THE CHALKBOARD: Valley Vista School students on a roll

Valley Vista was on a roll last week. The local neighborhood came alive on May 4 as students and staff walked, biked, skipped, skated and skateboarded to school for the day. For those who lived a bit farther away from campus to be able to participate directly from home, families were encouraged to park and walk or ride from at least four blocks away. Many of the students met up with friends and other parents and walked or biked as a group. Another way to join in the fun was to hop on one of the walking school buses (Washington/Bodega corridor or Webster Street) and travel to school together. Students were required to obey all traffic and safety rules, use caution at all crossings and wear appropriate helmets.

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Cinnabar School’s fifth-grade class spent Tuesday at Steamer Landing Park with LandPaths’ IOOBY (In Our Own Backyard) program, and Friends of the Petaluma River. After learning about canoe safety from Friends of the Petaluma River, students donned life vests and spent an hour canoing on the Petaluma River. They paddled under the D Street Bridge, into the Turning Basin, under the Balshaw pedestrian bridge, the Washington Street Bridge, Copeland Crossing pedestrian bridge, and the Lakeville Street Bridge. Some even went as far as the Payran Street Bridge. When not in canoes, students learned more about the Petaluma River. They collected samples of river water, and identified and observed what they found, including aquatic invertebrates, aquatic insects, shrimp and small fish. At the end of the day, students wrote about their experiences and created watercolor paintings of their memorable day.

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Two Rock School students in the sixth grade have been using their Chromebooks in class to conduct in-depth research on the solar system. After gathering their facts, students created their own individual three-panel planet brochures to share the information they learned with fellow Two Rock Bobcats.

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Friends of the Petaluma River hosted their inaugural Watershed Classroom Showcase on Wednesday at Petaluma High School, according to Stephanie Bastianon. Using digital media, students then presented on local education, environmental literacy and project-based field studies about the Petaluma River and Watershed. These presentations were based on their experiences as part of the Watershed Classroom Program. Friends of the Petaluma River organization introduced the Watershed Classroom in 2013 to educate local youth about the Petaluma Watershed, build capacity to increase experiential learning opportunities in Petaluma, and inspire youth to protect and conserve their local watershed. Through a partnership with Petaluma City Schools and funding from the Sonoma County Water Agency, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, and the North Bay Watershed Association, the organization works with local teachers to introduce meaningful curriculum to students based on the Petaluma Watershed.

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If you heard the thunderous cheers in the neighborhoods surrounding Petaluma High School earlier this week, it was the Westside Relays. The annual tradition of spirited competition and sportsmanship is always a favorite memory for fifth- and sixth-grade students who compete in a variety of track and field events. One of everyone’s favorite aspects of the event is how the current high school students lend their support as field judges, race coordinators and event organizers for the program.

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Petaluma High School is hosting a 2016 Trojan Hoops Skills Camp this summer from June 6 through June 9 (session 1), and again June 18 through June 22 (session 2). The program is offered at minimal cost, with the coaches donating their time and instruction so that the monies raised can be pledged to support the larger effort to refurbish the outside community courts at Petaluma High School. Coach Andy Isetta is offering the program to provide young players a chance to experience an in-depth basketball experience breaking down the fundamentals of the game in a fun atmosphere.

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