October 3, 2006

School Scene

Campbell woman named Cambrian Teacher of the Year

Cambrian School District announced their two employees of the year for the 2005-2006 school year. Oddly enough both come from Fammatre Elementary. The teacher of the year award goes to Fammatre Elementary’s fourth grade teacher Pamelynn Greenwood, who was also chosen as the district’s teacher of the year by the Santa Clara County Board of Education. The classified employee of the year is Christine Perry, secretary at Fammatre School.

Fammatre Elementary School’s Christine Perry, left, and Pam Greenwood received the 2005-06 Cambrian School District’s employees of the year.

Perry’s top attribute, according to the district, is her positive attitude. From her extra early arrival each day checking in with teachers, substitutes, parents and children, until closing the gate behind her at the end of the day, she remains calm, energetic and eager to help. Most important she maintains her sense of humor throughout the long day.

“Our recognition this year goes to an individual that can easily be described as amazing, highly competent, enthusiastic and filled with empathy,” according to the district. “Her response to the many unscheduled ‘crises’ that show up in the course of a day is truly a gift, whether it is providing a special envelope for a lost tooth, giving stickers to children who bring her work samples to share or encouraging a parent in the midst of a ‘parent moment,’ she does it all and does it all extremely well.

In addition, Perry’s organization skills are to be envied. She has the ability to keep track of a myriad of ongoing projects required for the school, the district office and the state department of education and rarely misses a deadline. In the midst of dealing with the multitude of responsibilities simultaneously, she never fails to maintain a poised and calm demeanor. She is her school’s special heartbeat that is steady, loving, and always ready to help.

Greenwood has received many accolades over the years whether for her work in curriculum, supporting new teachers, being active in the teachers’ union or modeling the importance of life long learning for her students and other teachers.

Scattered throughout the district are curriculum units such as the “Passports” unit that links children to their heritage, units that she generously designed and gave to other teams. She is known enthusiastically as the Accelerated Reader Queen at her school, with her students typically surpassing every other classroom in number of books and words read each year. Last year alone her class of 27 students read more than 22 million words!

Her involvement and passion for staying abreast of new ways of approaching instruction and looking creatively at curriculum has made her a valued member of her school’s leadership team and several district-wide committees. Greenwood is also very techno-savvy and patiently mentors colleagues to keep them current with new programs and to trouble-shoot their many concerns.

In addition to all she does for teachers, she has a huge heart for kids and will go the extra distance with a loving heart and generous spirit. Quite simply put, kids bring her the joy that keeps her returning to the classroom. From taking groups to Gold Rush to buying ice cream treats and meals out for students, to ensuring school is experiential and engaging, she does it all.

It is not unusual for former students, now sophisticated college grads, to return in search of her simply to check in and, most importantly, to thank her for making a difference in their lives. After 37 years in the Cambrian School District, she is also now experiencing the generational impact of teaching kids of her former students, to the delight of their grandparents and parents.

Thirteenth annual Almaden Times Classic raises $20,000
for Almaden Valley Counseling Service

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

They celebrated in the fields at Bret Harte on Monday—running laps. The 13th annual Almaden Times Classic podium, the day prior, proved two degrees of separation between Bret Harte Middle School and championship distance running.

The top female finishers in the 10k event were Karin Barnett (lt) and Campbell’s Kelly Emo. Photo by Justin Petersen

The winner’s circle at the Classic was riddled with Bronco associates who have built the middle school’s cross country program into one of the county’s finest, currently boasting 80 members on the team.

Men’s overall champ at the Almaden Valley Counseling Service’s chief annual fund-raising event was Ken Murtha, husband of Bronco cross country co-coach Jenny Murtha. The women’s overall champ, Karin Barnett, is the mother of two top Bret Harte alums, Claudia and Stephanie, who currently star on Leland’s varsity cross country squad.

Race coordinator and former AVCS Executive Director Rocki Kramer said 538 runners checked in to run, making this year’s the largest field ever to have competed at the event. “It was fabulous,” she said. “It was our best race ever.”

Hat trick kicks for AVCS
Kramer speculated that the field swelled just prior to the starting gun, thanks to notoriety the event gained in being featured as the first of three ‘hat trick’ race events that the city of San Jose has promoted, with merit awards for stalwarts who compete in all three.

The Rock n’ Roll Marathon and the Silicon Valley Marathon round out the schedule.

“We got connected with the hat trick, and the runners knew about this,” said Kramer. “There are two more coming up, so runners who participate in all three events will receive special recognition and the first 100 [to register] get prizes.”

Kramer said approximately 120 runners signed up in the days preceding the race, thanks to the opportunity.

Current AVCS Executive Director Matt Osment was also thrilled with the outcome. Since taking the reigns from Kramer last September, Osment said he has become aware that the agency’s unique services would be impossible to provide without numerous fund-raising events, particularly the race.

In Osment’s words, the AVCS provides low-cost psychotherapy and counseling for people who cannot afford it elsewhere. The facility on Crown Boulevard hosts support groups and allocates 24 interns to local schools to help provide counseling.

“This is the biggest annual event that we hold,” said Osment. “Our agency is completely independent. We get all of our funding through fund-raisers and fees that we charge to schools. We are actually delivering a service and getting paid for it.”

Osment said Kramer oversaw 40 enthusiastic AVCS Auxiliary members this year who volunteered to help with the race.

“I would go as far as saying that the agency would have a really hard time staying in existence without the Almaden Times Classic,” said Osment.

Kramer estimated that the event drummed up more than $20,000 in funds, mostly as a result of local sponsorship amongst members of the business community.

Family time
But excitement surrounding the race is nothing new. In its 13th installment, the Almaden Times Classic is dear to families who enjoy the manageable terrain and varied distances, as much as they do supporting a valuable resource in the community.

The coursed distance means everybody can try.

Two races started Sunday morning at Leland High School, spiraling across the Almaden Valley. Athletes had the option to race two miles or 10 kilometers.

Murtha was tops in the men’s 10k. He completed the course in 35 minutes and 30 seconds, narrowly edging out Salinas’ Jaime Lopez, who crossed the finish line eight seconds later.

Murtha surged to an early lead, but after 2-and-a-half miles, Lopez overtook him.

“I was surprised to be out in front,” said Murtha, a Lockheed Martin engineer. “He took off at the 2.5-mile mark. I was hoping to keep him within striking distance.”

Murtha said that at mile 6, he noticed Lopez, a Salinas Postal Worker, was looking a tad tired.

“I just said, ‘well, I had better go.’ He had about a 30- to 50-yard lead. That’s a good lead with mile to go. Luckily when I caught him, he was out of gas,” Murtha said.

Barnett also competed in the 10k, finishing on top among women runners with an inspired sprint of 43 minutes and 38 seconds. She said that her daughter Claudia issued a challenge, and it stuck in Mom’s head throughout the course of the race.

Top finisher Brendan Murtha closes quick toward the finish line at the Almaden Times Classic. Photo by Jeff Frazee

“I went in to wake her up and was [teasing her] about being ready to run,” said Barnett. “She said ‘stop being so goofy; if you would take it serious, you could actually win.’”

Barnett said she thought about that notion the whole race through.

“I heard people saying I was the first female as I ran by,” Barnett said. “I thought about what Claudia said and I thought I have to do this just to get a feeling, to feel what they go through at Leland. I did it for me just as much as I did it for them.”

Neither Murtha nor Barnett had ever placed first in a community racing event. The closest Barnett came was a second place finish in her age category several years ago. Murtha, meanwhile, was a competitive distance runner in high school, and averages about four races each year with his wife Jenny, and competes for Lockheed’s corporate track team currently. Still, he had never won a race of this magnitude.

Beyond that, Jenny Murtha fared well herself, earning the second swiftest time in the 19-29 age women’s group in the 2-mile run with a time of 14 minutes and 41 seconds.

However, protégés Stephanie and Claudia Barnett, just 15 and 13 years old, surpassed Jenny Murtha. Stephanie, in fact, logged the top overall time in the 2-mile event, completing the course in 11 minutes and 34 seconds.
Sister Claudia finished in 11 minutes and 50 seconds, taking the 10-13 age group.

At just seven years old, Karina Barnett, who the family vowed will one day attend Bret Harte, also took the top spot in her age group. She completed the course in a blistering 15 minutes and 10 seconds.

Outstanding efforts
The youngest runner to complete in the race was 3-year-old Alyssa Blodgett. Standing less than 4 feet tall, Blodgett completed the entire 2-mile course in 28 minutes and 13 seconds.

Castillero Middle School student and artist Anh Thu Dao created the design featured on the official thirteenth annual Almaden Times Classic race t-shirts.

An additional local clan was equally as impressive as the Barnetts. Miguel, Yolanda, Cristina and Ruben Solorio each placed within their respective age groups. Cristina was the first finisher amongst women ages 30-39 in two-mile action. She completed the course in 13 minutes and 58 seconds. Yolanda finished third amongst women ages 50-59 at the same distance, with a time of 23 minutes and 25 seconds. Ruben, meanwhile, covered the two-mile course in 15 minutes and five seconds, good for first amongst men ages 30-39.

Finally, Miguel Solorio took first place among men ages 60-99 in the 10k event. He completed the course in 43 minutes and 41 seconds.

For a list of race results, visit www.AlmadenTimes.com.