Third-Graders Bring Indian Culture to Life With Mural

HANDS-ON LEARNING: A class of third-graders at Hickory Elementary School in the Torrance Unified School District recently completed a 22-foot collage that depicts a day in the life of an American Indian tribes.

The students began working on the mural in January as part of their studies on the economy and culture of tribes of the Northwest.

The collage, which is made of tree bark, tissue, burlap, straw, buttons and bits of broken

jewelry, gave the students a chance to illustrate what they had learned about how the Indians lived, teacher Judy Trostler said. The mural depicts forest and ocean scenes with men fishing and women washing clothes and preparing meals.

“They had interesting culture--they led interesting lives,” said 9-year-old Scott Bryson, who made some of the grass and canoes in the collage. “They liked to eat smoked salmon and they made clothes out of cedar bark.”

BUSINESSES HELP BANDS: More than two dozen local businesses have raised about $3,000 in cash and donated merchandise to benefit the marching bands at Redondo Union and Mira Costa high schools in the South Bay Union High School District.

The fund-raiser was staged last week by Roger E. Bacon to celebrate the opening of his new Ralphs Shopping Center in Hermosa Beach.

Rogers, along with Ralphs, First Federal Bank, Manhattan Toyota, Manhattan Ford, South Bay Nissan, Bank of America and Clean Sweep Parking Lot, raised $2,200 in cash for the bands. More than two dozen other businesses, including restaurants, sports shops and a health center, donated nearly $8,000 worth of merchandise for an auction that netted an additional $800.

The unsold merchandise was given to the bands’ booster clubs for future fund-raisers.

Alfred Adams, Mira Costa’s band director, said his band will use its share of the money to buy additional uniforms, drum equipment and other supplies.

“I had no idea (Rogers) was considering helping the band program,” Adams said. “It’s great to be recognized and aided in that way.”

GIFT OF GAB: Four silver-tongued Gardena High School students won honors--and in two cases, cash--in two recent oratory contests.

Senior Twanisha Baker and junior BeNeca Ward both placed in last month’s National Management Assn. Oratory Competition for a speech they wrote on the American Enterprise System. Baker, who placed first, won $300, while Ward, who came in second, won $200.

And sophomores Breanna Freeman and Martinique Mays took honors in the Annual Optimist Oratory Competition for their speech “I Can Make a Difference,” which focused on the importance of better race relations.

Freeman, who won first place, received a medal and plaque and a chance to enter later competition. Mays, who placed second, received a medal and a certificate of appreciation.

PRESERVING HISTORY: Officials of the South Bay Union High School District are seeking artifacts, clippings and other memorabilia relating to its 88-year history before it goes out of business June 30.

The district, which operates Redondo Union and Mira Costa high schools as well as Pacific Shores continuation school, is being disbanded this summer. Mira Costa will become part of the newly formed Manhattan Beach Unified School District, while Redondo Union will become part of the new Redondo Beach Unified School District. Pacific Shores will close June 30.

District officials will form a committee of former alumni, teachers, parents and community members to collect and preserve memorabilia relating to the two high schools, the continuation school and the now closed Aviation High School. Anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact Supt. Walter Hale’s office at (310) 318-7398.

Items for the weekly Class Notes column can be mailed to The Times South Bay office, 23133 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505, or faxed to (310) 373-5753 to the attention of staff reporter Kim Kowsky.