A Banner Day for Academy After Theft

Old Glory is waving over the Kadima Hebrew Academy once again, after its original flag was stolen in September. Through the efforts of Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), the Woodland Hills school has replaced the lost banner with a flag that had flown atop the U.S. Capitol earlier this fall. The congressman was on hand recently to join the students and faculty in a flag dedication ceremony.

KUDOS

Top Honors: Jeff Montez, a senior at the Buckley School, has been named a finalist in the National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Program, which acknowledges exceptional academic achievements of Latino high school seniors.

When he’s not tending to his duties as a student government officer, the 17-year-old honor student can usually be found at the school newspaper, the Student Voice, where he serves as editor-in-chief.

Best Writer: Charles Hood, an English professor at Antelope Valley College, recently walked away with the outstanding writer award at the English Council of Two-Year Colleges convention in San Francisco. He not only bested his colleagues for the national award, but also tied--with himself--for first place for two articles he published in the academic journal Inside English. The 37-year-old Palmdale resident is no stranger to the rigors of publishing. “Since I teach writing at a college, it’s only fair that I put myself through the challenge as well,” he said. “I want my students to see that I also write many drafts and edit my own work.”

All in the Hands: Three Lindero Canyon Middle School students were honored for their achievements in ceramics by the Charter Pacific Bank of Agoura Hills, which gave them certificates and savings bonds. Eighth-grader John Mead, 13, who placed first in the bank’s competition, accepted a $100 savings bond from art teacher Marilyn Fine and school Principal Ronald Kaiser at a recent school board meeting. Second-place winner Kyle Marks, 13, and Nicole Belson, 13, who placed third, also received monetary awards. The students’ artwork is on display in the bank lobby through the end of this week.

PROGRAM NOTES

Made in the Shade: The teachers, students and parents of Ranchito Avenue Elementary School were happy to get their hands dirty recently when they planted 18 trees around campus. The community event was organized by the Tree People to heighten the kids’ awareness of environmental issues and to enable the students to find relief from summertime temperatures that can reach 120 degrees on the Panorama City school’s concrete playground. The students also will care for the trees.

Hit the Trail: Students at Granada Hills’ Haskell Avenue Elementary and Magnet Schools celebrated “Pioneer Days” recently by re-creating life along the Oregon Trail. Everyone from kindergartners to fifth-graders tried their hands at spinning wool, making bread, stringing beads and panning for gold.

Forty lucky third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students also had the opportunity to attend Astro Camp in Idyllwild last month, where they explored the wonders of space travel. They brought their newfound science knowledge to a special evening presentation.

*

Class Notes will appear every Wednesday. Send news about schools to the Valley Edition, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax it to (818) 772-3338. Or e-mail them to diane.wedner@latimes.com