SanTan Sun News,11-21-15: youth

Chandler Museum encourages youth to explore their roots

BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON

Genealogy, or the study of family history, is a fascinating exercise that allows people to learn about their familial lineage and history.

“Family history isn’t just the study of many generations ago but also includes understanding our parents’ and grandparents’ lives,” said Tiffani Egnor, the curator of education for the Chandler Museum.

“Genealogy is a great activity for kids because it is a way they can study the past by looking at people they are closely connected with—their family members. Rather than just studying history through historical figures in the textbooks, genealogy gives youth a chance to study people that they personally know or are related to. Doing genealogy research is like being a detective, so youth really

enjoy this aspect of it as well.”

Through the “Explore your Roots: Genealogy for Kids” programs, the Chandler Museum will provide tools for youth to learn about their family history and record their genealogy.

The programs take place at each Chandler Library branch over winter intersession: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 at Basha Library; 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Sunset Library; 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Hamilton Library; and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the Downtown Library.

Egnor said that, during the program, participants will complete various activities and take home a journal to record family memories. Attendees may bring a family photograph or family story with them to add to their journal.

“They [participating families] will visit various stations that each has a different topic with a coordinating journal page. As they visit each station they will acquire journal pages and then put them together at the end for a unique journal to take home,” she said.

“Some of the journal topics include family celebrations, comparing then and now, and family photos or illustrations. Participants will also be given the tools to make a family tree as well as a family timeline and fill in as much information as they know. We will provide additional resources of places to do research and find out more.”

The “Genealogy for Kids” program is one of several outreach programs hosted by the Chandler Museum and take place at libraries.

“The Chandler Museum visits the

local libraries during student intersession breaks to present public programs,” Egnor said.

She added that the events are drop-by programs so families can come anytime during the time frame to complete the activities.

“Genealogy is a great activity for kids because it is a way they can study the past by looking at people they are closely connected with—their family members,” Egnor said. “Rather than just studying history through historical figures in the textbooks, genealogy gives youth a chance to study people that they personally know or are related to.”

To learn more about this and other museum programs, visit www. chandlermuseum.org.

Hamilton Red Cross Club donates 50 first-aid kits to San Marcos

BY ALISON STANTON

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the 200 members of the Hamilton High School American Red Cross Club, students from San Marcos Elementary School will have access to basic first-aid supplies.

Hamilton students recently donated 50 first-aid kits to Dr. Becky Henderson, San Marcos’ principal.

Elliot Smith, president of the Hamilton High School American Red Cross Club, said her organization hopes to eventually donate 350 more first-aid kits to San Marcos by the end of the school year.

A Hamilton senior, Elliot said she was inspired to help the local Title I elementary school after reading an online ad requesting donations for school supplies and other items.

“I am a firm believer that every student deserves the best possible learning opportunities, so I reached out to the principal and asked how to discuss how our club could help the students,” said the 17-year-old Elliot.

In her conversation with Henderson, Elliot said she was surprised to learn that

many of the school’s students and their families do not know how to properly care for cuts and scrapes.

“She told me that something that no one has ever been able to provide for our students is first aid at home,” Elliot said.

To purchase the first-aid kits, Elliot and other club members organized and launched a school drive called Project S.C.A.B.—or scrapes, cuts and burns—that would help provide items like Band-Aids, alcohol swabs, creams and gauze.

It was a team effort. Hamilton’s Spanish Honors Society worked on the pamphlets, as 85 percent of the families speak the language at home. Meanwhile, a product committee focused on getting supplies. This included writing letters to manufacturers and businesses asking for donations, Elliot said.

A third committee set up fundraisers like selling cookies and candy.

“Students, teachers, parents, family members and friends all chipped in to support this cause,” Elliot said.

Henderson said the generous donation of the first-aid kits is just the beginning of a partnership between the two schools.

“The first-aid kits are being given to families who are identified through the health office as the most in need of acute care support for the home,” Henderson said.

Elliot said handing out the first 50 kits in person was worth the hard work.

“It was extremely fulfilling and rewarding knowing that our group is

Breakfast with Santa set for December

Kartwheels for Kids is hosting a Breakfast with Santa and a Donation Drive Event from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Noah’s Event Venue, 2100 E. Yeager Dr., Chandler. The event will feature Santa, Diamondbacks pitcher and Chandler

resident Daniel Hudson, ASU men’s gymnasts and food trucks. There will be “Kartwheel clinics” for children with balance beams, bars and tumbling instruction.

Clean out the closet and garages for the Stuff the Truck Drive. Small or

large items are wanted—the heavier the better—because the nonprofit, Kartwheels, is paid by the pound.

All the funds raised will go toward scholarships for children to attend gymnastics programs.

helping students who are located less than five miles from Hamilton,” Elliot said. For more information about Project S.C.A.B., visit http://hamiltonredcross. weebly.com/special-projects.html. To make a donation, email Elliot at hamiltonredcross@gmail.com.

For more information, visit www. kartwheelsforkids. org, or email info@ kartwheelsforkids. org.

Sister’s gift allows pianist to give his unique talent to the world

BY KENNETH LAFAVE

Samuel Xu has many reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving. Blessed with extraordinary musical talent, the 14-year-old Chandler resident can be grateful he was born into a family that nurtures his gift. Taught by his pianist father, Fei Xu, Samuel has already won first prize in the competition sponsored by the International Institute for Young Musicians at the University of Kansas— yet another reason for gratitude.

But perhaps Samuel’s most heartfelt “thank you” goes to his sister, Gina, 17. Without her, he would have to be undergoing constant blood transfusions—if, in fact, he were even here to receive them.

Samuel and Gina were too little when it all happened, so they don’t remember Samuel’s illness, the terror of constant blood transfusions, and the act that saved him.

But their father remembers all too well.

“Samuel was 3 years old, just two months before his 4th birthday. After swimming, he would get bruises showing on his arm. And when he would get a cold, he would get another cold right after that,” Fei recalled.

At first, those things didn’t seem like reason for alarm. But when a visit to Samuel’s doctor resulted in the doctor’s orders to go immediately to a hospital, things began to ratchet up.

“At the hospital, they told us his

blood count was down to 200. He was not producing red blood cells.” Nor was he producing enough white blood cells or platelets.

It was aplastic anemia, a rare condition in which the blood stem cells that reside in bone marrow stop making new blood cells. Samuel required an immediate transfusion—and then another just days later, when the transfused cells died out. The cycle of transfusions went on for two months, while Fei searched for a bone marrow donor.

Family members were tested as a matter of course, but not with much optimism.

“There is only a 1 in 4 chance for a match within the family,” Fei recalled being told. “I have heard of families birthing more children in the hope of getting a match and still not getting one.”

To everyone’s surprise, Gina, then age 6, was a perfect match. The family traveled to the UA Medical Center in Tucson for the transplant.

Gina recalled being too little to be scared.

“All I remember is I got to go to a different city and be in a hospital and watch all the cartoons I wanted to,” Gina said.

All Samuel remembers from that long-ago time was getting a toys from a worried father.

“I was given a lot of LEGO,” Samuel

said.

The transplant took, and after a while, Samuel’s interest turned from LEGO to the piano. He started lessons at age 5 with his mother, Hong Zhu.

“I didn’t take it very seriously at first. I only practiced about an hour a day,” Samuel said.

An immediate challenge for the family was Samuel’s education. Even with the transplant, he was more susceptible than most to infection, and as every parent knows, schoolrooms are petri dishes of bacteria and viruses. Samuel’s parents found Arizona Virtual Academy, an online K-12 that features Individual Learning Plans (ILP). This allowed Fei to shape Samuel’s curriculum to fit his practice schedule. Practice for Samuel

exploded when he turned 7 and Fei discovered that his son possessed a fine ear and the aptitude for memorization. Samuel’s career was off and running.

Today, Samuel plays Chopin nocturnes, Ravel suites and a lot of Gershwin.

“He likes the jazzy stuff,” Fei commented.

Samuel will play some of that “jazzy stuff” in January, when he performs as soloist in Gershwin’s Concerto in F with Musica Nova, Sunday, Jan. 24. at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix. For more information, visit www. musicanovaaz.com.

Teen makes it to finale of ‘The Voice Kids France’

BY ALISON STANTON

Phoebe Koyabe always dreamed of performing on television.

The 14-year-old ninth grader at Arizona Connections Academy realized that goal recently when she reached the finale of “The Voice Kids France.”

Phoebe’s journey began last summer while researching the likelihood of “The Voice Kids” coming to the United States. While she was online, Phoebe came across the page of a French casting director who said he was working on a big project.

Phoebe, who moved to the United States from France as a toddler, sent the director a video of her singing.

“He called back and said he was working with ‘The Voice Kids France’ and said he would like to see me,” Phoebe said.

Phoebe auditioned for the show via Skype and beat out 4,000 kids to make it to the next round of auditions.

Last October, Phoebe and her mom traveled to Paris. She rehearsed and performed “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.”

“After that we were just waiting for them to call us, and my mom and I were walking in the equivalent of a shopping mall in France when she got the call, and I could tell by the look on her face that I could stay on the show,” Phoebe said.

This started a whirlwind of trips between Chandler and Paris with Phoebe and her mom; other family members joined them whenever they could.

“There were lots of interviews and rehearsals and working with makeup people and stylists,” Phoebe said.

Although she enjoyed the entire audition process, Phoebe said it was very challenging to not share any details of the show or her trips to France with her friends in Chandler.

“It took eight months for them to finally put it on television, and the entire time I was not allowed to speak about it,” she said.

Phoebe said she was thrilled to learn she made it to the finale, when she sang “Try” from Pink and the French song “C’est Dit.”

“Once I knew I was in the finale I could finally talk about it and try to put out the news publicly,” she said.

Although another competitor ultimately won, Phoebe said she was delighted to be part of the show.

“I would definitely do it over if I could,” she said.

Phoebe said she will never forget performing during the finale.

“They had all of the finalists together eating dinner, and they took us downstairs one by one. It was crazy how stressed I was but for the finale I was not stressed at all. They gave me the microphone and I just sang,” Phoebe said.

Phoebe, who also takes dance, guitar, piano and violin lessons, said she has plans to continue singing.

“I hope to sing professionally one day; I want it to be how I make my money,” she said.

Meet Santa—and snow— at Ocotillo Village

Skip the mall madness this holiday season and come enjoy Breakfast with Santa at the Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa. More so, families can pack their sleds and bundle up with scarves and mittens because there will be a truckload of real snow spread out on the main lawn.

Hosted from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, the event allows Village members and the general public to head to the “North Pole”—also known as the intersection of Ocotillo and Alma School roads—for thrills, chills and to take portraits with Santa.

Packages start at $25 for a family of three (membership and preregistration required). Other prices are: $35 for a single or couple membership/family of

three; $35 nonmembers/family of three; and $10 each additional person.

Breakfast with Santa is a beloved tradition at the Village Health Clubs & Spa in Phoenix and Scottsdale. And this year Ocotillo, which opened in early April, is joining the festive fun. Aside from the snow and pictures with Santa, guests will enjoy a gourmet continental breakfast. Plus there will be plenty of crafts for the little ones.

The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa is located at 4200 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler. For more information, call (480) 656-0045 or visit www.villageclubs.com, www.facebook.com/villagehealthclubs, www.twitter.com/villageclubs or www. instagram.com/villageclubs.

Training facility RedLine Athletics hosts open house for children 9 to 18

RedLine Athletics—Chandler will introduce children ages 9 to 18 to professional trainers during its open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.

The trainers, all of whom played and/or coached collegiate or professional sports, will be available to show children and their parents RedLine Athletics’ athlete training model and to talk about the facility’s sportspecific speed develop.

General Manager Gary Guthmiller said he wants athletes to have every advantage possible when they prepare to take on their competition.

While at RedLine Athletics kids can swing a bat in the facility’s two indoor batting cages, run a route, score a touchdown in the indoor football field or “bend it like Beckham” on the indoor futsal, a form of soccer field. The other amenities include volleyball and basketball courts.

RedLine Athletics—Chandler is located at 6150 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 17. For more information, call (480) 878-5156 or follow the facility on Facebook at www.facebook. com/redlineathleticschandlerwest for event listings.

Youth

CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT News

Nov. 26 and Nov. 27: Thanksgiving holiday, no school

HANCOCK HEAT

Veterans Day presentation

Third-grade students at Hancock Elementary had the opportunity to hear from Marine Corps veteran, Sgt. Gregg Girard. He is the father of third grade teacher, Meghan Bovard. Each year, he visits around Veterans Day to share his story of serving in the Vietnam War. During his presentation students learned about Vietnam, Parris Island and his tour of duty. Students are fascinated to hear about his training, his travels, his patrols and the traditions of the Marine Corps. It is truly an honor to have him come and share his history. Teachers, students and staff learn so much from his presentation. We thank him, as well as all military veterans, for their service to our beautiful country.

Veterans Day picnic

Hancock also enjoyed its annual Veterans Day picnic on Thursday, Nov.12. Veterans, students, teachers and our families enjoyed a wonderful lunch outside listening to patriotic music. Student council helped decorate around the lawn with American flags, banners and red, white and blue decorations. It was such a fun-filled family day. Hancock loves its veterans.

Calendar

Dec. 17: Reindeer Run

Dec. 18 to Jan. 4: Winter intersession —Amy Fricke

TARWATER TOROS

Successful event

The Fall Festival was a huge success! Neighbors and students enjoyed the music, bounce houses, food, games and shopping. The Toro pumpkin display lined the campus. Thank you, staff, PTO and family volunteers for your time and effort for our community event.

Top-notch

The Fine Dining Luncheon launched the holiday season this month. The cafeteria was transformed into a top-notch restaurant and students were encouraged to dress up for the occasion. The students love donning spruced-up clothes, and the pumpkin cheesecake was delicious.

Grants Chandler Education Foundation (CEF)

granted $750 to multiple grade levels on Nov. 5. The kindergarten team received a grant for visiting the Childsplay original musical “Rock the Presidents.” The third grade team won for its “Authors Tea” project. Each student will publish a book that they write and illustrate, and present them to their parents. The fifth grade team was awarded a grant for Arizona Science Center’s “Science on Wheels” program. A guest scientist will visit and teach “Chemysteries” to each fifth grade class.

Jingle Jog

The Tarwater Annual Jingle Jog is on Thursday, Dec. 17. The course is about a mile for grades K-2 and a mile and a half for grades 3-6. Each grade level will be assigned a holiday color to wear. We can’t wait to color the neighborhood with our holiday runners.

—JoAnne Cawley

WEINBERG WRANGLERS

NaNoWriMo

Fifth grade is celebrating the entire month of November with NaNoWriMo; National Novel Writing Month. Students are writing their own novels, which will be published this summer.

Running Club

Running Club kicked off on Nov. 3. The mornings are quite chilly, but the runners still come out and persevere. Our first race is Jan. 14.

Fieldtrip

Third grade went on a fieldtrip to a college where they learned about geology. A component of the fieldtrip was to be taught by college students who are studying for an education degree. Our third graders got to do hands-on activities with rocks and minerals.

Celebrating

veterans

We kicked off the second week of November with a Veterans Day celebration. Second grade put together an amazing patriotic performance, and performed twice throughout the day, showcasing all five branches of the military. We were fortunate enough to have the Perry High School JROTC begin each performance with the Color Guard and the Pledge of Allegiance. Many veterans attended the performances, and were asked to stand up to be recognized with a round of applause. They also received a letter of thanks.

—Heidi Huggins

WHERE KIDS EAT FREE

Apple Dumpling Café

3076 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert (480) 279-3879, www.appledumplingcafe.com.

Mondays are family value night, when kids eat free with each adult meal purchase of $6.95 or more. Ice cream happy hour is 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, when kids buy one ice cream or dessert and get one free.

Chompie’s

3481 W. Frye Rd., Chandler (480) 398-3008

www.chompies.com

Children 10 and younger receive one free item from the kids’ meal menu with an adult meal purchase of $8 or more on Tuesdays. Dine-in only.

Copper Still Moonshine Grill

2531 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert (480) 656-1476

www.CopperStillMoonshineGrill.com

Kids ages 10 and younger eat for free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult meal.

Dilly’s Deli

2895 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 5, Chandler (480) 722-0645

www.dillysdeli.com

Get one free kids’ meal for each adult meal purchased at $6 or more on weekends.

El Palacio Restaurant & Cantina 2950 E. Germann Rd., Chandler (480) 802-5770

www.epfamilyrestaurants.com

Kids 12 and younger eat free when adult meals are purchased on Wednesdays.

Fat Willy’s 4850 S. Gilbert Rd., Chandler (480) 883-1356

www.fatwillysaz.com/chandler

From 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, dine-in and get a free kids’ meal with every adult entrée purchased. Kids can select from the Little Leaguers menu only and must be 12 or younger.

Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta

590 N. Alma School Rd., Suite 35, Chandler (480) 812-8433, www.floridinos.net

Kids eat free from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Receive one free kids’ meal per $8 adult purchase when customers dine-in only.

The Hungry Monk Andersen Fiesta Shopping Center, 1760 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (480) 963-8000

www.hungrymonkaz.com

Kids eat free on Mondays with every purchase of an adult entrée.

NYPD Pizza

2580 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (480) 722-0898

www.aznypdpizza.com

Kids eat free on Wednesday and Sunday after 4 p.m. with the purchase of a small or medium pizza. Dine-in only.

Pittsburgh Willy’s 48 S. San Marcos Pl., Chandler (480) 821-3197

Every day, except Sunday breakfast, one child aged 10 and younger eats free with each paying adult, while additional kids eat for 50 percent off, when they order from the Wee Willy menu only.

Planet Sub

1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler (480) 245-6503

www.planetsub.com

Kids eat free with a paying adult on Mondays.

Social Box

1371 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler (480) 899-6735

www.socialboxeateries.com

Kids 12 and younger eat free from the kids’ menu with the purchase of an adult entrée on Mondays.

Sidelines Grill

2980 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler (480) 792-6965

www.sidelinesaz.com

Kids eat free from the kids’ menu after 4 p.m. Thursdays with the purchase of an adult entrée. Dine-in only.

Whiskey Rose Bar and Grill 135 W. Ocotillo Rd., Chandler (480) 895-7673

Kids eat free on Tuesdays and Sundays with the purchase of an adult entrée.

WHERE KIDS

The SanTan Sun News now has a regular “Where kids eat free” section. Restaurant owners, please email us details such as days of the week kids can eat free at your establishment, and what conditions apply, such as purchase of an adult meal, certain hours, etc. Include your restaurant name, address, phone and website and a contact name for verification. Readers, if you know of a location that has a kids-eat-free program, email us with the restaurant name, a phone and / or email for confirmation and details.

Email information to KidsEatFree@santansun.com.

• Enhanced Pre-K and Kindergarten Programs

• Academically Enriched Curriculum and Low Ratios

• Free Language Enrichment: Spanish, French, Mandarin

• Daily Yoga, Art & Sign Language

• Before and After School Club with Transportation and Food

• Daily Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Hot Meals

• Outdoor and Indoor Playgrounds

Have breakfast with Santa at BLD

Breakfast with Santa will be held at BLD, at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. The reservation-only event is $12 for children 12 and younger and $18 for adults 13 years old and older.

A limited number of family packages, which includes two adult and two child tickets for $50, will be available. The tickets include a family swag bag full of goodies from Little Duck Organics, Smarty Pants Vitamins, Neat Cheeks and more.

Tickets also include a professional photo with Santa, available as a high resolution digital download, from E.L. Hicks Photography.

East Valley Moms Blog will have a craft for the children and giveaways for everyone to win.

Bring a new unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive and receive three extra raffle tickets.

Attendees will enjoy a continental breakfast buffet including French toast, buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and fruit. An assortment of hot tea, coffee and hot chocolate will also be served.

To purchase tickets, visit http://bit. ly/1PoDtak and enter code SantaVIP.