The Ventura Council of PTAs was one of just eight PTAs from across the country selected to receive a grant from the National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement. The program is part of the National PTA’s efforts to advance family-school partnerships to best support students along their educational journey.

The grant will be used to support implementation of the National PTA’s updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

“Strong partnerships between families and schools are critical to support our students’ success academically, socially and emotionally, and there could not be a more urgent time for this,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “We are thrilled to provide funding to the PTAs to help advance meaningful and effective strategies for strong partnerships that will make a real impact for students, families and schools.”

“I’m incredibly grateful to have our schools chosen for this grant,” said Cherie Egbert, Ventura Council PTA President. “We’ll all get to improve the ways we surround our students with what they need to succeed, at home, school and in the greater community.”

The Ventura Council PTA coordinates information exchange and support for the 16 PTAs that operate in Ventura Unified School District as well as Santa Paula Unified School District.

Last year, National PTA released its updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, which provide guidance for building strong partnerships between families, educators, and schools to support student success. The updated PTA National Standards incorporate research and best practices including increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion; and expand the approach to student success to include whole child development. For resources to support implementation of the standards, visit PTA.org/Standards and watch the association’s Transforming Family-School Partnerships Webinar Series.

“Our updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships provide critical guidance and best practices for strong, meaningful partnerships between families and schools,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director.

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all

Ventura, Calif. (January 16, 2024)–Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is introducing its Visionaries Circle LEAGUE² (Leaders in Agriculture United for Educational Excellence) membership to recognize its premier donors who have shown support for SEEAG’s youth agricultural and nutrition education programs and Farm Day community education and outreach events. SEEAG’s focus is to educate students and the public about the farm origins of food, healthy eating, and the importance of local agriculture. Many of these donors have been involved in SEEAG since its first program was introduced almost 16 years ago.

“SEEAG has been extremely fortunate to have a dedicated, loyal donor base whose contributions have made a real difference in SEEAG’s ability to offer the cost-free programming we do. Without them, we would not be able to reach thousands of students every year,” says Mary Maranville, the nonprofit’s Founder and CEO.

SEEAG educates over 8,000 students annually in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Activities include classroom presentations, farm visits and nutrition assemblies for elementary-age students, and career pathway programs for local middle, and high school students–all 100 percent free.

“The information and experiences children receive stay with them. They become life-long ambassadors for agriculture, making healthy food choices and overall wellness,” says Maranville.

SEEAG Programs

Farm Lab. Geared for third graders, Farm Lab builds awareness and appreciation for agriculture, following the journey of food from farm to table. Hands-on learning includes classroom presentations and a trip to the farm with an emphasis on soil science, plant science, water cycles, and entomology.

Youth Wellness Initiative. Educates inspires and empowers third-grade students to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and cultivate connections to surrounding farms.

STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture. For sixth through 12th graders, the program teaches students about the diverse job opportunities available in agriculture.

Farm Day In Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Farm Day is California’s largest agricultural education and outreach event, attracting over 13,000 visitors annually. It is held separately in Ventura and Santa Barbara in the fall. Farm Day allows the public to visit local farms, ranches, wineries, and agricultural organizations and take part in tours, produce tastings, giveaways, and other activities at no charge.

Visionaries Circle LEAGUE² members include The Edwin & Jeanne Woods Family Foundation, Santa Barbara Foundation, Mission Produce, Gills Onions, Al Lowe Construction, Innovative Produce, Santa Maria Berry Farms, and the Scott Family Foundation.

As LEAGUE² members, donors have their logos featured on the SEEAG website and student resource bags. They are recognized in SEEAG marketing, participate in annual members-only events and tours, and receive fresh holiday trees and other merchandise.

To learn more about the LEAGUE², go to https://www.seeag.org/visionaries-circle-league or contact Maranville at 805-746-0606, [email protected].

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, over 100,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at [email protected].

by Shirley Lorraine

Usher the New Year with Laughs

In what has become a New Year’s Eve tradition, the Ventura Improv Company will be presenting a fun-filled, audience participation evening at the Rubicon Theatre. Designed to be family friendly, the event will begin with doors opening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. performance, and end by 10:30 so families can get home and put the kids to bed, or festivities can continue at your leisure. Ringing in the new year will occur at 9 p.m., (midnight, EST). Imagine – you can toast the New Year twice!

This year’s extravaganza is dedicated to long-time improvisor and well-known actor/musician Gary Best, who passed away earlier this year. Best was a staple player and instructor at the Improv for many years. He was a songwriter and guitarist, often seen in Ventura area venues.
The Ventura Improv Company has been making people laugh and enhancing the talents of local performers since 1989. Under the guiding hands of Tom Mueller, Best and others, the company has gained recognition for ongoing excellence not only in Ventura, but on a widespread basis. These days, the award-winning company performs at NAMBA theater space, the second Friday of each month.

The evening will feature short scenes, theater games and music and an evening of spontaneous hilarity. If you have not experienced these improvised evenings yet, this New Year’s will be an enjoyable time to start.

The company also provides opportunities for learning through classes and introductions to expanding your mind and talents through improvisation techniques. These skills are useful not only on the stage, but in day-to-day situations. Quick thinking and engaging improvisation are true art forms. This company of players make it look so easy. You will be amazed at the performers’ abilities to make up scenes, sometimes even operas, on the fly. Even the musicians are improvising.

Hurry though – tickets are going fast – contact the Rubicon for availability. (805) 667-2900, www.rubicontheater.org.

May your new year be filled with love, laughter and theater.

by Carol Leish, MA

The Homeless Education Program of the Ventura County Office of Education, according to Cathi Nye, MA, the County Coordinator, “support all 20 school districts and 12 charter schools in Ventura County. This is accomplished through providing technical assistance, support, and managing the grants.”

“Over 6,800 students have been identified to receive assistance in the program. That number includes children living in double households (more than one family sharing a single-family home), which is over 80% of who we serve. 10% of students that we serve are living in cars and RV’s and motels or hotels, or in a shelter or transitional housing. We do offer resources to the local housing authority for families to get information needed to help their housing situations.”

Children and youth experiencing homelessness face unique challenges in accessing and succeeding in school. The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which passed in 1987, and Title 1 Part A, provide students experiencing homelessness with protections and services to ensure that they can enroll in and attend school, complete their high school education, and continue to higher education.

The ’Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015’ (ESSA), strengthen and improves these programs and the education of over 1.3 million children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood (HeadStart), through high school graduation. It makes sure that every student has access to a quality public education regardless of where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make.

Your child may be eligible for extra services at school. This would include: 1) Keeping your child in the last school he or she attended even if that school is in another district, since it is your decision to determine what is in your child’s best interest and, 2) Providing free school meals. Two other services would be: 1) Identifying transportation needs and working with the parent/guardian to ensure that those needs are met would be another extra service provided and 2) Providing school uniforms, supplies, and access to all school activities would be another service that your child may be eligible for.

“There is an annual event through United Way, ‘Stuff the Buss,’ which is a way to get needed backpacks and school supplies for the students in need,” according to Nye. “I also do a newsletter every other week. The one that I am currently working on focuses on how we can help brothers and sisters in the same home as the students already receiving services.”

“We just completed a coat drive. We are now looking for donated gift cards to give to students over the holidays, including kids in shelters. We will be grateful to receive gift cards up to $25 each, especially for fast food restaurants, Target, and Walmart. In the Springtime of 2024, we will be putting together hygiene kits for students. By giving, you are supporting an important cause to improve situations for these students, especially during the holiday season.”

For further information, please go to: https://www.vcoe.org/Special-Populations/Homeless-Education-Program. Contact Cathi Nye, MA, at either: [email protected] or by calling: 805-437-1559.

Thank you for caring enough to make a change for the better for these students.

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Strong Arm Robbery

On October 18, at approximately 12:45 pm, the Ventura Police Communications Center received numerous 911 calls regarding a subject involved in a robbery in the 1100 block of Victoria Avenue. The suspect, Joshua Morales, forcefully removed the victim’s purse from her shoulder and pushed her to the ground. Morales was being followed by witnesses who heard him say he had a gun.

Officers located Morales as he jumped the fence into the condos at 1300 Saratoga Avenue. Morales was taken into custody and the stolen property was located nearby. The victim received minor injuries as a result of the fall, however no one else was injured.

Morales was booked into the Ventura County Jail for Robbery and providing a false name to officers. A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Morales has prior arrests for providing a false name to officers, identity theft, petty theft, under the influence of a controlled substance, and theft of loss property.

Felony Vandalism and Resisting a Peace Officer Arrest

On October 20, at approximately 5:30 am, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call about a male subject, later identified as Jessie Flores, actively vandalizing St. Bonaventure High School with spray paint. Officers arrived within minutes and located Flores “tagging” on the campus. Flores attempted to run from officers but was quickly taken into custody.

Flores tagged over twenty areas on the school campus and vehicles parked there, causing thousands of dollars in damage to the school and cars. Flores was arrested and booked for Felony Vandalism (over $400) and misdemeanor Resisting Arrest.

Felony Evading, Hit and Run, Reckless Driving, and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle

On October 24, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received multiple calls regarding a motorhome driving recklessly throughout the west end and beach areas of Ventura. At approximately 7:30 am, a Ventura Police Motor Officer observed a large class C motorhome driving eastbound on the promenade near the south end of Sanjon Road. The motorhome was driving dangerously close to pedestrians on the promenade. The officer entered the promenade on his motorcycle and attempted to stop the motorhome due to the extreme danger the motorhome was presenting to pedestrians.

The motorhome failed to yield to the officer and continued on the promenade through State Beaches and onto San Pedro Street. The motorhome struck a City sign as it entered onto San Pedro Street from the promenade and then continued to evade the officer as it drove around the Pierpont area. The motorhome continued onto Harbor Boulevard, Seaward Avenue, Zephyr Court, and Montauk Lane. The motorhome collided with a parked vehicle on Montauk Lane and then proceeded back onto Seaward Avenue where it came to a stop. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 44-year-old Amie Maxwell, exited the motorhome and was placed under arrest.

It was later determined that the motorhome was stolen the previous evening from a residence on the west end of town. Maxwell was arrested and transported to the Ventura County Jail for felony evading arrest, hit and run, reckless driving, possession of a stolen vehicle, and a parole violation.

Nobody was injured during this event.