TEACHERS TO BE HONORED SCHOOLS TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR A JOB WELL DONE.Byline: RICK COCA coca (kō`kə), common name for shrubs of the genus Erythroxylum, particularly E. coca, of the family Erythroxylaceae, and found abundantly in upland regions and on mountain slopes of South America, as well as in Australia, India, Valley News Writer Two years ago, officials at Cantara Street Elementary School elementary school: see school. in Reseda had a novel idea to show how much they appreciated their hard-working teachers. They brought back two former students who had recently graduated from high school and were on their way to college. ``They both wrote speeches about how great the teachers (at Cantara) were,'' said Principal Linda Barr. Although national Teacher Appreciation Week is officially the first week of May, San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. students, parents and school administrators will celebrate their teachers' ``beyond the call of duty'' contributions throughout the month and beyond. They'll do so by honoring them with dinners, gifts and praise. Last year, Barr said, Cantara Street Elementary invited nearly a dozen college-bound former students back to the school. ``It's become a tradition and the teachers are asking, `Who's coming next time?''' Barr said. She's currently lining up former students for the school's May 31 teacher appreciation celebration. Barr said the teachers enjoy learning that young people who passed through their classrooms are now excelling in adulthood. ``I think the best gift (teachers) could ever have is to know that their efforts weren't in vain vain adj. vain·er, vain·est 1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt. 2. Lacking substance or worth: vain talk. 3. ,'' Barr said. Cantara's recent California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). Distinguished School honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. is further proof that its teachers' hard work is paying off. Another school that won the state's prestigious Distinguished School honor is Monlux/MST Magnet magnet: see electromagnet; magnetism. magnet Any material capable of attracting iron and producing a magnetic field outside itself. By the end of the 19th century, all known elements and many compounds had been tested for magnetism, and all were Elementary School in North Hollywood. Deanna Woomer is a teacher in the magnet program as well as chapter chairwoman for both Monlux schools. She's taught for nearly 30 years. Woomer said teachers at her school get all the thanks they need from students, parents and staff. ``The most appreciation comes from the children, of course,'' Woomer said. ``I'm hyped up hyped up Adjective Old-fashioned slang stimulated or excited by or as if by drugs on teaching. I've never been sorry for a day I've taught. You feel very high from the exhilaration of teaching.'' Woomer spoke of the exhilaration she and a student felt after the 10- year-old girl finally became a fluent fluent /flu·ent/ (floo´int) flowing effortlessly; said of speech. reader after a lengthy struggle. ``She had really been working at it,'' Woomer said. ``When she finally got a hold of it, (you) can't put a price on it. I wanted to grab and hug her. Actually, I did grab and hug her!'' At Granada Elementary in Granada Hills, students were in the process of taking their state scholastic exams last week, so their Teacher Appreciation Week celebration was limited to an offering of daily snacks, a breakfast and a small luncheon. Principal Esta Herman said the real praise will be dished dished adj. 1. Concave. 2. Slanting toward one another at the bottom. Used of a pair of wheels. Adj. 1. dished - shaped like a dish or pan dish-shaped, patelliform concave - curving inward out in June once the school receives its California Distinguished School flag to commemorate com·mem·o·rate tr.v. com·mem·o·rat·ed, com·mem·o·rat·ing, com·mem·o·rates 1. To honor the memory of with a ceremony. See Synonyms at observe. 2. To serve as a memorial to. the school receiving the academic honor. ``We're going to have a big celebration,'' Herman said. ``(Winning the award) was not (due to) one teacher. It was how everybody worked together. It was really the sense of community that exists at this school.'' Parents of students at Chase Street Elementary School in Panorama City offered up their teacher appreciation at a Cinco De Mayo-themed meal last Friday. The parents prepared a special meal for teachers and staff. The Panorama Mall and U.S. Bank presented the school with a $1,000 gift card that can be used to help teachers purchase supplies. Principal Diana Villafana said teachers are always looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. educational tools to help their students, and routinely spend their own money to purchase items that they think might be useful in class. ``It's something they don't have to do, but it supports the learning and it keeps everybody's interest high and it does make a difference,'' Villafana said. Villafana has been principal at Chase Street for 14 years. She said teachers' dedication and their willingness to go the extra mile for students are the things she appreciates most. ``If teachers believe that students can do it, then students can do it and I have those kind of teachers,'' Villafana said. Fourth-grade teacher Sean Allen Sean Allen is a student at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado, who recorded and then publicly released a February 1, 2006 lecture by his high school social science teacher, Jay Bennish. In the recorded lecture, the teacher compared the tones of President George W. said considering he worked in construction as a roofer before enrolling at California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an , to pursue a career in teaching, he counts his blessings each and every day he walks into his classroom. And although the path to a teaching position was difficult, filled with endless tests and stints at 15 schools before being hired at Chase, Allen wouldn't change a thing. He appreciates all the teachers he assisted and from whom he adapted his interactive teaching style. But he appreciates his students even more. ``I have kids coming in a half-hour, 40 minutes early,'' Allen said. ``They want to learn. They come in and check their homework together and they feed off each other. ``(It) took me some time, but I love my job now, and I can't stop thinking about it,'' Allen said. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Chase Street Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Sean Allen feels appreciated -- and appreciation -- every day he teaches. Here, he leads students through a lesson, as Miguel Villalobos, (right), follows along. Rick Coca/Valley News (2) Cantara Street Elementary alumni return to give thanks. |
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