Second Annual Green Holiday

December 2009

It's the Second Annual Green Holiday at TCHS! Please join us to learn how to conserve energy, save our planet and create holiday decorations from recycled materials! We will have displays and booths where you can make your own ornaments and wrapping paper from brown paper grocery bags.

This year we are having a contest to see who can create the most spectacular, original and creative holiday ornaments from recycled materials. Win a gift certificate to our partner, Barnes and Noble and get a great book to read over winter break!

Teachers are invited to bring their classes and join us in singing holiday songs as recording artist Boboy Doromal, former TCHS student Philip Mahoney, and SLC member Spencer Angelis entertain in the courtyard December 17th. What service learning student will be playing keyboard and signing? Come to find out!

The American Sign Language students will be signing to their favorite holiday songs. The Green Team will be setting up a booth and promoting green ideas. Help us decorate our Christmas tree with LED lights and get green ideas for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

We understand that the Obamas are having a green holiday too! They have recycled and natural ornaments in the White House this year too.

Tips for a green holiday:

1. Use LED lights that use 90% less energy. Use timers or shut lights off during overnight hours.

2. Use the resources from Green America, to purchase fair trade and green holiday presents. Check out their Green Holiday gift catalog to buy gifts from people and businesses who support our planet.

3. Make your own wrapping paper from old maps, newspaper comic pages, sheet music, and brown paper bags. Instead of buying ribbons decorate with pine cones, shells, dried seed pods, little toys from fast food restaurants. You can also wrap presents with light dish towels, table napkins and scarves. Make gift tags from last year's cards or paper scraps.

4. Recycle your tree. Turn your tree into mulch! Go to Earth 911 to find a recycling center in your town. Or purchase a live tree to plant in your yard or an artificial tree that can be used every year.

5. Make your own holiday cards or send personalized email greetings.

6. Use your own canvas shopping bags when shopping for gifts and holiday food.

7. If you get a new cell phone or computer for the holidays donate your old one or recycle them.

8. Prepare food gifts of cookies, jams, relishes or breads and package them in reusable tins or glass jars.

9. Instead of purchasing a gift, create a piece of art or give a certificate book with tickets for free baby sitting, cutting the grass and other useful services.

Apopka CommUnity Center Our New Partner!

November 2009

The Service Learning Council and Volunteer Public Service students held a candy drive to raise funds for the Hope CommUnity Center. The money will help to provide Thanksgiving turkeys for the migrant farmworkers and their families. "The Hope CommUnity Center, formerly known as The Office for Farmworker Ministry, is a community-based organization founded in 1971. The Ministry has worked continually to meet the needs of the ever-growing number of farmworker and immigrant families residing in Central Florida. Over the years, the Ministry has fostered the development of many self-help, community and worker organizations to meet basic human needs."

Chelsea, Rachel, Mrs. Doromal, Mrs, Martyny and Mrs. Sanchez represented the Timber Creek High School Service Learning Academy to present the check to the Apopka CommUnity Center at an event held Wednesday November 18th at the La Presna office in Longwood.

The Hispanic-American Professional and Business Women's Association sponsored a dinner and program. Sister Ann, Sister Gail and Minerva Colon from the CommUnity Center attended the event. We are looking forward to bringing the books from the book drive to the center and working on many projects with this wonderful organization!

The event that featured some amazing students from Apopka High School who presented a skit about the Dream Act.

Here is some basic information on the Dream Act from the National Immigration Law Center:

What is the DREAM Act?
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is bipartisan legislation that addresses the situation faced by young people who were brought to the United States years ago as undocumented immigrant children and who have since grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of trouble.

Why is the DREAM Act needed?
Each year about 65,000 U.S.–raised students who would qualify for the DREAM Act’s benefits graduate from high school. These include honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, homecoming queens, and aspiring teachers, doctors, and U.S. soldiers. They are young people who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and desire only to call this country their home. Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities.

Our immigration law currently has no mechanism to consider the special equities and circumstances of such students. The DREAM Act would eliminate this flaw. It is un-American to indefinitely and irremediably punish them for decisions made by adults many years ago. By enacting the DREAM Act, Congress would legally recognize what is de facto true: these young
people belong here.

DREAM Act students should be allowed to get on with their lives. If Congress fails to act this year, another entire class of outstanding, law-abiding high school students will graduate without being able to plan for the future, and some will be removed from their homes to countries they barely know. This tragedy will cause America to lose a vital asset: an educated class of promising immigrant students who have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing members of our society.

What is the DREAM Act’s current status?
The DREAM Act was reintroduced in the House and Senate on March 26, 2009. Support for the DREAM Act has grown each year since it was first introduced in 2001 during the 107th
Congress. In past years it has garnered 48 Senate cosponsors and more than 152 Republican and Democratic House cosponsors, more than one-third of the House. It has twice passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in bipartisan fashion, by a 16-3 vote in the 2003–04 108th Congress, and again in 2006 by a voice vote without dissent as an amendment to the comprehensive immigration reform bill. In May 2006, the DREAM Act passed the full Senate as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2611). On October 24, 2007, in a 52-44 vote in the Senate, the DREAM Act (S. 2205) fell just 8 votes shy — with four senators absent for the vote — of the 60 votes necessary to proceed with debate on the bill.

The DREAM Act continues to attract bipartisan support and now, for the first time, also enjoys the strong backing of the House and Senate leadership, all of the relevant committee chairs, and President Obama.

____________

Some photos of the event:

State Learn and Serve Conference

November 20, 2009

Service Learning Council officers attended the Florida Learn and Serve Conference held November 18-19, 2009 at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando. Students attended workshops and presented a César Chávez workshop. Service Learning Coordinator/teacher Wendy Doromal, academy science teacher David Gardner, academy foreign language teacher Gudrun Martyny, academy ESOL teacher Debra Dykes-Kornhouse, and OCPS Service Learning district trainers Cheryl BeMent, Jessica Hale, and Christine Woods also attended.

We were able to learn a lot, share a lot and make new friends!

On Thursday evening, students received Presidential Service Awards from President Barack Obama. Florida Learn and Serve director, Joe Follman presented the awards to the students. OCPS students receiving awards include Nani Doromal, Boone High School and from the Timber Creek Service Learning Academy: Spencer Angelis, Gilbert Aurelis, Charles Harris, Chelsea Salvato, Rachel Montenegro, Chris Martin, Philip Lack, Kaitlyn Nellesson, Cori McPherson, Jordan Holmes, Josh Peters, Nicole Hodges, Zohaad Merchant, and Rainel Zelaya.

César Chávez Workshop

November 19, 2009

Service Learning Council council members and officers worked for two months studying migrant farm worker issues and designing a hands-on activities for the César Chávez workshop that we presented with Mrs. Doromal at the Florida Learn and Serve State Conference. Here is a link to the Power Point presentation.

The workshop gave participants a view of legacy of César Chávez. Each participant in the workshop received a card that had information about the life and work of this great American hero. In this opening activity everyone shared their name and school and read from their card. This way everyone was able to learn about Cézar without having information read to them.

The powerpoint took participants from the 1960's and problems of migrant farmworkers to today where the same problems exist. It focused on slave labor in Florida, tomato pickers and finding solutions.

Did you know that a Florida tomato picker has to pick 2.5 tons of tomatoes in 10 hours to earn minimum wage? We had a simulation where a picker had to carry a pail weighing 32 lbs and "pick" tomatoes. It is not an easy task, especially in the hot Florida sun.

Participants also learned about the 10 core values of César Chávez and compared them to the elements of service learning.

Students acted as migrant farmers and described their average workday. Chelsea and Rachel talked about the Dream Act and asked participants to sign the petition from the Apopka CommUnity Center. One participant at our workshop was Vista Volunteer Pedro Lopes who works with the Apopoka CommUnity Center.

We also discussed our own petition to Governor Crist and the Florida State Legislator asking for them to proclaim March 31, 2010 César Chávez Day of Service.

Here is the text of the proposed proclamation:

PROPOSED PROCLAMATION
A proclamation by the Governor of the State of Florida supporting the legacy of César E. Chávez’s life, achievement and dedication, by declaring March 31, 2010 the César E. Chávez Day of Service.

WHEREAS, César Estrada Chávez was a farm worker, civil rights leader, spiritual figure, environmentalist, consumer advocate, and crusader for nonviolent change; and

WHEREAS, His philosophy, “Si se puede” or “Yes, we can,” influenced millions of students, middle class consumers, religious groups and minorities to seek economic and social justice; and

WHEREAS, César E. Chávez promoted 10 core values: service to others, sacrifice, a preference to help most needy, determination, non-violence, acceptance, respect for life and the environment, community, knowledge, and innovation; and

WHEREAS, César E. Chávez achieved only an eighth-grade education, but through his tireless advocacy for the Latino community, he developed a sophisticated appreciation for the relationship between economic issues and political participation; and

WHEREAS, As a social entrepreneur César E. Chávez founded the first successful farm workers union in American history whose mission was to reclaim dignity, fair wages, medical coverage, benefits and humane living conditions for hundreds of thousands of people; and

WHEREAS, Florida has a vital and significant farm worker community that selflessly sacrifice and labor to bring food to our tables; and

WHEREAS, On August 8, 1994, President Bill Clinton posthumously presented the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, to César E. Chávez; and

WHEREAS, César E. Chávez day is a holiday in eight states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin) and many organizations and community leaders gather nationwide to honor and celebrate César E. Chávez Day through education and community service;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charlie Crist, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2010, as "César E. Chávez Day of Service”
in Florida and call upon the people in the State of Florida to perform service in his name and to live by his vision for social justice through non-violence.

Red Ribbon Drug-Free Week Activities

October 30, 2009

For the 6th year, the Service Learning Council sponsored Red Ribbon Week at Timber Creek High School. It is a week dedicated to teaching students the dangers of alcohol and illegal drug use.

Students wrote public service announcements on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse to broadcast on WOLF TV every day.

The highlight of the week was a day of educational activities held in the school's courtyard. Even though it was very windy the event was a huge success! Students created a celebrity cemetery with tombstones of celebrities who died from drug or alcohol use. Some of the celebrities were Health Ledger, Janice Joplin, and Michael Jackson. Paper ghosts hung from trees.

Rachel led the demonstration of real (pig's) lungs that were healthy and diseased by tobacco use. It attracted a lot of students to the table. Another table headed by Kaitlyn and Chelsea had displays with tobacco stained teeth, information about chewing tobacco and other tobacco related displays. Tri-folds on alcohol, drugs and tobacco also were displayed to educate students. Some students sold ghost pops to raise money for the Apopka CommUnity Center.

The highlight of this year's Red Ribbon Day was a new display that was the hit of the service-learning project. Students worked for several weeks creating buildings for a mini-city. Remote control cars had to navigate through the roads without hitting buildings or going off of the roads. Students took turns maneuvering the vehicles, and then they put on "drunk goggles" that made the user see surroundings as if he/she were drunk. The drivers with the drunk goggles crashed into buildings, knocked over trees and swerved off of the roads. One student said she understand why people "shouldn't drink and drive."

Another successful event was the Ghost Out. The grim reaper and his helpers went into classrooms and choose students to become victims to "die" from drug and alcohol-related events. The victims were taken to Mrs. Doromal's room where they were painted white and received a sign that they wore for the day to teach students that drug and alcohol use can have severe consequences.

The Red Ribbon Week door contest was another successful event. Teachers and students competed to have the best door that teaches the dangers of alcohol and illegal drug-use. The first place winner was Ms. Kee and her students who made a very scary warning not to use drugs! Second place was Ms. Dale and third place was the Media Center. Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated and congratulations to the winners!

Global Peace Film Festival Enzian Theater Trips!

September 25, 2009

For 4 years our partner, the Global Peace Film Festival, has shown exciting films and provided educational speakers to hundreds of OCPS students. Every fall during the Film Festival and every spring during Earth Day up to 800 Orange County Public School students get to go to the beautiful Enzian Theater in Maitland. This year Service Learning Academy students helped to coordinate the trips offering academy and TCHS classes opportunities to view the films over three days of field trips.

Students saw the movie, The Original Child Bomb that is described in the catalog:

ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB, inspired by the Thomas Merton poem of the same title, is a contemplative film about the creation of the nuclear bomb and the human cost of its use. The mushroom cloud is a familiar image, but photographic evidence of the enduring harm done to people, communities and the environment by nuclear weapons has long been suppressed. ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB combines declassified footage, photographs, drawings and animation to reimagine the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the perspective of the victims.
 The film moves beyond the historical bombings of 1945 and brings viewers up to the present day by depicting the current reality of nuclear weaponry around the world. ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB features the testimonies of mothers and brothers and soldiers who were there on the day. ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB unfolds as a series of true stories and musical meditations that engage both heart and mind. It is a wake-up call, a summons to consciousness, an invitation to action.

One teacher said it was the best movie she ever saw at the festival! It was a beautiful film.

The other movie was directly linked to our year-long service learning project of immigration and migrant farm worker issues. It is called, The Other Side of Immigration and was a movie that took us over the border so we could look at immigration through a Mexican's eyes. The movie was in Spanish with English-sub titles. Our Spanish-speaking students said that the subtitles were accurate. Here is what the catalog said:

Why do so many Mexicans come to the U.S. illegally? What happens to the families and communities they leave behind? Director Roy Germano seeks answers to these and other questions in The Other Side of Immigration, a documentary based on his interviews with over 700 households in rural Mexican towns where 20-50% of the population has left for work in the United States. Set in the Mexican countryside and with music by My Morning Jacket and Conor Oberst, The Other Side of Immigration offers a perspective on undocumented immigration rarely witnessed by American eyes. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought-provoking, The Other Side of Immigration challenges audiences to imagine more creative and effective solutions to America’s illegal immigration problem.

Here is the trailer from YouTube:

We liked this movie! All service learning students are writing reflections and reviews on the films. Most students said before they saw this movie they did not know why so many people left their homes to come here. Students also liked the music in this film.

Karen Bolt (left) and Carole Hart.

Speakers

We were treated to exceptional and inspirational speakers at this year's festival. We participated in question and answer sessions with our speakers. Who did we meet this year?

Carole Hart was an original writer on Sesame Street and with her late husband, Bruce Hart she wrote the program's pilot. Bruce Hart wrote the lyrics to the Sesame Street song. She has been involved with fimmaking for many years. She wrote the book and television adaptation of Sooner or Later.

Ms. Hart was at the festival presenting her film, For the Next Seven Generations, which is the story of some exceptional grandmothers who formed the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers.

Mrs. Hart told us that media can stir people and "wake people up."

Karen T. Bolt, Development Executor for Carrie Productions (Danny Glover) was another amazing speaker. Ms Bolt told us that Mr. Glover's role in the movie industry is second to his service and humanitarian work. He is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and has done much work with people in Africa. Ms. Bolt told us that we should record what we are doing and tell stories. (We do that in our reflections!)

She reminded us about the Dr. Seuss story of Horton Hears a Who and suggested we are Hortons in the world!

Dr. Joe Siry is a professor of science at Rollins College. It was exciting to be able to exchange ideas and ask questions to him concerning issues affecting migrant workers because he is one of our essential partners in our major project this year! We will be working with Dr. Siry and the Rollins College students in environmental issues related to pesticide and fertilizer use in the farmlands around Lake Apopka.

The Service Learning Academy wants to thank our special partners The Global Peace Film Festival, the Enzian Theater and Rollins College. We also want to thank the special speakers who taught us so much this year.

Some photos of the Enzian trips:

PEACE DAY 2009!

September 2009

The Service Learning Council and Volunteer Public Service classes sponsored U.N. International Day of Peace as a day to reflect upon peace and to promote friendship and tolerance at TCHS.

Our friends, Dr. Noel Brown and Rusudan Grigolia from the United Nations were unable to attend because Ms. Grigolia was in a car accident in the Republic of Georgia. Students prepared get well cards for her and we wish her a speedy recovery.

After three weeks of work preparing for the Peace Art Exhibit at City Hall we were happy to have a day to celebrate!

Students competed in a Peace T-shirt contest today. Prizes were two tickets to both Universal Parks , provided by our generous partner, Mr. George Fuller, and gift certificates to Regal Cinema, Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. Judges were Principal John Wright, Asst. Principal Jeff Boettner, Media Specialist Pat Franklin and the academy's foreign language teacher, Gudrun Martyny.

After the T-shirt contest, the students sponsored Peace Day Celebration in the auditorium. Service Learning Academy President Chris Martin welcomed everyone and spoke about the significance of the U.N. International Day of Peace.

Service Learning Council member Gilbert Aurelus spoke to the students about the campaign to bring awareness to the problem of piracy off of the coast of Somalia. He explained that the 1,000 cranes on the stage were created as a wish to free the 22 member crew of the MV Irene that was held captive for 5 months. After the students reached the goal of making 1,000 origami cranes they learned that the pirates released the hostages. (read about this issue important here.)

The Global Peace Film Festival provided the movie, Africa's Daughters. Our guest speaker was the film's producer, Natalie Halpern. The movie is described in the catalog:

"Two Ugandan girls with one big dream: to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

To do that, they have to challenge cultural traditions and graduate from high school, something all but impossible for most African girls.

“Africa’s Daughters” captures their inspiring journey."

The movie made us appreciate what we have and realize how easy it is for students in the United States as compared to students in Africa who struggle to get an education. The movie showed gender discrimination and other obstacles the students had to overcome to get educated.

Here our some photos from our Peace Day.

PEACE ART EXHIBIT! 2009

September 21, 2009

To commemorate the UN International Day of Peace, the 4th Annual Peace Art Exhibit sponsored by the OCPS Service Learning Program and the Global Peace Film Festival was held today at Orlando City Hall. Over two hundred students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members attended the event.

There were nearly 300 pieces of student art submitted this year from Orange County Public Schools. A committee of students and teachers selected the 180 pieces to be displayed in the Rotunda. Another committee selected the winners of the show for each category: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Students from the TCHS Service Learning Council cut mat, mounted art, made labels and helped to set up the show. The volunteers of the Global Peace Film Festival hosted an array of healthy food.

First, second and third place winners received ribbons, certificates, 4 tickets to the Global Peace Film Festival and Barnes and Noble gift certificates. OCPS Service Learning Coordinator Wendy Doromal, Global Peace Film Festival Executive Director Nina Streich and Service Learning Trainer Christie Woods presented the awards to the artists.

Here are some photos of the event:

4th Annual Peace Art Exhibit at City Hall: Peace Today, Tomorrow, Forever!

September 16, 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009 is the United Nations International Day of Peace. Celebrate with us at the Orlando City Hall as we present the 5th Annual Peace Art Exhibit sponsored by the OCPS Service Learning Program and the Global Peace Film Festival.

The theme of this year's show is Peace Today, Tomorrow, Forever. Students from grades K-2 created art to promote peace and tolerance.

The annual art exhibit is a service learning project of the TCHS Service Learning Academy and this year it took the council and 4 volunteer public service classes to prepare for the exhibit. We received art from 38 Orange County schools. It took two weekends and a week of work to catalogue, select the art for the show, and mount the 178 pieces for the exhibit. We also prepared labels for each piece. Students Zohaad, Rainel and Nicole assisted Mrs. Doromal and Mr. Gardner to set up the art show at Orlando City Hall.

Mrs. Doromal said that she was excited by the talent and creativity of the students. She also noted that more schools are participating each year.

The reception will take place on Monday, September 21 at 3:00 p.m. at the Orlando City Hall. All student artists, teachers, administrators and the public are welcome to attend. Speakers are Dr. Noel Brown and Rusudan Grigolia from the Friends of the United Nations. Nina Streich, Executive Director of the Global Peace Film Festival and Wendy Doromal OCPS Service Learning Coordinator will present the awards to the artists.

PLEASE CELEBRATE PEACE WITH US!

Some photos of the students preparing for the exhibit and a sneak preview of the show:

Free the Crew of the MV Irene

September 11, 2009

Each year we have a calendar of service learning projects that we are working on, but there are issues and problems in the community and world that inspire us to act also. This month is the Month of Peace at TCHS and the issue of making sure that the world's sailors are safe from pirates has come to our attention.

This year, Mrs. D. told us that the Filipino crew of the ship, the M.V. Irene was captured by pirates along the coast of Somalia in Africa. One of the crew members is Joven (Bob) Casas who is the brother of Mrs. D's friend, Gemma Casas a reporter for the Marianas Variety newspaper in the Marianas Islands where Mrs. D used to live.

Ms. Gemma and some of her friends, including Mrs. D., have set up a Facebook Page, Liberate Pirate Hostages that gives information on the hostage situation of the MV Irene. It also calls on people to sign a petition for their freedom. We are asking you to sign too!

Service Learning Council student Gilbert Aurelis has taken the lead in promoting awareness on this issue and in getting students, faculty and community members to sign the petition. There is a display and table set up during lunches.

Other students in the VPS Class and Ms. Shannon's art class have adopted the project of creating 1,000 cranes. The tradition of folding 1,000 paper cranes comes from the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted Leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II.

When she was in the hospital Sadako's best friend came to visit her. She cut a golden piece of paper into a square and folded it into a paper crane. Inspired by the crane, Sadako started folding them herself, thinking of the Japanese saying that the one who folds a 1,000 cranes will be granted a wish. She never reached 1,000 before she died. Her friends folded the remainder of the cranes and she is buried with 1,000 cranes. There is a monument for her in Japan where visitors from all over the world leave paper cranes.

Today people around the world fold cranes as a symbol of peace and hope. Maybe you would like to fold one today as a hope for peace on this anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Get the directions at this website. (It's a video!)

We reached folding 1,000 cranes! Next week we will be stringing them for the UN International Day of Peace Assembly and then will send them to Ms. Gemma and her family.

The capture of the MV Irene is not an isolated incident. Over 40 ships have been captured by pirates off of the Somali coast and over 200 hostages are waiting to be freed. We hope that the petition will get government officials to act on this threat to the world's sailors. The cost of human life is worth more than the cargo that the ships carry, but it will probably be a rise in the cost of goods as a result of piracy that gets world leaders to unite to solve this problem.

Below: Gilbert (on left, top photo) and council members set up their display during lunches to invite students and faculty to fold cranes and sign the petition to free the hostages of the MV Irene. In the evening, GIlbert types the names and email addresses in the online petition.

UPDATE:

We are excited to announce that the crew of the MV Irene was released! The ABS-CBN Philippine News Agency said:

The DFA stated that Bright Maritime Corp., the local manning agency of MV Irene, confirmed the vessel’s release. The agency told the DFA that negotiations for the release of the vessel and its crew had been successful.

It can be recalled that MV Irene was hijacked last April 14, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden.

With MV Irene’s release, the number of Filipino seafarers still in the hands of Somali pirates has gone down to 20, involving two vessels.

On Monday, Agence France Presse reported the vessel’s release as announced by Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenya-based East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme.