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SIFF, art shows, STAR testing, chess

Education Roundup

In addition to a wide variety of films appropriate for teens and children, (I highly recommend Circus Dreams), the Sonoma International Film Festival is showing two documentary films that relate directly to education. “Shakespeare High” looks at how the arts and one noteworthy high school drama competition in particular, can change students’ entire high school experience. And “Teached, Volume 1,” is structured into several segments, each examining a different hot topic in education today. See www.sonomafilmfest.org for more details.

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STAR testing in Sonoma starts shortly and takes place at area schools over the next five to six weeks. Encourage your child to get lots of rest and to eat a nutritious, filling breakfast.

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California’s state colleges and universities are considering whether to begin asking students about their sexual orientation next year on applications or enrollment forms. The optional questions would be posed because of a state law aimed at gauging the size of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations on campuses. The law encourages UC, Cal State and community colleges to explore whether they are offering enough services, such as counseling, for those students.

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The California Distinguished School Award just announced its 2012 elementary school honorees. This program identifies and honors schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap. Honored schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria, including standardized testing scores and other measures. Almost 400 elementary schools were honored for 2012 (none in Sonoma Valley Unified and only two in Sonoma County): those were Strawberry Elementary and Village Elementary, both in Santa Rosa. You can read the complete list here: cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/dslisting2012.asp.

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Next time you’re in a mall, keep your eyes peeled for a new store – Marbles: The Brain Store. I went in one recently and was amazed by the brain teaser-type games they offered that I had never seen before. They are also online at marblesthebrainstore.com.

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I found this interesting … Human geography, Chinese and environmental sience are the three fastest growing AP classes among high schoolers in America.

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The City of Sonoma is seeking a new youth representative on the Community Services and Environment Commission (CSEC).  The CSEC advises the City Council on matters related to Sonoma’s parks, recreational facilities, open space and the environment.  Applicants must reside within Sonoma Valley and be available to attend one Wednesday evening meeting a month. Sonoma Valley High School’s Hanna Nead and Sarah Summers served in the role most recently. Applications are available online at www.sonomacity.org or may be picked up at City Hall. 

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More than 60 percent of new jobs in the last year have gone to college grads, even though they make up only about one-third of workforce.

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New research from the University of Notre Dame shows that going to sleep shortly after learning new material is most beneficial for recall.

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On April 11, at 7 p.m., Dan Peters, Ph.D., will be presenting “Taming the Worry Monster: Helping Advanced Learners Cope with Stress and Anxiety,” at Maria Carrillo High School, 6975 Montecito Blvd., in Santa Rosa.  This free presentation is appropriate for parents, teachers, school counselors and high school students. There is no need to pre-register.

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The fourth annual Scholastic Chess Tournament will take place on Saturday, May 12 for all skill levels in grades K-8. This is a great first time tourney where players compete in groups of four, called a quad, against kids of the same grade level from other schools. The tournament will be held at Strawberry Elementary School in Santa Rosa. Sign up online at chessclubforkids.com.

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The Boys & Girls Club is holding an ImageMakers photography contest exhibit opening and reception, to which the public is invited, on Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. Winners of this youth contest, which include black and white, digital and photo essay categories, will go on to compete in regional contests.

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UC Santa Barbara student Ryland King has founded a nonprofit which links college students with first and second grade classes for an eight-week program, engaging today’s youth in sustainable action, at zero cost to the school system. He began Environmental Education for the Next Generation (EENG) in 2009, and now the completely student-run organization teaches more than 2,300 elementary school students in 90 classrooms across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Wouldn’t it be great to get it started in Sonoma?

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Sonoma Valley High School students have the chance to learn sign language.  Free classes will be held at the No Name Café, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Tuesday, April 10. at 3 p.m.  Space is limited.  Contact Ursula Perez-Lopez at 721-5650 for information.

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Don’t forget, the Sonoma Valley High School Music Department’s third annual Pasta Dinner Fundraiser, “A Penne for a Song,” is Saturday, April 14, at the Sonoma Moose Lodge.

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All high school students should try to attend the North Bay College Fair at Sonoma State on Tuesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. Representatives from 130 colleges will be there answering questions and handing out information.  Students can attend on their own, or sign up to ride the bus ($5) from the high school at 5:15 p.m. and return at 9 p.m.

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Career Night 2012 at Santa Rosa Junior College will be held on Wednesday, April 18 from 5 to 8 p.m.  Students can network with professionals, discover how they started their careers and learn what it is like to work in their occupation (doctor, lawyer, photographer, parole officer, psychologist, social worker, counselor, and so on).  There will be a ($5) bus leaving from the high school at 4 p.m. Sign up for this free event in Sonoma High’s Student Activities Office. 

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The Petaluma Campus of Santa Rosa Junior College is having a College Preview Night for students and parents on Thursday, April 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Ellis Auditorium at 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway. SRJC-bound seniors and their families should try to attend this event. Call 778-3914 for more information.

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Sonoma Charter School will host a Community Flea Market and Kid’s Fair on Sunday, April 15 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., in the high school parking lot. Everyone is welcome to sell their new or used household items, toys, books and clothes, promote organizations or small businesses, or offer crafts. Advance registration is $25 per spot/$35 at the gate. Funds raised from this event will be used to support Sonoma Charter programs. Contact Jennifer Blackwood at mindbodypilates@aol.com for more info.

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The public is invited to the annual Small but Grand Works exhibition of student work at the Arts Guild of Sonoma (AGS) now until April 30 (140 E. Napa St.).

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