Helen Thomson, assemblywoman for the state's 8th District and candidate for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, will visit a fourth-grade classroom in Woodland to learn more about a UC Davis program aimed at increasing the number of college-going students.

Thomson also will meet with the classroom teacher, school principal and representatives from UC Davis to discuss the university's collaborative efforts in the Woodland Joint Unified School District and elsewhere to create a college-going culture, enhance students' preparedness for university, and demystify higher education and the application process.

Available for interviews will be:

• Helen Thomson
• Fourth-grade children enrolled in UC Davis' Reservation for College program
• Rick Stout, interim principal of Freeman Elementary School
• Teacher Shari Meyer, whose classroom Thomson will visit
• Dan Roy, manager of UC Davis' School/University Partnerships
• Sarah Martinez, coordinator of UC Davis' Reservation for College program
  

UC Davis' Reservation for College program is a feature element of UC Davis and the Woodland Joint Unified School District's partnership to increase the number and proportion of students who become eligible for college.

The program, which is based on curriculum developed for the classroom, helps encourage fourth- through sixth-grade students to envision themselves going to college and helps prepare them for success there. Parents and guardians also are involved in the program through evening presentations that help them negotiate the school system and guide their students toward college.

First involving Woodland in fall 2000, the program currently serves 300 students in grades four and five at Freeman and Beamer Park elementary schools and next year will be offered to sixth-grade students. In total, about 4,000 students in five school districts are part of the Reservation for College program this year.

Reservation for College complements more than 100 other UC Davis programs that enrich learning for K-12 students, help families plan for college and improve teaching through curriculum development and professional development opportunities.

From Interstate 80, take Highway 113 North at Davis. After about eight miles, the highway will merge into Interstate 5 North. From this point, see directions below.

Northbound on Interstate 5 from Sacramento, take the West Street exit in Woodland. Turn left and proceed approximately six blocks or one mile. Freeman Elementary School, 126 N. West St., is located on the left, across the street from the high school.

If there are no available parking spots in Freeman's lot along West Street, additional parking is available east of the school at the Church of the Nazarene on Woodland Avenue.