Trojan Update
May 7th, 2018
PHS Community Open House May 17th @ 5pm...and much more
Please join us on Thursday, May 17th at Ellison Field for our Community Open House. PHS staff will be present along with our school board and various other dignitaries to celebrate the transformation of the PHS facility. The new turf field, resurfaced track, long and high jump pits, snack bar, etc are getting rave reviews. Starting at 5pm, we will introduce some of the features of the facility, dedicate the field itself, cut the ribbon, and offer guided tours. We will also be going into campus to check out the pool construction, the new PHS Weight Training Center and the updated gym. Exciting changes! Staff will join us on tours and will also be around to celebrate as a school community. Hope to see you all there at Ellison Field. We will have food and snacks available.
And now....its time for AP testing. Please see the graphic below for specific information. If your student has a morning AP test, report to the library at 7:45am; for afternoon, report at 11:45am. Good luck to all!
It's Teacher Appreciation Week! The actual Teacher Appreciation Day is Tuesday, May 8th. If you have the chance to let a teacher know you respect and appreciate his or her work, that would be awesome!
Please note that Friday, May 18th is the Car Show and Yearbook Distribution Day. We are on a Minimum Day schedule that day with classes ending at 12:50 pm.
Senior Parents: Graduation information is below. Your senior will receive a hard copy on Monday/Tuesday or refer to the PHS website as well.
Have a great week!
Petaluma Claims NBL Glory With Golden Goal over Casa in OT!
Petaluma jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but by the second quarter, Casa had pulled back into it and gone ahead. The two teams battled the rest of the way, exchanging goals, and slipping into and out of tie game situations. With 30 seconds left, Casa had possession and looked headed for the winning score, but for some reason, did not initiate an attack, sending the game into overtime.
Sudden death took 14 seconds. Faceoff specialist Isaiah Blomgren won the ball, sprinted downfield, eluded a defender and deposited the ball in the net. Announcer Tom Dooley was rumored to have said "Adios pelota." but there is no confirmation of this. Blomgren's goal sent the Trojan faithful into delirium and prompted a team celebration on the field. The 10-9 final brings Petaluma the satisfaction of the tournament trophy, backing up the pennant that will soon hang in perpetuity in the PHS Gym. Well done, Trojans and Coach Louchis and staff!
Seeding for the NCS tournament took place Sunday morning. Petaluma snagged the sixth seed and is now set to host University High School at Ellison Field on Tuesday evening at 7PM.
The Snack bar will be open with lots of good eats. Spirit wear will be on sale! Both gates will be open for the field.
Go Petaluma!!!
For a link to the full game video vs. Casa, see the bottom of the update.
Baseball: Trojans Crush Analy: SCL Champs!
Gavin Ochoa was too much for the Analy Tigers Friday afternoon at the Analy diamond. Ochoa got ahead of most of the Analy hitters with fastball strike ones, then used a deadly change of speeds to put many of them away. His two-hitter was backed up by a balanced Trojan offense of 12 hits that produced six runs.
The Trojans have four games on the slate as they wrap up the regular season this week. First, they complete an unfinished game versus Redwood High on Monday at home (currently tied at 5), then hit the road Tuesday (El Molino), Friday (Elsie Allen) and Saturday (Casa Grande). Petaluma (14-6-1, 9-1) has already clinched the league title. Good luck this week!
Go Trojans!
NEW: Student Drop Off Adjustment
Soon there will be new signage to reflect these changes as well as more specific postings of when members of the public can use the facility. Thank you for bearing with us as we transition to the new stadium!
Trojan Softball - SCL Champs!
Saturday, the Trojans battled the highly ranked Concord. Like the Trojans on Thursday, the Minutemen put 5 runs on the board in the first inning. It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth that the Trojans could respond, plating three runners to draw to 5-3. Concord answered immediately, scoring 6 in the top of the inning. A Trojan rally with four runs in their final at bat came up short, but reminded the Trojans that this offense can explode at any time.
Now, the league champs (17-5, 10-1) look ahead to a final league game versus Piner before awaiting their NCS seed.
For a link to the full game coverage of the Analy game, see the bottom of this update.
Chalk Art at PHS Lunch Time!
Some fabulous talent...
...revealed!
Penngrove Social Firemen Recognize PHS FFA Student Jose Gutierrez
The Penngrove Social Firemen once again honored one of our students in memory of Mr. Bill King. Jose Gutierrez received a welder for his demonstrated excellence in the FFA program during the past two years. He was presented with the welder last Wednesday evening at the Penngrove Social Firehall on Oak Street in Penngrove. Congratulations, Jose!
Engineering class visits Calpine's Geothermal Plant
Last week, the Principles of Engineering class went on a tour of Calpine's "The Geysers" Geothermal plant, the largest geothermal electrical operation in the world.
We started at the Calpine Geyser's Visitor Center in Middletown, where students interacted with several exhibits about Geothermal power, learning how geothermal energy sources are used to generate green energy.
Then two tour guides, led by a Chemical Engineer, took the students by bus up to the 45 square mile site. While on the bus, they explained many aspects of the site, including the unique geological formation that creates the steam, how the wells are drilled to capture the steam, how the pipes are constructed to carry the steam, how the geothermal field is recharged with treated Santa Rosa waste water, how the steam is cooled and chemical byproducts are produced from the steam, and ultimately how that steam turns turbines that generate the electricity.
Students reported that it was a very educational trip. Several of them connected what they learned today to what they have learned in POE this year as well as Chemistry. One student stating, "I'm so glad I've been taking Honors Chemistry this year. I really understood what the tour guide was explaining!"
POE Class...
...at the Geysers...
...learning about Geothermal power
Badminton Finishing Strong, NCS Qualifiers in Doubles!
PHS Badminton has had a strong season, finishing with an 8-4 (third place in league). Mikey Ayala and Anton Horvath were selected as the #1 Boys' Doubles team, beating out all other #1 Boys' Doubles teams in the SCL.
Honorable Mention went to Anton Horvath (Boys' Singles), Diana Trueblood (Girls' Singles), Cole Stremlau and Cole Yant (boys' doubles), Aylin Ayala Gallardo and Abbey Deen (girls' doubles), and Mikey Ayala and Diana Trueblood, Mixed Doubles.
Diana Trueblood and Penny Reynolds took third place and will be playing at NCS on May 12. Cole Yant and Cole Stremlau took first in the boys' doubles and Anton Horvath and Mikie Ayala took second so they, too, will be at NCS to represent Petaluma and the SCL at Kennedy High School in Richmond. Well done, PHS Badminton. We will watch for the May 12th NCS results!
FFA Wraps Up Event Season, Brings Home a State Champion Team in Farm Business Management
The Petaluma FFA's Career Development Event season came to an exciting end this weekend at the State FFA Finals Field Day at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. We fielded five teams, including Ag. Welding, Ag. Mechanics, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Farm Business Management and Light Horse Judging. These teams represented 19 students ranging from freshmen to seniors, all of whom have put in countless hours preparing over the past few months and, in some cases, years. Each team conducted practices outside of the school day and have competed across the state this year at field days at various colleges and host sites including UC Davis, Modesto Junior College and Fresno State University.
Our Agricultural Welding Team consisting of sophomores Casen Straub, Joe Yerion, Luke Stafford and Andy Ghirardelli place 16th overall in the state in a contest that tested their welding skills in Shielded Metal Arc, Gas Tungsten Arc, Oxy Fuel and Fluxcored Arc welding techniques. They also had to create a skills portfolio and complete a written test on welding theory and metallurgy.
Our Ag. Mechanics team consisting of Junior Derrick Pomi, Seniors True Overton & Max Poncia and Sophomore Dario Shoemaker finished their year as the 8th high team with True Overton placing as the 7th high individual in the state. This vigorous contest included the completion of a theory test, tool identification, practical problem solving exam, Arc Welding, Oxy Fuel Welding and Cutting, Cold Metal skills and Electrical wiring. This team has worked hard all year and placed in the Top 10 in 7 statewide contests.
Our Dairy Cattle Evaluation team consisting of Sophomore Audrey Arntz & Olivia Poncia and Freshmen Logan Pomi & Samantha Gambonini finished with a stellar 4th high team with Audrey placing 3rd overall and Samantha placing 4th overall. This contest involves the evaluation of dairy cattle in various ages and development as well as via pedigree data. Students must then also present oral reasons to an official justifying their placing of the cattle. This success bodes well for the future of this young team!
Our Farm Business Management Team, anchored by senior Kelsey Martin took the State Championship with Kelsey placing as the high individual for an unprecedented third year in a row. Her supporting cast consisting of sophomore brothers Matthew and Ben Forney who placed 3rd and 4th respectively and Amanda King who was 13th overall in the contest. This contest encompasses not only the technical skills of farm accounting and record keeping but also the knowledge to make successful management decisions based on theoretical situations across all sectors of production agriculture. This team is coached by Jill Martin and will be representing California in the Fall at the National FFA Convention and National Finals Career Development Expo.
Our Light Horse Judging team consisting of freshmen, Emily Cooper, Butch Aguiar and Madalyn Elliott rounded out a great first year in judging horses for confirmation as well as under saddle. We look forward to continued success in the future for this brand new team.
With thousands of miles and hundreds of hours behind us this year, we are very proud of all of these students who have represented Petaluma FFA and Petaluma High School with pride and dignity. Good Luck to our Farm Business Management Team at Nationals in the Fall!
Important Upcoming Dates
Don't forget the following dates:
May 7th - PTSA Meeting 6PM
May 7th-18th - AP Testing
May 10th - Final Site Council meeting of 17-18
May 16th - PLC Wrap Up
May 17th - PHS Community Open House @ Ellison Field @5pm
May 18th - MINIMUM DAY - Car Show/Yearbook Distribution (classes out at 12:50pm)
May 18th - AP Physics and Photography Field Trips
May 18th - PHS Choir Concert @ 7PM
May 21st - PHS Athletic Boosters Meeting
May 23rd - Staff Meeting
May 23rd - Senior Recognition Night @ 6:30PM @ Lucchesi
May 24th - Music Awards
May 27th - Prom at the Academy of Sciences
May 28th - MEMORIAL DAY
May 30th - FINALS
May 31st - FINALS
June 1st - FINALS
June 2nd - Graduation @ Ellison Field 10AM
COMING UP:
Rather than copy and paste from our website as I've done in the past, let's use our website as the main form of reminder as to what is coming up. Click the link below and check out what's coming up from the calendar. (The link is now correct!)
Petaluma High School
Email: dstirrat@petk12.org
Website: petalumahighschool.org
Location: 201 Fair Street, Petaluma, CA, United States
Phone: 707-778-4652
Twitter: @PetalumaHS