Get 'On the Same Page'

The seventh-annual On the Same Page, a community reads event headed by Pájaro Valley Unified School District’s After School Program Family Literacy Project, features “Thunderweavers”, a book by California Poet Laureate for 2012 Juan Felipe Herrera this year. This is a free community-wide event which takes place from October through December 2012.

Here are the basics:

• WHAT: 2012 On the Same Page Community Reads
• WHEN: Friday, November 16, 2012, 6:30 PM, door open at 6:00 PM
• WHERE: Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, 250 E. Beach St. Watsonville
• TICKETS: FREE available at the door, our local libraries and at the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Office
• BOOKS: Available at Watsonville Public Library, Freedom Branch Library and Crossroads Books in Watsonville.

On The Same Page was original founded under the leadership of George Ow Jr. together with a group of leaders in business, education, and the community committed to bringing inspiring authors to the Pájaro Valley. The mission was to support educators and to empower our youth and their families by maximizing educational experiences to achieve success in the new global economy. When the community group dissolved, the Pájaro Valley Unified School District, under the leadership of the Student Services Office, After School Program Division, and together with Migrant Education and George Ow Jr., made a commitment to continue this program into the future. Our goals continue to be:

• Develop one’s personal identity and positive self-esteem
• Identify and discuss productive ways for dealing with, challenges, the negative and failure
• Create an eye-opening lesson
• Recognize the power of passion and resiliency
• Promote knowledge and good mentorship

Previous year events and author presentations continue to positively impact and inspire our students. Each year classroom curriculum is developed and adapted for adult use aimed at parents and adult education students. Books and authors from previous year events (“Burro Genius” by Victor Villaseñor, “The Circuit” by Dr. Francisco Jimenez, “Zoot Suit” by Luis Valdez, “Across a Hundred Mountains” by Reyna Grande and “SeedFolks” by Paul Fleischman) and curriculum continue to be used by students district-wide. Teachers share that is truly exciting and meaningful to know that other staff, students and their parents are sharing the same learning experience. 

Last year, On the Same Page sponsored the first-ever Watsonville Film Festival using film and digital media for learning rather than a book and author visit. The goals of the Watsonville Film Festival were to share films that inspire, educate and focus on issues relevant to the local community, and to empower local youth through technology, using video as a way to transform the world. All films were either made in Watsonville, by Watsonville film makers or about Watsonville. It was a sold-out event with audience members coming from as far as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This year there are 33 teachers participating at the High School and Middle Schools, four teachers at Watsonville Aptos Adult Education and four Parent Book Clubs at Alianza Charter School, Ohlone Elementary, Pájaro Valley High School and Starlight Elementary.