St. Mary’s Students Express Need for Global Peace through

International Art Project

Aliso Viejo, CA, March 19, 2008—St. Mary and All Angels, a non-denominational Christian school, announced today that on Friday, March 27th, its students will be participating in the international “The Art Miles” Project (www.the-art-miles-mural-project.org). The event begins at 8 AM in the school gym with a brief ceremony featuring Headmaster John O’Brien, Father Doug Slaymaker (Campus Chaplain), Kristofor Gabriel Szasz (Poet Laureate, Art Miles Project), and Laurie Brooks (local coordinator for “The Art Miles”).

Students will be working on the project from 8:30 AM until 1PM. Art teachers Lisa Dennis and Roxanne Scruggs will be working with students from grades Kindergarten through Grade Eight to paint a large banner, which will be viewed around the world. St. Mary’s Music teachers Cheryl Spudville and Dan Fineberg’s classes will be playing songs such as “Dona Nobis Pacem” while the students work.

The project is a 12-year-long moment combining the efforts of children and adults worldwide to promote global peace and harmony through mural art. This activity will provide St. Mary’s students the opportunity to creatively express the need for world peace and to acquire knowledge about peacemaking efforts around the world. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, St. Mary’s often integrates global issues with classroom discussions and projects.

Doug Fleischli

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The Farm School Campout

By Theo, Kekai, Blaise and Shane

The Campout is a very special time at Farm School because it happens only once a year. It is four days long. Students, teachers, parents, and younger siblings all attend Campout.
The Campout location changes every year. The locations are the terrain of mountains, deserts, and beaches. Three years ago we went to Joshua Tree National Park, which is a desert area. For the past two years we went to Leo Carrillo State Park, which is a beach area. This year we will go to Palomar Mountain State Park.
The campout preparations are very hectic for families and teachers. Families have to pack everything that they need, like clothes, medicine, tents, sleeping bags, and a tarp. Families also have to sign waivers.
The teachers have the most amount of preparation though, because they have to plan the meals, organize food, cook it before we get there, find the campsites, get their own stuff ready, plan lessons and oversee everyone else’s lessons, and hold a parent meeting. The teachers pretty much do everything, but they do ask parents to help with food and shopping. For example, a couple days before the Campout, parents shop for the food, and help pre-cook meals.
During the Campout, we follow rules to be safe and have guidelines to stay warm. The classroom rules still apply; there is no mental and physical violence, we have to be kind to ourselves and others, and there is no giving up.
One of the Campout safety rules is that you can’t run in the campground. Other Campout safety rules are: wear a whistle and a water system outside of your tent, don’t harass animals, use the buddy system when going anywhere, never leave the campground without telling an adult, and never blow your whistle unless you or someone you are with is hurt, and sign in and out of the campground so people know where you are. Also, when you go hiking, always pack an extra layer of clothes and an emergency blanket just in case you get lost.
When you go camping, there are guidelines about how to stay warm. One piece of advice is to have a smaller tent because it keeps warm air in and you will be warmer at night. Another way to stay warm is to think about layering clothes because the temperature changes from day to night. These are only some of the many rules and guidelines that keep us safe, warm and happy.
We do many things when we are at the Campout. During the day, the BUPS, (fifth graders), teachers, and sometimes other students teach lessons to everyone. One of the activities you might do in a lesson is to make a field guide about the animals you see on a hike. You might learn survival skills, or you might learn about the Native Americans who lived in the area.
In the afternoon, families get time to themselves. This is called Family Time. During Family Time, you can go for a hike and, explore the area or just nap. It’s your choice.
It is important to go on the Campout to experience learning outside of the classroom and to be outside with nature. It is a Farm School tradition that is fun and academic. We like the Campout because we get to know everybody a little better, hang out with school friends outside of the classrooms, and it learn about nature itself.

Looking for a Great School – The Farm School

We are located at 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 . We lease space from Temple Beth El. We have two classrooms, an art room, a kitchen, and a huge yard–half grass and half paved. Although we are housed in a temple, we are a secular school.

Email: info@ocfarmschool.org

Farm School is a private 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL
DJAMS NEWS
Principal: Chris Carter
March 2009
_______________________________________________________________________

A message from the CUSD Foundation:

Dear Parents,

As a non-political organization, the CUSD Foundation does not engage in District or community politics. We are not the school district. We are a non-profit foundation whose mission is to raise money for “All the children in all the schools.”

Our children and our schools need your help. Join today and your donation will make a difference.

Bypass the politics and put money directly into the classroom for the children.

Go to our website: http://www.cusdfoundation.org/ click on “Donate” to fill out the Membership form. Every donation automatically enters you for a chance to win a Mac computer!

Linda Wright

Foundation Manager

33122 Valle Road

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

(949) 234-9571

DRAMA PERFORMANCE, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, JR., IS NEXT WEEK

Please join us next week for a fun evening of entertainment as our drama students perform Disneyland’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr.! Shows will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March 25, 26, and 27, at 6:00 p.m., in the MPR. Tickets are on sale at lunches this week and also at the door for $5. Hope to see you there!

ATTENTION FUTURE WOLVERINES!

Aliso Niguel High School would like to invite all 8th grade parents to our Wolverine Showcase on March 25th from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Aliso Niguel High School Gymnasium. Parents will hear a presentation from the guidance office regarding scheduling, placement criteria for classes, selection of electives, as well as an overview of the high school experience. This will last approximately 45 minutes. After the presentation the school will open our high school fair where you can get valuable information on athletics, clubs, dance, music, drama and many other co-curricular activities. Club advisors, coaches, and academic advisors will be there to answer all of your questions. We hope to see you on March 25th!

Aliso Niguel High School

DJAMS ARTISTS IN COLOR IT ORANGE ART SHOW

CONGRATS!!!!!

The following artists were honored at an opening March 15:

8th Graders- Gigja Hollyday, Kelly Howey, Honorable Mention was awarded to Mikayla Webster

7th Graders – Jazlyn Chong, Nate Dagley, Bryan Firks, Sarah Fitterer, Ryan Walker, Esther Wu

6th Graders – Christian Dwyer, Hannah Moreland, Hannah Volkland

This dynamic show represents artists K-12 from all Orange County Schools. This juried show is at Laguna College of Art and Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road. The show runs through March 22. Call 949-376-6000 for Gallery hours.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT.

The end of March is a very busy time for the Instrumental Music Department here at DJAMS:

March 31 – Festival Concert at DJAMS, 7 p.m. in the MPR

The groups will be traveling over to San Juan Hills High School for the SCSBOA Concert Festival on March 30 & 31 (performance times are during school hours). Students will be given information regarding their individual group in class.

PREVIOUS NEWS

ONGOING WEIGHT TRAINING CLASS

It’s never too late for students to join Mr. Binley’s weight training session. Classes are held from 3:40 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, in our DJAMS Weight Room. This class is designed for all 7th and 8th graders interested in beginning weight training. On-line class registration is available now through Capistrano Community Education, at: www.capousd.org/adult or call 489-7202. Feel free to contact Mr. Binley if you have any questions regarding the class.

ALISO NIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL WALK-IN SESSIONS

8th grade parents will have the opportunity to meet one on one with an ANHS academic advisor to ask all questions and discuss necessary steps to create an easy transition into high school. No appointments necessary.

Where: ANHS Library

Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dates: Mondays, April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1, and June 15

PAL NEWS

For the month of March, PAL will be conducting the homeroom competition “March Tabness.” Until March 27, homerooms will collect as many aluminum tabs from soda and soup cans as they can and turn them into their homeroom teachers. The top three contributing homerooms will receive a prize. All tabs get recycled at the Ronald McDonald House where proceeds go towards family housing for sick or terminally ill children during hospitalization. Please help with this important cause.

SMOOTHIE KING TO BE SOLD AFTER SCHOOL ON FRIDAYS

Smoothie King will be sold at DJAMS every Friday after school. Smoothies cost $3.75 each and proceeds go to the Rare Disease Foundation. Thanks for your support!

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 25, 26, 27 Alice In Wonderland, Jr. Performance, 6:00 p.m., MPR

March 25 8th Grade Parent Night @ ANHS Gym, 6:30 p.m.

March 25 Pep Squad Parent Meeting @ ANHS Library, 8:00 p.m.

March 28 Academic Pentathlon

March 30 ANHS Registration Forms Due Back to DJAMS Counselors

March 31 Festival Concert @ DJAMS, 7 p.m., MPR

April 6-10 Spring Recess – No School

April 22 Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night, 6:30 p.m., DJAMS MPR

April 27 Applications for Bronco Pride Awards Due
May 14 PTSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Library
May 20 Open House, 6:30 p.m.
May 25 Memorial Day, Legal Holiday

May 25 SRLA Team Runs the L.A. Marathon
June 18 Last Day of School

Eighth Grade Students Excel in Community

As part of the curriculum in English class, students are engaged in many writing opportunities, competing at St. Anne, as well as in the community. The Art Department is also a part of this cross-curricular exercise. The following are recaps of the results of these opportunities with winners announced and recognized last week.

ST. ANNE STUDENT WINS FIRST PLACE!

All of the St. Anne Eighth Grade students competed in Chapman University’s 10th Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Students could choose to write a 500 word essay, a 30 line poem, or create a work of art in response to the following prompt: “Witnesses to the Holocaust: Identities Shattered, Identities Shaped.” Congratulations to eighth grade students Annie Pankowski, Charlie Crane and Andrew Boudreau for being named St. Anne’s contestants this year. Thirty-four students attended the conference at Chapman University on Friday, March 6. Annie’s essay won first place, and Andrew Boudreau was named 1 of 6 finalists for his art. As Annie could not make it back from Fairbanks, Alaska, where she was competing in a national hockey tournament, she “virtually” read her essay via teleconference. Annie was able to see us in the audience, and they were able to see her face displayed on a huge screen over the stage while she read her essay to an auditorium filled with professors, students, teachers, parents and Holocaust survivors. Annie received a check for $500 and an all-expense-paid study trip to Washington, D.C. this summer. Charlie and Annie’s essays and a picture of Andrew’s art are included in this edition of the Knights’ News.

Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest

Each year our Eighth Grade students compete in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, a national writing contest sponsored by the V.F.W. This year’s theme was “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored.” Judges from the Edward J. Kearns Post 6024 of Mission Viejo selected the winning essays from St. Anne School. Congratulations to Annie Pankowski, 3rd Place; Micayla Chade, 2nd Place; and Jordan Kelterer, 1st Place. Jordan’s essay also won 1st place at the Post level. All of the students were awarded certificates and medals, and Jordan received cash prizes totaling $175. Congratulations to all of the students for their superlative writing. Please take the time to read the essays which are included in this issue of Knights’ News.

Submitted By;
Alison Hahn
Office of Advancememnt
Director of Marketing and Donor Relations
St. Anne School
949-487-2663 x 160

St. Mary’s School
7 Pursuit Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Ph: (949) 448-9027, ext. 328 Cell: (949) 233-5993
Email: doug.fleischli@smaa.org Web: www.smaa.org

St. Mary and All Angels School Hosting Open House for Families (Preschool-Grade Eight)

What:
This is an opportunity for families to see how their children can benefit from an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and develop inquiry-based learning skills. The non-denominational Christian school serves students preschool (beginning age two) through grade eight.

When:
Thursday, April 23, 2009, at 9:00 am

Where:
St. Mary’s School, 7 Pursuit, Aliso Viejo, 92656

Contact:
St. Mary’s Director of Admissions Carol Glattstein, carol.glattstein@smaa.org or (949) 448-9027, ext. 319

Background:
St. Mary’s School, a non-denominational Christian school in Aliso Viejo, is hosting an open house to give prospective families the opportunity to see how students attending an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School develop inquiry-based learning. This approach in education prepares students to become knowledgeable, principled, balanced and open-minded. St. Mary’s is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. St. Mary’s serves students preschool through grade eight. St. Mary’s also offers a full range of athletics, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities.

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Hello Future Wolverine Parents & Students,

In September, I will be looking forward to serving as your high school principal at Aliso Niguel High School. We have a very rich tradition of academic excellence and great extracurricular programs.

Tomorrow night, March 25th at 6:30 p.m. in our gymnasium, you will get a taste of the Aliso Renaissance experience. You will revel in the arts with music from one of the premier music programs in the state and drama from our award wining Wolverine players. You will witness the acrobatics and precision from our nationally recognized pep squad and dance teams and meet with the coaches of our varsity teams.

Most importantly, you will hear about the outstanding academic programs at Aliso Niguel and how the academic process works. Your student should have received a curriculum guide and registration form to sign up for classes for next school year. The forms are due next Monday, March 30th.

We await your presence tomorrow night. Parents, please bring your some paper and pen. Students, bring your enthusiasm.

Tomorrow is the first step into your future and I can’t wait for us to get started!

Go Wolverines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your friendly neighborhood principal

Charles Salter

csalter@capousd.org