The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, the business community and supporters of public education gathered to celebrate innovative and remarkable educational programs in Carlsbad and Encinitas schools at the annual Outstanding Educational Program Awards Dinner.
More than 250 people attended the awards ceremony, held Friday, May 1 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and made possible by Partners in Education Sponsor NRG Energy, Inc.. Winners were announced in four categories: The Arts, Civic Responsibility Program; Entrepreneurial Program and STEM Program
This year's winners are:
THE ARTS
Presented by
Tri-City Medical Center
The Orphan Train
Calavera Hills Middle School
Lead Teacher: Judi Stapleton
This program used theater to help students understand the Orphan Train movement, which started in the late 1800s as a way to address the growing number of homeless and orphaned children on the streets of large eastern cities. As they researched the issue, students learned about the real-life stories that the play was based on.
Students were surprised that not every story had a happy ending. Some orphans experienced, abuse, child labor and racism. The students also looked for modern organizations that helped children in the foster care system. They collected donations for the North County Assessment Center, which helps children transition to a foster care system after being removed from their homes.
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
Presented by LEGOLAND
California Resort
Seeds of Knowledge –
School Garden & Farm
Ocean Knoll Elementary
Lead teacher: Jennifer Bond
A seed-to-table program that allowed students to plant seeds, harvest the crops and then clean and prepare produce in a nutrition lab. The program quickly expanded to a district level, where fresh, organic produce was provided for all school salad bars. The program is now positively impacting families throughout our community with regular donations to the local food pantry and year-round, free-to-the-community composting and gardening workshops. Once a week, every student in the school attends either a gardening session or a cooking class. After a brief introduction to the scientific concept or historical significance that will be put into practice, the sessions are entirely "hands-on." Students don't just learn about nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus in a book, they shovel it into the soil, and see first-hand what effect it has on the plants as they return to the garden, week after week.
ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM
Presented by Shea Homes
Kid aKademy “Kids teaching Kids”
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
Lead Teacher: Jeanne Benowitz
Sixth graders in this program created their own online math tutorial program for other students in the district to use. Kid aKademy, the name the students chose, is a student-created website where sixth graders collaborate on educational screencasts. Other students can access "kid-made," relevant screencasts on the school homepage or YouTube. It serves as an authentic evaluation of those creating the videos. The students created a business plan, developed their logo, purchased the website and created the 2-3 minute segments.
STEM PROGRAM
Presented by California State University San Marcos
Computer Coding and Programming Class
Capri Elementary School
Lead Teacher: Barbara Lamb
For the last two years, Capri Elementary School has implemented this unique and exciting new technology initiative where students in grades K?6 receive instruction on computer coding and programming. Ongoing planning and development occurs in order to ensure coding instruction is both grade-level appropriate and developmentally engaging to students. For example, the youngest students use a board game and non-computer based activities that teach basic coding concepts while fifth and sixth graders are writing their own code using Java Script and Python. Students are able to apply their coding to robotics and simple machines, and the school has three robotics teams that compete locally.
More than 250 people attended the awards ceremony, held Friday, May 1 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and made possible by Partners in Education Sponsor NRG Energy, Inc.. Winners were announced in four categories: The Arts, Civic Responsibility Program; Entrepreneurial Program and STEM Program
This year's winners are:
THE ARTS
Presented by
Tri-City Medical Center
The Orphan Train
Calavera Hills Middle School
Lead Teacher: Judi Stapleton
This program used theater to help students understand the Orphan Train movement, which started in the late 1800s as a way to address the growing number of homeless and orphaned children on the streets of large eastern cities. As they researched the issue, students learned about the real-life stories that the play was based on.
Students were surprised that not every story had a happy ending. Some orphans experienced, abuse, child labor and racism. The students also looked for modern organizations that helped children in the foster care system. They collected donations for the North County Assessment Center, which helps children transition to a foster care system after being removed from their homes.
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
Presented by LEGOLAND
California Resort
Seeds of Knowledge –
School Garden & Farm
Ocean Knoll Elementary
Lead teacher: Jennifer Bond
A seed-to-table program that allowed students to plant seeds, harvest the crops and then clean and prepare produce in a nutrition lab. The program quickly expanded to a district level, where fresh, organic produce was provided for all school salad bars. The program is now positively impacting families throughout our community with regular donations to the local food pantry and year-round, free-to-the-community composting and gardening workshops. Once a week, every student in the school attends either a gardening session or a cooking class. After a brief introduction to the scientific concept or historical significance that will be put into practice, the sessions are entirely "hands-on." Students don't just learn about nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus in a book, they shovel it into the soil, and see first-hand what effect it has on the plants as they return to the garden, week after week.
ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM
Presented by Shea Homes
Kid aKademy “Kids teaching Kids”
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
Lead Teacher: Jeanne Benowitz
Sixth graders in this program created their own online math tutorial program for other students in the district to use. Kid aKademy, the name the students chose, is a student-created website where sixth graders collaborate on educational screencasts. Other students can access "kid-made," relevant screencasts on the school homepage or YouTube. It serves as an authentic evaluation of those creating the videos. The students created a business plan, developed their logo, purchased the website and created the 2-3 minute segments.
STEM PROGRAM
Presented by California State University San Marcos
Computer Coding and Programming Class
Capri Elementary School
Lead Teacher: Barbara Lamb
For the last two years, Capri Elementary School has implemented this unique and exciting new technology initiative where students in grades K?6 receive instruction on computer coding and programming. Ongoing planning and development occurs in order to ensure coding instruction is both grade-level appropriate and developmentally engaging to students. For example, the youngest students use a board game and non-computer based activities that teach basic coding concepts while fifth and sixth graders are writing their own code using Java Script and Python. Students are able to apply their coding to robotics and simple machines, and the school has three robotics teams that compete locally.