A Press Democrat Blog

Extra Credit

Daily education news and conversation

Did you bike to school today?

Wednesday, at 9:58 by

UPDATED: Students at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts participated in Bike To School Day Wednesday, getting an enthusiastic crowd to participate in the annual event. Student organizer Obee Donaghy photos along with Tina Panza, director of Safe Routes to School. According to Panza, the students surveyed students to find out how many kids normally ride or walk to school and then set a goal of getting 248 kids to participate Wednesday. The final count? 252 or 71 percent of the… Read More »

UPDATED: Local programs, educators honored with ‘Jack London Awards’

Thursday, at 2:11 by

UPDATE: Piner-Olivet School District Superintendent Jennie Snyder sent this photo of student and staff of Northwest Prep receiving the award Wednesday night. ____ The Sonoma State School of Education will honor a slew of education programs and teachers for outstanding innovation at a ceremony on campus tonight. The Jack London Award for Educational Innovation will go to the arts integration program at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts; Cook Middle School for the science club program and to Northwest… Read More »

Milla Gentry is student of the month

Thursday, at 12:51 by

Milla Gentry of Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts is Santa Rosa City Schools student of the month for March. Gentry, a fifth grader, is described by her teachers as an enthusiastic student who always goes above and beyond what is asked of her. “As a person, she is easygoing, upbeat, responsive to feedback and helpful. She is extremely kind and empathetic, allowing her to collaborate effortlessly with peers and teachers,” her visual/digital art teacher Kim Jason said in… Read More »

Santa Rosa arts charter hosting tours in December

Wednesday, at 9:52 by

Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts will be hosting campus tours for prospective students and their families in the month of December. The campus at 756 Humboldt St. currently has 340 students in grades K-8. Two kindergarten classes are expected to be offered in 2013-14. For more information, call the school at 522-3170. For a recent story on the school’s expansion plans, click here http://bit.ly/Tr5heH

ArtQuest, Arts Charter converge to make painting projects

Wednesday, at 1:02 by

                                    More than 90 Santa Rosa High School ArtQuest visual fine arts students spent Monday on the campus at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts for a collaborative mural-making and painting session. Guest artist Hiep Nguyen worked with both high school students and Arts Charter students on the project which began with prep work Sunday, according to Arts Charter Principal Elizabeth Evans.… Read More »

Katie Pondolfino is student of the month

Wednesday, at 12:51 by

Katie Pondolfino is Santa Rosa City Schools student of the month for April. Pondolfino is described as an outstanding students, artist and person by the staff and teachers at Santa Rosa Charter School of the Arts. “When it comes to well-rounded students, Katie is the entire package,” said Mark Cohen, Pondolfino’s math and history teacher. “She is a talented musician, a hardworking and inquisitive student, a kind friend and a loving daughter and sister. She manages to be all of… Read More »

New hires in Santa Rosa City Schools

Wednesday, at 12:16 by

 There are some administrative lineup changes in Santa Rosa City Schools for the fall. Gail Eagan is moving from Cotati-Rohnert Park to fill the assistant superintendent of K-6 curriculum post made vacant by Greg Espinoza’s retirement after 35 years with the district. Eagen held a similar post with Cotati-Rohnert Park. Aracely Romo-Flores moves from Jefferson School in Cloverdale to take over the principal post at Biella Elementary School. Biella’s current principal, Winnie Hogoboom, spent 38 years in the district. Laura… Read More »

Skyler Penny is student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:02 by

Skyler Penny, a sixth grader at  Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, is Santa Rosa City Schools student of the month. “He’s patient, observant, caring and has a great sense of humor, humble, considerate, inclusive, generous, conscientious, persevering and sensitive,” said Penny’s third grade teacher Bonnie Raines. “This kid so deserves this reward and many others.” Kimberly Jason, the campus art teacher, says Penny is an antique collector, a dog lover, a ukulele and banjo musician, artist and academic.… Read More »

Scene pulled from school play about bullying

Friday, at 4:44 by

Third through eighth grade students at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts are putting on a play about bullying for the school and wider community this week and next, but the show is not without controversy. One segment of the many vignettes in the production that students have been developing since November dealt with a portrayal of a student who was being bullied for being gay. The piece used the word “faggot.” “The story is about a child being… Read More »