THE CHALKBOARD: Grant students’ hot chocolate helps COTS

On Saturday, three young ladies - Julia Ubladi, Lucy Melanephy and Sara Slade - all sixth-graders at Grant Elementary School, spent the day hosting a neighborhood Hot Chocolate Stand to raise money for the Committee on Shelterless. In addition to hot chocolate available for a donation, hot cider and baked goods were also offered to those who stopped by and supported their efforts. This was part of a class passion project where the girls decided to raise money for a charity that helps people in need. What a great way for these students to get involved in their community.

Last week, Grant School hosted a Red Ribbon week assembly that featured members of the DEA and Petaluma Police. The students had a great time, and learned a lot, reports principal Emily Todd. Students learned the different types of drugs (medicine, cigarettes, alcohol and illegal drugs), consequences of drugs including how they affect your ability to play sports, your grades, and your health. The DEA agent reminded students about why they learn about drugs during Red Ribbon Week (a program created after DEA officer Kiki Camarena was killed), and students signed their names to the Red Ribbon Week pledge to stay drug fee. The day was coordinated by Petaluma Police, DEA and Mike Page. “It was an amazing day for our Grant School students,” shared Todd.

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Get your game on. Meadow School and Corona Creek School, both in the Waugh School District, hosted a Family Game night event through the two schools’ PTA programs earlier this school year. The action-packed evening had students and their families playing giant Twister, giant Jenga and Pictionary. Fun was had by all. More recently, the group held a schools-wide Halloween Dance on the Meadow campus where some outstanding costumes added to the festive event. A photo booth, cake walk and bake sale were all part of the hauntingly good time.

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Lucienne Wurr at Cinnabar School shares that the Rancho Adobe Fire Department visited the school’s third grade class last week. Students learned what to do if there’s a fire at their home, the importance of having working smoke alarms, and a family fire escape plan. The firefighters said that a smoke alarm needs to be tested monthly, have the battery changed at least once a year, and be replaced with a new smoke alarm when it is 10 years old. For homework, the students made a home fire escape plan with their families and established a safe meeting spot away from their house. According to Wurr, the students’ favorite part was when they got to get in the fire engine and see all its firefighting and lifesaving equipment up close, learning valuable information about fire safety and making friends with our local firefighters.

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Liam Selstrom, a former Wilson School student, finished his Eagle project at his alma mater. Selstrom recently planned and executed a project to beautify the back entrance to Wilson School, shares superintendent/principal Eric Hoppes. The project included getting donations and organizing adults and other scouts to assist with the work. “He had a planter box built to go under our sign, and the Scouts planted 50 shrubs that were donated by a local landscape company and three new trees. He had shredded bark donated and delivered. He and his Troop 9 friends spread this shredded bark on the area they planted and on another large area that needed it, and trimmed up the trees in that area,” says Hoppes. Scout Troop 9 is under the leadership of John Schempf, and sponsored by the Elim Lutheran Church in Petaluma. “Together, the Boy Scouts and our community are helping beautify the place where kids and families come together for school and other activities. We now count a total of 13 Boy Scout Eagle projects at Wilson School. I am grateful for the connection we have with Scouts and our community. It is looking great around here,” Hoppes said.

Hoppes also announced Wilmar Union Elementary School District has a vacancy on the Wilmar School District Board. Member Barry Lakritz will step off the board leaving the district to identify a replacement to fill the remainder of the term which ends December 2018. Interested persons who live within the boundaries of the Wilmar Union Elementary School District can contact Hoppes at 765-4340 for more information on the process of submitting applications to fill this seat.

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