Lakewood Elementary School students are learning to create bold, colorful images – but instead of using paint brushes, they’re using words.
“Painting With Words: The Creative Writing, Creative Thinking Workshop” marks the school’s third artist in residence program. Writer Bonnie Kennedy, who has inspired more than 4,000 Texas elementary school children in creative thinking, will work with all grades at the school.
“The third graders are very excited about the book of collaborative poems they’ve published,” says principal Karen Rogers.
“Bonnie was an instant hit, and each class is anxiously awaiting its time to work with her over the coming months.”
The program, which was created and developed by Kennedy, introduces students to concepts and processes designed to build self-esteem, self-confidence and a greater ability to communicate through the art of writing.
Students are encouraged to use their experiences to communicate through comparisons, and they will learn how to increase their awareness and how to express emotion through physical details.
Kennedy originally developed the program in 1987 for the Stephen F. Austin Elementary School in Gregory, Texas. Bolstered by her success, she obtained a copyright for the program and opened her own Painting With Words School a year later in San Angelo.
The Lakewood artist-in-residence program was started several years ago to introduce students to a variety of art forms. Past artists include Karl Shaeffer of the Dallas Children’s Theater and painter Charlotte Lindsey.
The program is funded by donations from the Lakewood PTA, The Lakewood Preschool PTA, the Friends of Lakewood and a grant from the Texas Commission of the Arts.
Dec. 5 Vote to Decide DISD Bond Election
Dallas Independent School District voters will decide Dec. 5 on a proposed $275 million bond program.
If approved, DISD will use the funds to build 15 new schools for crowding relief, as well as the Townview Center, a super-magnet facility in Oak Cliff to house six of the district’s magnet programs.
Two new schools to be constructed in East Dallas include a $4.5 million relief school for Mt. Auburn and Lipscomb elementaries, and a $5.5 million relief school for Fannin, Bonham and Ray elementary schools.
The funds also will pay for permanent additions to 10 existing schools and general improvements for every DISD school, including updating computer labs, science labs and media centers, air-conditioning and heating, security and safety, and general maintenance items, during the past decade, and approximately 95 percent of the district’s schools are at or above enrollment capacity. More than 1,000 classrooms are being held in portable facilities.
“Dallas must have the facilities to match the demand and expectation of our students,” says Tom Dunning, the Vote Yes campaign committee chairman.
“These bonds must meet voter approval to ensure the quality of the education of our children.”
There appears to be no organized opposition to the bond election.
Teacher, Student Honored at Long
J.L. Long Middle School teacher Sharon Lynne Morgan has been selected to receive the Texas Academy of Science Outstanding Teacher Award for 1993. Morgan was selected from among numerous nominations made to the Texas Educational Agency in Austin. The award presentation is scheduled March 5 in Denton.
Meanwhile, eighth-grade student Deanna Lee was awarded second place in an essay contest entitled “AIDS/HIV Infection – I Have A Choice”, says Maureen Peters, president of the Alliance of Dallas Educators. The contest was sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers through the Alliance of Dallas Educators. Lee received a $250 U.S. Savings Bond as part of the award.
Students Learn Business at School
Sixth graders at Lakewood Elementary School recently learned how to balance a checkbook, take out a bank loan, open and operate a business, and elect city officials – all in one day.
It’s all part of the curriculum at Enterprise City, a Richardson Independent School District program where students participate in a mini-city simulation that helps students learn about municipal government and owning a business.
The program – one of only three in the country – began in 1985 as a joint effort by RISD administrators and the Richardson business community.
“The community leaders were really the ones who got this program off to a running start,” says Sharlene Freeman, Enterprise City’s director.
Contributors initially donated $250,000 to fund the facility and annually contribute approximately $35,000, Freeman says.
Enterprise City utilizes one wing (6,000 square feet) of the Canyon Creek Elementary School and consists of 16 businesses, including a newspaper, a warehouse, a print shop, a sports shop, a jewelry shop and a T-shirt shop. The “city” also includes a bank and city hall.
A day at Enterprise City includes election of a mayor and city judge. Following the election, students begin operating their business by applying for a bank loan, purchasing merchandise and setting up shop. The students also act as employees and must fill out job applications.
Throughout the day, students may purchase merchandise from shops using Enterprise City money earned during the day.
“Not only do they learn the basics for running a business, but they also learn how to manage their money as consumers,” Freeman says.
The students’ goal is to sell enough merchandise to be able to repay the bank loan.
Before visiting Enterprise City, students must complete classroom instruction concerning economic concepts such as opportunity cost, economic wants, scarcity, such as check writing, bank loans, interest and some training as bookkeepers.
Enterprise City is run by Freeman, one assistant, four part-time teachers and more than 1,600 volunteers. Major corporate contributors include Northern Telecom, The Hillcrest Foundation, J.C. Penney and American Express.
In 1989, Enterprise City was recognized as the top economic program of its kind by the National Federation of Independent Business Foundation.
Approximately 8,000 students visit Enterprise City annually, including all RISD 4th and 7th graders, and 5th and 6th graders from 10 other area school district’s, including DISD, and four private schools.
Lakehill Food Drive Benefits Area Seniors
Lakehill Preparatory School held its annual food drive last month to meet the needs of East Dallas senior citizens.
Lakehill began its senior citizen food drives in 1985, when the East Dallas Senior Citizen’s Network closed. The 7th-grade class is responsible for the annual food drive, which collected cans of food from the school’s 250 families.
Lakehill 11th-graders are responsible for cataloging, storing and delivering food to the 20 families who depend on the school for support.
The students select food they know would be welcome by the recipients, paying special attention to diets and taste preferences.
Lakehill is the only area school maintaining a food pantry on its campus for East Dallas senior citizens. In recognition of the school’s efforts, Lakehill was named Dallas’ Volunteer Organization of the Year 1992.
Lakehill Teachers Honored as ‘Best Faculty’
Two Lakehill Preparatory School instructors recently were named to “Who’s Who Among American Teachers: The Best Teachers in America Selected by the Best Students”.
Lyda Slayton, head of the English department, and 5th-grade teacher Carol Mackner were nominated by Lakehill students named to Who’s Who in American High School Students. The two teachers were cited for making a difference in the lives of their students.
Zion Lutheran Turns off the Tube for a Week
What would life without television be like? Some Zion Lutheran School students found out during a recent school-wide experiment that challenged them to go without watching television for one week.
The idea for the No-TV Week came from Zion teacher Judy Berg, who has researched television’s impact on children.
“The national average for television viewing for children is three to five hours a day,” Berg says, “and the hours increase for preschool children.
“There is so much documented evidence on the negative effects that television brings to children. I wanted our parents to be aware of these and, at the same time, offer some ideas for TV alternatives.”
Approximately 140 children and their families participated in the program. During No-TV week, children wore No-TV buttons, wrote daily in diaries, drew No-TV posters and implemented their No-TV battle plans at home. The school also established a No-TV Hotline for parents or children suffering from TV withdrawal.
At week’s end, students who stayed the course were rewarded with pizza. Feedback from parents were positive, Berg says.
Bishop Lynch Students Honored
The Bishop Lynch High School Band and Brigade, which consists of approximately 63 students, recently won the Judges Choice Trophy for Top Performing Band at the Showcase of Bands Exhibition held at the University of North Texas.
Two Bishop Lynch athletes recently were recognized as Dale Hansen’s Scholar Athlete of the week. Senior Juan Castro, a linebacker on the football team, and girls basketball player Amie Smith were featured on the program, which spotlights outstanding area student athletes.
Smith recently accepted a full scholarship from the University of Texas in Austin, after considering Notre Dame, SMU, Texas Tech and A&M.
St. Thomas Aquinas Annual Holiday Bazaar Set Dec. 4-5
St. Thomas Aquinas School has scheduled its annual Christmas Bazaar Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the school auditorium, 3741 Abrams.
Items to be sold include gifts, crafts and decorations. A food cafe also will be available for hungry shoppers.
Proceeds benefit the school’s Parents Association, one of St. Thomas’ primary supporters.
Stonewall Rallies in Red
Approximately 500 Stonewall Jackson Elementary students, teachers, parents, siblings, neighbors and pets were all a part of the school’s recent Red Rally Day Parade.
The parade was part of a week-long drug awareness campaign sponsored by Texans’ War on Drugs. The students were dressed in red and carried flags and posters proclaiming “Stonewall students are drug free.”
East Dallas Storefront bicycle patrol officers led the parade around the school grounds, and the Dallas Police Department’s Max the Robot was a featured guest.
In other Stonewall news, the school’s winter program, “A Teddy Bear Holiday”, will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, 5828 E. Mockingbird.
Featured performers include kindergarten and first grade classes, and the school’s band and sign choir.
The program is free and open to the public.
News & Notes
HOOP DANCER VISITS ST. JOHN’S: Kevin Locke, a Lakota hoop dancer and flute player, recently entertained students at St. John’s Episcopal School with dancing and colorful native costumes.
GREENHILL STUDENT HONORED: Lakewood resident Ellen Oberwetter was among the top winners in a recent statewide debate tournament held in Dallas. Greenhill teams took first, second and third place in the varsity division of cross-examination debate at the Hockaday School’s annual speech and debate tournament.
