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Extra Credit

Daily education news and conversation

Waugh celebrating gift of technology

Friday, at 6:25 by

Waugh School District is thanking supporters for $50,000 infusion to pay for technology improvements at Meadow and Corona Creek elementary schools. The Petaluma Educational Foundation gave Major Impact grants of $12,500 for each school and those amounts were matched by the Waugh Investments in Student Excellence Foundation so both schools got $25,000 each. With the money, the campuses are being equipped with interactive projectors, document cameras and iPads, said Superintendent Bob Cmelak. One of the pieces of equipment allows a… Read More »

Petaluma pressing on with transitional kindergarten

Thursday, at 11:45 by

Registration for Petaluma City Schools’ kindergarten and new Kinder-Prep program is under way. Like Santa Rosa City Schools, Petaluma is pressing forward with the transitional kindergarten program that was signed into law in 2010 despite uncertainty over state financial support of the new program. So-called young fives who enroll in the Kinder-Prep program will spend one year in that class before moving on to a full year of traditional kindergarten the following year. The district will offer two Kinder-Prep classes… Read More »

New name for SR’s online high school? Not yet

Wednesday, at 10:04 by

Avid ExtraCredit readers might be wondering what the Santa Rosa School Board ended up naming their new online high school which is slated to open in the fall. The board, working with some real gems that came in as a result of a survey asking interested folks to weigh in on potential names, chose to ponder the following three for another two weeks: Santa Rosa Digital Bridge High School Santa Rosa Online High School Santa Rosa Virtual Technology High School… Read More »

‘High School of Eucational fun’

Wednesday, at 6:36 by

In anticipation of opening this fall, the Santa Rosa School Board is poised to bestow a name on its nascent online high school. In a nod to the school’s potential clientele, the district sponsored an online survey to collect potential names in advance of tonight’s regular boarding during which a vote is expected. A total of 58 suggestions are included in the board packet. Some highlights (this is a completely biased list): Crimson Shadows Vincent Carter Vitual (sic) High School… Read More »

UPDATED: Austin Creek collects food for The Salvation Army

Tuesday, at 2:12 by

UPDATE: The photos are in. Check them out. _____ Austin Creek Elementary School teacher Margaret Horn informs me that the student council students on that Rincon Valley campus pulled in more than 2,700 pounds of canned food just before the winter break. The food, in addition to collected diapers, wipe and baby supplies, were given to The Salvation Army. Melissa Harryman’s fourth grade class collected the most food, with 326 items brought in. Student Brennan Stammer was the top contributor… Read More »

Gravenstein holding K-8 open house, registration

Tuesday, at 6:11 by

Gravenstein School District will hold a registration and open house from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. New and interested families in kindergarten and all grades are welcome, according to district officials. Students can meet teachers and view classrooms at both Gravenstein Elementary School and Hillcrest Middle School beginning at 10 a.m. A presentation on programs will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Gravenstein Elementary is located at 3840 Twig Ave. in Sebastopol and Hillcrest Middle is… Read More »

Montgomery holding final in series of IB open houses

Monday, at 6:59 by

Montgomery High School will hold the last of a series of three open houses for its International Baccalaureate program on Jan. 26. The “Introduction to IB” presentations are geared toward students and families of eighth through 10th graders. The program will include an overview of the IB Diploma program for juniors and seniors; an overview of Montgomery’s pre-IB program for ninth and 10th graders; testimonials from IB students, an opportunity to meet IB teachers and a question and answer period. The… Read More »

UPDATED: Local high school musicians honored

Wednesday, at 4:37 by

UPDATE: An alert reader notes that I did not include two names on the all-state band lineup. My apologies. The names have been added to the list below. ___ Nine Sonoma County high school musicians have been named all-state honor band members by the California Band Directors Association. If you see these folks around, give them a high five: Ryan Anderson, Maria Carrillo High, French horn Kipp Brewer, Montgomery High, trumpet Tristan Collinsworth, Santa Rosa High, bassoon Hannah Dyslin, Maria Carrillo… Read More »

ArtQuest open house is Thursday

Tuesday, at 7:17 by

Santa Rosa High School will host an open house for its ArtQuest program from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. The ArtQuest application process will be discussed and a panel of ArtQuest teachers will be on hand to answer student and parent questions. ArtQuest applications are available in the school’s front office or by downloading one at www.artquestonline.org. Priority deadline is Feb. 3. ArtQuest is in its 18th year and is a magnet program for visual and performing arts offering… Read More »

Petaluma High School to hold open house

Tuesday, at 7:16 by

Petaluma High School is hosting an information night for prospective students and their families from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The showcase will feature information on the school’s pathways programs, electives, Advanced Placement and honors classes, the band, athletics and clubs. Faculty members will make presentations and show displays. The program is designed for local sixth through eighth graders, according to the school. Students and parents can take tours as part of the program. The showcase will be… Read More »