Chinatown on Agenda for Students

Chinese New Year is upon us and two sets of Valley Alternative Magnet School sisters have made it possible for some of their fellow Van Nuys students to experience the festive celebration firsthand.

Vi T. and Vi K. Hoang, ages 17 and 16, respectively, and Linda and Freda Luu, ages 18 and 16, respectively, approached their English teacher last year with the idea of creating a program that would expose the school’s fifth-graders to the girls’ culture.

The eager students were encouraged to apply for an $800 grant with Birmingham/Cleveland/Reseda cluster leader Deborah Leidner, who approved the student-written request. The school will use the funds to cover expenses for a Feb. 11 trip to Chinatown, and purchase books, videos and art materials for the special program.

“I love doing this because knowing that the students get to learn about me and what I’m like is important to me,” Vi T. said. “I think it’s important for people to understand what our traditions are.”

“These cross-age programs are invaluable,” Valley Alternative Magnet Coordinator Rhona Feldman said. “The girls created this study out of a love of who they are, and they’ve taken the responsibility seriously.”

PROGRAM NOTES

Sea Study:Ecology-minded students at Calabash Street Elementary School have embarked on an ocean study that will take them to Sea World in San Diego next month.

The Woodland Hills sea scientists are promised a close encounter with sharks, dolphins and whales, part of a hands-on program offered by the oceanographic-focused park. The students also are conducting research on sharks and other sea creatures, and will present their findings at a school open house in May.

KUDOS

Checkmate: Jonathan Gibbs, 13, took home the first-place trophy at the recent Los Angeles Unified School District Youth Services Chess Tournament, held at John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles. The George Ellery Hale Middle School eighth-grader, one of 45 chess players competing in the district event, also led his Woodland Hills school team to a first-place finish.

Science Whiz: Alemany High School senior Bradley McHugh, 17, was recently named a semifinalist in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. He is among 20 students statewide to reach that level in the competition formerly sponsored by Westinghouse.

Top Teacher: The California Continuation Education Assn.’s District XI has named Aliso High School teacher Barb Jepson Teacher of the Year. The Reseda educator this spring will represent the Los Angeles Unified School District at the state’s continuation school conference in Sacramento, where she and 11 other top teachers from around the state will be honored.

“Barb forms a unique bond with her students,” Aliso Principal Jay Kessler said. “She makes everyone she works with feel like they’re a family member.”

END NOTES

Superior Street School in Chatsworth is offering English as a Second Language classes to adults from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The free classes are held on campus at 9756 Oso Ave. . . . Burbank Adult School is offering a variety of photography classes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at John Burroughs High School in Burbank. For information, call (818) 558-4620 . . . Mar. 31 is the last day to file applications for the fall 1999 master’s program in second and foreign language education at Soka University of America in Calabasas.

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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. Or e-mail them to diane.wedner@latimes.com.