April 28, 2005

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Simonds says… you get to be principal for a day!

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Three Simonds Elementary students each got to be principal for a day recently. No, they’re not playing games at school. They really worked hand-in-hand with the “real” principal.

Principal Linda Kakes introduces the principal for the day, Jessica Goss, to a second grade class. Photographs by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

The parent-organized, Simonds Music and Technology Foundation offered the prize job of principal for day at the Viva Las Vegas night.

Raising over $58,000 from the live and silent auction, the money pays for music teacher, Terry Bermudez, technology coordinator, Anita Kwock and materials for the classes. Without the fund-raising, the programs would not be offered at Simonds due to state budget cuts.

And the principal for a day was a hot auction item. Janelle Wesolowsky, Jessica Goss and Carl Canteenwala were the winners with high bids submitted by their parents at the adults-only event. Fifth grader Wesolowsky enjoyed it so much the prior year; she talked her parents into bidding this year besides being high bid on the limousine ride to McDonalds.

“I told my parents I wanted to be principal for a day,” said third grader Goss. “My classmates think it sounds like fun and wished it was them. Even my brother, Tommy, wished it was him.”

“Principal” Jessica Goss, with Linda Kakes, watch while music teacher Terry Bermudez teaches keyboard. Music and technology are the classes supported by the parent group.

Principal Linda Kakes supervises each of the “principals,” teaching them how to do computer updates to staff bulletins, change calendars, design agendas and presentations, do voice-over announcements on the public address system, share e-mails and update Palm Pilots.

On Goss’ day, she and Kakes got to say farewell to students bused to science camp before being in-troduced to each individual class. On any given day, students are re-warded for good deeds by becoming a member of the Cookie Club and receiving a sweet from a container in Kakes’ office. A special treat for the principal for the day is lunch at McDonald’s “something that never happens to a real principal” Kakes shared.

If a problem arises that is inappropriate for the student principal to deal with, Kakes steps in privately. But most of the day is spent just having fun and interacting with students.

“Principal” Jessica Goss sits at the Principal Linda Kakes’ desk.

“Class this is Miss Jessica,” said Kakes. “She is your principal for the day and is in charge of Simonds today. Are there any questions you would like to ask her?”

“If someone gets in trouble does she have to tell them what they should do?” asked one girl from Jessica’s class.
Lunch duty includes keeping an eye on the students in the cafeteria and yard. Goss and Kakes will bench anyone caught running in the area.

“I’m going to [have my parents] bid on that one day!” said another boy regarding the principal for a day job.

The next stop for introductions is music director Terry Bermudez’ first period class. Filling the classroom are keyboards where the class of first graders learn to read notes and play music. It is one of the results of strong parent participation and is an addition to the children’s education that will last them the rest of their lives.

Simonds says…it’s a good thing.

One World Montessori School celebrates Earth Day

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

With songs, stories and dance, students at One World Montessori School joyfully celebrated Earth Day and their connection with the Earth.

With smiling faces and self-expression, the 3- to 6-year-olds shared stories, sang songs about the Earth and held hands as they danced in circles on the grass.

“We’ve been celebrating Earth Day for quite a long time,” said school founder Rebecca Keith.

“Montessori was probably one of the world’s first ecologists.”

Following Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy, One World Montessori embraces a nurturing, developmental approach to education in an environment that encourages creativity and individuality. Under the Montessori Method, children learn at their own pace, following their natural interests, while growing to understand their connection with each other and the world around them.

Before the presentation, enthusiastic parents gathered in the playground chatting and setting cameras on tripods.

A keyboard, along with two rows of small drums, was placed in the middle of the lawn, awaiting players. A line of little blue chairs stood in formation against a fence, which was draped with children’s artwork. Giggles emanated from classrooms where excited children gathered before parading to their seats, eager to perform the show they had practiced for weeks. It was Earth Day at Montessori.

With smiling faces and self-expression, the 3- to 6-year-olds shared stories, sang songs about the Earth and held hands as they danced in circles on the grass.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate our Earth and remind ourselves how special it is,” said one student.

“The air we breathe, the water we drink…everything we need to live comes from the Earth,” recited another.

“Because there are so many of us, it is very important to take care of this planet and all the things we share it with,” concluded a third.

As part of their Earth Day program, in addition to studying creation myths from around the world, students wrote and illustrated their own stories. Divided into meaningful sections such as “All Creatures Great and Small,” “Our World Today” and “My Wish for Tomorrow,” their work added dimension to the festivities.

“In the beginning, there was a big earth with a spider web on it, and there were spiders on it, too. The spiders wove everything that became the whole universe,” described one piece. Others described the Earth being carried into the sky on the back of a snail, growing from dirt on a frog’s back and from seeds a chief’s wife planted on the back of a turtle.

“It’s so wonderful to see the children learning to respect the Earth,” said parent Kristi Burdsall. “It’s a nice tradition they have at the school,” agreed parent Birgitta Ackley. “Here, the awareness of the Earth, its people and peace starts early. It’s great.”

“As our school came together, we found that it’s a wonderful thing to have rituals that tie in our school year,” said Keith. “We begin with United Nations Day and end with Earth Day, so first we talk about all the different places people have come from, and we end with the inter-relatedness of all of life.”

‘Annie’ in the money

In one scene, Annie, played by seventh grader Emma Hopp, decides to write a letter in an effort to find her real parents.

After two oversold performances yielded standing room only audiences Friday and Saturday night, the Castillero Drama Department has been lauded for their rendition of “Annie.”

“For a fairly involved technical show that was student run, everything went flawlessly well,” said Artistic Director Sharol Felch. “Teachers and staff have been writing accolades ever since.”

By the final curtain call, the ensemble raised $3,000 in ticket sales to further augment the drama program—a successful venture that Felch says speaks to the dedication of the student cast and crew.

“They were quite professional and we’re pretty proud of that,” Finch said.

SJUSD Board passes fee-based busing option

The San Jose Unified School District’s board of trustees created and passed a new busing program for 2005-06 on Thursday, April 21. These are a hybrid version containing several of the options presented to the board offering busing reductions and/or adding revenues to next year’s budget.

The new program allows the district to reduce the budget and/or create revenues of $830,000. It affects about 1,000 of the 10,000 students currently eligible for busing. Approximately 4,500 students use the district-provided busing.

Made up of four different components, the option first will charge fees for transportation to students who do not qualify as social economic status under the Voluntary Integration Program (VIP). Otherwise, about 1,350 students will be charged for annual service, based on a yearly fee of $300. It is set up to provide a sliding scale for families with two or more students or for families qualifying for the free and reduced lunch program. It will result in annual district revenue of $200,000.

The second component discontinues elementary magnet transportation, except for students qualifying as social economic status under the VIP. This component will reduce two routes and provide a yearly savings of $140,000.

The third component increases walking distance for grades six through twelve from three to 3.5 miles. Affecting about 740 students, it drops seven routes and provides a savings of $490,000.

The final component is to realign bell times for maximum efficiency and seat use of the district’s school buses. In addition to taking these steps, the district will negotiate with the Valley Transit Authority for a discounted student pass for all students and continue working with the city of San Jose monitoring areas impacted by these changes among several others.

Graystone kindergartners get inside look at SJPD

Safety was the subject last Friday morning when San Jose Police Chief Robert Davis met with 120 awestruck Graystone Elementary School kindergartners in Carabelle Park. Davis divided the excited students into four groups that rotated through four stations featuring officers from the canine unit, the equestrian unit that patrols downtown San Jose, a motorcycle unit and the narcotics division, which included a special narcotics squad car. The students listed to presentations from officers in each division and spent time with several special furry friends—actual police dogs. They were delighted when three officers and their horses gave a riding demonstration in the park.

The show must go on…

Pioneer fiddles among the ruins

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

There’s a lot of fiddling going on at Pioneer High School. And like the residents of the “Fiddler on the Roof” city of Anatevka, the students are performing amidst the ruins and construction of a new performing arts center.

Tevye and chorus sing and dance “Traditions.” Matt Miyake plays Tevye in “Fiddler.”

Arson destroyed the school’s performing arts center in December 2003, but that didn’t stop director Steve Dini from continuing to put on shows. The players became a traveling troupe, performing at other venues and building a temporary outdoor theatre until the new PAC is completed. Where the cindered center once stood is a mountain of dirt amidst tractors and excavation.

“Our reputation is at stake,” said Dini at dress rehearsal. “We have people coming from San Mateo, San Francisco and Fremont who have heard about our program and love the play. We chose “Fiddler” because it’s a wonderful show and we felt we had the talent to do it justice this year. And it brings the Russian revolution to life.”

Dini said that this would be the last spring musical in the outdoor venue as the performing art center should be finished next spring.

Former Radio and TV personality Dini became a volunteer director for Pioneer in 1991; then drama teacher in 1999. While directing the players, he receives a vast amount of respect from his protégés.

“It’s a wonderful show and a fun role to play,” said Lauren Grometer who plays Yenta, the matchmaker. “And Mr. Dini is the best director. He’s a wonderful man and it’s a great blessing to have him.”

Chorus members from left: Dena Zlotziver, Julie Angelo and Caitlin Burnham. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Grometer said that it was heartbreaking to lose Pioneer’s performing arts center, but that the community had been supportive since the fire.

“It was surreal seeing the bulldozers flatten the area to nothing but dirt,” continued Grometer. “Really heartbreaking. But as Mr. Dini says ‘the show must go on.’”

Grometer is one of the 160 students who perform in “Fiddler” representing 10 percent of Pioneer’s entire student body. And with such a showing of motivated, talented performers, the play promises to be as satisfying to the audience as the players even in the outdoor covered stage.

Senior Caitlin Stottrup plays the part of Fruma-Sarah, the ghost. Strottrup has danced at Pioneer before, but this represents her first larger role.

“It was hard in the beginning of the play,” said Strottup. “I was scared and intimidated, but Mr. Dini and Mr. Harris [vocal director] would tell me ‘more action’ and it helped.”

Jeremy Harris, Pioneer’s vocal director and director Dini are celebrating their 18th opening night with Fiddler.

“It was so hard when the performing art center was burned,” continued Strottup. “We were crushed but we had so much support from the local community. We acted on other stages. And we went on to build an outdoor stage last year. It had a tarp instead of a roof so it was a little bit noisy. The new building will be ready for next year’s musical. I’m kind of sad that I won’t be here to see it.”

“It’s one of the great parts of all time,” said senior Matt Miyake of the lead character Tevye who does a rousing rendition of “If I were a Rich Man.” “I’ve really got the acting bug.”

The site of the new performing art center scheduled for completion spring 2006.

Sophomore Sophia Karapetian is a dancer in “Fiddler,” but the show has special meaning to her.

Born in Russia, she and her family moved to America when she was 7.

“I always enjoyed singing,” said Karapetian at dress rehearsal. “I never acted before, but I’m so happy to be in this play. It’s so much fun and Mr. Dini is so patient.”

The American musical classic is the story of Tevye, a Jewish peasant, in pre-revolutionary Russia coping with day-to-day problems along with his wife and five daughters. The fiddler on the roof is how he perilously lived his life under the harsh existence of Tsarist rule.

And like the people of Anatekva, Pioneer High has kept its drama department intact amidst the ruins of their performing art center. As the character Tevye says in “Fiddler” “without tradition our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on a roof.”

“Fiddler on the Roof” will be performed April 27, 28, 29, 30 and May 4, 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer High School. Tickets are $16 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Call 978-8499 for advance tickets.