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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 36
Local districts see API gains by Samie Hartley and Justin Lafferty
API Scores
Staff Writers
850
When the Academic Performance Index (API) scores were released earlier this month, local superintendents had reason to smile: four of six districts showed improvement – some dramatic – while the other two slipped only a single point. Byron Union School District made the biggest gain from 2010 to 2011, increasing its API score by 30 points, jumping from 797 to 827. Byron Superintendent Ken Jacopetti credited the staff for the tremendous gain. “As a district, that was phenomenal,” he said. “It was a real focused effort through the principals at each of the sites and working with our at-risk population and making sure students were
800 750
843 840 +3
732
848
764 +19
731 -1
779
847 -1
790 +11
827 +30 797
745
700 650 600 2010
Antioch Unified School District
2011
Brentwood Union School District
Liberty High School District
Oakley Union School District
Knightsen School District
Byron Union School District
Graphic by John Carter
achieving toward standards.” The teachers and administrators of the 1,268-student district are being asked to do more with less in these lean economic times, said Jacopetti, and they’ve delivered. The superintendent also gave thanks for the board of supervisors’ support.
“We know we have a lot less resources, but still the agenda there is for us to tackle student achievement,” Jacopetti said. “Bottom line: this staff really worked hard.” Excelsior Middle School experienced the district’s biggest gain: 36 points. Timber Point
Elementary improved by 34 API points and Discovery Bay Elementary by 19. The Liberty Union High School District API score increased to 764, up 19 points from last year. All three comprehensive high schools saw gains, but Superintendent Eric Volta is particularly proud of Heritage High, which increased 24 points to hit the score of 800, the state’s target score that signifies academic excellence. Volta said he’s proud of his teachers and staff for working together to improve teaching methods to help students learn, but there’s always room for improvement, and the district will continue to strive for greater achievement in next year’s scores. The district’s continuation see API page 19A
Food banks to benefit from Harvest Run by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer
East County residents will soon get to test their feet while lending a hand to those in need. The first Delta Harvest Run, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 at The Streets of Brentwood, features a 10K run, half marathon and family fun run. Proceeds benefit a bevy of local food banks: Meals on Wheels by Senior Outreach Services of Pittsburg/Bay Point, the Don Brown Shelter of Antioch, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oakley, Brentwood Regional Community Chest and the Delta Christian Community Food Pantry of Discovery Bay and Byron. The half marathon kicks off at 7:30 a.m., the 10K at 8 a.m. and the family fun run at 8:30 a.m. “We decided we want to reach out,” said AJ Calderon, the event’s
“ This is what a DHR is all about: reaching out to the community.
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AJ Calderon marketing director. “This is what a DHR is all about: reaching out to the community.” So far, more than 120 runners have registered to participate in the Delta Harvest Run, an event Calderon said coordinators hope to establish as a yearly tradition in East County. The run has already raised more than $4,500 for local food banks. Registration fees are $50 for the half marathon, $35 for the 10K and $5 for the family fun run. The half marathon and 10K fee includes a T-shirt and finishers’ medal. The top three runners of each gender receive a special medal. For the family fun run,
registrants receive one T-shirt per family and a finishers’ ribbon. Half-marathoners will start by exiting The Streets of Brentwood through Shady Willow Lane, go down Sand Creek Road, turn left on Garin Parkway, right on Sunset Road and turn around at Byron Highway. The 10K also proceeds down Sand Creek Road, but runners will turn around at the corner of Garin Parkway and Springfield Place. For those who aren’t much into excursion, the 1-mile fun run loops around The Streets of Brentwood. “We’re really excited because most of us on the committee are
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experienced runners and we know that there are a lot more people who are going to register at the last minute,” Calderon said. “We’re looking to see a lot more registrants, but we are very excited.” The event came to fruition when Wendy Shearer, a member of the Delta Association of Realtors, came to work out at Calderon’s home gym. Shearer and Calderon, a personal trainer, discussed charitable events that tested runners’ endurance, and brainstormed the Delta Harvest Run. Shearer serves as the event director; the Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation is organizing the day’s races. According to Calderon, preparations for the Delta Harvest Run have gone smoothly and organizers are looking forward to a blue-ribbon day. “Everything is see Run page 19A
Double trouble
go to news/press releases Vasco Road motorists heavy on the pedal will get a lot lighter in the wallet.
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September 9, 2011
Esteeming the Green
Discover what local individuals, communities and businesses are doing to help leave a smaller carbon footprint. Page 1B
Fateful day not forgotten East County communities will be holding numerous observances of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Page 3A
Knockin’ down the pin
Our BVAL girls golf preview gives you the highlights of the league’s likely low scorers this season. Page 23A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 18B Cop Logs ............................21A Entertainment ................. 14B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty .............. 10B Milestones ........................ 15B Opinion ..............................20A Sports .................................23A Think Green ........................ 1B FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Reel good time go to multimedia/videos
Kids got hooked on the pursuit of floppy creatures at the Oakley Fishing Derby.