain Wafa, Ustach; second, Mitchell Amos and Gloria Park, Julien Elementary, Turlock; third, Arshaun Faraji and Renee Damars, Lakewood Elementary, Modesto.
KINDERGARTEN SIGN-UPS
New Jerusalem Elementary School and Delta Charter Schools are accepting applications for kindergarten starting at 9 a.m. April 16 in the school office, 31400 S. Koster Road, Tracy. Besides the traditional New Jerusalem Elementary School program, Tracy’s Delta Charter Elementary School and Stockton’s Delta Bridges Charter School deliver dynamic visual learning programs. There is also a Delta Charter Homeschool program. Find forms and instructions at the office. For more, go to www.deltacharter.net or call Dawn DeAnda at (209) 830-6363, ext. 2208.
HICKMAN CHARTER ORIENTATION
Hickman Charter School will hold an open house and informational meeting for home school families at 10 a.m. April 29 in the campus auditorium, 13306 Fourth St., Hickman. The meeting will include an overview of the program, including academic support, art, music, hands-on science and elective classes. Parents can meet with teachers, review curriculum and have questions answered. Attendees are asked to complete an online interest application prior to the meeting at http://hcs.hickmanschools.org/application-and-enrollment-procedures.html. To enroll, children will need birth certificate and immunization records. For more, go to http://hcs.hickmanschools.org, or call (209) 556-6550 or (209) 874-9070.
SKEPTICAL 2015 COMING UP
SkeptiCal 2015, the Northern California Science and Skepticism Conference, will be all day June 6 at the Oakland Asian Culture Center, 388 Ninth St., Suite 290 in Oakland. National Center for Science Education Inc. Executive Director Ann Reid will speak on “OMG Virus! Flu, Ebola, Measles, and When You Really Should Be Afraid.” Other topics will include “Angst in the Grocery Aisle” and “Workshop for Producing Skeptical Children.” Cost is $35. For more, go to www.skepticalcon.com.
CONTESTS FOR SCHOOLS
From May 4 through June 12, educators can enter their school for up to a $100,000 science lab makeover from Northrop Grumman Foundation. Up to five schools will win. Go to www.FabSchoolLabs.com for information and to submit an application. Semifinalist schools will be chosen and their videos will receive online votes of support to assist with the final selection process. ... From April 7 to 24, high school students can take the Financial Literacy Challenge. Those scoring 100 percent are eligible for prizes for themselves and financial literacy curriculum for their school. The contest is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank and spearheaded by Dave Ramsey. For more information, go to www.53schools.com.
RETIRED TEACHERS CONFERENCE
The California Retired Teachers Association will hold its Area VI Spring Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22 at the Fresno Retired Teacher’s Memorial Building, 3930 E. Saginaw Way, Fresno. Workshops will include computer skills, using Skype, avoiding travel pitfalls and a town hall session for member input. For more information, call Jim Sterling, (209) 578-3577.
SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS OFFER TOOL
The National School Boards Association has a new research-based initiative, Leading the Change, developed by its Center for Public Education. Leading the Change provides data-driven decision-making tools to school boards to help transform chronically low-performing schools into high-quality institutions. The tools represent the best thinking and research of school board leaders from urban, suburban and rural districts across every region in the country. For more information, go to www.data-first.org/leading-the-change.
This story was originally published April 5, 2015 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Focus on Education (4/6/15)."