Comics, chess and much more

Last week McKinley Elementary School sixth graders completed their Math Menu Projects. Students chose from a complex menu that covered multiple topics.|

Last week McKinley Elementary School sixth graders completed their Math Menu Projects. Students chose from a complex menu that covered multiple topics. Choices were assigned points based on the levels of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and had different weights and expectations for completion time and effort. A point criterion was set that equaled 100 percent. Students competed at least one activity from each objective to reach their goal. It was exciting to see these mathematicians sharing their scale models, games, mysteries, posters and brochures with their classmates and teacher.

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LumaCON 2015, Petaluma’s first youth comic convention, takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Herzog Hall on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. This program is a collaboration of the Casa Grande and Petaluma high school libraries, along with the Petaluma Regional Library. Suggested donation at the door is $15 for adults, $10 for families, and $5 for youths. Visit lumacon.weebly.com for more details on the event that will offer special guests, an Artist’s Alley, art activities, vendors and more.

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The first Napa All Scholastic Chess Tournament featured two students from Petaluma schools, Liam Vorhaus from Grant School (first grade) and Morgan Stump from Cherry Valley (second grade). A total of 48 players from three counties and 18 schools participated in the event which was a great success. Kudos to our local winners.

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The Harvest Christian Junior High boys basketball team won its round one playoff game against Rincon Valley Charter School by a score of 58-38. The No. 1-seeded HCS Lions had a balanced offensive attack with four players scoring in double digits. RVCS fought back, but was ultimately out gunned by Harvest’s fast-paced scoring ability.

On the Thursday before Christmas break, Harvest Christian School celebrated by performing various Christmas carols while the junior high drama students presented “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

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The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum hosted an artist’s reception last Sunday as part of the venue’s second annual Children’s Art Show. The event included a performance by the Petaluma Children’s Chorus directed by Sadie Sonntag. The show opened Jan. 8 and runs through Jan. 25. Be sure to stop in soon and see the amazing artwork on display by local students.

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Casa Grande High School 2015 Project Grad is hosting a public fundraiser to support the annual event for graduating seniors. The evening event (5:30 to 8:30) will take place at Lagunitas Brewing Company on Feb. 16. For tickets ($25 for adults, $10 for children under 12 years old), donation opportunities and more details about the event, visit eventbright.com and search for the Casa Grande 2015 High School Project Graduation event listing. Ticket price includes dinner by Cucina Paradiso and live music by the Renovators.

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McKinley Elementary School is launching a new Petaluma Accelerated Charter School next year serving seventh-grade students in 2015-16 and seventh and eight-grade students in 2016-17. Students will receive integrated curriculum in English language arts and social studies, and integrated curriculum in math and science. Students will learn Spanish through content, receive music and physical education instruction, and will have the option to take STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) electives. Students will be placed into their class based on a placement exam.

Registration packets for the new program are available in the McKinley school office. The first of two informational meetings took place last night with a second one being held on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. in the McKinley campus multi-purpose room. Registration deadline is Feb. 20. Testing dates will be announced after that date. If there is space remaining after the close of the application period, students will be accepted on a rolling basis until the classes are filled.

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Petaluma City Schools District’s transitional kindergarten registration is now open. Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program designed to give five year olds a bridge between preschool and kindergarten. New next school year, Grant School will be offering this program. McKinley School will continue to offer two classes of transitional kindergarten on their campus in the coming year.

(Maureen Highland is a Petaluma mother and executive director for the Petaluma Educational Foundation. She can be reached at schools@arguscourier.com)

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