Robert Semple Elementary to host murder mystery dinner theater show, "Death by Dessert"

(Originally published in the 5/1/16 edition)

We've heard of death by chocolate, but this is ridiculous.

Or maybe it is not so ridiculous. After all, the murder mystery dinner theater show, “Death by Dessert,” does go toward funding Robert Semple Elementary. It also will make for a very fun Friday night out for all.

The play centers around two families in Little Italy who own competing Italian restaurants. The families have long been at odds with each other, and this comes to a head when Maria, the owner of the building that houses these two restaurants, is found dead. With such bad blood between the two clans, everyone becomes a suspect.

Attendees will be able to cast their votes as to who they think killed Maria, and the winner will receive a prize and take photos with the cast. The cast will include members of Robert Semple, Mary Farmar and Matthew Turner Elementary's drama clubs as well as drama club alumni and Benicia Middle School advanced drama students. 

Since the setting of two Italian restaurants is sure to make audience members hungry, Robert Semple Student Council and drama club students will be providing an exquisite dinner for the evening. People who purchase tickets will get to choose from one of two entrees: baked ziti with Italian sausage or capellini pomodoro with garlic. Additionally, they will be able to choose from one of two delicious, non-fatal desserts: apple torte a la mode or cheese cake. Audience members will also get to enjoy salad and bread and butter with their entree. 

“Death By Dessert” will take place on Friday, May 13 at Robert Semple Elementary School, located at 2015 East 3^rd St. Check-in will begin at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $40, which will include one entree, one dessert course, bread and butter, a salad, coffee and a raffle ticket. They can be purchased at RSE.BeniciaUnified.org. For more information, call 747-8360.  

Three Benicia elementary schools receive Gold Ribbon honors

(Originally published in the 4/14/16 edition. The date for the regional ceremony has been corrected, although no further details on it are known.)

   Yesterday, State Superintendent of Public Schools Tom Torlakson announced that 772 California elementary schools are being honored under the Gold Ribbon Schools Awards Program. Sitting among this prestigious crop are three of Benicia's elementary schools: Mary Farmar Elementary, Joe Henderson Elementary and Robert Semple Elementary.

   The Gold Ribbon Award was created as a way to honor state schools, while the California Distinguished Schools Program is on hiatus as California creates new assessment and accountability systems. Nearly 6,000 elementary schools were eligible to apply, but only 7 percent of them were able to receive this honor.

   Schools applied based on a program or practice schools have adopted that can be replicated by other schools.

   “These schools shine as bright beacons for others, putting forth an exemplary effort to ensure that every student is ready for 21st century college and careers,” Torlakson said in a statement. “California teachers are developing an education model for the nation, training the students of today to be the problem-solvers, inventors and pioneers of tomorrow.”

   Mary Farmar highlighted its use of the Teacher College Reading and Writing Project, which aims for students to become strong readers, writers and thinkers through collaboration and solid instruction.

   Joe Henderson highlighted its efforts to improve literacy by building a reading life. This has been done through the implementation of a new reading room and its use of a web-based program called myON, where students can build their literacy skills through reading stories and poems even when they are at home.

   "We have built a love of reading through choice, stamina and instruction," Joe Henderson Principal Carin Garton said."Everything we've done at Joe Henderson has revolved around a love of reading."

   Robert Semple highlighted its use of Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, its reading intervention program and the positive impact these programs have had on students.

   “Our receiving this award is based on the culmination of hard work done this year and last year,” Robert Semple Principal Christina Moore said. “It validates the specific programs we're working on the positive impact they've had on behavior and academics.”

   “We're so excited,” she said of receiving the award. “I'm overjoyed.”

   Matthew Turner Elementary, the one Benicia school that was not nominated, was recognized as a Distinguished School in 2014.

   All the nominated schools received a visit by a committee, and Superintedent Charles Young felt optimistic afterwards.

   “When visitations ended, they told us 'You guys are great. We're submitting your applications to the Department of Education,'” he said.

   Young also noted that one third of all recommendations from Solano County came from Benicia Unified School District.

   “It's a great achievement and continuing recognition of the hard work put in by staff,” Young said.

   "We're told by our families all the time what an exceptional job we do at educating kids," Garton said. "To have the state and county come in and recognize us for it makes it all the more worthwhile. It's kind of a dream come true."

   A regional ceremony will be held June 1.

Benicia elementary schools nominated for Gold Ribbon status

(Originally published in the 2/21/16 edition)

   Three of Benicia’s four elementary schools have been nominated to become Gold Ribbon California elementary schools.

   Mary Farmar, Joe Henderson and Robert Semple elementary schools are in the running to become Gold Ribbon schools for the year. The Gold Ribbon Schools Award Program was created in 2015 as a replacement for the California Distinguished Schools program, which is on hiatus as the state works to accommodate new assessment and accountability systems, according to Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction. The program honors schools that have made major gains in the implementation of academic material and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education. Schools are invited to apply, and their applications are submitted to the California Department of Education where they undergo review. Schools are later selected by the department for verification review by staff members of their respective county offices of education. 

   Last year, the program honored California’s middle and high schools. This year, the state’s elementary schools will be honored. 

   At Thursday’s school board meeting, Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Charles Young highlighted the same things each school highlighted in their applications. 

   “Joe Henderson highlighted their school's focus on building a reading life, Robert Semple highlighted the impact that Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports has made on their school culture as well as their reading intervention support program and Mary Farmar highlighted the positive impact that classroom-embedded professional development through Teachers College Reading and Writing Project has made on their instructional practice and grade-level collaboration,” Young said. 

   The schools will be reviewed by the Solano County Office of Education. Recipients will be announced by Torlakson in April, and a regional ceremony will be held for the winning schools in May.

   As for Matthew Turner Elementary— the one school that was not selected for Gold Ribbon status— Young noted that the school was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2014. 

   

Parent teacher groups join forces for auction event at Clock Tower

(Originally published in the 2/19/16 edition)

   For the third year in a row, the Parent Teacher Groups of Joe Henderson and Robert Semple Elementary schools will be joining forces for a Mardi Gras-themed live and silent auction for adults only. 

   According to Crystal Luna-Yarnell, the event’s co-chair and a parent of a third grader at Joe Henderson, the idea came about when the two schools’ parent-teacher organizations started collaborating and talking about fundraising ideas. 

   “One of the schools is not always able to bring in as much capital as some of the other schools are,” she said. “We just thought it might be a really fun thing to do if we just sort of collaborated together and split the proceeds.”

   In 2014, the groups put on their first Mardi Gras-themed auction event. Although the celebration of Carnival is typically observed in February, the event will actually be held in March. Luna-Yarnell said she was not sure why the Mardi Gras theme was chosen but suggested it would be an interesting event for the end of winter to bring adults together. 

   “It is our only adult only event,” she said. “A lot of the events we do, we look at how we can involve the kids. This gives the parents an opportunity to get to know each other.” 

   The committee begins planning and obtaining items for the auction in July. Among the more than 100 goodies to be bid on include tickets for The Golden State Warriors’ March 26 game against the Philadelphia 76ers, four tickets to San Francisco Giants games, a seven-night stay in Puerto Vallarta in August, a Disneyland package with a $1,000 Visa gift card, tickets to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Oakland Symphony, a Lake Tahoe getaway, a Lagunitas Brewery basket and tickets to see Adele perform in one of her sold-out shows at San Jose’s SAP Center in July. 

   Luna-Yarnell said the process of obtaining items takes a lot of work.

   “It just takes a lot of asking,” she said. “It definitely takes a village, and we’re just reaching out and using all the resources that we have.” 

   Nonetheless, Luna-Yarnell says she is thrilled at the response the groups have gotten.

   “This year, I don’t think we’ve really had to ask as much as in the past,” she said. “People were really looking forward to the auction, and some people solicited us and said ‘We would like to donate.’”

   In addition to the auctions, there will be Cajun-inspired chicken, salad and side dishes catered by Gracie’s Family BBQ in Vallejo, a full bar, music by DJ Kevin and games. One of the games, “Heads or Tails,” will feature DJ Kevin tossing a coin in the air. Those who choose “Heads” will put their hands on their heads, and those who choose “Tails” will put their hands behind their backs. Participants whose poses correspond with the coin’s outcome will remain in the game, and the process will continue until one person is left standing. The winner will receive a $350 plasma-screen TV. 

   Luna-Yarnell said the proceeds will be split between the two schools, and much of the money will go toward student enrichment.

   “At Joe Henderson, we are very focused on art education and reading,” she said. “We’re also making sure our teachers have the extra money they may not get from the school district.” 

   The event will take place from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m., Saturday, March 5 at The Clock Tower, located at 1189 Washington St. Tickets can be purchased at EventBrite.com. The event is for adults only, but attendees do not have to be parents of Joe Henderson or Robert Semple students. For more information, visit JHRSAuctionEvent.org. 

BUSD Board Member Rosie Switzer dies

(Originally published in the 12/1/15 edition)

   Rosie Switzer, a longtime Benicia educator and school board member, died Sunday afternoon. 

   Dubbed “a tireless champion for students” by Superintendent Charles Young in a statement, Switzer had been serving the Benicia Unified School District for 46 years. In 1969, she and her husband Alan moved to Benicia where they both had long careers as teachers. Alan taught math, physics and computer science at Benicia High School until his retirement in 2004, and Rosie became an elementary school teacher. She taught at Mills Elementary from 1969 to 1977, Robert Semple Elementary from 1978 to 1987 and Joe Henderson Elementary from 1987 until her retirement from teaching in 2004.

   Switzer remained involved with the district when she was elected to the school board in 2005. She was re-elected in 2009 and 2014, serving as president for much of her time on the board. 

   "When I started as the new superintendent, I met with the board members. Rosie said she wanted to be on the school board to give back to the district that had given her so much in her career," Young said.

   "Rosie really touched a lot of people's lives in positive ways," Young told The Herald. "It's endearing to see the work she did."

   The board will observe a moment of silence for Switzer at the Dec. 10 board meeting.