Temecula Valley News by Village News, Inc.

January 29, 2016 • www.myvalleynews.com • Valley News

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Education

Murrieta Valley Chamber of Commerce Students of the Month recognized MURRIETA – The Murrieta Valley Chamber of Commerce High School Student of the Month Program was held Jan. 14 where six students were recognized for their efforts at their respective schools. Toby Franklin of Calvary Murrieta Christian High School, Mikayla Kilbury of Murrieta Mesa High School, Alexzandra Nagelvoort of Springs Charter School, Joel Reinecke of Vista Murrieta High School, Morgan Edwards of Oak Grove Center and Shannon Ponn of Murrieta Valley High School. Vista Murrieta High School Senior Joel Reinecke is a straight A student who has taken has taken 10 AP courses and maintains a 4.63 GPA. He has applied to a number of Ivy League colleges and he has been accepted to Harvard. Reinecke plans to major in government and economics and his goal is to open his own asset management firm. Joel is co-captain of the tennis team and the speech and debate team. He has competed in speech and debate at the state level and he won the American Legion Speech & Debate contest. Through his involvement with Rotary and the Interact Club, a homeless outreach program and volunteering at his church, Reinecke has accumulated 385 hours of community service. When he had to miss most of his eighth grade year due to being paralyzed and in a wheelchair, he said his character was tested and the experience helped him discover who he was and the value in each individual. Reinecke is not only an academically gifted student, he is highly respected by his teachers and peers and he makes everyone around him want to do better. Calvary Murrieta Christian High School Senior Toby Franklin is a talented musician who has played trombone and drums in the marching band, symphonic and jazz band. He has also been involved in his

school’s theater productions and creative writing club. Franklin believes in not just looking out for himself but for the interest of others and he believes in standing up for what you believe, no matter the consequences. When he became aware of human trafficking and he learned how prevalent it is around the world and in America, he felt compelled to get involved in the anti-trafficking movement to spread awareness and raise funds to help the victims. Franklin hopes to pursue a career as a writer or author. He has been accepted to California Baptist University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont and Azusa Pacific University. Murrieta Valley High School Senior Shannon Ponn has maintained a 4.2 GPA while taking six AP classes and being involved in ASB, National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. She has also been on the varsity dance team for four years and she has competed at the regional, state and national level. Outside of school Ponn volunteers for Relay for Life, Murrieta Youth Center and she is on the Murrieta Youth Advisory Committee. She is also a talented vocalist who performs at rallies, games and community events. Ponn believes in giving her full effort to everything she does, whether she is dancing or organizing games at the Murrieta Youth Center. She has learned the benefits of hard work and giving 100 percent. Ponn is caring and passionate about learning and giving back and she is a great role model for her peers. She plans to attend a four-year university and major in Business Administration. Grove Center Senior Morgan Edwards has grown in character, confidence and her leadership skills. Her peers follow her lead and she is a great role model. She is on the honor roll and is involved in Interact, the dance team and

Shown standing from left to right are Margaret Jones, SOM Chair; Calvary Christian High Principal Derrick Roth; Murrieta Mesa High Principal Steve Ellis; Springs Charter School Principal Katherine Pangle; Oak Grove Teacher Amber Nicklaus; Murrieta Valley High Assistant Principal Stephen Diephouse; Vista Murrieta High Principal Mick Wager and Jen Pham, SOM Chair. Shown sitting left to right are Toby Franklin of Calvary Murrieta Christian High School, Mikayla Kilbury of Murrieta Mesa High School, Alexzandra Nagelvoort of Springs Charter School, Joel Reinecke of Vista Murrieta High School, Morgan Edwards of KC Photography photo Oak Grove Center and Shannon Ponn of Murrieta Valley High School.

choir. She also holds down a job and recently completed a 5K run. Edwards has overcome several obstacles and she is working to pursue her dreams. She plans to attend Cal State Los Angeles and major in forensic science. Morgan has shown that she has the drive and determination to succeed and at the same time she is kind and caring and always willing to help others. Springs Charter School Senior Alexzandra Nagelvoort is exuberant about life, passionate about learning kind, caring and humble. She has been on her school’s Robotics team for four years and she a member of National Honor Society. She has completed AP English and dual enrollment classes and she hopes to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and major in

Applications for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards due Feb. 2 MENIFEE – The Rotary Club of Menifee is seeking local high school juniors for The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. RYLA is a three-day leadership conference rewarding outstanding youth and furthering their leadership skills. The Rotary Club of Menifee will select six high school juniors for this retreat in April at Thousand Pines camp, Crestline, California where they will join an estimated 300 other students from all over San Bernardino and Riversde coun-

ties, sponsored by the 60 Rotary Clubs in the two counties. RYLA combines learning in a casual, relaxed atmosphere with social and fun time to provide a fastpaced and memorable leadrship experience. Eligible students must be a junior attending Paloma Valley High School, Santa Rosa Academy, Heritage High School or reside in Menifee. Students may reqest an application by contacting the club by email at menifeerotary@gmail.

com. Completed applications must be returned to the Rotary Club of Menifee by email not later than Feb. 2. Qualified applicants and their parents will be invited and must be able to attend an local interview to be held Saturday, Feb. 6. Those selected must be able to attend all three days of the conferesnce April 8-10. For more information contact Dawn L. Smith, president at menifeerotary@gmail.com.

architectural or civil engineering. Nagelvoort has served an internship at Temecula City Hall and she is a member of the City of Temecula’s Youth Advisory Council. She has participated in several city-sponsored youth events and through her involvement in the community, she has learned the importance of dedication, loyalty and finishing what you start. Nagelvoort has overcome significant challenges in her life but she does not dwell on the negative. Instead she chooses to look forward to the future, focus on reaching her goals, and use her early life experiences to help others. Murrieta Mesa High School Senior Mikayla Kilbury is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking five AP classes. She is involved in student government, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, Interact Club and she is President of the Drama Club. Kilbury has been involved in her school’s drama productions and she has received awards for her

PTA Reflections entries and the Oceanside International Film Fest. She is a self-taught musician who has written several songs and produced her own album called, This Is My Life. Outside of school Kilbury has accumulated 450 hours of community service hours helping out at her church and collecting care packages and distributing them to the homeless in the community. Kilbury cares about the wellbeing of those who are struggling or who are going through a hard time and she wants to make the world a better place for others. She plans to go to Hawaii Pacific University and study social work and education. After college she plans to join the Peace Corp for two years and then become a teacher. To learn more about the Student of the Month Program, please contact Sally A. Myers, Founder at (951) 506-8024. If you are interested in sponsoring the Student of the Month program, please contact Margaret D. Jones, Chair of the Murrieta Student of the Month Program at (951) 677-4856.

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State grant helping MVUSD teachers become more effective Tony Ault Writer The Murrieta Valley Unified School Board heard a report that the district will be receiving a $1,528,766 grant from the state of California to improve local educator’s effectiveness in the classroom so they can better teach the higher education standards now required by the state. A report on how the district plans to use grant money to implement teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom is to be presented to the California Department of Education by July 1, according to a report by Assistant Superintendent Pamela Wilson. Wilson said some classes and

program to help teacher’s become more effective have already been conducted in the district with positive results. The grant was provided by California State Bill 77, Section 58 the provides local educational agencies and county office of education with one-time funding for professional development. One-time Educator Effectiveness fund can be used during the next three fiscal years—2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18. The funding is to be spent by giving beginning teacher and administrator support, professional development and coaching for teachers needing improvement, professional development for teacher aligned to California state

standards and to promote educator quality and effectiveness including training on the mentoring and coaching of certificated staff and training certificated staff to support effective teaching and learning. By July 1 the district must have a professional learning and development plan, conduct a public meeting on the plan, adopt the plan at a second public meeting and submit detailed expenditure report to the California Department of Education. The school board meets on the third Thursday of each month or when special meeting is called. For more education news, or to comment on this story online, visit www.myvalleynews.com.

Annual MLK Unity Breakfast delivers message of tolerance and equality S A N J A C I N TO – Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were remembered and messages of tolerance and equality were shared Monday, Jan. 18, during the 10th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast at Mt. San Jacinto College. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, served as the event’s featured speaker. As a child who grew up in a Coachella Valley trailer park, he encouraged students and other guests to persevere despite obstacles. He reminded the audience that civil rights leaders like Dr. King sacrificed their lives for equality. Ruiz became an emergency room doctor and now serves in Congress. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for inspirational leaders …like Dr. King and Cesar Chavez,” Ruiz said. The event, organized and sponsored by the MSJC Diversity Com-

mittee, was free and open to the public. It included a full breakfast, an art contest for MSJC students, presentations on the theme of the day “Expressions of tolerance, acceptance, human rights and equality,” as well as a performance by a gospel choir and African drummers. The event was held at MSJC’s San Jacinto Campus and featured performances by Homeland First Church of God choir and Julie Simon Tropicaleiza and the ASM Bateria African Drummers. Adjunct professor David Monda presented “5 Things You Need to Know About the Civil Rights Movement and Africa.” Jetea Johnson gave a talk titled “Universal Truths Connect the Dots. Unsung Heroes and Sheroes.” Presentation of the art contest winners was given by MSJC professors Eileen Doktorski

and Millie Baez. Willie Hamilton, who organizes the event with the MSJC Diversity Committee, provided closing thoughts. MSJC board President Tom Ashley, trustees Ann Motte and Dr. Sherrie Guerrero and Dr. Roger Schultz, MSJC superintendent/ president, and Dr. Bill Vincent, vice president of Student Services, attended the celebration. MSJC student Mya Correa won first place in the MLK student art contest for a sculpture titled “Heart.” Other students who won were Sarah Zughayer, second place, with her piece titled “♀”; and Kimberly Sayer, third place, with her artwork titled “Be the Difference.” For more education news, or to comment on this story online, visit www.myvalleynews.com.

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