February 24, 2006

Evergreen SchoolScene

Matsumoto Elementary takes up golf for a good cause

Free golf clinic kicks off tournament fundraiser

By Michelle Hecht
Staff Writer

On Feb. 17, Tom Matsumoto Elementary School treated its students to a free golf clinic in anticipation of the school’s first golf tournament fundraiser at San Jose’s Los Lagos Golf Course on May 18.

Fifth-graders at Tom Matsumoto Elementary School learn how to hold onto a club and make basic swings during a free golf clinic on Feb. 17.

“We’re trying to build momentum into the tournament to get all the kids excited, and get their parents excited to come and play,” said Kerry Principi, a Matsumoto mother and golf tournament committee member.

At the clinic, held on school grounds, individual sessions for each grade level were led by Los Lagos and Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course General Manager Scot Hathaway, who is also a member of the PGA of America, along with Rancho del Pueblo Golf Operations Manager Long Nguyen and Rancho del Pueblo and The First Tee of San Jose instructor John Jasso.

“They were just phenomenal with the children,” said Matsumoto Principal Mary Helmer.

With 45 minutes per grade level, students lined up to take turns hitting three to five balls each at one of 18 stations. Using SNAG equipment – an oversized club and a soft golf ball two-thirds the size of a tennis ball – from The First Tee, they were taught how to hold onto a club and how to make basic swings.

“It was pretty fun,” said second-grader Anthony Rodman. “They taught you how to do a proper swing and everyone got a chance.”

According to Hathaway, who is also a board member, part of The First Tee’s outreach program is to introduce life skills to children through playing golf.

“I thought the kids really enjoyed it, they were having a blast,” he said, adding that the students got a kick cheering on their teachers to hit the ball.

Rodman agreed.

“It was cool, because you got to see the teachers do it and see which did it best,” he said.

Rain canceled the fourth and sixth-grade sessions, but Hathaway and his staff plan to return.

Parents, teachers and community members are invited to have their own fun, while raising money for a good cause at the upcoming tournament.

“In addition to this being a fundraiser, we want to build a sense of community in our area, getting more of the parents involved at a fun function,” said Principi.

The school aims to raise $50,000 for an Apple iBook wireless mobile computer lab. The lab would move from classroom to classroom and enable different grade levels to share computers while working on projects together.

According to Principi, any extra funds can benefit the classrooms, since budgets have been continually cut.

In addition to the tournament, the school plans to have an online auction of projects completed by each grade level. Possible items include a seesaw, planter boxes, a lemonade stand, puppet theater and mosaic garden items, including a birdbath. People can also bid to name the bus loop, playground and field, as well as be principal for a day. The school hopes to have bidding available by April 6.

The event will have many sponsorship opportunities as well, including sponsoring a round of golf with two professional junior golfers: a 10-year-old Matsumoto student ranked number one in Northern California and a 12-year-old Matsumoto alumnae ranked third in the world for juniors.

Matsumoto Elementary School Principal Mary Helmer and retired Evergreen School District Board Member Tom Matsumoto join students for a free golf clinic on Feb. 17 in anticipation of the school’s golf tournament fundraiser. Photos by Jill Shore

Interested parties can also sponsor golf carts, a barbecue dinner following the tournament, various holes and drives and a hole-in-one contest in which participants can win a new car. Since Matsumoto’s mascot is the mustang and its school color is red, the school hopes the prize will be a red Ford Mustang.

Thao Dang Luxury Real Estate Group and Piercey Toyota have already been confirmed as sponsors.

Donations are also encouraged. According to Principi, they have already received their first monetary donation from a family not connected to Matsumoto, but wanting to help. San Jose’s Print-Cal Publications has also donated the printing of materials and signage.

“It’s really unfortunate that we have to do fundraisers,” added Principi, “but in order for the school to be able to provide extra things for the students, we have to do that.”

Matsumoto has held various fundraisers, such as wrapping paper and cookie dough sales, but this is its first large undertaking.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” said Helmer. “You have to risk it, because it’s worth it.”

The May 18 golf tournament is open to everyone. Registration ends March 17. For more information and to participate, call Tom Matsumoto Elementary School at (408) 223-4873 and ask for Principal Mary Helmer or a golf tournament committee member.

Local student selected for an adventurous opportunity

Chaboya’s Alex Kuhn to explore Australia as a youth ambassador

By Michelle Hecht
Staff Writer

Evergreen has its own ambassador and he’s only 12 years old.

When Alex Kuhn first received a letter in August 2005 nominating him as a People to People Student Ambassador, he was not familiar with the program. Yet, he was excited, and it did not take long for the Chaboya Middle School seventh-grader to embrace the title.

As a People to People Student Ambassador, Alex Kuhn, 12, will take 20-day trip to Australia to learn about another culture hands-on. Photo by Michelle Hecht.

At an introductory meeting, Alex and his mother, Bonnie Kuhn, joined other families to learn more about the program founded in 1956 by former president Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of the U.S. State Department.

Any apprehensiveness Alex had soon disappeared.

“All of a sudden, I could see my son’s attitude totally change,” said Bonnie, recalling a moment during that first meeting when representatives explained the honor of being selected as ambassador. “He said, ‘I’m going, mom.’”

More specifically, going on a trip to Australia.

As part of the Student Ambassador Program, regional student delegations led by local educators travel abroad to learn more about other cultures. Invitation-only, it provides international educational opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students.

According to its website, the program aims to promote peace throughout the world through increased understanding between its citizens. So far, students have traveled to 34 countries on every continent.

“I liked all the different places you get to discover and all the other cultures you get to see,” said Alex.

Before officially becoming an ambassador, the program requires nominated students to complete a questionnaire and provide three letters of recommendation from teachers, professionals and other adults.

Students then begin an interview process in groups of three to four, wherein a program director determines if the child’s maturity level is appropriate for the trip.

According to the website, students can also gain maturity, confidence and self-esteem through the program itself.

“They said it changes our personality,” said Alex. “They say if we’re shy, then we’ll become more open from the trip.”

Once students are accepted into the program, they start keeping a journal and attend monthly meetings. Here, they can socialize with fellow student ambassadors and form friendships before traveling together. Additionally, an overnight at a student’s house in May prepares the children for the 20-day journey in July.

“They [the delegation leaders] really take their time to get the kids to know each other,” said Bonnie, adding that they also ensure students have a thorough understanding of both the host country and their own.

Student Ambassador Alex Kuhn prepares the dough for one of his favorite pizza recipes as his mother, Bonnie Kuhn, follows along in his self-published cookbook. Alex is selling the books to raise funds for his trip to Australia. Photo by Michelle Hecht.

This being the first time away from his family for such a long duration, Alex is both excited and a little nervous.

“I’m nervous about what I’m going to do, how I’m going to act and how I’m going to change from it,” he said.

However, he looks forward to a variety of experiences available to the students, including holding a koala bear, swimming with dolphins, whale-watching, seeing the Great Barrier Reef, throwing a boomerang, learning Australian phrases and meeting Aborigines tribes.

Students travel and live together throughout the trip except for several days when each lives with a different family, going to school with the local children, and learning more about the culture. Alex is especially eager to live with an Australian family. Since he loves cooking, Alex looks forward to trying the family’s meals.

The organization explains these “interactive experiences and adventures” to be a way for students to directly connect with the people and heritage of a specific destination.

“It’ll be an incredible life experience,” said Bonnie, who describes Alex as an observant child, aware of other people and his surroundings. The program maintains “these hands-on lessons remain with students for a lifetime and can open doors to future opportunities.”

This includes academics – students can earn school credit, along with advanced placement college credit in history, art, photography and journalism. Furthermore, the program says that students can set themselves apart from others on scholarship and university applications. It is a unique and beneficial experience, but one that will cost the Kuhns at least $5,000.

To raise the funds for the trip, Alex decided to take his love of cooking and gather 180 American and Australian recipes into a cookbook he’s selling for $20 each.

“He likes to cook,” said Bonnie. “When he watches a cooking show, he’ll tell you what to go shopping for and then he’ll cook it.”

A well-rounded young man, Alex is sure to bring a lot to the table when he goes on his Australian journey.

For more information about the People to People Student Ambassador Program, visit www.studentambassadors.org. To purchase Alex's cookbook, visit www.alexp2pcookbook.com or e-mail alexchef6@aol.com.

(From left) Danessa Ocanas, Alexis Nichols, Kerstyn Pantoja and Audriana Aquino were the first of 20 who took to the stage to model their cultural costumes.

Cultural Fashion Show at Cadwallader Elementary

Photos by Dona Nichols

Sombreros took center stage with kaftans, sarees and Austrian apron dresses as the children of Cadwallader Elementary School modeled traditional costumes representing their ancestry in a cultural fashion show Feb. 17.

Cadwallader’s principal, Denise Williams, started the cultural fashion show four years ago as a way for the students to research their own heritage while learning about those of their classmates.