Girls Raise Camp Fund for Ill Kids

Next summer, terminally ill children will hike on nature trails, make arts and crafts projects and swim in New York’s Catskill Mountains, thanks to 83 junior high school girls from Sherman Oaks’ Emek Hebrew Academy.

Since November, the girls have raised nearly $15,000 to help send Jewish children from around the world to Camp Simcha, for children with catastrophic illnesses.

“This money will allow children with cancer . . . to be able to have a summer as a normal child,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, founder of the camp’s parent organization, Chai Lifeline. “Everyday is a special day here.”

The students sold special-edition Disney dreidels, chocolate chip cookies and bead bracelets at their school, synagogues and other locations throughout the Valley.

Seventh-grader Chaya Leah Lautman, 12, of North Hollywood organized a charity tea.

“It’s very nice, because you know that you are helping other children,” Chaya said. “We know the money is going toward a good thing.”

KUDOS

Second Time Around: It’s springtime in the Ukraine again for a dozen or so North Hollywood High School Highly Gifted Magnet students who will travel there in April for a three-week visit. The school was recently chosen as an international exchange school and will be a delegate to the former Soviet republic for the second consecutive year. It is one of 20 high schools chosen nationwide for the program, said Phyllis Spadafora, a school spokeswoman. Students from Ukraine will visit here in the fall.

PROGRAM NOTES

Cross-Age Tutoring: Ninth-grade students at Valley Alternative Magnet, a K-12 school in Van Nuys, recently began a mentoring program with the elementary children. Spanish II students wrote and illustrated children’s stories in Spanish and then read them to the younger students. The older students also taught the first- through third-graders how to make beaded jewelry and a Mexican meal.

Sacramento or Bust: Applications are being accepted for 18 positions in the 2000-01 Assembly Fellowship Program. The 11-month stint gives college graduates an opportunity to become full-time state Assembly staff members in a capitol office or on a committee. Fellows are paid a monthly stipend of $1,882 and receive health, dental and vision benefits. Applications are available at the office of Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks), 6150 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 305, or call (818) 904-3840. Deadline is March 1.

Masterful Music: The deadline is Jan. 31 for free Corwin Master Music Classes offered through the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. Musicians between ages 16 and 25 planning professional music careers are encouraged to apply. This year’s classes will be Feb. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with world-renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman, and March 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. For applications and locations, call (213) 202-2293.

EVENTS

Mind Tricks: Glendale Community College will host “Calendar Magic,” a lecture about mathematical tricks based on “mathemagician” Lewis Carroll, author of “Alice in Wonderland.” The free session will be at noon Jan. 25, presented by Sid Kolpas, associate professor of math at the college, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Room 225 of the chemistry math building. (818) 551-5161.

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.