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Extra Credit

Daily education news and conversation

Biella’s Rosales is student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:00 by

Cindy Rosales of Biella Elementary School is Santa Rosa City Schools student of the month for February. Rosales is described as a stellar student with a patient streak that allows her to work well with others. She was called “creative, intelligent” and a problem solver who soaks up information. Rosales’s fourth grade teacher Susan Fries recalled being struck by her when she was just a first grader. “My experiences with Cindy date back to when she was a first grader… Read More »

Which school has the best attendance rate? The worst? (And why it matters)

Wednesday, at 6:07 by

Santa Rosa City Schools has released its annual attendance rates for 2011-12, tallied by school. Here is are the average rates of absenteeism (ranked highest to lowest) on each campus: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Brook Hill, 5 percent Steele Lane, 4.94 percent Doyle Park, 4.71 percent Monroe, 4.57 percent Lincoln, 4.24 percent Biella, 3.91 percent Burbank, 3.46 percent Hidden Valley Satellite, 3.37 percent Helen Lehman, 3.31 percent Hidden Valley, 3.28 percent Proctor Terrace, 3.17 percent   MIDDLE SCHOOL Cook Middle School, 6.79… Read More »

Biella’s Jasmin Dao student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:00 by

Biella Elementary School’s Jasmin Dao is Santa Rosa City Schools elementary school student of the month for March. Dao is described as a model student – the one teachers are likely to point a substitute to for any information on the daily routine. She is on the staff of  Biella’s student newspaper, The Biella Bits and has been playing violin with Biella’s music teacher Rachel Daniel since the fourth grade. She is hard working, dependable and well liked by her… Read More »

Biella’s Dia de los Muertos display

Tuesday, at 9:38 by

Day of the Dead at Biella Elementary Biella Elementary School in Santa Rosa wins the prize for first submission of Halloween photos. This is the school’s annual Day of the Dead – Dia de los Muertos altar. Honored here are longtime Santa Rosa City Schools employee Eugene Mijares as well as Pancho Villa. Thanks to Michaele Morales for sending it in.

UPDATED: Nearly 1,000 years of experience retiring

Tuesday, at 6:54 by

UPDATE:  At the Santa Rosa City School Board meeting Wednesday night, the board honored retiring teachers and staff. The list of those retiring was updated from a previously published list. Here is the updated version: ____ When the school year ends later this month, Santa Rosa City Schools will say goodbye to more than just the class of 2011. It will bid adieu to 50 staffers who have contributed nearly 1,150 years to the district (for you math majors, I did some… Read More »

Biella’s Daly is student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:08 by

Allison Daly saved Halloween. When the Biella Elementary School sixth grader found out last fall that the Biella staff had planned to not hold the annual Halloween parade because Oct. 31 fell on a Sunday, Daly wrote what was described by school officials as “a well-worded, persuasive letter which staff members read before voting.” Staff voted overwhelmingly to hold the parade in the end. Daly was honored by Santa Rosa City Schools as elementary student of the month for April.… Read More »

Biella celebrates with Dia de los Muertos

Tuesday, at 6:32 by

Check out the Dia de los Muertos altar that Biella Elementary hosted for long time Santa Rosa City Schools employee Eugene Mijares who died in September 2009. The altar was erected by longtime Santa Rosa City Schools employee Michaele Morales who was Mijares’s good friend. Morales said the altar did not contain religious symbols, just cultural items and credited Principal Winnie Hogoboom for getting behind the project. At least one student approached her for tips on how to create an… Read More »

Rosales is elementary student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:08 by

Marco Rosales, a sixth grader at Biella Elementary, is Santa Rosa City Schools student of the month. Teachers at Biella praise his enthusiasm and ability to organize recess games with the assurance that rules are being followed. His third grade teacher remembered Rosales as an excellent math student and his current year teacher said he is friendly with all students and recently reached out to a new student in class. Rosales said his favorite book is “Old Yeller,” and he… Read More »