Local school news, educational institutes’ news reporting in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
The jingle of bells caused heads to turn at the annual Independence Network holiday party on Dec. 16. Santa and The Golden Tones arrived at the cafeteria at Wilson High School for a surprise visit and an impromptu concert. It was the icing on the cake for the program’s director Daya Sanchez. “It’s really nice. … Read more
Sometimes it’s the small gestures that make all the difference in the world. On Dec. 14, a group of Santa Clara Police officers gathered at Scott Lane Elementary School in Santa Clara to spend a few hours with the students. “It started last year. There’s an area near here that kind of experiences some difficulties … Read more
“Fill the truck! Fill the truck!” chanted students at Laurelwood Elementary School on Dec. 14 as student council officers filled Principal Paul Fuller’s Ford F-150 with cleaning supplies, bed sheets, towels, snacks, soups, ramen, mac and cheese and other items. Collected from school families, these items were to be donated to the JW House. The … Read more
When Suzanne Hunter started Christmas in the Library at St. Lawrence School in Santa Clara nearly 20 years ago, she had no idea how big it would become. All the school librarian knew was that she wanted to instill within her students a love of reading. “The very first one was the Polar Express and … Read more
The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees called a special meeting regarding State-mandated changes to childcare programs, a hot topic at the last Board meeting that got tabled. Expanded Learning Opportunities Program The special meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19 saw a reimagined plan for the State-mandated Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) and … Read more
Santa Clara Unified School District is required by the State of California to provide free childcare to their “unduplicated” population who are English learners, free and reduced lunch program participants, foster children and homeless children. The current severely understaffed fee-based childcare program cannot handle this responsibility so the District is looking at solutions. Extended … Read more
Sutter Elementary School teacher Shirley Stibbard’s 23 kindergarten students—and their parents—clearly love her. She has the proof. It was about 5 p.m. Friday in the school parking lot. Stibbard had stayed late to turn in report cards, and she was loading her car to head home for the Thanksgiving week school break. She had just … Read more
Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) paraeducators, the people who work with the county’s most physically and developmentally disabled students, have filed a complaint with Cal/OSHA over what they say is dangerous understaffing that puts workers and students at risk for injuries, abuse and violence. On Nov. 15, SEIU Local 521, representing these workers, … Read more
School Districts aren’t immune from financial frustrations, especially when construction costs skyrocket while Santa Clara Unified School District is in the middle of creating cost estimates for elementary school upgrade projects. Elementary School Remodels According to Mark Schiel, Chief Business Official, with inflation and the rise in construction costs, they may not be able … Read more
Santa Clara Unified School District continues to monitor the enrollment numbers. Especially after opening three brand new schools, the District is watching these trends closely. Enrollment Santa Clara Unified and school districts all over the Country are concerned about enrollment declines. At the Board of Trustees Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27, staff presented the … Read more