The Vine February 3, 2017 From the desk of Superintendent Chris Williams

Teamwork makes the dream work! District Management Team met at the Culinary Arts Center, were divided into teams, and told to cook the best entrée possible using a mystery box of ingredients. Teams had 30 minutes to come up with their dish that had to include chicken, lemon, sweet potatoes, canned apple slices, and fortune cookies. Not an easy task! The winners are pictured here along with their dish. Thank you to Chef Gregg Wangard for setting up the activity and to his staff for all of their help.

Best of luck to all of our competitors in tomorrow’s SkillsUSA contest at PRHS. We are proud to have the largest number of student competitors in San Luis Obispo County. Thank you in advance to all of the staff and volunteers for putting in so much work and hosting over 1000 students. If you’ve never been to the event, I strongly recommend you come by and check it out. Preparing our students for success in college, career, and community.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

Almond Blossom Festival Update Congratulations to the students who earned medals at last weekend’s Almond Blossom Festival. PRJUSD had over 80 competitors! This event continues to grow each year and our students and staff did an outstanding job. Published Poetry: Grades K-1: Grant P. (Winifred Pifer) Grades 2-3: Laney O. (Bauer Speck) Grades 4-5: Alex F. (Virginia Peterson) Theater: Sheyla B. & Sofia K. (Winifred Pifer) Reader's Theater: Grade 2: Meli B. & Camden K. (Winifred Pifer) Grade 3: Sheccid G., Madeline H., Brendan D. (Bauer Speck) Grade 5: Naomi O., Sadie W., Elle W. (Georgia Brown) Speech: Maxon B. (Georgia Brown)

Monologue: Andres L. (Georgia Brown) Original Poetry: Grades 2-3: Jayda H. (Winifred Pifer) Grades 4-5: Danika N. (Virginia Peterson)

Welding Team Continues Win Streak Submitted by: Justin Pickard

This past Saturday, the Paso Robles High School FFA Agriculture Welding Team competed at the Hartnell FFA Field Day in Salinas. Forty-five competitors from around our FFA Region participated in this event, consisting of four major areas; Welding Application (welding processes of Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Gus Tungsten Arc Welding, and Oxy-Fuel Cutting), Welding Inspection, Job Portfolio (including a written job application and personal portfolio) and a written test. Our four person team consisted of Iver Hansen (senior), Shane Terra (senior), Daniel Oliver (senior) and Zac Alves (sophomore). Paso Robles FFA took 1st place in the overall high team category of the contest, having placed first in three out of the four sub-contest

categories, and second in the fourth sub-category. Iver Hansen was the first place high individual, Shane Terra was the second place high individual, and Zac Alves was the fifth place high individual. This marks the third FFA welding contest in a row this year that the team has placed first overall, as well as Iver placing first as an individual. This marked the first time that both Shane Terra and Zac Alves have moved in to the top-five rankings. Zac's ranking makes him the youngest member from PRHS welding to place in the top-five at an FFA Welding Contest, which is not an easy achievement. These young men have and continue to show an extreme level of dedication to increasing their knowledge and skill-set, committing to practices four nights a week. If you have any of them in class, please congratulate them on this accomplishment. Our next FFA competition will be taking place February 11 at Merced College.

SkillsUSA Paso Robles High School will be hosting the Region 2 SkillsUSA California Conference this Saturday, February 4th, beginning at 8:30 AM in the Gil Asa Gymnasium. The conference will have over 1000 student competitors from 42 different chapters from the counties of San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Santa Barbara. Judges for the competition include many local business owners and industry personnel. The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 1:00 PM. SkillsUSA, celebrating its 50th year in California schools, is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in schools. PRHS has one of the largest CTE programs in the state. Courses offered at PRHS include Culinary Arts, Automotive Industry, Building Trades, Informational Technology, Digital Media, Early Childhood Education, Law Enforcement, Welding, and Leadership. The CTE courses help students develop a skill set to prepare them to enter the workforce. PRHS has 140 students registered in competitions. There will be about 70 different competitions throughout the day in various categories. As part of the competition, students have to perform in several skill components and written tests including the presentation of a resume. The top two students in each category advance to the California State Conference in San Diego from April 27th – 30th. From there, students move on to the national conference in June in Indiana. Last year, PRHS sent eight students to the national conference and had two national medalists: Mason Steiner (silver – plumbing) and Cassidy Moses (bronze – early childhood education). Parents, business owners, industry personnel, and the general public are all invited to watch the students in action. For more information, please contact: Randy Canaday (teacher) rcanaday@pasoschools.org.

Studios on the Park Students in Ms. Rodriguez’s class at Virginia Peterson Elementary made clay vases last week during their Art Smart field trip to Studios on the Park. We love our partnership with Studios on the Park! Be sure to visit the PRJUSD gallery this Friday for the latest reception featuring student work. The reception will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 and the exhibit features our PRHS instrumental and choral music programs.

Leopards Earn Perfect Attendance Award Congratulations to the students from Lewis Middle School who earned awards for having perfect attendance. The Leopards are definitely “striving for five”!

96% Attendance Rate Goal is in Sight Paso Challenge 5 Helps Students Reach Their Goal of 96% The community attendance awareness program, Paso Challenge 5, challenges students to have 5 or fewer excused absences and no unexcused absences throughout the school year: “Strive for 5 Win a Prize.” The district-wide attendance goal for the 2016-17 school year is 96%, which has been obtained by every school throughout the district for the first half of the school year. Now that winter is upon us, here are a few tips to ensure that students stay well and are able to attend school daily, which has a direct effect on student success and student achievement: Remind students to:

• Wash their hands several times throughout the day and before eating. • Keep hands and objects away from their mouths. • Do not share food or drinks with others. • Eat a healthy breakfast every morning.

We ask that if your student has a fever, please keep them home that day; this will help with keeping their classmates from getting sick. If you would like to support or donate to the Paso Challenge 5 program, contact Student Services at 769-1000.

Athletics Update Elementary basketball has finally begun! With the recent rain, our first week of practices and games were postponed. Students finally got a chance to get on the court this week for their first games. Girls’ water polo continues to have an outstanding season. Winter sports season is starting to wind down. CIF playoffs are right around the corner.

Bearcat Athlete Signs National Letter of Intent Congratulations to Paso Robles High School senior Tegan Curren who signed a national letter of intent this week to play beach volleyball with California State University, Long Beach. Tegan is a 3-year varsity player and earned second team all-league this year as captain. She earned the Lions Club Award during her sophomore season and is involved in several clubs on campus including CSF, JOOI Club, Crimson Newsmagazine, and Advanced Peer Communications. She has taken numerous advanced placement courses including calculus at Cuesta College and she has an overall 3.7 grade point average.

Tegan is a former Pat Butler Bear and Lewis Leopard. Her coach says “Tegan was the ideal volleyball player. She plays because she loves the game. She is a smart player. It’s like I had another coach on the court. She is going to fit in well at Long Beach.”

California Condor Sighting Last weekend, students in Mr. Dimaggio’s GEO (global environmental options) class hiked in Pinnacles National Park. During their snack break, Mr. Dimaggio says, “We were taking a break on some rocky crags, enjoying the sun and the view, when a California condor flew in from out of nowhere to join us. He landed on our crag, not more than 5 feet from us and we all spent the next several minutes in utter astonishment at

being so close to the second largest (flying) bird on Earth! All of us were speechless - we just sat there in whispered silence and took in the incredible moment. The students were great too; no one tried to touch it, or feed it, or even approach it. The bird seemed as curious of us as we were of it.”

Poetry Out Loud Winners Announced Submitted by: Anne Domenic Paso Robles High School announces the winners of the school contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The student winners are Christopher Garcia (12th) and Runner-up is Raegan Lomanto (11th). The competition, presented in partnership with the Arts Obispo, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. On January 25, 2017, more than 35 high school students from Paso Robles High School participated in the Poetry Out Loud school contest in the PRHS Performing Arts Center. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to San Luis Obispo county competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Over the past 11 years, Poetry Out Loud has reached more than 3 million students and 45,000 teachers from 10,000 schools nationwide. At Paso Robles High School, students recited works they selected from an anthology of more than 900 classic and contemporary poems. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, and accuracy. Teachers introduced poetry recitation in the classroom using free, standards-based curriculum materials created by the NEA and the Poetry Foundation, including a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, an online anthology, posters, and video and audio on the art of recitation. Schools are welcome to download these resources at poetryoutloud.org. The winner will advance to the SLO county contest on February 10th at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2201 Lawton Ave. in SLO. Each champion at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete for the national championship, April 25–26, 2017. The school of the state champion will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials.

VAPA Update Students at Kermit King Elementary learned jazz moves in their dance classes this week.

Paso High Theatre Company is proud to present Roald Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Jr. February 24 and 25, 2017 at the Paso Robles High School Performing Arts Center. This play is being performed by the intermediate drama students and will be presented to 27 classes and over

850 elementary and middle school students. There are only two evening shows so you don’t want to miss it! Tickets are available at www.prhsdrama.com ($10 General $8 Students/Children/Seniors 55+). The play is directed and choreographed by Marcy Goodnow, costume design by Ruth Enriquez-Bague, vocal direction by Aimee Ware, and set design by Geoff Higgins.

Honor Band Performance Alfredo Duque represented Flamson Middle School at the Central Coast Honor Band in Santa Cruz last Saturday. The guest conductor was Dr. Gary Gilroy from Fresno State. They premiered a piece written by Dr. Gilroy. This piece was commissioned by the Central Coast Section of the California Music Educators Association. It was written for Nancy Fowler, a music teacher from Carmel who recently passed away in an automobile accident. Cindy Lindquist, band director, said “It was a beautiful piece and a great concert.”

Principal’s Award for Growth Congratulations to these students from Flamson Middle School for receiving the Principal’s Award for Growth. The students increased their grade point averages between 40% and 200%. Very impressive!

ASES is “Raising Worms” Victoria from One Cool Earth visited the Bauer Speck ASES students to do a training on worm and tool care. She also provided garden activities that related to worms and soil. Rosa Morales, the ASES Site Leader, will be doing garden work with the students trellising sweet peas and taking care of the worms.

Kim Gaspar Named February Hands-On Hero Congratulations to our own Kim Gaspar for being named the February First Five Hands-On Hero! Kim was nominated by the SLO Food Bank. Kim is the ASES Coordinator for the district. ASES stands for After School Education & Safety Program.

From the First Five SLO County website:

“First 5 San Luis Obispo County is proud to announce the second honoree in a year-long tribute to individuals in our community who are making a big difference in the lives of our littlest ones and their families.

Kim Gaspar embodies the ideals outlined in the Children’s Bill of Rights for San Luis Obispo County, an aspirational framework adopted and endorsed by more than 50 local agencies since its creation in 2013.

For the last seven years, First 5 San Luis Obispo County and partner organizations have hosted the annual Hands-on Heroes Awards Program, recognizing people who dedicate their time and talents working on behalf of our children and youth.”

See why Kim was honored: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw775RtIN5U

Liberty High Leadership Students of the Leadership class at Liberty High School participated in a community service event this week at the California Mid-state Fair grounds. Students helped prepare for the upcoming Board of Directors dinner and meeting. Leadership students are also putting together Valentine decorations for the Brookdale Senior Assisted Living Center and will deliver them the week of Valentine’s Day. Next week, students will participate in the REALL program at Lewis and Flamson Middle Schools. This program gives middle school students an opportunity to participate in real life problem-solving scenarios. While several Liberty students completed and sent off individual drawing/painting entries depicting the California coastline for the California Coastal Commission Art and Poetry Contest, the Drawing and Painting class is wrapping up a Valentine project utilizing color wheel and principles of art/design concepts. Some of their work will be displayed at the district office this month. Thank you Debra Lauridsen for sharing! Go Sharks!

One Cool Earth Corner Do you remember being scared of trying new foods as a child? We weren’t all born naturally brave eaters. In fact, it can take 15 to 20 to dozens of times of presenting an unfamiliar food before a child learns to like it. This fear of trying new foods, Neophobia, has an extensive body of research showing that sometimes all a child needs to embrace nutritious eating is a bit of excitement! How we remember school food meals and what they actually are like today in PRJUSD cafeterias couldn’t be farther apart. Pizza boats and sausage pancakes on a stick are replaced by scratch cooked vegetable tomato sauce over cheese raviolis and a salad bars loaded with local rainbow carrots, mini bell peppers, and garbanzo beans. Food Service Director, Chef Gregg Wangard, boosts the nutrition of school meals by mixing in new fruits and vegetables with similar flavors to help expand children’s palates. One Cool Earth further encourages brave eating habits by making healthy foods fun through garden-based activities such as cooking in a large solar oven, harvesting for school farmer’s markets, and garden produce taste tests. Library on the Lawn at Winifred Pifer Elementary promotes a love of reading while increasing food literacy and the willingness of children to try new interesting fruits and vegetables! Children are more likely to try new foods when the fear surrounding the food is taken away through a fun story and tasting with their peers. Library on the Lawn does just that through books that highlight a seasonal produce item that are offered as a taste test to create a fun and safe space to encourage adventurous eating. One kindergartener exclaimed, “The pear felt slimy, I mean interesting. I ate it anyway and liked it even though I thought I didn’t like pears”! Small nibbles can lead to a lifelong love of fruit and vegetables. Looking for fun and meaningful ways to engage in your school community? One Cool Earth needs your help growing PRJUSD gardens big and green! Volunteers can help during garden lunch clubs, class time, and programs like Library on the Lawn to get students learning in the garden and trying new healthy foods. RSVP at action@onecoolearth.org to get involved or get more info! From planting to painting signs, there’s an activity for everyone! Also remember to check out One Cool Earth online: www.facebook.com/onecoolearth or www.onecoolearth.org.

Welcome to PRJUSD Congratulations to the following employees who were announced at this past week’s Board of Trustees meeting. Adam White - Culinary Arts Specialist

Growing up in rainy Portland, Oregon, Chef Adam White used that indoor time to discover cooking. Wrestling in high school and an outdoor lifestyle naturally led Adam to food that was both healthy and fulfilling. That passion for health and flavor guided Adam in his culinary career, choosing to work at restaurants and institutions following the same philosophy. Chef White attended Oregon State University and has over 25 years in the hospitality industry. In Oregon, he worked for Big River Restaurant in Corvallis, The Black Rabbit restaurant in Troutdale, and

the Rheinlander in Portland, where managed operations and refined his technique. Moving to the healthcare sector gave Chef White room to blend his love of food with the nutritional big picture. At a large hospital in Portland, Oregon, and later as Executive Chef on the Central Coast of California, community well-being and healthcare remained central. Adam has been victorious two years running at Templeton’s Wellness Kitchen “Top Chef” competition. He has been featured on KSBY’s “Foodie Friday,” and in several local publications. Adam and his wife, Katie, have two young daughters and love the Central Coast life: camping, biking, finding new restaurants, and the occasional family wrestling match.

Billy Stewart - Guidance Specialist at Virginia Peterson William Stewart attended grade school in Auburn, California where he graduated from Del Oro High School. From there he spent 2 years on a service mission in Mexico City, Mexico. Upon returning he spent a few years in vocational school exploring the field of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. He soon realized that he enjoyed the learning process so much that he wanted to be an educator. Deciding to enter the field of education brought him to Brigham Young University – Idaho where he

received his Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. Pursuing his love of education brought him many opportunities to fulfil leadership roles. This sparked an interest in educational leadership on a more formal level. Mr. Stewart enrolled in the Educational Administration graduate program at Northwest Nazarene University, where he will receive his Masters in Educational Administration in mid-2017. Upon receiving his degree in 2011, Mr. Stewart began teaching with the Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Here he began his teaching career as a long-term substitute teaching Robotics and Outdoorsman elective courses at Rocky Mountain Middle School. Following this, he taught sixth grade at Mountain Valley Elementary School where they used a STEM-focused curriculum with an emphasis on the inquiry based model of instruction. Mr. Stewart then went on to teach fourth grade at Summit Hills Elementary School for several additional years. He is now transitioning from the classroom into the administrative role of Guidance Specialist. With the encouragement of his supportive wife and five, yes 5, beautiful daughters, William continues his path as a professional educator. When not working in the schools or continuing his own formal education Mr. Stewart enjoys a wide variety of hobbies. He enjoys being out in nature where he and his family spend time adventuring. They enjoy snowboarding/skiing, camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, biking, kayaking, and canoeing. He also enjoys working with his hands – whether it be working on outdoor projects, home and automotive repair/improvements, or dreaming up the next big project. Larry Grant, Jr. – PRHS Head Varsity Football Coach

Larry Grant graduated from Foothill High School in Sacramento, California. Following high school, he enrolled in San Francisco City College where he played two years of junior college football. During that timem he was named 2005 National Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and he earned NJCAA All-American, All-State and All-Conference Honors while leading his team to two straight trips to the National Championship game. Coach Grant earned a full athletic scholarship to “Thee Ohio State University” where he played for two years. Coach Grant was named to the Academic All Big-Ten team twice and also led The Buckeyes to two national championship game

appearances. Of all his accolades earned in college, his most decorated possession is his Bachelor’s degree from Thee Ohio State University. Go Bucks!! Following his time as an Ohio State Buckeye, he was drafted in the 2008 NFL draft to the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Grant played seven NFL seasons which included two NFC championship games and the 2013 Super Bowl. Coach Grant has three children Isaiah (8), Little Larry (5), and Lillian (2 months) and is married to his beautiful wife Kristen. He loves fishing (only catching 1 fish his whole life), vacationing with his family, and wrestling with his kids and, of course, he always wins. Coach Grant is passionate about helping kids and volunteers much of his time with the Boys & Girls Club and mentors kids in foster care. He is excited about the opportunity to lead the Bearcat football team. Go Bearcats!

Some more photos of the District Management Team’s “Chopped” experience.