A Vision for Melrose Leadership Academy
' Seven years ago Moyra Contreras developed a middle school at Melrose Elementary school to create a safe environment for older children. The new school outgrew the space at Melrose and moved to the vacant Elisabeth Sherman site this fall. Now Moyra, the principal of Melrose Leadership Academy, has a vision of a bilingual immersion program for children from kindergarten to eighth grade. She explained that it would offer a quality program, bringing together youngsters whose first language is either Spanish or English.' The current middle school has an extended day that includes arts, athletics, and early planning for college and careers. This fall the students joined community members for a workday, planting daffodils along with fruits and vegetables, which will provide healthy alternatives for the youngsters. The proposal before the school district would be to enroll a kindergarten class along with the middle school next fall and then add one grade each year. A decision is expected before this column appears.'
' Pre-Holiday Forgiveness at the Oakland Library
'Have you or someone in your family been avoiding the library? Have you had a library book since—well, who knows when? Or perhaps you can't find that book you checked out last summer. If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you have until December 14 to clear your record by returning material checked out before November 1, or admitting that you have lost it. And there will be no fines or fees.
' In addition to the amnesty program, Melrose Branch is encouraging visits by classes, pre-school groups and day care providers. Library Assistant Juenita Lee, a recent graduate of San Jose State Library School, is filling in at Melrose Branch, handling the school visits as well as orders for the children's collection.
Halloween in Maxwell Park
' The group of trick-or-treaters pictured on Ashley and Vee's steps on Halloween evening seemed to appreciate the extra hour of daylight. The menagerie included a mermaid, a monkey, a panda, a horse and a cat in an enormous striped hat. They were joined by a princess, superman, a pirate, a dowager empress, a witch, an M&M, and a Hershey's Kiss.'
' Down on High Street the Boys & Girls Club's Teen Center was transformed into a haunted house. A ghost floated by overhead as spiders and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Surrounded by smoke and moans, we wandered into Dr. Adolfus Dripping Blood's spooky lab. But the event was more than just fun and fright. At the end of the evening, site manager Mirabel Corral told me that students from UC Berkeley's Unite for Sight had completed vision screenings for 40 youngsters.
Green Thumbs at Horace Mann
' Betram Nguyen, Wendi and Rosa Gutierrez worked with teacher Ms. Rojas to turn the giant jigsaw puzzle pieces into a planter box. They joined over 50 members of the Horace Mann school and neighborhood community planting daffodils, veggies, and butterfly garden plants enriched by compost from the new worm box and composter. Organizer Jeanne Nixon added that the trash and weeds are gone and the school looks terrific.
'Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.
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