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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 »

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 »

Diller Teen award taking nominations

Thursday, at 4:02 by

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 for… Read More »

UPDATED: Santa Rosa City Schools’ senior scholarship totals

Wednesday, at 9:30 by

UPDATE: The Santa Rosa School Board included the annual scholarship totals on Wednesday night’s regular agenda three weeks after it originally appeared after Trustee Bill Carle asked for the item to come back for discussion. (A correction to Piner’s totals, made by district staff, has been changed below.) Carle raised concern that the numbers are out of whack. “Santa Rosa is off the charts up,” he said. “What are we doing at Santa Rosa to get $2 million dollars of education… 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 »