PROGRAMS

 

Library

Welcome to Sassarini Library! Browse through our library filled with a beautiful variety of inclusive fiction and non-fiction book selections. Fourth and fifth grade classes participate in weekly book tastings on a variety of book genres. Younger grades participate in story  times and library games.

 

Learning Center

Sassarini's Learning Center is staffed with a regular education intervention teacher, a special education teacher, and two instructional assistants.  The Learning Center provides academic intervention to regular education students as well as specialized academic instruction to students who are eligible for special education services.  Sassarini is fortunate to have a full time school psychologist who conducts assessments, facilitates individual and group counseling, and provides consulation to both staff and parents.  In addition, Sassarini has a speech and language specialist and an occupational therapist who provide additional specialized services to students.  Sassarini is also home to a "mild/moderate" special day class (SDC) for students in grades 4 & 5.

 

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Sassarini staff have been trained in the practices of PBIS, which is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success.  PBIS aims to reduce bullying and improve student behavior.  PBIS is used in conjuntion with Social Emotional Learning, which teaches student skills such as empathy, problem solving, and emotion management.

 

Music

Everyone makes music at Sassarini!  Music specialists lead students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade in singing and playing classroom instruments.  Fourth grade students learn to play the recorder and sing songs from California history.  Fifth grade students choose to either participate in Chorus or learn to play a band instrument in Beginning Band.

 

Physical Education

Our district team of credentialed physical education teachers provides classes each week for all grades. Our exploratory program focuses on introducing the students to a variety of fitness and physical activities that are fun and non-competitive. Basic skills are introduced and built upon as the students go through the grades. Physical education experiences include: parachute games, jump ropes, hula hoops, dance, running, rope climbing, net games (skills for badminton, tennis and volleyball) and ball games (skills for basketball and soccer).

 

Visual Arts

Through the generosity of the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, Sassarini is able to provide all students with art classes in a wide variety of mediums, taught by local artists.  Art projects are jointly designed by the visiting artist and classroom teacher and include ceramics, painting with watercolors and pastels, collage, sculpture, line drawing, photography, and murals. Students explore common themes in art and literature, art in poetry, and art in the garden. Sassarini teachers also regularly incorporate art into their lessons and have access to art supplies and resources, including Sassarini’s own kiln. 

 

Through a partnership with the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, students in grades four and five travel to the museum to view current exhibits, and then work with local artists in the museum’s own studio to create art pieces inspired by current exhibits.  The student art is then displayed as part of the exhibit!

 

Makers Lab

With the generous support of Kiwanis of Sonoma Plaza, the Sassarini Maker Lab is a space designed for thriving creativity.  Growth Mindset, team work, and creativity is embedded in each lesson and emphasized throughout the school year.   Students are actively engaged in the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) Engineering Process while problem solving and creating in a fun and positive environment. The Sassarini Maker Lab is a unique class, full of fun and creativity.  It is a place students are encouraged to think outside the box and all ideas are celebrated. Through beloved picture books, students are immersed in projects finding solutions to real-life problems and fictional problems as seen in Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.  They design and sew monsters from Where the Wild Things Are and build habitats after reading The Salamander Room in early grades.  Electricity, Motors, Robotics and Coding are among favorite studies in upper grades.  Students may design and build an amusement park complete with moving rides and lights.  Students learn about famous inventors and innovators.   The annual Egg Drop and Pumpkin Chuckin’ contests are looked forward to all year with great enthusiasm. 

 

Field Trips

Sassarini loves field trips! Our faculty does an excellent job of integrating real life experiences into the curriculum.  Through the generosity of our OPT, students at each grade level are able to participate in multiple trips each year.  Some of the many destinations have included: San Francisco Exploratorium, Marin Marine Mammal Center, Bouverie Preserve, SRJC Planetarium, Lake Sonoma Fish Hatchery, Petaluma Wildlife Museum, Native American Museum, Pt. Reyes National Park, Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma Art Museum, Sonoma Library, California Academy of Sciences, Muir Woods, Viansa Wetlands, and Tolay Lake, Sugar Loaf, and Ring Mountain Regional Parks.  In fifth grade, students end their year with a multi-day Outdoor Education program at Westminster Woods in Occidental, CA.  In addition to field trips, the Sonoma Ecology Center and Classroom Safari bring hands-on lessons and experiences to Sassarini. 

 

SASSARINI PRESCHOOL

Sassarini Preschool aims to prepare the whole child as a lifelong learner. We provide opportunities for children to meet their needs emotionally, physically,socially,cognitively and creatively. We provide a safe, healthy, reliable, stimulating,culturally and linguistically appropriate environment that actively engages children in acquiring the skills needed to succeed in school.

For information about the Sassarini Preschool Program, please contact Lisa Bell: 

707-935-6028, lbell@sonomaschools.org

Mentor Center
The Stand By Me Mentoring Program serves students in Sonoma Valley by matching a caring adult role model with a child in need of academic and/or social support.  Mentors volunteer one hour during the school week by spending time with their mentee.  The time is spent building a trusting relationship with the hope of creating a supporting connection and friendship that lasts for many years.  The Program provides mentees and mentors with fun events, as well as inspirational off campus activities to strengthen and encourage the students.

The Sassarini School Mentor Center is one of eight on public school campuses in Sonoma.  Currently, there are over 450 volunteer mentors who are helping and guiding children in our community.  If you would like to learn more about the program, or become a mentor, please visit the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance’s website at sonomamentoring.org.