Students’ LearnStorm interest nets Chromebooks
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BAYAREA NEWS GROUP
Thanks to Google. org via DonorsChoose, Westlake Elementary School in Daly City and Fiesta Gardens International Elementary School in San Mateo will receive 33 brand- new Chromebooks for classroom use. In addition, students who are eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program will be offered six months of complimentary home Internet service from Comcast’s Internet Essentials. These awards will help students continue practicing their math skills online, both at school and at home.
The schools earned these prizes by signing up
102 at least half their eligible students for LearnStorm and ensuring that students spent at least half an hour practicing their Common Core math skills on Khan Academy. Westlake Elementary is currently ranked No. 7 in mastery points per eligible student out of all Bay Area schools . “I initially asked the third- through sixth- grade teachers and students to log on and try LearnStorm for at least 30 minutes so that we could be eligible for the award. It was amazing to hear that ( the students) really enjoyed the experience,” said Westlake fourth- grade teacher Michele Bantugam. “Many of the students went back on the program, even after they finished their initial 30 minutes. They asked if they could work on LearnStorm math activities during their scheduled computer times or if they could even use the program at home.”
Oscar Oyama is a fifthgrade teacher at Fiesta Gardens. Khan Academy’s gamification product, LearnStorm, has sparked an interest in many of the school’s fifth- grade students . “They are enjoying practicing their math skills while unlocking new avatars along the way,” he said.
The challenge is designed to emphasize school spirit, collaboration and perseverance around learning— encouraging students of all abilities to get excited about and to master their math level. The initiative comes out of Khan Academy research done in collaboration with Dr. Carol Dweck, author of “Mindset: How You Can Fulfill Your Potential,” and others who advocate the growth mindset.
For details, visit www. learnstorm2015. com.
College fund scholars
The year 2015 brings the 10th class of Peninsula College Fund scholars since its founding in 2005. This summer, the fund expects to have a total of 52 college graduates and 64 more first- generation scholars in the program. Melissa Sandoval is one of
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 the fund’s recent graduates and is already giving back by joining its board of directors. “PCF gave me the tools necessary to develop academically and professionally,” she said. “It helped me achieve my dreams of graduating from college and prepared me for a career. Words cannot explain how grateful I am to be part of the PCF family, and I am honored to continue to take part in such an amazing organization.”
On May 14 , the group is hosting a Young Professionals Happy Hour at Gordon Biersch from 6: 30 to 8 p. m. in Palo Alto where civic- minded professionals can enjoy unlimited beer and garlic fries. Tickets are $ 30 and the sales benefit the fund. For details, go to www. peninsulacollegefund. org/ events.
Day of giving is set
Following a successful first- ever regional day of giving that benefited more than 600 nonprofit organizations last spring, Silicon Valley Community Foundation has announced that it will again host Silicon Valley Gives on May 5. Sponsored through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the event is an on line day of giving to support local nonprofits. For more information, go to www. SVGives. org.