Public Spotlight on Fifth Grade’s Condor Project
Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) fifth grade class project, “ Do One Thing to Help the Condors and the Environmen t,”
Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) fifth grade class project, “ Do One Thing to Help the Condors and the Environmen t,”
It is not uncommon for state legislators to receive hundreds – if not thousands – of letters from their constituents, all of which are usually acknowledged via a formal response drafted by the recipient or a designated staff member. Sometimes, however, a more personal acknowledgement is called for.
caisca.org, December 2012, “Mount Madonna School: Fifth Grade’s Owl Project Wins National Attention.” Read more: http://www.caisca.org/page/22499_Mount_Madonna_School.asp
Hoots and hollers – and animated screams of joy echoed throughout the gymnasium one recent afternoon, following fifth grade teacher Jessica Cambell’s announcement to her students that their environmental project was a national winner. “Give A Hoot: It’s Foul to Hurt the Burrowing Owl,” has won the elementary school Grand Prize in the 2012 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge!
“Ring, ring,” Cambell said, grinning at her students and holding her hand up to her ear like a telephone, “It’s Siemens calling and you’ve won first in the nation!”
“ Give A Hoot, Don’t Pollute: It’s Foul to Hurt the Burrowing Owl ,” a project of the fifth grade class at Mount Madonna School (MMS) won First Place in the environmental Class Challenge at the Santa Cruz Earth Day celebration on April 21.
“It is very important to learn how to save our ecosystems,” comments fifth grader Jules Barivan. And for the past several months, the class has been doing just that – engaging in extensive research, public speaking, local habitat restoration and community outreach and education, all as part of their project “Give A Hoot: It’s Foul to Hurt the Burrowing Owl.”
Santa Cruz Sentinel, 1/20/2012, “Mount Madonna fifth graders give a hoot about bird on state’s concerned list,” by Joel Hersch. Read more: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_19777552?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com
What: Presentation and DVD screening on the Western Burrowing Owl, subject of Mount Madonna School’s 5th Grade Class current environmental project.
When: Wednesday, January 18, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Reservation requested; contact Kathy Fieberling at (831) 345-1226 or
Santa Cruz Sentinel, 11/24/11, “Mount Madonna students focus on return of owl at slough near Watsonville,” by Joel Hersch. Photos by Sri Gyan James McCaughan. Read more: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_19401291?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com
Written by Leigh Ann Clifton
Monday, 24 May 2010
“Haven’t you always wanted to help save the planet?” asked 5th grader Nathan Vince. Vince’s comment came following a class beach cleanup in Santa Cruz last fall. The fifth grade had already selected coastal cleanup and the problem of marine debris as a focus of study… but had no idea that their efforts would launch them into the national spotlight!