Remembering Eleanor Roosevelt

The American Association of University Women partners with the library each year to hold an event for women’s history month. This year, the subject of the event is Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her 125th birthday would have been last fall. Previous topics have included immigrant women in Missouri and Lilly Ledbetter.

“Eleanor was very much a feminist,” organizer Holly Burgess said. “She was always an advocate for women and wanted women to achieve as they could.”

The program will include a brief speech about Roosevelt’s contributions to America and the world and a performance. Katherine Gardner of Columbia Independent School will be performing as Roosevelt tonight. She won the 2009 History Day competition in Missouri for her performance.

“I hope  that (the audience) will get a better appreciation for a woman who has made her mark not just on the 20th century but the 21st century and will continue to leave her mark,” Burgess said.

The event will take place at the Columbia Public Library (100 West Broadway) at 7 p.m. Reception at 6:30 p.m.

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School board candidates hang with the ladies

My night was filled with laughter, curiosity and the scent of incredible appetizers brought from kitchens across Columbia. The Columbia School Board candidates seemed to enjoy it, too.

I just got back from the Progressive Women of Mid-Missouri Spring Social, an event encompassing a house full of women and candidates running for mayor, treasurer, the Fourth ward council seat, presiding commissioner and, of course, Columbia School Board.

President Jan Mees and James Whitt, both running for three-year terms were, were in attendance, as well as Jonathan Sessions and Philip Peters Jr., who are running for one-year terms. Dan Holt was unable to attend.  The candidates stood holding signs with their names on them, laughing and, sometimes, blocking their opponent with them. The room couldn’t help but laugh along.

I had a chance to talk to each of them and introduce myself for the first time. I have to say, they were all playful and talkative eager to answer a house full of questions and concerns.

Johanna Cox-Littrell held the event at her home with the help of her co-host Sarah Catlin-Dupuy. The Progressive Women of Mid-Missouri began in 2005, and Cox-Littrell joined two years ago, before she even moved into the home I spoke to her in.  She was visiting Columbia to house-shop and discovered the group.

“I knew I was part of it from then on,” she said.

The group works to inform women about candidates running for office. Any progressive woman can join the group and attend the socials that occur once a year. There are no meetings, membership, dues or fees, just a couple fun nights where the women can meet like-minded women.

“We know everyone has a million things to do,” Cox-Littrell said, laughing.

Kristin Metcalf-Wilson spoke for the Women’s Policy Alliance, a non-profit group that provides policy makers with information promoting opportunities for women and equality. She described the event as being “fabulous to see activists together for a good cause.”

It was an evening that had a feeling of warmth despite the frigid air outside and hopefully one of many enjoyable events alongside our possible Columbia School Board members.

For future forums, debates and candidate information check out ColumbiaMissourian.com

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Field Elementary Hosts Farewell Open House

The Field Elementary School community will move to Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School in January. The Field building will be transitioning to house Columbia Public Schools’ gifted program and early childhood education classes.

Who’s Invited: Community & Field alumni

What: Farewell Open House

Where: Field Elementary School

When: Thursday, December 17, 2009

Time: 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

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Two Mile Prairie Celebrates Diversity

Although Two Mile Prairie Elementary School has one of the lowest percentages of minority students, they have celebrated diversity for over 10 years with their annual multicultural night.

According to Columbia Public Schools’ racial breakdown of district schools for the 2009-2010 year, 10.3 percent of Two Mile Prairie’s total student population identifies as minority. The only elementary school with a lower percentage of minority students is Midway Heights with 7.1 percent.

This lack of diversity is one of the reasons for the multicultural night, which was December 3 this year.

“Two Mile Prairie is a pretty homogeneous school,” third grade teacher Christina Wehmeyer said. “It’s very important for kids to have an awareness of the world, and this night helps open their eyes.”

The event brings together students, parents and teachers to learn about and celebrate different cultures.

“The intent is to provide an opportunity to see different food, songs and ornaments from other cultures,” Principal Larry Jones said. “The opportunity for children to learn about other cultures and different ideas is something that’s invaluable.”

Wehmeyer explained that in years prior, the event included whole meals representing different cultures, but that this year, it was decided to bring desserts to share.

The school choir sang several traditional holiday songs in English, such as “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Deck the Halls,” as well as some songs in different languages.

Teachers helped students throughout the night make ornaments that represented different religions and cultures.

Jones said that all grades are invited to attend, but that the ornaments are geared toward younger students while older students sing in the choir.

Parents attending the event said tradition is an important reason why they come.

“It’s a nice family activity before the holidays,” said Janet Anich, who has three children at Two Mile Prairie. “It’s a tradition at this school, and tradition is always important.”

Tricia Kaufmann said she came because one of her daughters is in the school choir, but that tradition is also a big reason.

“This is a chance to celebrate each family’s differences,” Kaufmann said. “It’s a great school community.”

Besides the learning opportunities, Anich said the event is also a time for families to get together to have fun.

“It’s a time to just socialize,” Anich said. “And socializing is the foundation for neighbors, friends and the community.”

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Thanksgiving Festivities

With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought I would compile some fun things for families to do with their time together. Grab your oven mittens, glue sticks and cold-weather gear because it’s time to celebrate!

Recipes for a plentiful, and delicious, Thanksgiving meal (straight from my mother’s own cookbook):

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Ingredients:

1½ cups Quick cooking oats; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/3 cup butter-flavored shortening, melted; 1 tbs water; 1 16 oz. can whole berry cranberry sauce; 2 tbs cornstarch; and 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

2) In a medium bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir in the melted shortening and water to form a crumbly mixture.

3) In a large sauce pan, mix together the cranberry sauce and corn starch. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat. Stir in the apples and spread into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. Crumble the oat mixture over the apples.

4) Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the apples are tender.

5) Serve warm. Makes approximately six servings.

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar; 1 cup butter; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 cup pumpkin; 2 cups flour; 1 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1½ tsp of cinnamon; 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1) Mix together sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla. Add the pumpkin.

2) Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Add this to the other ingredients and mix in chocolate chips.

3) Spoon out 1 tsp of mixture onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes approximately 30-36 cookies.

Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cans of cut green beans; 1 can cream of mushroom soup; 1 cup milk; 1 tsp pepper; 1 can of French’s Original French Fried Onions

Directions:

1) Drain the beans.

2) Combine beans, soup, milk and pepper. Pour into baking pan and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for one hour.

3) Top with remaining onions. Bake for another five minutes. Makes approximately 8 servings.

Craft ideas can be found at the following Web sites:

www.holidash.com/thanksgiving/crafts/10-thanksgiving-crafts

www.bhg.com/holidays/thanksgiving/crafts/

Decorating tips can be found at the following Web sites:

www.bhg.com/holidays/thanksgiving/indoor-decorating/

www.bhg.com/holidays/thanksgiving/outdoor-decorations/

Also, stop by the Columbia Jaycees Holiday Parade downtown this Sunday. Participants will line up at 1 p.m., the parade will begin at 3 p.m. Those interested in registering for the parade, go to columbiamojaycees.com/.

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Thanksgiving Break

Although the news never sleeps, it does in fact eat.

Like most every other student in Columbia and every person in the United States, the staff of the Missourian who contribute to this blog will celebrate Thanksgiving next week.

While they travel home and back again, this blog will be on hiatus. But the Monday after Thanksgiving, reporters will resume posting about local issues in K-12 education.

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Columbia Public Schools World Cafe

From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, Columbia Public Schools will host World Cafe, a community event where the public can share their input regarding the school district’s strategic plans for the next five years.

Held at the Activities and Recreation Center at 1701 W. Ash Street, members of the community sit around a table to participate in a dialogue about the specifics of the district’s plans.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Linda Chickos by calling 573-214-3400 or by e-mail at lchickos@columbia.k12.mo.us

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Close-Knit Community at Blue Ridge

A large bulletin board hangs in the main office of Blue Ridge Elementary School. You can’t miss it. It bears dozens of labeled photographs of Blue Ridge teachers and staff, each one with a warm smile.

That board represents the community at Blue Ridge: warm. welcoming. friendly.

Last week, Blue Ridge hosted a book fair and parent-teacher conferences, which was the perfect opportunity to observe different members of the school’s community – teachers, parents and students – come together.

Blue Ridge’s conferences, like those at every Columbia public elementary and middle school, were held after school Thursday as well as Friday morning. Students did not attend classes Friday because of the conferences, according to the district’s Web site.

Although the book fair ran the whole week, the majority of sales occur during the conferences, said Rebecca Bevel-Smith, library media specialist at Blue Ridge. Bevel-Smith coordinates the book fair with the help of the Parent-Teacher Association.

She said the most popular books this year are the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

“The kids are very excited to see all the new books at the fair and the new books in the library,” Bevel-Smith said.

Teachers also have the opportunity to get new books for their classrooms. The classroom with the most parents who visit and sign in at the book fair receives $50 to purchase books. A classroom from both preschool through second grade and third through fifth grade wins the competition.

“The teachers get very into it,” Bevel-Smith said. “I’ve seen teachers escort parents to the library to sign up.”

If parents weren’t with their children at the book fair, they were likely attending conferences with their child’s teacher.

Parents and teachers alike said their favorite part of Blue Ridge was the people that comprise the school community.

“I love the community of people and the people I work with,” third grade teacher Jessica Krueger said while waiting for a parent to arrive at her classroom for a conference.

JeorgeAnn Clark, a parent of a Title 1 preschooler at Blue Ridge, said there is a difference in Blue Ridge teachers compared with teachers from other schools.

“I like the teachers’ involvement with the parents and children,” Clark said. “More so than other schools.”

Blue Ridge seems like a close-knit community with the common goal of helping students learn in a positive environment.

“My No. 1 favorite thing about Blue Ridge is the students,” Bevel-Smith said, motioning toward a drawing one of the students made that names her “Best Librarian.”

“They make me smile and make me happy,” she said.

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