THE CHALKBOARD: Petaluma students learn about agriculture roots

What’s happening in Petaluma-area schools.|

A total of 731 youth from across Petaluma descended on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds for the 15th annual Petaluma Youth Ag Day. Volunteers from service organizations, local nonprofits as well as local agriculture producers were all on hand to help teach the children, ranging in ages from 5 to 8, about agriculture, shares Erin Post, executive director of the Marin-Sonoma Fairgrounds & Event Center.

“Their eyes lit up as they watched a cow get milked, were able to see Texas Longhorn cattle and see a sheep have its wool shorn,” he said. “Many of the kids took samples of the wool home to their families so they could share with them about their day’s adventure.”

The students represented the largest attendance of Ag Day in more than six years. They came from 32 different classes and nine schools. Students were able to learn about dairies, beef, apple orchards, bees, herding dogs, inspector dogs and much more. They even were able to make their own butter from a few ingredients and lot of good old-fashioned mixing. With the theme, “Farm of the Future,” students created bookmarks, murals and even a drone from recycled materials. Their projects allowed teachers, parents and guests to the see the future of agriculture through a child’s eyes, and it looks like, with a little innovation, creativity and hard work, the future of agriculture is bright. All in all, the 2016 Petaluma Youth Ag Day was a huge success in educating the attendees about the long history of agriculture in our community. This annual education day is made possible by a generous donation made by the Mahoney Family through the Petaluma Educational Foundation.

Seems like everyone was walking, rolling, and biking to school this week. From Petaluma Junior High, Corona Creek Elementary, La Tercera Elementary, Live Oak Charter, McNear Elementary, Meadow Elementary, Miwok Elementary, Sonoma Mountain Elementary, Valley Vista Elementary to Cinnabar Elementary you saw students participating in the annual International Walk and Roll to School event on Oct. 5. This community event is popular each year, especially for Cinnabar students who usually need to ride the bus to school or are dropped off by their parents. Students who arrived at school by car walked down the hill to Lombardi’s Deli to meet the bus riders. Together, all 270 students walked to school with teacher and parent escorts along Skillman Lane. Afterward, parents joined the principal, Ms. Kern, in the multi-use room for a coffee social.

Mr. Sharke, after 31 years of educating our community about Red Ribbon Week, continues his rounds through many Petaluma Schools and the rural schools of West Marin. This year’s theme is YOLO - You Only Live Once, and the students at Lincoln School were thrilled to welcome him back. Lincoln students were also exited to share news of their growing outdoor learning environment. “Through the help of several gardening grants and our parent volunteer, Andy Laureyns, the students designed, maintain, and continue to plant in the school garden. This incorporates engineering, science and math from our STEM program,” says principal Sandy Doyle.

Across town, the ever-expanding outdoor learning space at Old Adobe School keeps both students and parents busy. “There are 320 students at Old Adobe Elementary School, and all of them are learning about ecology and science in the school’s edible garden,” shares principal Jeff Williamson. According to Williamson, Beth Stoep, the garden coordinator, and Jacqueline Holley, the garden instructor, are working with all of the school’s staff, students and families to make gardening an authentic part of the learning in the school. In addition, Lifelab has been working with the school and grants and donations have come from many sources while the parents and staff have worked to create an ever-growing outdoor education area for all students. “Each week, the Old Adobe families take home bags of produce grown by their children in the school’s “Farmstand,” encouraging healthy-eating habits. The edible garden has been a tremendous success story because of the vision and hard work of many people,” said Williamson.

Old Adobe Union School District invites the public to its “Candidates Night” tonight at Sonoma Mountain Elementary School from 7-8 p.m. The district has three candidates running for two available seats. The forum will be an informal question and answer session that will be moderated by a member of the AAUW. The goal of the evening’s forum is to provide an opportunity for the candidates - Heather Burton, Jonathan Lenz and Marilyn Cohoe - to meet members of the school community prior to the election.

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

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