For Lockheed Martin systems engineer Scott Ballew, March 13 was definitely not a typical day at the office. Rather than driving down Betteravia Road to work that morning, he headed to Orcutt, walked onto the junior high school’s campus, and took over as principal. It’s the sixth year in a row Ballew has participated in […]
School Scene Articles
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Hancock offers free stress management class
Tips on how to deal with stress will be part of a free spring semester class offered through Allan Hancock College Community Education. The stress management class will address the negative physical and emotional reactions to life’s stresses and help develop coping skills, communication skills, and relaxation exercises. It will meet Mondays from April 15 […]
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Santa Maria-area language teachers win awards
Language programs at Pioneer Valley and Santa Maria high schools have grown in both the number of classes and student proficiency over the last few years, and now a couple of their teachers have the awards to prove it. The California Language Teachers’ Association recently announced that Pioneer Valley Spanish teacher Carolyn Lucero received this […]
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Girl Scout donates to Circle V Ranch Camp
A 16-year-old Girl Scout from San Marino donated more than 2,000 children’s books and 450 art supplies to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Circle V Ranch Camp in March. Isabella Virgen chose the camp for her Gold Award Girl Scout project because she was impressed with her experiences as a Camper-in-Leadership-Training at Circle […]
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Pioneer Valley High students prep for science fair
Blacktail deer and mountain lions caught on camera tell a story about Colson Canyon that Pioneer Valley student Katlynn Randolph can’t wait to share with Santa Barbara County science fair judges on March 8. Randolph had the chance to practice telling her story on March 1, as she was arranging the pieces of her science […]
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St. Joseph High awards almost half its student body
Nearly half of St. Joseph High School’s students received academic excellence awards at their annual awards banquet on Feb. 24. During the first semester of the 2012-2013 school year, 205 students earned a 3.5 GPA or higher. Of those students, 135 made the Principal’s Honor Roll with a 3.75 or higher. Fall semester’s highest GPA […]
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City to celebrate Arbor Day with new tree plantings
Tree plantings at elementary schools are one way Santa Maria Recreation and Parks will honor Arbor Day and celebrate the city’s 32nd year as a Tree City U.S.A. Tunnell Elementary School, Sanchez Elementary School, and Los Flores Ranch Park will get planted the week of March 7 to 14. Tree-planting festivities at each site include […]
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Cottage Hospital auxiliary offers scholarships
The Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary is accepting applications for scholarships from students pursuing education in the health and medical fields. The Cottage Hospital Auxiliary awarded three $3,000 scholarships in 2012. Applications for 2013 will be accepted through March 13. “The Hospital Auxiliary raises every single cent for these scholarships through their incredible volunteer […]
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The Lenten season begins at St. Mary’s
Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption School brought school and community together to celebrate the beginning of Lent on Feb. 13. “Fully participating in our faith and attending Ash Wednesday Mass is one of the many unique opportunities we experience,” St. Mary’s school principal Michelle Cox said in a press release. “We […]
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What Kids Are Reading
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney recommended for ages 9 to 12 The American Library Association (ALA) meets annually to honor authors who represent the best in children’s books. The awards include the prestigious Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz awards, and the Coretta Scott King (author) Book Award, which […]
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Highway Patrol offers smart driving class
A viewing of Red Asphalt is enough to get any teenager to think hard about the responsibility he takes on when he puts his foot on the accelerator. It’s 15 minutes of unintended consequences drivers could face, and it will be shown at the next Santa Maria-based California Highway Patrol Start Smart Class for new […]
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County to host spelling bee
Santa Barbara County hosts its annual spelling bee on Feb. 27. Students will be competing, not vocally, but on paper. The written test will send first- and second-place winners to face-off in the state competition. The San Joaquin County Office of Education will host the state elementary bee on April 20 in Stockton, and the […]