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Red Carpet Celebration showcases talent and hard work

A Red Carpet Celebration was held at Fallbrook Library Dec. 4 to showcase the student work being done in the Ivy Project, a new program at Ivy High School. The projects included three musical performances on an electronic keyboard, a short film, designer clothing, and an anime storyline, as well as one book in progress and one already printed.

According to Lita Tabish, the teacher directing the program, "The night went awesome." They set out 75 chairs and had to add more so close to 100 people showed up. Tabish added, "I was so very proud of what my students put together for this exhibit. The event showcased the talents, the creativity, the hard work and the variety of interests the Ivy Project students have."

Wendi Chavez had never played piano before but wanted to try something new. "I really like music, it's relaxing." A senior, she loves the program because she can be independent, "I work better in small groups." She wants to continue learning piano as a hobby. For her project, she learned to play a classical song, "For Elise", and "We wish you a Merry Christmas".

Sebastiana Jesus also picked learning the piano for her project. She learned how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" because she "wanted to hear how it sounds on the piano." She said, "Since I was small I wanted to learn it," and she hopes to continue playing.

Jesus also said, "I really like the program. [We can be] independent, creative and free to do what we want. We each learn something every week and then show it, so everyone learns about it." She wants to go to community college, study business and "work in a small business in agriculture, organic farming."

Jesse Mendoza's project, a book, involved both poetry and photography. He started working on it in August and the book was already printed by December. He has not taken any photography classes but consulted with Ivy's photography teacher, Bodhi Smith, and learned from online tutorials. His book is titled "A Writer's Thoughts".

Diana Munoz first picked learning to play the guitar for her project but when she saw the piano (keyboard), she changed her mind. "This program helped me get my credits faster, and learn something new," she said. She needs just seven more credits to graduate so is going back to Fallbrook High in January. She said she does not like being in a big group; it makes her anxious, but not at Ivy. She plans to study nursing and be an RN.

For German Ortiz, his first year of sewing is "something I've always wanted to do, be in fashion." In the future, he said, he wants to see men and women "dripped in my clothing line." He considers this is best year of high school. "This program is great, I like it. This is what you want to go for."

With his fashion brand, "I hope to work for the people by the people, donating money to children, make something out of nothing...to grow hope for others...the person that gives them hope, they can do whatever they want as long as they don't give up hope." He made an outfit and a couple of shirts for his brand, Germani by German.

Isabel Plascencia said she has always liked dancing but gets too embarrassed to perform in front of people so decided to choreograph a dance for her project. "I like hip hop," she said, so her project is a hip hop dance. "I have always liked lizards and snakes."

For the Red Carpet Celebration, she made a video in which she dances. For her, dancing and choreography are just a hobby. She said she wants to be reptile veterinarian. The program is "making coming to school better. I enjoy it," she said. "Everyone in class is close so it is nice coming to school."

Abraham Ramos' project is an automotive film short, "G-35". He filmed different angles and different parts of a car moving, and edited it down to one minute, 30 seconds. He likes the look and sound of cars (his is an Infiniti) but also likes math and wants to go to business school. He plans to eventually have his own business, "a sit-down family restaurant," he said.

Jenny Santos is writing an autobiographical book called "Deeper than the Sea". It is "about me" and "my journey through depression last year, and maturing." Santos said she likes writing and was excited to choose writing a book for her project. She plans to finish it by next spring. At Ivy for over a year, she said she really enjoys the program and getting "closer to classmates". She is thinking about going into nursing.

Jose Zamudio chose to develop an anime story line in his first experience with digital art. He had wanted to do it since eighth grade but didn't have time. "This program is giving me the time," he said. He wants to learn to animate characters in a comic book. He has been at Ivy since February and finds the program interesting. The weekly question is very helpful, he said, "We can go at our own pace."

Tabish said, "The Ivy Project is what education is all about. Students taking an active role in their own education, deeply studying areas of interest and learning how to learn. I am more of a facilitator, a coach, and a cheerleader than a 'teacher'. This is both project based education and inquiry learning blended together."

The students also complete their state approved coursework online through APEX while choosing their own supplemental materials and projects. Unique features of the program include a weekly question and a collaborative project besides the individual projects

Another requirement of the program is service learning. Tabish said the service learning for this trimester was for the local Head Start. The students held a toy drive, wrapped and delivered enough toys for every child at the Fallbrook Head Start. They also volunteered time with the children.

During the week, each student is given time to learn a new skill, complete a project, or conduct a study as part of their individual project, the results of which were showcased in the Red Carpet event which had two corporate sponsors (Zevia & Kind) and the "Red Carpet" was flown in from the Orlando Film Festival.

Students who participate in The Ivy Project also take part in field trips twice a month. These field trips are educational in nature and will often be relevant to the collaborative projects.

Two students have already completed their credits and graduated. There are two or three more ready to graduate at the end of this trimester (February). Tabish said she has new students entering the program for the winter/spring.

 

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