November 4, 2004

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Annual pumpkin carving slices up a good time

Almaden Country School provides carefree memories for students, families

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

Halloween comes but once a year, but for Almaden Country School [ACS] children it’s a day they will never forget.

The private school staff along with a strong Parents Service Auxiliary [PSA] created a Halloween wonderland complete with pumpkin patch for choosing the perfect gourd complete with carving tables, munchies, spooky story telling, magician and screenings of “You’re a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” And the middle school students are not left out from the scary goings-on. Haunted tunnels with flickering black lights welcomed goblins, a skunk, Egyptian girls and the like, all vying for the costume competition. The participants were surrounded by DJ music, goodies for hungry appetites and chaperoned by their ghoul-disguised instructors.

“How are you, my little pretty?” Jean Delwiche, principal of ACS, in witch’s attire, cackles to student Victoria Hall.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I know it’s you,” the blonde Hall answers laughing. “Come see the kitty we’re carving.”

Delwiche follows the student to the cutting table where father Dan Hall intricately cuts a feline face on the orange gourd while Grandpa Mike Kirchberger, who made a special trip from Connecticut for the event, supervises. Rows of tables with children and family, many multigenerational, create a cornucopia of laughing and organized confusion.

The fruity smell of the orange squash permeates the air.

The pumpkin-carving festival has been celebrated for 22 years, one year short of ACS 23-year existence. The Halloween pumpkin carving represents only one of a myriad of special events the school and PSA schedules for the students. The school strives to provide a wide variety of experiences to enable the children to recognize, enhance and develop their innate talents. Their primary objective is to discover the “islands of brilliance” in each child.

Sherri Penny, PSA member and mother of 12-year-old Jordan who attends ACS, has been organizing the pumpkin carving for nine years.

“It’s my favorite event,” Penny said as she watched the controlled chaos of children, parents and disguised costumers roam the playground. “It’s a real family get together. Almaden really thrives on community. What better job could I have? I’m really blessed to be part of it.”

Penny is quick to mention other PSA members participation of the event: Kathryn Sutton and Sherri Voydatt attended to entertainment; Rosemary Self and Sabahat Roquir created decorations including the pumpkin patch; Steve Hayden was in charge of all things electrical; Wendy and Mat Stepan set up the festival; and equally as important, the cleanup crew Suzanne Gallo and Maurice Cinquini.

But pallor surrounds some of the staff and families. One of their own has suffered an overwhelming loss. Andrew Teel, 19, and his brother John Mark, who both attended the school, lost their lives on a tragic auto accident earlier in the week. Their mother, Claire Teel, is the school librarian.

“We are just devastated,” Principal Jean Delwiche said. “It’s a macabre thing—to do this today. We’ve known the family for 20 years. It has touched the lives of everyone in the school. It has been very hard to do this today but we have to go on for the children.”

Steve Hayden, ACS managing director, had a lot on his mind as he set up the screening of “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Four of his five children attend ACS and his mother-in-law, Nan Hunter, founded the school.

“It is real tough,” Hayden said sadly. “They were great kids. Andrew was in my class and he was a beautiful person. The parents and staff have tried to support the family. It is so tragic.”

After the pumpkins were carved and the ACS children carried them to platforms on either side of the outdoor theater. Votives were lit inside the gourds. Night had fallen as kindergartner Daniel Rothman gazed with wonder at the spectacle of carved jack o’ lanterns glowing in the dark. His father, Joseph and grandfather Sandor stood to the side, lovingly watching the enchanted towheaded tyke. This event was truly all about the children.

Graystone Pumpkin Bust offers chance to enjoy community spirit

A perfect autumn evening set the stage for Graystone Elementary’s annual fall festival, the Pumpkin Bust, attracting its biggest crowd ever. The festival is held every year before Halloween as a school and community spirit event rather than a fundraiser. Children and parents alike enjoyed old-fashioned carnival games like a beanbag toss, putt-putt golf, lollipop draw, and the classic favorite cakewalk. A pumpkin-carving contest and an area where parents, teachers, and fellow students could create scary hair masterpieces for those willing to spend the next several days shampooing and detangling added to the fun. With some pretty terrific prizes, bingo was a big-draw event as people lined up to get a spot at a playing table. The karaoke stage offered up some great entertainment from some well-dressed performers of all ages.

Besides the contributions from Graystone’s Home and School Club, the Graystone community donates hundreds of items such as baked goods, books, pumpkins and stuffed animals for prizes. Regardless of their skill or luck, every player gets a prize for every game they play. Many Bret Harte and Leland students volunteer at the event so that the Graystone families can enjoy the entire evening together. Even with their help, it is still a tremendous production that the Home and School Club plans, manages and finances every year.

Yuri Kuechle, co-president of the Home and School Club is one of the key organizers of the event. “These kids look forward to this event most of all,” said Kuechle. “I’m not sure exactly how many are here, but this is certainly the biggest crowd we’ve ever had, and they all seem to be having a great time.”

Italian dinners can be pre-purchased so families can have a nice sit-down meal, or hot dogs and chips can be had on the fly. Another popular stop is the bakery goods table where a ticket or two will get you a brownie, cookie or cupcake donated by the Graystone classroom families.

While the leaves on our trees may not be as colorful as those back east, the Graystone Pumpkin Bust is one sure way to know we’re in the peak of autumn.

Taylor Leigh: Hollywood, Nashville or bust

Talented Almaden youth performs on national PAX TV spot

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Remember this name: Taylor Leigh Kirk. It’s might just be a matter of time before the girl behind the name will be swooped up out of her Almaden Valley home destined for Hollywood’s glamour and a warm place in America’s heart.

A prodigious 15-year-old performer, Kirk is a sophomore at Leigh High School and has already made waves in local entertainment circles as well as national meccas including Los Angeles and Nashville.
Most recently, Kirk’s alliance with music landed a spot on PAX TV’s “America’s Most Talented Kids.” Kirk’s performance premiered already on national television and is scheduled to run again next Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

“I love to perform,” summed Kirk, who is classified as a triple threat among industry savants. The characterization indicates Kirk’s balanced product, incorporating matured skills in acting, singing and dancing. It also positions Kirk as a versatile commodity for any production team and a riot to interact with in person. “If I had to pick which would come first, it would probably be my music,” continued Kirk who first tasted showbiz as an unassuming kindergartner.

Pure circumstance permitted Kirk’s introduction to entertainment. The story goes that at the ripe age of 5, Kirk’s parents accompanied her to a day fair in downtown San Jose. It so happened that KNTV was holding a Bay Area Kid Talent Search in the same venue. On a whim, Kirk registered and interviewed to the delight of KNTV staff and her current representation Marla Dell Talent Agency in San Francisco.

“Taylor is indeed an amazing talent,” commented Marla Dell Talent Agency founder and proprietor Marla Dell. “Not only is she a talented actress, but equally so as a singer. She truly has a great future ahead of her.”

“It was all chance,” furthered Kirk, who shot a public service announcement within days of her discovery. Soon, Kirk’s camera kinship landed her recurrent work in print advertising, modeling for Mervyn’s, Toys ‘R’ Us and the Design Office and Trade Magazine, among others. “I remember I had an interview with a gal working for Marla,” continued Kirk. “She asked, ‘Why are you interested in acting or performing?’ and I said something back like, ‘I think it would be fun.’”

The comment, in conjunction with delivery, proved ample evidence for the talent scout, who signed Kirk and chose her as a KNTV finalist. “They put a T-shirt on me and called me up on stage,” said Kirk. “I was so excited I tripped.”

And, according to Kirk, such stumbles are exactly what will distinguish her from others vying for similar dreams.

“There is a difference between talent and drive. The person who makes it is not only the one comfortable in their own skin and talented, but also the one pushing themself beyond the point where they think they can’t do any more. There are times where you think you have failed and you have the option to stay there or get up and try again. I think I have proven that, where I can pick myself up and keep going.”

This past summer, Kirk enlisted herself in rigorous training comprised of workshop upon workshop, honing acting skills while showcasing her talent for industry execs. Her plan: to attract representation and relocate to L.A. officially. “It was very difficult,” tells Kirk of her experience. “I was away for pretty much three months, away from my friends and my family” In addition, Kirk’s abilities, given age, pit her, unintentionally, versus older competition—and with age in show business comes freedom to operate individually. “In Hollywood, the girls getting the work are 16 years old and have their high school equivalency,” two factors permitting a more versatile working schedule, hence more opportunities in the work place.

“I ended up competing against two of these girls in the showcase,” explained Kirk. “I guess I wasn’t ready.” In this case, the other girls were courted by L.A.-based talent agencies while Kirk received feedback stating ‘good luck’ and ‘work hard.’

So she did. Kirk has returned to San Jose with fire in her heart, continuing training in both singing and acting. And since the air of her nationally televised PAX spot, Kirk received sweet vindication. “A magnificent performance,” read an e-mail addressed to Kirk from the same L.A. group that shooed her away earlier that summer.

It’s only a short matter of time for Taylor Leigh Kirk.

Currently, Miss Kirk is auditioning locally and remains busy recording a demo tape for a contact in Nashville. Don’t miss her PAX TV performance this Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.