Email  Print

Open access, Credo launches, Dunbar’s garden, Learning Ally

Education Roundup

Kudos to SVHS for now formally having an open access policy to honors and AP classes, and course registration in general. If a student believes they can do the work, they can take the class. Some other area high schools make you jump through hoops to place into or be recommended for higher-level courses. I like what this move implies for SVHS regarding high aspirations for its students.

• • •

There are great opportunities for SVHS students to volunteer at Adele Harrison after school, by tutoring and helping with special programs including art, drama and Lego robotics. If interested, contact Lindsey Munn at 935-6080.

• • •

A recent analysis of the world’s top education systems by McKinsey & Company concluded, “Of all the controllable factors influencing student achievement, the most important by far is the influence of the classroom teacher.” The study also finds that more than 30 percent of new teachers leave the profession after five years. The U.S. is heading toward a teacher shortage, because there are fewer teachers to fill slots as baby boomers reach retirement age.

• • •

Credo High School, the new free, public, Waldorf-based charter school in Rohnert Park, opened this fall and announced that all of its ninth graders will study earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, number theory, algebra, English and theater, history through art, world revolutions, history through economics, financial literacy, Spanish or Mandarin, drawing, printmaking, blacksmithing, media arts, farming and food literacy, social sustainability, personal sustainability, sports intensives and a choice of orchestra, American music or choir and more! Wow! Seriously? That is an ambitious program for a small start-up school. I am very curious about this program.  If you go to Credo, contact me.

• • •

“4-Year College Night for Seniors” and their parents is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the SVHS pavilion.  I’ll be there in my role as a TSN volunteer speaking briefly about options for seniors beyond the UCs and CSUs (private colleges, public colleges, out of state, colleges overseas and more).

• • •

Dunbar Principal Melanie Blake reports that their “dynamic duo” of parent volunteers, Alissa Pearce and Dr. Shannon Lee are implementing garden and science activities for every grade level at Dunbar, complementing teacher-led, standards-based instruction.  They have created weekly lessons from nutrition to growing cycles and myriad topics are explored in Dunbar’s garden curriculum. Pearce is also the district garden coordinator and site garden coordinator for Dunbar. Lee’s expertise spans squid dissection to “Skyping” students in Norway. Pearce and Lee are transforming a storeroom into a lab, teaching station and rainy day classroom. They also plan to teach about solar energy benefits in relation to science and gardens.

• • •

I heard from Maite Iturri, principal of El Verano Elementary School, that the school’s most recent mural is titled the El Verano Garden. On Friday, Oct. 7, they will be holding an assembly at 1:15 p.m. to celebrate the artwork and their beautiful garden.

• • •

I learned from Karla Conroy, principal at Adele Harrison Middle School, that Comcast has created an “Internet Essentials” program that offers home Internet service for $9.95 a month, low-cost computers ($149.99) and support classes.  The program is being offered to families whose children qualify for the National School Lunch Program.  Information for families about this program (endorsed by the American Association of School Administrators) is available at: www.internetessentials.com.

• • •

Speaking of technology to support schoolwork, Learning Ally is a great resource if your child needs access to audio versions of textbooks or reading materials. Learning Ally (www.learningally.com) serves more than 300,000 K-12, college and graduate students, veterans and lifelong learners who can’t read standard print due to visual impairment, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities. Their collection of more than 65,000 digitally recorded textbooks and literature titles – downloadable and accessible on mainstream as well as specialized-assistive technology devices – is the largest of its kind in the world.

• • •

The Santa Rosa Junior College Planetarium has a great show opening called “And This Is Our Moon,” playing the weekends of Oct. 2, Oct. 14 and Oct. 16. Show times are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The cost is $5, and $3 for students. The show teaches the moon’s phases, why we see only one side of the Moon and how and why it affects the way we live.

• • •

“Maximizing Student Potential: Cultivating Creativity & Critical Thinking” is the name of a symposium being held for parents and educators on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Canyon High School. This program is put on by the California Association for the Gifted and it costs $50 for members and $75 for non-members (must register in advance). For more information, contact klittle@juno.com. I’ll be there.

• • •

A number of local students are performing in Silver Moon Theater’s production of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” which runs weekends Sept. 22 to Oct. 9 at the Community Center. Best for ages 11-plus; tickets are available by calling 938-4626.

• • •

Keep the story ideas and suggestions coming to ourschools@sonomanews.com