Haddon Group Helps Teacher Walk the Walk

Cathie Johnson is used to challenges: The Haddon Avenue Elementary School resource teacher instructs 23 special-education students every day and loves it.

But Johnson encountered a more personal challenge recently. A 15-year survivor of breast cancer, the Pacoima teacher couldn’t face participating in this year’s Revlon Run/Walk for Women--an annual event that raises funds for breast and ovarian cancer research--without her daughter, Amiee. The UCLA graduate, who had walked at her mother’s side in previous years, died recently during a liver-transplant operation.

Eager to support their colleague and celebrate her recent return to work, 40 Haddon staff members and students joined Johnson in the 5K walk in memory of her daughter.

“It was a real learning experience for the kids,” Johnson said. “And healing for me personally.”

KUDOS

Science Fair: Three students from West Hills’ Chaminade College Preparatory have joined 1,100 of the world’s brightest young scientists this week at the 1998 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finals in Fort Worth, Texas. Brent Shockley, 17, Shawn Lesniak, and Dean Yamaguchi, 17, are competing for one of the three $40,000 scholarships handed out at the five-day event, where they get to meet with several Nobel laureates.

Top Scholar: Newhall senior Hong-wen Walther Chen was recently named one of 500 semifinalists in the 1998 Presidential Scholars Program. The Hart High School student was selected from among 2,600 candidates for his academic achievements, leadership qualities and community- and school-service efforts. Finalists will attend a Washington, D.C., ceremony in June.

Prized Poets: Eighth-graders Megan White and Angela Parra took two ribbons apiece at the 1998 Fine Arts Poetry Contest, sponsored by the Canoga Park Women’s Club. The Christopher Columbus Middle School students won in the poetry and short-story categories.

PROGRAM NOTES

Holy Cow!: Culminating this semester’s farm study, Castlebay Lane Elementary School kindergartners recently created a classroom dairy, complete with a cardboard cow that produces milk through a rubber-glove udder. The Porter Ranch school’s fifth-graders, who studied early American life, turned their classroom into an Amish village. Fourth-graders built a mining town as part of their study of the California Gold Rush of 1848.

“Our integrated curriculum allows the teachers to wrap math, writing and creative arts into our social studies program,” said Principal Natalie Messenger. “The kids get a hands-on experience, and it’s fun.”

EVENTS

Enchanted Evening: Nellie Forbush, Bloody Mary and the other dames from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical are singing and dancing up a storm this weekend in the Birmingham High School presentation of “South Pacific” at the campus, 17000 Haynes St., Van Nuys. Tickets are $8 for the show, which runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Jazzing It Up: The Glendale High School Dance Co. presents its 36th annual May Production on Friday evening, featuring modern, jazz, tap and lyrical dance interpretations from beginning and advanced students, as well as the adult tap ensemble. A male dance group will make its debut in the 7 p.m. production in the school auditorium, at 1440 E. Broadway. Tickets cost $6 at the door.

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