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Extra Credit

Daily education news and conversation

More than one way to volunteer in schools. Read on…

Tuesday, at 9:55 by

A story outlining a push to dramatically expand the Schools of Hope volunteer program in Sonoma County schools ran in today’s paper (read it here http://bit.ly/OBmgYH). The partnership of United Way of the Wine Country and the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County are hoping to recruit 500 new volunteers to the Schools of Hope program which asks for an hour commitment each week (30 minutes with a student and 30 minutes to account for travel, preparation time). But Schools of… Read More »

Schools of Hope growing rapidly, still looking to expand for ’12-13

Friday, at 6:32 by

At the Santa Rosa School Board meeting Wednesday night, officials recognized the rapidly expanding Schools of Hope program backed by the local United Way and Volunteer Center of Sonoma County. I featured the program 18 months ago (read that here: http://bit.ly/IWnlw0 ) but in the ensuing year and a half it has more than doubled in the number of volunteers spending at least an hour a week in area schools working with a particular student and in the number of… Read More »

Cursive: Are teachers still teaching it?

Monday, at 10:29 by

Is cursive being taught in Sonoma County schools anymore? When do kids learn cursive and what purpose does it serve? Have some schools/districts abandoned the practice? I’m thinking about doing a story on cursive curriculum in Sonoma County. Please contact me with your thoughts and insights on the subject. I can be reached at kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com or 526-8671.

Free whooping cough clinic Saturday

Friday, at 8:12 by

 The Sonoma County Department of Public Health will hold two free whooping cough vaccination clinics for middle and high school students beginning Saturday. Seventh through 12th graders are required to show proof of a pertussis, or whooping cough, vaccination within the first 30 days of the school year or be barred from attending class and school activities, according to a new law that went into affect July 1. Students can opt out of the vaccination but parents must sign a specific… Read More »

Bolman: 180 school days not good enough

Thursday, at 11:55 by

Petaluma City Schools is adding three days back to its 2011-12 school calendar after the recently-adopted state budget was less horrible than expected. In the midst of the state budget crisis, lawmakers have temporarily lifted requirements that the school year be a minimum of 180 days.  For the last few years, with the specter of penalty lifted, school districts across Sonoma County and California (Petaluma included) have cut days from their school year in order to save money. But officials… Read More »

Final numbers from walk, roll to school day

Tuesday, at 2:49 by

Final tallies for International Walk and Roll to School Day in Sonoma County are in. Seventy-three schools participated in the Oct. 6 event, up from 50 last year. More than 10,600 students walked and biked to school on the day, according to Beth Dadko, health information specialist with the county’s Department of Health Services. About 6,000 kids walked and rolled last year. Check out past blog posts for submitted photos from a handful of area schools that participated.

Feel like slammin’? Teen poets wanted

Wednesday, at 7:00 by

Sonoma County teens are invited to try their hands at a slam this weekend. A teen poetry slam will be held Saturday as part of the Sonoma County Book Festival in Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. Participants will perform original poetry in three minutes or less. Audience members will choose who advances. “One of the things that takes the poet over the top is the performance itself,” said Juanita Martin, the event organizer. “You are not up there reading.… Read More »

O’Connell responds to Obama speech

Tuesday, at 11:31 by

I’m spending Monday watching President Obama’s speech with some Sonoma County students. A story will appear in Wednesday’s Press Democrat. Meantime, here is state superintendentJack O’Connell’s response to this morning’s speech: “I would like to commend and thank President Obama for taking the time to address our nation’s students. These are trying times for America as millions of people continue to cope with the effects of the global economic downturn. Unfortunately, our students and educators are not immune to this… Read More »

Teachers: Want to teach financial literacy?

Monday, at 7:00 by

Redwood Credit Union and the California and Nevada Youth Involvement Network are sponsoring a free workshop to train area teachers on offering financial literacy in their classrooms.   The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Redwood Credit Union, 3033 Cleveland Ave. in Santa Rosa.   The so-called “Train the Trainer” program is for teachers who currently use or would like to use the National Endowment for Financial Education’s High School Financial Planning Program.… Read More »