March 8, 2007

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Almaden celebrates tenth annual Read Across America event

Political, business and literary professionals celebrate reading and Dr. Seuss’ birthday with student visits

By Ali Abdollahi
Staff Writer

Thousands of schools across the country celebrated the tenth annual Read Across America event, held March 2 in honor of the birthday of Theodor Geisel—better known as Dr. Seuss. Schools in Almaden Valley also joined in the national festivities, sponsored by the National Education Association and the California Teachers Association.

District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle reads Dr. Seuss books to preschoolers at Almaden Preschool.

Teacher Danielle Scofield’s second grade class at Guadalupe Elementary School held one of the school’s several Read Across America celebrations. Scofield and her students were visited by Stacey Rue of Lockheed Martin, who read to the class from a book about astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Reading to the students had a special significance for Rue, whose son Chris is a student in Scofield’s class, and who also has a fourth grader, William, at Guadalupe. “Reading is such a critical thing for children,” said Rue. “The kids are so enthusiastic about learning at this age, so it’s important that we do our part to help them.”

In addition to the classroom festivities, all Guadalupe Elementary students attended a special assembly featuring children’s author Karen Gedig Burnett. Burnett is also known as “Grandma Rose,” a former elementary school counselor who has authored and published several children’s books.

Burnett talked to the students about the process of writing, and about her book on conflict resolution, “Simon’s Hook.” The book “compares teasing to fishing hooks,” said Burnett, and explains to children how to avoid becoming upset when faced with teasing. “When I was working as a school counselor, a lot of kids would complain that they were getting teased,” said Burnett. “So I started bringing in a fishing pole, trying to teach the kids how not to ‘take the bait’ when someone is teasing them.”

At the assembly, students acted out scenes written by Burnett to put her concepts into practice.

Guadalupe Elementary Principal Marty Lux spoke highly of Burnett’s presentation, and of the Read Across America event in general. “It’s great to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, and it’s a great way to encourage students to read and write,” said Lux. “There’s an important message in how we celebrate; we’re celebrating the fact that we take time to read and write.”

Councilmember Nancy Pyle also joined in the Read Across America celebration, participating in an event at Almaden Preschool. “Reading skills are a critical component of every child's educational development,” said Pyle, a former schoolteacher. “With an increasing number of possible activities to occupy children's time, including surfing the Internet or playing video games, it's wonderful to highlight the importance of reading and show that it is not only necessary, but can also be rewarding, engaging, entertaining and provide for one's lifelong education.”

Castillero performs ‘The Music Man Jr.’ in new theater

By Shana McLean Moore
Special to the Times

Castillero Middle School christens its new theater this week with the drama department’s first public performance, “The Music Man Jr.,” in their very own space at the school.

The cast shines in the glow of new home-ownership as they bring to life the classic story about a music man and his 76 trombones. Set in River City, Iowa in 1912, the story transports the audience from modern day suburbia to small town Americana for this feel-good, comedic musical based on the original Broadway show.

While the show is about a traveling con man whose conscience gets the best of him after taking orders for musical instruments with no intention of providing what he’s promised, the Castillero Drama Department is quite the opposite—they’ll make sure you get every penny’s worth of entertainment for the $10 you spend on your tickets.

Drama teacher and show director Sharol Felch, along with the assistance of fellow teacher and production manager Diane Zlotziver, have spent countless hours preparing the advanced drama students who are involved in the production. With a cast of 41 students and a technical crew of nine, it has been a Broadway-worthy undertaking. “With 40 workday set-shop hours, as well as endless individual assignments and behind-the-scene hours, we couldn’t have pulled it off without the amazing parents, alumni and friends of Castillero.”

Felch chose “The Music Man” because the musical involves large ensemble numbers and a chance for every cast member to have their "moment.” “And this is the cast to do it with,” adds Felch. “I have an amazing cast. They are attentive, bright, fun, alert, and truly cooperative. They work cooperatively as an ensemble and as a team. It is inspiring to watch their talent unfold at such a young age.”

In addition to the classroom time, the teachers, students and parent volunteers have spent the past eight weeks painting the sets, crafting the costumes, memorizing lines, choreographing every tapping foot, and harmonizing their hearts out.

Castillero parent Kathryn Veregge, the volunteer music director for the show, knows all about the latter. You see it in her smile when the quartet hits their high notes. “It is essential to channel all the middle school energy into something productive,” Veregge says. “The no-nonsense environment we have created has led to an astounding level of growth in the abilities of the performers. It is thrilling to see how much they have evolved as we approach opening night.”

Parent Kelli McElravy, the production’s volunteer choreographer, agrees. “Most of the kids in the show do not have any training in dance. But rather than keep the steps simple, we decided to challenge these kids. I am so impressed with their hard work. The cast has certainly reached the high-level expectations we set for them. I am so proud of their efforts.”

Student Eric Wach, a quartet member and traveling salesman in the show, says “The rest of the cast and I have put in hours and hours of practicing and singing our lines so that we have it nailed for our audience. We are excited to perform and really think all the hard work will be worth it on opening night!”

While the show is about a traveling con man whose conscience gets the best of him after taking orders for musical instruments with no intention of providing what he’s promised, the Castillero Drama Department is quite the opposite—they’ll make sure you get every penny’s worth of entertainment for the $10 you spend on your tickets (children 12 and under, $6).

All performances start at 7:30 p.m. and take place in Castillero’s theater on March 8, 9, 10 and 15, 16, 17. Tickets are available at the door.

Almaden Valley Women’s Club seeks logo design entries from local students

Winning entry will become official 2007 Almaden Art & Wine Festival logo

The Almaden Valley Women’s Club invites students residing in the 95120 zip code to participate in the 31st annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival Logo Design Contest. The winning logo design will appear on festival merchandise and promotional materials.

To qualify as logo contest entrants, students must be enrolled in a public or private school or a home school program and reside within the 95120 zip code. A maximum of two entries will be accepted from each entrant.

Complete logo contest guidelines can be downloaded at the AVWC Web site at almadenwine.com. All entries must be received by March 30, 2007. Entries will be picked up from participating schools (check with your art teacher). Alternatively, you can mail your entries to: Almaden Valley Women’s Club, Attn: Logo Contest, Logo Chair, P.O. Box 20084, San Jose, Calif. 95160.

The logo winner, finalists, and teachers will be contacted by April 24, 2007 and will be invited to attend the Almaden Valley Women’s Club awards presentation meeting on May 1, 2007 at the Joint Venture Church on Camden Avenue.

For more information about the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, visit almadenwomen.com. For information about the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival, visit almadenwine.com.

Patriotism at its finest

The Challenger School in Almaden, located on McKean Road, recently held a President’s Day assembly where students from kindergarten through eighth grade sang patriotic songs, displayed artwork of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and national monuments and also read compositions they had written about presidents and freedom. The assembly began with the pledge of allegiance and then the children sang the national anthem. “Because of the way we teach our students to think for themselves and to appreciate their heritage, Presidents’ Day was not just a day off from school, but an opportunity to remember and reflect on what makes our country so great,” said Challenger Principal Judy Burbank. Pictured is the one of the kindergarten classes proudly posing in front of student artwork.

Seeking School News

Do you have a school event to promote? Know of a student who has done something amazing or a teacher who has gone above and beyond what is expected of them? We’d like to hear about it. Drop us a line at newsroom@timesmediainc.com or send us a fax at (408) 494-7078.