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Youth Talent Show offers safe place to be artistic News, Page 2
Local Japanese history roots not forgotten Features, Page 1
Volume 140, Number 50 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The hometown paper of Lourdes Argenio
Martinez earns Theodore Winters Award By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer For Corinne Martinez, volunteering — specifically in Winters — is something she has been doing since she was in high school and chairing the Youth Day Committee. Receiving the Theodore Winters Award, which comes from the name of one of Winters’ founders, is an honor for Martinez. “I don’t do what I do for recognition,” Martinez said. “I do what I do because I love to do it. I love this place, it’s a special place, I’m trying to preserve that and make it be what everyone loves to have.” The award specifically recognizes Martinez for her work with the Rotary Club of Winters, Winters Downtown Business Association, Visit Yolo, UC Agriculture, Natural Resources Board, St. Vincent de Paul and work with
Open Mic Night. As the chief operations officer, co-president and co-owner of Berryessa Gap Vineyards — on top of all the organizations — Martinez exemplifies volunteering. “To me, it’s just I’m doing what I’m passionate about, and I love to do it,” Martinez said. “When you’re volunteering you do what you can and when you can’t anymore, then other people can do it. And that’s kind of the way it works. The organizations that I’m involved with I get passionate about it in some way, shape or form in my life, and that’s why I continue to do it.” One of the ways Martinez can utilize her skills is by connecting other organizations to unite around a common goal. Back in 2022, as the president of St, Vincent de Paul’s local chapter, Martinez was able to secure a venue for a Thanksgiving dinner along
with getting other churches and community drive organizations to help. Martinez describes her volunteering and serving on boards as a balancing act and that she has to be cautious not to spread herself too thin. “I find I like connecting to the community in a variety of different ways,” Martinez said. “In some organizations, I am in leadership positions, and in some, I’m not. I enjoy doing leadership if I think I have something to contribute.” However, Martinez explains that she is not unique in her contributions. She describes the Winters community as full of people willing to put in the extra work for their town. “There are so many opportunities if you want to give back to the community — there’s endless opportunities to do so,” Martinez
See MARTINEZ, Page 5
Waggoner hosts TK, Kindergarten family information meetings Registration packets will be available at the event By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
EXPRESS
Waggoner Elementary School is gearing up for the next school year by hosting Family Information Night events for incoming Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students and its Dual Language Immersion Kindergarten program at the end of the month. The Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Information Night is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Dual Language Immersion Kindergarten Information Night is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Both events will be presented in English from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and in Spanish from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.. Principal Chris Marcoux said the information sessions allow families to learn more about the programs offered at Waggoner. They will also have the chance to meet the teachers, tour the TK and Kindergarten classrooms, and ask staff questions. Families who attend can pick up the TK/Kindergarten registration packet.
Age eligibility Children who turned 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023, are eligible to register for Kindergarten. Children who turned 5 years old on or between Sept. 2, 2023, and June 2, 2024, are eligible to register for Transitional Kindergarten.
Families who have questions should contact Nicole Brace in the Waggoner office at 530-795-6121. Additional Waggoner Elementary updates are available online https://wes-wintersjusd-ca.schoolloop. com or on Facebook @WaggonerDolphins.
Universal TK Since the state took action for schools to create and offer a universally available TK program by the 2025–26 school year, Waggoner’s TK program has seen steady increases each year as the school district rolls out efforts to make a program to include four-year-olds. A large focus on TK was part of the discussion in the recently approved Winters Joint Unified School District Facility Master Plan on how to best utilize $23M.
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Jan. 03
.31”
51˚
42˚
Jan. 04
.01”
56˚
37˚
Jan. 05
.02”
61˚
39˚
Jan. 06
.00
63˚
46˚
Jan. 07
.20”
53˚
30˚
Jan. 08
TRACE
54˚
36˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Jan. 09
.00
56˚
40˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.54 in. Season’s total: 7.05 in. Last sn. to date: 17.30 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2 Eventos hispanos ....... A-2
Sports ........................... B-7
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Courtesy photo
Community members nominated Corinne Martinez for her work to connect different segments of the community together and her leadership and passion to better Winters through local nonprofits.
Top Education News of 2023 Express staff Here’s a look at some of the top Winters Joint Unified School District topics that made headlines in 2023.
Principal changes New principals took the lead at three school sites for the 2023–24 school year. Winters High School Class of 2001 graduate Jose Bermúdez returned to Winters Middle School as the new principal. Justin Young, who served as the vice principal from 2017 to 2019 at Winters High School, stepped into the role of principal. And, Waggoner Elementary School welcomed Chris Marcoux as its new principal.
High school updates Many changes happened at Winters High School over the last year. On Monday, Aug. 7, the community joined Winters JUSD staff, students and administrators for the grand opening of the WHS PE and Music Building. The PE and Music Building was one of the final construction projects for the new high school design. While the plan still has items on its wish list, the construction of the new WHS campus design is currently completed. The new building sits behind the gymnasium locker rooms and Student Union building. It houses two classrooms which are dedicated to the WHS music program and serve as the new weight room for the
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy students planted new trees on their new home on the high school site. athletics program. The Board of Trustees also approved moving students from Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy onto the WHS site and a shift of the alternative high school’s curriculum model. Wolfskill CRA’s original one-classroom model with two teachers giving two 180-minute sessions was split into two separate classrooms with one session of 250 minutes per day. The increased time provided a five-period day that allowed the curriculum to be more flexible and remain at a shorter day. With both CRA teachers teaching the entire time, students get more educational value and opportunities for intervention and college career readiness time into the schedule. The move also brought the opportunity for Wolfskill CRA students to have
on-site resources like access to school counselors, nurses, administrators, and WHS courses if they qualify. Young is officially the principal of both the WHS and Wolfskill CRA programs. Additionally, trustees approved changing the WHS to an eight-period block schedule. The approved AB eight-period model extended the block period for classes to all five days of the week, which is one more day from the previous schedule model that only hosts block periods four days a week and an eight-period day with shorter classes on Mondays. All changes were approved ahead of time to launch them for the 2023–24 school year.
Safety measures
To prepare for students returning to school in the fall, Superintendent Rody
See NEWS, Page 6
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