Email  Print

Veterans Day, SRJC, Justin, ADHD, prodigies, student reporters

Education Roundup

A special military museum is coming to Sonoma for Veterans Day. It includes an 80-percent model of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, the Gold Tag Wall (gold-plated dog tags of all soldiers killed in Iraq/Afghanistan), a piece of the Twin Towers, an exhibit on MIAs and POWs and more. From Nov. 7 to 11, the Veterans of Foreign Wars will open the exhibit to the public and school tours are available on Thursday, Nov. 8. See vfwpost1943.org for more information.

• • •

Student reporter applications are still being accepted by Sonoma Valley High School senior Jamie Ballard who will be overseeing the program for The Sonoma Index-Tribune. Students should live in Sonoma Valley but can be attending any area middle or high school. Interested students should email Ballard right away at mysticalmin@gmail.com.

• • •

Justin-Siena in Napa has informed school parents that the school’s deal with Lowe’s, announced last year, is off. The plan had been for Lowe’s to lease a large portion of unused land owned by Justin, and for the proceeds to fund some new buildings on campus. The letter was vague on the details surrounding the change in plans. The school has just completed their strategic planning process, however, and has some exciting plans in the works surrounding an increased focus a STEM curriculum.

• • •

Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market have just joined eScrip, meaning that you can pick up a free loyalty card (like the red Safeway ones) at either store and go to eScrip.com to register which school or nonprofit you want to receive your automatic donation of up to 5 percent of your purchases every time you shop and show this new “Community Card.”

• • •

The next Barn Sale benefiting Sonoma’s public schools will be on from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Field of Greens on West Watmaugh Road. Donations of furniture and household items are always appreciated. Contact Holly Bennett at 484-4747.

• • •

CNN’s Donna Krache recently reported on the five buzz words that you are likely to hear this year when the conversation turns to education, most of which I have written about repeatedly in these pages. The buzz words are: 1. “Common core state standards” refers to the new national curriculum that will help states compare apples to apples in student performance. 2. “Flipped classes” are a trend toward homework during class time and lectures/instruction taking place at home via the Internet. 3.“Gamification” refers to imbuing gaming with education content. 4. “MOOC” refers to massive open online courses, like Coursera and the free MIT classes now available online. 5. “School choice” is not a new concept but is being expanded to online schools and blended learning environments that are a combination of traditional and online instruction.

• • •

The number of freshman applying to college is expected to be lower this spring than a year ago. Some reasons I have heard cited are: a declining population of 18-year-olds; less federal financial assistance; colleges pricing themselves out of the market; and debate about the rate of return on a college degree.

• • •

College tuition for in-state students at public colleges increased on average by 4.8 percent last year, compared with 8.4 percent the year prior. While it still seems like a lot, that is the lowest increase in the past 10 years, according to the College Board.

• • •

A huge Swedish study of more than 1 million patients has found that people in creative professions are more likely to be treated for mental illness than the general population. They also found a close correlation between writing and schizophrenia. The Karolinska Institute found that artists and scientists were more common amongst families where bipolar disorder and schizophrenia is present, compared to the population at large, according to a report in Science Daily.

• • •

A study published in the current issue of the Journal of Pediatrics shows for the first time that kids with ADHD can perform better in school after a single bout of exercise. The lead researcher, Matthew Pontifex, is encouraged that exercise could be an important new non-drug tool in treating ADHD, and he feels strongly the findings support the need for more physical activity for all students during the school day. In the past, researchers have found that children with ADHD are less likely to be physically active or to play sports, and combined with reduced recess time at schools nationwide, these findings are important (though do they seem obvious to anyone else?).

• • •

There is a new YouTube show called “Prodigies.” The first web-isode was about a 9-year-old student at American River College in Sacramento. It celebrates his brilliance but the show turns a bit sad when it exposes his lack of friends. A new seven-minute episode featuring a different child is released every other week.

• • •

Are any schools using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum? I’ve heard good things about how it starts kids with tiny pencils, that are easier for little hands to hold, and uses a variety of media, including chalk, whiteboards and iPads for practice. Check it out at hwtears.com. If your child’s classroom is trying out something interesting, please send me an email at ourschools@sonomanews.com and let me know.

• • •

Woodland Star is offering school tours on Tuesday, Oct. 30, and Wednesday, Nov. 14. Parents will get an overview of the curriculum, school community and program, and a tour of classrooms. The event runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and provides an opportunity to view a Waldorf-inspired curriculum in action. RSVP the school office at 996-3849.

• • •

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) received a $5 million anonymous donation that they are using to inspire students to consider careers in education. They are offering scholarships to students interested in becoming teachers or working as counselors, librarians, psychologists or administrators. This Teaching Fellows program will match 12 students with 12 teachers, who will serve as mentors. The merit-based award will be $3,500 a year. The application deadline for the spring semester program is Thursday, Nov. 8. Fellows will learn about best practices in teaching methodology in educational settings, working with diverse populations, and educating students in a changing world. Students must have a 3.0 GPA, have completed 24 units of college by this semester, and plan to enroll in a minimum of 12 units at SRJC for the spring semester. Contact Joel Gordon at 527-4315 or jgordon@santarosa.edu.

• • •

Greg Sarris is speaking at SRJC on Wednesday, Nov. 7, as part of the college’s observance of Native American Heritage month. A native of Santa Rosa, Sarris received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and has taught at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University. He now holds the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Endowed Chair in Native American Studies at Sonoma State. The free lecture will take place in the Bertolini Student Activities Center from 2 to 3 p.m. at 1501 Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa.

• • •

SRJC is having a Career Night in its dining commons from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14. High school students can learn more about careers in law, medicine, psychology, counseling, teaching and more.