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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 »

Two Carrillo culinary students grab gold

Tuesday, at 6:37 by

Two Maria Carrillo High School students grabbed gold at the SkillsUSA California competition in San Diego earlier this month. Aja Henry earned a gold in the  commercial baking contest and Mason Awe won gold in culinary arts. Henry was tasked with making (from scratch) apple pie, corn bread, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake and sugar cookies. She had four hours to complete the task. Awe’s assignment was creating homemade soup from a whole chicken, preparing a featured entrée, starch and vegetable,… Read More »

Carrillo’s Wei is student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:00 by

Tiffany Wei is Santa Rosa City Schools high school student of the month for April. Wei, a senior at Maria Carrillo High School, is described by her counselor Marie Speaks as a standout student and musician throughout her entire high school career. “Her maturity and excitement for music really stands apart from other students and (she) is always challenging herself and excels in both the academics and arts,” Speaks wrote to district officials on Wei’s behalf. Wei plays both the… 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 »

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 »

Maria Carrillo alum Shao honored for dance program

Wednesday, at 6:25 by

Maria Carrillo High School alum Michelle Shao has been named a 2012 finalist for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The prize honors 25 students each year. The top 10 winners each receive $2,500. Shao, a freshman at Harvard, has earned loads of accolades in Sonoma County both for her academic prowess and her creation of “Chance to Dance,” a program that brings dance instruction to children who would otherwise have trouble affording lessons. To read about Shao, click… Read More »

Reminder: Diller Family Foundation seeking award nominations

Monday, at 6:09 by

REMINDER: Nominations are being accepted for the 2013 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards. The award, given to up to 10 Jewish teens – five from California, five from the rest of the U.S.– is $36,000 and winners can use the money any way they choose. The awards are based on service and community projects and are funded by the Helen Diller Family Foundation. Tikkun Olam translates to “repair the world.” Last year, Maria Carrillo High student Daniel Rosenthal won $36,000… 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 »