Jackie Zaluda and Luke Schaider, both 8, recently prepared for their acting and narrating debuts at the Green Bay Pavilion, an adult day-care facility in Highland Park.
Their project was one of 18 chosen to receive grants through a new North Shore District 112 Education Foundation program called Kids in Community Service. The foundation, which was started in 1995 to enhance the education of every child in the district, added KICS to its repertoire to kick off its fifth year.
“The foundation has funded more than 80 classroom enrichment programs. We believe similar experiences should also take place in the community,” said Sue Hammer, chairwoman of the foundation. “We designed KICS as an ongoing and permanent part of the District 112 educational experience.”
KICS was introduced to children in kindergarten through 8th grade through application forms and letters of explanation sent to the district’s 11 schools. Students were asked to design grant proposals that included names of children who would be participating, the signature of an adult sponsor, a description of their proposed project, start and finish dates and times, supplies needed and the expected budget.
The application deadline was March 23, and the grant limit was $100. The only stipulation for receiving the grant was that all projects had to be videotaped and completed by June 8.
“When I got the application I thought that everyone had to do a project. When I found out that I didn’t, I decided it would still be nice and I could practice something we were learning in school — storytelling,” said Jackie. “I have a lot of friends at school, but I chose only one to do my project with me. Then I chose a book called `Mr. Gumpy’s Outing,’ by John Burningham, (Henry Holt, $16.95). It is about a man named Mr. Gumpy who decides it’s a good day to go out in his boat. Animals come to him and ask if they can join him. He lets them. I act like the animals. I am a rabbit, cat, dog, pig and sheep. I pretend to row the boat and when it gets too full I fall out. It’s really funny.”
After Jackie finished her performance, Luke acted out his rendition of Claire Huchet Bishop’s “Five Chinese Brothers” (Paperstar, $5.99) while Jackie read the story. The grant that funded their storytelling project covered publicity fliers, programs and refreshments for guests.
Jackie and Luke chose to create their own project, but lists distributed with applications suggested ideas such as cleaning up a beach or park, adopting senior citizens, organizing toy and clothing drives, gathering used books, starting a pet food drive and preparing meals for food shelters.
Catherine Vaughan, a recent 8th-grade graduate, chose a performance by her music ensemble, which also included Daniel Millenson, Jessica Heskel and Emily Fardoux. They performed at the House of Welcome in Winnetka, a center that serves senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss.
“We requested a grant to rent a viola and to purchase music. We want to play several things for them,” said Catherine before she and her emsemble mates performed. “We really want them to enjoy it.”
Mary Weaver, site coordinator at the House of Welcome, gave them a glowing review.
“It was so nice and much appreciated,” she said. “Our patients have not been able to attend concerts for years. It was so well received.
“The patients really liked that the performers were so young. Music is our best activity and to have it live — you can’t beat that.”
All the students at Indian Trail School in Highland Park are involved in one project, an organic garden planted by 455 students.
Said principal Veronica Patt, “We planted a 30-by-30-foot garden in our large field. We planted vegetables and flowers. Once the plants bloom, a representative group of the school will take the vegetables and flowers to PADS, a shelter for homeless people in Lake County.
“Each grade level planted plants inside their rooms in small containers. When it was warm enough, each class participated in some way in the planting of the garden. . .Kids in Highland Park don’t often see poverty or homeless people, so they don’t realize it’s a problem. We thought this would be a good way to bring the problem to them.”
One group of students used their foreign language skills to help the elderly. Benjamin and Alex Berman, Michael Peysakovich, Jonathan Levi and Kevin Wolfson, all of whom were in the 6th grade and all of whom are fluent in English and Russian, taught computer skills to Russian immigrants in their native language.
“We explained computer basics to the seniors we worked with,” Alex said. “We taught them how to turn the computer on and off, use the mouse and the keyboard, use word processors and the Internet. It took a lesson, but they caught on and they really had an understanding by the end. I know some of them plan to continue to use the computers.”
Working since September on her project, budding playwright Elisa Redish consulted the KICS program to help set the price performances of a play she has written and directed, “Sweet Devil Co.” Sixteen 5th graders performed in her musical, which included 18 scenes and seven musical numbers. The kids rehearsed once a week after school and on holidays. They created their own props and scenery in the Redish basement, better known as the Redish Underground Theater. Elisa planned three performances, which sold out to a total of 150 patrons.
“My friends and I decided that instead of money for admission we would ask each person to donate a book, video or toy,” said Elisa. “Then we plan to take the donations to the pediatric ward of the Evanston Hospital. We have really gotten some great things. We have Barbies and puzzles and Matt Christopher sports books and table hockey.”
Other projects the foundation has sponsored include the Jason Project, which links students with scientists around the world through a satellite; Kids Go Classic, a music enrichment program at Ravinia; and the Opportunity Grants Program, which awards $500 grants to teachers for classroom enrichment projects.
