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Volunteers needed, CSU app week, changes to science standards, geeks and free speakers

By Lorna Sheridan
our schools columnist

 

While all rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, the George Bush Presidential Center has just released an interactive “Global Report Card” which attempts to rank every school district in the world by common metrics so you can see how a particular district stacks up against others nearby, in the state, in the United States and around the world. (www.globalreportcard.org/map/html#.)

Looking statewide, SVUSD ranked in the 44th percentile in reading and in the 53rd percentile in math.  Other area school districts that you might find interesting by comparison include:  Napa (54th percentile reading/54th percentile math); Walnut Creek (79th percentile reading/83rd percentile math); Mill Valley (83rd percentile reading/87thpercentile math); Novato (64th percentile reading/68th percentile math); Petaluma (53rd percentile reading/55th percentile math). But you can’t be sure they are comparing apples to apples, particularly with schools overseas.

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The National Academy of Sciences has kicked off a multi-state campaign to increase the emphasis on analytical and conceptual thinking in science instruction.  California is one of 20 states that will help write new science standards that determine what is taught in K-12 schools across the country.  The new standards will encourage students to examine concepts that cross the boundaries of physics, biology and chemistry, according to the nonpartisan/nonprofit organization that is coordinating the effort. There will also be a greater emphasis on engineering. In Sonoma, our K-5 schools received a prestigious federal Investing in Innovations grant in 2010 (out of 1,700 applications, Sonoma was one of only 49 applicants to have received the award). The focus of the exploratorium grant is to emphasize analytical and conceptual thinking so the district here already has this type of change well on their radar.  I’ll be keeping on eye on how national science curriculum changes will affect Sonoma students and will keep you informed.

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By the time you read this, the new Staples store on West Napa will have opened its doors.  In light of how much business they will get from our students I am crossing my fingers that they will step forward and support our local schools in whatever way works best for them.

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Barbara Fisher, of Volunteer Now, says that Adele Harrison and Altimira middle schools are both in great need of volunteers to help the after-school teachers with their very successful algebra program and general homework help. They are looking for a one to two hours-a-week commitment to help their students move into high school “on track to graduate.” Call Barbara Fisher at 573-3399, ext. 122, for more information.

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Having seen my mention of home visits by teachers, Sheila Reilly, principal at Woodland Star, wrote that Woodland offers every kindergartner and first grade student/family a home visit by the in-coming teacher.  Said Reilly, “We truly recognize the importance of establishing a trusting relationship between not only the student and teacher but also that of the family and teacher.  Of course, the family has the option to decline if they prefer, but mostly, parents welcome this connection. Home visits are an important first step in establishing that involvement and sense of connection to the school community.”

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SVHS’s Drama Department is putting on “Real Women Have Curves” at the Little Theatre this Friday through Sunday, Oct. 7 to 9 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday. Tickets ($7 for adults/$5 for students and seniors) can be purchased at Readers’ Books and at Pharmaca (or at the Little Theater box office 30 minutes prior to curtain).  Best for ages 12 and up. I love it that they have chosen a production that we haven’t all seen a dozen times and of which the subject matter (the Latina experience) is so fresh and relevant here in Sonoma.  Kudos to Director Jane Martin.

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I learned from Cheryl Coldiron at Dunbar that several Dunbar educators are participating in a series of five-day ELPD (English language professional development) workshops that began Sept. 22 and will continue into December. Participants will receive in-depth training on effective instruction for English-language learners funded in part through a grant provided by the Aiming High program of the Sonoma County Office of Education. Dunbar’s principal, Melanie Blake, is attending as well.

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Paula Hunter, director at Sonoma Charter School, in her most recent newsletter home, articulated the efforts being made by the school to support kindness and discourage any form of bullying on the Sonoma Charter campus.   Wrote Hunter: “At least once a week, I have been speaking to the concepts of friendship, kindness, doing the right thing, stepping in to stop negative comments and behavior through conversation and poetry. In staff meetings, we have been speaking about our respective work with the students on taking the initiative to model good and positive behavior. Each teacher is overseeing weekly class meetings to foster appreciations, create a forum for concerns or apologies, and address any other issues that may be cropping up that effect the emotional well being of our children. I have asked the eighth graders, as the oldest learners in our school, to practice behavior that exemplifies the qualities we want to see in all Sonoma Charter students and staff.” 

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I just started “The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School” by Alexandra Robbins.  It is a very interesting (and quick reading) look at the psychology and science behind popularity and “outcasthood.” I recommend it to anyone who works with teenagers, has a teenager or ever was a teenager.

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Speaking of books, if you have a child who loves to cook but hates studying vocabulary lists, check out “Cook Your Way Through the S.A.T.” Charis Frieman-Mendel, a 14-year-old in Newport, R.I., got the idea to create her own cookbook by combining her love of cooking with the need to fulfill an art requirement and study for the SSAT – the Secondary School Admission Test, which resembles the SAT and is used for admissions into independent junior high and high schools. She developed 99 recipes into which she incorporated 1,000 SAT vocabulary words.  Pretty creative idea.  You can get it online for $14.99: www.createsspace.com/3614473 or at amazon.com.

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The 23 colleges in the California State University System (CSU) started accepting applications Oct. 1.  SVHS is strongly encouraging all college bound seniors to apply early by participating in SVHSís first ever, CSU Application Week, Oct. 3 to 8.  Seniors should sign up at the College & Career Center to complete their application during an A+-period class this week. It takes just minutes.  The Boys & Girls Club is also offering extra help in the evenings and on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Students who submit proof of completion of an application by Monday, Oct. 10 will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.

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A few more colleges are headed to the high school to present this week including Linfield College (Oregon) today (Tuesday) at 11:15 a.m., Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) on Thursday at 8:45 a.m. and University of Oregon at 11:35 a.m. on Thursday.

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Teenagers, teenagers, teenagers … the most recent issue of National Geographic has a story titled, “Beautiful Brains:  Why Do Teenagers Act The Way They Do” which discusses the science behind teenage behavior and brain development.  It is an interesting read: www.nationalgeographic.com.

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On Oct. 17, Presentation School is hosting a free talk entitled  “Best Practices in Education:  What We Can Learn from America’s Top Schools,” in their library at 8:30 a.m. This informal talk will encompass some of the best practices employed by our nation’s most successful schools, including curriculum trends, appropriate use of technology, how to recruit and nurture outstanding educators and how to foster in children a life-long love of learning. The speakers are David Ball, principal of Milton Academy, a Wall Street Journal “Global Top 25” school, and Raj Vinnakota, founder and executive director of SEED Academy, featured in “Waiting For Superman” as an example of America’s best innovative public charter schools.

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On Oct. 19, author Pam Allyn will talk about new educational research that reveals that writing is as fundamental to a child’s development as reading when she speaks on “How To Cultivate the Love of Writing in Our Children” at Presentation School at 8:30 a.m. Writing is not only a key skill but also an essential part of self-discovery and critical to success later in life – but writing doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Allyn will read from her book, “Your Child’s Writing Life: How To Inspire Confidence, Creativity, and Skill At Every Age,” and offer key steps and imaginative prompts to inspire and empower children to put their thoughts and ideas on paper.  You can register for both or either talk at www.presentationcshool.com.

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The Sonoma Community Center has only one class for children this fall, but it sounds like a fun one. “Animals, Monsters & More” runs now through Nov. 1 on Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. for ages 6 to 12. They also continue to offer private voice and piano lessons to children.  Go to www.sonomacommunitycenter.org.

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The second annual Altimira Dinner Dance and Fundraiser, called The Howl, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Little Switzerland.  The cost is a bargain, $35, for what promises to be a great night for a great cause (supporting Altimira!).

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Maite Iturri, pricipal at El Verano, informs me that the school’s Jog-A-Thon has been moved to Monday, Oct. 10 because of rain in the forecast for the original date. All proceeds go to outdoor education and field trips. Last year, El Verano raised $12,000 and their goal this year is $15,000. The public can sponsor students or staff or make a direct donation. Iturri explains, “We are promoting good health while raising funds for our education programs.”

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Keep the comments, tips and story ideas coming to ourschools@sonomanews.com.