Education Roundup: Free preschool, live events for SVHS seniors and more

SRJC news: Santa Rosa Junior College has recently broken ground on a new Olympic-sized 52-meter swimming pool. The project is set to open in fall 2023.

Preschool/K news: All 4-year-olds in California could attend public school for free under a new proposal from Gov. Gavin Newsom, part of a new education spending package made possible by the state's budget surplus. The surplus means California has $93.7 billion to spend on public education this year, $36 billion more than last year. Part of that money will be spent expanding the state’s transitional kindergarten program to all 4-year-olds by the 2024-25 school year.

Nominations: The Sonoma County Office of Education honors a different county educator each month as Teacher of the Month. Learn more and nominate a local teacher at sonomacountyteacher.com.

Summer program: Teens who are interested in making a difference in their community while earning 55 hours of volunteer credit for college should check out HandsOn Tomorrow, a summer service-learning and leadership program based out of San Francisco. The 2021 virtual experience will take place over the course of five weeks from June 28 to July 31. Youth Leaders will connect over Zoom for facilitated discussions with guest speakers from local nonprofits and also have the option to meet one day a week at participating nonprofits for in-person volunteering. Learn more at handsontomorrow.org.

Fun for seniors: The details haven’t been released yet, but Sonoma Valley High School is planning an in-person event to celebrate its seniors from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 26. Grad Night 2021 will be a drive-through event from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1. There will be a car raffle, as per tradition, thanks to a donation from Silveira Chevrolet and Sonoma Rotary. SVHS Commencement is 6 pm on June 4. More details on that to follow as well.

Vaccines: Sonoma County has begun vaccinating youth ages 12 and older with the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments are available at myturn.ca.gov/en_US. County health personnel are collaborating with the Sonoma County Education Office and Safeway Pharmacy to open clinics in schools that will begin administering vaccines to youth between ages 12 and 15. Local pharmacies have also begun vaccinating young people aged 12 and older. The next local school clinic in Sonoma Valley is Wednesday, May 26 at Sonoma Valley High School from 3 to 7 pm. Visit sonomavalleyhospital.org/svhp for more information.

Summer reading: The Sonoma Valley Friends of the Public Library book sale resumes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 23 in the library parking lot. Lots of kid titles as well as fiction, nonfiction and more. Cash only. 755 W. Napa St.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.