Christmas Cards Go Global at Glades Middle School
SCHOOL NEWS
BY JILL SHARPE
M
rs. Valerie J. Crawford-Meyer’s 6th grade class at Glades Middle School engaged in holiday greetings with students from four international schools: Lawrence S. Ting School, Vietnam; Bvs Parsi High School, Pakistan; Kaohsiung Municipal Chung Shan Junior High School, Taiwan, and Colegio Cristo Crucificado, Spain. The partner pairing was done from among countries such as Russia, Italy, The U.S. Virgin Islands, Portugal, Botswana and Canada. We were only one of three U.S. schools to participate, and the only Florida school. The students blogged with their counterpart student participants, as best as they could, considering the time difference.
“My students researched the languages of their respective country; created their cards and tried to utilize the language of that country using Google translator,” said Crawford-Meyers. “We received Powerpoints from our partner schools, and in the end—we exchanged Christmas cards. All-in-all, the students discovered that Christmas is not celebrated all around the world, that students in other countries spend far more time working on English lessons than we do; and finally, that they can now correspond with students in other countries who are just like them.” “We look forward to skyping in the classroom next,” she said.
Silver Lakes Elementary Gets Needed Schools Supplies from Broward Education Foundation’s Mobil Unit BY JILL SHARPE
“We are so thankful that the Broward Education Foundation brought the Tools for Schools store to our school,” said Silver Lakes Elementary Principal Tammy Gilbert. “The teachers enjoyed shopping and the supplies will greatly benefit our students.” Jackie Juver Alexandra Vergara Rhonda Tremblay, Alexandra Alina Capuzzo and Tools for Schools and Erin Alcover and Traci Hobbs Rodriguez, Eduardo Lis Dawn Van Der Steeg Broward is a collaborahe new Broward Education Foundation’s Tools for Schools “School Supplies tive effort between Kids in Need Foundation, the Broward County School District, on the Move” mobile unit recently made a stop at Silver Lakes Elementary in local businesses and community volunteers. During the past academic year, Tools Miramar so teachers at this Title 1 school could shop for supplies. The teachfor Schools Broward donated more than $1.1 million worth of school supplies to ers picked up thousands of dollars worth of donated school supplies free of charge. Broward County Title I School teachers and their students. “There are teachers at some schools that cannot make it to our Tools for Schools Donations are always needed. Supplies can be dropped off at Tools for School retail center in Pompano Beach. For their convenience, we mobilized our mobile Broward, 2300 West Copans Road in Pompano Beach and monetary donations unit to deliver much needed classroom supplies to those schools,” said Christina can be made to BrowardEdFoundation.org. A $50 cash donation will fill an entire Fischer, Chair of Broward Education Foundation. “Access to essential school backpack with much needed school supplies. supplies leads to increased student self-esteem, which enhances learning in the School supplies that are most needed include 100-page composition books, classroom. It’s a win-win for underserved students and their teachers.” glue sticks, 24-pack crayons, dry erase markers, colored pencils, two-pocket foldBroward Education Foundation established Tools for Schools Broward so teach- ers, pink erasers, filler paper, pencils and pencil cases. ers from Title 1 schools can have access to free school supplies for their students and classroom twice a year. More than 9,500 teachers and students have benFor more information about Tools for Schools Broward, email efited from Tools for Schools Broward since its inception. mari-lee.baxter@browardschools.com or call 754-321-2034.
T
18
FEBRUARY 2017 | OUR CITY MIRAMAR