 Elsa Gomez, SVHS Senior. Photo: Rick Bolen. | Elsa is a Senior at Sonoma Valley High who recently changed her college goals: "Starting out I figured I'd go to the JC, but now I really want to
attend a 4 year university." She's worked really hard on her academics this year. She says, "I always come in to the College and Career Center at the High School to get help. College is going to be a 360 change for me, a whole new beginning." The biggest change? "I will be the first person in my family to attend college." Bravo, Elsa! |
| Layla never guessed Science would be her favorite class in Middle School. In fact, she worried about her grades in the class. But as soon as she started learning and working in the School Garden, her fears fell by the wayside. All too often, school science classes these days are taught from a text book, with a long list of terms to memorize. But, the School Garden Project provides a way to learn by doing, and to be a real scientist. Layla says that she now loves science: “We do all kinds of amazing work here, planting, building, growing crops. It’s the best way to learn!” In fact, she says, “I was worried, but now I think I might even want to be a farmer when I grow up!” |  Layla Schoeing, Altimira Student. Photo: Rick Bolen. |
 Sarah Summers, SVHS Senior. Photo: Rick Bolen. | Sarah is a Senior at Sonoma Valley High and is the first in her family to go through the rigorous college application process. She has a 4.1 GPA, is Editor for a student magazine, co-editor of the student newspaper and varsity goalie for the Waterpolo Team. Even so, she wondered if she would have what it takes to get into a great college. This year, she relied the College and Career Center at Sonoma Valley High School to finish all 11 of her applications. “It helps to have so much support here at school. They are honest, helpful, and knowledgeable.” She applied to Princeton, Barnard, UCLA and more. Best of luck, Sarah! |
| Carlos was never excited about school. Like other students, he needed to find a subject or class in school that would ignite his love of learning – that is, until he took the Horticulture class at Altimira Middle School. The School Gardens Project gave him a chance to break from the daily routines of desks, classrooms and chalkboards; he learned by doing. Carlos explains, “The Garden changed how I see the world. It’s hard to grow food. You have to plant the seeds at the right depth, with the right spacing and the right amount of water.” Over his 2 years in Horticulture, Calros helped build the new School Garden at Altimira. The result is a new set of goals for Carlos: “I am doing better in school. I want to go to college, and maybe work on computers.” |  Carlos Ortiz Valencia, Altimira Student. Photo: Rick Bolen. |
 Emily Madrigal, Altimira Student. Photo: Rick Bolen. | Emily didn’t know what to expect when she began her first Horticulture class at Altimira Middle School 2 years ago. She soon found that each day, she and her classmates spent only a short time in the classroom, and then head outdoors to build, dig, grow and learn in the School Garden (for which the SVEF is a key supporter). Emily now considers Horticulture her favorite class. “If it’s a day for being out on the garden, growing things and learning, it’s a good day!" Emily looks forward to the Agriculture Program at Sonoma Valley High School. In fact, she’s learned so much about growing food and taking care of a garden, that her grandmother is now asking her to come over and help in her garden! |
| Citalli was one of the first students in the Sonoma Valley to take part in the brand new Exploratorium Science Project. She didn’t know what to expect, because Science had always been her hardest subject. She often felt she just didn’t understand it. The Exploratorium Science Project – which is designed as a series of inquiries, in which students explore scientific concepts through hands-on projects – helped her understand. Today, Citalli is in Middle School and Science is her favorite class! “It got my grades up, and I am one of the best students in my 6th grade science class. I leaned to work in groups, and that way we help each other and learn from each other.” Right now Citalli has an A- in Science. She says the reason is simple: “In Exploratorium Science, you’re actually doing something, not just reading about it in a book!” |  Citalli Alvez, Altimira Student. Photo: Rick Bolen. |
 Lizbet Ruiz, Altimira Student. Photo: Rick Bolen. | Lizbet has a whole new view on nutrition since she began to take part in the School Garden Project at her middle school. Many students never consider eating vegetables like kale, chard, peppers and beets. But when they plant the seeds, tend to the plants and finally harvest the veggies, everything changes. Thanks to the School Garden Project, Lizbet is now something of a beet expert! “They have to be 4-5 inches apart from each other to grow properly,” she says. “And in the end, they taste great!” She also brings her lessons from the School Garden home to her family. “I ask my parents to buy beets and peppers now because I know all about them.” We see professional cooking in her future! |
Exploratorium Science Project
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Make a donation today!
Donate as little as $5. Every donation counts.
"Supporting our community by supporting our kids' education is a no-brainer... They deserve our best efforts"
-Susan Reber, Mission Hills Mortgage