Lorna Sheridan: Education Roundup, Jan. 1

News, tips and resources for Sonoma Valley parents, students and teachers.|

GATE parent night: Sonoma Valley Unified School District is hosting a parent night for advanced learners (GATE) in second through fifth grades at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, at Altimira Middle School. Future workshops will be held on March 14 and May 2. Translation and childcare will be provided. 17805 Arnold Drive.

Magic show: The Sonoma Valley Library presents magician Mike Della Penna at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2, for children ages 4 and up. Penna's magic show is comedy-based and inspired by shorter days, colder nights and annual celebrations of light. 755 W. Napa St.

CPR training for teens: There will be an American Heart Association CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training and certification class for teens from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the library at Sonoma Valley High School. To learn more, search on Event Brite. The class is being organized by Carrie Brophy and Ingrid Barry.

Girls Group: The Girls Group is returning to Teen Services Sonoma. Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Sonoma Valley, the program provides a great opportunity for middle school girls to hang out together. Stay tuned for more news about this in 2019, says Teen Services. For questions, contact Norma at norma@teenservicessonoma.org or call 939-1452.

Ecology Center recap: During the 2017-18 school year, the Sonoma Ecology Center's education team trained 20 new teen EnviroLeaders, taught hands-on watershed science to more than 1,100 students from 14 schools, guided 135 participants (including 14 scholarship recipients) through six Summer Science Camps, and piloted its fire-ecology-focused Climate Champions program – all right here in Sonoma Valley. Sonomaecologycenter.org.

Sex ed: California is in the final phase of updating its comprehensive health education curriculum framework and is actively gathering public comment on the current draft of the 2019 Health Education Framework. If this is a topic you are passionate about, visitcde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr18/yr18rel85.asp to submit comments and questions.

Career day: Expanding Your Horizons Sonoma County is a great opportunity for middle school girls interested in STEM. The one-day program fills up quickly every year. More information and registration for the April 6 event in Santa Rosa is at eyh-soco.org.

ELL opportunity: There is a free English Learner Parent Leadership Institute on Friday, Feb. 8, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) 5340 Skylane Blvd., Santa Rosa. Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 1. Presentations in Spanish, breakfast and lunch are included. Unfortunately, no childcare. Topics to be covered include education as a weapon to change the world; updates, reclassification and information for parents of English learners; and helping families navigate their digital lives. Register at bit.ly/ELPARENT19.

Justin admissions: Justin-Siena's final Brave for a Day events for current eighth graders are Friday, Jan. 18 and Thursday, Jan. 24. The high school is sponsoring a Parent Tour & Talk on the same days. Regular Decision applications are due on Thursday, Jan. 31. justin-siena.org.

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