February 4, 2005

School Scene

Students raise $5,228 for Rolling Hills Middle School Tsunami Relief Project

By Heidi Brenner
Special to the Times

As the teacher of the eighth grade Personal Responsibility and Leadership class at Rolling Hills Middle School, I knew we had to do something. My students and I, having just returned from our winter break, were haunted and deeply saddened by the images of the tsunami disaster we had seen throughout the previous days.

Teacher Heidi Brenner proudly poses with her 8th grade Leadership class who coordinated the Tsunami fund raiser for Rolling Hills. Pictured from left, bottom: Courtney Fong, Keith Nyberg, Olivia Lamar, Brittany Faull and Heather Robinson. Top: Jessica Han, Tim Clendening, McKenzie Hewit, Ravin Mullins, Ms. Brenner, Taylor Cohen, Kailee Kling and Yuri Macauley. Photo by Julie Davis Berry

Ideas flowed quickly. The students were excited, eager to do something really important. We called an emergency Student Council meeting during lunch the following day to present our ideas: Upon approval, we wanted to donate all proceeds raised in the Eagle’s Nest (our student snack shop) during a two-week time period, as well as $1,000 from our student reserve fund. We would also put envelopes in each teacher’s classroom, and ask for donations from students. Our goal was to reach $2,000.

A fifth grader raised her hand. “Ms. Brenner, can’t we do more?”

But, our request to use money from the student reserve and Eagle’s Nest was denied due to a legal stipulation that student money must remain on site, for student use only. Despite this setback, the students were determined to work toward the goal they had set for themselves.

“It seemed bleak,” wrote Jessica Rozhin, for our school newsletter. “We had to rely solely on the generosity of the students and their families. It seemed like an impossible achievement.”
But, nothing is impossible.

“This tragedy clearly touched our students,” said Principal Kathy Gibbs. “They came back from vacation feeling they needed to help in some way.”

The small donation envelopes in each classroom started to fill. In several classrooms, the envelopes had to be replaced by large donation jars and even boxes. Another donation box was set up in the Eagle’s Nest. Students, buying snacks, donated their spare change and often gave all the money they had.

Ms. Thompson and Ms. Baker’s fifth grade classrooms decided to hold a bake sale, to raise even more money.

“You are in charge of this,” Ms. Thompson told her students. “Go for it!” They baked cookies, cupcakes, brownies and other goodies, and sold them during the morning break.

Several teachers, including Mr. Lovejoy, and Mrs. Machado told their classes that they would match whatever the students brought in.

Students, eager to see their teachers pay, increased their classroom donations.
“We really cared about this,” said eighth grader Sarah Silva.

Finally, the two weeks drew to a close. Envelopes were collected, and the donations were eagerly counted. The students, teachers and families of Rolling Hills Middle School more than doubled the amount that the students had set as a goal, raising a grand total of $5,228.

“I was amazed [at] how so many people were willing to help,” said Heather Robinson, a student in leadership class. “It makes me feel better that we did something for those people.”

As a teacher, it was a wonderful thing to see students working together, reaching toward a goal, and achieving it of their own volition. Students yearning to help those they have never even met. And students realizing they can already make a difference.

“The students felt they had set a high goal for themselves,” said Gibbs. “To see how everyone came together was amazing to me. I congratulate them all.”

Heidi Brenner is a teacher at Rolling Hills Middle School.

CUSD honors Mary Schlink as Middle School Teacher of the Year

Rolling Hills Middle School’s Mary Schlink was honored at the January 13 governing board meeting of the Campbell Union School District for earning the regional nomination for Middle School Teacher of the year from the California League of Middle Schools. Schlink, who has been teaching in the Campbell Union School district since 1984, was one of 11 instructors nominated for the regional award. Schlink teaches five subjects, including the AVID college readiness course, language arts, and high school foreign language. “Everyone on this staff [at Rolling Hills] is a candidate for Teacher of the Year,” said Schlink. “We all do different work, but we all work very hard for our students.” Being nominated for this award by her peers made this recognition especially meaningful for Schlink. Pictured above: Mary Schlink (left) receives her Teacher of the Year recognition award from CUSD governing board president, Janet Johnson at the January 13 board meeting.

Westmont High School presents teen parenting program

Westmont High School and goodparents, inc., today introduced Academic Success, Help your teen THRIVE™, a comprehensive presentation that gives parents tools to help their teens fulfill their academic potential.

This free event, sponsored by the Westmont High School PTSA, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., in the cafeteria at Westmont High School located at 4805 Westmont Ave. in Campbell. This presentation is for parents and guardians only. For more information visit the Westmont PTSA Web site at http://pages.ivillage.com/ westmontptsa/
Parents want their children to succeed academically. But not all teens make the connection between academic success and success in life. This is the crux of the program. Its goal is to give parents the tools to help their teens fulfill his or her academic potential. Parents see a big difference when their teens stop arguing about homework, improve their study habits and start to act responsibly. Parents start communicating better about school, leading to academic success according to goodparents staff.

“While attending a goodparents seminar, I found the information to be both useful and inspiring,” Paula Yuhara, Parent Education chair, Westmont PTSA.

For more information about the program contact goodparents inc., 650-322-KIDS or visit the Web site at www.goodparentsinc.com.

Campbell Middle School presents ‘Once On This Island Jr.’

The Campbell Middle School (CMS) theater group proudly presents “Once On This Island Jr.” Directed by Jeff Risk, this musical tale unfolds on the warm breeze of the Caribbean and tells the story of TiMoune, an orphan island girl and Daniel, a rich island boy who despite differences in background and culture fall in love.

Fully embracing the brilliant colors and dancing rhythms of the islands, the CMS theater group sweeps the audience into this enchanting tale that reminds us we are all part of the human heart.

Performances are at Campbell Middle School, 295 Cherry Lane, Campbell, CA, Wednesday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Advance tickets are $8. General admission tickets at the door are $10. For further ticket information contact Ronni Handley, rahwee@msn.com or (408) 448-3380.