OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010 • 25
SCHOOLS Olympic Gold medalist Steve Mesler from the U.S. bobsled team met students in Jamie Shaw’s kindergarten class and Amanda Ramey’s second grade class at Liberty Park Elementary. Photo special to The Journal
LPE Students Meet Gold Medalist Pen Pal
After becoming pen pals with an Olympic athlete, students at Liberty Park Elementary finally got to meet him in person. Steve Mesler, a member of the U.S. bobsled team, spoke at the school May 3. During the Olympics, students in Jamie Shaw’s kindergarten class and Amanda Ramey’s second grade class sent Mesler letters, e-mails and even got to speak to him at Olympic Village via Skype, a program that allows users to make video phone calls over the Internet.
Gwin Students, Teachers Lend a Paw at Cat Show
Gwin Elementary students and teachers volunteered as ring stewards at the 38th annual Birmingham Cat Fanciers show held recently at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. Thanks to their efforts, Save Our Strays, a non-profit organization and no-kill shelter for animals, received a percentage of the gate sales from the show. Fifth graders Cherryn Wang and Ashley Arcara helped out at the show for two days for a total of 17 hours.
This was their second year to volunteer. Fourth grader Amelia Snider and fifth grader Cadie Parker worked the judges’ rings as part of mother-daughter teams. Cadie and her mom have been stewards at the show for two years. Fourth grader Daniel KekesSzabo and his sister Sophia, who attends Simmons Middle School, also volunteered at the show. Sophia has been a volunteer for two years.
This is the second year that St. Francis Xavier has participated and placed in the program. The school’s fourth and fifth grade classes are led by Mary Grace Chicarello and Donna Hecklinski. Frank and Deborah Sinak were parent volunteer sponsors of the project.
St. Francis Xavier Students Take 3rd in McWane Challenge
The fourth and fifth grade classes of St. Francis Xavier School won third place honors out of 18 schools in the McWane Science Center “Celebrate Science” Design Challenge April 6. The program engages students in a group project to design an exhibit for McWane Science Center. The cross-curricular project incorporates math, science, writing and technology. The St. Francis Xavier students’ project was centered on an interactive exhibit about the diversity of the rainforest. Students studied the rainforest and worked together to build a model.
A Gwin Elementary group volunteering at the Birmingham Cat Fanciers annual show were, from left, front: students Ashley Arcara, Amelia Snider, Daniel Kekes-Szabo and Cadie Parker. Back: teacher and Save Our Strays representative Judy Rapp, teacher Jennifer Holmberg and Photo special to The Journal student Cherryn Wang.
Learning to quilt at Shades Cahaba Elementary are, from left, front: Emma Clare Johnson, Abbey Moss and Hannah Oliver. Back: Millie Grace Malek, Dina Zaher, Alexandra Shull and Sara Teichmiller. Not pictured are Elliott Yacu, Katera Smith, Taylor Turner and Vedika Photo special to The Journal Ghildyal. quilt to First Light Women’s and Children’s Shelter in downtown Birmingham. Members of the club visited the shelter to present the quilt, tour the facility and learn the needs of the shelter. The club also took homemade snacks to share with the residents.
Mountain Brook Relay Raises $135,000
Kindergarten students at Our Lady of the Valley experienced science and spiritual lessons with baby Photo special to The Journal chicks.
Chicks Teach Students About Faith, Science
Jeanie Dennis’ Our Lady of the Valley kindergarten class recently watched eight baby chicks hatch in her classroom as part of a science and spiritual lesson. Students discussed the empty egg shell, comparing it to Jesus’ tomb, and talked about the hatching of the baby chicks as Jesus and the resurrection. The students also learned about relying on their faith when two chickens died and about the importance of compassion when a chick with leg problems survived. The hatching of the chicks is an annual event in Dennis’ class.
SCE 5th Grade Art Club Learns to Quilt
Eleven fifth graders at Shades Cahaba Elementary spent their Friday mornings this past school year learning to quilt by hand. The students donated their completed
The April 16 Relay For Life at Mountain Brook’s Spartan Stadium raised $135,000 for the American Cancer Society. Cancer survivors kicked off activities by leading the Elizabeth Calvin first victory lap of the overnight event. Following the opening lap, teams participated by staying on the track relay-style for eight
hours. At night, luminaries lined the track in honor of those living with cancer and in memory of those who lost their battle with the disease. A ceremony recognized and remembered those who have been touched by cancer. Awards were given to recognize outstanding achievement by participants and teams. This year’s Top Offline Fundraiser awards went to Elizabeth Calvin, who raised more than $8,900, and Paul Roth, who raised close to $2,000. Top Fundraising Team was Donna Greene Community Bible Study, which raised almost $14,000. The Top Fundraising Teams Per Capita awards went to Working For a Cure and The A Team, each raising more than $10,000. The Rookie of Relay award went to Team Jala Bug, which raised close to $4,000, and the Rising Star Team was Cherokee Bend Fifth Grade, which raised $9,000. ❖
Hilltop Montessori School’s middle school students recently contributed to the Mt Laurel Public Library’s building fund. The students donated money that they earned through community service projects throughout the school year, as well as their winnings in the Fall Festival Mt Laurel annual scarecrow contest. From left are, Kelsey King, Monica Mendenhall, Krissy Smith, Gareth Turner, Sherry Cook, Kathy Esper Photo special to The Journal and Ann Price.