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UCs, SRJC, reading aloud, fundraisers, cutting cost of college

Education Roundup

The University of California (UC) system is admitting 43 percent more non-Californian freshmen this year than last. Those students each pay an extra $23,000 a year, an important boon to the UC budget with current reductions in state funding. The UC system-wide admissions rate for in-state students declined from 69.7 percent last year to 65.8 percent for fall 2012, while 53.9 percent of out-of-state students in the U.S. were admitted, down from 60.7 percent last year. Eight campuses offered more spots this year to non-Californians. UC Berkeley did not, as they got some flak last year for enrolling 30 percent of the current freshman class from out-of-state. UCLA was the toughest campus for Californians to get into, with a 17.7 percent admission rate. Next came Berkeley, at 22.7 percent; San Diego, 32.1 percent; Irvine, 33.6 percent; Santa Barbara, 41 percent; and Davis, 44.5 percent.

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A study has found that the small change of making specific references to print in books while reading aloud to children can provide a big boost to their reading skills later on. Preschool children whose teachers used print references during storybook reading showed more advanced subsequent reading skills when compared to children whose teachers did not use such references. See the April issue of the journal Child Development for more details.

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With Sonoma students immersed in STAR testing (California State Standards assessments) this month, it is important that students try their best.  There is a concern in some school districts that, because students don’t feel these tests count, some don’t give their best effort.  To counter this, a few states are now making standardized test results count for as much as 30 percent of a student’s final grade.  While you can argue with the merit of standardized testing in general, until a better method is found for tracking student progress, we have to make the best of it and hope the data testing helps our schools better serve our children.

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Prestwood School will be hosting their big annual fundraiser on Saturday, April 28, at the Hanna Boys Center at 5:30 p.m. The theme is “Under the Sonoma Sun: A Party for Prestwood.” Tickets are $50. For more information, contact Vanessa Rognlien at vanessagr3@yahoo.com. Proceeds will help Prestwood continue to provide instructional aides, computer equipment and instruction, art instruction, library funding, classroom supplies and field trips.

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Enrollment at Santa Rosa Junior College dropped this semester, declining more than 11 percent from last spring. Approximately 26,000 students are attending classes at SRJC right now, down from 30,000 at the same time last year and from 31,000 in the spring of 2010. This downturn is blamed on fewer sections of credit and non-credit classes available. Officials expect the course catalog to be even slimmer in the fall.

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Sonoma Charter School’s seventh grade is performing “The Phantom Tollbooth.” The play is based on the famous children’s adventure novel and modern fairytale published in 1961, written by Norton Juster. Performances are April 26, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids and $8 for adults.

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Little Kids Rock is a leading nonprofit provider of free lessons and instruments to underprivileged children in U.S. public schools, including students at El Verano, Flowery, Prestwood and Sassarini. On Sunday, May 6, they will be holding a concert at George’s Nightclub in San Rafael. The Little Kids Rock Band will begin performing at 7 p.m. before the headliner, country music star Shelby Lynne, goes onstage at 9 p.m.  

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Common Sense Media has shifted through the thousands of apps and websites out that claim to be educational, and they rated and reviewed each one based on its learning potential so you can figure out which apps, games and websites will truly help equip kids and teens with the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world. Check it out at commonsensemedia.org/learning-ratings.

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Woodland Star Charter School is sponsoring a festive Cinco de Mayo event on Friday, May 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors will enjoy live music, Mexican dance performances, Mexican food, games for children, a jumpy house and a raffle. 

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Sonoma Valley High Schools’s first Dance Showcase, “International Love,” will be held on Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in Golton Hall.  Tickets are $5 pre-sale and $7 at the door.  The community is invited to experience dance styles and musical selections from all over the world.  

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My next college planning workshop at the high school is a new one especially for sophomores, titled “What you Can Do Today to Improve Your Chances of Being Accepted into the College of Your Dreams” today, Tuesday, April 24, and on Friday, April 27, at 11:40 a.m. at Sonoma High. Sign up in the College and Career Center.

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In Kal Chany’s book, “Paying for College Without Going Broke,” he offers 10 tips for trimming the cost of college:

1. Get the best score possible on the ACT or SAT.
2. Be a smart shopper (comparing schools carefully).
3. Don’t immediately rule out a college because you think it’s too expensive.
4. Apply to “financial aid safety schools.”
5. Consider attending a community college for two years.
6. Be realistic about outside scholarships.
7. Earn college credits while still in high school.
8. Explore whether “cooperative education” (co-op) programs are offered at the colleges on your list.
9. Talk to your parents about maximizing your family’s aid eligibility.
10. Learn as much as you can about how the aid process works.

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The Glen Ellen ARThouse Gallery is showing works by Dunbar School students through the end of May and hosting a free family gallery event on Sunday, April 29 from noon to 4 p.m. with viewing, sales, kid snacks, beverages and face painting.

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A recent survey was sent out to the eight superintendents whose schools feed into the Santa Rosa School District for middle school and high school. In the survey, eight districts were asked to identify enrichment subjects offered to students and if the enrichment programs were taught by credentialed teachers. The Kenwood School was first among the eight districts in program offerings (specifically, art, Spanish, music, library, computer technology and PE.)

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Presentation School fourth graders spent most of last week in Coloma, learning about the gold rush; their fifth grade spent the week at Westminster Woods in Occidental, doing outdoor education; and their eighth grade left yesterday for a week in Washington, D.C.

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Jeff Schadt returns with his “Crossing Thin Ice” parenting seminar on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on Arnold Drive. Learn more at crossingthinice.com. The cost is $25 per person.

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One of the winning tickets in the recent, crazy-big Mega Millions jackpot was held by two Maryland public school teachers and a school administrator who have decided to continue to work. According to news outlets, they have chosen to remain anonymous, so their students and peers may never know.