events2009

//**Holocaust Survivor**//
On June 9, 2009 Ronnie Breslow came to speak to our 8th grade students. She is a survivor of the Holocaust who had been a passenger on the St. Louis which came from Cuba during the war. The St. Louis was a German ship carrying 930 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany to Cuba. To learn more of Mrs. Breslow's story, [|click here.]

//**The Maasai Project**//
On April 28, 2009 we had visitors from the Maasai culture. [|The Maasai Cultural Exchange Project] (MCEP) aims to "help quench the thirst for water and education" for Maasai tribal villages in Kenya, East Africa. The MCEP works in association with Simba Maasai Outreach Organization (SIMOO) a Kenyan NGO, to directly benefit a community of approximately 5,000 Maasai in the village of Olosho-oibor. Our Maasai friends visit the US annually to attend the United Nations Forum on Indigenous People's Affairs and make numerous community presentations about the Maasai culture. MCEP has established a [|student sponsorship program] to help provide school fees to educate Maasai children and women. The MCEP also has a [|"Well Fund"] to dig holes in the Kenyan bush country. It is very costly and donations are always welcomed. When the Maasai came to our school, they talked to us about their culture and explored the everyday learning at Ziegler School. It was a wonderful experience for all. You can watch the 32 minute video of the assembly. media type="custom" key="7935568"

**//Bully Busting//**
On February 25, 2009, Sensei David Pantano, owner of [|Counterstrike Kenpo], came to speak about bully busting. David has spoken out about bullying in schools with Jonathon Mayberry on [|CN8 Your Morning]. He also [|gives a demo] on the show. David believes that there are times when you have to teach kids how to handle the conflicts inside themselves, as well as the conflicts that they may face out on the street. He believes that you must teach children respect for others by first teaching them to respect themselves. When Sensei David came to Ziegler, he had a chance to talk to our sixth - eighth grade students. He was constantly moving around and interacting with the students. He also did some role playing with them which kept their attention. You can watch a 20 minute video of the event. media type="custom" key="7935578"

//**African Dancing**//
On February 24, 2009 [|The Kulu Mele African Dance Company] came to visit. Our third - fifth grade students were able to attend the assembly and watch. Kulu Mele, founded in 1969, is the longest-lived African dance company in Philadelphia and is dedicated to serving the community by presenting and preserving culture, dance and music of the African Diaspora. Kulu Mele's mission is met through high quality and authentic workshops, performances, residencies, apprenticeships and study tours that seek to reclaim traditional cultural practices, enable self expression, and liberate and build communities. You can watch a 2 minute video of the event. media type="custom" key="7935582"