The children in Rhonda Graham’s fourth-grade class at Dan D. Rogers Elementary spent part of a day in January learning the basics of running a make-believe candy business, Dan D. Candy. The children were each assigned a specific duty and were walked through a step-by-step procedure explaining how to operate their new business, from the construction of the factory to the sales of their product.
For this lesson, their instructor wasn’t Ms. Graham, but Diane Moore, a volunteer from the Pearle Vision Corporation. Moore, along with other Pearle Vision employees, will make periodic visits to each fourth grade class throughout the semester as part of a program designed to bring to elementary age students a better understanding of the work-place.
“Kids and the Power of Work” (KAPOW), was launched a year ago by Pearle Vision’s parent company, Grand Metropolitan, and reaches approximately 4,000 students in 20 schools nationwide. Rogers is the second Texas school to participate in the program.
The goals outlined in the KAPOW program are to familiarize students with the specific duties of the Pearle Vision volunteer, to give students a better understanding about various jobs in the community, including their parents’ jobs, and to teach the students the skills they are learning in school are necessary for all occupations.
“We are very honored to be chosen for this program,” says Rogers principal Rex Cole. “Before, many students didn’t know the specifics of their parents’ jobs. This participatory type of learning gives them a better understanding for the actual duties performed in various occupations.”
Coordinator of the program at Pearle Vision is the company’s chief legal council, Kevin Rogan. “KAPOW gives these kids a unique view into the world of work,” Rogan says. “But the best thing about the program is the enthusiasm of the kids. They learn how their schoolwork relates to the skills they will need in the workplace in both an entertaining and exciting way,” he says.
Some of the occupations of the students in Graham’s class for the Dan. D. Candy company included a CEO, office manager, marketing manager, salesperson, truck driver, quality control manager and production manager. In February, the students will visit the Pearle Vision headquarters to see the workplace in action.
“For our school, it’s a great victory to get the community involved,” Cole says. “We invite any interested business into our school.”
Robert E. Lee Students Explore Spanish Art
Thanks to a grant from the City of Dallas Cultural Arts program, 25 students from Robert E. Lee Elementary will participate in a Saturday of Spanish Art at the elementary school. Maria Teresa Garcia, Associate Curator of the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, will be teaching students the history of the “retablos”, religious artifacts used in many Hispanic homes for private devotion. The students will also create their own retablos.
“We want the students to understand their cultural, artistic and historical heritage,” Garcia says.
In addition to the student arts class, parents will attend a class of their own where they will learn simple art activities they can do with their children. The purpose is to help parents learn how to foster reading and vocabulary skills at home, says Jane Lampton, Lee’s principal.
Lipscomb Receives $2,000 for Wings Program
Lipscomb Elementary School recently received a $2,000 anonymous donation for the purchase of the Wings Program, an educational program produced by the National Safety Association.
The program is designed for 3- to 6-year-olds and includes approximately 120 games (some of which were designed by Muppet creator Jim Henson) that are used to enhance thinking skills that can help children excel in school.
Some of the skills students can learn through the games include memorization, comprehension, problem solving, decision making and creative thinking.
“One of the primary goals at Lipscomb is to involve the parents with their children’s education and to help them become their child’s primary teacher,” says Lipscomb assistant principal Betty Ahern. “For this program, the parents will be coming to the school to play these games with their children,” she says.
In other Lipscomb news, students will be celebrating African American Heritage during the month of February. Some of the events scheduled for the school include an oratorial contest of African American poetry, a fact-finding contest about famous African Americans and an African American dance troupe performance.
Schools Schedule Kindergarten Roundup
Schools throughout East Dallas and Lakewood will begin hosting kindergarten roundups in February. Roundup is an informational orientation for any student (and their parents) who will be entering kindergarten for the ’93-’94 school year.
The program is also for any new student, regardless of grade level. The student must be 5 years old prior to Sept. 1, to be eligible for kindergarten.
At the time of publication, not all schools had established dates for roundup. Contact your area school for information.
Lakewood Elementary School, 3,000 Hillbrook: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 and 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. An informational meeting in the school auditorium for the parents, a tour of the school and activities for the children are scheduled. For more information, call 841-5250.
Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, 5828 E. Mockingbird: 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 5. For information, call 841-5155.
Woodrow Choir Selected Governor’s Best of Texas
The 32-member Variation Choir of Woodrow Wilson High School has been selected to participate in an intrastate educational program entitled “The Best of Texas”, where schools will share via telecommunication their unique programs, teaching methods and student performances.
The sharing of educational information was proposed by Governor Ann Richards. From Feb. 22-26, educational institutions in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Midland will participate in a two-way audio and video exchange.
The production of the Dallas-area programs will be broadcast through compressed video from the school’s band hall. Southwestern Bell telephone is providing all of the equipment and phone lines necessary for the program.”
“All programs to be featured have been recognized as exemplary,” says Diane Radspinner, cable coordinator for the Dallas Independent School District.
Woodrow’s variation choir has consistently won top honors in district, region, area and state competitions. The choir also performs for numerous community events throughout the year. Last year the variations choir was invited to perform at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
“Our variation choir is a prime example of excellence in education in Texas,” says assistant principal Lucious Newhouse. “I feel like we have the best in Texas.”
Woodrow Junior Named to All-State Choir
Woodrow Wilson High School junior Trey Pendergrass will perform with the 250-voice All-State Choir in San Antonio Feb. 13. Pendergrass was chosen for the honor after advancing in competitive auditions at the district, regional and area levels.
Pendergrass is the voice student of Joan Tallis and Henry Price, and sings at Woodrow under the direction of Marcia Lee Bircher. This is his first performance with the All-State Choir. His other interests include One Act Play, tennis team and the Key Club. He is the son of Art and Ruth Pendergrass.
In other Woodrow news, senior Ray Estrada was named a Top Texas Basketball Player in “Texas Hoops” by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Only 20 players in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are selected.
Also, senior Lara Johnson won the Good Citizen-Award of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Greater Dallas Chapter.
A total of 25 Woodrow students have been selected for the ’92-’93 Youth Leadership of Dallas sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Dallas County. They are:
Delmi Barrientos, Jeb Bridges, Kara Burch, Stephanie Cagley, Shannon Cooper, Elsa Delgado, Josh Drury, Shelley Ferguson, Tracy Garrett, Andrew George, David Hall, Rosalbo Maturino, Jesus Moya, Elia Pacheco, Madeline Parrish, Omar Pinon, Flor Quinones, Isabel Rodriguez, Michael Sneed, Alicia Surratt, Brennan Wallace, Lisa Woods, Nicole Herron and Amy Jones.
Lakehill Student Attends Inauguration
Lakehill Senior Hayley Wester recently attended the Presidential Inauguration ceremony during the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 17-21. Hayley was among 500 high school students from throughout the U.S. who witnessed President Bill Clinton’s Inauguration.
In addition to attending the inaugural parade and swearing-in ceremony, Hayley visited the offices of Texas senators and representatives, attended a performance at the Kennedy Center and observed a foreign policy briefing at the state department.
This was the third Presidential Youth Conference, an event designed to recognize outstanding youth and provide them with a unique, hands-on civics learning experience in the nation’s capital.
Lakewood Elementary Premieres First Opera, “Hide & Seek”
Lakewood opera enthusiasts don’t need to drive Fair Park’s Music Hall to see one of the season’s first operas. “Hide & Seek,” an opera written and produced entirely by Lakewood Elementary sixth graders, will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the school auditorium.
“The students have to write the script, music and lyrics, design and make costumes, design and build the set and everything else that an opera involves,” says Blair Cupples, one of the students in charge of public relations for Opera ’93, the school’s newly named opera company.
Lakewood teachers Karen Kimball and Rita Samuells are the Opera ’93 sponsors. Last summer, Kimball and Samuell’s attended a workshop that trains teachers how to help their students create an original opera.
The workshop is sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera Guild of New York City, which selects schools from across the country to participate. Lakewood was one of 20 schools from Dallas, The Hockaday School and N.W. Harllee Elementary School, were also selected to attend the workshop.
“Hide & Seek” is a 30-minute opera that takes place at a summer camp and reveals some of the true feelings of the campers.
“The students are responsible for everything,” Kimball says. “We have a student carpenter, stage manager, electrician, logo designers, makeup specialists and so on. I am truly amazed at their ability and creativity,” she says.
There will also be two daytime performances Feb. 26. For information, call Lakewood Elementary School at 841-5250.
Correction
In the Advocate’s January Private School special section, Sue Ann Gilman’s title was incorrectly identified. Gilman is Bishop Lynch’s director of development. The school’s principal is Edward Leyden, and the vice-principal is Dr. Rosemary Henry-Caruth.
Calendar
Feb. 8 – Woodrow Wilson High School PTA Founders Day, Life Membership program and luncheon, 6709 Lakewood, at 10:30 a.m. All past PTA members and Life members are welcome. For information, call Janell Dunsworth at 827-4129.
Feb. 8 – “A Little Night”, a mid-winter concert of the Woodrow Wilson symphonic band, jazz combo and ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is open to the public and admission is free. There will also be a silent auction and drawings for gifts and prizes.
Feb. 9 – Lipscomb Elementary School PTA meeting, 7 p.m. at the school. The topic will be prevention of drug abuse.
Feb. 22 – “Welcome to Woodrow”, and open house and tour for all East Dallas eighth graders at 7 p.m. at the school. Call 841-5100 for information.
March 11-14 – Woodrow Wilson High School musical, “Annie”. Performances at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Reserved seats are $7 in advance. For tickets and information, call Janell Dunsworth at 824-7624.
