Petaluma, founded in 1858, a semi-rural city of approximately 60,000 people, is located 45 miles north of San Francisco along Highway 101 in Sonoma County. Petaluma is an old California city with dairies, poultry producers, farms and ranches, and a new wave of technologically-based industries such as Broderbund Software, Advanced Fiber Communications, and Cisco Systems.
There are seven school districts in the Petaluma area. Meadow School and Corona Creek School are within the Waugh School District, and serves 890 children in grades kindergarten through six. The district had grown from 100 to 900 students in the last twelve years. The district has a population that is approximately 85% Caucasian, 12% Hispanic, and 3% other ethnic representation. Approximately 10% of the population receives free lunch, while the remainder are middle to upper-middle class students.
The Waugh School District is a wonderful place for the entire school community - especially children. Parents and Board members can be overheard in local stores talking about the most recent exciting events at Meadow or Corona Creek Schools.
From the beginning of the year when the principals dress as the school's mascots, the Meadow Hawk and the Corona Creek Cougar, to an astronomy night when the whole community gathers together to view the skies and listen to lessons from Northern California astronomers; to Ocean's Month when students pet live sharks in our library; to Fort Ross as all 4th graders assume the identities of early Russian immigrants for two days; to recycling when all 2nd graders sort through a weeks worth of school trash at a school-wide assembly; to a 6th grade class in marketing, nutrition, and statistics when the students visit a local supermarket to assess on which shelves cereal with the most sugar is located, the district is indeed an exciting place for students.
The school's staff is unbelievable. In addition to being enthusiastic about children and learning, they work extremely well together as a team making important decisions about allocation of resources, and are committed to ensuring that their vision, Relentlessly Pursuing Success For All, is achieved. The Board and administration's commitment to excellence results in class sizes which currently range between 16 - 26.
Special needs students are provided with a full-time ESL specialist for 38 bilingual Hispanic students, a Friendship Program for primary students at risk of future school failure, a creatively designed Chapter 1 program which focuses on making sure primary grades children get it the first time around, a MFCC who runs a social skills group for children having school difficulties, a gifted and talented program in which participants create businesses and learn marketing, budgeting, and sales strategies, and a special education program which focuses on working with students and their teachers in their regular classes.
A Student Study Team is highly successful in assisting students, parents, and teachers with issues that stand in the way of children's attainment of our goals. There is also a classroom music program, an After School Enrichment Program, and a full-time computer lab specialist and library-media specialist at each school.
The high expectations of our administration, community and staff have resulted in a school environment which is safe, caring, and productive. High behavior standards, consistency among all staff members, and a variety of social skills programs have resulted in a school with very few disciplinary referrals. Our principals are very visible, and can be seen in classes, having lunch with students, and playing with students at recess. Monthly assemblies are held which promote good behavior, academic achievement, and a sense of community.
Parents are extremely involved at both Corona Creek and Meadow Schools. Visitors would see parents involved in all aspects of the school's operation. There are volunteers in classrooms, the library, computer lab, office, and assisting with maintenance of the school. Parents are proud of their schools and go to great lengths to provide support.
There is unanimous belief that Meadow School and Corona Creek School are great places for children, teachers, other staff members, and the entire community. With close to 100 requests for interdistrict transfers each year, frequent positive newspaper coverage, and a large number of applications for teaching positions, it seems the whole community recognizes the hard work and dedication which we invest in children to make sure they are well prepared for their futures.
Dr. Scott Mahoney
smahoney@waugh.k12.ca.us
