May 3, 2007

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Home-schooled students travel to San Jose to compete in state speech championship

Eric Zimmerling
Times Intern

One hundred and twenty home-schooled students from all across the state gathered at the Foxworthy Baptist Church to compete in the Home School State Championship Speech Tournament on Friday, April 27.

C.H.A.T.  (Christian Homeschoolers Always Talking)  Speech Club and their coach and tournament director Win Heggem (in the middle, in white) pose for a picture after the Home School State Championship Speech Tournament. Photos by Eric Zimmerling

The two-day tournament was hosted by the National Christian Forensics and Communicators Association and featured the students individually competing in 11 different types of rigorous speeches, which included extemporaneous speaking, humorous, dramatic interpretation and original oratory where they were graded by a panel of judges.

The students, ages 12-18, were all invited to the state championship after qualifying at earlier events in the year and were hoping to advance to the national tournament in Texas later in the year.

Win Heggem, tournament director and teacher at Live Oak Academy, helped bring the event to the Foxworthy Baptist Church for the first time. She said the students learn great social skills through competitions like this.

“The students compete in 11 different speaking events in three main categories. There is platform and that is where students try to instruct or persuade the judges on a topic. There are interpretive speeches where students bring a story to life. And there is limited prep speeches where students are given a topic and they have to use resources they’ve gathered throughout the year and brought to the tournament to convince judges of their view on a debatable topic.”

Among the competitors was Daniel Sayre, a 16-year-old student who lives in San Jose. He performed a 10-minute memorized and very persuasive speech on rumors and how they impact society.

“Remember when we played that game,” he asked, “where one person would whisper something in the ear of the person next to you and it changes every time, and by the time the last person says what they heard it sounds nothing like it started?” He went on to explain how this can happen in the real world and what affects those rumors have on society. Sayre placed eighth in the competition.

Another student spoke about the links between aluminum intake in humans and Alzheimer’s disease while another student spoke against abortions after amniocentesis tests revealed a possibility that the newborn baby would have Down syndrome.

Patty Sayre, Daniel’s mother, said that the skills that her son and other competitors take from this are very important as they get older and help them prepare for their lives as independent adults.

“This is a character builder and a confidence builder for these kids,” Sayre said. “It is difficult going up there in front of these judges and competing. It is so valuable in the future during interviews and other professions such as building lesson plans as a teacher. It is a tremendous character builder and teaches the kids respect.”

The home school league began in 1997 with a number of competitors and has slowly grown since its introduction. Around 20 students were involved in competitions like this back in the late 1990s but it has grown to nearly 150 students at the larger events during the year today.

Sue Sheffield, an organizer for the event and also a teacher at Live Oak Academy, said that speaking competitions for these kids provides them with a wide spectrum of skills.

“Supposedly public speaking is the number-one fear of students in school,” Sheffield said. “But these students are capitalizing on their strengths when speaking in front of the judges. It is the hard work that these students put in all year that they have a chance to showcase in this type of competition.”

Pioneer High School earns 2007 California Distinguished School honor

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

San Jose Unified School District has announced that Pioneer High School will be recognized by the California State Department of Education as a 2007 California Distinguished School at the Distinguished School Awards Ceremony on May 18 in Anaheim. This is Pioneer’s third recognition as a California Distinguished School.

Everything’s coming up roses for Pioneer High School Principal Sandy Engel who recently received news that the high school has been designated a California Distinguished School. Photos by Julie Davis Berry

This comes as no surprise to Pioneer Principal Sandy Engel. “When the Distinguished Schools Committee came to our school they were just blown away by our kids,” she said. “Aside from our increased test scores we just have a very active school. For example the football players act in the school play and there just aren’t as many cliques as there are at other schools. And, the parents are very involved. We have a revitalized Pioneer Educational Foundation which supports educational our technology programs. When I came here I felt like the school had a small town quality.”

Engel is particularly proud of the efforts made by students and staff to work together and get along. “Fifteen percent of our students are economically disadvantaged, 10 percent speak English as a second language, 8 percent are special education students and 17 percent are gifted. But, they are nice kids and many of them participate in extracurricular activities,” said Engel.

There are a lot of extracurricular activities to choose from including a stellar sports program, theater arts and new programs slated for the next year such as Advanced Placement Art Studio, Advanced Placement Music Theory, Micro Economics and “most exciting of all a Robotics and Technology Engineering course,” according to Engel. “Our Robotics team just went to the National Competition over Spring Break and did very well,” said Engel.

Laurie Kirk, Pioneer’s Drawing, Painting, & Design Instructor said she will be attending the AP College Board training this summer in preparation for building a program in the AP 2-D Design Portfolio. “Many students here at Pioneer have expressed interest in the program,” said Kirk. “It is an extensive undertaking for a student to complete an AP art portfolio and I am confident in the amazing ability of the art students here at Pioneer. I have no doubt that the process will be challenging and rewarding not only for my students but for me as well.”

Pioneer High School recently participated in Challenge Day, which is a nonprofit program featured on the Oprah T.V. show. The program is designed to break down barriers between different cliques and ethnic groups at high schools across the nation.

Pioneer is a also nationally recognized Service Learning Model School whose current students have logged more than 34,000 hours of community service. Their Service Learning program provides a unique culture that supports the integration of students‚ academic, social, emotional and physical developmental needs. It also contributes significantly to the community’s needs and creates an ethical framework for lifelong learning and community service.

Through their required sophomore project and the senior exhibitions, Pioneer’s service learning links academic requirements to the talents of individual students and provides unique opportunities for students to explore career pathways through a wide array of volunteer opportunities with more than 100 service organizations.

In announcing the 171 distinguished schools, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said, "These middle and high schools have shown they are able to meet the challenge of providing their students with the kind of rigorous education that is essential to their future success in the classroom and the workplace."

The California Distinguished School Program was established in 1985, and is considered one of the most rigorous statewide award programs in the US. California Distinguished Schools represent the top 3 percent of schools in the state. This statewide recognition for program excellence identifies comprehensive criteria common to exemplary and inspirational schools. Schools receiving the Distinguished School award demonstrate a commitment to furthering the intellectual, social, moral, and physical growth of all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners.

Looking at things from a different perspective

Joshua Jeung definitely has a different way of looking at things and those in attendance at the Valley Christian High School Art and Photography Show were appreciative of his slant on things. For instance, here the Photo II student finds a way to Photoshop a picture of a hungry friend preparing to enjoy a tasty treat. Hundreds of family member, friends and staff members turned out to view the best work of the art and photography students, which was showcased at the recent event. “We have so many talented artists and photographers at this school that we may need to add more advanced classes,” said Photo I teacher Cindy Torode.

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.