Trojan Update
May 21st, 2018
96 Hours at PHS!
This week was a true whirlwind of activity as PHS winds up the year. Here is a rundown. Please view the linked slideshow to see all the events that took place!
ASB Awards - Our amazing ASB group was recognized for their many accomplishments during the year at their Awards Dinner. Outgoing ASB President Nicole Walker applauded the ASB crew for truly making a difference in 2017-18, then handed things over to next year's president Simone Smith to get the whole thing rolling again!
Senior Sunset: On Wednesday night, Seniors gathered in the Quad to eat together and be first to snag this year's yearbook. Then they trooped out to the new Ellison Field, watched the sunset drift down, then watched Ferris Bueller take one more day off. We will miss our Seniors!
On Thursday, we held our PHS Community Open House where we dedicated the press box to the long time voice of Petaluma and PHS, Ron Walters. His family was on hand to honor Ron. Then we dedicated the track complex to legendary Doug Johnson, currently completing his 50th year as PHS track coach (see Redwood Empire meet results below). Doug's daughter and wife spoke before Doug himself reflected on his time at PHS. We then officially cut the ribbon and opened the facility. Tours of the school followed with stops in the new gym, weight training center, Trojan Live broadcast studio, engineering lab, and Marine Science classrooms.
And then we stepped a few steps to the left in the Multi to enjoy the Band Spring Concert. Wind, symphonic and jazz ensembles treated the audience to delightful sounds of the past and present. Thank you, Music Boosters and Mr. Eveland!
Simultaneously, our softball and baseball teams were contesting the SCL Tournament finals. In softball, they took home the final tournament trophy with a 11-1 domination of Sonoma Valley; meanwhile at Arnold Field, baseball was dismantling the Analy Tigers 14-1. Two great teams, two SCL champs!
Friday, our APES students field tripped to the Petaluma River while AP Physics celebrated a year of learning with a trip to Six Flags.
Our Yearbook crew and Mr. Jones was busy getting ready for general yearbook distribution. Another excellent yearbook showcasing the year in PHS life! Meanwhile, the FFA were also busy parking entries for the PHS Car Show in the back lot, while Mr. Dunn and Arntz fired up the BBQ and got lunch ready for hundreds. Friday night, Mr. Tacata and his MarS crew assembled in the Muti for MarS Awards, a terrific evening of appreciation. (see the Monterey video below - a remarkable professional capturing of the 2018 trip)
On Saturday, our track and field team members competed at the Redwood Empire Track Championships (see below). At PHS that evening, our Bilingual Student Ambassadors put on the annual Baile in the Multi where more than 200 people danced, ate, and celebrated; in the gym, meanwhile, Mr. Jones and members of the newly formed Trojan Renaissance Club put on a wonderful and inspiring dance for the full inclusion students from PHS and Casa Grande Saturday night in the Petaluma High Gym. Students danced the night away and shared a wonderful evening of laughter and friendship. Thank you to teachers, aides, family, friends and students who made this night special.
Again, please check out these events in the slide show below.
NCS Softball Division II First Round
Live streaming on YouTube Channel Trojan Live @ 5pm!
NCS Baseball Division II - First Round
NCS/Les Schwab Tires MEET OF CHAMPIONS, May 25-26, 2018
Redwood Empire Track Championships...
The boys finished 12th overall out of 25 teams, led by a sparkling performance from Jack Dunbar. Jack finished the in the 800M, just a half second out of third. Then he came back in the 1600M, battling to the tape for a second place finish, just .42 seconds out of first. He is one of the Trojans who will head to the Meet of Champions in Berkeley next week. Other noteworthy performance came from Kael Seaver (4th in the pole vault) and Jon Candau and Devon Hong in the 100M.
http://www.redwoodempirerunning.com/2018-boys-ncs-redwood-meet/
The girls finished in 10th place out of 24 schools. They were led by a remarkable day by Sydney Dennis. She finished 8th in 110 hurdles, 4th in the 300 Hurdles, 6th in the long jump, and 2nd in the triple jump! Camille Flynn (5th in 800M) and Super Soph Courtney Bell (top 10 finishes in 100/200M) also contributed for the Trojans.
http://www.redwoodempirerunning.com/2018-girls-ncs-redwood-meet/
Well done Trojans and Coach Johnson in his 50th year!
A Change in the Schedule for 18-19
Background: Tutorial has been practiced at PHS for the past 25 years or so. The well-meaning intent has been to allow (and encourage) students to independently seek out assistance from school staff related to their academics. Tutorial runs from 10:15-10:50am M, T, Th, and F and is combined with the nutrition break.
Concerns and Thoughts:
Approximately 20% of the student population use tutorial as it was envisioned, perhaps less. Many appear to use it as an extended break from class.
Staff reports that of those students who do use tutorial, i.e. are in classrooms during that time, are simply completing homework that is due later in the day. (“I will finish my homework at tutorial tomorrow, Mom.”) rather than earnestly seeking out help from a staff member.
The suspension rate at PHS is a general concern. This extended period of unstructured time provides opportunity for student to engage in negative, aberrant behavior.
Some research suggests that the time period in the morning is a prime learning opportunity.
https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/education/time-day-school-schedule-productive
http://home.uchicago.edu/~npope/morning_afternoon.pdf
A general sense that time in the school day can be restructured - students would like greater access to elective programs (anecdotal)
Counselors report parents requesting “to get an IEP” and a Study Skills class so their student can get work done at school (this is the homework problem). In many cases, the D and F list is largely based on non-completion of homework rather than aptitude. Parents are seeking time in the school day for work completion.
Office Hours at Casa Grande has generally shown that (1) student suspension rate can be lowered, but (2) many students do not participate in office hours time - we are not getting the academically at-risk students to participate in the intervention.
So...we are moving the minutes of tutorial to the end of 2nd and 5th period to create an academic work time for students. Though in the first few weeks of the year, students will remain in their 2nd or 5th period class, they will eventually be able to request to go and see and specific instructor elsewhere on campus. We will roll out the details as we get going in the fall. Again, please refer to the presentation below.
Important Upcoming Dates
Don't forget the following dates:
May 21st - Senior Rally @ Ellison Field 9:55am
May 21st - PHS Athletic Boosters Meeting
May 22nd - Link Crew Day 9:30am-11:30am
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 29th - Staff Celebration @ Brewsters 4pm
May 30th - FINALS 1, 2
May 30th - Staff PTSA Luncheon 1pm
May 31st - FINALS 4, 5
June 1st - FINALS 3, 6
June 2nd - Graduation @ Ellison Field 10AM
June 2nd - Project Graduation
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