December 21, 2006

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Leland teacher won’t retire until she gets 100 percent participation

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

One would think that the 1,300 gifts that Leland High School students, teachers and administration donated to the Family Giving Tree was impressive. But, it’s not quite enough in teacher Carla Lucarotti’s eyes.

Spanish teacher Carla Lucarotti is also the school’s Key Club advisor and 14 years ago she organized the first gift-giving extravaganza at Leland with only 93 gifts collected. She has seen participation steadily grow over the years; this year it was at 75 percent. Photos by John Stubler

“I’ve made a goal: I’d like to retire after we’ve reached 100 percent participation at the school. We have 1,800 students and about 100 teachers and administration so that means the December that we have 1,900 gifts we will have reached my ultimate goal,” said the popular Spanish teacher.

Lucarotti is also the school’s Key Club advisor and 14 years ago she organized the first gift-giving extravaganza at Leland with only 93 gifts collected. She has seen participation steadily grow over the years; this year it was at 75 percent, and she is very proud of her students.

“I have one student that has never had a Christmas herself and she donates to the Giving Tree so that other children will have a gift under the tree on Christmas morning,” said Lucarotti. “When I hear stories like that I feel compelled to remind students that living in Almaden most of us can buy whatever we want whenever we want. All I ask if that students give up coffee or something else for a few weeks so that they can donate a gift to a child that won’t receive anything on Christmas except one gift and not even that without our help.”

Setting a good example, Lucarotti and her family, including four grown children and two sons-in-law, are planning on downsizing their family gift purchases this year so that they can buy more gifts for the Family Giving Tree.

It’s also a family affair for her husband, Jim, who is the president of the Almaden Kiwanis Club. The entire club pitches in and Lucarotti says they are especially thankful this year that club member Bob Coelho donated the use of his truck to help carry the wrapped packages down to the Family Giving Tree warehouse.

The Family Giving Tree is a nonprofit organization, based in San Jose, dedicated to fulfilling the holiday wishes of children who would otherwise go without gifts.

The Giving Tree Holiday Program works with more than 250 Bay Area social service agencies. These agencies supply the volunteer organization with the names and wishes of the children they serve year-round. A wish card is printed for each child, detailing their age, gender, first name and their wish for a holiday gift.

Over 900 Bay Area companies and schools participate in the program by displaying the wish cards, often on trees, in their lobbies and other public areas. Leland High School is one of the biggest contributors to the Family Giving Tree.

Last Saturday, students from Leland’s Key Club, Pioneer’s Key Club, Simonds’ “baby” K Club and members of the Kiwanis club all under the watchful eye of the tiny Lucarotti who said the volunteers “covered the warehouse while wrapping and organizing the gifts so that almost every boy and girl with a request will have their wish fulfilled.”

And, that’s what you call the spirit of the season.

Although the efforts of Leland, Pioneer, Simonds and the Kiwanis Club were tremendous, there are still some gift wishes that have not been fulfilled. If you would like to donate money or purchase a gift, call (408) 946-3111 or visit www.familygivingtree.com

Almaden Country School seventh graders spearhead outreach effort

ACS students take initiative, raise more than $2,000 to provide gifts for foster teens

Seventh graders at Almaden Country School completed fund-raising efforts Dec. 15 to buy holiday gifts for less fortunate teens living at Advent House, a home for foster kids in Santa Clara County.

Unlike many fund-raisers that rely on donations, the Almaden Country School initiative was organized entirely by the seventh grade class and students at the school worked to earn the more than $2,200 raised.

The seventh grade class teamed up to promote the project in each classroom at Almaden Country School by making presentations to fellow students, creating posters, and writing letters.

“We are very proud of the contribution our students have made to the community,” commented Steve Hayden, head of schools. “They felt it was important not only to reach out to other teens around the holidays, but also to earn the money themselves. All of the gifts provided truly came from the students.”

Advent House, the organization with which the students worked, provides group homes for teens still awaiting placement in foster homes. During the holiday season, each child served by Advent House creates a Holiday gift wish list. The seventh graders at Almaden Country School raised funds to provide the foster teens with items from their wish lists. “Most of the items on the list are things that you and I take for granted like bedspreads, socks, lotions, shoes, clothes, etc.,” said Dylan Hunter and Will Hayden, two of the seventh graders who helped organize this project.

The seventh grade class teamed up to promote the project in each classroom at Almaden Country School by making presentations to fellow students, creating posters, and writing letters. All the students at the school were challenged to earn money themselves by doing extra chores, donating some of their allowance, or offering to pet sit for a neighbor. Every class set a goal for the amount they hoped to contribute, some earning as much as $275. The funds were then used to purchase items from each teen’s wish list.

This year, more than $2,200 was collected and every teen at Advent House will receive something from his or her wish list, most getting several items. Additionally, over $450 worth of gift cards were purchased for the house for movie tickets, restaurant trips, and food for a holiday party. The items were delivered this week.

When asked how they felt after completing the project, students Grace Hoffman and Demi Pace said, “we have really seen how privileged we are, and how good it can feel to give back.”

Leland Blue & Gold Auction committee names Tracy Liang logo design contest winner

Leland High School’s Booster and Parents clubs recently announced the logo design contest winner for the 22nd annual Blue & Gold Auction Emerald Isle Gala Celebration. Leland sophomore artist Tracy Liang (right) won the prize for the 2007 Blue and Gold Auction logo contest.

“Tracy’s winning design met our goal of designing a logo which captures our theme of ‘Emerald Isle’ for Leland High School’s annual fund-raiser” said Cathy Blecher, 2007 Blue & Gold Auction co-chair. “Each year we ask the students of Leland High School to submit a design based on our annual theme, and this year Tracy’s logo design won the $100 prize.”

Tracy’s artwork will be featured on the 2007 Blue and Gold Auction catalogue, posters, and other promotional items.

Tracy is an intern and art teacher at Lord of the Light Art studio at Almaden Plaza. Mrs. Fujii, her teacher the past year, said how pleased the studio is for Tracy. “Her skills are advanced, but she is very humble about her work. Her love of art is very evident, and this prize-winning illustration will be part of the impressive portfolio she is building for applications to universities.”

The Blue and Gold Auction will be held at the San Jose Marriott, on March 17, 2007. All proceeds from the 2007 Emerald Isle Gala will be used toward weight room equipment for Leland’s Athletic Department, technology LCD projectors and computers for the classrooms, sound and lighting equipment for the drama department and display cases for the library. The auction is the premier annual fund-raiser for Leland High School; a National Blue Ribbon School, California Distinguished School and a CCS Athletic & Scholastic Champion. 

For more information about the auction event, including donation items, purchasing tickets, dinner choices, special table choices and discounted room rates please the Leland Blue and Gold Auction Web site at www.lelandblueandgold.com or call Cathy Blecher at (408) 268-8770. The annual Leland Blue and Gold Auction is traditionally a sold out event. Space is limited and early response is strongly suggested. The reservation deadline is March 9, 2007.

FIRST LEGO League celebrates technical prowess of local kids

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Several hundred local fourth through eighth graders demonstrated their technical prowess and achievements at the San Jose qualifying tournament of the FIRST LEGO League held at Gunderson High School. The event establishes the start of an international competition celebrating the enjoyment and challenge of science and technology.

Tournament winners “Yotta to Yocto” are all smiles with their trophy and beaming coaches. From left: Sixth grader David Godfrey, Graystone fourth grader Shaheen Page, coach Steve Dakin, Castillero sixth graders Mina Blume, Erica Dorn [holding trophy], Castillero eighth grader Kevin Dorn, Bret Harte seventh grader Kiavash Page and coach Chris Page. Photos courtesy of Mike Ross

Twenty-nine of the 56 competing teams, including top ranking tournament winner Graystone, Castillero and Bret Harte’s Yotta to Yocto, are from Almaden Valley schools. Seventeen teams will advance to the Northern California tournament in January, with a single team from that field qualifying for the International 80-team finals held in Atlanta in April.

“I’m a huge fan of the FIRST LEGO League, a unique and truly amazing opportunity for thousands of kids worldwide,” said Yotta to Yocto co-coach Steve Dakin who became involved five years ago when his son attended Hacienda Elementary. “Many of the concepts in the program are things that the fourth through eighth graders won’t learn in school for many years.”

“Early exposure to engineering and programming principles help prepare them for the high tech world and provides a fun, nurturing environment that encourages kids to explore science and technology. The FIRST organization advertises the FIRST LEGO League as athletics for the mind” added Dakin.

But along with the FIRST LEGO League [FLL] competition, human dramas played out as well. Dakin shared that a Sierra School sixth grader, David Godfrey, missed much of the season due to his ongoing battle with leukemia. His teammates supported him throughout his most recent round of treatment and he returned for the last two weeks before the competition. Yotto to Yocto made it to the playoffs with more rounds at the table winning David and his team the highest honor, first place in the Tournament Award.

And if you wonder what Yotta to Yocto represents, team member Kevin Dorn, a Castillero eighth grader explains.
“Our title represents 10 to the 24th power down to 10 to the minus 24th power,” said Dorn. “From really big to the really small. For example, the volume of the earth is one yottaliter.”

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology [FIRST] was founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology. In 1998, Kamen and the LEGO Group’s Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen created the FLL, a program that uses Lego Mindstorm robotics system to engage fourth through grade students in playful, meaningful learning while helping them discover fun in science and technology. Teams of three to six students, guided by volunteer parent coaches, design and build an autonomous robot to accomplish tasks on a 4-foot-by-8-foot playing surface. Points are awarded for the degrees to which each task is accomplished by the team’s robot.

“This is the best program I have been involved with,” said Castillero Nanovation Wizards coach Jim Mori. “The kids learn so much and have fun. Learning to build and program a robot is a small part of the program. A big part is learning to work together as a team. You have kids working on hardware, software, a research project and even costumes. The kids brainstorm to come up with ideas to solve tasks that the robot must do.”

This year’s theme was nanotechnology; each team chose a particular aspect to research. Nanotechnology is a field of applied science and technology where the main unifying theme is the control of matter on a scale below 100 nanometers and the fabrication of devices on this same scale. Several local labs—IBM Almaden, Hewlett Packard and Stanford University—hosted special tours for FLL teams to demonstrate real nanotechnology in action.

The FFL teams were judged on a variety of factors—robot design, performance and dependability, programming, research solution, quality and presentation as well as team spirit and cooperation. Twenty-six teams received awards in the San Jose tournament with 17 advancing to the next level.

“My daughter Erin and I became involved [with FLL] last year,” said Williams Break A Lego-O coach Raymond Pang. “The real benefit is that they learn about many things—physics, programming. The research portion was nanotechnology this year and then there is the teamwork. The tournament is a great event for the kids [and parents] to celebrate their hard work…and to have fun. We stress to the kids that the tournament isn’t all about winning or losing.”

FIRST Lego League Tournament Awards

Judges’ Award—Micro Giant Space Hamsters [Harker], coach Mike Schmidt

Teamwork—1st Nanofreaks [Bret Harte], coach Frank Stetnanka; 2nd Cyber Rams [Willow Glen], coach Dennis McCarthy

Team Spirit—1st Noddin Nerds [Camden Youth Center], coach Nikki Masjediza; 2nd Bagby Nano Academy [Bagby], coach Dan Peak

Team Community—Nanovation Wizards [Castillero], coach Jim Mori

Rookie Team—Atom Smashers [Schallenberger], coach David Welch

Innovation Solutions—1st Nano-Mights [Los Alamitos], coach Daniel Miessau; 2nd Bucky Beasts [Almaden Country School], coach Karen Mahoney

Research Presentation—1st Alien Calamari [Woodside], coach David Glazer; 2nd Amazing Atomic Atoms [Los Alamitos], coach Randy Adams

Research Quality—1st Break A Leg-O [Williams], coach Richard Pang; 2nd Teddy Bears [Harker], coach SanJay Gangal

Innovative Robot Design—1st NanoBananas [Bret Harte], coach Carol Zafiropoulos; 2nd Nanobots 3 [Los Alamitos], coach Tejpal Chadha

Robot Dependability—1st Micro Steelers [Booksin], coach Wally Fry; 2nd Nano Storm [Williams], coach Louise Jacoby

Programming Award—1st Mutant Molecules [Hacienda], coach Neil Woolner; 2nd Electrons [Almaden County School], coach Tim Herr

Best Elementary School Team—Demolition Doctors [Los Alamitos], coach Peter Robinson

Best Middle School Team—Nanomaterz [Williams/Bret Harte], coach Myron Flickner

Against All Odds—NanoNewts [Almaden Country School], coach Karen Mahoney

Tournament Winners—1st Yotta to Yocto [Graystone/Bret Harte], coach Steve Dakin; 2nd Mini But Mighty [Harker], coach Michael Schmidt

All is calm, all is bright

Almaden Valley celebrates the holiday season

Castillero Middle School students shine in performances at St. Joseph Basilica

Castillero Middle School students shine in performances at St. Joseph Basilica

Beautiful music filled St. Joseph’s Basilica Dec. 13 as the Castillero Middle School band performed in St. Joseph’s “Season of Hope Cathedral Performance Series.” Those in attendance got an extra treat as the school dance troupe, wearing beautiful costumes, displayed elegant dance moves down the aisles in time to the music.

The 11th annual performance series located in the 200-year-old Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is billed as a multicultural musical event among various arts organizations and the San Jose Cathedral Foundation’s Office of Social Ministry, which plays out every year during the two weeks before Christmas. By fostering the spirit of hope through the year, the Cathedral provides food, shelter, medical care, and a job search program to those in need, regardless of race or creed, crossing all cultural boundaries.

The Castillero Band was led by David Finch and the dance troupe was led by Director Michelle Crivello. Leland High School’s chamber choir and orchestra and Presentation High School’s choir also were among the performers in the series.

Performances are free and continue through Dec. 23 with shows at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. A Russian jazz pianist performs on Thursday Dec. 21, a female opera singer performs holiday carols on Friday the 22nd and a male/female opera duo will perform the closing night of the series, Dec. 23.

For more information, visit www.stjosephcathedral.org

—Photos by Kymberli Brady

Precious Preschool celebrates the holidays

The children enjoy singing Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa songs together.

Singing their hearts out with joyful holiday songs and acting in skits, Almaden’s Precious Preschool students delighted young and old alike. The holiday program is one of the highlights of each school year, eagerly awaited by children, teachers, parents and grandparents. This year’s show included dancing trees, stars, presents, stockings and Santa’s sleigh pulled by prancing reindeer.

—By Lorraine Gabbert

Seeking School News

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