Students Join Forces for Peace

Winding up a school year in which campus violence made national headlines, Valley Alternative Magnet School in Van Nuys celebrated diversity and nonviolence last week at its 13th annual Peace Day.

Students began Thursday’s daylong event, dubbed “Building a Peaceful Future,” with songs and skits. The high school students then invited younger students to join them in workshops on communicating, technology and gender roles.

The 540 students and staff had a potluck lunch, then created art projects together.

“[Peace Day] is a great educational experience,” said school counselor Chuck Broslawsky. “We view ourselves as a community, and this day emphasizes that.”

KUDOS

Science Whizzes: Two students from Viewpoint School in Calabasas took home top awards recently at the 48th annual California State Science Fair in Los Angeles. Eighth-grader Jessica Lessing of Agoura Hills was named “Best Young Woman” in the Earth Sciences/Physical Environments category and classmate Ara Kardashian of Woodland Hills earned a second-place award in the Materials Science category.

All’s Fair: Fullbright Avenue Elementary School in Canoga Park recently held a science fair that attracted 200 student participants. Six scientists from Boeing’s Rocketdyne division picked 11 gold-medal winners.

PROGRAM NOTES

Philanthropists: Third-graders from Carpenter Avenue Elementary School in Studio City recently donated $1,125 to TreePeople. The pupils raised the money by selling popcorn and muffins during recess . . . The Woodland Hills Elementary School Student Council recently sponsored a fund-raising drive to aid victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes. They raised more than $1,100.

EVENTS

Feline Fun:Pupils from Wilbur Avenue, Woodland Hills and Lanai Road elementary schools are learning about world geography the fun way this week. The youngsters are attending performances of “Cats and Kittens From Around the World,” an original, interactive play performed by drama students from Portola Middle School in Tarzana. The actors ask the audience to find one of four countries on a large map, then the older students act out a short tale about cats and kittens from the selected culture. Actors wearing ethnic costumes also offer samples of music and food from Japan, India, the United States and England.

Celebrating 50:Strathern Street Elementary School students, families and staff will celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary Saturday with a daylong carnival at the North Hills campus. Members of the Los Angeles Fire and Police departments will greet the revelers, who will participate in games and dance at a sock hop.

Sports Day:Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and Dodger great Manny Mota will join local university and professional athletes to celebrate “Sports Day” on Monday at Lokrantz Special Education Center in Reseda. The Manny Mota International Foundation will sponsor a Sports Clinic, where the school’s developmentally disabled students will have the chance to play games with their sports heroes.

END NOTE

Granada Elementary School will hold its first Family Math and Science Night at 6:30 this evening. Teachers will offer hands-on activities for students and their parents.

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.