Two Rock upgrades its campus

Two Rock Elementary School spent the past summer creating a complete upgrade to the campus infrastructure. This upgrade included replacement of the phone, bell and clock systems; installation of a wired and wireless computer system in all classrooms, the library and the office area; along with the addition of an inside and outside intercom system for additional safety and security on the campus, according to principal Mike Simpson. Simpson also shared that the campus after-school program includes classes in band, percussion, chess, ceramics, Zumba, Legos and an interscholastic sports program and pep squad.

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Two Rock School and Coast Guard volunteers recently coordinated the parking for the third annual Mud Man obstacle course race at the Coast Guard station. We shared news about the race in last week’s column. Two Rock School’s Education Foundation (TRSEF) benefited from the proceeds of the parking for the event. TRSEF provides the funding for the school’s art, music and library programs. 

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Valley Vista sixth graders had a cook off on Sept. 12. Instead of barbeques, amazing structures were spread out, collecting heat energy from the sun using a variety of methods learned within the first few weeks of school. From amazing feats of engineering using found materials, to pizza boxes generously donated by Old Chicago Pizza, students used dark colors to absorb and foil to reflect radiation. Through the process, students not only learned about heat transfer, they learned about conservation and how their engineering ideas can go beyond a small playground in Petaluma. Now that is a creative way to engage students in learning. Some of the comments shared by student scientific chefs were: “Mine got up to 260 degrees.” “Someone’s thermometer exploded.” “My hotdog tasted better this way.” “I cooked a hotdog all by myself.”

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The St. Vincent High School Gardening Club, led my math teacher Anne Trott, has been growing and donating produce locally since 2008. The latest harvest included 12 boxes of tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, squash, and other assorted vegetables that were donated to the Interfaith Pantry held at Elim Lutheran Church. The program also provides donations of fresh produce to Petaluma Bounty and PEP housing. A small amount is used by the Mustang snack bar. The school’s Garden Club recently entered produce into the National Heirloom Exposition in Santa Rosa and won third place.

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Lincoln School launched a formal STEM program for students through Playwell. The team comes into classrooms and supports the staff in teaching the fundamentals of Lego Engineering. Lincoln School has booked 10 weeks of program for this year. It enhances the STEM emphasis being introduced to the school, explains principal Sandy Doyle. The STEM learning concept stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The program supports the new Common Core curriculum being introduced in our schools.

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Students at St. Vincent Elementary School participated in their monthly tradition of free dress for a local charity with this month’s proceeds going to St. John the Baptist Catholic School. The faculty and staff of SVES decided to pledge support to their sister school in Napa that was badly damaged in the 6.0 Napa Earthquake. Students, faculty and staff brought in $1 for free dress with the proceeds going to St. John’s. Fourth-grader Rylie Carvajal understood the reason for the day was “so they can fix their building.” Principal Stephanie Quinlan was overjoyed at the response of the kids to raising money for St. John’s. “It was so amazing to see our student body walk in with their dollars to raise funds for children they have never met,” she said. Over the past 10 years, the elementary school has raised money for local charities, with nearly $15,000 raised for various charities through this paid free dress program.

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The need for volunteer community tutors to support the Schools of Hope Early Grade Reading Initiative has grown due to the addition of four new Petaluma sites: Cinnabar, Wilson, Two Rock and La Tercera. Schools of Hope is expanding by 200 percent in the area, according to local coordinator Kim Starke. The program that helps children build the critical reading skills needed to succeed in school recruits, trains and places community volunteers in the schools where they are needed. The tutor works one-on-one with kindergarten through third-grade students during the school day to supplement the work they are doing in the classroom. Volunteers can sign up or get additional information at unitedwaywinecountry.org.

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