Earthquake education

While Wilson Elementary School students are thoroughly enjoying their all new campus track and community field, superintendent/principal Eric Hoppes reports the real action was in the classroom earlier this month when fourth-graders “thought like scientists” as they worked with different earthquake fault types and discovered how they affect different structures through a hands-on demonstration activity. In sixth grade, students were discovering how a cellphone bill works and how to use their acquired problem-solving skills using mathematical concepts to decide which talk/text plans are best. Seems like a practical lesson in this day and age. Wilson’s Wildcats will soon be celebrating the installation of solar panels on campus, making for another campus renovation project completed.

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Casa Grande High School’s outreach to students at Cypress School continues to blossom under the guidance of Gaucho teacher Lynne Moquete. Students from her Human Interaction class spent time earlier this month engaging in a series of meaningful interactions with students at Cypress School here in Petaluma. Cypress School is located in southeast Petaluma and provides personalized curriculum and learning for children with autism and similar disabilities. The experience has been mutually beneficial, giving Cypress students the opportunity to socialize in new environments with the high schoolers. Both groups of students are exposed to personal experiences caring for others, empathizing, and learning to better appreciate those things we often take for granted reports Casa principal Eric Backman. This collaborative effort between teachers at both locations allowed for some unique and special moments shared by all the students involved.

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The Casa Grande High School campus was full of activity on March 11, when the student body and staff hosted a highly successful Casa Campus Beautification Day. More than 30 students and eight adults participated in a day of mulching, weeding and pruning in various areas of the school grounds. The dedicated work crew enjoyed a community barbeque following the efforts to bring some signs of the spring season to campus. The Gaucho Garden and Beautification volunteers invite you to stay tuned for news about more Casa Campus Beautification Days in the future.

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The Petaluma City School District invites the community to join PCS teacher librarians for a free workshop: Digital Living Survival Skills for Parents, Teens and Tweens on April 5, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petaluma Regional Library. Pamela Van Halsema from Kenilworth Junior High School and Debby Vandersande from Petaluma Junior High School will be facilitating this informative session.

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Valley Vista Elementary School’s annual Latin Dinner is set for April 21 from 5-7 p.m. on the campus blacktop. “We celebrate the tastes, sounds and spirit of our community of Latin and Hispanic cultures,” shares principal Catina Haugen. The community is invited to join the school community for food and entertainment. The Ballet Folklorico will be dancing as well as the Valley Vista Viking transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students. Tickets are available for food and drinks at the event. All proceeds benefit the school’s Outdoor Education program and field trip scholarship fund.

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The annual Petaluma Educational Foundational Giants Night is happening April 14. Band students from Petaluma and Kenilworth junior high school’s music programs will perform the National Anthem in center field to start the game against the Colorado Rockies. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. Tickets ($26 each) to sit in the special PEF cheering section are available by contacting Katy at 778-5063. A portion of all tickets sold go to support local schools through the mission of PEF.

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