SOMIS, OXNARD : School Programs Win State Honors

A high-tech science laboratory, a program to keep students in school and a crisis management program have garnered awards for three Ventura County schools from the California School Boards Assn. Foundation.

Somis, Oxnard High and Channel Islands high schools are among 37 schools and school districts statewide that will receive the foundation’s 12th Annual Golden Bell Awards, given for outstanding curriculum programs.

The 350-student Somis School won a first-place award for its hands-on, bilingual computer laboratory and science program, which uses laser disc projectors and computers to teach sixth- through eighth-grade students about science and to help them develop critical thinking skills. “It’s an extremely outstanding program for a district of that size,” said Janice Boatwright, an administrative assistant at the foundation.

Oxnard High School won first-place honors for its Maintenance and Motivation program, which aims to keep students in school. The program has been instrumental in improving attendance, grades and classroom behavior.

Channel Islands High School in Oxnard won a first-place award for its Renaissance Program, which school officials credit with helping increase Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, raising daily attendance to an average of more than 99% and increasing the number of students accepted to four-year colleges by 41%.

“There’s no question about it, it’s motivated a lot of our youngsters,” said Principal Kenneth J. Benefield.

Channel Island also won a second-place award for its Crisis Management Team, a program that uses student peers and school staff to help students deal with crises ranging from suicide to family problems. The three schools will be honored at a Dec. 14 ceremony at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.