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Celebrate community leaders News, Page 3
A lifetime of public service honored Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 42 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Alice Manas
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Students show gains in ELA, Youth of One hosts second annual Christmas toy drive focus on math continues By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer On Nov. 6, the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees was presented with the 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress test results. CAASP is a statewide measure of English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science achievements of grades 3 through 8 and 11. The goal of the test is to provide information to parents and the public, indicating to them students’ progress. The results were presented by Phoebe Girimonte, assistant superintendent of educational services, who said the test is a valuable lens of student performance, but only part of a much larger picture. It provides valuable data for reflection and accountability, but it’s one of many indicators of student learning,” Girimonte said. “Our graduate profile expands this definition of success to include communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, cultural awareness and community engagement. These skills are not fully captured by standardized assessments.” Girimonte went on to say that as the district and public interpret the data, it’s important to see it as part of a broader picture of student growth and readiness. “When we combine these results with local metrics, student
experience, and staff feedback, we see both progress and clear direction for continued improvement,” Girimonte said. “Our ongoing work remains centered on engagement, rigor, and relevance. All guided by the graduate profile and the goal of preparing every student for a college career and Civic Life.” This year’s ELA outcomes saw a similar result to the 2024 results, with some growth in certain grade levels. 44 percent did not meet the standard previously, while this year, a 4 percent improvement was made. According to Girimonte, the school district plans to continue to prioritize literacy, as evidenced by the secondary training and adoption of expository reading and writing curriculum, SEAL strategy, and dual language classrooms. “Our goal is not only English proficiency, but support for multilingual students as well,” Girimonte said. This year’s ELA results land in a similar position as local districts in Yolo County, putting Winters above Esparto but below Woodland. All three districts fall below the state average. “This shows that our trends align with broader patterns, but also underscore the importance of consistency in tier one instruction and literacy-rich environments across the grade span,” Girimonte said.
See TRUSTEES, Page 5
Express staff Winters’ local organization Youth of One is bringing holiday cheer to children in the community with its second annual Christmas Toy Drive. Founded in 2022, the organization’s founder, Art Garcia, is calling on residents to come together and make the event a success. Inspired by largescale toy drives he witnessed in Los Angeles, Garcia hopes to create a meaningful holiday experience for his hometown. Youth of One has long focused on empowering local youth by building self-esteem, confidence, and social skills through team-building and exercise programs. This toy drive expands the organization’s mission to include spreading holiday joy.
Register a child Families can register children to participate by visiting https://form.jotform. com/253224639794164, https://bit.ly/youthtoydrive25 or scanning the QR code on the Youth of One Facebook page. One regis-
Courtesy photo
Youth of One is collecting toy donations for the next few weeks for its second annual holiday toy drive. tration is allowed per child. The registration period closes Friday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m.
How to help The success of the toy drive depends on community generosity. Youth of One is seeking toy donations for infants to children ages 12. Toys can be dropped off at the Kountry Kitchen parking lot on the following dates: • Nov. 30, 12 to 3 p.m. • Dec. 6, 2 to 4 p.m. • Dec. 7, 2 to 4 p.m. • Dec. 10, 5 to 7 p.m. • Dec. 13, 12 to 3 p.m. • Dec. 17, 5 to 7 p.m. Volunteers are also
needed to help at the toy distribution from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To donate or volunteer, email youthofonewinters@gmail. com.
Distribution event details
The toy drive will take place Saturday, Dec. 20, at Pioneer Church’s Wesley Hall, 205 Russell Ave. In addition to picking out gifts, children can enjoy fun activities planned to make the day extra special. Questions can be sent to Garcia at youthofonewinters@ gmail.com.
Volunteers, director talk state of Yolo County Animal Services By Rebecca Wasik McNaughton Media
EXPRESS
On Sept. 3, former Yolo County Animal Services volunteer Kim Kane was handling adoptions at the shelter in Woodland and training new volunteers, as she did five to seven days a week for three to six hours per day since October 2022. At the end of the
day, Kane says, Yolo County Animal Services Director Stephanie Amato called her into her office and told her that she would no longer be able to volunteer at the shelter. When asked why, Kane says she was told a reason did not need to be given. “If the volunteers don’t go in to get the dogs out, they only get a five-minute potty walk out of their kennel each day by staff,” stated Kane. “This is unbearable for me, so any day there wasn’t enough
coverage from other volunteers, I would make it my goal to get every dog out of their kennel for at least one hour every day. This was unfortunately most days. I grew to know the dogs well and became good at handling adoptions. I believe I was doing the most adoptions and staff became threatened for their job. This is just my theory, but it’s the only reason I can think of to have been let go.” Kane says she never received any
See ANIMALS, Page 6
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Nov. 12
.00
73˚
49˚
Nov. 13
0.85”
73˚
48˚
Nov. 14
1.00”
61˚
51˚
Nov. 15
0.01”
64˚
46˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Nov. 16
.00
70˚
54˚
Nov. 17
0.92”
66˚
51˚
Opinion ......................... B-5
Nov. 18
0.08”
63˚
45˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 2.86 in. Season’s total: 5.72 in. Last sn. to date: 0.42 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-3
Sports ........................... B-6
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Courtesy photo
Carcasses of salmon are seen along Dry Creek in Winters; several died during the spawning process. They were stranded once the water receded overnight.
Stranded salmon, but numbers surge After years of low returns, Putah Creek sees more than 1,400 salmon Express staff About 25 dead salmon and six live fish were found stranded in small puddles along Dry Creek on Friday. According to Max Stevenson, streamkeeper for the Solano County Water Agency, the fish had swum up from Putah Creek searching for spawning areas, but the creek’s water receded overnight before a rescue could take place. Stevenson said the stranding was a natural event, not caused by water diversions or other human activity.
See SALMON, Page 6
Courtesy photo
Drew Gantner, Solano County Water Agency water resources director, helps count salmon at the UC Davis counting weir on Putah Creek, on Oct. 31.
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