Wilson School’s Wildcats welcomed author Dev Petty from Berkeley recently. Copperfield’s Books graciously arranged for this special visit to campus by Petty who has written two books: “I Don’t Want to Be a Frog” and “I Don’t Want to Be Big.” “The kids loved her,” shares Wilson superintendent/principal Eric Hoppes. “She talked to them about how to write a story using basic ideas. For example, my dog has a cone on his head, how could you turn that into a story? She also explained how she came up with the idea for her second book while sharing copies of her book in four other languages.” The visit was especially fun for the youngest students on campus, said Nancy Osman, Wilson School’s librarian.
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Valley Vista students were all smiles when they wore their silliest socks on Nov. 18 for Silly Sock Day. The students are also excited about the Walk and Roll Wednesday program stared at school. The program encourages students and their families to walk or roll (skate, bike, etc.) on a safe route to school. The momentum of the national Walk & Ride to School Day is now promoting making the movement a regular activity for schools. This will now be an ongoing opportunity for students to participate in each week.
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Students at Petaluma Junior High joined more than one million other students across the country to help break down social and racial barriers by participating in the 15th annual Mix It Up at Lunch Day. Principal Renee Semik shared this was the second year the school has participated in this national event. “Students are excited to take part in activities which are both fun and essential to building relationships. Last year, we started light. However, the feedback we got from the kids is that they want to go deeper, and to really stretch themselves to help make everyone feel a part of this community, and so we have.” This year’s event opened up with a small group discussion about perspectives and self-awareness. From there, the students participated in a larger group icebreaker game, followed by a meaningful school-wide art project. “It’s a good way for students to bond and to get to know others in the school,” said eighth grader Olivia Newbold. Eighth grader Isabella Easley added, “It can lead to friendships that last forever.” The Mix It Up Day was launched by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Project in 2002. It encourages students to sit with someone new during lunch for just one day. Lunch is the focus of Mix It Up because that’s where a school’s social boundaries are most obvious. Like Petaluma Junior High, some schools use the event to kick off yearlong explorations of social divisions. Petaluma Junior High offers a variety of school culture building approaches, which currently include Bantam Buddies, Safe School Ambassadors, Mix it Up Day, and No Name Calling/Kindness Week working to provide a school climate and culture where every student feels academically successful, physically and emotionally safe, and socially included.
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River Montessori Charter School will be holding its second annual Creator Faire on Jan. 28 from noon until 4 p.m. on the school’s grounds at 3880 Cypress Drive. This family-friendly community event was designed and organized by parents at River Montessori Charter School, and is sponsored this year by the Petaluma Chapter of Kiwanis International. RMCS is a public charter elementary school in Petaluma founded in 2009. At the Creator Faire, children and their parents will have an opportunity to explore their senses, experiment with different materials and take apart and build things according to parent/event team member Julie Petersen. The event will take place rain or shine, and accommodates all ages, even babies and toddlers. The 2016 Creator Faire attracted more than 250 children and adults. Creator stations will be hosted or sponsored by students, parents, and local organizations including Bot Bash, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, Friedman’s Petaluma, Petaluma Regional Library, Sonoma County Master Gardeners, STEM Slam Science Camps, Studio 4 Art, The Art Room, Toy B Ville and Young Performers International. All proceeds from the Creator Faire will benefit the River Montessori Foundation. Tickets will be available on a sliding-scale basis, with a recommended donation of $5 to $20 per person, and can be purchased after Jan. 1 on the Creator Faire web site (https://rivercreatorfaire.com/attend) or at the event. For more on the event, visit https://rivercreatorfaire.com or email rivercreatorfaire@gmail.com.
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Enjoy the rest of the school holiday break and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!
(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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