March 24, 2005

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Valley Christian students learn the sobering truth about drinking
and driving fatalities in ‘Every 15 Minutes’ program

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

The lives of four high school students were seemingly cut short in a life-shattering, alcohol-related traffic collision at Valley Christian High School last week.

The “victim” is rushed to the waiting ambulance as firefighters jump into action.

The following day, students attended a memorial service that included emotional testimonials by friends and parents of the “deceased” students.

Although these events were actually staged as part of an “Every 15 Minutes” program, students and adults alike were moved to tears as they experienced first-hand the deadly consequences of drinking and driving.

“During graduation season, students in Santa Clara County engage in high-risk behavior that all too often includes alcohol use, resulting in drinking and driving,” said Valley Christian High School (VCHS) Guidance Counselor Laurie Campbell. “This program emphasizes smart decision making.”

In 1995, when the program began, a person died every 15 minutes in the United States in an alcohol-related traffic collision. Developed by the Chico Police Department, and currently run by the California Highway Patrol, this preventative program challenges junior and senior high school students to think twice before drinking and driving.

Day One: The Accident
The mock crash site, which emulated the graphic consequences of a genuine collision, was made all the more real through the authentic reenactments by the police officers, fire fighters and paramedics who responded to the scene.

The event began with a telephone call to police being broadcast over the school’s PA system. “There was this crash,” reported a neighbor. “It sounded pretty bad.”

Wearing white face makeup and black T-shirts, students who had earlier been taken from class by the Grim Reaper, slowly removed a black tarp to reveal broken vehicles, broken bodies and empty beer bottles. Two passengers, ejected from a blue Chevrolet Cavalier, lay sprawled on the asphalt as the dazed driver stumbled around. Within a smashed Dodge Caravan, two more victims lay bloodied and unconscious.

With sirens wailing, California Highway Patrol officers were the first to arrive, followed shortly by San Jose Fire Department firefighters and paramedics as well as officers from the San Jose Police and Santa Clara County Sheriff Departments.

As the paramedics examined the bodies of the two teens sent flying from the car, they realized they were not breathing, had no pulse and had received major head injuries. Meanwhile, utilizing a chainsaw, axe and the ‘jaws of life’ to remove the windshield, front doors and part of the roof, firefighters did their best to extricate the victims from the gray minivan, and requested patient assistance from American Medical Response.

After applying a neck brace and backboard to the girl, they lifted her onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. She suffered from head trauma, a cracked pelvis and ribs. The boy, who also suffered from head trauma, was also in critical condition. They both “died” shortly after arriving at Valley Medical Center’s Trauma Center.

The grim reaper hovers over teen Kourtnie Wiley.

After failing a sobriety test, being fully frisked, read his rights and handcuffed, the driver of the Chevy Cavalier was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and taken to the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections.

Death personified loomed over the “deceased” teens as a county coroner determined their cause of death. Not finding any form of identification, she toe-tagged them John and Jane Doe, before taking them to the morgue.

Students and teachers somberly watched as the events unfolded before them, many moved by the experience, having a personal connection with the victims.

“I think it’s really important to see what can happen to you if you were a passenger or driving under the influence,” said student Whitney Abke. “It’s important to understand the impact of this on your family, your friends and your school.”

“This is what it would be like if you were ever involved in a crash that involves DUI,” said Campbell. “These are all the people that would be involved. This is how serious it would be. Please don’t drink and drive…or this could be you. Think before deciding to get into a car with someone who’s been drinking.”

Day Two: The Memorial Service and an All-Too-Real Death
The following day’s staged memorial service proved emotional for adults and students alike, and further blended the line between reality and simulation. The service began with a processional led by a slowly beating drum, followed by police officers, paramedics, fire fighters, mourners and a baby blue casket draped with flowers.

Those gathered together watched a poignant video set to music that portrayed the previous day’s events. “This impacts more than just the kids,” said Campbell. “They impact so many people with their choices. That’s what I really want them to understand.”

Marcie Morrow, a paramedic with American Medical Response, shared her perspective on the cost of drunk driving.

“This is what we do for a living,” she said, her voice shaking. Shortly after starting her job with AMR, Morrow arrived alone on a call to find that her friend’s truck had rolled over an embankment. “As I approached, I knew it was Chris’ truck,” she said. “He was gorgeous. He was 6-foot-4 with wavy blonde hair, blue eyes and muscles. He was in sports and a lot of fun. Everyone wanted to hang out with him.”

Chris had been thrown from the vehicle, and as she started the assessment, Morrow realized he was paralyzed from his neck down. From then on, he was completely dependent on having someone taking care of him, from feeding him, to assisting with his bowel movements. “We were so proud of him when he finally got the ability to move his arms a little bit,” said Morrow. “Unfortunately, that was just enough to pull the trigger. He just couldn’t live that way.”

Her 15-year-old niece, Chelsea, woke up one morning planning to have fun with her friends, said Morrow. She hadn’t planned on killing her best friend. On the way home from a party, the car rolled, and her friend was ejected and immediately killed. Chelsea lost a kidney, and is facing manslaughter charges. “It only takes an instant,” said Morrow. “One bad choice and your life is changed forever.”

Paramedic Marcie Morrow shares tragic stories at the memorial service.

Shortly before speaking, Morrow received a phone call from her daughter, who had taken some pain pills for an ear infection. She was calling because she didn’t feel safe enough to drive and decided to stay at a friend’s house instead. “I guarantee, everyone would much rather get that phone call,” said Morrow. “So, think before you go out. Have someone to call and make the right choice.”

As part of the service, students and parents shared the things they never had a chance to say, reading letters which started: “Dear ___, Every fifteen minutes someone in the United States dies from an alcohol-related traffic collision, and today I/you died. I never had the chance to tell you...”

Peer letter
Albino Garces wrote to his friend, Tristan Hicks: “Dear Tristan, You were my close friend. Seeing you there on the concrete it came to my mind, ‘Why didn’t you call me?’ You made the right choice to sit in the back seat that night, but I wish I was the one driving. It’s tough to miss you. I have so many memories and they were going to continue ‘til we got old. Now, I will not see you graduate from college. My kids will not call you ‘Uncle T.’ Tristan I wish I could have said goodbye.”

Student’s letter to parents
“I never got the chance to tell you, ‘thank you,’ Mom, for everything we’ve been through,” said Ashley d’Oliveira.

“I wish I could have told you, you are my wonder woman. We never had to express in words the way we felt, but now I wish I could have given you all the words in the world to tell you how much I love you. I’m sorry I had to leave you like this.”

“Mommy, I wish you could have seen me at my senior prom and cried with me at my wedding day. You would have been the best grandma ever. Daddy, I’m sorry for all the times we yelled and screamed. But no matter how I felt, you were always my Daddy-O. I never had the chance to tell you both how much I wanted to make you proud.

Dad, you once told me that I could do anything I wanted, if I wanted it bad enough, but now all I want is to hold you both one more time. I died today. Today I lost the chance to ever tell you again how much I love you.”

Parent’s letter to child
“Dear Kyle,” read Debora Thompson to her son. “Today you died and I won’t have the chance to tell you a million more times just how much I love you. You have been such a joy to our family. Your senior year has been filled with looking at colleges, and planning out the amazing life you had ahead of you…but now you will never be home for summer vacation, or spring break. You will never walk through that door. Kyle, you are my sunshine, and will be forever in my heart.”

A true-life story of loss
Judy Peckler shared a personal story of how she lost her husband, son and daughter in an alcohol-related accident. “This represents my family’s shattered dreams,” she said. “This is my reality.”

Her loved ones were on their way to Lake Tahoe for a ski get-away weekend, but they never arrived. “It was a clear night with fresh snow and everything was sparkling,” said Peckler. “They were only five minutes from Northstar on a two-lane road that gently bends in the middle of that beautiful valley. It was at that bend that a drunk driver crashed into my family. In an instant our dreams ended and the world has never been the same.”

“Drinking and driving is never an accident. It is always someone’s choice,” she stated. “Plan ahead. Make good choices. Depend on your friends, and be a good friend. Be strong enough to say, ‘I love you too much to let you get in that car.’”

“This program is good for students because they see their peers and the people they love involved in an alcohol-related accident and gone forever,” said d’Oliveira, “[it shows] it is a serious thing. Hopefully, people will understand that, and make different choices after this.”

Death becomes reality as Valley Christian senior is killed in Mexico

Sadly, the staged “Every 15 Minutes” funeral will soon be followed by one that is all too real. As our paper was going to print, news was released of the tragic death of senior student and football player Lovell Keith Adams, known by friends, as J.R. Adams, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver while vacationing near Cancun, Mexico with his family.

Less than a month before, VCHS lost recent graduate Andre Anthony Pittman, when the Ford Explorer he was driving crashed into a tree. Pittman had also been a VCHS football player. In addition, a little more than a year ago, two other recent graduates, David “D.J” Adams and Joseph Romero, lost their lives in a car crash in Southern California. “We’ve lost four boys in 15 months to car-related accidents,” said assistant to the principal Kathy Akavuti. “It’s very tragic. It’s difficult for kids this age to deal with death. I had four girls crying their eyes out that their class now has an empty desk that used to be J.R.’s, and hundreds of others came to the office sobbing. It’s been pretty devastating.” Counselors who were on hand to aid students following the “Every 15 Minutes” program, remained on campus to help the students in their time of need.

Facing enormous college tuition bills?

Check out tuition and fees tax deductions–who qualifies and how?

Those facing skyrocketing college tuition bills will want to learn as much as possible about how the tuition and fee deduction can lower their tax bills. Before filing your 2004 federal tax return, here are responses to the most common questions about this deduction from the California Society of CPAs.

What is the tax benefit of the tuition and fees deduction?
This deduction can reduce the amount of your income that is subject to tax by up to a maximum of $4,000 on your 2004 tax return—that’s up from $3,000 in 2003. The tuition deduction is taken as an adjustment to gross income, which means you can claim this deduction even if you do not itemize.

Who is eligible for the tuition deduction?
You may be able to deduct qualified education expenses paid during the year for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent. The amount you can deduct depends on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). You are not eligible for the tuition deduction if another person can claim an exemption for you as a dependent. Also excluded are married persons filing separately.

What is the amount of the tuition and fees deduction for 2004?
For 2004, you qualify for the maximum deduction of $4,000 if your MAGI is not more than $65,000 for single filers and $130,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. If you’re a single filer and your MAGI is more than $65,000 but not more than $80,000, your deduction is limited to $2,000. The $2,000 deduction also applies to joint filers whose MAGI is higher than $130,000, but not more than $160,000. No tuition and fees deduction is allowed if your MAGI exceeds $80,000 for single filers and $160,000 for joint filers. The $4,000 maximum deduction remains in effect in 2005, after which it is scheduled to expire.

What education expenses qualify?
Qualified expenses include tuition and fees but not books, personal, or living expenses, such as room and board. The costs of course-related books and supplies are not considered qualified education expenses unless these expenses must be paid to the institution as a condition of enrollment or attendance.

What if I use funds from a Coverdell Education Savings Account to pay for tuition and expenses?
When you pay your tuition with tax-advantaged education funds from a Coverdell Education Savings Account or a state tuition plan, or with the interest on U.S. savings bonds, you must subtract these amounts from your qualified expenses to arrive at the deductible amount. The same rule applies to any nontaxable employer-provided education benefits you receive.

What about graduate school?
Graduate or undergraduate level college courses can be deducted. You don’t have to be a full-time student to qualify. However, the educational institution must be eligible to participate in the student aid programs administered by the Department of Education. Virtually all accredited public, nonprofit, and proprietary postsecondary institutions are eligible.

What if I have two children in college at the same time?
The tuition and fees deduction is $4,000 total per year, regardless of how many dependents are in school at the same time.

Can I take either the Hope or Lifetime Learning credit and the tuition deduction?
No, you cannot claim the tuition deduction if you also take the Hope or Lifetime Learning credit for the same student in the same year. Be aware that credits are typically more beneficial. So, before you take the tuition deduction, determine whether you can qualify for either of the two education credits.

Where can I get more help?
Check the Internal Revenue Service Web site (www.irs.gov) or consult with a Certified Public Accountant if you would like to learn more about how the tuition and fees deduction can save you valuable tax dollars.
For more tax information visit the California Society of CPAs Web site at www.calcpa.org.

Let the games begin

Sports writer Jeff Savage share tips with Graystone kids about following dreams

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Jeff Savage’s dream of becoming a sports idol fizzled, but he’s doing the next best thing. He’s a hero to thousands of children.

An animated Jeff Savage tells Graystone students about his life writing books about famous sports figures. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Savage is one of the leading writers of nonfiction books for children. At last count he’s written more than 150. He shared his life and insights with Graystone Elementary children last week.

“This is the second time we’ve had Jeff back,” said Graystone’s literacy events coordinator Michele Taylor. “He gives such a great message to the kids.”

Savage weaves his story, animated and dynamic right from the beginning, to the large assembly of third through fifth graders.

“Who likes reading?” asks Savage. “Who likes sports?”

Dreams of sports stardom
Most of the hands go up in the large assembly room for the first question. The second is met with hoots and hollers. The kids listen spellbound as Savage relates his story. How as a child his favorite toy was a football that he bit the tip off. In second grade he was in love with his football. In fifth grade, practicing kissing the football brings laughter from the group. How he wanted to be a quarterback but that didn’t work out and he thought maybe basketball. When that dream came up short, golf would be his sport.

In sixth grade, he had a crush on his teacher and a class poetry assignment proved instrumental. The teacher thought he plagiarized and gave him an F. The youngster realized the poems must be good and realized his calling: writing. He also discussed his grade with the teacher and had it changed to a C.

“Confidence, that’s all you need to be a writer,” said Savage. “Or anything else in life. Confidence with a big letter C.”

Savage was the only seventh grader to write for the school yearbook and the next year taught his classmates how it was done, overcoming shyness.

“You grit your teeth and do it,” said Savage.

College daze
His messages are not lost on the young audience, where he emphasizes the importance of college and lack of attendance that could lead to a “40-year mistake.” He attended University of California-Los Angeles on scholarship. UC-San Diego led to jobs sports writing for the college newspaper and as a game announcer. The San Diego Union Tribune asked him to write articles while he was still attending school, receiving his degree in journalism and communications.

Savage spent eight years at the Tribune as a sportswriter, attending games and meeting sports heroes. One day he looked in the library and discovered only two children’s books on sports legends, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He contacted a publisher and the rest is history. His first book was about Jim Abbott, the one-handed pitcher. Over 150 books would follow, many with the reoccurring theme of overcoming adversity and “being a doer not a dreamer.”

Legends of sports
World-class ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi lived down the street from where Savage grew up. He wrote about her overcoming a clubfoot while stressing confidence and hard work to attain stardom and success.

Jeff Savage with three of his more than 150 nonfiction children’s books.

Additionally, Savage’s titles detail a who’s who of sports figures including Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Tiger Woods, Jeff Gordon, and Julie Krone, horse racing’s first woman jockey. He’s written about motor sports and karate, weight lifting, aerobics and running. He’s even written books on the Wild West.

Along the way, he met the sports heroes he has written about and has attended Super Bowls and World Series for free. He works from home and best of all “gets up when I want.”

Married to wife Nancy for 12 years, they live in Napa with their two children, 7-year-old Taylor and 5-year-old Bailey. For his work, he has been honored as a six-time winner of the Children’s Choice Award and more than 60 of his books have been adopted by the National Accelerated Reader Program.

“The best thing about doing this is encouraging the kids to read and write,” said the amicable Savage who visits almost 100 schools a year to spread his inspirational message. “It’s more than a class assignment, the rewards can be unlimited.”

Graystone literacy events
Jeff Savage is only one of the continuous events sponsored by Graystone.

“I want to thank Jeff for being here and giving his wonderful message,” said Principal Dave Beymer. “And to Michele Taylor for finding this great speaker and to Graystone’s Home and School Club for providing funds for these great opportunities for our kids.”

But the ones who are truly thankful for the event are Graystone kids, who were entertained and left the assembly confident they can make their own dreams come true.

For more information on Jeff Savage’s books and speaking engagements, go to www.jeffsavage.com.

Filling big shoes

Castillero students hit Capitol Hill

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Despite the unpredictable eastern climate, three Castillero students journeyed to Washington, D. C. to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference March 12-17.

Seventh grade Castillero students Jennifer Padilla, James Hanley, and Alexandra Brewer earned a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., and the opportunity to rub shoulders with current political leaders on Capitol Hill—an honor bestowed upon only 350 U.S. students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities at school.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Jennifer Padilla, Alexandra Brewer, and James Hanley, as they visited historical landmarks and participated in educational activities designed to foster leadership skills. But getting to rub shoulders with elected officials on Capitol Hill was downright cool.

The three seventh graders were recommended by Castillero teachers for their leadership roles in the classroom and especially the school’s Cornerstone Crew, a group of sixth, seventh and eighth students who meet regulairly to brainstorm creative ways to foster and encourage a more positive school climate.

“For two years, these three seventh graders have been active Crew members, planning and carrying out activities such as schoolwide assemblies on bullying, poster campaigns, a buddy program for new students, teacher recognition, and a peer counseling program,” said teacher Gwen Anderson. “When this group of 30 to 40 students has needed leaders with innovative ideas, presentation skills and time, these are three of the members who always stand up.”

Themed “The Legacy of American Leadership,” The National Young Leaders’ Conference is a leadership development program for high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit.

They were among 350 outstanding national scholars who attended the conference from across America.

“The aim of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference is to inspire students like Jennifer, Alexandra, and James to recognize their own leadership skills, measure their skills against those of current and former leaders and return home with new-found confidence in their ability to exercise positive influence within their communities,” said Mike Lasday, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization that sponsors jrNYLC. Young people are not only welcome in Washington, D. C., they actually keep this city up and running.”

Leland is first local school to house defibrillators

School installs devices that may save victims of cardiac arrest

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leland became the first South bay school to install on-site defibrillators, thanks to grant money secured by former Vice Mayor and District 10 Councilmember Pat Dando.

The school received the devices—one for the nurse’s office and one for the athletic trainer’s office—early this semester.

Leland teacher Iliad Rodriguez, left, poses with former District 10 Councilmember and San José Vice Mayor Pat Dando, Leland Facilities Committee member Amy Console and Principal Bob Setterland, holding a defibrillator on display. The device may save lives, resuscitating cardiac function in the case of heart failure. According to Setterland, Leland is the first school in the area to apply such technology.

Dando was approached by Leland Facilities Committee member Amy Console, who introduced the project to the committee in October.

“We ran into each other in line at Starbuck’s,” said Dando. “I was looking for ideas to help out and I had worked with Amy before, on projects at Simonds. She explained the committee’s objectives and I was interested immediately. I asked her to submit a formal request and we’d go from there.”

Console and Dando sought the devices as a preventative measure to take in assuring students, especially, a fighting chance. If one suffered heart failure at Leland, a shock from the defibrillators would resuscitate cardiac function for the duration of travel time paramedic teams take to respond when called.

“You change once you have a life-threatening illness,” said Dando recalling a stroke she suffered in 2001.

“You become very much more aware that those types of things can happen to any one in the community. If there is any way to prevent them, you really want to help. This situation in particular is one where time is of the essence.”

Console’s daughter, a Leland junior, has a heart condition that requires a pacemaker, and was in mother Console’s mind when she strayed from her usual tasks, which usually deal in school beautification.

Last year committee chairperson and Leland instructor Iliad Rodriguez underwent heart surgery as well, reminding parties that the defibrillators may be necessary for staff, students or visitors.

“We just started talking about how easy it is to use defibrillators and how much they could help if ever there were an emergency,” said Console.

On Friday, March 4, more than 50 members of Leland faculty and staff trained to operate the devices in the case of cardiac arrest.

During the in-service day originally reserved for CPR training, Leland was transformed into a scene from “E.R.” Teachers and administrators took turns applying the small, blue shock pads, following directions echoed from the compartment which houses the defibrillator components.

The project required approximately $5,000 grant money to complete; however, the cost of two defibrillators did not soak it up entirely. The school plans to plant trees and buy picnic tables with the remaining balance.

“It brings the heart from about 5percent to 50 percent,” said Leland Principal Bob Setterland. “It’s a great feeling for the staff that if something happens, we could help.”

“There is nothing more frustrating and terrifying than seeing a friend, loved one, colleague or visitor on the ground and thinking there is nothing you can do” finished Dando. “The defibrillators allow that extra time, so paramedics can work.”

Holy Spirit School students place in Diocesan academic decathlon

Holy Spirit School students participated in the Diocese of San Jose’s annual academic decathlon on March 5 at Archbishop Mitty High School. It is an event that is open to all students of California’s Catholic schools.

Holy Spirit School students who placed in these subject areas are, from left, Matt Abely - fourth in science, Nicole Collins - first in English, Anissa Liu-fourth in Math, Ian Parker - third in social studies, and Kyle Medeiros - first in religion.

Holy Spirit School placed first in religion (Kyle Medeiros) and first in English (Nicole Collins), third in social studies (Ian Parker), fourth in math (Anissa Liu) and fourth in science (Matt Abely).

As one of 21 participating diocesan schools, Holy Spirit School’s team of 20 students, including 10 alternates, have been busy preparing for competition in the curriculum areas of religion, social studies, current events, math, English, literature, fine arts, science and logic. The team is comprised of seventh and eighth grade students who have scored high in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills standardized test. Each student also needs to have a report grade of A in the curricular area in which they will compete, and have grades of A or B in conduct effort and homework.

The following students comprise the 2005 Holy Spirit School team: Matt Abely, Nicole Collins, Mallory Collins, Danielle Drogos, Anthony Graham, Giovani Gianotta, Ashley Isaac, Pamela Jimenez, Jennifer Kirkland, Kelly Larson, Anissa Liu, Kyle Medeiros, Ian Park, Laura Perrone, Gregory Piscane, Jennifer Reynolds, Kiersten Sandvick, Kevin Schapansky, Rachel Smith, and Harrison Willner.

Eileen Beck, principal, stated, “The faculty and staff are proud of our students for taking on this commitment. [I’d like to make] a special thank you to the team coaches for their hard work in preparing the students.”