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Extra Credit

Daily education news and conversation

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 »

Grace Swarthout is SRCS student of the month

Tuesday, at 6:12 by

Slater Middle School’s Grace Swarthout is Santa Rosa City Schools middle school student of the month for November. A straight-A student and stellar athlete, Swarthout is a member of Slater’s Solid Gold Students. Teachers describe her work as meticulous and her attitude focused. They say she is thoughtful, creative, interesting and an all around nice person. Although she’s an advanced student, she is an excellent lab partner who will willing to work with her peers and share her knowledge. Slater… 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 »

Claire Pavelka is student of the month

Wednesday, at 6:05 by

Claire Pavelka is Santa Rosa City Schools is middle school student of the month for December. Officials at Slater Middle School where Pavelka is an eighth grader said once scene in a recent basketball game sums up their star student athlete: “During one game, Claire was playing tough defense and hit the floor hard. The game stopped. She got up slowly, while all were watching with concern, jogged back down the court with tears in her eyes but huge grin… Read More »

Loads of live music at Analy’s Fall Fest

Wednesday, at 6:40 by

UPDATE: A keen reader noticed that I listed an incorrect web site for the Analy music boosters. The corrected address is shown below. Thanks, Jim. _____ Looking for some good music to enjoy this weekend? Upcoming is two days of live music from student musicians from Sonoma and Marin counties as part of the annual Fall Festival of Music hosted by Analy High School. For a peek into last year’s event, how it works and what you can expect, click… Read More »

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 »

Slater hosts students from Shanghai

Wednesday, at 5:58 by

Slater Middle School students last week played host to 12 students from Shangnan East Middle School in Shanghai. The students ranged from 11 to 15 years old and were accompanied by two English teachers. The group arrived on Jan. 17 and hit tourist hotspots in southern California including Disneyland, Hollywood, Universal Studios and other spots. Students spent the week shadowing Slater students in class and around campus, according to Slater principal Jason Lea. Locally, the students visited Armstrong Woods, Spring… Read More »

Ivonee Vazquez-Marquez is student of the month

Wednesday, at 7:01 by

Ivonee Vazquez-Marquez is Santa Rosa City Schools Middle School student of the month for January. Vazquez-Marquez is an eighth grader at Slater where she is known as a student with a big smile and open heart. She is described as very responsible and a hard worker by teacher Mike McDonald. She always does her homework and comes in for extra help when she needed. A strong student who takes on any academic challenge, Vazquez-Marquez is described by her teachers as… Read More »

Slater’s season of giving under way

Wednesday, at 6:40 by

Slater Middle School’s season of giving has already begun. Students in the Spartan’s leadership class ran their annual canned food drive from Nov. 1-19 and pulled in more than 2,800 cans. Seventy percent of the student population participated, according to activities director Sandi Martin. That haul for Elisha’s Pantry will feed about 100 families of four for a week, she wrote in an email. This month, Spartans have adopted the Sonoma County Giving Tree program through which students donate money… Read More »