New junior high accelerates learning

Petaluma City Schools launched a new junior high option for students on the McKinley Elementary School campus this school year. The Petaluma Accelerated Charter includes Matthew Harris as principal and Mike Taylor in the role of principal intern. According to Harris, “Petaluma Accelerated Charter was created with your student in mind. We believe students thrive when placed in an environment which asks them to push themselves academically. Students at Petaluma Accelerated Charter School will experience middle school differently. With a small-school feel, small class sizes, and personalized instruction, each student will be equipped with the tools he or she needs to succeed.”

PACS elective courses include robotics, coding, Shakespearean drama, critical media studies, green screencasting, podcasting, and renewable energy. Hands-on topical learning is what Taylor is offering students, and he is amazed at the excitement behind the first iteration of classes. Harris will be overseeing both McKinley Elementary and McDowell Elementary in his role as principal. McDowell’s principal intern is Dan Noble.

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Harvest Christian School is very pleased to announce new staff on campus.

Harvest welcomes back Mrs. Chelsea Villa into the first-grade classroom. Mrs. Villa will be taking over for Mrs. See, who is moving into a full administrative capacity at HCS. Mrs. Rachel Conrrique comes to the second grade from Adobe Christian Pre-School where she was, for a number of years, a teacher and coordinator of its program. The school is also excited to announce that Mrs. Lisa Slight will be teaching third grade. Previously, Mrs. Slight served the school as a first-grade teacher.

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Can you hear it? The campus is alive with the sound of music at the Sonoma Mountain Elementary School these days. Music teacher Cody Martin is sharing his love of music with students from kindergarten on up through instruction on guitars to keyboards and everything in between, cultivating a love for music at all ages. “As part of our charter focus, all classroom curriculum is infused with the visual and performing arts,” shares principal Michele Gochberg. Mr. Martin teaches singing and music foundations to kindergarten through second-grade students. Second-graders also explore beginning instruments. Third-grade students learn how to play the recorder and fourth-graders learn keyboarding skills. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students receive music instruction once a week. Band instruction for fifth- and sixth-graders started last week with new band teacher Brandon Day. Students are provided instruction in woodwind and brass focus groups, and then play with the entire band.  Fifth- through sixth-grade students participate in band three times a week. Sixth-grade students are given the option of instrumental band or guitar. All students demonstrate music learnings and talents two to three times a school year, as well as participate in the campus schoolwide Song of the Week program. Students learn a new song every week, and the entire school sings together at the SoMo Friday Community Gatherings.

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As mentioned in last week’s column, Old Adobe Union School District offered a summer program for students. Here is an overview of the Amazing Race Summer Scholars at La Tercera Elementary School that included 102 energized students on campus each morning for a five-week summer school program. At La Tercera, the Amazing Race theme featured the study of a different geographic continent each week. The academic day took place from 8:30 a.m. until noon, Monday through Thursday, with some summer scholars staying onsite after the day’s organized activities at the campus Kid’s Care operation. Along with a rich academic program building reading and math skills, the school partnered with Whole Foods Market. Each class received a healthy eating lesson and took part in making a healthy treat. Lead teacher Kristy Corbett coordinated with Sharon Bowen of Whole Foods so the snack selection tied into the day’s lesson. On Wednesdays, the Healthy For Life program engaged students in Zumba lessons adding to the program’s well-rounded curriculum.

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The Penngrove Panthers are gearing up for their annual Jog-A-Thon event taking place on Sept. 11 this year. Students recently rallied their classmates to generate pledges at a school-wide presentation last week. The Jog-a-Thon supports improvements and programs for the school benefiting all the students. Go, Panthers, Go! I can’t wait to hear the total number of laps recorded for this fun-filled activity.

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Downtown business i Leoni is hosting a special Back to School Shopping experience on Friday. During the “early hours access” to the well-known retailer, it will donate a percentage of sales from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. to local schools through the Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF). What a way to start your day - special access shopping and supporting all 38 K-12 local schools at the same time.

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