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Malibu surfside news | August 16, 2018 | 9
Gan Malibu takes students on tour of the world this summer
Barbara Burke
Freelance Reporter
Gan Malibu’s preschool
celebrated the end of
its summer camp’s tour
around the world on Friday,
Aug. 10 — a perfect
Malibu evening for the
little ones, ages 2-6, to
show their families their
artwork and creations, and
to share what they learned
about countries representing
some of their families’
heritages, including Italy,
Jamaica, China, Israel,
Russia and Mexico, as
well as the United States.
“This is the best possible
place for a child as he starts
his school experience,”
said Gerard Keenan, parent
of Kingston Keenan. “The
very first day of Kingston’s
school included him using
an easel painting on this
beautiful deck overlooking
the ocean and pier. What a
great start to a life of learning
that was.”
As attendees entered the
preschool’s Shabbat party
celebrating the literature,
food, music, art and cultures
about which they
learned, some of the children’s
artwork was colorfully
displayed on tables,
including their collaborative
flags representing all
the countries about which
they learned. For every
week of summer school,
the children learned about
a country and had a special
visitor from the country.
Pictured is the table representing China at the event.
“Having the visitors
from each country come
and talk to the children really
brought the experience
alive for them,” said Sarah
Cunin, director of Gan
Malibu. “The guest speakers
taught the children
about the language of each
country, teaching them
special words about the
dress and the food that the
people in each country eat,
all of which engaged the
children’s interest. When
children are interested, they
explore more and are happy.
When they are happy,
they’re vessels ready to
learn anything.”
A globe and map accompanied
the lessons,
but what really focused the
children’s cultural understanding
and appreciation
was that they learned by
doing.
The children started the
summer by learning about
Italy. What better way than
to create their own pizza
and make Italian Play-Doh.
And garlic and basil challah
was served for the first
Shabbat party.
Staying close to home
the second week — the
week of the Fourth of
July — they learned how
to bake an apple pie, and
then they made red and
blue slime. Chocolate chip
challah was served for that
Shabbat.
China was the next port
of call, and Chinese noodles
proved fun to make for
the children.
“The younger children
did the water colors for the
paper lanterns they made
that week,” said Micaela
Chambers, lead teacher for
the preschool. “The older
children cut out the lanterns.
This whole school is
based on such collaborative
learning by the various
age groups in the class all
working together on projects.”
Sesame challah was
Maya Makabi, 2, checks out some maracas with her mother, Mayra, on Friday, Aug. 10,
during Gan Malibu’s summer camp tour around the world.
photos by Suzy Demeter/22nd Century Media
served for the Shabbat party
that Friday.
For Jamaica week, students
made plantain chips,
participated in a drum circle,
learned what a bongo
is and read books based
on Bob Marley’s songs,
including “Every Little
Thing,” a book by Cedella
Marley based on the song
“Three Little Birds.”
Israeli dancing, making
falafel and Dead Sea
exploration fascinated the
children the next week.
And falafel was served at
the end-of-summer-school
party.
Making matryoshka
stacking dolls proved to
be one of the most popular
art activities during Russia
week, and the kreplach
cooking also delighted
the students. Beet challah
helped the children celebrate
Shabbat that week.
Maracas and Taco Tuesday
helped the children
celebrate their final week,
as they learned about our
neighbors to the south in
Mexico, complete with
churro challah, a sweet way
to celebrate their last Shabbat
of summer camp.
“My daughter, Sofia is
2, and she has been to 30
countries,” Antony Hoffman
said.” “She just came
back from Zanzibar, Tanzania
and Cape Town, South
Africa, where we were on
holiday. I think the international
flavor of this evening’s
event and the food
from all over the world is
great for children’s learning.”
Estelle Reyna, Kingston
Keenan’s mother, agreed.
“Gan is a very artistic
school, and it is wonderful
for the children to
grow up knowing about so
many countries,” she said.
“It is very important in our
world to have cultural understanding.”
Helping to make the
world go round, one child
at a time, the summer camp
was a huge success. All attendees
thoroughly enjoyed
a special Shabbat party to
celebrate the wholeness
and oneness of multicultural
Malibu.
Man arrested for trespassing at Broad Beach home
Lauren Coughlin, Editor
A 26-year-old man who
attempted to flee from police
was arrested Sunday,
Aug. 12, for trespassing
at a home in the 31600
block of Broad Beach
Road.
A homeowner called police
regarding an alleged
burglary attempt at their
home at 3:46 p.m. Deputies
responded on foot and
also had helicopters circling
the area to spot the
man, who ran from the
location, said Lt. Greg
Minster.
“That individual was
so intent on escaping
that he ventured into the
ocean but surrendered after
a short time,” Minster
said.
The man, who did not
make entry into the Malibu
home, was identified as
Sergio Perez, of Los Angeles.