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Daily education news and conversation

SRCS trustees assigned graduation posts

Wednesday, at 6:50 by

Ceremony assignments are set to be formalized tonight for the string of Santa Rosa City Schools graduation festivities. For those interested, here is the lineup of which trustees will preside over which events. All graduations are on May 31 except for Mesa which is on May 30: Elsie Allen and Midrose, 5 p.m.: Laura Gonzalez. Maria Carrillo, 6:30 p.m.: Frank Pugh Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.: Ron Kristof Piner and Grace: 6 p.m.: Larry Haenel Santa Rosa, 6:30 p.m.: Donna Jeye Mesa, 5:30… Read More »

Joint choral performance by SR City Schools a hit

Wednesday, at 10:31 by

The choral programs from all five Santa Rosa City Schools high schools came together on one stage last Friday for the annual William Barclay Memorial Scholarship Concert. Typically held at Santa Rosa High, this concert was staged at Sonoma State University’s Weill Hall. Superintendent Socorro Shiels on Wednesday night lauded the event. “Showcasing the students and their amazing talents – things like that are really amazing,” she said. More than 200 students performed in the two-hour performance. Jenny Brent, Sonoma State’s director… Read More »

Montgomery’s Petersen wins top Poetry Out Loud prize

Friday, at 1:56 by

  Nelly Gudino Kennedy Petersen   Kennedy Petersen of Montgomery High School was the top vote getter in the Sonoma County Poetry Out Loud contest held this week. With the win, Petersen heads to the state competition in Sacramento Marcy 24-25. If she prevails there, Washington, D.C. is next April 28-30. Petersen recited “Monet Refuses the Operation” by Liesel Mueller and “An Autumn Sunset” by Edith Wharton. Roseland University Prep senior Nelly Gudino came in second and Paola Cruz Hernandez, a senior… Read More »

Elsie’s Garcia, Vargas are co-students of the month

Wednesday, at 6:02 by

Elsie Allen High School’s Cristina Garcia and Alexis Vargas are both Santa Rosa City Schools students of the month for February. Garcia, a junior, and Vargas, a senior, are both cheerleaders for the Lobos. Garcia is described as an amazing personality who is a loving friend and daughter. Vargas is called full of energy and described as a caring person by her classmates. The girls, who are cousins, were injured in a devastating auto accident in December in which Garcia’s… Read More »

SchoolsPlus ups its annual contribution to Santa Rosa schools

Thursday, at 10:34 by

SchoolsPlus is at it again. The nonprofit that has been supporting athletics and arts in all Santa Rosa City Schools middle and high schools for more than two decades has upped their annual contribution to each campus, according to the group’s leaders. This year, all five comprehensive high schools will get $20,000 (up from $12,500 last year) and middle schools as well as Ridgway High will receive $10,000 (up from $6,250 last year). The money is to be split evenly… Read More »

Top of the tops Poetry Out Loud contest Feb. 10

Monday, at 6:31 by

Twelve Sonoma County high schools will be sending students to the countywide Poetry Out Loud competition Feb. 10. In the program, students memorize then recite poems. The pieces are not written by the students, but are typically considered greats in the English language. The participating schools include: Analy, Cloverdale, Creekside, El Molino, Elsie Allen, Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Piner, Rancho Cotate, Roseland University Prep, Santa Rosa and Sonoma Academy. Santa Rosa High held their qualifying event Thursday night. I acted as… Read More »

UPDATED: Santa Rosa School Board campus, committee assignments

Monday, at 11:34 by

UPDATE: A small change to the committee assignments below. Trustee Laura Gonzalez will not serve on the finance committee as previously noted. The change has been made below. ________ The Santa Rosa City School Board has made its new committee and campus liaison assignments. Board President Bill Carle requested board member preferences and past assignments before the following assignments were created, according to the district. Here is a list of who’s what and who’s where: Laura Gonzalez: Elsie Allen and… 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 »

SRCS sports report: Money spent and participation disparities

Tuesday, at 12:59 by

The annual sports report is out. Santa Rosa City Schools has released its competitive athletic unaudited fiscal analysis for 2011-12. The report details what the district’s general fund pays to support athletic programs at middle and high schools and separates funds that are received and expended via student body accounts or donations. That number grew by $42,185 last year from a total of $566,535 in 2010-11. The total general fund contribution to high school athletics was $811,549 and $227,763 for… Read More »

Elsie Allen hosts info night on University Center program

Tuesday, at 6:20 by

Elsie Allen High School will host a parent and student information night for its award-winning University Center program on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The event is geared toward students and families of prospective 8th graders and will feature teachers and current students talking about the program. Parents and students will be given a chance to ask questions. The program was awarded the California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award and is a partnership with Sonoma State University in which successful students… Read More »