Volume XII, Issue 26: January 24, 2014

Absentis Nuntius (The Reporter is Missing)
Your Editor was unable to attend last Friday's meeting. However, I have uncovered some clues (and I received help from my fellow Sunrisers) that may allow me to reconstruct portions of the proceedings. There is even the possibility that what you read may be more accurate than previous issues of the Spirit. Here goes ...

A (Very Brief) Moment With Alex
President Jessica provided a visual showing changes in the blazer belonging to Exchange Student Alex Rialet. Some Exchangers gain weight during their Exchange Year, and some don't. But their jackets always put on the pounds!

The Evolution of the Jacket

Announcements
Dictionaries are being presented to Third Graders at local schools this week - This Friday, we will be visiting Jacoby Creek School at about 8:40 am - shortly after our meeting! It's a lot of fun, so don't miss out. Thanks to Jeff Stebbins for organizing the deliveries!

The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise will celebrate 22 years of service to the community and beyond on February 11th. Our Charter Night celebration will be held at the Ingomar Club, and the cost is $20 per person. Please bring your spouse or significant other to help us pat ourselves on the back a little bit.

Hoist the Jolly Roger and shiver your timbers, 'cause the Pirates' Ball will be here afore ye know it! On March 8th, the Arcata Community Center will be crawlin' with scallywags, scamps, and rapscallions. 'Tis our task to round up these miscreants and get 'em to buy - tables first, then the raffle 'n auction booty (that we also should be collectin'). Get with yer mateys, and come up with some serious swag - one raffle item (valued at up to $100), three silent auction items ($101 to $499), and one live auction prize ($500 and up). Along with our partners, the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department, we're fixin' to come away with quite a few doubloons!

Estate Planning
Last Friday's Featured Speaker was Jim Aste of the Harland Law Firm. Jim moved to Humboldt County in 1990, and was the owner of Pacific Coast Electric until 1999. In that role, he specialized in energy-efficient retrofits, such as the one he performed for the Arcata Co-op. In 1999, Jim attended law school. He joined the Harland firm in 2001, specializing in business law, real estate, and solid waste law. However, the bulk of his practice involves estate planning. Jim and his wife Susan live in Ferndale, and Jim served a term on the Ferndale City Council. His wife says that in his spare time "all he does is mow the lawn and work on the house".

Since Your Editor missed Jim's presentation, I cannot report on it. However, I will leave you with President Jessica's notes on the importance of estate planning:

Jim Aste with President Jessica

When I worked in the financial service sector, we asked every client if they had a current estate plan. I continue to ask my tax clients this question, and all too often the answer is no. In an effort to help my fellow Rotarians avoid giving a similar answer, I determined [that] an important speaker for this year [would be] someone to talk with all of you about the importance of estate planning. Whether you need a will or a trust, understanding the implications of probate and planning for the process is something your heirs will thank you for some day.

Photo courtesy of Angelo Bacigaluppi

Volume XII, Issue 25: January 17, 2014

What's New With Alex?
At our last meeting, Exchange Student Alex Rialet said that he was completing three days of finals at Arcata High later that day. He did make time for baseball tryouts and a movie. He also planned to attend last Saturday's Fortuna Sunrise Rotary Formal. Alex has also been following the NFL playoffs, rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles alongside his host dad, Craig Reed. Sadly, the Eagles lost, so most of the crowd encouraged him to cheer on the 49ers. We'll have to hear who he favors in the Super Bowl.

Announcements
Due to the lack of precipitation in Northern California, the traditional District 5130 Youth Exchange Ski Trip has morphed into the Youth Exchange Winter Retreat. It will take place this weekend (January 24th through the 26th), close to home. The students will gather at the Samoa Women's Club, but their activities will take them to Eureka for a service project and roller skating. 

We have been asked to provide dinner for the Exchangers on the first night of their Retreat (Friday, January 24th). If you can help with this, please contact Ian Schatz.

Next week, we will be delivering "Dictionaries for Third Graders". Sunrisers will be on hand at Arcata Elementary on Monday, January 27th at 9 am. The following day - also at 9 am - we will attend Pacific Union School, and following our Friday meeting, members of our Club will travel to Jacoby Creek School for an 8:40 am assembly. Click on this link to sign up for one or more of the events.

Be vigilant - we have a "hands-on" event coming soon, although the exact date is not known. Our Club will be helping the HSU Natural History Museum move from its current location to the old Figueiredo's building across the street.

It's a date! Or at least, there is a date for our Charter Night Celebration. The event will take place at Eureka's Ingomar Club on Wednesday, February 11th. There will be a no-host bar and hors d'oeuvres as we celebrate our Club's 22nd birthday. The cost will be $20 per person, and you are definitely encouraged to bring your spouse or significant other.

On  February 8th, the Rotary Club of Fortuna Sunrise is presenting "Crabfest 2013", its annual fundraiser at the Fortuna Veterans Hall. The cost is $35 for adults and $15 for kids, which gets you all the crab, salad, and pasta you can consume. If you're in a hurry, they do have a drive-thru option. 

And don't forget our own fundraiser - the Pirates' Ball, to be held at the Arcata Community Center on Saturday, March 8th. Please sell tables and work on getting your auction and raffle prizes. The auction/raffle teams will be announced at next Friday's meeting.

Returning Scholar Discusses Cal Poly and Alexandria
In 2010, Thomas Salamunovich received the four-year RCAS Memorial Scholarship to help fund his education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He visited us last Friday to provide an update on his studies in architecture.

Thomas receives his check from Julie Vaissade-Elcock as Jessica looks on

As studio work is not offered at Cal Poly, Tom said that he was sent to Alexandria, Virginia for some hands-on work. The town reminds him of Arcata, and the school he is working with is small - only about 200 students. President Jessica noted that with a small student body, "if you miss class, they know." Tom agreed, saying, "One of my professors was actually my upstairs neighbor."

"The classes are great," he said. "I really like working in the woodshop." In a Design-Build class that he attended, he had the opportunity to work on a spiral staircase. Tom also was selected for an internship at a remodeling firm, where he hand-drafts plans, sections, and elevations. "I can't wait to get back!" he said.  When he returns to California, he will have one more year at Cal Poly. And before he left, we provided the final installment of his scholarship.


Highlights from the Board Meetings
The Club and Foundation Boards met last week, and President Jessica provided the following highlights:

Club Business

• Attendance for December was 62.8%, down from November, but better than the previous December. Please try to do make-ups when you can't attend our Friday meetings.
• The Treasurer's Report and the Agenda (containing Committee Reports) are available on our website, in the members-only section (scroll to the bottom of the page).
• The Club budget includes an amount to support the President-Elect if she or he opts to attend the Rotary International Convention. The Board has decided to offer those funds to other Club members to attend the events if they are not used by the P-E. If you are considering attending an upcoming Convention, please contact Jessica or a Board Member to discuss the options.

Foundation Business

• The Treasurer's Report and Agenda for the Foundation are also on the website. President Jessica said that the net income for Taste of the Holidays was $14,081 - 8.3% above our target budget! Hooray!! And thanks to Ron Sharp and the others on the TOTH Committee!
• The World Community Services Committee had requested that an amount be set aside each year to build a fund for future Rotary Foundation Matching Grant projects. The Board did not act on this request, noting that any project that requires funding beyond the committee's budget for that year can be presented to the board for consideration. Historically, such requests have been looked on quite favorably.

Recognitions 
Bryan Plumley noted that Rotary Kid Mary Crow's hair was considerably shorter than it had been. Although she was being closed-mouthed about it, Mary recently cut off over 12 inches of her lovely hair and donated it to an organization that provides hairpieces to kids who have lost theirs during disease treatment. Although it was a wonderful donation, it should be noted that Mary's new shorter 'do looks "super cute," as Bryan put it.

Bob Moore was recognized for changing jobs - he left Umpqua Bank for Coast Central Credit Union. Bob said that things have gone full circle. "I started my career right out of college at Coast Central." Congratulations to Bob.

We played "Liar, Liar" with Jeff Stebbins. In this game, a Sunriser (Jeff, in this case) makes three statements. Two are true, and one is a lie. Another Sunriser (Lori Breyer this time) tries to determine which statement is false. Lori guessed correctly - can you? Here are Jeff's claims to fame. The falsehood is identified at the bottom of this post:

1. He lived in Colorado ..
2. He bicycled through France and Switzerland
3. He climbed Mount Rainier

Special Days
Randy Mendosa's birthday was Sunday, January 5th, and it was "kinda quiet". The family had been to Disneyland the previous week, so a little relaxation was in order. Randy said that they did have dinner at Larrupin's.

Friday, January 10th was Bryan Plumley's birthday was a busy day. The family realized that the only time that they would be able to all be together was in the morning. Sooooo, Bryan had cake for breakfast, and he received a bottle of scotch as a gift. (No, he didn't use it to wash down the cake.)

Scott Heller thanked everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes as he dealt with the recent loss of Scott's father. On his birthday, Scott had just returned from visiting with his family. On the trip home, he and Robin lingered for two days in Healdsburg. While there, they indulged in some spa treatments and food. If you visit, Scott recommends that you check out a restaurant called Chalkboard - Scott said that it was "a day of meat".

Sunriser Maggie Kraft Discusses a New Grant Proposal
When Maggie Kraft was serving with the Peace Corps in Botswana, she was approached by a woman who asked for help for her son, Erto. The boy was born with clubfoot, and Maggie was initially at a loss, wondering what could be done. 

As Maggie looked into the disorder, she learned of an organization called STEPS South Africa. STEPS was founded in 1995 by Karen Moss, whose son Alex was also born with clubfoot. The two traveled to the United States in 2003, where the boy was treated by Ignacio Ponseti, who had developed a nonsurgical clubfoot therapy. 

STEPS now promotes the Ponseti Method in South Africa, and provided the first training sessions for the local orthopedics community in 2006. In 2012, practitioners from Botswana, Mozambique, and Namibia were also trained. 

A child undergoing the treatment is initially placed in a cast. When the cast is removed, he or she wears a special brace for 23 hours each day for three to six months. After this initial period, the brace is only worn while the child sleeps, for the next four years. 

The Ponseti Method is a good match for Southern Africa, as it is less expensive and less traumatic than surgery. The therapy does require diligent attention from several parties: the doctor, who spends 6-8 weeks correcting the foot, and following up with the patient; the orthotist, who fits the brace at the initial consultation, then makes adjustments to the brace as the child grows; and the parent, who must ensure that the brace is worn as prescribed. 

Maggie said that our Club is trying to pull together $10,000 which will be leveraged into a total of $25,000 to be used for the following:

• Develop, print, and distribute parent education materials. These will be provided to rural clinics to help parents understand the importance of early treatment and adherence to the treatment.
• Purchase braces for 400 children.
• Provide training materials for three training sessions of two days each for 60 professionals in Nelspruit, South Africa; Francistown, Botswana; and Oshakati, Namibia.

Maggie Kraft with President Jessica

STEPS will provide local support by assisting practitioners following their initial training. The organization will also train community educators and pay them to work with parents in local clinics. Country coordinators will also be paid in the three countries, and STEPS will pay the cost of training South African doctors in the Ponseti Method. 

Our Club has pledged $2,500 to the project, and individual Sunrisers have donated an additional $1,000. In addition, an anonymous Sunriser will match donations up to $3,000. The Rotary Club of Eureka is contributing $500, and the Rotary Club of Gaborone, Botswana will kick in at least $100. We need an additional $3,000 from local Rotary Clubs to apply for a Global Grant of $25,000. Talk with Rotarians from other Clubs and encourage them to help out.

Volume XII, Issue 24: January 10, 2014

Alex the Eagle!

Alex's Week in Review
Exchange Student Alex Rialet switched host families recently. On the first weekend of 2014, he moved from Angelo Baciagaluppi's household to that of Craig Reed. The transition was celebrated with dinner at a Mexican restaurant. President Jessica asked whether there are Mexican restaurants in France. Alex said that there are not as many, but there are some. Once Alex was ensconced at Craig's house, they watched the NFL playoffs, rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles. Alex is also starting to play baseball - taking on American pastimes one by one!

Announcements
Last Friday, President Jessica re-reminded us that the second dues installment are past dues for those who opted to pay their Club dues in two easy payments. Please get the money to Treasurer Bryan "Guido" Reeser soon!

District 5130's Youth Exchange Winter Get-Together is scheduled for January 24th through the 26th. The venue for the meeting, once known as the "Ski Trip", has changed due to the lack of snow in the Northern Hemisphere. The Exchangers will now convene in Samoa, where next year's Outbounders will learn their host country assignments. They will then pair with the appropriate Inbounder to play "Teach Me About Your Country". Other activities include a service project with the Lost Coast Rotaract, roller skating at the Eureka Municipal Auditorium, and breakfast at the Samoa Cookhouse.

Jessica also re-reminded us that pirates will take over the Arcata Community Center on Saturday, March 8th. Our Spring Fundraiser will take place then and there, so be sure that it's on your calendar! 

Recognitions
Ceva Courtemanche led the Recognitions segment of last week's meeting. She called upon the crowd to try to determine whether the statements she made were about Joyce Hinrichs or about Julie Vaissade-Elcock. Each team was provided a photo of each woman ... on a stick, to be used to signify which Sunriser each statement referred to. I don't think I got all the facts, but here goes (the answers can be found at the bottom of the page):

Julie with Joyce, and Joyce with Julie!

1. I was the first female Student Body President of my high school.
2. I sold lambs at the Humboldt County Fair.
3. I rollerskated in competitions when I was younger.
4. I've been on the board of HCAR for over 10 years.
5. I've moved 12 times in the last 33 years.
6. I had 50th and 50th surprise birthday parties, both at the Humboldt Viewing (?) Room
7. I have a niece whose father is in the Club.

On December 28th, Kathy and Bill Fraser celebrated their 43rd anniversary. They marked the occasion with their annual whirlwind tour visiting family. It was a busy time, and Kathy said, "I know why my mother just about had a fit when I chose the date." They were busy before then, traveling to Reno, Alameda, and Medford. "We were exhausted," she said. "We did go out to Larrupin's, though."

Rebecca Crow said that she and her husband Ben were on vacation when their anniversary cropped up on January 2nd, so "we're going to have a make-up". They were busy with their kids visiting family and friends in Portland.

Lynda Moore's birthday was Saturday, January 4th, but she didn't go to a party - "The holidays were pretty demanding, so I just wanted it to be quiet. Some friends didn't want to hear that, so they brought the party to our house." They brought food, flowers, and other party necessities. " All I had to do was sit there, which was kind of odd, in my own house."

About the Spring Fundraiser
The remainder of last week's meeting was devoted to the Spring Fundraiser. President Jessica started by telling us how she feels about the event:

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will tell everyone that I really care about this event. I joined the Club in its inaugural year, and I've enjoyed serving on the Committee since then. I've personally learned how to enjoy the art of fundraising through this event; something I never thought I would develop an interest in. My goal with the presentation today is to help everyone here to start to build enthusiasm for the experience. The event asks for and expects a lot from Club members. And I recognize and appreciate that.

But it is also what gives us the ability to go out and do all of the Community Service work that we are able to do in our community. It allows us to put dictionaries in the hands of third graders in Arcata schools, it allows us to do events like Every 15 Minutes at the high school, to give $9,000 to every year in scholarships to graduating high school students, do a makeover at the Boys & Girls Club as we did earlier this year, feed a holiday dinner to the foster youth families. All those amazing things we do in the community. We create our fundraiser events to take in community donations and turn those donations into good service in our own backyard and around the world. And that's something all of us need to not take lightly.

Jessica also talked about the history of the event, how it began with a five-year commitment to the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) to help fund the construction of a new fire station. The event was an enormous success, all created through the efforts of volunteers from both entities. The construction of the firehouse proved to be a moving target, and the partnership has continued for 12 years and counting. 

Susan Jansson said that she and Barbara Browning had been asked by our Board to look at the Spring Fundraiser to help us plan its future. What they determined was that the AVFD's contribution is critical - a point reiterated by Event Chair Dan Johnson later in the meeting. They recommend that we continue to work with the Fire Department, looking at the possibility of adding a third partner to the event, in large part to bring in new attendees.

Dan reminded us that the AVFD has a unique service area. It is a nonprofit group that affects about 30,000 residents of Humboldt County. He told us that the Fire Department is passionate about the partnership, and their part is substantial - preparing the dinner, serving the guests, and being fully engaged in the planning for the event. If we had to pay a caterer to handle the tasks taken on by the AVFD, the net proceeds would drop considerably. 

Dan wants each Sunriser to sell a table for the event. Invitations have been sent to about 300 people so far, but we would like to bring in people who have not attended before. He said that we are not just looking to fill the room - we want to attract people who will spend additional money on raffle and auction items. 

Dan also reminded us that the event is a FUN-raiser, not just a FUND-raiser - people have a great time each year.  When he sells tickets to the event, he emphasizes the fun that people will have. He's ready if they ask how we use the money, but folks will keep coming back if they have a great time.

So watch for the Raffle/Auction group lists, and start looking for businesses and groups to purchase tables. Let's have some fun!

 

Answers - Julie or Joyce???

1. Joyce
2. Joyce: "I was in 4-H ... [from] fifth grade to high school", raising and selling lambs.
3. Julie: The rollerskating took place "when I was really little" - 2nd or 3rd grade.
4. Julie: HCAR stands for Humboldt Community Access and Resource Center, and the organization helps adults with developmental disabilities. "They help with housing, getting them jobs, helping them keep their jobs, taking them to the doctor - helping [their clients] with whatever they need."
5. Julie: "My husband [Stan] worked for CalTrans," she said, so they moved all over, mostly in California, during the early years of their marriage. Her favorite place, other than Humboldt County, was Seattle.
6. Joyce: She was more surprised at the 50th birthday party. At the 40th birthday, her children were younger and were a little too excited for Mommy to get up for a "meeting". However, ten years passed, and Joyce was adamant that there should be no party for this landmark date. It still happened.
7. Joyce: "My brother's son married Mark [Burtchett's] daughter, and they have three beautiful children."

Volume XII, Issue 23: January 3, 2014

Halfy New Year!!
Although we had our first meeting of 2014 last week, New Year's Day marks the midpoint of the Rotary Year. And at last year's at PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar), President Jessica learned there are three very special meetings. "Two have already happened," she said, "and the third is today - the first meeting following the new year." She said that it is an opportunity for us to recommit to Rotary and the experience of being a Rotarian, and to Engage Rotary anew. Jessica said that there are three things she hopes to continue through the remainder of her Year, and three things she is really looking forward to:

First, she is committed to maintaining the open communication we have had this year. She plans to continue providing minutes and agendas for Board Meetings to sharing information from our District and from Rotary International.

Second, Jessica said that she is proud of the work of our Recognitions and Programs Committees. They have succeeded in making our weekly meetings interesting and fun.

Third, she applauded us - for getting up each Friday morning, for engaging in Rotary each and every week, and for finding ways to engage Rotary even if we miss a meeting.

What she is looking forward to are our Club's 22nd birthday in February. We will have a great Charter Night party (details will be available soon). Second, we have our (arrgh?) always-amazing Spring Fundraiser coming in March. This Friday's meeting will be largely devoted to launching that particular Pirate Ship. And the third event that has Jessica excited is April's "Every 15 Minutes" program to be held at Arcata High School.

"We have done a lot in the first six months of this Rotary Year," Jessica said, "and we will continue to do so in the next six months - Engage Rotary, and Change Lives!"

The Holidays With Alex
Our Exchange Student from France, Alex Rialet, told us that he enjoyed the holidays. A few days before Christmas, he and his host family (the Baciagaluppis) cooked crab. He said that he had a great Christmas, and a few days later, he joined Lori Breyer and family for a day hiking the North Coast, including a stop at Agate Beach. He rang in the New Year with the Baciagaluppis, and he was planning to make a weekend move to his new host family,

Alex thanked all of us for his Christmas gifts - the Arcata High School yearbook, and all the gift cards he received from individual Sunrisers. He said that he was very happy to spend this Christmas with all of us.

Announcements
If you paid your 2013-2014 Club dues on the installment plan, heads up - the final payment is due now. Please get your check or money order to Treasurer Bryan Reeser. Cash is also accepted. Smiles are welcome, but cannot be used as legal tender.

Our next meeting (January 10th) will be a Club Assembly, focusing on the Spring Fundraiser. The event comes pretty early this year - on Saturday, March 8th. The theme will be the Pirates' Ball, and we will be discussing many ideas about decor, activities, and more.

The next Board Meeting will take place at the Golden Harvest Cafe on Tuesday, January 14th. All Sunrisers are welcome to attend and kibitz.

The weekend of January 24-26 is reserved for the annual Youth Exchange Ski Trip. Since the winter has been so dry (so far), the skiing may be limited or relocated, but the meeting will take place. That is the weekend that next year's Outbound Exchange Students learn which country they will be heading for in the fall.

Jessica read a note from Jim Ritter, thanking us for our support of the recent fundraising breakfast for the AHS Career & College Center. The event, held in conjunction with the AIBT, is the main source of outside funding for the program.

Recognitions

Rina and her Father

Angelo Baciagaluppi was our Recognitions Host last Friday. He had a photo of Rina Brodhag with a distinguished older gentleman, whom she identified as "my fiance". Actually, it was her father, who turned 76 in December. The family went to the Sea Grill for "a lovely evening". Rina and her husband Steve arrived early, and chatted with friends and acquaintances at the bar. Following dinner, Rina's dad took off to the Elks Lodge for a night of dancing, while Rina and Steve went home. "Sad, isn't it?" she asked.

Gratitude in a Jar

On Facebook, Brandi Easter posted a photo of a two-quart jar containing pieces of paper. From the beginning of the year, she has written down good things as they happened, and eventually filled the jar. She sat down on Christmas morning and read them all. The post received a lot of "Likes", and "I think I inspired a lot of people" to start their own "Gratitude Jars".

Kyle Visser announced that his company, ShredTec, would hold a "Free Shred Day" in honor of its five-year anniverary. Although the event took place before the publication of this week's Sunrise Spirit, we want to congratulate Kyle and his crew on their success and wish them many more prosperous years to follow! President Jessica added her congratulations and noted that ShredTec's panel from "Pastels on the Plaza" has survived since October.

George Cavinta turned 51 on December 29th, while he was caught up in aftermath of Christmas and the impending New Year's celebration. "I probably barbecued something," he said, "and had my in-laws over. They gave me a hundred dollar bill, which I just handed over [to Bryan Reeser] to pay my dues."

Ron Sharp's birthday was December 31st, and he had "a mellow evening, staying at home, going for a walk in Blue Lake". He spent part of the day preparing for a fundraiser for another group he is involved in. "It was a nice day, though." he said.

Revising the Test: Common Core State Standards
It's always interesting when the week's Featured Speaker is "one of our own", and last Friday was no exception. Sunriser Lori Breyer is the Coordinator of School Support and Accountability for the Humboldt County Office of Education. She provided an overview of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which have been adopted (at least in part) in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories.

Lori 'Splains It All

Standards have been developed for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math, to provide clear expectations of what students should know upon completion of each grade level. They are intended to give teachers clear direction regarding the skills and concepts their students will need to succeed in college and in the workplace.

The ELA standards define literacy, and give a framework for helping students develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. These skills form a broad foundation for student success. In a similar vein, the Math standards are intended to instill a deeper understanding of both the concepts and the application of mathematics.

Both sets of standards are largely based on those developed in California and Massachusetts. This has meant an easier transition for California educators, since the CCSS is similar to the previous framework.

The CCSS movement has been led by the states, not the federal government. The development of the CCSS will be helpful for students who move from one state to another (assuming that both follow the new standards). Knowing that the expectations for their grade level are the same, at least in two subject areas, should make a student's transition a bit easier.

The standards were developed by groups consisting of parents, educators, education experts and researchers, national organizations, and community groups. The process provided many opportunities for the public to weigh in on the standards. Business leaders were also involved, to ensure that the standards included the skills needed for success in the workforce.

The overarching goal of the CCSS is to better prepare students for college and the modern workplace. The intent is to achieve this goal by increasing academic rigor and  building consensus on the knowledge required at each level in school.

California and some other states have added criteria to the CCSS. The Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association stated that such additions are acceptable, so long as the standards are not increased by more than 15%. This limitation helps to maintain the consistency of content provided in the various states.

Lori said that, although the CCSS establish expectations regarding the information needed by students, it does not tell teachers how that information is to be imparted - the methods will vary by teacher, and by student. In addition, although they establish a shared set of goals and expectations, the CCSS does not establish a "national curriculum" for schools.

She said that the ELA standards group writing skills into three topical "buckets": 

1. Opinion/Argument - Writing to persuade, to change the reader's point of view, or to bring about some action.
2. Informational/Explanatory - Writing to increase the reader's knowledge of a subject, to make a subject more understandable, or to enhance the reader's comprehension of a topic.
3. Narrative - Writing to convey experience, either real or imaginary. In history classes, students learn to write about individuals, while in science classes students may write step-by-step narratives about procedures in experiments or investigations.

The new Math standards include a set of eight practices that students are encouraged to develop. Each practice begins with a verb that describes a way for the student to interact with mathematics.

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Lori noted that some local high schools are moving away from the traditional mathematics pathway of Algebra I to Geometry to Algebra II. The newer pathway integrates the two main sujbjects

Testing for the new standards (the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) allows for rapid feedback, allowing teachers to use test results to help shape future lessons. STAR Test results have not been available until after the end of the school year, but results from the new tests could be back in as few as two weeks. Lori said that this will provide a greater impact for the students. The tests will be machine-scored, which allows for the rapid turnaround. When asked, Lori said that computer evaluations of written material has proven to favorably compare with tests scored by hand.

The breakdown for scoring the new tests are 40% multiple choice, 40% short answer, and 20% performance-based. The results will provide a clear window on a whether a student's knowledge and abilities are on track for graduation. These assessments will be in place for the 2014-2015 school year.  28 states, including California, have adopted the Smarter Balanced Assessments. To take your shot at a sample test, click here. If you don't pass, you will receive a visit from a Truancy Officer and compelled to return to school.

For more information, visit corestandards.org.