Basic Skills

Army Reserve Pvt. Christopher Hughes has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., to be a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve Split-option Program. The program allows students between their junior and senior years of high school to attend National Guard or Reserve weekend drills while still in school and pursue a military career specialty after they graduate from high school. During the nine weeks of training, Hughes studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

La Crescenta resident Danika K. Jensen has recently been named to the Dean’s List at Boston University for the spring semester. Boston University is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. -------------------------------------------  Crescenta Valley High School graduate Army Pfc. Matthew R. McNamee has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Is it any surprise that nearly 20% of the Class of 2004 has not reached state math requirements? Mr. Hovesepian, of Hoover High School, has a right to be concerned about the way math is being taught and its effectiveness. Ms. McKee says, "we want students exposed to meaningful math, not just the basics." Therein lies the problem. The Glendale school system is not spending enough time teaching the basics in grades 1-4. Algebra, geometry, statistics and ratios are being introduced as early as first and second grades.

Each year, more than 700 Foothill-area kids participate in the Crescenta Sports Association?s youth baseball and softball programs. And in addition to the basic skills of fielding, throwing, pitching and catching, those kids learn valuable lessons about being a team player and having a good attitude on the field. ?We have high standards for our players, coaches and parents,? said Dave Luce, an executive member of the CSA board of directors and commissioner for the 8-and-under age division.

Prep softball team wins coin flip The Flintridge Prep softball team won a coin toss over Mayfield on Friday and will enter the CIF Southern Section playoffs as the No. 2 team from the Prep League. The tiebreaker was necessary after Prep and Mayfield finished the regular season tied for second place with identical 8-4 league marks and split their season series. Mayfield enters the playoffs as the league’s No. 3 team. The Rebels lost four of their final five games to end the season, including two contests to Pasadena Poly that allowed the Panthers to walk away with the league championship.

Descanso Gardens gears up for yoga LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- Descanso Gardens will hold another eight-week yoga and fitness walk course in April, with an introductory course preceding the session. Students will participate in an aerobic-paced walk through the gardens, and yoga indoors. The class is designed for any fitness level. The introductory session will be at 10 a.m. April 5. The sessions begin the week of April 7, with classes at 8:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Education, and the lack of funds for it, has been the topic of two community forums this week. Truly, we need to send a message to the folks in Sacramento. At Glendale Community College, we heard that the state's educational priorities are providing for technical careers and getting students to four-year colleges (“ College to place priority on basic skills, transfers ,” March 2). For 60 years, lifelong learning and parent education have been key components of the college's curriculum.

Lockheed Federal Credit Union employees participated in the Partner to Paint project on April 14 to give the 48-year-old nonprofit BCR's "a place to grow" facility a facelift. BCR, located at 230 E. Amherst Drive in Burbank, provides day activities and extended daycare programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities. BCR. Twenty-five credit union employee volunteers spent the day painting the exterior of the facility. The Partner to Paint project began in 2006, and is designed to provide assistance to the community by painting — free of charge — a local structure in need of exterior paint.

Glendale Community College ranks above statewide averages for student success, according to a recent accountability report that compared more than 100 other campuses. Glendale Community College was measured on eight levels, such as in student pass rates for basic classes, their completion of vocational programs and success in transferring to four-year institutions. By following student achievement in up to six-year periods, the report can shed light on whether state funds are being put to good use, said Edward Karpp, dean of research, planning and grants at Glendale Community College.

Glendale Community College has been awarded two federal grants that will bring more than $10 million to the campus during the next five years, officials said. The Title V grants, awarded as part of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions program at the U.S. Department of Education, are intended to help the college better serve its Latino population in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. To qualify, colleges and universities must have an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 25% Latino.