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Winters JUSD asks for Hall of Fame nominations News, Page 2
Warriors’ 2024 sports highlights Features, Page 1
Volume 141, Number 49 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The hometown paper of Marian Kammerer
Coman named 2024 Senior Citizen of the Year By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer Liz Coman shared how surprised she was to be nominated for the Senior Citizen of the Year award by the Winters communty. The Senior Citizen of the Year award is part of the Winters District Chamber of Commerce Toast of Winters community awards and is given out annually to a citizen who has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for the Winters community. Coman has committed herself to education, community service, and the enrichment of the small town she calls home. With a touch of humor, she reflected on the winding path that brought her back to Winters after first leaving it behind. “After I graduated from high school, I was leaving this podunk town, never coming back. I went to
San Francisco and loved the city, but the boy I followed there was coming back to Winters to help his family,” Coman said. Yet, like many who first leave the moorings of their small towns, she found the winds sending her back home. She returned with her then-boyfriend Rob Coman, now her husband, who decided to help his family’s grocery store, sealing the deal. “We got married in ‘75 and have been here ever since,” Coman said with a smile. A career educator, Coman earned her teaching credential and began substituting in local schools, quickly finding her calling in the classroom. Over the next few decades, she taught English, shaping the minds of countless students, and no doubt some of you readers. She more recently transitioned to be-
ing the school librarian, a role she cherished for six years before retiring. But even retirement couldn’t keep her away. Today, she works part-time with the district, focusing her efforts on Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. “I’m all about CTE Now. I love CTE,” Coman said with conviction. “I want students to have options. I want them to be able to go to college if they want to, and it does not have to be, you know, a four-year college, it can be a community college. They can go and get some kind of certification, but if they want to, I want them to go into the trades. I want them to be able to do that.” She is particularly proud of the district’s ability to connect students with practical, hands-on learning opportunities that translate
KLJ Studios/Courtesy photo
See COMAN, Page 2 Liz Coman has been selected as the 2024 Winters Senior Citizen of the Year.
Waggoner hosts Enrollment Trustees approve new courses, Information Night, class tours ethnic studies program updates Express staff
EXPRESS
Waggoner Elementary School is hosting an Enrollment Information Night and Classroom Tour for families who want to learm more information about the transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten and dual-language immersion kindergarten programs. Waggoner Principal Chrix Marcoux said his staff is “excited for the opportunity to showcase our early learning programs at this event.” The TK and kindergarten information night is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event will be presented in English from 5:30 to 6:15
p.m. and in Spanish from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. Self-guided classroom tours will happen from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. The information sessions allow families to learn more about the programs, meet the teachers, tour classrooms and ask questions. Families will also be able to pick up a registration packet at the event. Marcoux said that Waggoner’s TK program has “steadily increased each year as we work toward a goal of universal access for four-year olds.”
Eligibility Children who turn 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025, are eligible to register for Transitional Kindergarten. Children who turn 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025, are eligible to register
for kindergarten. Families who have questions should contact Nicole Brace in the Waggoner office at 530-795-6121 or nbrace@wintersjusd. org. The Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees recently approved projects to add additional classrooms and a playground for the transitional kindergarten students. Trustees also approved an amount to add a new multi-purpose room project for the Waggoner site. Waggoner Elementary school serves students in grades TK through second grade. Additional Waggoner Elementary updates are available online at https:// wes-wintersjusd-ca. schoolloop.com or on Facebook @WaggonerDolphins.
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Jan. 01
.00
61˚
38˚
Jan. 02
0.01”
55˚
42˚
Jan. 03
0.08”
62˚
42˚
Jan. 04
0.05”
62˚
38˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-3
Jan. 05
0.01”
61˚
39˚
Jan. 06
.00
65˚
40˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Jan. 07
.00
62˚
43˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.15 in. Season’s total: 9.55 in. Last sn. to date: 7.05 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... A-6
Low
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer At its Dec. 19 meeting, the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees approved plans to enhance arts, music and academic programs across the district, including implementing new state-funded Prop 28 initiatives and finalizing updates to the district’s Ethnic Studies program.
New courses with Prop 28 funds In November 2022, California voters approved Proposition 28, which guarantees funding for arts and music education. Assistant Superintendent Pheoebe Girimonte and staff outlined how these funds would be used
to enrich learning opportunities in Winters JUSD schools. There are several elements to the district’s Prop. 28 implementation plan, including the hiring of a second teacher to double instructional time for science, technology, arts and music at Waggoner Elementary and Shirley Rominger Intermediate Schools. A new music teacher will be hired as well, who will be focused on elementary and intermediate schools, while the school district’s current music staff will concentrate on at the middle and high school programs. Course descriptions at Winters High School were introduced for Foundations in Music (including mariachi, piano,
and guitar), Jazz Band (with an emphasis on improvisation and diverse jazz styles), and Musical Theater (incorporating acting, vocal performance, and stagecraft). Each of these courses will be offered to WHS students in grades nine through 12th and fulfill an area F – Visual and Performing Arts graduation requirement. In addition to the Prop. 28 course descriptions, an Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) was approved along with the rest of the Prop 28 course descriptions by the board. The ERWC course is a free curriculum intended to bridge the gap
See COURSES, Page 2
Winters Fortnightly Club hosts Community Blood Drive on Jan. 13 Express staff The Winters Fortnightly Club, in partnership with Vitalant, invites members of the community to roll up their sleeves and make a difference by donating blood at the upcoming Winters Community Blood Drive. The event will take place on Monday, Jan. 13, from 2 to 5:45 p.m. at the Winters Community Center, located at 201 Railroad Ave. As the winter months can lead to significant challenges for blood supply, the
need for donations is particularly critical. On average, blood donations drop by 4,000 in January alone due to the holiday festivities, inclement weather, and seasonal illnesses. To address this ongoing need, January is recognized as National Blood Donor Month, highlighting the importance of blood donation in saving lives. While walk-ins are welcome, those wishing to donate are highly encouraged to make an appointment to ensure priority service.
Appointments can be made by visiting donors.vitalant.org and using the “Advanced Search” feature with the blood drive code SMFM164. Alternatively, individuals can call Vitalant at 877258-4825 and mention the blood drive code when registering. To participate as a blood donor, individuals must be at least 16 years old (with a signed parental consent form if under 18), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in general good health.
See DRIVE, Page 3
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Contact David DeLeon at David@WintersExpress.com