August 30, 2006 - Top Stories
Valley Center-Pauma schools will begin Thursday, with an anticipated total of 4,633 students, compared to 4,566 last year.
School Supt. Lou Obermeyer sounded optimistic about a smooth opening. “As of today, enrollment looks strong,” she said.
“We are a bit low in kindergarten but our enrollment numbers in the other grades are holding close to the number of students we had at the end of school last year.”
She added, “We have hired two subs to start the year at our primary grades as the number of enrollments are more that we had anticipated.
“Our campuses are clean and safe and ready for the first day of school. The support staff has worked hard to ensure a smooth first day of school. We are ready, excited, and anticipating a fabulous year!”
SCHOOL HOURS:
Primary School
• Kindergarten, early morning session—8:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
• Kindergarten, late morning session—10 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
• Grades 1-2—8:20 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
Elementary, Lower School
• Grades 2-3—8:15 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.
• Grade 4—8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Elementary, Upper School
• Grades 5-6—8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Middle School
• Grades 7-8—8:25 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
High School
• Grades 9-12, Traditional Schedule Days—7:37 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday & Friday
• Block Days—7:37 a.m. to 2:07 p.m. on Wednesday & Thursday
Pauma School
• Grades K-8—8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Lilac School
• Kindergarten, early morning session—8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Kindergarten, late morning session—10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
• Grades 1-3—8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
• Grades 4-5—8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Playground supervision begins at 7:30 a.m. at the K-8 schools.
Traffic congestion around the schools the first day is always a problem. Parents wishing to transport their children the first day should plan on arriving well before school begins.
School lunches will be $1.50 for grades K-8 and $2 for grades 9-12. Milk will also be available for students bringing their lunches at a cost of 25¢. Breakfast will be served at a cost of 75¢ for grades K-8 and $1 for grades 9-12. It is highly recommended parents pre-pay their children’s lunches. Schools may be called for more information.
Classroom assignments for grades K-6 were posted at their respective schools. Parents of students in kindergarten will receive a phone call from their child’s teacher inviting them to a “get acquainted” meeting before school begins. Students and parents are encouraged to review the posted listings prior to school opening. This will familiarize students with their homeroom assignments prior to the first day.
Parents will receive a packet of information at the end of the first day of school for grades K-8. They should take time and care to fill out this paperwork. Included in the package will be two cards, a data and a health card, advising how we can reach parents in case a child becomes ill at school or in case of emergency. New data cards are required for each student each year in grades K-12.
Parents of incoming kindergartners, please call the Primary School at 749-8282 or Lilac School at 751-1042 if you have not heard from your child’s teacher. Just a reminder that K-1 students who ride the school bus home will be brought back to school if a parent is not at the bus stop to pick them up, or unless they have a note on file with the school district.
Pauma School will be offering an extended day kindergarten and an early admission kindergarten program. For more information, call Pauma School at 742-3741.
The Tiny Tots Program begins Sept. 1. Registration was held at the Primary School.
The YMCA and Boys & Girls Club sponsor after school child care and recreation programs. Their phone numbers are 749-7951 (YMCA) and 749-9822 (Boys & Girls Club). A Head Start Program for 3 and 4 year olds is also available. Their phone number is 751-9821. We will be providing after school day care at Pauma and Lilac this year. Prices will be comparable to the YMCA. Contact the school office if you are interested.
Those with questions regarding the start of school may call their child’s school. The telephone numbers for the schools are: Primary School—749-8282; Elementary, Lower—749-1631; Elementary, Upper—749-8555; Middle School—751-4295; Pauma School—742-3741; Lilac School—751-1041; High School—751-5500; Oak Glen High School—751-0455. You can also visit our Web site: www.vcpusd.net
Bus Evacuation Week is scheduled for the weeks of Sept. 18 and Sept. 25.
Activist Jon Vick is on a mission to pressure the Dept. of Public Works to make an 11th hour change in Phase II of the VC Road Widening project and include 2,000 extra feet of landscaped median between Ridge Ranch Road and Woods Valley Road.
That’s a change that the County says would push the project over budget.
Vick is also pushing to install colorized tiles at five intersections along VC Road, a measure that he believes would slow down traffic and make the road safer.
Last week Vick kicked the pressure up a notch when he threatened to take a legal route against DPW unless they release information on how much such additional work would add to the project’s $34 million price tag.
This stretch of median was never part of the original median plan. The County’s position is that it wasn’t part of the project as bid.
Vick, who doesn’t have any official capacity, although he heads an informal group called Citizens for Valley Center Parkway, does have powerful allies.
In July Joe Navarro, CEO/president of the San Pasqual Casino Development Group, told the VC Planning Group that the tribe is willing to take on the maintenance of such a landscaped median if the County builds it.
Although the planning group’s Chairman Keith Simpson sent a letter to the County saying it was aware of Vick’s efforts, it has yet to officially endorse the idea.
Vick also has a successful track record. It was his group that successfully lobbied to get the 9,000 ft. of landscaped median, something that the County’s DPW at that time also initially opposed.
However, this last minute request is somewhat different since the project has already begun.
Vick explains that by saying that he was shocked at the appearance of Valley Center Road once hundreds of trees were cut down to make room for the widening.
That’s when Vick started to agitate to get the extra stretch of landscaped median.
Recently Vick asked Brendan McNabb, project manager for DPW, to provide the data on how much the extra work would cost.
McNabb’s reply was: “The Department of Public Works has evaluated this request and determined that it cannot support the modification of the current construction contract to include additional segments of landscaped medians. This is not a desired approach due to schedule and fiscal impacts to the current contract. This decision does not preclude the installation of additional landscaped medians by a separate, privately funded contract at some future date.”
Vick fired back: “Your reply (below) to our July 23rd request … does not provide an adequate response to our request.
“We requested a cost estimate and still wish to receive one. As you referred to fiscal impacts, you must have the fiscal information and I am hereby requesting that you provide that information to us. As to your suggestion that DPW's ‘decision does not preclude the installation of additional landscaped medians by a separate, privately funded contract at some future date,’ this also is a totally inappropriate response. As you are well aware, private funds are not available for projects of this magnitude so it would have to be paid for out of taxpayer money. Rework in the future will be far more expensive to taxpayers than it would cost to add this traffic calming element now. In addition, and as you are also well aware, there will be at least a two or three year period before any work can be done due to regulations that prohibit digging up new roads. If this traffic calming and safety enhancing median doesn't get built now, it may never get built.
“We are hereby once again requesting that, rather than resort to the courts to obtain this information, you immediately provide us with the specifics of the cost estimate of adding the proposed 2000 linear feet of landscaped median for which the San Pasqual/Valley View Casino has generously indicated a willingness to maintain. Thank you.”
The Roadrunner asked Vick if he intends to file a California Public Records Act request with McNabb.
“Whatever it takes. If we don’t get the landscaped median now, we will never get it,” he said.
The California Public Records Act provides that anyone can request any state agency’s records relating to the public’s business. It excludes proprietary business information, preliminary notes, drafts or memoranda, privileged communications and some personal information.
When the agency gets the request it has up to two weeks to provide the information or show why the information doesn’t come under the act.
The new pastor at Light of the Valley Lutheran Church is also a new pastor in the sense that he’s never been a pastor before.
In fact, the ordination of Pastor Jeff Caithamer occurred three weekends ago at LOV in conjunction with his installation.
An ordination occurs once in the career of a minister. An installation occurs at every church where the pastor becomes the spiritual shepherd.
Caithamer described the ordination as “definitely a special occasion where men who have experience laid their hands upon me and gave me their advice and blessing. It’s quite an honor to be there and to experience that.”
The ceremony included visits from representative pastors from the circuit, which is a small scale version of the district, which is a small scale version of the synod.
The two who posed with Caithamer in the front page photo last week were from his home congregation.
A Southern California native, Pastor Caithamer was born and raised in Orange. He went to Immanuel Lutheran School in Orange and then the local Lutheran high school followed by four years at Concordia University in Irvine and four years of seminary work in St. Louis, Missouri.
“I grew up in the church and have always been interested in theology and the life of people in the faith. I wanted to help people grow in their faith and connect them with the Lord. Plus, my mother’s father was a pastor too in the Lutheran faith,” he told The Roadrunner.
He and his wife, Katie, met in St. Louis, where she was born and raised. She was a teacher there for three years.
People who are not Lutherans might be curious how a minister is picked to serve in a particular church. Pastor Caithamer described the process: “My wife and I met with the placement director. We talked about our strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. The placement director does his best to match us up with the best placement.”
Southern California was one of their top choices, since his family is from around here.
The pastor talked about some of his goals for the church: “I hope to see the church grow and see the Holy Spirit at work as he sees fit.”
Lately the church has noticed a drop in younger membership, he said. “We want to get some younger people in the church and to expand the church building as well.”
Caithamer describes himself as “a pretty easygoing guy who likes talking to people and getting to know them. My faith is very influential in my life and pretty much motivates me in everything that I do.”
He likes golf and tennis and reading.
Services at LOV are held each Sunday, 9 a.m. Bible class follows at 10:30 a.m. There are no evening services.
“Anyone is welcome to attend. Our doors are always welcome and we love visitors,” said the new pastor.
A Sheriff's Dept. firefighting Helicopter drops down to suck up water from Reflection Lake at the Castle Creek Golf Course taken at about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 25. This is the second time this year the lake has been used as an emergency water source for fighting fires in the area.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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