 February 2010
The Official Newsletter of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation
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Event Highlights
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Hot off the Press
We are pleased to announce an ongoing column by inventor, author, TV show host, explorer and teacher, Ed Sobey and the Northwest Invention Center. The columns will provide a monthly activity perfect for home and classroom and can be found in the Thinking + Learning section of the monthly newsletter. Activity prototypes and parts are available at:
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Volunteer Spotlight
Mark Fischer - HydroSports Dive and Travel By Lisa A. DeBruyckere
Mark recalled the topics that triggered an interest in him when he was a student—and those that didn’t. “I can remember being exposed to basic concepts of physics in high school, but none of it really applied to me,” said Mark. “Yet, when I became a dive master, the first step was the application of physics.” As a result, Mark recognizes the critical role teachers play in making topics meaningful to students, keeping that connection alive and vibrant. He also values the role his wife plays as a first through fifth grade physical education teacher. “I see the energy she puts into the kids—teaching them to take care of the space they occupy in the world,” Mark said. “If they don’t take care of their body, where are they going to live? She teaches a love of movement, a love of exploration, without the emphasis on winning or losing. She makes them feel like they can all be winners. Through her I see what the district does, the many other teachers, and the administration to support the teachers.” Clearly, the enthusiasm is both infectious and contagious. And it encourages Mark to be an active member in his local communities and the supporting organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber of Commerce provides a tremendous networking opportunity to connect with each others’ employees,” said Mark. “The Chambers look collectively at activities going on in our community and try to do activities that improve opportunities for businesses to be successful. For example, we knew early on that the Salvation Army was going to award one Kroc Center in the western United States. The Chamber of Commerce immediately mobilized, contacted boys and girls clubs, cities, and YMCAs, and put together a successful bid. We’re now the recipient of this beautiful center.” Mark walks amidst us balancing a local community perspective with a global conservation outlook, one that is truly influenced by the time he spends wearing a wet suit, dive mask, and fins. He said, “As land dwelling beings, most people have the opportunity to see what the results of our activities are on land. We notice, for example, if soil doesn’t have anything on top—the topsoil can be lost, and the soil starts to erode. We see the effects of what happens on the ground. As divers, we have an opportunity to go under the water surface to see the plants, animals, and ecosystems and see our effects on these. We realize we have an effect and that by choosing our actions more carefully, we can maintain a respectful lifestyle on land that can benefit these habitats.” How does a man that travels and dives around the world find time to focus and contribute locally? It’s all about balance and teamwork, according to Mark. “It’s a balancing act,” he said. “I carefully choose my activities and try not to let myself get too extended individually. I’m fortunate to have a number of associates in the dive industry, and I have a very resourceful and committed team of friends and helpers that allow me to step outside my business.” As a result, Mark can pursue his passion for diving, make time to support the work of his spouse and the Foundation, and make the Salem-Keizer communities a great place to live. Mark is a living example that anything is possible with perspective.
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WHERE THE SIDEWALK BEGINS
STUDENT GALLERY Three Lotus Flowers
Along with the colorful lanterns and dragons displayed in the classroom and many personal items contributed by the families of her Vietnamese students, these lotus blossoms represent the spirit of the Vietnamese people. Among many, students read and discussed the book, The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland. It tells the story of a young Vietnamese girl and the treasure her grandmother passes on to her...a delicate lotus seed that emerges in unlikely conditions. To create the three final pieces, each student was given a small 2” x 2” square representing only one-ninth of a lotus flower. Following instruction about proportion, scale and perspective, students were given the task of replicating the small image onto a larger 8” x 8” square. Then students were asked to trace their pencil lines with a permanent marker and to water paint their portions. As individual portions were completed and collected, the 27 parts formed the three large lotus flowers. This proud display captures the beauty of each artist’s interpretation as well as her/his commitment to group collaboration.
FEATURED VENDOR
Over the years. I've been fortunate enough to have my designs shown in many magazines and books. It is also in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. All of our work is designed and assembled in the USA, mostly in our studio. And many of our parts com from funky old factories up in New England, where 50 years ago Providence, Rhode Island was the Costume Jewelry Capital of the world (who knew?). Finally, none of this would have happened without the support of our company president Robbin Cook (who has worked with me for over 23 years), our staff, and you – our loyal customers. Over the years, we've sold many thousands of necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets, frames, etc... but ultimately every single piece goes out into the world and finds a home an makes someone happy. That direct, personal, uplifting moment is what it's all about. And I thank you for allowing me to spend my life doing this.
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Thinking + Learning
Dessert First! Life’s short – do the best stuff first! Do the science first and then talk about it later. Doing the science means running an experiment, making measurements, changing one variable, and re-running the experiment. Reading, listening, watching are not doing science. Science, the hands-on activity, engages. Students think and learn. To launch the process provide a challenge: “Can your group build a model car that rolls far?” Here are the benefits of this approach:
The learning is real – meaning that not only will students pass the test in school; they can pass the test in life by being able to apply what they learned. In the car model example, give teams wheels (Kelvin.com; $8/100 wheels), 1/8” dowels, straws, tape and hot glue, cardboard, and scissors. Don’t give any assistance or offer suggestions – this is their team project not yours.
Later, when innovation has petered out, have teams share what they learned. You add to the conversation the terms they need to know: friction, kinetic energy, potential energy, etc. and extend the concepts to phenomena outside the classroom. Now pick the car that went the farthest and run it down the ramp starting at 10 different heights above the floor. Have the class measure the car’s starting height and how far it rolls. More potential energy at the start results in more kinetic energy and longer distance. Each student graphs the results and explains in his/her own words what the graph shows. You can’t find a learning experience in which students will learn more at a faster rate. They are learning how to work in a team; how to use tools and materials; how to solve problems; and how to observe, report, measure, and graph. And, they develop an understanding of the science. You guide the process and provide one-on-one instruction at the right moment. You will be surprised at how many kids want to continue this project at home. Science Works! For more information on Ed Sobey and the Northwest Invention Center, Click Here
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Sponsor Spotlight
MaPS Credit Union
Any company that has been in business for three-quarters of a century knows a thing or two about sustainability—for the business and the communities in which it thrives and serves. The MaPS Credit Union, launched 75 years ago by a small group of teachers in Marion County, prides itself on the role it plays in the Willamette Valley serving teachers as well as its new and exciting role as the official volunteer ambassador of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation. Jill Nowacki, Vice President of Development at the MaPS Credit Union, described the essence of these roles. “Being founded by educators, lifelong learning emerges as a critical tool in creating success for individuals and communities,” said Jill. “When MaPS looks for areas to strengthen our community, we look toward programs that are sustainable, that have the ability to continue to grow and make an impact, and that tie together lifelong learning and economic development. “The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation has proven it is able to do two critical things well,” Jill said. “First, the Foundation has been successful in building programs that are able to snowball into more successful fund-raising or awareness-building programs and lead to future success. Second, SKEF has shown it is capable of making valuable differences in the lives of students and teachers here in our community. The Crystal Apple Awards are an excellent example of something that rewards and shows support for those teachers who work every day to make sure students have the tools they need to move on to the next stage of lifelong learning. Other programs bring together families and create opportunities for these families to gain better understanding for the school system, each other, and the community.” The work of the Foundation aligns with the core beliefs of the credit union. “Study after study shows that healthy schools and healthy communities go hand-in-hand and that enriched,enjoyable education experiences help students be more successful in school and able to reap the rewards of this education later in life,” noted Jill. MaPS Credit Union sees The Awesome 3000 as the culmination of ideals—experiences that result in better lives for students, their families, and local communities—integral to the local education community. Jill said, “MaPS is honored to have the chance to support SKEF’s work in building educational experiences that result in better lives for individual students, their families, and our entire community.” Jill strongly believes that a healthy relationship between businesses and their communities is“symbiotic.” "I cannot imagine a healthy community that is not full of thriving businesses, or a vibrant business community in a town that lacks good schools, good parks, or an active arts community,”Jill said. “In order to be successful, businesses must look for ways to increase a community’s economic capacity. This means providing jobs, creating affordable products and service, and contributing to the recreational choices in the community so people will choose to live, work,and play in the community.” There are many ways an individual business can help build this capacity. MaPS does so by providing programs, products, and services that help individuals and small businesses manage their personal finances more successfully. Jill noted that this may mean teaching basic budgeting skills, developing sophisticated wealth management solutions, or making loans to entrepreneurs to help build small businesses. Regardless of the situation, MaPS works hard to create solutions for its customers. But its success is tied to reaching out to the community as a whole. “For the broader community, MaPS looks for ways to support programs that make the community stronger,” said Jill. “Of course, Salem Keizer Education Foundation is one we frequently align with, but we also look for ways to support other non-profits through sponsoring different community events, supporting college-bound students through our scholarship program,and assisting the business community through our involvement with the Chambers of Commerce in the towns where we have branches.” Jill reflected the on the symbiotic relationship between MaPS Credit Union and the people in the communities it serves. “As we serve the entire community, we are able to apply some of the important lessons we’ve learned from educators over the years,” she said. “Just like a teacher must take the time to understand the needs of each individual student they work with, MaPS staff must understand the needs of each individual member that visits a branch, calls on the phone, or uses our on-line services. After gaining that understanding, the staff member can direct the member to the appropriate product or service that will help the member be more successful. Our staff takes tremendous pride in being able to work with individual members to provide the education and referrals that will make that member’s experience as valuable as possible.” The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation takes pride in welcoming MaPS Credit Union as their Official Volunteer Ambassador of the Foundation. The next 75 years look very promising. For more information, Click Here
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Grants / Programs
Teacher Grant By Lisa DeBruyckere McKay High School English teacher Tyrell Graham knows some things never change, including the fascination students have with science fiction. His desire to purchase science-based, high interest books and DVD’s for use in the science fiction literature classroom prompted him to write a grant to the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation. The $547 grant he received will go a long way toward involving all students in the science fiction realm. “The additional books and DVD’s helped to ensure that all students in the class could be active participants and could have a chance to see how some of the sci-fi stories have been transformed to a visual medium,” Tyrell said. “Whether it is Star Wars, Star Trek, or some book they have discovered, students can find a distraction from the realities that are plaguing them,” said Tyrell. Tyrell uses that enjoyment of science fiction not only to connect with students, but to create bridges across all curriculum—math, science, history, music, video, art, and culture. Some of these topics remind those of us from other generations of Captain Kirk at the helm of the Enterprise, exploring new galaxies with each Star Trek episode. Tyrell notes, however, that science fiction has changed during the past few decades. “When it first began, science fiction was simply pulp stories—fluff,” noted Tyrell. “As times have changed, the possibilities within science fiction have found a widespread audience and respect. As always, science fiction authors have taken the possible, imagined it into the impossible, and then seen their machinations become reality.” So, too, has a great English teacher shared his vision for the classroom with the Foundation, and the end result is captivating science fiction works available for future generations. Tyrell said, “The Foundation gives teachers an opportunity to expand upon ideas and activities that may not have ever been possible. The funding encourages teachers to seek out new, interesting, and compelling methods to educate our students.”
Leslie Middle School
Leslie Middle School tripled their after school participation this fall. This was Leslie’s first session in partnership with the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation’s Enrichment Academy and they were able to offer over 40 clubs (26 unique clubs every week). By the end of the session 54 adults had made an investment of time and energy in a middle school student, with a great mix of certified and classified employees and a large number of community volunteers.
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Parent Resource
Coping with Natural Disasters Helping your children feel safe We felt with the recent tragedy unfolding in Haiti, it might be a good time to reach out to parents with some thoughts on how to talk to your children about the heartbreak and devastation they might be seeing or hearing about. As recently reported by NaturalNews, a study by British charity Oxfam shows the number of natural disasters around the world has increased by more than four times in the last 20 years. The media’s ability to reach these disasters almost immediately has also increased, bringing sometimes shockingly graphic images and details. As parents, we try hard to keep our children from being exposed to this type of devastation and heartbreak. Unfortunately, it is at times impossible, especially since we are now living in a society that blends so many people from all over the world. While we might be able to protect them from most television and radio reports, once they walk into their schools, they could be surrounded by any number of fellow students or staff who has direct connections to these hard hit areas. Below are links to two articles courtesy of Cheri Lovre, MS of Crisis Management Institute that give some very helpful insights and suggestions of how you and your students can best support those around them, who might be affected, in the midst of these catastrophic events. http://www.cmionline.org/home/cmi/page_617 http://www.cmionline.org/home/cmi/page_618 For more information about Crisis Management Institute and more reference articles regarding dealing with disasters and other tragedies, click or go to http://www.cmionline.org/home/cmi/listcats_11
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School Highlights
South Sophomore Designs Awesome Artwork The runner-up design also came from a South student. Senior Jesse Butler's artwork earned second place and $50. Third place went to West Salem High School junior Emma Chase, who receives $25 for her design. All of the colorful designs center on Foundation mascot "Geo" and prominently feature the words "Awesome 3000" and "2010".
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Community Resources
http://www.co.marion.or.us/CFC/Hot+Topics+2.htm Once you are on our Hot Topics page, you can just double click the link to the For The Love of Space is limited for the "For the Love of Literacy: Unlocking the Door to Learning" All pre-registered individuals will receive free books to use within a program or home setting. Whether you've already called our office to hold your space or you've been awaiting more You'll want to be a part of this exciting next step of supporting literacy throughout the
Salem-Keizer Education Foundation is proud to support our partners: For the Love of Children Learn from a panel of caring adults what free programs ar offered in our community for the children we love an how you might get involved.
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Be The Difference
BECOME A SKEF VOLUNTEER
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SKEF Wish List
Feel free to drop them off at Where the Sidewalk Begins gallery/gift shop at 233 Commercial St. NE Salem, OR. 97301 or call (503) 364-2933 to make other arrangements. |
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Mark Fischer of HydroSports Dive and Travel navigates the globe in search of exciting new places to dive and explore, yet his feet remain firmly grounded in the place he calls home—the Salem-Keizer communities—and the passion of his spouse, an elementary school physical education teacher. As a result, Mark is an avid proponent of education, an enthusiastic volunteer for the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, and someone who greatly appreciates healthy, vibrant communities. 
The three lotus flowers drawn and painted by Mrs. Pedro’s third grade class were part of a unit on the people and culture of Vietnam. Every year at Hayesville Elementary, the staff and students engage in a week-long multicultural study that includes both classroom lessons and school wide assemblies celebrating the unique and beautiful customs and traditions that make Hayesville such a diverse place to learn. 
A South Salem High School sophomore has crafted the winning artwork for the 2010 "Awesome 3000." This year's top design, out of over 100 entries from district students, was created by Hilda Montiel-Gomez, a tenth grade student at South.