THE CHALKBOARD: Petaluma Girl Scouts offer helping hand to Texas Scouts

Girls in Petaluma’s Girl Scout Troop 10977 wanted to support their fellow scouting sisters in Richmond, Texas, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The Texas troop lost its starter kits and crafts for the year. The young ladies from Petaluma hosted a bake sale in front of Copperfield’s Books on Kentucky Street on Labor Day, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support their fellow Girl Scouts. The Petaluma troop is made up of local students who go to Old Adobe Elementary, River Montessori and Novato Charter. They all worked baking the items, and with the help of parent volunteers, hosted a successful fundraiser. Congratulations to Troop 10977 for demonstrating the Scouting mission of “courage, confidence and character, making the world a better place.”

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River Montessori Charter’s school community has once again come together to create the campus’ annual Touch-a-Truck event. In its third year, a new addition is a partnership raising funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday at River Montessori Charter School, 3880 Cypress Drive. The free event includes favorite things on wheels as the school parking lot transforms into a car and truck touch museum. Information about Alex’s Lemonade Stand and how to donate directly online can be found through the following link: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1354113.

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With a team of 65 students, St. Vincent de Paul High School was well represented at the annual Petaluma Relay for Life event. Spending 24 hours in service to the American Cancer Society’s event at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, team members carried on the tradition of raising money to aid in the fight against cancer. The school began creating teams 19 years ago and has raised more than $250,000 for this cause to date. As donations continue to come in, this year students have received a total of $11,600 in donations. While some students and families have experienced close personal loss and join in the activities in memory of those they loved, others come to share in the community spirit of the event. All offer inspiration through their participation.

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The Valley Vista Elementary School Vikings are rocking and rolling. Students and their families recently gathered at Cal Skate for a Back to School Skating Party. The night was full of fun, smiles and some skilled skating by some veteran Vikings who love this popular school tradition.

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Serving up Science in a creative way, Valley Vista’s sixth-graders want to give a big shout out to Audrey Hagland at Old Chicago in downtown Petaluma for donating a supply of empty pizza boxes for their Solar Barbecue on Sept. 12. The pizza boxes are the base construction component for their solar ovens. Most kids stick with the pizza box, but others branch out using other materials and designs, so come check out these amazing examples of ingenuity. “I can’t wait to enjoy our Solar Barbecue thanks to Old Chicago’s generosity,” says principal Catina Haugen.

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Sonoma Mountain and Carpe Diem high schools ended last school year with their annual spring camp out at Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Outdoor education has become a tradition at the two alternative education high schools, with students participating in several day hikes throughout the year and enjoying a culminating overnight camp out in the spring. While in the field, besides the outdoor experience, focus areas include team building, community building, life skills, environmental awareness and senior recognition. “As we again start to prepare for the camp-out this year, we are happy to accept donations of nonperishable food items and other items to help offset the cost to our sites,” shares principal Greg Stevenson. You can reach the schools at 778-4738 (Sonoma Mountain) or 778-4796 (Carpe Diem) for more information on how to offer support to this successful cross-curriculum program.

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