Twins and Triplets

The AVHS Agriculture Department has welcomed 10 new babies into the world- all goats. In the very first birth after this mating season twins were born last Wednesday, triplets came last Thursday, twins again on Saturday and a second set of triplets were born Monday morning. Beth Swelha head of the agriculture department and a very experienced livestock farmer was on the phone looking for extra goat milk when I interviewed  with her this morning. She knows which mothers can handle three babies and which may need help. I kept pressing her for names because last year there was a goat named peanut which appealed to me. There were no names to report. As a city girl who loved visiting the barns at the Los Angeles County Fair I never really got over baby farm animals or how cute they are. Last year I took some pictures of students holding babies and they were smiling from ear to ear so maybe nobody ever really get over it. 

Census Meeting Changed

If you would like to make sure everyone gets counted and that we get all the local funding we deserve come to a meeting in the Adult School (next to Peachland Preschool) on Feb 17th at 3:30. All are welcome.

Squirmy Worms

Outside of Vicky Brock’s classroom are a number of compost bins filled with compost and the worms that create it. Recently I passed by the area and there were a number of kids gently pawing through wet compost pulling wigglers out. Principal Donna Pierson Pugh arrived on the scene to tell me that this was incredible soil that her personal worms had created that was going to be donated onto the Elementary School garden to enrich it. The worms were being separated out and would be added to the 4th grade bins. A few of us wondered out loud how the resident worms would take to an invasion by Donna’s worms and were worms territorial? We did not reach a conclusion. Does anybody know?
These special composting worms are very thin and dark red. They do not look like earthworms, they appear to be more delicate.

Toby Manages Sports

Toby White who has served as a substitute teacher at AVHS gave two classes a glimpse into his world. AVID teacher Betsy Taylor invited me to sit in. I have to mention that the second time Betsy in her soft spoken voice asked the students who were overflowing her classroom to be quiet by her second request they were and I mean silent. It was impressive. When Toby took the floor her had everyone’s attention. Formerly obsessed with the idea that he wanted to become a professional baseball player he told us he practiced until his hands blistered and bled. When he didn’t make the majors he looked around for another way to make sports his life. He is currently part of the Master’s Program in Sports Management at the University of San Francisco. Sports Management
is all things business that relate to sports. Marketing, advertising, and sponsorships are all part of the sports management field. He had a chance to go to Korea where he got a close up look at just how detailed and involved sports marketing campaigns can be. Toby advised students, “Create every day, everyday that you don’t someone else is.” He said if you are just kicking back playing with your phone you will be left way behind in the game of life (not his exact words). For those who have a dream of playing professional sports “Coaches need to see you with their own eyes”. If you are from a small place like Boonville he recommended going to camps where scouts and coaches might have a chance to check you out. It was suggested that the Education Foundation which is set up to assist students reach educational goals might be a good place to look for financial help in attending an educational training camp. One thing that came through loud and clear was his dedication of his goals and his self-confessed competitive spirit. I think it is a pretty good guess that Toby will go far.

Parents: You Matter

“Parents: You Matter- Drugs, Alcohol Your Teen & YOU” is the title of the program
being presented this Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 5:30 pm in the AVHS Career Center Classroom. Learn the steps parents can take to help their child avoid getting involved in drugs or how to get help if you suspect or know your teen is using. Information at 895-2146.

Many Faces of Foliage

Strolling down the High School Hall I saw one of large bulletin boards covered with botanical drawings. Simple compositions including branches, leaves and seedpods were posted side by side and are remarkable for their variation. Each student focused on a different aspect of the plant. Some really got into coloration- the leaves by Gimmena Manrique use so many shades of green on the same branch that it’s dazzling but it looks right. Anyone who drives down Hwy. 128 to Yorkville regularly can testify to the amazing variety of greens out there. Lucero Jimenez choose to show the texture of the branch outlining every bump- bumps that no one else saw when they drew that particular acorn holding oak branch. They say if you can see you can draw. Art teacher Nadia Berrigan clearly helps her students to see and the result is that they sure can draw. Simple and sensitive this set of lovely drawings made my day.  Lucero and Gimmena were recently awarded scholarships to attend classes at the Art Barn in Boonville taught by Susan Gross. AVArts is sponsoring both talented artists for two month long memberships which include a three hour class each Tuesday night and additional access to the studio for personal work two additional nights each week. AVArts is an organization that continually works to promote the arts and art education opportunities in the Anderson Valley.  

Bev & Betsy In Symphony

Beverly Karkruff and Betsy Taylor both veteran teachers at Anderson Valley High School are members of the Symphony of the Redwoods and will be playing in their Winter Concert. Ravel, Prokofiev and Mozart will be featured on Feb. 20 at 8:00 and Feb. 21 at 2:00 in Cotton Hall in Fort Bragg. Call 707 964-0898 for information.

Treat Your Valentine

The AG Floriculture Department is taking orders for Valentines flowers through noon on Thursday- E-mail or call Beth Swelha at 895-2514 or bswehla@mcn.org there are lots of different options available from $2.00 to $10.00. The Young Mother’s Group is raising money for field trips and projects by selling Valentine Cookies personalized for $3.00 or plain for $2.50 and Hershey Kiss Long Stem Roses in red, blue or purple for $3.00. Call 895-2953 to place an order.

Got School News? tryder@mcn.org or (707) 895-2146