zona: What is the Capstone Project? Grayson: The capstone project is the last major thing the eighth graders do at CLS. A capstone is the final stone put onto a building or an arch. It completes the project and holds the structure together. For our capstone project, we decided we wanted to put on a football camp for the younger kids who aren’t able to play football for our school yet. The kids come to our field after school on Monday and Thursday and we run drills for 20 minutes, and then scrimmage for 30. The remaining time is spent playing around, and having a snack. zona: How did the three of you come together and come up with this Football Camp idea? Is there a name for the camp?

Grayson: Nick, Jason, and I are great friends who share the love for football. When we were told about the Capstone project, I think the same idea just started to grow in our heads. At first we thought it was going to be an impossible task because none of us had any prior experience working with 3rd and 4th graders, but so far we have had positive feedback from parents, students, and teachers. We call the camp Lew’s Football Camp in honor of my father who passed away four months ago.  zona: What is your mission? How did you get kids to sign-up? Grayson: Our mission is to share our love of football with these young children, and prepare them for the next level of sports at CLS. We were worried that nobody was going to sign up for our camp, but after we sent out an email to the parents, and sent home a flyer with the students, our first day we had 10 kids sign up, and the next we had 12, the number just keeps growing. I believe we have 14 players now.   zona: What is the importance of what you are doing? Grayson: I think that what we are doing is so important because we are not only teaching the kids how to play the sport well, they are learning good sportsmanship and how to respect their fellow teammates on the field. The kids all love coming to camp because they learn a lot and they get to have a blast with all their buddies! zona: The flyer for your football camp is really cool. Who designed it on the computer and wrote the words for it? Grayson: I designed the flyer in Microsoft Publisher with the help of Nick and Jason. We all think it came together really well.   zona: Why did you choose to donate the money from your camp to the Arizona Heart Institute?  Is there a reason you chose that particular charity? Grayson: We chose to donate our proceeds to the Arizona Heart Institute in honor of my father. I thought this was a good idea because 500,000 people die a year from heart attacks. 500,000 if you think about that there are currently 6,840,507,003 people in the world, and 500,000 of them die from heart attacks alone. One day I thought to myself, if there is a way to keep children from losing their parents from a heart attack, I want to help that become a reality. zona: Describe your dad Lew. Was he a great linebacker? Grayson: My dad was a really huge guy. He could always walk into a room and make everybody laugh at something. I don’t think I have ever tasted better food in my life – he was an amazing cook. He was just a really great guy to be around, and everybody loved him. I don’t remember the times that I saw him play because I was too young, but I know he was good. zona: Is football your favorite sport? Grayson: Football is definitely my favorite sport to watch, and to play. zona: If you could play for any NFL team who would you want to play for?  What position? Grayson: I would probably want to play for the San-Diego Chargers if I was in the NFL.  zona: Who is your favorite player currently? Favorite team?  Grayson: Currently my favorite NFL team is the Chargers. I would have to say my favorite player is Phillip Rivers.  zona: Tell us about your own football career so far. Who do you currently play for? What position do you play?

 Grayson: I am not currently playing for any team, but I last played for the Christ Lutheran Crusaders and I played center.  zona: If you were on the front of a football card, what would your picture be like? If the card included a nickname for you, what would it be? Grayson: If I was on a football card I would definitely want to be wearing the 1970s chargers throwback jersey.  zona: This is your last year at CLS. What will you miss most? Where are you going to high school? Nervous? Grayson: I think I will miss my teachers the most, I have grown to love them over the years, and even though I won’t be in their classes next year, I plan to return and visit them. I plan to go to Valley Lutheran High School next year, and I am very excited about it. zona: Fave TV show? Fave book?  Fave place to eat?  Best field trip ever? Grayson: My favorite TV show is either Two and a Half Men or Family Guy, they both really crack me up.  zona: Are Nick and Jason good buds? Did you guys hang out before you started this camp? Grayson: Jason, Nick, and I have been really good buddies since last year. We hang out a lot in school, as well as outside of school.

From the Village to #1 in the Nation!

zona: Congratulations Dominique, how does it feel to be the nations top team? Did you think this was possible when you were a Freshman? Did you play varsity ball as a Freshman? Dominique: It felt pretty great but it didn’t really hit me till a little while after that day. It’s a huge accomplishment for our team and I am really proud of the challenges we’ve overcome. It’s good recognition for us and I feel like we really did work hard to accomplish this. I knew this would be possible but only with hard work and the willingness to get better as a team. Since our team has such good chemistry and a good work ethic, we knew it definitely wasn’t impossible. And, yes I did play varsity as freshmen.  Zona: What year are you in school now? What position did you play? What was your jersey number?

Dominique: I am currently a junior at St. Mary’s. I’m a point guard but I can play whether a one or a two and my jersey number is four. zona: Do you remember being in the ZONA Magazine when you were at St. Theresa? Dominique: Yes, it was at Saint Theresa. zona: Why did you decide to go to St. Mary’s High School? Did your decision have anything to do with basketball? Dominique: Yes, my decision to go to St. Mary’s had to do with basketball mainly but I also felt like it was a good school and I could really contribute to the community.  My teammates from the Warriors chose to go there too so it was a good fit. zona: Is it cool having a twin sister? Do you think it has made you a better player? Have you always been and are you guys still competitive with one another? Is there anything you would like to say to Danielle for over 16,000 ZONA readers to hear. Dominique: Yes it is! I like having her around. I think it definitely has made me a better basketball player because we really push each other while we are working out and at practice. Yes, we are competitive so it makes it that much better. We like to have fun but when it comes to focusing in practice and in games, we are on the same page. I think we will always be competitive with each other because that makes us better players individually also. I love you twinner. You’re one of a kind!  zona: How long have you played basketball at the Village? How did the Village mold you into the player you are now? What kind of training did you do at the Village? What programs did they offer that you were involved in.? Chronologically, take me through your years at the Village. What was your favorite food at their snack bar as a little kid? Dominique: I have been playing basketball at the Village for as long as I can remember.  It was the beginning where I first played with Courtney and from there we went on to play club together. The Village is a great place to work out, to better myself as a player. It has pretty much everything I need form a basketball hoop to a treadmill to a pool. I love how diverse my workout can be because of all the different equipment and activities. My favorite food from the Village snack bar was definitely a chicken quesadilla and a smoothie, especially when it was by the pool on a beautiful day. zona: Where do you hope to be three years from now? What are your goals and aspirations? Dominique: In three years I hope to be in college getting an education and playing college basketball. Some of my goals are to play college basketball and graduate with my career planned. I hope that I continue to play basketball after college to find a career that I love. I would love to give back to my community, especially Saint Mary’s if I have that opportunity. I also think it would be awesome to be part of a non-profit organization that helps the less fortunate. I would love to help people in any way that I could.. zona: Tell our readers about your coaches. What are their names and what are they like? Dominique: My head coach’s name is Curtis Ekmark and he has been my coach since I was really young. I would say he is a big little kid. He always has a rhyme or something witty to say. On and off the court he pushes me to do my best and always pays attention to detail. He is a great coach and was recently named the Naismith Coach of the year and also Coach of the year by the USA Today and MaxPreps which are great accomplishments for him and great for our team also. Coach Jeff, an assistant at Saint Mary’s is very supportive of our team. He always makes sure we don’t shortcut drills or take the easy way out. Coach Katie, another assistant and the newest coach to our team, also pushes us and never lets anyone slack. She is honest when giving advise and points out the little things that can make the biggest difference  zona: Did you win any individual awards? What are some of your great statistics? What are some things you do off the court that you are proud of?
Dominique: We haven’t had our team banquet yet and this is usually when individual awards are given. We don’t really keep individual stats. They are more of the team stats and what we need to improve on as a whole. I would say that I like to set my teammates up for open shots and pass the ball around in order for us to get a good shot up. I take pride in my work so I make sure it is the best I can do. I strive to always work hard on and off the court because both school and basketball are very important to me.  zona: If you found a lost llama would you take it in and give it a home? What would you name it and feed it? Dominique: I don’t think I would take it in but I would call an animal shelter or something, I would still name it though! Larry the llama.

zona: Congratulations Danielle, what did you do the moment you won the championship game? How did you celebrate afterwords? danielle: The moment after we won the championship I celebrated with my team and the Saint Mary’s family by cutting down the nets, being interviewed as a team, and taking pictures. Afterwords we had a party to celebrate with the team, coaches, and staff of Saint Mary’s.  Zona: What is your best quality on the basketball court? What is your best quality off the basketball court? What are some nice things you’ve done for other people?

danielle: I don’t know what my best quality is on or off the court. I try to always do my best and be nice to everyone. zona: What makes your sister so great? Is there anything you would like to say to her for over 16,000 ZONA readers to hear? danielle: There are a countless number of things that make Dom do great. She always lightens the mood and has something different to say or do. She genuinely cares about the people around her especially her teammates. She does her best to be a leader and step up when it is necessary. She is probably the best person I know. zona: What makes Courtney Ekmark such a cool girl? Does she have mad skills? danielle: Courtney’s mind set and personality makes Courtney such a cool girl. She always has a witty remark and humorous comment for everything. Her work ethic and her want to be the very best at everything she participates in makes her so cool. Courtney definitely has serious skill. Her ability to create for herself and also distribute the basketball accurately to her teammates makes her a nightmare for the defense.. zona: What does the future hold for Danielle Williams? Is basketball a part of it? What would be your dream job as a 35 year old? danielle: The future for me has me graduating from Saint Mary’s and then going on to play basketball at a Division I college. I hope no matter what happens, basketball will always be a part of my life, one way or another. My dream job as a 35 year old would be to travel to third world countries teaching and treating sick children in need of help as well as teaching them to play the game of basketball.  zona: How long have you played basketball at the Village? How did the Village mold you into the player you are now? What kind of training did you do at the Village? What programs did they offer that you were involved in.? Chronologically, take me through your years at the Village. What was your favorite food at their snack bar as a little kid? danielle: I have played basketball at the Vill (our nickname for the Village) for as long as I can remember. The Vill has helped me develop my game giving me the court and resources I needed to be successful. At the Vill I shoot, lift weights, and do some conditioning. I believe on of my very first leagues I played in was in the junior sports league. I played in that league until I was too old and unable to play. In the summer time I was never enrolled in summer camp but always did different activities with the kids whenever I could. Also at some point I did swimming lessons there too. Every moth I would try to do the fitness challenge and win it for my age group. Throughout the years I have always enjoyed working out there feeling so at home every time I walked into the gym. My favorite food at the Vill snack bar as a child was a Strawberry Banana smoothie and cheese quesadilla with guacamole.  zona: Was your St. Mary’s hoops team close? Were you guys friends off the court? What was it that made your team so dominant? danielle: Yes, I think we were close especially this year. Yes, we were friends off the court spending time together often during school. I think that part of what made us so dominant along with the work we put in and how we were always on the same page. zona: Did you win any individual awards? What are some of your great statistics? What are some things you do off the court that you are proud of? Would you like to give us your GPA? danielle: No, I did not win any individual award but really I got the best award anyone could ever ask for in our state and national championship. Off the court, I spend my time hanging with friends, cooking and eating, and doing school work and community service. I don’t know my current GPA but rally try to keep my grades up at all times.  zona: Do you think your team could have beat any boy’s high school basketball teams in town? Could your team give some women’s college basketball teams a run for their money? 

danielle: I don’t know if we beat them because of boys physical presence, but I think we would hang with them maybe. I don’t think we would give women’s college teams a run for their money; I think we would just play really hard and do our best.  zona: If you came across a super sad llama, how would you cheer it up? danielle: I would probably try to play a game with them so they would

Two PCDS Violinist’s Make State!

alice: How long do you practice violin each day? Do you follow a routine as you practice? Flavia: During the week, I usually practice for about one or two hours a day. Over the weekend I practice around three hours a day. The most important thing is to have a focused and productive practice. Fifteen minutes of good practice is more valuable than an hour of running through pieces without actually working on them.  chelsea: I practice around one to two hours on school days, and usually 3 hours on the weekends. I usually start with scales and techniques and then move on to orchestra pieces. alice: What is your greatest accomplishment so far as a violinist?

flavia: I was really excited when I soloed in the Alabama Youth Symphony in fifth grade, and became principal of the second violin section in the Alabama All-State Festival Orchestra in eighth grade. But, specifically this year, I’m proud to be in the Arizona All-State Orchestra and have the chance to study with Professor Sergiu Schwartz at the Bowdoin International Music Festival. chelsea: I think my greatest accomplishment would be getting into All State orchestra. But, I also think that being able to stick with and persistently practice daily the violin for so long is another major accomplishment. Alice: If you were tackling a difficult piece of music, how would you go about learning/practicing it? flavia: I usually start playing the piece slowly and focusing on one thing at a time, such as technique and rhythm. I also practice the piece in short sections instead of trying to learn it all in one go. chelsea: Usually, when I am trying to master a difficult piece of music, I play it through slowly in order to get the correct pitches and rhythms. I tend to focus on the technically difficult parts more when I practice.   alice: What are your favorite pieces of music? Why? flavia: I like the Debussy String Quartet, the Ravel String Quartet, the Brahms Piano Quartet no.3 in C minor, Op.60, the Brahms Violin Concerto, and the “Sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss. chelsea: My favorite pieces include Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. But, I think it’s hard to choose a favorite composer or a favorite piece of music simply because there are so many pieces to choose from, and still so many that I have not listened to yet. alice: What was your hardest moment as a violinist? flavia: When I was four, I played in a recital with my dad accompanying me on the piano. In the middle of the performance, I made a mistake. I stopped playing, turned around, and accused him of messing me up, but knowing that I had made the mistake myself. My dad accepted the blame and apologized, and we resumed playing, but I felt awful afterwards. chelsea: It would probably be my memory slips. When I was younger, I sometimes forgot the last measure of a piece while I was playing, and I had to improvise in order to complete the performance.. alice: How do you balance among school, violin, and a social life? flavia: With violin, piano, Phoenix Youth Symphony, and homework, I don’t get a lot of free time. I sometimes have to miss out on parties and other social events because of concerts and rehearsals, but music is also very social itself. chelsea: It’s already difficult enough to balance school and violin, so sometimes I don’t have a lot of time for a social life. But playing violin opens up the opportunity to play in orchestras, such as the Phoenix Youth Symphony, which allows me to meet new people.. alice: Where do you see yourselves in ten years? flavia: I would like to be playing concerts around the world with my string quartet.. chelsea: Probably starting a career. alice: If you could talk to any person in the world, living or dead, who would he/she be? Why? What would you say? Flavia: I would like to meet the poet E.E. Cummings. I love his work, especially the poems “anyone lived in a pretty how town” and “in just—.” I would ask him about how he was able to write such “cheerful-sounding” poems after all the hardships he endured in his life. chelsea: I’d like to talk to William Shakespeare, so I can converse with him about his plays and writings.. alice: If you could take any three classes in the world, what would they be?

flavia: I would take cello lessons, an Italian class, and a Turkish class.. chelsea: I would take a class on piano, cooking, and sign language..  alice: What goals have you set for yourself, musically or in life? flavia: I want to learn five more languages and play in a professional string quartet.. chelsea: I plan to continue playing violin seriously until the end of high school; after that, I would keep playing as a hobby. In life, I just want to someday be able to do something that will impact and help other people.

Story by Alice Zhao. Alice is currently a sophomore at Phoenix Country Day School.

Olivia (3rd grader at ANLC) with Bruno.

The future looks bright for kasey coffman and beau magi, two important components of the 18^th ranked sun devil’s baseball team. two ballplayers attended saint thomas the apostle and played ball for the brophy broncos, before going to asu. where next? current saint thomas students cara coffman, grade 5 and robbie coffman, grade 7, kasey’s cousins and dane maggi, grade 8, beau’s brother, got the chance to interview the two sundevil’s after their come from behind victory, april 17^th, over their inner-state rivals, the university of arizona wildcats.

Cara: Has baseball always been your favorite sport? Kasey: Growing up I played three sports, football, baseball, basketball.  I did it all the time. I played every sport. Cara: How were you able to get to this level in baseball?

Kasey: Lots of hard work and practice. I mean, extra hours out in the field.  Good coaches around me, my dad mainly.  A lot of factors.  Cara: What is your strongest characteristic? Kasey: My personality.   Cara: Beau and Kasey can you put in a little plug for STA? Kasey: STA is the place to be! That’s the reason I am where I am today.  It’s a great school. Cara: Where do you see yourself in five years? Kasey: Hopefully still playing baseball.  If not, done with college then working and raising a family.   Cara: Do your teammates have a nickname for you? Kasey: No. cara: Any advice you can give us on how to be a Division I baseball player? Kasey: Stay in school, get good grades, listen to your coaches and surround yourself with good people.

dane: Has baseball always been your favorite sport? Beau: I’d say yes.  I’ve played a lot of football and baseball but baseball is definitely number one. dane: How were you able to get to this level in baseball? Beau: Hard work and dedication and attending St. Thomas, of course.  dane: What is your strongest characteristic?  Beau: I’d say, just respect for others, being able to communicate with other people and be nice to them and get along.  dane: Beau and Kasey can you put in a little plug for STA?

 Beau: Of course, I love STA! I’m glad I was able to go there from 5th grade to 8th grade and spend a lot of time there. I still keep in touch with all the teachers and Ms. Coffman.  dane: Where do you see yourself in five years? Beau: Catching for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.  dane: Do your teammates have a nickname for you? Beau: No, I get called Beau-vice a little bit. dane: Any advice you can give us on how to be a Division I baseball player? Beau: Yeah, you just got to manage your time and have everything in order.  Your school comes first, and then your family, and then your sports.

Brophy College Prep has a football tradition that dates back to 1928 when the school was founded. Its football highlights include state championships in 2005 and 2007. In the 2011-2012 season, Brophy ranked #8 in the state and made it to the playoffs. At the helm of the team was Tyler Bruggman, the quarterback. Tyler, a current junior at Brophy, is one of the nation’s top-ranked pro-style quarterbacks. ESPN recently named him the 15^th best quarterback in the country, and things have only looked up from there. Tyler has received offers to play football from top colleges such as Washington State, Purdue, Michigan State, Colorado State, ASU, U of A, and many more. Although he says the only sure thing about his college plans is that he’ll be playing football, he’s interested in majoring in Kinesiology of Business.

What started Tyler on this path to a great future is when he joined the Brophy junior varsity football team his freshman year. After moving up to the varsity team as a sophomore, his season was cut short after breaking his ankle, but that didn’t stop him from returning the next year. In Tyler’s junior year, he helped lead the football team to its first undefeated regular season in 30 years by throwing for 2,497 yards and 37 touchdowns.

When asked what his favorite thing was about being a quarterback, Tyler said, “I like playing this position because it is a very mental position and really makes you think. It challenges you physically and mentally, and the ball is in your hands every play.” According to the Brophy football philosophy, the team always has class, never quits, is aggressive and has good relationships. One of Tyler’s favorite things about his team is the chemistry they have. He said, “We all work well together and are very dedicated to the football team.”

Tyler is also a straight A student and is a Brophy legacy, as his father and he are the only father-son tandem ever to play quarterback at Brophy.

Tyler not only plays football, but also enjoys getting involved in other activities, like helping out his community. Currently, Tyler and a few classmates are organizing a canned food drive for the Desert Mission Food Bank. “I enjoy giving back to the community and helping those in need,” said Tyler.

With Tyler on their team, Brophy is sure to go far in their upcoming football season, and maybe this year will even win the state title. Good luck, Broncos!

This story is by XCP Junior Reporter Jackie Frere.  She is the photo editor of the Xpress and is looking forward to being the editor in chief of the newspaper next year. She is also in the National Honor Society, National French Society, and on the yearbook staff.

Phoenix Country Day School’s “Most Athletic”

Senior Leah Stofko is a force to be reckoned with on both

the tennis court and soccer field. During her tennis career

at PCDS, she has won two team state championships, one

runner-up team state title, and two doubles state championship

titles. For the past two years, she has been the team’s

Most Valuable Player, and her team has never lost a match

during her entire four years of playing for PCDS during the

regular season. Beyond her athletic prowess, Leah Stofko has

been a dedicated leader of a multitude of activities on and

off campus, from Yearbook to National Charity League. Inthe-

Zona reporter Leah Motzkin had a chance to ask the talented

tennis star questions about her career and life in general.

Motzkin: How long have you been playing tennis? Stofko:

I started playing consistently when I was just four years old,

and have played ever since, with the exception of a break I

took when I was playing competitive soccer. Motzkin: Have

you always enjoyed playing? Stofko: Yes! I remember playing

tennis with my family when I was super young and loved

every second of it. I loved it so much that I even made my

own homemade court on my driveway and played with my

dad on it. Motzkin: As captain of the PCDS women’s tennis

team, how does the season look? Stofko: Great! We are

undefeated this season, and given our track record, I am

optimistic about the state tournament. Motzkin: What are

your favorite things about playing both singles and doubles?

Stofko: I really enjoy both. With singles, it is easy to get in

your own zone and play your game. But I prefer doubles because

the net is more fun and, from my experience, doubles

generates a lot more energy. My partner Nicole Bassoff

and I pump each other up via handshakes or compliments,

and she has been super instrumental for my game. She’s

an amazing player and is definitely the main reason why I

love doubles. I am really going to miss playing with her so

much next year. Motzkin: How do you see tennis or sports

in general fitting into your life after high school? Stofko:

Depending on where I go to school, I will either try to play

for the school’s team or I will play club. Tennis is timeless,

and I definitely plan on hitting the courts for the

rest of my life. I also want to play club soccer in college.

Motzkin: How do you stay in shape for tennis? Stofko:

I run a lot. I probably average 25-30 miles a week. I also

hike and do yoga frequently. My tennis coaches have

been asking me to hit the weight room to gain muscle,

but I have been avoiding going. Overall, I am just lucky

to be born into a healthy and athletic family. Motzkin:

Who is your tennis role model? Stofko: Everyone expects

me to name someone famous as my tennis role

model, but truthfully, my coaches are my role models.

My coaches Adria Raines and Tim Thompson have been

hitting with me since I moved to Arizona in 2005 and

have been incredibly important for my game. Of course,

my PCDS tennis coach Jerry Keever is incredibly inspiring

as well. Motzkin: What other sports do you play?

What do you enjoy about them? Stofko: In addition

to tennis, I have played soccer since I was four. I played

club soccer for 6 or 7 years. This past year, my position

was sweeper even though I have never really played

defense before. I loved the adrenaline rush of being

the last player before the goalie and the opportunity to

take all of the goal kicks. Turns out I should have started

with that position a long time ago, and my team had

a successful season this year. I also ran for my school’s

cross country team. Motzkin: What do you plan on majoring

in? Stofko: My intended majors are International

Relations and Business. Motzkin: Do you have any advice

for young tennis players? Stofko: It’s easy to get

caught up in petty tennis drama such as poor calls, but

ultimately, just be graceful and enjoy the sport. Relax

and play your game. Take it one point at a time. When

you hit that amazing winner, be proud. Make that unforced

error? Shake it off and move on. Motzkin: What

is your favorite thing about playing tennis? Stofko: The

tennis court is my sanctuary from the chaotic, busy life I

lead. When I step onto the court for a match, I get in the

zone. I think it’s the ability tennis has to take me away

from reality that is one of my favorite things about the

sport. Because I have been playing for a long time, I find

much comfort in the familiarity of the tennis court.

Story by Leah Motzkin. PCDS senior, Leah Motzkin has been one of ZONA’s most valuable writers for the last 3 years.

Girls at Xavier Have IT Day Proves that Science CAN be Cool!

On Friday, March 16, over 400 girls from middle schools around the Phoenix

metropolitan area participated in Xavier College Preparatory’s fourth annual “Girls

Have IT Day” in partnership with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona

State University. This exciting event allowed girls to listen to Mary Lucking, an artist,

architect and technologist, speak about her artwork and how she incorporates it

into public spaces. After the girls attended the lecture, they participated in hands-on

activities hosted by over 100 Xavier students representing Xavier’s vast variety of

clubs, sports and activities. The goal of the activities was to show middle schoolers

how fun science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) could be. From

learning how to use twitter, to playing Dance Dance Revolution, to learning about

reptiles in the media, the girls were constantly engaged in cool games while learning

about STEAM. Some of the big hits were a lip gloss making station, mini golf, an

aviation simulator and a soda straw rocket station. This event has inspired many

girls to consider the studies of math and science in high school and college. Xavier

College Prep junior Natalie Brown said, “I went to Girls Have IT Day when I was in

eighth grade and it really opened my eyes to the world of science. I now want to help

other girls get into the fields of math and technology to be motivated to better their

community.”

What started as an idea became a reality in 2008 when two teachers,

Catherine Wyman and Frances McMahon Ward, came together to create an event

that would encourage middle school girls to further pursue their interests in areas

relating to STEAM. “We aim to engage, encourage, and excite middle school girls in

STEM,” says Wyman, “Realizing that art is where science takes shape and that an art

influence improves the design process, we added in the “A” for arts – and now we

call it STEAM.” The event has grown greatly since 2008. Companies such as FIRST

Robotics, Honeywell and Intel have provided the event with demonstrations and

information that give girls a look at how STEAM is applied to the real world. Molly

Johnson, an eighth grader who attended Girls Have IT Day, said, “I learned that it’s

actually cool to be a geek, and that science and math can be a lot of fun!”

Robin Perko is not just an excellent 2nd grade teacher at St. Thomas the Apostle, she also coordinates all recycling efforts at the school.

zona: Tell us about the recycling project you coordinate at St. Thomas. Is it something the kids get into?  ROBIN: First, I would like to give a “shout out” to the Green Team at St. Thomas.  They help with all the recycling at school.  What a great group of kids! 

We have a few recycling projects right now. We always recycle the basics: plastic, cardboard, paper, and aluminum. We also recycle Capri Sun and Honest Kids drink pouches along with Lay’s and Frito Lay’s chip bags. We ship them to a company that recycles them into new products.  In return for sending in these items we “purchase” water, food, and livestock for families around the globe and also “purchase” trees for American forests and adopt wildlife land.  Right now, we are in the middle of what is called an e-drive, or electronics drive.  The children bring in all kinds of electronic items to be recycled.  Did you know that e-waste contributes to 70% of toxic material in our landfills?  Something to think about! zona: Why did you take on this responsibility?  ROBIN: I was asked by my principal and I am passionate about taking care of what God has entrusted to us.  Our world is so incredibly beautiful and amazing.  It is upsetting to see the human race not really putting much thought and effort into being good stewards of our Earth; BUT we CAN make a difference! zona: Do you think we are doing enough in America environmentally? ROBIN: No. The daily use of plastics in bottles, grocery bags, etc. is just horrendous. Most people do not recycle or reuse these items. Don’t even get me started on Styrofoam! I believe that corporate America and our government are not making any great strides in creating a cleaner, greener US. Being environmentally conscious should be important to everyone. zona: What do you love the most about teaching 2nd grade? ROBIN: The kids! They are just lovely and fun! zona: What is the biggest challenge? ROBIN: In second grade? Making sure the learning activities are engaging and relevant to the children. zona: If you had a pet llama, what would you name it and what would you feed it? ROBIN: Flashes of Napoleon Dynamite . . . TINA! I guess I would feed it llama chow? zona: If you could spend the next 4 days anywhere in the world where would you go? ROBIN: That’s tough. There are too many places I haven’t been!  I would love to go to Australia to learn how to surf and then off to New Zealand to hike and bike!  Could I throw Fiji in there too? zona: What do you think is our country’s most prized natural wonder? ROBIN: I went on a long road trip through the western/northwestern part of the US with my family last summer and visited a few national parks.  I would have to say that Glacier National Park in Montana is absolutely stunning!  What is sad is they say the park may change drastically in the next few decades due to climate change.  I would love to spend a summer there exploring and hiking. zona: What other projects do you have in mind at St. Thomas? ROBIN: We are currently working on an “Earth Day” celebration at school.  We are hoping to offer waste-free lunches, recycling and conservation awareness activities at lunch, and a class recycling weigh-in.  As a school, we will focus on being stewards of God’s creation and each child will think of one way they can help take care of the environment.