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Published on 06/19/1995 All articles from this issue

Los Altos High students who have made a difference

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By Mary Cunneen-Lion

Special to the Town Crier

Last week's graduation ceremonies brought celebrations of student academic accomplishments and achievements. Take a closer look at Los Altos High School and you will discover many outstanding young people who not only excel academically but also excel as contributing citizens in our community. Thanks to two CalServe grants called "Schools and Communities for the Future," all freshman at Los Altos High School begin their service experience in their English classes by selecting an issue in the community that interests them personally. After researching their subject, students write and present an oral presentation , and then begin their service to the community. Students write journals and assays throughout the year documenting their reflections while additional speeches are made to their classes to keep each other informed of each other's experiences.

Concurrent with community service work, students read literature works such as "Of Mice and Men," "A Raisin in the Sun" or "The House on Mange Street." Teachers and students discuss observations that tie today's social issues with issues faced by characters in the books.

Meet Ginger Beman, Service-Learning/community service coordinator for Los Altos High School. A parent herself, who has worked tirelessly on PTAs, councils and several service organizations for years, Ginger assists students by matching student personal interests with community needs. She is genuinely involved with LAHS students guiding, encouraging, and motivating them so much that students continue serving beyond their required freshman service year. Her adoring students surprised her May 23 with a luncheon organized to honor her.

"The service-learning program encourages a meaningful pattern of community involvement so that students may develop the skills to 'make a difference in their communities," says Ginger.

Anita Samantray, a junior honor student taking Advanced Placement classes in physics, English and Spanish somehow makes time to work 6-7 hours a week as a volunteer. She began her community service in the required English class but continues her involvement receiving no class credit at all. She pioneered a service club called Community Outreach focusing on the homeless. She and other students often visit Agnew Family Living Shelter In Santa Clara and give their time to children who don't have anyone to read them stories. This program is now evolving Into a much needed Tutoring program. Anita has also been involved in a program at Stanford Hospital where she and others promote enjoyment of music programs by providing escort services to patients and their families to in-hospital concerts. She is a candy striper for El Camino Hospital, tutors other high school students in many subjects, helps in blood drives and even made a few phone calls for the recent High School Bond Measure D campaign. "There is such a need and I enjoy helping other people," Anita said. And, "we are lucky to have Mrs. Beman - she takes time for us. She is our connection to the community."

Freshman Jimmy Whitesell know that Redwood Grove was in desperate need of cleanup especially after this year's storms. He and a group of friends, including freshman Craig Harrison spent hours this year assisting Keith Guitterez, Redwood Grove caretaker and instructor, in project after project. Mostly working on their Saturdays, they cleaned up an astonishing amount of debris and broken branches. "There is always a need in Redwood Grove," says Craig Harrison. Jimmy Whitesell agrees saying, "I went to Redwood Grove for summer camp when I was a kid - if we didn't clean it up, the kids In Los Altos wouldn't enjoy it as much." Jimmy, Craig and their friends have plans to continue this project next year.

Freshman Brad Wolfe's ingenuity led him and a group of friends to start a group called Kids 2 Kids. Brad discovered that there are more than 2,000 needy children identified In Los Altos and Mountain View. Brad's goal: "To give these students a first day of school with new clothes and new school supplies." Brad organized a drive to collect these supplies by distributing grocery bags to LAHS students and has been extremely successful at getting his message out. Next year he plans to continue his pursuit by spreading the news to elementary schools and the Los Altos Village Association who can possibly help. Brad happily reports, "I have not even inventoried all the supplies yet, but so far we have collected 82 new binders, 16 notebooks, 12 packs of markers and thousands of pencils, not to mention bags and bags still to be inventoried." A few reasons why Brad does this: "I have read articles that talk about how students drop out of school because they lack necessities that make you feel good about yourself. I am interested in helping it. It is fun and it's worthwhile."

If you know of someone who has performed an act of kindness, we'd like to hear about it. Write to Mary Cunneen Lion at the Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022.