Education Roundup: Prom ideas, graduation date and more

Back to school: Sonoma Valley’s middle and high school campuses are planning to have only the students who are already attending in-person classes move from two days per week to four days per week for in-person instruction next month. Students who had not yet chosen to return will need to meet the state's definition of "academically at-risk” in order to return, according to the April 25 SVHS school bulletin. The district is aiming for May 3 as a launch date. Wednesdays will remain asynchronous (remote).

Prom: Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa held a pandemic-safe prom on Friday night, April 23. After temperature checks, around 140 mask-wearing students, most of them seniors, watched a senior tribute photo slideshow and ate a socially distanced dinner at picnic tables. SVHS is exploring its prom options. Read more at sonomanews.com.

SVHS commencement: Sonoma Valley High has set the date of graduation for the class of 2021 for June 4. Additional details will be released in the days ahead.

Class of 2021 videos: A series of videos produced to honor the Sonoma Valley High School senior class can be viewed online at youtube.com/watch?v=5JwcILnpH14.

College acceptances: May 1 is College Acceptance Day and Sonoma Valley High School’s College & Career Center is collecting and taking photos of seniors in their college gear. See a virtual map of where seniors have been accepted at padlet.com/lconner22/d8ss50ca33uofkvx.

Vaccine required: Stanford University has joined Cal State (CSUs) and the UC schools and others in requiring all students to be fully vaccinated to attend classes in the upcoming fall quarter.

Delicious fundraiser: Sonoma Foundation for Agriculture is hosting a Drive-Thru Tri-Tip Dinner 2021 to support Sonoma Valley High School FFA from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 7 at 1750 Denmark St. A $50 ticket will feed a family of four with Bloody Mary Tri-Tip, salad, beans and bread. Order at facebook.com/SonomaFFA.

Get out the vote: CDE encourages schools to participate in High School Voter Education Week, April 19–30. Visit the California Secretary of State's High School and Youth Initiatives page for more information. sos.ca.gov/elections/high-school-programs. More ideas and resources are online at cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr21ltr0330.asp.

Sports: Many SVHS sports games are currently being streamed locally on Comcast Channel 27 or at sonomatv.org. Check out the calendar at sonomatv.org to see what and when.

Spring workshop: Sonoma Valley Regional Park is offering a Nature Investigators program from 1:30 to 5 p.m. starting on May 5. Kids ages 7-11 are invited to join a three-week science, literacy and art program designed to connect them to a local park. Practice being a scientist and discover the world around you. Each session will focus on a central theme. Learn through hands-on nature exploration, observation, measurement, journal exercises, craft projects and team-building games. Kids may participate in more than one session at the same location since themes change each month. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Play/Calendar/Nature-Investigators-at-Sonoma-Valley-Begins-2021-05-05.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.