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Speakers, local business support, turkeys, The Dragon’s Tale

Education Roundup

We are lucky to have so many interesting speakers on education come to our area. On Nov. 9, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Charlie Applestein, author of “No Such Thing as a Bad Kid,” will lead a free parenting workshop at 2425 Jefferson St., Napa from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The workshop, appropriate for parents of all ages of children, is titled, “Responding Instead of Reacting to Your Kids – Key Principles and Techniques for Effective Strength-Based Parenting” and will cover techniques for enhancing self-esteem, the importance of being developmentally-friendly, creative self-management strategies for all family members, how parents can manage their own emotions and responses and the nuts and bolts on setting respectful limits with children.

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On Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Pat Wolfe will be speaking at The Presentation School on “Understanding Your Child’s Brain: The Neuroscience of Learning.” Wolfe, a best-selling author, will cover what neuroscience research tells us about the human brain structure, how it processes and retrieves information and what are the most effective ways of learning. She will cover specific brain-friendly strategies parents can use to help their children enhance love of learning and maximize their potential. To register: http://neuroeducation.eventbrite.com/.

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The investigative website, www.californiawatch.org recently reported that only 12 percent of Hispanic fourth-graders in California were proficient in reading on the Nation’s Report Card, which places California behind every state in the nation except for Utah and Minnesota. The report continued, “Research has shown that students who miss this goal are at a much higher risk of dropping out of high school. That means California is on track to see millions of students drop out in the coming years. The trend could spell economic disaster for a state that’s already deep in financial crisis, at a time when California is about a million college graduates short of meeting workforce needs, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.”

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We have good news coming out of Sonoma in that El Verano preschool has doubled its enrollment. Studies show that enrollment in preschool is one sure way to help a child succeed in school, and even increases high school graduation rates. A study from Cornell University found that children who participated in preschool were less likely to repeat a grade or be assigned to special education programs even 6 to 13 years later. The expansion of the program is thanks to grants from SVEF, the Earnest Bates Foundation and the Vadasz Family Foundation.

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I am getting really nice feedback that people appreciate the increased focus on our schools that this page provides. The “Our Schools” page has and will continue to rely on sponsors and advertisers. If you know of a business or organization that might be interested in sponsoring a month of Tuesdays, please contact Bill Lynch at blynch@sonomanews.com. Also, we love letters to the editor about our coverage.

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Lots of local businesses do step forward to help support our schools. Here are a few: Till the end of the year, Lorene Reed of Planet Organics will donate 5 percent to the Sonoma Valley Education Fundation to use for school programs on orders over $50. Enter the promotion code: “SVEF2011” at www.planetorganics.com.

The Corner Store on the Plaza is hosting a Craft Faire Benefit on Dec. 10. The store will host a kids crafting event and 20 percent of the proceeds go to the SVEF. 

And all month, Willie Bird Turkey and Flowery are teaming up for the sixth year to offer fresh, free-range turkeys at retail prices with a third of the proceeds to benefit Flowery programs such as art, garden and field trips. “It’s a “win-win-win,” for us, Willie Bird, and people who want a quality food experience,” said Esmeralda Moseley, principal. Willie Bird donates $1 a pound to Flowery, which in past years, has meant as much as $3,500. Willie Bird turkeys have no hormones or antibiotics and are grown locally in Santa Rosa.  Order at www.floweryschool.org.

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I spent hours on this site the first time I visited it. At www.chronicle.com you can look search 1,600 colleges to find out the home states of their freshman class. Useful if you love a college and wonder if you might help them achieve greater geographic diversity. Very interesting to look at the UCs and where their non-residents hail from.

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I am looking forward to doing a formal tour of Sonoma Valley High Schools’s Media Arts Studio, now in its 11th year, but in the meantime, if you are interested in seeing what the students are up to, check out www.svhsvideo.com. You can also catch their video production spotlight on Channel 27 every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

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I love a good play or musical and drag my children to see everything. I was thrilled to see that “Romeo & Juliet” is being staged by the Renegade Players at Andrews Hall to benefit the Community Center this weekend, Nov. 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 (adults) and $12 (students) most appropriate for ages 13 and up. Buy tickets online at www.sonomacommunitycenter.org.

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I heard from St. Francis that, on Nov. 19, their robotics team will be attending its first tournament at the First Lego League competition in Vacaville, a Northern California Qualifier. St. Francis also sent five students recently to compete in the Justin Siena Math Competition: Jenny Nova, Raquel Darnell, Abigail Craig, Joey Sangiacomo and Anna Stava.

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I wasn’t able to make it but I heard that the high school’s Music Departments Fall Concert Series last week was terrific. Performers included the concert and jazz bands, concert choir, Madrigals and the Jazzberries, as well as several soloists.

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The high school puts out a terrific school newspaper, The Dragon’s Tale. If you aren’t on campus to grab a copy, you can read it online at www.sonomadragonstale.com. Kudos to Editor Jamie Ballard who is also a great student reporter here at the Index-Tribune.

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If you are on Facebook, you likely know about http://www.donorschoose.org/.which for 10 years has been enabling teachers across the country to solicit funds for pet programs.  They have helped 300,000 classroom projects from 165,000 teachers receive more than $80 million in donations. If you go to the site and search for the keyword Sonoma, you will see a number of projects in classrooms in Sonoma that seek donations of various sorts. www.donorschoose.

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The high schools’ health office has a wish list for its students who visit, including for their increasing numbers of diabetic students. Needed are: juices, water, granola bars, fruit snacks, protein bars, yogurt, string cheese, beef jerky or trail mix.

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Santa Rosa Junior College is hosting Career Night 2011 Nov. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. in its Dining Commons. High school students are invited to meet and network with professionals who include a: doctor, lawyer, photographer, parole officer, psychologist social worker and more.  RSVP to 521-7879 or guser138@santarosa.edu.