UCSC Chancellor visits North Monterey County High

As part of a yearly campaign to spread the UC message directly to students, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal paid a visit to North Monterey County High School on Wednesday.

Blumenthal addressed students in grades 8-11 about the feasibility of a UC education and the importance of acquiring a college degree. The event also included workshops for seniors that are designed to address next steps for the various college systems, a workshop for parents, and a resource fair for students to get their questions answered.

UC leaders have been visiting schools that have lower than average college-going rates. The system-wide effort is targeted at schools that serve a high proportion of low-income and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The effort has helped increase the numbers of students applying to UC by as much as 30 percent at participating high schools, officials said. It's unclear whether the effort has actually increased the number of students accepted from these schools.

North Monterey County High students headed for WE conference in Los Angeles

Fourty-four students from the North Monterey County High School Castroville Teen Leadership Council service club have been invited as special guests to attend the WE Day event on April 7 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

The WE Schools program aims at inspiring students to solve problems beyond their campuses. WE schools come together during "WE Day," a massive pep rally where thousands of students hear inspirational stories and get pumped up to create their own changes.

The club "has truly embodied the spirit of WE" said club advisor, Yvette Padilla. "The student group has dedicated their time to tackling several issues, both local and global."

The club collected blankets to donate to animals in need through the SPCA. The group has also been donating their time to feed people in need through a local shelter, volunteering to wrap gifts for children in need over the holidays, and running youth leadership activities for local low-income children. The group also worked to raise awareness about Spina Bifida in honor of one of their teacher's child.

The group is also committed to making changes globally, Padilla said. They have decided to fundraise to support education in Nicaragua, and have already hosted a bake sale and are currently working on a coin drive.

"These students are excited to continue their support for local and global causes throughout the rest of the year," Padilla said.

To enhance the WE Day conference experience, district officials have coordinated educational tours of Southern California college campuses, including University of Los Angeles and Mount Saint Mary’s College. A panel presentation by local educational leaders is planned for the 44 students who will be attending.

Have a safe and fun trip, guys and gals! Let us know how it went!

North Monterey County High School to hold fundraiser for AP exams

North Monterey County High School will host a concert from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, February 7, to raise funds to help low-income students pay for their AP exams.

Certain grades obtained in AP exams taken in high school can be used for college credit.

Admission for the concert is $8, and it will be held in the high school's forum, 13990 Castroville Blvd. Castroville. For more information, call (831)-633-2520

Pacific Grove and North Monterey County will ask voters to approve school bonds

Along with the myriad candidates seeking office at local school boards, two school districts want voters to approve bonds for infrastructure and technology upgrades.

Measure G will ask voters of PG Unified to let them issue $27.8 million in short term bonds.

Measure H will benefit North Monterey County Unified, which for years has decried the poor shape of some of its buildings. That bond would be $23.8 million.

Measure H campaign folks will host an information session at 5:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, at La Scoula Building, 10700 Merrit St., Castroville. For more information, contact Lori Miranda, the campaign's chair, at 831-235-3842.

North County's DL Johnson: California's top band director

North Monterey County High band director DL Johnson was named California's "Director who made a difference" in 2012 by the School Band and Orchestra magazine.

The magazine named one music teacher or band director for each state.

"In the midst of monumental national and local economic challenges and dour budget forecasts, music educators continue to excel in classrooms across the country," the report says. "Take heart in this report, which sheds light on exemplary teachers who run thriving, and vibrant programs in schools big and small, elementary through high school, from coast to coast."

Johnson is known for taking his students to perform in China every few years. The band is getting ready to leave pretty soon.

Congratulations, Mr. Johnson, for a well earned recognition!

North Monterey County to hold special hearing on trustee boundary lines

The Monterey County Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday to approve proposed trustee boundary lines. The new boundary lines will mean trustees will be elected by district, and new elections would begin this November for trustees in areas 2 and 4.

Traditionally, this type of change requires an election, but North Monterey County Unified is requesting the election be waived, and Monterey County trustees will consider whether to waive the election also at Wednesday's meeting.

The meeting will take place at North Monterey County Middle School, 10301 Seymour St., Castroville.

North Monterey County High School students walk out

The unofficial word is many students -- a couple of hundred -- walked out because they're upset about the resignation of a popular teacher. It was this morning, and parents received a recorded message about it.

More on that as I find out. Stay tuned.

North Monterey going the route of area district elections?

Top Monterey County education officials, namely Superintendent of Schools Nancy Kotowski and trustee Harvey Kuffner, are scheduled to make a presentation Thursday to the board of the North Monterey Unified School District  on the process to change their electoral system.

Apparently, some folks up north are unhappy with the "at large" system, which seems to limit the election of Latinos to the board.

The presentation will take place at the regular board meeting Thursday, Oct. 4,  7 p.m. at the district offices, 8142 Moss Landing Rd., Moss Landing.

North Monterey County student headed for Indonesia

Darlene von Maschmeyer, a Prunedale high school student, has been awarded one of 53 scholarships to study abroad with the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad program. The award will provide Darlene with a full immersion experience through living with a host family in Indonesia and attending a local Indonesian high school. The Youth Exchange and Study Abroad program is operated under funding by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Darlene was selected from a national pool of applicants. The application process includes a written portion and a national selection event attended by all semi-finalists. Finalists will serve as “youth ambassadors” in their host countries, promoting mutual understanding through forming lasting relationships with their host families and friends.

Darlene must be thrilled about the honor and the adventure. Congratulations, Darlene!

Sergio Montenegro leaving North Monterey County Unified

The board of trustees of North Monterey County Unified has selected Wendell Chun of Education Leadership Services to assist in the search for a new superintendent. Sergio Montenegro's resignation is effective June 30, and it's for personal reasons, he said in an email.

The trustees are seeking input from the community to determine the qualities desired in the new superintendent. To complete the survey that will gather these traits, click here.

La encuesta tambien se encuentra en español.