The Chalkboard: It’s back to school time

A new school year is upon us - new students, new teachers, new programs.

Most of our local schools kick off the start of the academic year next week, but both Penngrove and Cherry Valley elementary schools have been in session since mid-July. Penngrove principal Amy Fadeji reports it has been a busy first month for both students and teachers as the Panthers embrace the year with a new schoolwide theme: “DIVE IN!” Fadeji explains this theme will focus on engagement and English language arts this year. Instead of making to-do lists or waiting to try new things, teachers and students are “diving in” in big ways. Creating digital lessons, blogging, and participating in genius hour are among some of the highlights that students and teachers have participated in thus ­­­­­­far.

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Over at Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley, the school community welcomed new principal Fran Hansell this past July. Hansell comes from Santa Rosa’s Mark West Union School District where she most recently held the position of principal at Riebli Charter School. Another new face can be found at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School. The school announced the appointment of new principal, Stephanie Quinlan, earlier this summer. “I look forward to blending my faith and leadership abilities at St. Vincent’s to help foster the growth of our students. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with dedicated faculty members who recognize that we work in partnership with the parents of our children,” shared Quinlan.

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Warm welcomes go out to the new administrators at both Old Adobe Union School District and Cinnabar School. Dr. Jason Lustig Yamashiro began serving as the superintendent for the Old Adobe Union School District as of July 1, 2014. ODUSD is comprised of five campuses: Old Adobe, Miwok, La Tercera, Loma Vista, and Sonoma Mountain elementary schools. Traci Kern accepted the position of superintendent/principal at Cinnabar Elementary School District, a one-school district located on the west side of town.  Cinnabar Elementary School serves about 170 students in grades K-8.  The school and district were established in 1859.

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Both Casa Grande and Petaluma high schools announced new members to the administrative staff at their campuses for the start of the school year. The Casa Grande Gauchos welcome assistant principal Nikki Samuel while the Petaluma Trojans welcome assistant principal Tracy Bass. Petaluma City Schools also announced the appointment of Mila Kells as director of curriculum and instruction after an extensive search for the newly created district position.

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In addition to new faces around local campuses, students at both Kenilworth and Petaluma junior highs will be starting school with new technology tools at their fingertips. PCS is providing one-to-one devices for all eighth-grade students as a pilot program leading into a full one-to-one device plan for all classes during the 2015-16 school year. Informative parent meetings are being held throughout the week and into next week at both junior high campuses. Please visit the district or school websites for exact dates and times. PCS is also encouraging all parents to visit the online Parent Portal prior to the start of school. Assistance with the program is available by contacting the PCS district office for a schedule of the in-person support sessions to re-register and update student information with district staff.

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Several Petaluma area schools will be offering younger students the opportunity to participate in the United Way of the Wine Country’s Schools of Hope program on their campuses this year. Petaluma Health Care District, through its community health initiative and its commitment to linking health, education, and economic outcomes, has become a formal outreach partner. shares Erin Hawkins, community outreach project manager for the Petaluma Health Care District. The program is committed to helping students improve their reading skills. Meeting once a week for an hour with volunteer tutors, students receive individualized support during the school day, reinforcing the reading and writing skills taught in the classroom. During the 2013-14 school year, Schools of Hope tutors provided more than 225 hours of assistance to students in Petaluma area schools. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the program, contact United Way of the Wine Country for more information and a list of participating campuses.

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