D. C. OR BUST: The 15 Camarillo...

D. C. OR BUST: The 15 Camarillo High School students were delighted when they were invited to the White House to pick up a national environmental award. Now they’re trying to raise the $7,500 they need to get there. Their first environmentally acceptable effort at fund-raising--collecting cans for recycling--fell far short of their goal, so they are appealing to businesses and individuals. The students in the school’s Aquarian League were among those at 10 schools nationwide honored for their environmental efforts.

MEASURING SUCCESS: There is an art to reading and discussing report cards with your children (E3). . . . No one should know better than Simi Valley parents. Since September, the Simi Valley Unified School District has issued new report cards that list not letter grades but 171 skills that kindergarten- through second-grade students should possess. It takes longer to review, but parent Jody Sieska is giving it raves: “This way, you can tell exactly what they can do.�

HIS TOWN: Councilman Dean Maulhardt said now that Oxnard’s financial picture is looking better, the city needs to begin working to improve life for residents on its flank (B1). . . . He agrees with south Oxnard residents who say their aging neighborhood has been neglected by the city. He wants to lure new business to the area and conduct town hall meetings to get neighbors involved in revitalization, Maulhardt said. “We need to begin there, is the best way to put it.�

SURF’S UP: Oxnard was the warmest place in the lower 48 states Tuesday, with the mercury topping out at 78 degrees, according to National Weather Service forecasters. It even beat out St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, meteorologist Clay Morgan said. But those enjoying extended holidays, beware: Rain could return by Thursday, Morgan said. “My advice is to enjoy the beautiful weather. It won’t last too long.�