Celebrating the Birthday of Dr. Suess

Cats and hats, bow ties and Sam. The Grinch and Horton and green eggs and ham.

Yes, Monday is Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Meadows Elementary School is celebrating in a manner the beloved children’s author undoubtedly would have approved of: with red-and-white striped stove-pipe hats on their heads, bow ties around their necks and books in their hands.

In addition to trying out creative writing assignments, students at the Valencia school will be treated to oral interpretations of Dr. Seuss’ rhymed verse by school district officials. Upper-grade students, who have brought in copies of their favorite stories, will read one-on-one to the younger students. Then everyone is invited to the cafeteria at lunchtime to dine on----what else--green eggs and ham.

“I’ve gotten tremendous response from my students,” said sixth-grade teacher Andi Gruber. “They tell me they’ve loved rereading their favorite Dr. Seuss books. They’re a comfort to the kids.”

KUDOS

Spirit of Giving: Sierra Canyon School eighth-grader John Ross was recognized recently for his community service efforts when he was handed a 1998 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. The 13-year-old Chatsworth resident, one of two top runners-up among middle school students, was awarded a bronze medallion for spearheading a clothing drive in conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Operation School Bell.

Optimistic: The Santa Clarita Valley’s Soroptimist International Club hosted a scholarship awards breakfast in Valencia last week, at which they gave citizenship awards to three high school seniors whom they want to encourage in their higher-education goals. Brandi Plasschaert of Canyon High School, Hart High School’s Jennifer George and Saugus High School’s Jennifer Blount were on hand to accept their cash awards.

Artful Reflections: Balboa Magnet School fourth-graders Hannah Florek and Megan Brownlee have been selected by the 31st District PTA to advance to the state level of the PTA Reflections Program, which encourages students to participate in theme-based creative projects each year. Hannah, 9, will perform her original musical composition--”Time Warp”--at Nobel Middle School in Northridge at 7 p.m. on March 6.

PROGRAM NOTES

Mission Possible: Chatsworth Hills Academy’s fourth-graders wound up their study of the California missions last week with a half-day trip to the San Fernando Mission. The students, working in groups, had already fashioned model missions and researched and written individual reports.

ENDNOTES

Black History Month: Pacoima Middle School will celebrate African American culture Thursday at a “Unity Assembly,” with performances by the school’s Television/Theater/Fine Arts Magnet students. . . . Van Nuys’ Montclair College Prep School seniors have been examining copies of Martin Luther King’s correspondence and will join fellow students at a performance of the West African Stilt Walkers Dance and Drum Troupe in the school gymnasium Friday. . . . Ernest Lawrence Middle School students will take an imaginary journey to an African village when the Sona Sane West African Dance Ensemble performs at the Chatsworth school Friday. Students will dress in African attire.

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Class Notes appears 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.