Schools
Whiz Kid of the Week: Naomi Whitehorse
This focused 6th grader plays sports, excels in school and still has time for family activities!
Each week, Rohnert Park Patch will feature a remarkable kid, teen, youth group, sports team or even college student that amazes us with their achievement. Doing one or two activities well can be a challenge for a lot of kids, but this week's Whiz Kid manages to do a whole lot more!
Patch Whiz Kid of the Week
Name/Age: Naomi Whitehorse / 11
Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
School: Attends Evergreen Elementary School.
Achievement: Along with getting mostly 3s in her 6th grade class, Naomi supports her family's culture with annual tribal dances and PowWows. She does an annual dance in South Dakota as well as other gatherings around the country. Part of her job aside from learning the proper steps, is to make her own tribal costume which includes a dress, moccasins and belt. Naomi has worked with buckskin and beads to help craft her own costume over the years.
Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Her favorite subject in school, math which comes easily to her, and she enjoys reading. Aside from her studies, Naomi is also avidly into sports such as football and doing boxing with Warriors JC Boxing.
Key to Awesomeness: Hard work. Her teacher, Mrs. Harp, has noted that Naomi is a very hard worker that manages to do all these wonderful activities and still stay focused in school.
When she grows up: She has not figured out what she wants to be but plans to attend Cal Berkeley and has visited the campus to investigate the Native Studies program.
About Mrs. Harp: Carley Harp is in her eighth year as an educator, all with the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. She has taught from 4th to 9th grade, but has found her true passion with the 6th grade classes.
"There is more family contact and relationships are made with the students and parents and it is more enjoyable to teach more subjects," she said.
"The kids are still young enough that so many things are interesting to them and new. They have a great sense of humor and begin to really get it."
Do you want to recommend someone who has an amazing achievement in the Rohnert Park community to be featured as a Patch Whiz Kid? Just send an email to the author with your nomination! We are looking for suggestions from the community for kids, youths, or groups (and more) that do amazing things.
