David Mallett
Business/Circulation Manager
SACRAMENTO, California
The Sacramento Wildlife Refuge is not only home to many wild animals, but a scenic paradise to many Northern California high school students who participate in a three-day experience known as Flyway Journeys Wildlife Art Camp.
The camp begins for students in a session devoted to why they should learn about wildlife art and followed up by attending Wildlife Refuge for field observations and a tour of the wetlands.
“These kids are wonderful,” said former Quincy High School art teacher Mike Nesbit. “I’m amazed at the artwork I see every year. These kids are very talented.”
Flyway Journeys was free for all students, and provides them with art supplies including water colors, colored pencils, sketchbooks and other equipment.
San Jose senior Lidieth Arvalo said, “It was interesting learning about nature, photography and art, but I just like being here, outside. I love nature.”
B BATON ROUGE, Louisiana
Nothing but damage was destined for Gables Academy when a man driving a pickup truck missed the curve on Jefferson Highway, a worn-out highway.
Driver Justin Brimer kept his foot on the gas even when he missed the curve and ended up running the truck into Gables Academy. Deputies say Brimer drove across the parking lot and playground of the school and crashed into the wall of the school’s gym.
After breaking through the wall, Brimer drove to the center of the gym’s basketball court, made a u-turn and even broke through the gym’s metal-framed door.
Susan Kramer, the principal of Gables Academy, was shocked by how much damage occurred, saying, “I just can’t imagine that a car could be going so fast, and go through so many areas, and still do so much internal damage.”
The gym was destroyed and the kitchen damaged.
C CROSS RIVER, New York
Three students from John Jay High School were suspended after saying the word “vagina” while reading from a play at a high school event.
The three girls claim they were only trying to take a stand against censorship.
“Our main point is that ‘vagina’ isn’t a word that should be censored from young children…It’s an important word. It’s part of the body,” said Megan Reback, 16.
All three girls were given a one-day suspension by their principal after their reading of a verse from the “Vagina Monologues” at the schools’ “open mic night.”
The “Vagina Monologues” includes a series of monologues about women and their experiences with sexuality. This series continues to be performed around the world since first being staged on Broadway as a one-woman show by Eve Ensler in 1996.
Principal Richard Leprine said the suspensions came about from the girls’ disobedience, not their use of the word itself.
Sources for stories: google.com/news, ap.org, msnbc.com