Newsletter | Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Monterey County Weather Watch

The National Weather Service, Monterey Region Office (NWS) continues to project a significant rainfall and wind event this week, Wednesday thru Friday. The brunt of the storm, including high winds, is expected to hit Wednesday PM going into Thursday AM. There is the likelihood of local power outages impacting school sites - especially in areas that have historically been impacted by wind-related power outages. Soils are saturated, so projections indicate a high chance of significant runoff, roadway, creek, and stream flooding. County and city public works are likely to close low-lying roadway areas due to tides and expected rainfall. It's important to plan accordingly for this event and to be mindful of any possible impacts you may encounter in your travels.  MCOE will be working closely with local officials to monitor the storm.  For more information on Monterey County weather conditions, visit weather.gov

Community Learns About Career Technical Education (CTE) on Inside Education Tour

On Friday, January 19, MCOE’s Inside Education cohort visited three Monterey County Schools: Soledad High School, Mission Trails Regional Occupational Program Center, and the Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE. Participants observed the unique styles of career instruction across high school grade levels, all of which incorporate various forms of Career Technical Education (CTE). Educational leaders at each site, along with MCOE team members, led the tours and provided an overview of the structured models of learning that are career-centered, which included dentistry, food services, nursing, and aeronautics, just to name a few.

Inside Education is a free and unique program offering half-day school tours with a focus on a specific theme/curricular area. Community members are invited to attend. The next Inside Education Tour is scheduled for February 16, with a focus on Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK). To find out more, visit montereycoe.org/for-communities/inside-education.

California Student Aid Commission Recognized MCHCS

Principal of Monterey County Home Charter School (MCHCS) Nadene Dermody proudly accepted a Race to Submit Award from the California Student Aid Commission, which recognized the MCHCS as one of twenty-four high schools with significant improvements in financial aid application completion rates across California. The Race to Submit campaign aims to increase the number of high school seniors who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). 

The Race to Submit Dashboard tracked 2023-24 FAFSA and CADAA submission and completion rates and the number of Cal Grant award offers per school. The Commission certified that MCHCS’s number of seniors who completed the FAFSA or CADAA has significantly increased from the 2021-22 to the 2022-23 school year. The MCHCS utilized a variety of strategies to accomplish this increase, including early outreach efforts, parent engagement, and informational sessions to encourage students to complete the FAFSA and pursue financial aid assistance.

Students Prepare for the 13th Regional Migrant Education Speech and Debate Tournament

Hundreds of Migrant Students across the county are beginning to arduously prepare for MCOE’s upcoming Migrant Education, Region XVI’s annual Speech and Debate Tournament. Students gathered this month to train for the tournament and work on developing their speech and debate skills in order to be successful during the competition. 

Students will compete in either speech or the debate modality. Preparatory work includes doing in-depth research into the assigned topics, preparing and refining multiple iterations of written statements and essays, and extensive practice delivering their positions orally. 

MCOE is recruiting judges for the tournament happening on March 9, 2024, at Salinas High School. Judges are asked to commit to at least one training session at the Monterey County Office of Education on Friday, March 1, or Wednesday, March 6. For more information and to register as a judge, please contact Migrant Program Specialist Esther P. Medina at emedina@montereycoe.org.

Third-Grade Students Get Hands-On Learning at South County Farm Day in King City

Each year, hundreds of volunteers make three Farm Day events throughout Monterey County - in Salinas, King City, and Monterey - a memorable day for thousands of local 3rd grade students. On Thursday, January 25, South County elementary students gathered at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City for their annual Farm Day event. 

Farm Day hosts local agriculture businesses that come together to showcase their industry and help increase students' agricultural literacy and awareness by teaching them aspects such as food safety and processing. During this unique event, students learn about farming, healthy eating, recycling, agricultural technology, and more through hands-on exhibits. Students experience farm animals first-hand and express joy and a playful curiosity when they see and feel them up close.

Organized and funded by Monterey County Agricultural Education, a non-profit organization of agriculturalists, educators, and dedicated community members, Farm Day is an excellent learning opportunity for students and ultimately provides them with a unique opportunity to gain relevant knowledge about the industry leaders in Monterey County that grow and distribute the food we eat.

Celebrating MCOE's January Employees of the Month

MCOE Employees of the Month are honorably recognized and nominated by their teams for their outstanding job performances. Each month, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deneen Guss, the MCOE Communications team, and the awardee's managers and team members visit each awardee for a special surprise visit at their work location with balloons, a certificate, and an MCOE bag of swag. This month, MCOE is proud to recognize three extraordinary employees.

See MCOE’s employee of the month webpage.

Theresa Borch, Accounting Specialist for Finance & Business Services

Jennifer Schmeltz , Preschool Teacher for the Special Education Division at Bard Blades School

Debra Brau, Educational Administrator for the Alternative Education Department

2024 Black History Month Film Festival

The Black Leaders and Allies Collaborative (BLAAC), in partnership with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and their Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Officer, Dr. Nicholas Creary, announce a series of movie nights in celebration of Black History Month. This cultural festival is open to all as a testament to the shared commitment of BLAAC and MIIS to fostering understanding and dialogue in our community.

See Festival Dates and Register Here

AIM Awareness Design Challenge

AIM Youth Mental Health is launching the 7th Annual Awareness Design Challenge. AIM Youth Mental Health is calling all middle and high school students to share their voices through creative expression on the mental health challenges that youth face today. Now more than ever, Monterey County youth need to know they are seen and heard by their community. The theme this year is: We Are Listening. Entries may be either traditional (painting or drawing) or graphic design. A student may submit more than one entry, and a group may submit a collaborated entry. Prizes will be awarded for 1st through 3rd place in each category for middle and high school entries. Prizes will be shared amongst any group entries. The artwork will be on display at the Carmel Sunset Center for the Design Challenge presentation of awards and reception on May 1st. Artwork is then displayed at the MCOE.

The deadline for entries is April 1st by 5:00 pm.

For the entry form and more information visit:

AIMymh.org/Design-challenge.

National Youth Science Camp 

The California Department of Education is pleased to announce that applications are open for the 2024 National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) for high-achieving, science-oriented students.

Hosted by the National Youth Science Academy, the NYSC is an annual residential science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) program for high school students designed to honor and challenge some of the nation’s young leaders and provide them with opportunities to engage with STEAM professionals and participate in exciting outdoor activities. Typically, two delegates from each state and the District of Columbia are selected to attend camp. The NYSC is offered to the selected participants at no cost so that talented students may attend regardless of their financial ability. The 2024 NYSC will be held in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, fully in person, from June 29 to July 20, 2024. The NYSC is open to graduating seniors and also juniors. Selected delegates must commit to attending the full camp. Apply now and learn more.

Be a Reader for The Gates Scholarship!

The Gates Scholarship reader application is open and is seeking professionals to help serve in an important role. Readers will read and evaluate four short essays, each from 25 students, totaling 100 essays, by February 15, 2024. Readers will be required to complete a brief online certification course prior to receiving their first batch of essays. No travel will be required, as essays can be read wherever the reader has internet access (e.g., work, home, etc.). Learn more and apply today.

Expressions Challenge

Expressions is challenging high school teens to use their creativity to share how they feel about what is happening in their world through the form of spoken word, visual arts, media arts, or creative writing.

The Challenge

Each category will consist of a first, second, and third place winner for a total of 12 winners.

First Place – $2,000

Second Place – $1,750

Third Place – $1,500

People's Champs

Based solely on the number of votes entries receive. Four $1,000 cash prizes will be awarded, one per category to the entries that receive the most votes.

Teacher Champions

 Four educators will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize for their support of Expressions by scheduling a class presentation, student submissions, and advocacy in their schools.

Learn More and Submit an Entry

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Opportunity

The 2024 HSF Scholar Program Application is now open and closes on February 15, 2024,

5:00 PM PT.

Founded in 1975, HSF has awarded over $730 million in scholarships. HSF Scholars have access to valuable Scholar Support Services and, as funding permits, scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Eligibility:

• Must be of Hispanic heritage
• U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students
• Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university or graduate school, in the U.S., for the 2024-2025 academic year
• Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable)

Apply Here

Random Collages of Kindness Workshop

On Random Acts of Kindness Day, a day to encourage and celebrate gestures of kindness, the Lyceum Monterey County will be making “random collages of kindness!”

Collage artist Lisa Handley will provide fun inspiration, guidance and plenty of materials for you to create collage art pieces in small, easy to give away sizes such as bookmarks, artist trading cards or inchies and twinchies (tiny collages in one and two-inch dimensions).

You’ll bring home collaged kindness to brighten someone's day in a variety of ways. Tuck a bookmark in a library return. Mail a twinchie inside a letter to a friend. Leave an artist trading card on a park bench to be found. Lisa will share other clever ideas on how to release your art. 

Ages: 11 - Adult

Date: Saturday, February 17th, 2024

Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: The Lyceum of Monterey County

Instructor: Lisa Handley

Fee: $40 includes materials

Register Here

Parent Power Summit

Reserve your spot for the 5th annual Central Coast Parent Power Summit! This free, bilingual community event will be held on Saturday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Sherwood Hall in Salinas, 940 N. Main Street. Anyone interested in improving child care in Monterey County is encouraged to attend. Register today!

Join First5 Monterey County in dreaming big about how to improve childcare in our region through collective action and advocacy. There will be fun activities, a panel conversation with elected state representatives, and advocacy workshops focused on the following topics:

• Storytelling Fundamentals: Creating Your Call to Action
• Talking to the Media
• Turning Your Ask Into Action
• Dads Need Child Care Too

The event will primarily be conducted in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English for participants to speak and listen in their preferred language. Learn more.

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