Science camp nurtures female leaders
August 21 , 2017 EDCAL 7
Science camp nurtures female leaders
Rosa Parks Elementary sixth-grader Daja Ford had never considered becoming a business owner , but all that changed after she created her very own Sniffalicious perfume line during the district ’ s weeklong Girls Pursuing Science Camp .
Daja was one of nearly 30 Lynwood USD female students in grades 4-8 inspired by the joys of scientific discovery during the camp , held in July at Hosler Middle School . Girls Pursuing Science founder Jacquelyn Thomas led the program ’ s science , technology , engineering , art , and math curriculum .
“ Making new things and learning what chemicals can be mixed together was my favorite part ,” Daja said . Guided by Thomas , Director of Equity Patricia Brent- Sanco and district staff members , students created cosmetic products and ultimately used them to brand their own businesses . Mixing wax , oil and flavoring ingredients , the young scientists produced lip balm during one session and also whipped up hair gel , bath bombs and perfume .
Lynwood Middle School seventh-grader
LEMMONS
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“ Piano has been a way for him to just forget about everything else ,” Ramona High piano teacher Ronda Barnes said . “ And just something that brings him joy . You can always tell that by the songs that he would choose .”
The peace and tranquility Richard feels each time his fingers touch the keys is empowering because his early childhood was anything but peaceful . His relationship with his biological parents is best described as non-existent .
“ I know that they are like an acquaintance of mine but I don ’ t necessarily consider them my mother and father ,” Richard said .
Alondra Lopez used her cosmetics to create Al ’ s Products , with a distinctive purple , blue and pink logo , and said she would like to help break the stereotype that girls don ’ t pursue science .
“ We wanted the week to be about showing the students new ways to explore STEAM ,” Thomas said . “ The world has changed so much and it ’ s become mandatory that young learners be able to problem solve and think critically in order to thrive .”
GPS was launched in 2014 with the purpose of helping girls become more engaged in scientific inquiry , and Lynwood adopted the program for this year ’ s inaugural summer event . The STEAM curriculum includes research activities , software applications and the business component that encourages students to thrive in the marketplace . Lynwood has placed its own emphasis on science and recently opened a robotics computer lab at Washington Elementary School .
“ The GPS program is sending a message to our female students that there are
Richard ’ s grandparents deemed his mother and father unfit to raise a child . So they took it upon themselves to step up and fill that role . In fact , Richard ’ s grandparents took him home from the hospital . His biological parents currently reside in Mississippi . But in 2009 , Richard ’ s grandfather passed away . Even today , Richard says he still struggles with the loss .
“ It destroyed me ,” he said . “ It threw me into a very severe depression . I really have not been myself ever since then . Just severely depressed since then . Who wouldn ’ t be depressed losing a father ?”
Richard faced another tragedy six years later when his grandmother died . Richard confessed , at that point , he lost the will to live .
“ I honestly was at the point where I told my friends I was going to kill myself ,”
Students learned to create cosmetic products and brand their own businesses during the Girls Pursuing Science ( GPS ) Camp , where girls learn the joys of scientific discovery .
no barriers to the careers they can pursue ,” said Superintendent Gudiel Crosthwaite . “ The curriculum is engaging and allows
Richard said . “ But someone just told me to hold on and stick it through .”
In fact , there were plenty of people who did not let Richard give up on himself . A host of educators in Riverside Unified School District banded together to help out . Julie and Paul McIntyre , educators in the district , offered support . And another pair of educators , Brian and Jean Marie Harris , opened their home to Richard .
“ Brian and I said , ‘ OK , we will take him ,’” Ramona High teacher Jean Marie Harris said . “‘ He ’ s got to have someplace .’ We did not want him going into the foster care system .”
The Harrises told Richard they would treat him the same way they did their own children . Richard ’ s relationship with Brian and Jean Marie is so strong he refers to them as father and mother . our young learners to use their creativity to experience science in an exciting way .”
“ The Harrises are like my parents now ,” Richard said . “ They took me in . Just all around kind of patched me back together . They just have this sense of home to them . They feel like family .”
There was a time when Richard Lemmons struggled to make it through the day . He lost so much at such a young age . But now , he has a new outlook on life . At long last , Richard has found a sense of peace .
“ I don ’ t know how to describe it other than a miracle because when I look back on it , I don ’ t think this could have been possible ,” Richard said . “ Just a combination of all the love and care . And all the things I fell in love with to do combined into one and brought me back up to who I think I can be .”
PEREZ
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Mexico . While her father served as a migrant worker in the United States , Maria grew up in poverty with her mother and her siblings .
“ The neighborhood where I grew up , there were a lot of gangs ,” Maria said . “ So when I was in elementary school , a lot of my friends were already getting involved in gangs . It was also hard because I know my dad was working really hard here in the United States . But we never really had all of the things that were necessary for us . I know my parents did the best they could but sometimes just even food was a problem for us .”
Maria ’ s father gained permanent residency status in 2011 . More importantly , he secured visas for the entire family to make the move to California . Maria struggled to adapt to the new environment and new language .
“ I was a teenager so for a lot of young people , that ’ s the time you try to find who you are , your identity as a person ,” Maria said . “ And for me , I was trying to figure out growing up in Mexico . And then I just came to the United States and it was like , ‘ Wow .
Here I am , 12 years old , trying to find out who I am .’ And then I just find myself in this place where I feel like I don ’ t belong .”
Even Maria ’ s father initially secondguessed the decision as his daughter begged him to let the family return to Mexico .
“ It was something difficult for me because I didn ’ t know what to do with her because she saw the school where she was supposed to go and she was crying ,” Eulalio Perez said through a translator . “ She cried for one week and she wanted to go back .”
In time , Maria realized she had two options : hopelessly yearn for her old life in Mexico or make the most of her new life in Watsonville . She chose the latter .
“ If I don ’ t do anything to change it , it ’ s not going to get any better . So I just stayed after school every day and did my homework because at home , I asked my dad and my mom , ‘ Can you help me do my English homework ?’ They didn ’ t understand it .”
Maria quickly immersed herself in community service and school activities at Pajaro Valley High . She ’ s involved with Food What ?!, the Migrant Student Association and the Project Green Challenge . But it ’ s her role as president of the DREAM club that fuels her drive to help others . The club is devoted to supporting undocumented students and their families through fundraising , cultural events and free legal services .
“ Every event , every possible opportunity , she has taken it upon herself to get herself involved ,” said Maria Elena Valenzuela , assistant principal at Pajaro Valley High . “ I am so honored to have worked with her and to know her because I think she ’ s very inspiring to all of us , and she ’ s the reason why we continue doing this work in education ; because we see students like Maria be successful .”
This fall , Maria will start classes at UC Berkeley as a first-generation college student . Maria understands the gravity of her impact and hopes she ’ ll set the tone for future generations .
“ Just being the first one to go to college , it ’ s scary but it ’ s powerful ,” Maria said . “ When I was growing up , I didn ’ t think I was going to go to college . I always had in my mind , ‘ If I go to college ...’ But now , it ’ s like I am going to college and I ’ m so excited about it .”
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