Whitney Hoyt Hopes to Close Marin City Achievement Gap

The assistant principal at San Rafael High School just got a new job at a Marin City non-profit.

Assistant Principal Whitney Hoyt will be leaving San Rafael High School this year to join a Marin City non-profit. Hoyt will become the educational director of Bridge the Gap College Prep, the Marin County non-profit group which serves Marin City students through tutoring and after-school programs.  “I am looking forward to working with Bridge the Gap and their great team of dedicated staff and volunteers to help close the achievement gap of Marin City students,” she said. The 51-year-old San Rafael resident will help lead Bridge the Gap College Prep’s program growth, and work closely with Sausalito and Marin City and Tamalpais Union High School Districts to support students. “Whitney is well known and respected in the educational …

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Alcohol at the Prom: Do You Support Zero-Tolerance Enforcement?

A bus driver who transported 35 student leaders from Dixon to a prom found a bottle containing alcohol on the bus, prompting the kids to be banned from the dance. If that happened at Redwood or Marin Catholic, would you support the school administration?

There's a wild story developing up in Dixon, one that you'll probably hear and see on radio and TV news in the coming days (although our Patch buddy Carlos Villatoro is all over it already). You might be interested here in the Twin Cities because we're heading into prom season at our high schools. Thirty-five students from Dixon High's leadership class were banned from their junior prom when someone allegedly left a bottle of vitamin water containing alcohol on the bus that took them to the dance. The students — some of whom had participated in an Every 15 Minutes Program last week warning them of about the dangers of drinking and driving — were stuck outside the venue when they were blocked from attending the event they had planned. The …

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Need Gas?

Larkspur-Corte Madera Patch is highlighting local entries all week for the Larkspur Youth Film Festival, scheduled for April 29 at the Lark Theater.

The Larkspur Youth Film Festival will spotlight some amazing local talent on April 29. Among the local film makers is Corte Madera's Alex Herz, 15. A Redwood High School freshman Alex, will present the narrative Need Gas. Following is a Q&A with Alex: • Alex Herz, Corte Madera, 15 • Redwood High Freshman • Need Gas (Narrative) • How did you hear about the festival? I've been an entrant to the film festival for a couple years now, this is actually my third film submitted. • How did the idea for the film come about? The idea was inspired by an article in the New York Times Magazine entitled, "The Tire Iron and the Tamale." • What were the challenges of making the film? Possibly the biggest challenge for me was lining up actors and getting …

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Redwood Student Lopez Creates Soundtrack For Festival

Larkspur-Corte Madera Patch is highlighting local entries all week for the Larkspur Youth Film Festival, scheduled for April 29 at the Lark Theater.

The Larkspur Youth Film Festival will spotlight some amazing local talent on April 29. Among the local film makers is Corte Madera's Nick Lopez, 15. A Redwood High School sophomore Nix as he likes to be called, will present his music video City of Music. Following is a Q&A with Nix: • How did you hear about the festival? One of my camera operators told me about it • How did the idea for the film come about? I wanted to emulate the life of a struggling musician, down on her luck, and how just some encouragement can go a long way. When I was writing the song, I had already envisioned this video. I was lucky to have collaborated on the song with a rapper who lives in Virginia, who shared the same vision. • What were the challenges of making …

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Is Your Student Sleep Deprived?

A student survey reveals a disturbing trend, reports the Redwood Bark.

Remember those late-night cram sessions before finals? Well, your kids are probably spending even more late nights doing their homework, according to one author. A student survey by the Redwood Bark would seem to back up that statement. The 2010 study says only 27 percent of Redwood students say they get enough sleep. It is suggested that juveniles need about nine hours of sleep each night. So maybe it takes awhile for students to wake up in the morning, or they get drowsy in the afternoon. What's the harm? Medical News Today reported a study by Fred Danner, PhD, of the University of Kentucky says a lack of sleep could not only hurt a student's grades, but could also lead to serious health problems, including ADHD. The American Academy of …

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Redwood Rider Masters Laguna-Seca

Josie Nordrum leads the Giants' mountain biking team to a key victory as the NorCal championships draw near.

The Giants thundered across the tricky terrain at Laguna-Seca recently, led by Josie Nordrum, who outraced Branson's Kate Courtney to the checkered flag. Redwood High School rode away with the victory in the third of the five scheduled races this season in the NorCal High School Cycling League. Redwood (3,866 points) beat runner-up Salinas by 81 points and Drake by 98 points. San Rafael (3,635) finished fourth, followed by sixth-place Branson (3,497), seventh-lace Tamalpais (3,392) and ninth-place Marin Catholic (3,094) in the Division 1 race. Nordrum (1 minute, 24.15 seconds) won the varsity girls race by nearly 2 minutes ahead of second-place Courtney. On the varsity boys side, Marin Catholic's Taylor Smith (1:33.04) lost a wheel-to-…

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From The Sidelines, To The Gym, To ... The Olympics?

Redwood High senior Olivia Smith shoulders a heavy load as one of the top junior weighlifters in the nation, reports the Redwood Bark.

Denim & Diamonds; Burgers & Lasers

Redwood Rocks gala event raises much-needed funds for several of the high school's programs.

Do you need a laser to cut that burger? I hope not, but while waiters were serving up turkey burger sliders, Richard Esteb was hoping to find a cutting tool other than a steak knife. Esteb, who teaches applied technology at Redwood High School, was one of the stars of Saturday night's Redwood Rocks at the Corte Madera Recreation Center. The $100-a head auction and party is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Redwood Foundation. Organizers have not yet announced the total amount raised at the Denim & Diamonds-themed gala. "They better (the Foundation does), the better my chances of getting my equipment," Esteb said, "so I'm really hoping things go well." The latest report shows the Redwood Foundation has raised nearly $300,…

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Oakland School Shooting: Links to News Stories and Community Reactions

Use the blue scroll bar to read this round-up of news about a shooting that left seven dead in Oakland Monday.

After Monday's mass killing at a private religious university in Oakland, how safe do you feel at your school? Parents, are you going to keep in closer contact with your students? Follow the news links here to find out more about the shooting at Oikos University, a school geared toward the Korean community. Add your own thoughts and reactions to the voices in the comments section.

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Ready To Rock?

Redwood will rock you on Saturday night during its annual fundraiser.

In case you haven't heard the band lately, Redwood really rocks! Things are really going to get shaking Saturday with the Redwood Rocks fundraiser, organized by the Redwood High School Foundation. President Mark Hutchinson is hoping the gala evening will raise $20,000-$50,000 for school arts and music programs, athletics and more. The evening is scheduled for 6-10 p.m. at the Corte Madera Recreation Center. Admission is $100 per person in advance or $110 at the door. "The mission of the foundation is to raise money for the school and, secondly, to develop a sense of community among the families," Hutchinson said. "I hope and expect this event do both those things. Redwood Rocks provides a venue for families to come together, have fun and …

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