Student principal for a day at Harvest Christian

The STEM focus at La Tercera Elementary has created quite a buzz around town. On May 10 that buzz grew even louder as the Planet Bee Foundation provided hands-on bee basics curriculum to all third, fourth and fifth graders. Planet Bee is a local foundation dedicated to engaging and empowering students of all ages to take action to help struggling pollinator populations. When students see bees up close, curiosity sparks, fear fades and gardens become ecological playgrounds. This hands-on learning opportunity was made possible by a grant received by La Tercera earlier this year. In the fall, the third and fourth graders also completed a Project Based Learning Unit on bees, which culminated with making bee homes. The Planet Bee presentation instilled new knowledge. Marilyn, a third-grade student learned, “The queen bee lays 2,000 eggs per day.” Fourth-grader Aaliyah enjoyed the relay game they played where they carried liquid in eyedroppers just as the bee carries nectar with their proboscis. Fourth-grader Kayla explained, “We were given a clay ball with poppy seeds and dirt inside. When we throw the ball in our backyard, a flower will grow and bring more bees to our area.” Students also enjoyed looking at the live bees and attempting to locate the various types. Students will be installing Mason Bee habitats they constructed in the La Tercera makerspace where students of all ages engineer solutions to everyday problems like the struggling-pollinator problem in Sonoma County. –

Jennifer Eaton, Petaluma High’s principals of engineering teacher, traveled across town with her students to visit with La Tercera students last Wednesday. This visit offered the high school students the opportunity to share ideas and news about their projects designing, building and programing robots. They also hosted activity stations for the younger students to interact with the different robots. Initially, the thought was to invite those students involved in the school’s robotics activities and Science Olympiad participants, but opening the opportunity up to any student interested made for a very special event.

–

Harvest Christian School presented The Sound of Music to sold out crowds on both May 4 and May 5. Starring in the student production were Hannah See as Maria and Connor Ripple as Captain Von Trapp. Complete with professional style playbills and post event portraits, the production from the elementary and junior high school students felt more like a professional musical, said parent Kerri Peterson. “Performing arts is a huge part of the classical methodology that Harvest implements,” said Principal Jon Wraith. “We are blessed to be able to put on a production of this magnitude thanks to Kala Brand Music of Petaluma for underwriting the musical, the Petaluma Educational Foundation for its $15,000 Fine Arts Grant, the Lucchesi Center for hosting the event, Corona Creek Elementary for letting us borrow the risers for the choir, and to all the volunteers and guests who came out to enjoy the events.” Bravo, Harvest, and to all those who helped bring this event to life.

–

Also keeping Harvest Christian School in the news was the appointment of fourth grader Evan Watts as Principal for a Day on May 5. Winner of the silent auction item, Evan got to work alongside Principal Mr. Wraith for the entire day. He was able to welcome students at morning drop off, work with Mr. Wraith in his office, attend meetings with staff and learn what it takes to run the school. Lunch was included (and definitely earned) on such a busy day.

–

Last week, the South County Small Schools held their Volleyball Jamboree at Petaluma Junior High School. Five schools participated in the spring volleyball league and attended the jamboree: Cinnabar, Liberty, Meadow, Two Rock and Wilson. The league, as it is loosely called, has as a main purpose to introduce students to sports, sportsmanship and making friends with kids you will be in school with later at junior high and high school. “Many of these same schools go to Outdoor Education week at Walker Creek at the same time. You can also see them reconnecting and the budding future friendships when they compete against each other at the annual Westside Relays,” says Wilmar Superintendent Eric Hoppes.

–

Gateway to College Academy graduation takes place on May 26 at 4 p.m. in the Carole L. Ellis Auditorium on the Santa Rosa Junior College Campus. Last year, the program held its very first graduation ceremony, honoring seven graduates. This year, Gateway will have 25 graduates. Each Gateway to College student has worked tremendously hard, and overcome unique personal challenges. “We look forward to celebrating their successes and thanking community members such as yourself that have cheered them on along the way, and capturing these memorable and deeply meaningful moments,” says Vanessa Shannon, the school director.

–

Between May 25 and June 18, Petaluma families are invited to bring donations of canned food to the Petaluma Regional Library and place the items in one of two large barrels as part of a competition pitting the Eastside schools against the Westside schools. On June 11 at from noon until 1 p.m. Petaluma families are invited to a Can Town construction based on Andrew Hussie’s Can Town in the Homestuck web comic. In Homestuck, the fictional character Wayward Vagabond creates a small town made of food cans and chalk, the only resources he has available while trapped in a time capsule. Declaring himself Mayor, Wayward Vagabond governs his community of tiny tin-can residents. Diana Spaulding, Petaluma teen and adult services librarian, says the objective of the Can Town event at the Petaluma Library is to help bring in more cans to build a can town of our own, and later donate all proceeds to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

–

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