Summer 2005 - Sacred Heart Schools

Photo by Ruth BecknerHeart of the CampusNetwork Exchange-a-maniaOne of the best things about being partof an international network of schoolsis the opportunity to have exchange programswith other Sacred Heart schools.For SJSH students, their favorite networkexchange is the annual visit from theForest Ridge School of the Sacred Heartof Bellevue, Washington. Throughout theschool year, sixth graders from the twoschools are paired up as pen-pals. Then,when Forest Ridge visits Atherton everySpring, the penpals get to meet in person.“Even though my penpal described herselfperfectly, I still pictured her differently,”said SJSH sixth grader Sara Jacobs, “Itwas great to meet her, and I would love tosee her again.”When Sacred Heart students reachPhysics in Motionhigh school, the exchange opportunitiesbroaden — SHP students can live witha host family for six weeks or longer.While abroad, students experience personalgrowth through exposure to families, anotherschool community and another partof the country. In addition, all exchangesare reciprocal; families also get the opportunityto host Sacred Heart students whoare visiting from around the country.“This year, two SHP students went onstudy exchange trips to 91st Street in NewYork and Greenwich Connecticut whileour SHP families hosted four studentsfrom Greenwich, Omaha and 91st Street,”said Elaine Barry, coordinator of the SHPExchange Program, “Our students are soblessed to have the opportunity to be partof the Sacred Heart network.”READY, SET, GO! SHP studentsrace their cardboard canoesacross the SHS swimming poolDo you think you could build a canoeout of cardboard, sturdy enough tobe paddled across the 50-meter SHS pool?Well, the SHP physics students could. Asa culminating project to apply the topicsstudied throughout the year, physicsteachers Nathan Kugland and Guy Letteerassigned teams of students to createcanoes made of only cardboard, glue, andduct tape.There were specific guidelines as tohow much surface area could be coatedwith tape (less than 10%), how many layersof cardboard were allowed (no morethan four), and the overall length andwidth (9 feet x 3 feet, at most), but otherthan that, the canoes were limited only bycreativity and imagination of the buddingyoung scientists.On May 20th, all 22 teams gatheredat the SHS aquatic center for the showdown.“The ultimate measure of any boatis on the water and that’s where the studentsreally had a good time,” said Mr.Letteer. In the five heats, the boats racedagainst the clock and against each other.In the final heat, the Mac Dre team, Mr.Popper’s Penguins team, Red Robin team,Fig Newtons team, and David Hasselhofsteam competed to the death, while beingcheered on by their classmates, teachers,and parents. In the end, the Deep Sea Pandasteam emerged from the struggle withthe winning time of 32 seconds.“The crowd had the most fun watchingthe outrageous creations that sankwithin a few feet of the starting line,” saidMr. Kugland, “The winning boats heldup pretty well, but eventually almost allthe boats became saturated and sank.”Judging from the excitement of the students,it looks like this event will be asun-drenched SHP tradition for years tocome.LONG-DISTANCE BUDDIES: Top,SJSH sixth grader ***** ****** meetshis pen-pal from Forest RidgeSchool of the Sacred Heart duringthe school’s visit to Atherton.Bottom, **** ********** (left), anexchange student from the DuchesneAcademy of the Sacred Heartin Nebraska, joins her host, SHPjunior ******** ******* (right), at theJunior Prom4 Summer 2005