GateHouse News Service
Posted May 21, 2009
Cambridge — The Elephant Walk Restaurant hosted a gathering of nearly 100 Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) students, teachers, parents, families and community leaders Saturday, May 9, to support the first visit to the Kauk Rovieng village middle school in Cambodia by CRLS students and teachers planned for February 2010.
“The Cambridge School” is a citywide endeavor designed to build bridges crossing the globe, as well as between various educational, business and nonprofit communities in Cambridge.
During the academic year 2007-08, communities across Cambridge worked together to raise $24,000 in nine months’ time to fund a “high tech” school in Cambodia named for Cambridge. The school opened last winter in a village 90 minutes northeast of Phnom Penh with 93 students and 10 teachers. Monies raised by Cambridge citizens were matched by a donation from the Asian Development Bank. The school is operated and staffed by the Cambodian Ministry of Education in conjunction with the American Assistance for Cambodia.
While celebrating at the Elephant Walk, the new technology teacher arrived at the school. This teacher is trained in technology and English at an orphanage run by the American Assistance for Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Soon students will be able to communicate with students at the “Cambridge school” via the Internet using the computers Cambridge citizens donated.
Fundraising last year was focused on the school for Cambodia; this year, funds are being raised to enrich Cambridge students by helping a delegation of inspired CRLS students and teachers plan a trip to the school for service learning and cultural exchange. Their experiences will be shared with peers at the high school. Led by CRLS sophomore Lucy Flamm, CRLS history teacher Susan van Blaricum, Cambridge School for Cambodia co-founder Heather Faris. and a team of parents, CRLS students and teachers, the event at the Elephant Walk was a celebration of city educators, resources and community-building endeavors.
CRLS students and families were honored by the words and support from educational and political leadership including Dr. Christopher Saheed, CRLS principal; Dr. Jeff Young, Cambridge’s incoming superintendent; Dr. Paul Reville, Massachusetts secretary of education; and Dr. Alan Lightman, MIT professor and best-selling author. City Councilor Marjorie Decker presented a congratulatory proclamation from the City Council and Cambridge state Rep. Alice Wolf presented a resolution from the House of Representatives in support of the Cambridge School. School Committee members Nancy Tauber, Patty Nolan, Fred Fantini and Marc McGovern also supported the event at the Elephant Walk.
A long-term goal of this project is to empower students with a greater understanding of the educational and technological resources of the city, as well as the joy of sharing their privilege while learning about an ancient and war-torn culture through its children. In time, learning about Cambodia and Southeast Asia will hopefully find its place in the K-12 curriculum, starting at the high school, where not only will students begin to share with their counterparts in Cambodia over the Internet, but some will travel to Cambodia next February. For more information, visit www.cambcamb.org.
The Cambridge School for Cambodia Board of Directors is looking for other Cambridge educators and citizens who want to be involved in this citywide project. The next meeting will be held in June. To become involved, email Robin Elkins at camb4camb@gmail.com.
Posted May 21, 2009
Cambridge — The Elephant Walk Restaurant hosted a gathering of nearly 100 Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) students, teachers, parents, families and community leaders Saturday, May 9, to support the first visit to the Kauk Rovieng village middle school in Cambodia by CRLS students and teachers planned for February 2010.
“The Cambridge School” is a citywide endeavor designed to build bridges crossing the globe, as well as between various educational, business and nonprofit communities in Cambridge.
During the academic year 2007-08, communities across Cambridge worked together to raise $24,000 in nine months’ time to fund a “high tech” school in Cambodia named for Cambridge. The school opened last winter in a village 90 minutes northeast of Phnom Penh with 93 students and 10 teachers. Monies raised by Cambridge citizens were matched by a donation from the Asian Development Bank. The school is operated and staffed by the Cambodian Ministry of Education in conjunction with the American Assistance for Cambodia.
While celebrating at the Elephant Walk, the new technology teacher arrived at the school. This teacher is trained in technology and English at an orphanage run by the American Assistance for Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Soon students will be able to communicate with students at the “Cambridge school” via the Internet using the computers Cambridge citizens donated.
Fundraising last year was focused on the school for Cambodia; this year, funds are being raised to enrich Cambridge students by helping a delegation of inspired CRLS students and teachers plan a trip to the school for service learning and cultural exchange. Their experiences will be shared with peers at the high school. Led by CRLS sophomore Lucy Flamm, CRLS history teacher Susan van Blaricum, Cambridge School for Cambodia co-founder Heather Faris. and a team of parents, CRLS students and teachers, the event at the Elephant Walk was a celebration of city educators, resources and community-building endeavors.
CRLS students and families were honored by the words and support from educational and political leadership including Dr. Christopher Saheed, CRLS principal; Dr. Jeff Young, Cambridge’s incoming superintendent; Dr. Paul Reville, Massachusetts secretary of education; and Dr. Alan Lightman, MIT professor and best-selling author. City Councilor Marjorie Decker presented a congratulatory proclamation from the City Council and Cambridge state Rep. Alice Wolf presented a resolution from the House of Representatives in support of the Cambridge School. School Committee members Nancy Tauber, Patty Nolan, Fred Fantini and Marc McGovern also supported the event at the Elephant Walk.
A long-term goal of this project is to empower students with a greater understanding of the educational and technological resources of the city, as well as the joy of sharing their privilege while learning about an ancient and war-torn culture through its children. In time, learning about Cambodia and Southeast Asia will hopefully find its place in the K-12 curriculum, starting at the high school, where not only will students begin to share with their counterparts in Cambodia over the Internet, but some will travel to Cambodia next February. For more information, visit www.cambcamb.org.
The Cambridge School for Cambodia Board of Directors is looking for other Cambridge educators and citizens who want to be involved in this citywide project. The next meeting will be held in June. To become involved, email Robin Elkins at camb4camb@gmail.com.
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