May 17, 2007

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

7th annual Simonds Multicultural Fair a huge success

Multicultural Fair hosts 600 guests, celebrates 18 different cultures

By Kimberlie Garg
Special to the Times

Japanese children during the Parade of Nations.

The 7th annual Simonds Multicultural Fair May 4 was a huge success with 600 guests learning about 18 different cultures.

The countries represented were America, Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, Canada, China / Taiwan, Nether-lands, France, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, and Pakistan. (Germany and Pakistan were new this year).

The theme this year was "Man Made and Natural Wonders of the World." Each booth featured food, a craft or game, items from the country, and a small free gift. Visitors received passports containing country information and 18 raffle questions about the man-made or natural wonder that each country featured. Kids went from booth to booth finding out the answers and getting raffle tickets for one of the12 raffle baskets.

Amanraj Singh performing the Dhol (drum) at the start of the India entertainment.

The food was delicious with parents and students offering a great variety of Indian food (Chole, Chicken Tika, Samosas), French Brea and Grapes, Chinese food (Fried Rice, Egg Rolls), Afghani rice and beef, Borekas, puffed pastries from Israel, and Smarties and Gummie bears from Canada and Germany.

Throughout the evening, the crowd was entertained by dances and performances from five of the country booths, starting with a Parade of Nations. This was followed by dances and a drum solo by students of Indian descent, a beautiful solo violin performance by an Iranian boy, three performances from the Japanese booth, a game and sport demonstration from China and finally, a beautiful dance from Korea.

The weather threatened all day to ruin this wonderful event, but at 5 p.m. the sun poked through and the wind died down. It was a wonderful evening and a chance to see that although we are from many nations, we are all one.

Bret Harte to host cultural fair featuring sports, costumes and more on May 23

Bret Harte Middle School will hold its annual Cultural Fair on Wednesday, May 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Sports and Fun Make the World One.” Countries from around the world will be represented with booths displaying cultural music, games, costumes, activities and food samples. There is a fun and entertaining talent show planned. Come and celebrate the diversity of the school and community. If you'd like to sign up for the talent show or have any questions, contact Julie Miller at brunojm18@yahoo.com.

Almaden fifth grader honored for academic excellence by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

Tara Rani Saha, a fifth-grade student from San Jose’s Almaden Valley, was recently honored at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children held by The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

Tara Rani Saha, a fifth-grade student from San Jose’s Almaden Valley, was recently honored at a statewide awards ceremony for gifted children held by The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

Tara Rani D. Saha was invited to the May 12 awards ceremony at Santa Clara University sponsored by CTY (www.cty.jhu.edu) based on an exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to second- through eighth-grade Talent Search participants. Seventh and eighth graders took the SAT or ACT—the same tests used for college admissions. Second through sixth graders took the SCAT (School and College Ability Test), an above-level test scaled for younger students.

Saha, who attends Los Alamitos Elementary School in Almaden Valley, joined other award recipients at the recent state ceremony, and was individually honored by Johns Hopkins for her academic performance and promise. She received an additional award for second place in the Verbal Test for Fifth Grade in the state of California.

Since 1979, CTY has sought the most academically able elementary- and middle-school students and encouraged their enrollment in the annual fall CTY Talent Search, open September through November. Students then test in December or January.

The results of these tests give families a better idea of a child’s academic talents, particularly in comparison to the thousands of other academically talented students in the Talent Search. Students can also earn recognition at CTY’s Awards Ceremony, and about 25 percent of the over 30,000 seventh- and eighth-grade testers earned an invitation to an awards ceremony.

“In hosting these awards ceremonies, we want these bright children to have their day in the limelight for their academic talent and to celebrate their abilities, just as we celebrate excellence in athletics or the performing arts,” said Lea Ybarra, Ph.D., CTY’s executive director. “Many students recognized at our awards ceremonies already know that ‘being smart is being cool.’ But there are others for whom their abilities come as a surprise to them and their families. We at CTY take great pride in helping all these deserving young people gain recognition at the state level for their academic potential.”

Ybarra also credits parents and educators for sharing in the honored students’ accomplishments. “Parents who make academics a first priority for their children, and teachers who inspire their students to achieve their best, create engaged young people who are well prepared to lead and shape tomorrow’s world.”

About the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
CTY conducts the nation’s oldest and most extensive academic talent search and offers educational programming for students with exceptionally high academic ability. CTY parallels, and complements, a gifted child’s regular school experience. CTY’s programs and students have been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and other premier American publications. Other information:

- CTY is a nonprofit center at The Johns Hopkins University.

- CTY draws students from 19 states and D.C., as well as students from over 80 countries.

- 2005-06 saw over 84,000 second through eighth graders participate in CTY’s Talent Searches.

- CTY provided $5 million in financial aid to over 2,150 students in 2005-06.

- In the 2005-06 Talent Search, 19.8 percent of students in CTY’s Talent Search were identified as underrepresented.

- Gifted students qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program may join the Talent Search virtually for free.

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