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Something special is happening at Ann Sobrato High School, which is now in the top 1 percent of high schools in the nation that have reached equity among students enrolling in Advanced Placement courses, according to school officials.

Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Board of Education delayed a vote on a new policy regarding trustee reimbursement for professional development at the Feb. 10 meeting.

With workshops such as “A Cow’s Eye View,” “Pokemon Math,” “The Secret Life of Strawberries,” and “Jamba Juice Jenga,” local students were treated to a Saturday filled with academic enrichment Feb. 7 at the 14th annual Science Alive Conference on the Gavilan College campus in Gilroy.Middle school students (grades 6-8) from Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy and Hollister were introduced to math and science based, hands-on activities in a wide variety of one-hour workshops spread throughout the day.In all, there were 18 workshops, where students explored such things as the principles of energy storage and conversion, the physics of sound and music, the magic of geometry, principles of electric circuits and how the heart functions. Each workshop called for students to construct a project to test what they had learned.Students pre-registered for the sold out event, filling in their four top choices of workshops they wanted to attend. Each student was then placed in three selected workshops.Instructors included faculty and students from Gavilan College, San Jose State University and Gilroy High School as well as others from the Chabot Space and Science Center and Gilroy Veterinary Hospital.

What inspires you?I’m inspired by problems that need to be solved. They inspire me to work hard and get things done.What is your favorite subject, and why?My favorite subject would have to be math because I like to understand how things work and find patterns, and there’s always a right answer.If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?I would make society more sustainable and environmentally conscious. Climate change is currently the most pressing global issue as it has the potential to be disastrous for everyone, with rising sea levels, droughts, and superstorms.If you could go anywhere, where would you go?I would go to Europe, making sure to visit my family in Norway and spending time in Spain to practice my Spanish.Name one big challenge in your life right now:The big challenge I’m facing right now is dealing with being constantly stressed and tired. I’m done with my college apps, but scholarship applications are just as stressful.What is your dream job?I don’t know what I want to do with my life right now, but my dream is to do something meaningful that I enjoy and help make the world a better place.What are your three favorite things?The sun, the water, and (vegetarian) food.Favorite book:“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling.What do you want to do after high school?After high school I hope to go to a four-year university, probably Cal or UCLA, and then go on to get a Master’s degree.Something that makes you smile:My friends never fail to make me smile. Because of them I successfully made it through a very stressful junior year and the first half of senior year.Top three most played songs of you iTunes or iPod:Currently the three most played songs on my iPod are “All of Me” by John Legend, “Wonderland” by Taylor Swift, and “I’m Not the Only One” by Sam Smith.

Pianist David Kerr, a senior at Mount Madonna School, will perform his first original composition as part of the United States Open Competition, which is scheduled for Feb. 16-21 in Oakland.The Morgan Hill resident, who started playing the piano at age 4 and currently studies with teacher K.K. Koo, will compete in two of the 88 events that encompass the music competition.“I absolutely loved the process of writing my own music,” said Kerr of his first composition. “Music has, and always will be, a huge part of my life. In creating my own music, I found that I learned more about myself and now have an entirely new field in which to expand upon my studies.”On Feb. 19, he will perform his original composition, titled “Thoughts Racing.” The next day, Kerr will compete at the senior level in a Liszt duo with partner Kristin Wolfe, performing “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.” For the duo competition, two pianists play simultaneously and both parts are considered solos.“Initially, I was very resistant, mainly because I felt I wasn’t good enough,” said Kerr of his first upcoming competition. “Now, I feel that it’s a wonderful way to push myself to new levels in terms of my performance. It does induce a certain level of stress, although for what I feel I am getting out of it, I am totally willing to put my best effort forward.”Kerr said he was inspired by a friend to work on his own composition. Eight months later, he completed “Thoughts Racing.”“I have always enjoyed playing the piano, although the countless hours of work required to reach that enjoyment is quite daunting,” Kerr said. “Fortunately, I stayed with it and now I’m at the point where even the hard work is enjoyable.”For more information on the competition, visit usomc.org.

What inspires you?What inspires me are the words my grandfather said to me: “You can do it all.”What is your favorite subject in school and why?My favorite subject in school is Geology because I’m really interested in what the earth has to offer.If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?StarvationIf you could go anywhere, where would you go?AfricaName one big challenge in your life right now?Deciding what will come next in my life.What is your dream job?My dream job is to film animals in the wild, or to work for National Geographic.What are your three favorite things?My farm animals, fixed gear bicycles, being self-sufficient.What is your favorite book/author?Maria SabinaWhat do you want to do after high school?Go to college.Something that makes you smile:TacosMost played song on your phone/iPod:“21 questions” by 50 cent

In the spirit of the holiday season, staff from the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Migrant Education department once again coordinated the adoption of several families in need this year, according to a press release from SCCOE.More than 15 families served by the Migrant Education program were adopted by staff from the SCCOE’s Educational Services and Business Services branches and the Alternative Education, Environmental Education and Migrant Education departments.“We really do make a difference in the lives of families,” said Veronica Ramos, SCCOE Director of Migrant Education. “Through the incredible efforts of our staff we are able to make the dreams of a few families come true and give them a holiday that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.”The families adopted by Migrant Education are receiving clothing items, donations of food, gifts and grocery gift cards, and all items have been delivered to the families throughout the week, according to SCCOE staff.SCCOE staff also contributed more than 280 toys to the SCCOE’s annual toy drive, benefiting children served by the Head Start, Foster Youth Services and Migrant Education programs.“While the holidays have traditionally provided an opportunity to highlight the needs of vulnerable individuals in our community, the reality is that throughout the entire year many of our children and families go without even the most basic of necessities,” said Jon R. Gundry, County Superintendent of Schools. “I hope that the dedication of the County Office staff to reaching out and supporting the families and children in our programs inspires others to make a small charitable contribution or extend a helping hand to those in need.”

The Morgan Hill Unified School District will begin accepting Transfer Request Forms at 8 a.m. Jan. 8, 2015 from parents/guardians who are interested in having their children attend a district school outside of their assigned home attendance area for the 2015-16 school year.

An advocacy organization that represents 40,000 part-time college instructors across California is urging Governor Jerry Brown to make a sea change in how part-timers at schools like Gavilan College—which depends heavily on part-time faculty—are compensated.

What inspires you?Both of my parents have been my inspirations. They’ve shown me that with hard work and dedication I can accomplish what I propose to myself; that giving up shouldn’t be an option because even though they are deaf, they didn’t give up. They found a way to get over their struggles and overcome their obstacles. I admire everything they do for me and my siblings, in order for us to achieve our goals.What is your favorite subject in school, and why?My favorite subject at school at the moment is Economics. It has led me to learn so much more about our world and economy on how everything financially functions.If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?There are a couple things I would like to change in the world. I would make sure there’s equality, no discrimination, for everyone to treat each other kindly and for immigrants to have an opportunity to stay in the U.S.If you could go anywhere, where would you go?I would say Europe. As well, I would love to travel to anywhere in the world and learn about that certain place and its culture.Name one big challenge in your life right now:Trying to balance my academic life and personal life.What do you want to do after high school?Go to college and pursue a higher education.What is your dream job?I don’t have a specific dream job. But I would love to help my community and those in need. Helping others has always been a part of me that I love doing. As well, I would love to have a job where I can travel, meet new people and continue learning from others.Something that makes you smile?Making others smile.What are your three favorite things?Spending time with my family, going on adventures, and sleeping.Favorite book:“The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins.Top three most played songs on your iTunes or iPod:—“Hero” by Enrique Iglesias—“Tenerte” by Luis Coronel—“Si tal Vez” by OV7