The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce knows that the business of success starts with our schools. With that in mind, the chamber proudly honors Carlsbad schools each year and the educators who make learning gratifying for their students.
The chamber's annual Outstanding Educational Program Awards Dinner took place May 2 at the La Costa Resort & Spa. This partnership between business and education recognizes the best and brightest academic programs.
During the event, awards were given out in four categories. The winners are:
• Adopted or Adapted Program, Pacific Rim Elementary School's Waverider News, implemented by teachers Jaime Cozens, Megan Smith and Scott Southerland.
Waverider News, the school's weekly broadcast, is produced by fourth and fifth grade students who write, film and edit their own segments. The show publicizes the many activities on campus, educates students about special topics and spreads messages of character.
• Entrepreneurial Program, Mission Estancia Elementary School's Class Business Program, taught by teacher John Cotter.
Each Friday, students in Cotter's third grade class sell products created and built at home. They devise and manage a classroom business through a philosophy of learning by doing, which provides the children with the academic and life skills necessary to become future entrepreneurs and problem solvers in our communities.
• Innovative Program, Aviara Oaks Middle School's Community Service Learning, pioneered by teachers Chris Kohn and Bob Burns.
In this service learning-based program, students are part of the overall process, from planning to implementation to evaluation. They identify needs in their communities, create goals, implement a plan and then do the work to fulfill the needs. Some of the projects tackled this year by students include creating care packages for cancer patients and instituting campus-wide recycling.
• Science Program, Pacific Rim Elementary School's Caf? 301 – Children Accessing Food Education, cooked up by teacher Pat Slattery.
During Caf? 301, students learn about nutrition, life cycles, land use and health and wellness. Not only do they eat their lessons, they bake, cook and grow them. Caf? 301 gives children a taste of the good life.
“It was extremely difficult to pick the winners this year because 29 amazing programs were nominated, of which 16 were selected as finalists. That said, our winners truly are the best of the best,” said Toni Padron, the chamber's executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This event demonstrates the outstanding quality of education that Carlsbad students receive.”
During the evening, winners and finalists were awarded funds of up to $500 to put toward the programs. The teacher of the year from each Carlsbad school and the overall teacher of the year from the Carlsbad Unified and Encinitas Union school districts also received special recognition.
The event was hosted by Phoebe Chongchua, a former news anchor for KGTV's 10 News Morning Show in San Diego. Chongchua is the founder of Live Fit Enterprises, which offers writing, speaking, coaching and consulting services.
Her online publication, www.LiveFitMagazine.com, launches later this year. It aims to bring visitors information and resources they need to live a happy, healthy and successful life.
More than 350 people, including business leaders, educators, elected officials and community members, helped the chamber and its Partners in Education Foundation toast teachers by attending the dinner. The event included a reception featuring a display of each nominated program, a multimedia presentation of finalist programs, a gourmet dinner and entertainment provided by Carlsbad High School's MEChA Club, a Latino student organization.
The program sponsors were The Invitrogen Foundation, La Costa Resort and Spa, LEGOLAND California, RAM Enterprises International, Sylvan Learning Center, Tri-City Medical Center, CDS Printing and the Gemological Institute of America.
The Partners in Education Foundation is a private nonprofit fundraising organization that promotes and supports children in the Carlsbad area. Its primary purpose is to solicit and distribute funds for the benefit of public schools that serve the city of Carlsbad.
The chamber's annual Outstanding Educational Program Awards Dinner took place May 2 at the La Costa Resort & Spa. This partnership between business and education recognizes the best and brightest academic programs.
During the event, awards were given out in four categories. The winners are:
• Adopted or Adapted Program, Pacific Rim Elementary School's Waverider News, implemented by teachers Jaime Cozens, Megan Smith and Scott Southerland.
Waverider News, the school's weekly broadcast, is produced by fourth and fifth grade students who write, film and edit their own segments. The show publicizes the many activities on campus, educates students about special topics and spreads messages of character.
• Entrepreneurial Program, Mission Estancia Elementary School's Class Business Program, taught by teacher John Cotter.
Each Friday, students in Cotter's third grade class sell products created and built at home. They devise and manage a classroom business through a philosophy of learning by doing, which provides the children with the academic and life skills necessary to become future entrepreneurs and problem solvers in our communities.
• Innovative Program, Aviara Oaks Middle School's Community Service Learning, pioneered by teachers Chris Kohn and Bob Burns.
In this service learning-based program, students are part of the overall process, from planning to implementation to evaluation. They identify needs in their communities, create goals, implement a plan and then do the work to fulfill the needs. Some of the projects tackled this year by students include creating care packages for cancer patients and instituting campus-wide recycling.
• Science Program, Pacific Rim Elementary School's Caf? 301 – Children Accessing Food Education, cooked up by teacher Pat Slattery.
During Caf? 301, students learn about nutrition, life cycles, land use and health and wellness. Not only do they eat their lessons, they bake, cook and grow them. Caf? 301 gives children a taste of the good life.
“It was extremely difficult to pick the winners this year because 29 amazing programs were nominated, of which 16 were selected as finalists. That said, our winners truly are the best of the best,” said Toni Padron, the chamber's executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This event demonstrates the outstanding quality of education that Carlsbad students receive.”
During the evening, winners and finalists were awarded funds of up to $500 to put toward the programs. The teacher of the year from each Carlsbad school and the overall teacher of the year from the Carlsbad Unified and Encinitas Union school districts also received special recognition.
The event was hosted by Phoebe Chongchua, a former news anchor for KGTV's 10 News Morning Show in San Diego. Chongchua is the founder of Live Fit Enterprises, which offers writing, speaking, coaching and consulting services.
Her online publication, www.LiveFitMagazine.com, launches later this year. It aims to bring visitors information and resources they need to live a happy, healthy and successful life.
More than 350 people, including business leaders, educators, elected officials and community members, helped the chamber and its Partners in Education Foundation toast teachers by attending the dinner. The event included a reception featuring a display of each nominated program, a multimedia presentation of finalist programs, a gourmet dinner and entertainment provided by Carlsbad High School's MEChA Club, a Latino student organization.
The program sponsors were The Invitrogen Foundation, La Costa Resort and Spa, LEGOLAND California, RAM Enterprises International, Sylvan Learning Center, Tri-City Medical Center, CDS Printing and the Gemological Institute of America.
The Partners in Education Foundation is a private nonprofit fundraising organization that promotes and supports children in the Carlsbad area. Its primary purpose is to solicit and distribute funds for the benefit of public schools that serve the city of Carlsbad.