October 16, 2008

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Swim-a-thon raises money for breast cancer support

The pool at Presentation High School was dotted with 180 pink swim caps on Wednesday, Oct. 8, as participants at the fourth annual Swim to Remember stringed together 13,000 laps to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Presentation juniors Claire DaRos, Sheila Murray and Allison Tella competed at the fourth annual Swim to Remember.

The swim-a-thon is held in honor of Claire Buchser, who was a beloved math teacher at Presentation for more than 25 years. Buchser succumbed to cancer in 2005.

This year’s proceeds, which total $3,000 so far with donations still flowing in, will be given to Breast Cancer Connections of Palo Alto and the Claire Buchser Memorial Scholarship Award.

Over the course of the daylong event, students, teachers, alumnae and parents recorded 197 miles in the pool – or 325,050 yards – by competing in relay races or completing individual laps. Dozens of volunteers came out to serve as lifeguards and lap-counters, and eight local businesses donated raffle prizes and food.

“We are a community that really knows how to pull off great things,” said Marisa Cozort, Presentation’s swimming coach who helped organize the event. “This was the best turnout we’ve had yet. We had more participants swimming more miles, including alums, the youth swim team that practices at Presentation, and more PHS parents joining in for the first time. 

“It was awe-inspiring to see all those pink caps in the pool.”

Killian May, a seventh-grader at St. Christopher School, was the top swimmer of the day, completing 6,600 yards. Presentation junior Nicole Gomes took second place with 6,400 yards, and senior H.J. Brehmer was third with 6,250.

For more information on Breast Cancer Connections, a nonprofit that supports breast cancer patients and their families, visit www.bcconnections.org.

Simonds goes for the gold

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

The students of Simonds Elementary School may have only competed in a single event with last weekend’s Olympic themed walk-a-thon, but the level of spirit and support could have been heard in Beijing as the walkers and runners took their first lap.

The event began at the school six years ago when Simonds teacher Kim Earnshaw transferred from Los Alamitos to Simonds and asked to take a successful fundraising idea along with her. The event is now a fixture in the Simonds Music & Technology Foundation’s calendar of events to raise funds for vital programs.

Mother-daughter walkers Kim and Kaylee Earnshaw pose under the Olympic-themed archway.

Earnshaw, who has chaired or co-chaired the event at Simonds for the past five years, was thrilled with the level of energy and participation she witnessed. “This has grown into my favorite event at our school,” said Earnshaw. “We have so much participation— many of our former students even come back to volunteer at the event. Everyone knows what to do and we come together like a village to put the day together. We raise a lot of money and have such a good time,” she added.

After three years of serving as a co-chair of the event, Renee Vado, who also serves as Foundation president, stepped up to chair walk-a-thon single handedly this year. She hopes the event brings in approximately $45,000, roughly one third of the Foundation budget. “The walk-a-thon is important because it helps us pay the salaries of our music and computer teachers,” said Vado. “We also buy musical instruments, provide for a choir that meets before school, and purchased a portable computer lab with 20 laptop computers for our students,” she added.

Vado is appreciative of the corporate sponsors who helped make the event a reality. Alain Pinel, Optio Development, All Natural Stone and Summit Uniforms sponsored the Olympic ring T-shirts worn by the proud walkers.

Another source of revenue for the event was the silent auction of teacher treats. Each teacher offered an afternoon weekend excursion to be up for bidding. The lucky students who come in with the highest bid will have the chance to act as principal for the day or go bowling with a favorite teacher. Other offerings were a trip to Chevy’s, a visit to the Jungle or the movies, a picnic or an afternoon of baking.

Parent volunteer also made contributions by running the barbecue to re-fuel the tired athletes with tri-tip, burgers and hotdogs. Proving that volunteerism runs in the family, the bosses of the barbecue were Pat Earnshaw and Franco Vado. Also on hand for treats was a team of moms who ran the snack shack, organized by Gina Tsouris.

Still other parents acted as MCs to keep the energy high by stopping kids to ask them how many laps they had walked as lively music encouraged the masses to keep moving. Lap prizes were also a fun incentive and many walkers wore patriotic visors that marked 10 laps walked.

Parent volunteer Tammeria Landi sees the event as a great way to motivate kids. “My daughter Kendra is driven. She wants to walk as many laps as possible… and get a prize for the most laps walked. My third grader, Morgan, is more excited to walk with her friends,” said Landi.

Third graders Jackson Gonzalo and Josh Davis were big fans of the prizes, as well. Davis was partial to the paddleball toy he received for walking 20 laps and Gonzalo liked the red, white and blue visor that was both fun and functional on this sunny Saturday afternoon.

As expected, the event —just like the Olympic Games— served the purpose of bringing people together. When this can happen and fill the fundraising coffers at the very same time, it’s a gold medal moment for all who are involved.

Robotics high school teams to compete at Archbishop Mitty

Archbishop Mitty High School will host the WRRF (Western Region Robotics Forum) CalGames 2008, which will bring 30 northern California high school robotics teams to campus on Saturday, Oct. 25. The qualifying matches begin at 9 a.m. with playoffs beginning at 1 p.m.

The Western Region Robotics Forum is a not-for-profit organization that supports Bay Area FIRST robotic competitions. The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organization motivates young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. Their annual competitions are the premier activity for high school robotics. More that 1,000 high school teams worldwide compete annually in FIRST competitions.

With the growing interest and involvement in robotics activities, CalGames 2008 is an off-season event, which replays the 2008 FIRST Competition “Overdrive” game. In this game, 120-pound robots compete in three-on-three alliances, using software control and remote control technology. The robots score by making counter-clockwise laps around a track while moving 40-inch diameter trackballs over and under a 6-foot overpass.

The Archbishop Mitty Robotics team works with industry mentors to compete in FIRST Robotics competitions. The curriculum prepares students to tackle the increasing use of technology in our society and to take on technical professions in the future. By combining the excitement of a varsity sport with real-world engineering experience, students discover the value of education and careers in science, technology and math.

Scouts learn about local government, tour city hall

Eight Boy Scouts spent nearly two hours at City Hall recently touring the building, including the rotunda, council chambers and the rest of the building and took time to meet with and talk to District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle and Mayor Chuck Reed.

The scouts, who are students at Simonds Elementary, discussed the school’s music and technology programs. Most of the boys are just starting band at school and love computer learning. Pyle discussed the school’s student council, which will involve the boys in government at a young age. The tour is part of the work included in earning a badge. Taking time out for a photo are, from the left, Pyle, Wesley Xiao, Christopher Divivier, Jack Dasch, Jordon Karr, Michael Drury, Reed, Robert Dasch, Tommy Paulson, Spencer Karr and Webelos/Den Leader Sam Dasch.

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